I guess the classic response to your post would be to point out that the right wing noise machine feels the need to pump up it's base, but how much pumping does that base need? It must be leaking like a sieve.

The morning after the election Coleman had the most votes. Franken used the courts to steal the election. That's why he doesn't belong in the Senate.

I think a productive line of research might be to closely examine News Corps ratings and revenues. The same with Limbaugh. Something is happening on the right. This is just the wrong time of year to be going nuts.

Al, So Al Franken is like George Bush?

ithink ol' al gives the best reason for why they're throwing everything they can to see what might stick...

because they are crazy assholes
(or play one on the intertubes, like ol' al)

... and with the empahsis on "crazy" -- no, wait -- the emphasis on" assholes".... no,wait...

I don't often use the term "unhinged," because I can usually see a rational reason for the Right-Wing Noise Machine to act as it does -- keeping the base energized, fighting for leadership among the few remaining faithful, scrambling for ratings, selling a book, etc.

But in this case I'll go with unhinged. They're flopping around like a loose screen door in the wind.

I was talking to a guy in the advertising business yesterday. He was crying in his beer. Ad revenues are off, way off, everywhere. Advertisers are extra slow to pay. It isn't just newspapers that are being affected by the economy. TV, internet and even billboards are all way off. Last year's hotly contested election was a God sent to cable, but this year car dealers aren't advertising. Apparently when people are worried about losing their jobs it takes the death of Michael Jackson to give cable the faintest hope.

Till now, they have had a lock on the comedians and don't want the Democrats to have one of their own?

Biden is in Iraq -- is he due back by Tuesday? Who swears in senators if the vice president isn't around? Does that duty fall to the president pro tem? That's Byrd, and I think he's on leave because of illness. I'm sure Franken can and will be sworn in; I'm just curious about the protocol.

More people voted for Al Franken, when all the votes were counted Al Franken's final total was higher.
Congratulations Senator Franken!

I don't understand. I thought Ronald Reagan was The Greatest President Ever.

I think Glen Beck is unhinged. I will grant that people who think Rush Limbaugh is unhinged have a strong case, But I also think the people who lead them to their studios aren't unhinged. They are in it for the money. Money is tight. People are scared.

I can't relate to the right's hatred of Sen.-Elect Al Franken (D-Minn.), but it's hard not to notice the conservative vitriol toward the Senate's newest member in the wake of this week's ruling from the Minnesota Supreme Court.

With the number of prominent Republicans who have had to kiss Party Leader Limbaugh's, umm . . . ring, it's perfectly understandable to me that they would be incensed at the reality of the guy who wrote the book Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot finally becoming a Senator.

Of course, some of the outrage may come from Franken's opponent giving up before the Republican SCOTUS could award the election to Coleman.

How many nuts would a wingnut nut, if wingnut could wing nuts?

To my thinking, that "he's probably wonkier than most members of the Senate in the first place" is reason enough for them to start belittling Franken. You can be guaranteed that when Franken does (if he's ever invited, that is) on the Sunday chat show circuit, any serious thing he tries to say will be a stepping off point for the host to reminisce about "a really funny thing you did on SNL!"

That's what the teleprompter crap is about -- the cretins demonstrating for the morans why the president, and Franken, are not as smart as them.

Kinda strange for a party which placed two actors from California into national office. Bonzo was elevated to Prez, while song and dance man, George Murphy, became a US Senator.

However, still trying to understand the timeline. Franken graduated cum laude from Harvard, became a comedy writer and a comedic actor, then became serious and used his intelligence to become a US Senator. Inhoye, after becoming a US Senator, turned into a clown and a fool.

First, congratulations to Senator Franken. Well done, sir.

Now, I don't understand the right-wing becoming unhinged on MN voters electing a "clown" as U.S. Senator. The implication is that the MN voters must have perceived Coleman as being "clown-ier"; so the right wing problem lies at Coleman's feet.

I also don't understand why they hate Al Franken on the grounds of his former careers. It just doesn't make any sense.

Al Franken is a freakin' hero-genius. He was a successful comedian, writer-researcher, radio host, public speaker and now politician. I don't know how you can attack a guy for being in the front of some very difficult and competitive fields.

