Al Franken buys townhouse in Minneapolis (possible Senate run)

[Freddie Stubbs]

Bob Von Sternberg, Star Tribune
May 20, 2005

By year's end, comedian Al Franken will be a Minnesotan again, taking a big step toward possibly running for the U. S. Senate seat held by Norm Coleman.

"It's one of the things I need to do if I decide to make a run," Franken said from his current home in New York. "I haven't made the decision yet, but if I do, I'll have to have been living in Minnesota a while."

Franken, 53, said he and his wife, Frannie, bought a townhouse in a new development on the edge of downtown Minneapolis late last month.

He plans to shuttle between his two homes between now and the beginning of 2006, when he also plans to relocate his daily three-hour radio show broadcast on the liberal Air America network to Minnesota.

more: http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5413734.html

[tavalon]

1. We knew that one was coming

Good on him.

[Wickerman]

2. Glad to have ya here, Al

:hi:

I look forward to voting for ya!

[zanne]

3. These are my thoughts on actors, comedians and body-builders.

They should stay that way.

[K-W]

4. What silly thoughts.

I suppose we should change the constitution so that only people with the right carreers are considered citizens?

[zanne]

8. No, I don't think we should change the constitution.

In my previous post, I stated that these celebrities should "stay that way", not that there be any laws regarding eligibility. I just think that they should realize what their real talents are and stop using their celebrity as a springboard for political office. I also disapprove of politician's family members using their last names as a springboard, and an unfair advantage. (George, Jeb and Hillary are just a few who've done this.) Keep in mind, it's just my opinion.

[K-W]

11. Anyone else you want blacklisted from politics?

So a lawyer, doctor, banker, businessman, etc etc can all use thier previous careers as springboards into politics, but entertainers cannot?

How about this, how about any citizen can run for office and we let the voters in thier districts decide which candidates should represent them? How about that?

[zanne]

13. Wow.

I didn't mean to offend you.

[K-W]

18. You didnt mean to offend me when you suggested

that anyone who succeeds in the entertainment industry should be blacklisted from politics? Certainly there is no way of you knowing that I have a good number of friends in the entertainment industry, almost all of which are activist progressives, but shouldnt you have considered the possibility?

There is some sense behind your wild argument. It is indeed a problem that image and superficial judgements dominate politics, but that is a systematic problem. It is not Arnold isnt a bad governer because he was a body builder turn actor, he is a bad governer because he creates bad policies. Everyone who gets into office recieved superficial votes, lets not scapegoat an industry or carreer field because through no fault of thier own that people react to fame the way they do.

Fix the elections, enlighten the nation, dont worry about the actors running for office.

[realFedUp]

6. having the Gropinator as my governor....

I'd almost agree...I guess it comes
down to who the person running is
and what he or she believes, and
if that person tells the truth about
what they intend doing while serving
us.

I think Al knows the issues
and would represent his constituents
and the rest of us well.

[mopinko]

7. do you listen to the show?

have you read the books? do you know jack about this?

[K-W]

12. How dare that smart informed progressive think of running for office EOM

[Gunit_Sangh]

10. What about St. Ronnie (Regan)?

or Sonnie Bono etc etc ...

I reckon it's ok if the actor is a repug heh?

[nine30]

5. Rush Limbaugh is a BFI

Rush carefully avoids mentioning Al in his radio show. I wonder what he is going to say when this becomes official.

Go Frankie, Go !

[RussBLib]

9. Franken is starting to sound like a candidate

Surely you all saw him on the season finale of Real Time with Bill Maher, no? If no, catch the rerun! I think today is the last day for reruns. No new Maher shows till August.

[tmooses]

14. I hope Al can beat the creep Coleman. I'm not sure is he is more

valuable on the airwaves, though. Minneapolis is a beautiful city, hope
he enjoys his new home.

[MN ChimpH8R]

15. Welcome Home, Al

Can't wait to see you nail "Senator" Lick-spittle Normie in 2008! You've got my vote.

:hi: :applause:

[geckosfeet]

16. Ronnie and Ahnold are/were both Repugs

And that moron wrestler was an independent,,,

Franken has proven to be thoughtful, compassionate and progressive. This would be a good thing for the state (in view of Coleman) and the nation.

May the universe be with him,,, I know I am.

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. Ben Jones (Cooter from the Dukes of Hazzard) was a Democrat

He served a term in Congress.

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=J000211

[deadparrot]

19. I hope he stands a fighting chance.

I don't know too much about Minnesota's political landscape, but I wish Al the best.

*crosses fingers*

[Moderator]

20. kick to combine

[truthisfreedom]

21. Senator Franken?

http://www.wxow.com/news/publish/articles/article_2049.shtml

Senator Franken?

Minnesota
May 20, 2005


He says living in Minnesota is one of the things he needs to do in case he decides to run against Republican Norm Coleman.
<snip>

Franken also plans to relocate his Air America radio show to Minnesota early next year.
Franken grew up in St. Louis Park, but the 53-year-old has not lived in Minnesota since he was 22. He lives in New York now, but he says he's still a regular visitor to Minnesota.
He bought the townhouse on the edge of downtown Minneapolis in late April.
<snip>

[Skittles]

22. Please do, Mr. Franken

it gives me hope that there are still some sane voices in this country willing to take on evil.

[dorktv]

23. Yes and he will be the funnest Senator of all time. :)

[Skittles]

25. he cracks me up still

he always has :)

[Fridays Child]

24. Please, Al, stay out of small airplanes.

:scared:

[punpirate]

26. Al is pretty good...

... (with the help of Harvard students) at researching the lies of the right... but, in order to run against Norm Coleman, he's going to have to have some original ideas of his own, and in that regard, he's sadly lacking.

Al, as well, says he's a "good DLC Democrat," and that makes him a fairly lackluster DFL candidate. He can run, but he can't win, sad to say, because he isn't tough enough on a variety of issues, and he spends far too much time today trying to be an example of bipartisan cooperation, which is a sure death knell for any candidate, even if he were to win.

Al's funny, yeah, at times, but he's still doesn't get it.