Franken’s Axe


Senator Al Franken today caused a stir among his colleagues, breaking from the Senate’s long-held standards of collegiality when the gavel-wielding Minnesota Democrat denied Senator Joe Lieberman an additional minute to finish his remarks.

Lieberman–who has been vilified by progressives for rejecting the controversial public option, most recently by MoveOn today–was interrupted by Franken when his remarks exceeded the allotted ten minutes.

“I’m sorry. The senator has spoken for ten minutes,” said Franken, acting as the chamber’s presiding officer.

In such occasions, members request unanimous consent from their colleagues for an additional moment or two. Such requests are summarily granted.

Franken, however, had little interest in hearing the remainder of the Connecticut Independent’s remarks on Medicare. “In my capacity as the senator from Minnesota, I object,” he said, with an unmistakable smirk.

While Lieberman casually laughed off Franken’s objection, Senator John McCain rose to defend his long-time friend, saying he’d never before seen such gross disrespect.

“I’ve been around here twenty-something years. This is the first time I’ve ever seen a member denied an extra minute or two to finish his remarks,” said McCain.

“And I must say, I don’t know what’s happening here in this body, but I think it’s wrong. I tell you, I’ve never seen a member denied an extra minute or two as the chair just did.”

Franken spokeswoman Jess McIntosh assured the Huffington Post that no disrespect was meant by objecting to Lieberman’s request for additional time and that Senate Democratic leadership is directing all presiding officers to strictly enforce time allotments. The decision, the spin goes, merely reflects the urgency with which Senate Democrats are approaching health care.

Either Senator Franken strictly adheres to Leadership direction, or the junior senator from Minnesota had a substantial axe to grind with Lieberman for taking “hostage” substantive health care reform. I’m willing to bet it’s the latter.

Indeed, so do progressives, droves of which can be found on Twitter celebrating Franken’s rude behavior.

Cross-posted to Skepticians.com.

Follow James on Twitter.


Category: , , , ,

RSS feed

57 Comments Leave a comment

Good ole' John. A Senator first,

Tbone (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 6:35PM EST (link)

a politician second and a Republican third. Conservative? Twenty-something.

Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.

 

OMG John!

michigan Thursday, December 17th at 6:37PM EST (link)

Franken got in on the cusp by a deceitful pull by ACORN and McCain doesn’t know what’s happening in this body! This just about sums it up for him. The Republicans had better understand and quickly, that this is not business as usual, they are dealing with revolutionaries that feel emboldened at this time in history. They will use ANY means to an end, and the end to them is a capitalistic America as we know it.

 

“I’ve been around here twenty-something years. "

Common_Cents (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 6:46PM EST (link)

That’s our main problem. Career politicians only representing their career and not American’s, especially taxpayers.

Obama=Golfer in Chief, Leading from, behind, the Back Nine.
Leaders don’t create movements. Movements create leaders. Get involved. Your future depends on it.
Govt “invests” YOUR tax money for POLITICAL return rather than economic return.

 

Gotta love Franken nt

aesthete (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 6:46PM EST (link)

The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton

 

Al Franken is a dolt, a slime-bag, an obscenity, and a worthless waste of human flesh...

eburke (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 6:51PM EST (link)

and those are his positive qualities.

I am still in denial that my state acutally sent this vile piece of excrement to the Senate.

Un.Be.Lievable.

“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Unified Patriots

You didn't.

MacAoidh (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 9:03PM EST (link)

ACORN did.

You guys were just dumb enough to let Franken get sufficiently close for ACORN to steal it.



Check out MacAoidh’s commentary on Louisiana and national politics at TheHayride.com

Yeah, what was it 4k ACORN votes registered in MN for a 300-something vote decision?

bannedtroll Thursday, December 17th at 11:29PM EST (link)

But, with ACORN’s spotless record, I’m sure they were all legit.

Stuart Smalley is really the lowest form of life, though the sad thing is, I’m not even sure he’s the biggest dirt bag in the Senate. When you still have Barbara “call me Senator” Boxer and Chuck ” b*tch” Schumer serving, it’s really a tough call.

I’m a banned Democrat who came here to promote the idea that Republicans are racists for disliking Barack Obama.

 
 
 

I'm finding it hard to develop outrage

streiff (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 6:52PM EST (link)

over a Dem being rude to a Dem. I know it’s wrong, but I just don’t feel it.

