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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Al Franken

Al Franken stories: 117 news summaries

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Defense Dept. Opposed Anti-Rape Rule for Contractors

But lefties ripped GOP senators for nay votes

Oct 20, 09 9:19 AM CDT
(Newser) - When 30 Republicans voted against an Al Franken amendment prohibiting defense contractors from forcing their employees to agree not to sue if they’re raped, Jon Stewart and liberals everywhere went ballistic. But those 30 Republicans weren’t alone, the Huffington Post reports; the Defense Department opposed the amendment as... More »

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Senate • rape • Department of Defense • Jon Stewart • The Daily Show • contract law • Al Franken • Jamie Leigh Jones • KBR • Defense Dept • John Thune • Obama administration • defense contractors

 Franken Gets 
 Funny Again 



Senator has crowd chuckling at Iowa fundraiser

Sep 14, 09 8:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - As a latecomer to the Senate this year, Al Franken’s been playing it straight—but he loosened up enough to venture a few jokes at an Iowa fundraiser yesterday, CNN reports. Discussing Sen. Tom Harkin’s new post as head of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee,... More »

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Iowa • politics • Senate • comedy • humor • fundraiser • Al Franken • Tom Harkin • comedian • senator

 Selleck For Congress: Poll 

US News readers want Selleck to run

Sep 3, 09 5:05 PM CDT
(Newser) - Al Franken's a senator and Arnold Schwarzenegger's a governor—so US News and World Report asked readers which other celebs they'd like to see in Congress. The winner? Magnum, PI, himself, Tom Selleck, with 41% of the vote. Respondents seem be from all over the political spectrum: Selleck is a... More »

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entertainment • Barack Obama • John McCain • Angelina Jolie • Arnold Schwarzenegger • celebrity • Al Franken • Ben Affleck • Anne Hathaway • Tom Selleck • Magnum, PI • Ted Nugent

'Informed' Franken
Wows Lawmakers

Between Sotomayor and health care, comedian-turned-senator has been busy

Aug 1, 09 4:52 PM CDT
(Newser) - A few weeks into his much-delayed Senate career, Al Franken is already winning plaudits from colleagues on both sides of the aisle, the AP reports. A member of two key Senate committees, the Minnesota Democrat has jumped into hot-button debates—like Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation and health care reform—and... More »

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Minnesota • Al Franken • health care reform • US Senate • Sonia Sotomayor

(Newser) - President Obama’s birthday is right around the corner—no matter where Lou Dobbs thinks he was born—but what do you get the leader of the free world? Politico asked various Washingtonians their thoughts for Tuesday's big occasion. Some notable responses:
  • Joe Biden: “It’s a surprise!
... More »

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Barack Obama • Joe Biden • Newt Gingrich • birthday • Al Franken • Austan Goolsbee • Obama administration • President Obama • Jason Chaffetz • Ron Kirk

(Newser) - The voice was Stuart Smalley, but the occasion was no joke, and Sen. Al Franken, on his fifth day in office, was sober and respectful as he made his public debut during Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings today. Franken said deferentially that he had much to learn from his colleagues, and... More »

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Senate Judiciary Committee • Al Franken • US Supreme Court • Sonia Sotomayor

OPINION

Baldwin to CNN Anchor: I'll Run If I Want To

Would-be pol threatens to discuss hit-and-run bust...whoops

Jul 9, 09 3:56 PM CDT
(Newser) - CNN’s Jack Cafferty sneered at Alec Baldwin’s possible entry into politics yesterday, noting that while newly sworn-in Sen. Al Franken is “Harvard educated,” Baldwin’s “credentials are questionable”—and the NYU grad is having none of it. “Perhaps New York University should print... More »

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crime • Senate • Alec Baldwin • feud • CNN • New York University • NYU • Al Franken • hit-and-run • Jack Cafferty • Harvard University • public office

 Franken Officially Sworn In 


Jul 7, 09 12:19 PM CDT
(Newser) - Eight months after the election, Al Franken finally became Minnesota’s junior senator today, Politico reports. Joe Biden swore the former funnyman in on the same Bible late Democratic Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone used. “Congratulations Senator,” said the vice president, causing the Senate gallery to erupt in cheers.... More »

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Joe Biden • Senate • Al Franken • Paul Wellstone

OPINION

 Franken Plays It So 
 Straight It's Funny 

But doggone it, people like him

Jul 7, 09 9:25 AM CDT
(Newser) - Al Franken the comedian is finally becoming Al Franken the senator, and his Senate colleagues were quick to demonstrate yesterday that, doggone it, they like him, writes Dana Milbank in the Washington Post. The only humor at a welcoming press conference was (apparently) unintentional, as Majority Leader Harry Reid intoned,... More »

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Saturday Night Live • Senate • comedy • Al Franken • comedian • senator • Dana Milbank

analysis

Franken Victory Could be Nightmare for Harry Reid

Majority leader faces 'a lot more pressure'

Jul 6, 09 8:29 AM CDT
(Newser) - Al Franken brings Harry Reid a potential extra vote—but he also brings the Senate majority leader a massive headache, Politico reports. “What’s really changed for us?” says a leadership aide. “Nothing, really. Except there’s a lot more pressure.” That may be an understatement: Democrats... More »

