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Al Franken is an American comedian, actor and, after a lengthy and contentious recount, was declared the winner of the 2008 Minnesota Senate election.VOA News: Democrat Al Franken Named Winner of Minnesota Senate Race (January 5, 2009)
Franken was a comedian, writer, and political radio talk show host prior to his election to the Senate. He became famous during his stints at Saturday Night Live, creating characters such as multiple 12-step program participant, Stuart Smalley, and a One Man Mobile Uplink news crew.
Just days after Franken was declared the winner in the Minnesota Senate election, Norm Coleman announced he had filed a lawsuit to formally challenge the results of the recount.West Central Tribune: Coleman sues over Minnesota Senate recount result (January 6, 2009) On June 30, 2009, Minnesota's Supreme Court unanimously declared Franken the winner of the election after dismissing Coleman's challenge.http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/30/franken.ruling/index.html
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Fast Facts
- Born: May 21, 1951
- Full name: Alan Stuart Franken
- Alma Mater: Harvard University
- Graduated with a B.A. from Harvard University
- Wrote for and appeared on Saturday Night Live for 10 years before entering politics
- February 14, 2007: Announces candidacy for the 2008 United States Senate election in Minnesota as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
- September 9, 2008: Wins Democratic primaryCBS News: Minn. Democrats Pick Al Franken For Senate (September 10, 2008)
- Ran against Norm Coleman for Minnesota Senate in November of 2008
- 2008 election results were delayed by contentious recountCNN: Senate GOP prepared to fight if Dems try to seat Franken (January 3, 2008)
- Married to:: Franni Bryson http://www.alfranken.com/pages/meet_al/#...
- Children: Thomasin (daughter) and Joe (son) http://www.alfranken.com/pages/meet_al/#...
- Daughter Thomasin, son Joe http://www.alfranken.com/pages/meet_al/#...
- Host of the Al Franken Show on Air America Radio from March 31, 2004 to February 14, 2007, when he declared his candidacy for Senate.
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Senate Run and Recount Limbo
The race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken was one of the most costly in Senate history. Coleman attacked Franken for the vulgarity in his past comedy routines, while Franken characterized Coleman as a corrupt supporter of the policies of George W. Bush.The original results of the Minnesota Senate election showed incumbent Senator Norm Coleman defeating Franken by 221 votes. A recount was ordered and delayed the official results through January, 2009. Minneapolis StarTribune: Coleman Wins, Recount Coming(November 5, 2008) FOX News: Minnesota Ripe for Election Fraud (November 10, 2008)
On January 12, 2009, after waiting the required seven days after being declared the election winner, Franken's lawyers requested that he be issued an election certificate so that he could take his seat in the Senate. However, Governor Tim Pawlenty and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie reported that state law prohibited them from issuing the certificate until all legal challenges to the electoral results were resolved.FOX News: Minnesota Governor Won't Issue Franken's Election Certificate (January 12, 2009)
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Controversial Statements
Franken has attracted the ire of conservatives with his outspoken style. In his 2003 book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right, Franken blasted Fox News, as well as conservative pundits Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh.His 1996 book "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations" targeted Limbaugh specifically. His Air America radio show initially was entitled "The O'Franken Factor" to goad O'Reilly, and he was sued by Fox News when he used the catch phrase "fair and balanced." The case was thrown out in a summary judgement.