“What keeps me here is the reek of beer, the ladies and the craic”

Whatsa matter with you?

Tbone (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 6:56PM EST (link)

It’s a SENATOR being rude to a SENATOR. THAT is just not done! The Upper House Aristocracy has standards to be preserved. The McCain is not amused.

Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.

Heh...yeah...what happened to all the comity in the senate that conservatives have supposedly been the ones to destroy? nt

AceInTX (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 8:44PM EST (link)
The “Big Tent” analogy isn’t the correct one…the correct one is a MAGNET…we need to be a MAGNET that draws these independents in who are sick and tired of what’s going on in WashingtonFred Thompson
 

Yes really

SteveLA (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 8:51PM EST (link)

Liberaman, who may or may not vote with the R’s to stop Obama care needs to be kicked when he’s down. That’s such a great strategy, who thought up kicking people who might agree with you on critical legislation like Obama care when their own far side is kicking them, it’s a brilliant strategy.

Yea…that’s the ticket.

______________________________________

Competency over ideological purity and litmus tests

You make no sense.

Tbone (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 10:09PM EST (link)

What are you talking about?

Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.

Does it make sense to you?

SteveLA (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 10:20PM EST (link)

Tbone

Does the bashing of McCain for coming to the defense of Liberman who is on our side on Obama care make any sense to you? I realize that it’s knee jerk to bag on McCain at every turn, but defending Liberman in the face of actions an idiot like Franken when Liberman is against Obama care might actually be a smart thing to do?

Maybe the Angry Right doesn’t think so, but that’s just too bad, so sad.

______________________________________

Competency over ideological purity and litmus tests

Dude, you need a little reading comprehension help.

Tbone (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 10:24PM EST (link)

“Does the bashing of McCain for coming to the defense of Liberman who is on our side on Obama care make any sense to you?”

I was bashing the aristocratic entitlement culture of the Senate. It has nothing to do with which side of the aisle they are on, they all think their farts don’t stink.

Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.

Fair enough

SteveLA (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 10:27PM EST (link)

Tbone,

Your right, you did not bag on McCain, but in many other places from our usual Angry “true” conservatives here on RS there’s plenty of that.

So…I’m wrong, you did not knee jerk bag on McCain, sorry.

______________________________________

Competency over ideological purity and litmus tests

 

"Aristocratic Entitlement of the Senate?"

momofthecastle (Diary) Saturday, December 19th at 7:13PM EST (link)

You are sounding like a liberal.

What Sen. Franken’s (shudder) action was… was rudeness. And Sen. McCain’s was pointing out the rudeness.

Can we bring back civility to the USA?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

So much for Minnesota Nice

Darin_H (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 7:03PM EST (link)

Guess his address really was the Upper West Side….

A visionary coward says that anger can be power, as long as there’s a victim on TV – Flat Top, Goo Goo Dolls

 

His vote

discombobulated (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 7:06PM EST (link)

Funny, I thought they needed Lieberman’s vote. I guess not so much treating him like this.

Crazy, huh?

clintonformccain Thursday, December 17th at 7:23PM EST (link)

And, this from the crowd that gave us the hoodwink and the okie doke about post-partison politics.

What are they thinking?

 

I'd love to see Lieberman

sharonmcp (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 8:09PM EST (link)

After the way the leftie bloggers treated his wife, the vilification he’s getting from the liberals, progressives and the lame-stream media, and today’s retaliation from ‘gag-me’ Franken, I’d love to see Lieberman pull a fast one on them and actually vote no on cloture.

It would serve spoiled brats right.

“Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.” ~ Ronald Reagan

Lieberman would have nothing to lose

izoneguy (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 8:12PM EST (link)

by voting HELL NO – and SCREW YOU AL FRANKENFURTER…..

This is what it is coming to. How soon before blows are landed?

The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.

Lieberman may land the last blow....

texas214 (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 8:48PM EST (link)

Changing parties. See here his answer to Dana Bash over at CNN.

http://us.cnn.com/video/?/video/politics/2009/12/15/sot.lieberman.2012.cnn#

He didn’t announce he was running as an independent or Republican, but he sure didn’t mention as a Democrat.

 
 
 
 

That Senator Franken should be presiding is the ultimate insult here...

reddog53 (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 7:21PM EST (link)

The man gained his office through deceit and fraud, and has been there a matter of weeks. How does this lead to the honor of presiding over the Senate?