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Congress • Senate • Harry Reid • Senate Democrats • filibuster • Al Franken

analysis

 60 Votes 
 No Quick Fix 
 for Senate Dems 

Absences, diverse opinions could prove stumbling blocks

Jul 2, 09 9:52 AM CDT
(Newser) - With the Minnesota election finally settled, Senate Democrats have 60 potential votes now—but that won’t guarantee smooth sailing, the New York Times reports. Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd may often be out sick, and a range of viewpoints means the caucus won’t likely “walk in lockstep,... More »

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Congress • Senate • Harry Reid • Senate Democrats • Al Franken • Ben Nelson

Analysis

Chill Out, Democrats;
60 Votes Means Bupkis


Jul 1, 09 9:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - Al Franken is a senator at last, giving the Democrats their first 60-vote supermajority in 30 years. But that might not mean much, writes David Lightman of McClatchy Newspapers. Two of those votes belong to seriously ill senators, and another two are merely semi-reliable independents. Add in the disparate local... More »

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Senate Democrats • filibuster • Al Franken

OPINION

Don't Expect Laughs From Sen. Franken

During campaign
he was wonky and
even a bit boring

Jul 1, 09 5:34 AM CDT
(Newser) - Liberals may be hoping for biting wit and conservatives for embarrassing shtick, but according to Bob Benenson of CQPolitics, Al Franken is likely to disappoint both when he finally arrives in the Senate. Throughout his campaign Franken displayed an impressive mastery of Minnesota issues and made clear his candidacy was... More »

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Congress • Senate • Norm Coleman • Minnesota • Al Franken • comedian

Coleman Could Be Mulling Gubernatorial Bid

Former Senator asking donors to wait on endorsing other candidates

Jul 1, 09 4:33 AM CDT
(Newser) - Norm Coleman has given up the fight for Minnesota’s US Senate seat, but he may be mulling a run for governor. Coleman has been calling his major donors, asking them “to hold off making any commitments to other candidates,” a University of Minnesota political scientist tells the... More »

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Republican • Norm Coleman • Minnesota • fundraiser • Al Franken • governor • fundraising


 Franken: 
 I Can't
 Wait to
 Start Work 

Senator-elect stresses loyalty to state, downplays Dem. supermajority

Jun 30, 09 5:06 PM CDT
(Newser) - Al Franken said he was “thrilled and honored by the faith Minnesotans placed in me” after the state Supreme Court declared him the winner of the Senate recount, CNN reports. "I'm so excited to finally be able to get to work " said Franken, who added that he... More »

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Democrat • Norm Coleman • filibuster • Minnesota • Al Franken • senator • recount • US Senate • Minnesota recount

updated

 Coleman Concedes to Franken 


Jun 30, 09 3:16 PM CDT
(Newser) - Norm Coleman isn't going to drag out Minnesota's Senate fight any longer. Coleman conceded the race to Al Franken today, hours after the state's Supreme Court decreed that Democrat Franken was the rightful winner of November's election, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Further litigation damages the unity of our... More »

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Senate • Harry Reid • Senate Democrats • Norm Coleman • filibuster • Minnesota • Al Franken • disputed election

(Newser) - The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled unanimously in favor of Democrat Al Franken in the Senate election battle there, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The court decided that Republican Norm Coleman’s challenge of a lower court’s ruling did not merit reconsideration, the Pioneer Press adds. Though Coleman may... More »

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Senate • Norm Coleman • Al Franken • Election 2008 • Minnesota Supreme Court • Minnesota recount • court ruling

(Newser) - We still can't say for certain who will be Minnesota's next senator, but at least some of the legal bills are being straightened out. A Minnesota elections court ordered Norm Coleman to pay Al Franken nearly $95,000 to cover trial costs, reports the Minnesota Independent. Coleman must pay up... More »

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Senate • Norm Coleman • Minnesota • Al Franken

 Top Saturday Night Live Alums 

Stars who made it big after the show

Jun 5, 09 2:40 PM CDT
(Newser) - Not all Saturday Night Live alums go on to bigger and better things after leaving the show. Time pronounces the top 10 who did.
  • Will Ferrell has come a long way since those cheerleader sketches. His latest flick, Land of the Lost, opens today (and judging from the
... More »

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Saturday Night Live • entertainment • Tina Fey • Bill Murray • Al Franken • Chris Rock • Sarah Silverman • Eddie Murphy • Will Ferrell • Sarah Palin • John Belushi • Janeane Garofalo • Chevy Chase

Unanimous Ruling Against Coleman Likely

The end may finally
be near in Minnesota Senate race

Jun 5, 09 10:04 AM CDT
(Newser) - Minnesota’s Senate contest seems poised to end at long last, the Minnesota Independent reports. Election-law experts are sure that the Minnesota Supreme Court will shoot down Norm Coleman’s appeal, and it will probably be unanimous in doing so. “What he’s asked the Supreme Court to do... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Norm Coleman • Minnesota • Tim Pawlenty • Al Franken • disputed election • Minnesota Supreme Court

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