All the talk about Al Franken leaving Air America to run for the U.S. Senate seems silly to people knowledgable about Democratic politics in Minnesota. A good source told me that there's no way that the Minnesota Democratic party (the actual name is Democratic Farmer Labor Party) would ever nominate Franken -- and that if he moves back to the state he will realize that long before Norm Coleman's seat is up in 2008. Most of the posters on this board seem to assume that the nomination is Franken's for the asking, but that's definitely not the case.
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Prediction: Franken Won't Run For Senate Seat
- Thread starter NewsVet
- Start date
> All the talk about Al Franken leaving Air America to run for
> the U.S. Senate seems silly to people knowledgable about
> Democratic politics in Minnesota. A good source told me
> that there's no way that the Minnesota Democratic party (the
> actual name is Democratic Farmer Labor Party) would ever
> nominate Franken -- and that if he moves back to the state
> he will realize that long before Norm Coleman's seat is up
> in 2008. Most of the posters on this board seem to assume
> that the nomination is Franken's for the asking, but that's
> definitely not the case.
>
What posters? I don't believe it's the case.
> the U.S. Senate seems silly to people knowledgable about
> Democratic politics in Minnesota. A good source told me
> that there's no way that the Minnesota Democratic party (the
> actual name is Democratic Farmer Labor Party) would ever
> nominate Franken -- and that if he moves back to the state
> he will realize that long before Norm Coleman's seat is up
> in 2008. Most of the posters on this board seem to assume
> that the nomination is Franken's for the asking, but that's
> definitely not the case.
>
What posters? I don't believe it's the case.
>
> > Most of the posters on this board seem to assume
> > that the nomination is Franken's for the asking, but
> that's
> > definitely not the case.
> >
> What posters? I don't believe it's the case.
There's been a lot of discussion about what will happen when Franken "runs" for the senate. Some on the right have said that Air America will fold without its
star attraction. Others have speculated about who AAR will choose to fill Franken's slot when he "runs." There's been recent talk about AAR grooming Thom Hartmann to replace Franken when he "runs." The point is that he can't "run" if the DFL (the Democratic party in Minnesota) doesn't want him to run.
>
> > Most of the posters on this board seem to assume
> > that the nomination is Franken's for the asking, but
> that's
> > definitely not the case.
> >
> What posters? I don't believe it's the case.
There's been a lot of discussion about what will happen when Franken "runs" for the senate. Some on the right have said that Air America will fold without its
star attraction. Others have speculated about who AAR will choose to fill Franken's slot when he "runs." There's been recent talk about AAR grooming Thom Hartmann to replace Franken when he "runs." The point is that he can't "run" if the DFL (the Democratic party in Minnesota) doesn't want him to run.
>
M
mwebster
Guest
Who knows what he'll do?
> The point is that he can't "run" if
> the DFL (the Democratic party in Minnesota) doesn't want him
> to run.
>
Don't they have primaries in Minnesota? You seem to be suggesting that the DFL, which prides itself on being progressive, is an old fashioned machine controlled by bosses in smoke filled rooms.
I don't know what Franken will do. I don't think he really does either. In any case, AAR is smart to hedge their bets.
In radio (in most lines of work) it is not a good idea to let the boss know you are thinking about going someplace else or doing something else. At the very least, Franken gives his employer reason to the think he is less than committed to being a radio talk show host. So has Garafolo (who filmed a sitcome pilot for NBC which has not been picked up).
Al Franken created, starred in and wrote (some episodes) of a great sitcom seven years ago called "Lateline." It was to Nightline what Larry Sanders was to The Tonight Show. Never took off but got something of cult following (including me). I am at best lukewarm about Franken the talk show host, but there are areas in which he is brilliant. I wouldn't be surprised if various opportunities present themselves and be very tempting to somebody who was never really a radio guy to begin with.
Quiz: What answer best explains why a radio syndicator would sign an up and coming talk show host doing a broadcast at the same time as their biggest name host? (Please consult the Law of Occam's Razor before answering.)
> The point is that he can't "run" if
> the DFL (the Democratic party in Minnesota) doesn't want him
> to run.
>
Don't they have primaries in Minnesota? You seem to be suggesting that the DFL, which prides itself on being progressive, is an old fashioned machine controlled by bosses in smoke filled rooms.
I don't know what Franken will do. I don't think he really does either. In any case, AAR is smart to hedge their bets.
In radio (in most lines of work) it is not a good idea to let the boss know you are thinking about going someplace else or doing something else. At the very least, Franken gives his employer reason to the think he is less than committed to being a radio talk show host. So has Garafolo (who filmed a sitcome pilot for NBC which has not been picked up).