As for me, I do care when our Senate does things that reflect pettiness and stupidity. All 100 of them represent this great country, and in this case, I’m with Senator McCain–something is truly wrong.

Amen

mkghayes Friday, December 18th at 8:53AM EST (link)

The sight of him in that chair is disgusting and infuriating.

The worst part is

Duke Friday, December 18th at 9:33AM EST (link)

he’s been around such a short time about half the old, doddering Senators really think his name is Stuart Smalley.

It’s not about a purge. It’s about an insurrection.

 
 
 

Republican party is a bunch of maroons!

Jesse V Thursday, December 17th at 7:48PM EST (link)

Don’t make me wanna puke. The republican party is done! Republicans are spineless, weak, non-entity’s who don’t have the huevos to stand up and fight the socialists. The repubs are trying to convince us they are playing the political game, we ain’t that dumb, lindsey and macain’t, now look what you maroons have allowed to happen. You spineless wimps have allowed this bill to get this far. You sold out America you worthless piece’s of horse squeeze!

TEA Party is the new conservative party!

The republican party has been measured and found wanting! Put that in your collective non-entity pipes and smoke it you worthless RINO”s!

God my head hurts, thanks to the party of compromise!!!!!

Hinz rule - nt

Leopard1996 (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 7:57PM EST (link)

“The accumluated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, “Save Us!”….and I’ll look down and whisper, “No”…The Watchmen

 
 

See, hes a Paultard here to stir dissent....

rcov092 (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 7:53PM EST (link)

The opaul people are behind the registration of the Teparty as an official political party and they have a website up teabombs.com seeking contacts and recruiting candidates to run agains, according to them those that voted for Sun Rail.

I am against Sun Rail as well but I will know these people have a different agenda and are trying to co-opt the Teaparty patriots people for nefarious ends that can only be disastrous for the GOP. (Their quest to elect Owbewon Ronulan).

May my terminology was incorrect, let’s try TrollTard instead.

“Not One Red Dime for the NRSC or NRCC till they stop trying to elect liberals”

Please, someone show the Paultards the door.

Section9 Thursday, December 17th at 8:24PM EST (link)

Quickly, before they elect Ron Paul the New Jesus or something.

“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill

A third party would cost the conservatives 2010

martyinaz Friday, December 18th at 11:04AM EST (link)

With the current public discontent with the Democratic House and Senate, the Republicans have an excellent chance to take back Congress. But that won’t happen if a third party emerges. I have been a Libertarian for over 45 years, but I have spent that time compromising my beliefs. I realize my vote would be wasted if I truly voted my conscience.
If you want to silence Obama, you must have a majority in the House. Replace Pelosi with a Republican and shut down the Administration. A liberal Republican is not a good choice but it is better than a Democrat. Don’t get too high handed here and toss out an incumbent Republican, only to have a no-name conservative lose to a more popular Democrat. If you think 2010 is going to be easy you are mistaken. Watch what happens when the Amnesty bill goes through. With that, and the help of ACORN and George Soros, we will be lucky to hold our own.

 
 
 

Well my, my, my Senator McCain is "shocked"...

JadedByPolitics (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 8:03PM EST (link)

I suppose at the way the Senate is acting because Senator McCain is too BLIND to the HATE that is not ensconced firmly in both bodies of the Congress vis a vis CHANGE & HOPE. I think it quite shows that MCain has indeed been at the party too long and is quite IGNORANT of what ANIMALS are now in control. I want Senator McCain to be one of those Senators in 2010 who is sent home to REFLECT on their bad behavior over the years in direct contradiction of the WILL OF THE PEOPLE!

Al Franken will get to sit in obscurity after 2010 with NO respect given and his seat TAKEN in 2014!

grrrrr...should be "now ensconced"...nt

JadedByPolitics (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 8:03PM EST (link)
 

Woulda been nice if McCain could have mentioned...

MacAoidh (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 9:01PM EST (link)

…that Franken stole that Senate seat and doesn’t belong there in the first place.



Check out MacAoidh’s commentary on Louisiana and national politics at TheHayride.com

 

Lieberman was in the Senate back when Franken was busy with this:

Third Street (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 9:12PM EST (link)

“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”

5

sharonmcp (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 9:57PM EST (link)

This picture fits perfectly with his behavior today.

“Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.” ~ Ronald Reagan

I only wish that someday he "accidentally" gets addressed as Sen. Smalley while in the chamber

bannedtroll Thursday, December 17th at 11:34PM EST (link)

.

I’m a banned Democrat who came here to promote the idea that Republicans are racists for disliking Barack Obama.

 
 

That's just wrong.

drucifer667 Friday, December 18th at 8:31AM EST (link)

I was having breakfast.

 

I ...

proudtexasgirl Saturday, December 19th at 7:34AM EST (link)

just puked a little … oh, no … A LOT … That is SO NASTY oh wait … what a perfect description of this slime bag.

Proud Conservative Texan that drives not only a pickup, but two pickups of the Ford – not GovernmentMotors – flavor!

 
 

Franken: Proof That Mediocrity And Corruption Can Bring Success

Ausonius (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 9:29PM EST (link)

Whenever Franken came on SNL, it was time for a bathroom break, since you knew you would not be missing anything funny.

The danger of democracy is that just enough people will sometimes vote for mediocrity, or worse, and when coupled with just enough corruption, you end up with a moron as your representative.

James Traficant, Rangel, Murtha, Pelosi, recent mayors of Detroit, Chicago, etc. etc. etc.

’tis truly amazing at how many absolute morons can get elected to office!

And in some cases they are an insult to morons!

Let this be also an open request to competent ex-military officers: please consider running for elected office. America needs leaders, not clown-school rejects.

Ausonius: 310-395 A.D. Teacher, Poet, Consul, General, Farmer.

Personal Tutor to the future St. Paulinus of Nola and to young Gratian, heir to the throne during the turbulent final years of the Western Roman Empire. When his former student Gratian was assassinated, Ausonius threw up his hands and retired to his farm in Gaul. Rome was captured by barbarians 14 years after his death.

Cato@rock.com

They usually conduct themselves with too much dignity and honor to mix it up with a unfunny comedian wannabe statesman.

bannedtroll Thursday, December 17th at 11:44PM EST (link)

And by the way, who could possibly oppose a healthcare plan signed off by an SNL actor?

I’m a banned Democrat who came here to promote the idea that Republicans are racists for disliking Barack Obama.

 
 

Apparently the rules only apply to NON-Democrats...

Cargosquid (Diary) Thursday, December 17th at 10:03PM EST (link)

“leadership is directing all presiding officers to strictly enforce time allotments”

Really? I notice that the Senate “leadership” didn’t enforce the time allotted for the reading of Sander’s amendment. They broke their own rules.

They need to all be run out on a rail.

good point...

onyon43 Friday, December 18th at 5:29AM EST (link)

Did he allow extended allotments of time on ANYONE after the Lieberman debacle? I would be interested to know.

 
 

I am surprised that Franken behaved as long as he did

Illinicon (Diary) Friday, December 18th at 12:19AM EST (link)

in his first 10 months in the Senate, this was the first time he stepped out of the bounds of basic decency. I thought by now he would have done something that would have been a PR diaster for Democrats.

My Potus shortlist

declared candidates:

1. Tim Pawlenty
2. Herman Cain
3. Gary Johnson
4. Rick Santorum

among declared and rumored candidates:

1. Rick Perry
2. Tim Pawlenty
3. Rudy Giuilani
4. Herman Cain

Well he just needed to stay sane for awhile

Richard Mullins (Diary) Friday, December 18th at 12:30AM EST (link)

I’m sure now he’s going to go fully nuts. It’s funny that I haven’t heard Mr Frankenstein speak on the floor of the senate.

Richard Phillip Mullins BlogThe Squash Satire SiteNews on Happy Jet Airlines
Rmullins Pics
Rpmullins Twitter

Joe Biden is like a Decrepit Park owner with a Meth lab that happens to not only be a dealer but a user.

Let’s Bankrupt the Democratic paty. Make spend all the money to defend thier candidates.

Putting up plexiglass

proudtexasgirl Saturday, December 19th at 7:36AM EST (link)

to protect all of the members from his spittle exchange would be too costly …

Proud Conservative Texan that drives not only a pickup, but two pickups of the Ford – not GovernmentMotors – flavor!

 
 
 

franken stien

sarge324 Friday, December 18th at 5:19AM EST (link)

there is monsters in government,and there called liberals.frankin does whatever they tell him to do.they dont care about government,and the people.they care about taking whatever freedom we have so they can run the show.you got alot of kool ade drinkers on the left.

