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New York, 9:18 AM
Mon Nov 23
15 posts in the last 24 hours

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  • posts about #democracy more →

    Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken

    Hand-Written Signs Prove Legitimacy of Town Hall Protests

    Reasons For Concerned Citizen's Concern Revealed

    Al Franken Looks Like A Winner Again

    America's Best Ballot Disqualified

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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of My_Latest_Incarnation My_Latest_Incarnation
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    They may be all ginned up with outrage, but these are people who've been conditioned for generations to listen politely to literally anyone talking to them.

    Well, they are next door neighbors to the Canadians. It's bound to have an effect on them.
     Reply
    themediatrix promoted this comment My_Latest_Incarnation was starred My_Latest_Incarnation was unstarred
    Image of themediatrix themediatrix
    09/14/09

    @My_Latest_Incarnation: Isn't Lake Woebegon there, too?
     Reply
    themediatrix was starred themediatrix was unstarred
    Image of Magister Magister
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    Franken & Frank: Insurance Reform Tour - 2009
     Reply
    Magister was starred Magister was unstarred
    Image of vampirebris vampirebris
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    Aww, I'm proud to be a Minnesota and to have voted for Franken. Now we just have to run Michelle Bachmann out of the state (politely, of course).
     Reply
    TheUptightMidwesterner promoted this comment vampirebris was starred vampirebris was unstarred
    Image of pinkteapot pinkteapot
    09/04/09

    @vampirebris: In all seriousness, can you please explain Michelle Bachmann to us? How in the world did she get elected? Do people in MN really see how crazy she is, or is she all set for re-election?
     Reply
    MissNormaDesmond promoted this comment pinkteapot was starred pinkteapot was unstarred
    Image of vampirebris vampirebris
    09/04/09

    @pinkteapot: I think a nutjob like MB gets elected by coalescing factions (taxes. guns. abortion) who are each willing to overlook incompetence and insanity because of their single-issue politics. When combined with a conservative-leaning district like the 6th, you've got Michele Bachmann.

    She's bat shit crazy, but she's wily that one...
     Reply
    vampirebris was starred vampirebris was unstarred
    Image of Excited_Utterance Excited_Utterance
    09/04/09

    @pinkteapot: I went to college in Stearns County and I left before she got in, and I seriously cannot explain it. It's always been Republican, but Kennedy was nothing like her. There have to be enough crazies in St. Cloud, which is why they won't build the light rail out there after all
     Reply
    TheUptightMidwesterner promoted this comment Excited_Utterance was starred Excited_Utterance was unstarred
    Image of TheUptightMidwesterner TheUptightMidwesterner
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    I think that the Minnesota State Fairgrounds are kind of a political Green Zone for the state. There is political crap all over and everyone is pretty decent and nice to each other about it. Years ago when Paul Wellstone was there a guy next to me told him "Your politics represent everything I hate, but you seem like real damn smart, nice guy." and Wellstone freaking hugged him.
     Reply
    TheUptightMidwesterner was starred TheUptightMidwesterner was unstarred
    Image of Banjo-Sea Kitten Banjo-Sea Kitten
    09/04/09

    @TheUptightMidwesterner: Wellstone. Weep. A tragedy I have never gotten over and never will.
     Reply
    Banjo-Sea Kitten was starred Banjo-Sea Kitten was unstarred
    Image of robotwaste robotwaste
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    Maybe Obama just put this guy in front of the cameras to explain health care to the country. Nice job Al Franken.
     Reply
    MissNormaDesmond promoted this comment robotwaste was starred robotwaste was unstarred
    Image of rubyruby rubyruby
    09/04/09

    @robotwaste: totally. this is one of the most rational, polite tacks I've seen any politician take. Of course it doesn't hurt that his audience is polite but yes, very well done, Senator Franken.
     Reply
    MissNormaDesmond promoted this comment rubyruby was starred rubyruby was unstarred
    Image of skt.smth skt.smth
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    I think the main difference here--and this is a big one--is that Franken actually knows how to talk to real, non-politician people. It helps that the crowd is made up of people who, as Fox News brainwashed as they may be, can't in their heart of hearts shut down another legitimate Minnesotan in what's become the typical "town hell" fashion.