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On the Issues
Franken is a vocal opponent of the Bush Administration's policies regarding taxes, the war in Iraq and Social Security. Franken also favors a Universal Health Care system.Official Site: Al Franken for Senate -
Quotes
"It kills me that things I said and wrote sent a message ... that they can't count on me to be a champion for women, for all Minnesotans. I'm sorry for that. Because that's not who I am."—Al FrankenStarTribune.com: Franken Sweeps to Endorsement (June 8, 2008) -
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The Mahalo Top 7
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Minnesota court rules Democrat Al Franken won Senate seat
Reuters (June 30, 2009) -
Official Site: Al Franken for Senate
alfranken.com -
Wikipedia: Al Franken
en.wikipedia.org -
Washingtonpost.com: Minn. court declares Franken leading vote-getter
washingtonpost.com (April 13, 2009) -
The Swam: Al Franken's 'victory' margin grows: 312
swamppolitics.com (April 13, 2009) -
Court declares Franken the winner of Minnesota Senate race
Minnesota's Supreme Court has dismissed former Sen. Norm Coleman's challenge to the state's November election results and declared Democratic challenger Al Franken the winner.cnn.com -
Boston Herald: Absentees push Al Franken Senate lead to 312
news.bostonherald.com (April 07, 2009)
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Featured Video
vernrice2000 added a comment July 12, 2009 12:01 AM| ReportPlease hang in there with the public option for health care. Don't let them put a trigger on it either. Pay for it by refocusing current payments and taxing those above $250,000. Democrats have the reconcilation votes. Don't be afraid to use it! -
Questions and Answers About Al Franken | View All | Ask a Question
View All Al Franken Questions (296) | Ask a QuestionI read that one of Al Franken's map sketches were auctioned at a fundraiser in 2007. How much did it sell for? (1 Answer)$375 according to U.S. News and World Report read moreDoes anyone know if Al Franken Twitters? (2 Answers)That's a re-twitter account (they're just re-posting news articles about Al). And there hasn't been an update in 20 days. I think the answer is no. read moreWhat is the best Weird Al Yankovic parody video? (15 Answers)My personal favorite Weird Al Yankovic parody video is probably "Trapped in the Drive-Thru," which is a parody of R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmGVYki-oyQ As for his MJ ... read moreDoes anyone know if the outcome of the election in which Al Franken was running has been decided yet? (3 Answers)Let's combine two answers here: Al Franken was determined to be the winner when results from the recount were certified. http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/37093114.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUs HOWEVER, one pending lawsuit trial is underway, but not ... read more
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Al Franken on Twitter Powered by Twitter
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Saw Al Franken at Eastern Market today, and bought two original, framed photographs by a local artist for my bathroom!
@katelynhurley | November 09, 2009 01:52 AM -
@Croneandbearit You don't like Al Franken? I didn't run into him, I just RTed tweets from people who did. Personally though, I love the guy
@Uncucumbered | November 09, 2009 12:41 AM -
RT@Up_in_Smoke "My Political Experience" by Al Franken (via @Derameth) #worldsthinnestbooks ///// One of my favorites
@jgallagher50 | November 09, 2009 12:35 AM -
RT @nathanmart: Just ran into al franken in eastern market, told him i appreciated his reasonableness. Wtf moment of the day
@Uncucumbered | November 09, 2009 12:33 AM
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Al Franken on Amazon | View All
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Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: 6a Fair and Balanced Look at the Right - $5.00
Amazon.com: Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: 6a Fair and Balanced Look at the Right: Al Franken: Books
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100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (And Al Franken Is #37) - $25.95
Amazon.com: 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (And Al Franken Is #37) (9780060761288): Bernard Goldberg: Books
Amazon
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Al Franken News
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Why we voted against the Franken Amendment
Al Franken offered to prohibit the Defense Department from contracting with any company that requires its employees to use arbitration to resolve certain ...Jackson Sun (November 08, 2009) -
Franken talks about his smokin' hot aides
By Emily Kaiser in Al Franken No idea how we missed this when it was originally posted, but someone noticed that Sen. Al Franken has some smokin' aides ...Minneapolis City Pages (November 05, 2009) -
Al Franken Loves Puppies, War Veterans
By Verena von Pfetten We have some heartwarming news for you today that involves two of our very favorite things: Al Franken and puppies! ...Air America (November 06, 2009) -
Why Sen. Al Franken Is Awesome: The ENDA Hearing
... rookie Senator from Minnesota (and damned funny man) Al Franken was outlining a statement in front of Assistant Attorney General of Civil Rights Tom ...Just Out (November 06, 2009)
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