 

Who said Democrats are fair?

mrgrgtaz Friday, December 18th at 5:38AM EST (link)

Couldn’t someone have simply gotten the remarks from Lieberman and read them as part of the their own remarks? There is more than one way to skin a Cheshire cat. Patriots I encourage you to avoid being offended and start thinking outside the box toward a solution.

The next scheduled speaker

makemyday (Diary) Friday, December 18th at 9:21AM EST (link)

could have yielded 2 minutes of their own time if it was asked for. Once Joe asked for unanimous consent he cut off the option of the next speaker to yield his time. Something to remember next time he finds himself in this scenario.

When all else fails…….. Shoot!

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” –American author Mark Twain (1835-1910)

“We should never despair, our Situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new Exertions and proportion our Efforts to the exigency of the times.” –George Washington, letter to Philip Schuyler, 1777

 
 

There's A New Sheriff In Town...

winghunter1 Friday, December 18th at 5:47AM EST (link)

…And his name is Al ‘Marx’ Frankenstein.

All sane knew that electing card carrying Communists and other traitors would lead to this behavior from suicidal sniveling brats.

Are we ready to take our country back yet!?

“Educate and inform the whole mass of the people…they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.” – Thomas Jefferson

 

Dems wanted a professional clown in the Senate

RedBeard Friday, December 18th at 8:00AM EST (link)

I hope the party is proud, and that half the voters in Minnesota are, as well.

As an American, I’m embarrassed and apalled that an infantile comedian with a severe personality defect could actually wield the gavel in the United States Senate.

Standard-bearer for grouchy curmudgeonry since, oh, 1975 or so.

The only thing he doesn't do well is juggle

Richard Mullins (Diary) Friday, December 18th at 11:54AM EST (link)

When it comes to being a good clown, he sure is a good clown. He seems like an idiot when he talks. Now we do need him to go on the floor of the senate in clown shoes and a big red nose.

Richard Phillip Mullins BlogThe Squash Satire SiteNews on Happy Jet Airlines
Rmullins Pics
Rpmullins Twitter

Joe Biden is like a Decrepit Park owner with a Meth lab that happens to not only be a dealer but a user.

Let’s Bankrupt the Democratic paty. Make spend all the money to defend thier candidates.

 
 

Turn-about is fair play.

dabeall Friday, December 18th at 9:14AM EST (link)

I’d suggest the Republicans make it a point that whenever Al shows up on the floor and makes a UC request, they ensure it is summarily objected to. The sooner Al goes back to Air America, where nobody can hear him, the better.

 

So what if he just refused to quit talking? What could Franken do?

mom2oneson (Diary) Friday, December 18th at 9:27AM EST (link)

He is used some time thing to bulley this guy next time call him out on it and just refuse to listen. What is the worst that happens to him? Does he lose his place on the high school debate team? This is surreal like I’m hearing it about jr high kids. If these rules are for proper conduct and stuff in the senate once they are used to bulley someone that kind of changes things…

 

kowalski I just watched it

mom2oneson (Diary) Friday, December 18th at 9:32AM EST (link)

I heard about it on the radio..wow, this is my first time seeing and hearing Franken, I can’t believe this is our Senate!!

 

"Acting" Senator Al Fraudken

qsclues (Diary) Friday, December 18th at 11:03AM EST (link)

There’s a reason I call him this, but I may have to retract it. He’s hardly even acting like a Senator at this point.

Main Entry: rac·ism
Pronunciation: \ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\
Function: noun
Date: 1933
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
3 : term used by a liberal to concede an argument

 

Al, go back to SNL as a guest player.

ctyankee44 Friday, December 18th at 11:43AM EST (link)

‘nuf said.

 

I live in MN and don't know what's in the water here

Common_Cents (Diary) Saturday, December 19th at 7:36PM EST (link)

I always find myself flip flopping between ripping on the likes of Al Fraudken & Co being total liars and traitors not representing the people AND, if we are that apathetic as a nation of voters we deserve total morons.

Obama=Golfer in Chief, Leading from, behind, the Back Nine.
Leaders don’t create movements. Movements create leaders. Get involved. Your future depends on it.
Govt “invests” YOUR tax money for POLITICAL return rather than economic return.