The New Republic

You don't find it at all suspicious that so many decisions broke unanimously in Franken's favor?  That these so-called Democrats and Republicans worked together to put him into power?  Now, I'm not saying there was a conspiracy to plant a sleeper agent from a foreign power in the Senate.  I'm just saying that we don't know that there wasn't.  Follow the money.

- Simon Greenwood

February 3, 2009 at 5:46pm

As the days pass into weeks without a single news story to capture our attention...to enthrall us... TNR, in desparation, resorts to clips like this.  

It's relevance to anything aside, Chait seems to be auditioning for Al Franken's spot as the most popular liberal satirist since....Volaire?

As for the money, if we were to follow it to those who make decisions like this, it may well go all the way back to Donald Segretti. Which means Karl Rove is hiding in the bushes somewhere.

Only this time James Carville is America's reigning king maker. And you'll never find the trailer park where he stashes the loot.

gw

- iambiguous

February 3, 2009 at 7:25pm

This is probably all because Franken wrote a book about what  fat idiot Rush Limbaugh is - would it surpise anyone?

- Wandreycer1

February 3, 2009 at 9:04pm

By the time Franken arrives to take his place in the Senate he will no doubt have in hand an updated and revised edition, "Rush Dimbulb is a Big, Fat (and molting) Idiot," with a new foreward by Jon Stewart.

- Bukharin

February 4, 2009 at 2:32am

Instead of the short form - "Rush" - Democrats should consider using the fat One's full first name, which is Russia. Russia Limbaugh has a nice foreign, not to mention, communist ring to it.. I know if it was a Democrat with the first name "Russia", Limbaugh would insinuate God knows what, and then pronounce it fully in that very idiotic, sneering, mocking tone of his, and he'll do it in a fake Russian accent too.

Maybe it's time his targets return the favor.

- scrubbyoak

February 4, 2009 at 7:16am

scrubby, I'm pretty sure that's an urban legend. But "R.H. Limbaugh the Third" is just as effective in reminding people that Rush is an arrogant rich snob, thrice divorced and a thieving drug addict, who wouldn't be caught dead breathing the same air as any of his proletarian listeners.

- rhubarbs

February 4, 2009 at 12:24pm

I never read FAT IDIOT.  I did read LIES AND THE LYING LIARS WHO TELL THEM and I did enjoy tone of humor that Franken often laced into the narrative.  The fictional combat unit comprised of the likes of Limbaugh and Bush43 was good for some laughs.  Aside from the book's humor, though, I thought Franken conveyed a sense of real seriousness at what he considered how big of a danger the likes of FOXNEWS and AM-talk radio had become.  I had a great deal more respect for Franken after reading it than I did before.

The irony is that I and many others would have never read it or even known the book was written had there not been such a blatant and all-out attempt by the right wingers to smear it and it's author.  Had people like O'reilly, Hannity, Limbaugh,etc. not waged such a systematic attempt to demonize Franken and his writings, I doubt Franken's books would have sold as many copies as they eventually did.  Had they just ignored Franken's criticisms instead of trying to invent another boogey-man for their audience to direct their collective hate at, they might have avoided putting themselves in the position that they are in now of being on the verge of witnessing Franken replacing a Republican in the Senate.    

- fultimr

February 4, 2009 at 9:19pm