    And I think another huge thing he does right here is he talks about Minnesota's progressive stance on healthcare, so he's pulling these people in on something they presumably benefit from already and, therefore, support.

    But at the end of the day, Michelle Bachmann aside, Minnesota conservatives are some of the softest around. Its history with agriculture means that, yeah, you have a good many salt of the earth types--social conservatives, basically--wandering around, but they are also in line with working class politics, and are more inclined to eschew the social conservatism if it means liberal progress in other areas that more closely affect their lives.
     Reply
    Edited by skt.smth at 09/04/09 10:59 AM skt.smth was starred skt.smth was unstarred
    Image of TheUptightMidwesterner TheUptightMidwesterner
    09/04/09

    @skt.smth: ..and for that..you are hearted. Very well put.
     Reply
    TheUptightMidwesterner was starred TheUptightMidwesterner was unstarred
    Image of If_I_Had_a_Poodle If_I_Had_a_Poodle
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    i love him even more than jon stewart.
     Reply
    If_I_Had_a_Poodle was starred If_I_Had_a_Poodle was unstarred
    Image of Banjo-Sea Kitten Banjo-Sea Kitten
    09/04/09

    @if_i_only_had_a_heart: I know. He makes Obama (whom I love for all time) look like Nerdie McStiffington.
     Reply
    Banjo-Sea Kitten was starred Banjo-Sea Kitten was unstarred
    Image of WackoJacko WackoJacko
    09/04/09

    @if_i_only_had_a_heart: HOLLA AT ME.
     Reply
    WackoJacko was starred WackoJacko was unstarred
    Image of WackoJacko WackoJacko
    09/04/09

    @if_i_only_had_a_heart: I mean, seriously, NO CONTEST.
     Reply
    WackoJacko was starred WackoJacko was unstarred
    Image of skt.smth skt.smth
    09/04/09

    @Banjo-Sea Kitten: I bet he can smell the scent of Beef Wellington wafting from the White House windows already.
     Reply
    Edited by skt.smth at 09/04/09 11:19 AM skt.smth was starred skt.smth was unstarred
    Image of Banjo-Sea Kitten Banjo-Sea Kitten
    09/04/09

    @skt.smth: make it non factory-farmed, grass fed with a Temple Grandin slaughter shute and you're on.
     Reply
    Banjo-Sea Kitten was starred Banjo-Sea Kitten was unstarred
    Image of Banjo-Sea Kitten Banjo-Sea Kitten
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    If Franken can mind his manners and steer clear of the hookers, I say he runs for President in 2016.
     Reply
    Banjo-Sea Kitten was starred Banjo-Sea Kitten was unstarred
    Image of WackoJacko WackoJacko
    09/04/09

    @Banjo-Sea Kitten: And if he can watch who he takes money from, he'll have a trifecta.
     Reply
    WackoJacko was starred WackoJacko was unstarred
    Image of FrankenPC FrankenPC
    09/04/09

    @Banjo-Sea Kitten: I'd take a comedian for president any day. We've tried misogynists, murderers, the brain dead, cowboys, average joes...It's time for some comedy.
     Reply
    FrankenPC was starred FrankenPC was unstarred
    Image of Banjo-Sea Kitten Banjo-Sea Kitten
    09/04/09

    @FrankenPC: You've covered George W. Bush; who else ya got?
     Reply
    Banjo-Sea Kitten was starred Banjo-Sea Kitten was unstarred
    Image of heywhat heywhat
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    What the hell is this bull? There listening and talking about things calmly?!?! Pfftt.... stupid people. Oh, and Tea Bag shirt wearing lady's Mom is adorable. And clearly is just as confused as I am.
     Reply
    MissNormaDesmond promoted this comment heywhat was starred heywhat was unstarred
    Image of Rhymenocerous Rhymenocerous
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    This woman's opening question illustrates the problem with the debate: She assumes that what she wants is what most people want. False.
     Reply
    Rhymenocerous was starred Rhymenocerous was unstarred
    Image of mossdale mossdale
    09/04/09