Al Franken created, starred in and wrote (some episodes) of a great sitcom seven years ago called "Lateline." It was to Nightline what Larry Sanders was to The Tonight Show. Never took off but got something of cult following (including me). I am at best lukewarm about Franken the talk show host, but there are areas in which he is brilliant. I wouldn't be surprised if various opportunities present themselves and be very tempting to somebody who was never really a radio guy to begin with.
Quiz: What answer best explains why a radio syndicator would sign an up and coming talk show host doing a broadcast at the same time as their biggest name host? (Please consult the Law of Occam's Razor before answering.)
Re: Who knows what he'll do?
> Don't they have primaries in Minnesota? You seem to be
> suggesting that the DFL, which prides itself on being
> progressive, is an old fashioned machine controlled by
> bosses in smoke filled rooms.
It's called a DFL convention. Franken could force a primary, but he would lose.
> So has Garafolo
> (who filmed a sitcome pilot for NBC which has not been
> picked up).
You're way behind the times. Garafolo is now a regular on The West Wing on NBC and is terrific. She plays the communications director for the Democratic candidate for president (and continues her Air America show). Jimmy Smits plays the Dem candidate and Alan Alda plays the Republican candidate.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by NewsVet on 10/03/05 02:25 PM.</FONT></P>
> Don't they have primaries in Minnesota? You seem to be
> suggesting that the DFL, which prides itself on being
> progressive, is an old fashioned machine controlled by
> bosses in smoke filled rooms.
It's called a DFL convention. Franken could force a primary, but he would lose.
> So has Garafolo
> (who filmed a sitcome pilot for NBC which has not been
> picked up).
You're way behind the times. Garafolo is now a regular on The West Wing on NBC and is terrific. She plays the communications director for the Democratic candidate for president (and continues her Air America show). Jimmy Smits plays the Dem candidate and Alan Alda plays the Republican candidate.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by NewsVet on 10/03/05 02:25 PM.</FONT></P>
> There's been a lot of discussion about what will happen when
> Franken "runs" for the senate. Some on the right have said
> that Air America will fold without its
> star attraction.
You've got to be kidding. At this point AAR fortunes are not effected in the least by Al Franken. Maybe he helped the network get off the ground, but now he is just another talk show host and not a very good one.
> The point is that he can't "run" if
> the DFL (the Democratic party in Minnesota) doesn't want him
> to run.
Sure he can run. The last time I checked this country was still Democracy. That means that any rich guy can run for any political office that he wants to.
> Franken "runs" for the senate. Some on the right have said
> that Air America will fold without its
> star attraction.
You've got to be kidding. At this point AAR fortunes are not effected in the least by Al Franken. Maybe he helped the network get off the ground, but now he is just another talk show host and not a very good one.
> The point is that he can't "run" if
> the DFL (the Democratic party in Minnesota) doesn't want him
> to run.
Sure he can run. The last time I checked this country was still Democracy. That means that any rich guy can run for any political office that he wants to.
> > There's been a lot of discussion about what will happen
> when
> > Franken "runs" for the senate. Some on the right have
> said
> > that Air America will fold without its
> > star attraction.
>
> You've got to be kidding. At this point AAR fortunes are
> not effected in the least by Al Franken. Maybe he helped
> the network get off the ground, but now he is just another
> talk show host and not a very good one.
Hey, don't blame me. Notice I was quoting "some on the right."
>
> > The point is that he can't "run" if
> > the DFL (the Democratic party in Minnesota) doesn't want
> him
> > to run.
>
> Sure he can run. The last time I checked this country was
> still Democracy. That means that any rich guy can run for
> any political office that he wants to.
Tell that to all the rich guys who sought their party's nomination and didn't get it. My point is that the DFL's state convention would laugh Franken out of the place. He could then try to force a primary, but why would he want to humiliate himself?
> when
> > Franken "runs" for the senate. Some on the right have
> said
> > that Air America will fold without its
> > star attraction.
>
> You've got to be kidding. At this point AAR fortunes are
> not effected in the least by Al Franken. Maybe he helped
> the network get off the ground, but now he is just another
> talk show host and not a very good one.
Hey, don't blame me. Notice I was quoting "some on the right."
>
> > The point is that he can't "run" if
> > the DFL (the Democratic party in Minnesota) doesn't want
> him
> > to run.
>
> Sure he can run. The last time I checked this country was
> still Democracy. That means that any rich guy can run for
> any political office that he wants to.
Tell that to all the rich guys who sought their party's nomination and didn't get it. My point is that the DFL's state convention would laugh Franken out of the place. He could then try to force a primary, but why would he want to humiliate himself?
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