Don't be too hard on Al. It's not easy when your world view conflicts with reality. It can cause anyurisms or strokes in many.

... second thought: Maybe Republicans think politics is better left to people who have FAILED in all their prior careers; seems to fit their crop of candidates a lot better.

Glenn Beck has spent several days this week saying Franken doesn't belong in the Senate.

Glenn Beck doesn't belong in civilized society. Glenn Beck is a half-witted asshole.

Well, considering their hero worhip of Rush it's hardly suprising that they think that Franken is totally and completely evil-- he did write a book called "Rush Limbaugh is a Big, Fat Idiot."

berttheclock, I take exception to your characterization of Senator Inhofe as being a clown. He is a fool. But he, sir, is no clown. You have insulted the ghost of Red Skelton, cars filled with circus clowns, the rodeo clowns who risk life and limb to save cowboys from injury and all manner of highly trained and talented professional clowns everywhere.

I suspect that their vitriol has something to do with fear. Al Franken has never been afraid to hit them back, and now he has a bully pulpet in the senate. Imagine a senator who will actually stand up and say that his collegues from across the floor are lying. It will get media attention. Over time, the media will also have to admit that he's right. This in turn will show the Repugs in their true light. They are afraid also that if one democratic senator shows a spine then the rest might grow one.

8 months after the elections, Republicans have become stuck in the second stage of grief. They skipped the first and I doubt they'll ever get to the third but it sure is fun watching.

The last poster is on to something. Franken, by virtue of his past, will be the subject of intense media attention as Senator, sucking up air time considered their due by Republicans.

Well said, Mr Byers - I did not wish to impugn Jacques Tati.

How is it that "Al" is always able to post within moments after a piece comes online?

Stalking Horse? Doppleganger? Foil? Fool-in the classical sense??????

Tuesday shall be my unoffical day of gloating. I shall start the day by calling sen cornyn's office to thank them for making this victory all the sweeter by making us wait so long. I will greet all known republicans with a big "HA HA". I will also, at long last, add Sen Franken's DC office number to my speed dial. Gloat baby gloat.

"I suspect their vitriol has something to do with fear."

I think so too. I think Republicans greatly fear having a guy like Franken in the Senate because he's shown the ability to make them look like idiots and fools while laughing about it. (It's the equivilent of having, say, Jon Stewart in the Senate.) With his brains and his skill at zingers, he may be their worst P.R. nightmare, making them look moronic on a weekly or even daily basis.

And on an added note, James Inhofe calling anyone a "clown" is beyond ironic. I know Inhofe was referring to Franken's career (Inhofe, he's a comedian, not a clown...you don't exactly see Franken in greasepaint, do you?), but really, the stupidest member of the Senate, a man who says embarassing things on a weekly basis, is the clown here, not Franken.

Glen wins this one

DAY - I think 'Al' is a distributed responsibility.

The problem with feeding your constituency a steady diet of "vitriol" is that it becomes habit forming. If you stop they think you have become soft and if you maintain the dosage it loses its effectiveness, so the only thing to do is find new topics to focus on and increase the amount of hate in the message. Advertisers discovered this effect a long time ago so the wingers on both sides have only themselves to blame when people stop paying attention.

To paraphrase from one of Franken's books:

"Sociologists did a study where they asked people how well they were informed and how certain they were that they understood the dynamics and facts on certain issues. The people who listened to Limbaugh all rated themselves as "extremely well-informed" while it turned out that they were the least well-informed of any of the people in the survey."

"Sociologists call this phenomenon false certainty. I call it being a complete fucking moron."

Yes, having Franken in the Senate is gonna be sweeeeeeet.

It's no mystery why the Radical Right hates Franken. Because Franken calls them what they are -- liars and radicals. These neo-fascists don't want a fair fight. They love attacking the MSM as liberally biased while pretending that FOX is "fair and balanced" -- "the only network that does real journalism." They are all like Bill O'Reilly who yells at guests to "shut up" or cuts their mic whenever they start landing blows to equal his own. They are bullies, and cowards. And they know Franken is a funny and effective antagonist who gives as good -- or better -- than he gets. And they hate him for that. Think what would happen if Keith Olberman won a Senate seat. Or even Rachel Maddow. These are people who know how to bring the Radical Right loudmouths down to size. The reaction would be the same.

