Franken’s Bad Form

It looks like power has gone to the head of Al Franken. He was acting as the President of the Senate yesterday and while Joe Lieberman was talking his time expired. Lieberman asked for unanimous consent for another minute to finish up and Franken said that in his position as Senator from Minnesota, he objected. This caught Lieberman by surprise and he answered “Really?”

This is not the usual manner is which the Senate does business. The requests are granted to allow Senators to finish what they were saying and it is a given that they get the time. Brand new to the Senate Al Franken decided that he would break with decorum.

I wonder if this is because Lieberman has been a thorn in the side of Democrats on the health care issue. One has to wonder if Franken would have objected to any Democrat who asked for more time.

Franken’s people say it was because they were on a tight timeline to get on to health care debate but since Harry Reid was more than an hour late to the Senate (after Lieberman was shut down) the time excuse holds no water.

I think it would be absolutely fitting if Lieberman told Harry Reid that he is withdrawing his support for the health care legislation and will vote against it no matter what. He could not say it was because of what Franken did because people would make a big deal out of that (even though they would not make a big deal out of Franken’s childish behavior). He could easily say that he had asked for another minute to say he wanted to get back to health care so he could vote for it but since Franken did not let him he rethought his support and can’t provide it in good conscience.

It would be humorous if Franken’s antics cost the Senate their health care bill. Of course, it would be even better if Lieberman did not say anything to anyone and just voted against it when the time comes up. That would be a surprise to Democrats and drive a stake through their hearts.

I can’t understand why Lieberman continues to take abuse from the party he has supported for so many years. Harry Reid likes to talk about playing politics and fear among Republicans (retribution from leaders) but it is the Democrats who are using threats to bring members in line.

Obama himself has made the statement; “Don’t think we’re not keeping score, brother,” to Congressman DeFazio.

This is thug politics and attempts at intimidation but it is going to backfire. Defazio is not fazed by it. Lieberman does not appear to be either.

Lieberman should caucus with Republicans or change his party to Republican to take away the 60 votes the left has. That would be an appropriate way to deal with morons like Franken.

Big Dog

Gunline

[tip]If you enjoy what you read consider signing up to receive email notification of new posts. There are several options in the sidebar and I am sure you can find one that suits you. If you prefer, consider adding this site to your favorite feed reader. If you receive emails and wish to stop them follow the instructions included in the email.[/tip]

If you enjoy what you read consider signing up to receive email notification of new posts. There are several options in the sidebar and I am sure you can find one that suits you. If you prefer, consider adding this site to your favorite feed reader. If you receive emails and wish to stop them follow the instructions included in the email.

15 Responses to “Franken’s Bad Form”

  1. victoria says:

    “Lieberman should caucus with Republicans or change his party to Republican to take away the 60 votes the left has. That would be an appropriate way to deal with morons like Franken.”

    I still can’t believe that the state I live in elected this guy.

  2. Adam says:

    Franken is doing a great job in the Senate. He’s impressing the people he needs to impress and he’s infuriating those he needs to infuriate. It’s awesome to watch.

    • Blake says:

      Franken is as dumb as Smalley- the impersonation does not have to be fiction, as we can see.
      He infuriates everyone except other mouthbreathers like him.
      If you think it’s “awesome” to watch, you really need to get out more.

  3. Big Dog says:

    Considering your idea of doing great this is not saying much.

  4. Adam says:

    Well, it turns out McCain was lying.

    This record of McCain objecting to more time is making it’s way around the blogs now:

    The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator’s time has expired.

    Mr. DAYTON. I ask for unanimous consent that I have 30 seconds more to finish my remarks.

    Mr. McCAIN. I object.

    The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

  5. Big Dog says:

    He might just suffer from dementia

    • Adam says:

      Or a acute case of the grandstandings. A relapse perhaps of the case he had last year trying to look more decisive on the stimulus than Obama.

  6. Big Dog says:

    Today Franken asked for 10 minutes without objection. I wish Lieberman had been there and objected. That would have been priceless.

    Franken is a moron. Good job, only an ass thinks so. Franken let power go to his head.

    Maybe we will get lucky and he will disappear in the snowstorm.

    No, I do not like him but I did not like him for years before he ever stole that election. He is a good poster child in support of abortion. He is a poster child for abortion years after birth…

    He will get his in the Senate and it will be funny to watch. Maybe he will be in the minority next year and we can watch him freak out about it.

    • Darrel says:

      Bigd:”Franken let power go to his head.”>>

      DAR
      Blah blah blah.

      “Franken spokeswoman Jess McIntosh told HuffPost that nothing personal was meant and that Democratic leadership is asking every presiding officer to enforce the 10-minute rule for both sides.”

      Franken was just following the rules.

      D.
      —————–
      “Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it’s a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from.” –Al Franken

      • Big Dog says:

        Right, because they had a schedule to keep.

        And then Harry Reid was and hour late.

        There was a lot of back and forth that took up time that was not stopped.

        Franken is an ass. He could have easily taken care of it. If I were a Republican Senator I would object from now on to every Dem request and tell them, Franken rule, trying to keep things on time.

        Be funny if Lieberman votes against health care because of it.

      • Darrel says:

        Bigd: “[Franken] could have easily taken care of it.”>>

        DAR
        He did take care of it. Lieberman asked for more time and was turned down, as per the rules.

        Bigd likes to talk about following rules and the rule of law, that is, unless these rules are enforced or cause him or his ideology discomfort. Typical inconsistency and hypocrisy.

        And again we see this is all another pile of rightwing horse manure:

        ***
        “Franken says he wasn’t trying to slight Lieberman and in fact supports the amendment to the health care bill Lieberman was discussing.

        “I agreed with every word he said for the entire 10 minutes, and I think he probably only had maybe 30 seconds left,” he said. “He didn’t take it personally at all.”

        Franken says Majority leader Harry Reid ordered all senators who presided today to keep speeches to their ten minute limits and not grant any extensions.

        “Usually you’re allowed to do this and, just, today we were told not to let it happen because there’s been some attempt to string out the debate,” Franken said. “So, I really just had no choice.”

        “Lieberman laughed off the incident as much ado about nothing when he returned to the chamber a couple of hours later. He said that Franken apparently was following procedures for sticking to time limits that had been handed down by Senate leaders. Franken had made a good-natured gesture with his hands, Lieberman said, “as if to say ‘There’s nothing I can do’.”

        Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), presiding over the Senate, objected to Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-Texas) request for additional time to speak… “Cornyn’s spokesman Kevin McLaughlin said they quickly figured out it was ‘obviously procedural.’ ”

        Link

        D.

      • Blake says:

        Al is a great case for retro- active abortion- but then so are a LOT of liberals, as their logic is terminally flawed.

  7. Big Dog says:

    Not at all, I have no problem with following the rules and if there is a time limit then let’s stick to it ALL THE TIME, not when it suits one party or the other.

    Funny, you have no problem with going against the Constitution and requiring people to buy insurance, or providing it. Not in there and it is the rule of law.

    Perhaps the leadership should have told everyone.

    Plus, Lieberman is on board now so how is he hurting anything?

    The other issue is that it is unusual for the person sitting where Franken was to make the objection. That usually comes from the floor.

    But by all means, let’s make sure that we have an objection to more time for anyone from now on so that we can keep the rules uniform.

    Don’t care really, the Dems are signing a death warrant. Reid will be gone and so will many others.