Al Franken Will Be a Good Senator

TW: I enjoy laughing about Franken from his church lady days as much as anyone but unlike some I have a great deal of respect for Al Franken's intellect and potential as a US Senator. Franken's books were insightful, funny and smart. Attributes that some may not appreciate or even regard as useful for a U.S. senator.

When a columnist like Broder frames Franken as a "loud-mouthed...comedian" it is a shame. But then the next Broder column of interest will be the first in a long-time. The one referenced below made the stunning claim that bi-partisanship takes mutual cooperation and is a good thing...oh really, and to think he gets paid to write such profound insights.

If the Senate was comprised solely of "policy wonks" we would have a problem but I believe having at least a handful is a good thing. Franken appears quite shrewd, you do not go from "church lady" to U.S. senator without some moxie (just like you do not go from 'B' movie actor to POTUS). Mark my word Franken will be around the senate for a long time or at least as long as he wants.

From Paul Krugman at NYT:
"David Broder has a column this morning calling for bipartisanship. I know, you’re shocked. But what struck me was this bit about Al Franken:

'Franken, the loud-mouthed former comedian, will be the 60th member of the Senate Democratic caucus …'

Two points.
First, implicit in this characterization of Franken is the notion of the Senate as a decorous gentlemen’s club. I doubt that club ever existed in reality; but in any case, these days the World’s Greatest Deliberative Body is, not to put too fine a point on it, chock full o’ nuts. James Inhofe: I rest my case.

Second, Al Franken’s dirty secret is that … he’s a big policy wonk.

I used to go on Franken’s radio show, all ready to be jocular — and what he wanted to talk about was the arithmetic of Social Security, or the structure of Medicare Part D.

In fact, the only elected official I know who’s wonkier than Al Franken is Rush Holt, my congressman — and he used to be the assistant director of Princeton’s plasma physics lab. (The campaign’s bumper stickers read, “My Congressman IS a rocket scientist.”)

So what will Franken do to the level of Senate discourse? He’ll raise it."