    @Rhymenocerous: especially when she qualifies it to "what the people who voted for you want," though I am assuming she didn't vote for him.
     Reply
    MissNormaDesmond promoted this comment mossdale was starred mossdale was unstarred
    Image of Niko Bellic Niko Bellic
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    You will never ever see any of this clip on Fox

    Or, for that matter, on any TV that makes money off of the things they show. Which is all of them. Gotta love that capitalism.
     Reply
    Niko Bellic was starred Niko Bellic was unstarred
    Image of Paul.B.Dodd Paul.B.Dodd
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    See I was right yesterday. You treat crazies like the rabid hyenas they are and you treat reasonable folks with the same degree of respect and dignity they show you.
     Reply
    Paul.B.Dodd was starred Paul.B.Dodd was unstarred
    Image of Banjo-Sea Kitten Banjo-Sea Kitten
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    Damn, damn, damn. I have hope for humanity after this. Al, you go. Please, media, get him on the TV talking about healthcare. He gently and effectively shut the Fargo Tea Bag lady down. This is progress right here. This is democracy in action. Yes, it was booooring but kudos to those people for hanging in with him too.

    And how cute is Tea Bag's mama?
     Reply
    Banjo-Sea Kitten was starred Banjo-Sea Kitten was unstarred
    Image of Inescapeable Picnic Inescapeable Picnic
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    The highlight is around 7:10 when Sunglasses McOverhishead tries to void Franken's El Paso/Mcallen comparison by asking if immigrants skew it. Franken's reply: "I told you, but they have the exact same demographic as El Paso, which does it for half the cost. So, I was... I don't know if you remember my saying it, but that was significant."
     Reply
    Banjo-Sea Kitten promoted this comment Inescapeable Picnic was starred Inescapeable Picnic was unstarred
    Image of Banjo-Sea Kitten Banjo-Sea Kitten
    09/04/09

    @Inescapeable Picnic: I'm still dabbing the tears from my eyes and that was an extra special smackdown.
     Reply
    Banjo-Sea Kitten was starred Banjo-Sea Kitten was unstarred
    Image of i'm a bottle i'm a bottle
    09/04/09

    @Inescapeable Picnic: 30 down, a few million to go.
     Reply
    i'm a bottle was starred i'm a bottle was unstarred
    Image of Inescapeable Picnic Inescapeable Picnic
    09/04/09

    @Banjo-Sea Kitten: You can tell he wanted to go all 1987-coked-up-writer's-room on him.
     Reply
    Inescapeable Picnic was starred Inescapeable Picnic was unstarred
    Image of Rhymenocerous Rhymenocerous
    09/04/09

    @Inescapeable Picnic: Well, Fox News told him that immigrants are the problem, so it was a reasonable question. I have a feeling he did remember but wasn't totally clear on the word "demographic."
     Reply
    Rhymenocerous was starred Rhymenocerous was unstarred
    Image of Richard Petty Bourgeoisie Richard Petty Bourgeoisie
    09/04/09

    In reply to Teabaggers Ambush, Listen Politely To Al Franken
    Norm Coleman just called in a "stop payment" order on a certain $2,500 check while muttering, "If you're not going to call him a Nazi, you're not getting your money, bitch."
     Reply
    Edited by Richard Petty Bourgeoisie at 09/04/09 10:04 AM Richard Petty Bourgeoisie was starred Richard Petty Bourgeoisie was unstarred
    Image of jackvinyl jackvinyl
    09/04/09

    @Richard Petty Bourgeoisie: & Norm McDonald just decide to run for city council.
     Reply
    Edited by jackvinyl at 09/04/09 11:31 AM jackvinyl was starred jackvinyl was unstarred
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