Franken has sowed his political oats demonizing Republicans and conservatives. Now, his speeches and votes will be held under a microscope. Good luck, Senator Franken. We are watching. Try not to spend too much money our government does not have.

Well there just is NO JUSTICE because Glen Beck doesn't belong in this WORLD! Al Jr. (another well informed Repug - forgive the oxymoron)...it's realy very easy to understand the foaming at the mouth of wingnuts over Al Franken...he's intelligent, articulate, thoughtful, AND able to be funny on purpose (unlike Repugs who just are accidentally)...Think it's even easier with Limpballs (the big fat idiot)...it is always obvious when people are out there criticizing someone/thing they haven't listened to or read the words of...but then once you are "dumbed down" by the conservatives it lasts forever!!!

At some point, and it may not be this month, or even this year, or even a few years, you'll stop reflexively giving a fuck what Glenn Beck is discussing.

The answer to the original question - why complain about Franken now? - is easy.

Right-wing commentators' interest is not in seeing their political platform implemented but in stoking resentments.

Didn't their ratings all go way up since the 2008 presidential elections?

One further point: I think Steve is being awfully naive if he thinks he will find rational reasons for conservative reactions to Franken. Yes, it makes no sense why they are recycling arguments left over from a losing campaign. But why does Steve think conservatives care about making sense.

The mistake Steve makes is in thinking that a significant segment of the conservative base looks at politics rationally or as an endeavor that is a means to some other constructive purpose. The civil war going on within the GOP today is not the old one between Eastern Establishment liberals and Joe McCarthy, Bill Buckley and, to some degree, Barry Goldwater conservatives. It is between the Republicans that Steve has in mind -- the professionals and those serious about politics and governing who want to win -- and those who, strange as it sounds, could care less about winning. These are the far right crazies who are in it for the fight, not the spoils of victory.

Read Richard Hofstader's 1965 essay the Radical Right and the 1964 Goldwater landslide. Like Steve, Hofstader shakes his head at the self-destructive behavior of a hard core right wing that is more than happy to go down to flaming defeat so long as they retain a platform to shout at the moon. That essay could have been written today. It describes the rump GOP located in the Deep South that supports Sarah Palin and could care less whether she is electible, just so long as she "reflects" their values.

Oh, I dont know. Could it have something to do with Al's satirical masterpiece?

Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right

The Right's idiocy is coming to the surface once again. Rightwingers who are incensed with the results of the Minnesota Supreme Court ruling are playing the cult of personality card instead of adhering to the results of a election cycle. Above both Al and Al jr. are showing their ignorance of our constitutional heritage.

Al - going to the courts is every American's right under the constitution of the USA, yet you see Mr. Franken "stealing" the election through court action. Al, it's called jurisprudence, and we all have our right to our day in court guaranteed constitutionally!

Al jr. - Franken is but one in one hundred. I submit that if you single Franken out among the other 99, you have a misplaced obsession, let alone a chip on your shoulder!

As for the citizens of Minnesota, you've got a real Senator with Mr. Franken. He is witty, Harvard educated, sharp as a tack, and will do his utmost to do honor to all of you.

After all, he's smart enough, he's good enough, and people like him! -Kevo

Perhaps Inhoye is concerned that Franken will find out about his work in obtaining orange futures for the Duke Brothers, place him in an ape suit and ship him off to Africa with a new "mate".

either way, isn't that an argument to be raised in the October before the election, not the July after it?

You've got to stop thinking about this stuff as if the Republicans were still a political party. They are not. They have not been for quite some time.

This is not politics - this is marketing. The right needs a steady stream of boogeymen to wave in front of the rubes so they'll continue writing checks. Al Franken fits their needs nicely. Hell, on some level they may even be glad he finally won. You can only scare people with "George Soros" for so long.

you see Mr. Franken "stealing" the election through court action

I believe Franken was simply the beneficiary of the normal recount process. It was Coleman that tried to change the outcome through the courts.

