Video: Bowling for Normie
posted at 10:30 am on July 23, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Campaign advertising for local and state elections has its own charm, if not the slick messaging of more national efforts. This holds true, I think, in smaller states more than larger states. When I lived in California, every political ad appeared to be produced by Madison Avenue, with very little flavor of California and its districts.
Norm Coleman’s latest ad, “Why Not?”, shows that kind of local charm, even if it doesn’t say anything new at all:
The guys and I have been talking. We’ve read all this stuff about Al Franken: Not paying taxes. Going without insurance for his employees. Foul mouthed attacks on anyone he disagrees with. Tasteless, sexist jokes. Writing all that juicy porn. And we’ve decided we’re running for US Senate. Why not? We’re just as qualified as Al Franken, and we’re better bowlers.
Let’s first address what this ad isn’t — it isn’t anything new. Three guys bowling, using accents borrowed from Fargo, repeating the attack points doesn’t exactly scream fresh. With Coleman leading in the polls by a rather wide margin and Franken facing an unexpected primary challenge, one wonders why the Coleman campaign doesn’t focus more on its own positives rather than Franken’s negatives.
However, it does entertain, at least on the first pass, and the ad even gently skewers the image Minnesotans have of themselves, albeit fondly and very lightly. Maybe the worst thing the characters in this ad could call Franken is a lousy bowler.
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What, is Franken in the BO bowling league?
jgapinoy on July 23, 2008 at 10:35 AM
I find the humor in the advertisement refreshing. I guess it’d be hard not to show some kind of humor when you’re running against Al Franken.
TooTall on July 23, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Woody: How’s it going Mr. Peterson?
Norm: It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and I’m wearing Milkbone underwear.
Smooth Rooster on July 23, 2008 at 10:38 AM
And it’s good to see the Doritos guy working again!
srhoades on July 23, 2008 at 10:40 AM
As a suthrener I couldn’t figure out what they were saying; do all you Minnesotans talk like that? :-)
E9RET on July 23, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Franken beans
Chakra Hammer on July 23, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Hey! Dooze all yoose guys in Minnesota all talks like da Big Lebowski or wha?
pilamaye on July 23, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Those guys are definitely from northwest Minnesota. You’d never hear them in the east talking like that, or, much less, in Wisconsin.
Yep.
MadisonConservative on July 23, 2008 at 10:47 AM
A cheerful ad with no quotes from newspapers in the background. I’d vote for him just on that.
tree hugging sister on July 23, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Ya for sure you bet ya!
ordi on July 23, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Didn’t even know Al Franken had written juicy porn.
whitetop on July 23, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Sorry Madison, but the Wisconsinites from the ‘burbs around Muhwahkee (AKA Milwaukee) certainly do talk like that! Like Ed said – it’s part of the local charm.
And in these parts, saying he’s part of BO’s bowling league is a very big insult!
pavruch on July 23, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Well. The one in the middle is kinda funnylookin. Ya.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on July 23, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Being a transplant here in MN from Philly…. you should hear these folks rip MY accent. But , to the point at hand, I actually like this ad because of it’s ease of viewing and simple dialogue. I am one of those cynical types that believe the masses are influenced by image more than substance. That’s why OBooBoo’s political venture overseas worries me, he’s viewed as an empty suit by the Iraqis but the masses here don’t care.
MNDavenotPC on July 23, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Al Franked porn definitely falls under rule 34.
lorien1973 on July 23, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Al Frankin, Barrak Obama, John McCain…………
What is it going to take to finally get some decent candidates for a change? I’m sick of being forced to vote for shmucks.
saiga on July 23, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Not new?
I would bet that 95% of MN residents do not know about at least one of the mini-Franken scandals referred to in the ad.
It’s only blog obsessives like us for whom this is not new.
Clark1 on July 23, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Didn’t you get the latest talking points memo?
Send me your e-mail and I’ll make sure to put you back on the list.
MarkTheGreat on July 23, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Oh a lot of people here in MN know about Franken’s misogynistic writings, trust me… the feminist biased media was all over it.
MNDavenotPC on July 23, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Al Frankensteinhead is SOOOOOOOOOO not funny. And I’ll bet his porn sucks too.
hillbillyjim on July 23, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Uh, Ed. The purpose of the bowling comment was to link the commercial to barry and his not being qualified to be president. A little double shot by the Coleman campaign.
peacenprosperity on July 23, 2008 at 12:21 PM
I would LOVE to see a similar ad from the RNC about Barack Obama and his laughably thin resume. They could even do regional versions of it, with some bass fishermen in the South, bowlers in the Midwest, and some surfer dudes in California.
rockmom on July 23, 2008 at 12:45 PM
They’re not only better bowlers, they’re funnier than Franken.
Socratease on July 23, 2008 at 12:55 PM
But then again, so is a bowl of cottage cheese.
hillbillyjim on July 23, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Bowlers should be offended.
Maxx on July 23, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Maybe they needed guys with Minnesota accents because Nawm tawks like he’s from Bwooklyn. Which doesn’t prevent him from being a good Senator.
Steve Z on July 23, 2008 at 1:51 PM
Man, ya’ll even write funny…….
All ya’ll com’on down to Texas, we’ll burn some beef and get on the outside of some cold beer
Bubbamfwic……
E9RET on July 23, 2008 at 3:41 PM
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