Roddy, By George I think you have it. Republicans aren't operating a political party. No, they are a marketing company selling hate and resentment. They have long since given up trying to actively engage in genuine governance or policy debate. They count success not at the ballot box, but by the contributions their fans send in.

Yes, they do need bogeymen to fill the coffers. For years, it was communism driving them, then, Islamofascists - Along the way, targeted individuals drive their fund giving.

But, nice to see Coleman's lantern and stove run out of propane.

Glenn Beck has spent several days this week saying Franken doesn't belong in the Senate.

So? I've spent several months saying Beck doesn't belong above the Earth's surface....

> doesn't belong above the Earth's surface

You recall that was also said about Wellstone?

And look what happened.

Maybe y'all should think about what liberal means.

It doesn't mean lynching or wishing people dead.

It means learning and making people smarter.

Franken is the senator who replaces Wellstone.

If you start wishing people dead, remember how that works out sometimes.

berttheclock: In reading your roundup of Republican entertainers I'm dismayed that you have so quickly forgotten another example eagerly embraced by our friends on the right--I'm speaking of course, of the late Sonny Bono. I'm not sure where Fred Thompson, so recently the Great Jowled Hope of the GOP, falls on this list, but it's a good bet more voters remember him from TV than for his time in the Senate.

That said, the issue for today's conservatives is not just what a particular Democrat's past career was, it's that they're Democrats at all. Their reactions to the 2008 elections--from teabgags to Limbaugh's wish for a Honduras-style coup to Scheurer's invitation to Bin Laden to attack us--betray their belief that only conservatives are fit to govern, and that any election that turns them out of office is a perversion of the natural, god-given order of things. They are not just anti-Democratic; they are anti-democracy. You might even say, Soviet.

The real purpose of these endless attacks on Franken and other dems is establish the idea that no democrat in power is ever legitimate. The constant drumbeat of false claims-the election was "stolen" or Franken is a "clown" and therefore undeserving of his seat-are all laying the groundwork for future contested elections. We can look forward to many more court challenges to elections they lose, and perhaps, more "Brooks Brothers riots" or other extra-legal maneuvers when they fail at the polls.

But what does Republican leader, Mark Sanford think of Coleman's loss? I mean, if we care what Rush thinks, what does SNL alumni Sarah Palin think?

Ted Frier-

I love it: Senator Rachel Maddow.

The day that happens, I will rest easy about America's future, and the state of our great nation will truly be strong.

The right hates Franken because he has really HURT THEM over the years with his wit and sarcasm.

The right-wing nut-o-sphere just has no comebacks to all of Franken's barbs, and now he has the senate floor. I love it.

Franken is pretty low-key right now, but once the public understands that he is more than capable of leading on critical issues, I think he will loosen up and hit a few over the fence.

I can't wait.

CSPAN casts just got a lot more entertaining.

I'm holding Senator Al to a high standard in voting his conscience. If he does, he'll be the next Paul Wellstone...

...and one dark chapter of the past eight years will get some closure.

I'm psyched about this, and I can understand why the nuts are also "psyched" in their nutty way.

Steve, I hate to keep reminding you that what ReRushlickins are now doing to Franken makes perfect *sense* in terms of their mission to have power and destroy power of Democrats. They will pick on a Democrat before the election to ward off him or her winning, and afterward to weaken. And they just revel in the bitter meanness anyway. But just maybe they could have a real point, that some of the ballots should have been counted that weren't etc. But then there's the hypocrisy, that they don't care if the adjustment helps Democrats. That ruins the moral principle of outrage over "everyone's vote should be counted."

The biggest up side of Al Frankin's election win is it may cause Limbaugh to stroke out. Al may have some Wellstone grit and be able to prove himself over the years. Its a blessing Inhofe can't stand him.

SEN. Al Franken was on Bill Press's radio show and was asked about Inhofe calling him a clown.

Al's reply - "I don't know how Sen. Inhoffe regards clowns, that might be an incredible compliment."

It's going to be lot of fun watching Sen. Al smack these anti-science, racist, authoritarian, homophobic theocrats around.

audio can be found at Press's website as I type.

http://www.billpress.com/

Paddlefoot-

Thank you (and Al) for that comeback. Priceless.