Video: Franken’s pathos
posted at 4:25 pm on December 11, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Take a look at the latest effort from Al Franken to wheedle the Canvassing Board into exceeding its legal mandate and involve itself in the county decisions on absentee ballots. Despite a ruling from the board and a concurring legal opinion from the state’s Attorney General that the board only has the authority to recount ballots accepted on Election Day, Franken tries turning on the tears in order to push them into an extralegal mission:
Frankly speaking, this is pathetic on many levels. Just as Franken did with his execrable campaign ad exploiting the parents of a dead soldier to blame Norm Coleman for a vote that took place prior to his election to the Senate, Franken sought out voters for maximum jerking of tears. And for what purpose? The board, by law, cannot count rejected ballots. The only thing Franken does with this video is to undermine the legal process of the recount.
Now we know why Franken wanted the list of rejected absentee ballots from the counties. He needed it for Central Casting at Team Franken.
If Franken wants to pursue this, let him file a lawsuit. Until then, the Canvassing Board has to follow the law. This attempt at guilt surpasses parody and provides an unexpected nadir in the political career of Al Franken.
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Good Lord….Do you think the could get one to volunteer to get run over by a truck and be interviewed as they’re laying in the street??
All of the absentee ballots disqualified were all Franken supporters???
We should just have a run off, FrankenTard would get crushed.
BigWyo on December 11, 2008 at 4:35 PM
That’s pretty low, since a new low was established by Blago earlier this week. I guess when you are the scum of the earth, it’s a competition to see how low you can go…I remember one – He’s so low, he can play handball off the curb.
kirkill on December 11, 2008 at 4:38 PM
I got one minute into the clip and realized I could not watch this nonsense….lets weep over members of the armed services stationed overseas whose votes don’t count….what? They trend conservative? …never mind.
HawaiiLwyr on December 11, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Even after seeing it so many times, I still love that photo.
Hening on December 11, 2008 at 4:42 PM
You’d be pathological too if you were that ugly. /yikes on the photo
baldilocks on December 11, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Don’t be so sure…look at the state.
right2bright on December 11, 2008 at 4:48 PM
The fact that these tools voted for Franken should give everyone pause to consider just what exactly is in the water in MN.
csdeven on December 11, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Yep, first Blago, now Franken.
Both certified card-carrying representatives of the Democratic Party.
The most ethically honest party………….EVUH!
pilamaye on December 11, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Is this the video you intended to feature, Ed?
baldilocks on December 11, 2008 at 4:50 PM
“jerking of tears”
I don’t think tears are what Franken spends most of his time jerking…
oldleprechaun on December 11, 2008 at 4:51 PM
The lowest ad of an amazingly low campaign, but it wasn’t Franken’s per se; it was a DSCC ad. Distinction without a difference, I suppose.
Mr. D on December 11, 2008 at 4:52 PM
John, Paul, George, and Ringo
Too bad. So Sad.
kingsjester on December 11, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Coulter’s column today pretty much nails this mess.
thomasaur on December 11, 2008 at 5:03 PM
For comparison between Minnesota, where they don’t have runoffs, and Georgia, where they do, see:
http://brettsconstitution.blogspot.com/2008/12/runoffs-and-term-limits.html
radjah shelduck on December 11, 2008 at 5:03 PM
AL FRANKEN: cry, cry, cry
DPierre on December 11, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Hmm, none of their votes counted because of registration problems???! But, they’re democrats, that stuff doesn’t happen to them. Where the heck is ACORN when you need them?!!!
4shoes on December 11, 2008 at 5:09 PM
Is there ANY way this tool could come off as MORE of a whiny bitch?
Markvike on December 11, 2008 at 5:13 PM
I would blame it on fluoridation, but I grew up drinking fluoridated water.
Pelayo on December 11, 2008 at 5:14 PM
Very sad this is best someone who wants to be a Senator can roll out, but I guess he had to stick with people in his own level of intelligence.
Wade on December 11, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Franken has got to be the dumbest turd in the entire state of Minnesota. The pathetic creature should slither away and never return.
rplat on December 11, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Well, that’s kinda what I was getting at. I suspect the results would be the same as happened in Georgia. For the same reasons.
Colman’s no shining beacon of Conservatism, but give me a break….IT’S AL F*@$KING FRANKEN!! The poster child for crybaby, unhinged, speen-venting LefTArd.
BigWyo on December 11, 2008 at 5:17 PM
Here’s a question. What in the hell is the point of the ad? Who’s he trying to sway to his cause here?? Voters? No.
How much of someone else’s money did he blow on this thing?
How many stew bums could have spent a night in a warm shelter for what he shelled out??
What the Hell???
BigWyo on December 11, 2008 at 5:22 PM
“Up to 1,000 of them may have been improperly rejected.”
Up to 1,000 of them may have been improperly rejected.
Sure…and Barack Obama may have voted up to 10,000,000 times.
Did I lie?
ynot4tony2 on December 11, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Sorry but I didn’t see Franken crying in this video; only several people complaining about not having their absentee ballots counted.
baldilocks on December 11, 2008 at 5:31 PM
He never had a “political career”, just one in comedy, which sometimes is a tragi-comedy.
Entelechy on December 11, 2008 at 5:37 PM
…but everybody knows I’m just mean.
warbaby on December 11, 2008 at 5:42 PM
Was this an SNL skit?
Only women, minorities, the aged, and the infirmed were included in this video.
A SECOND LOOK A VICTIM-HOOD!
Weren’t there any white, young-to-middle-aged males with problem ballots? Oh right, they do not fit the category of victim. Franken only wanted to type-cast his actors.
But seriously folks, if the law is wrong, then use this experience to change the law in the next legislative session. You can’t change the rules in the middle of the game. The same tactic Gore used in Florida in 2000. He didn’t get away with it then. Franken should not get away with it now.
Mallard T. Drake on December 11, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Nah. Franken is exactly what he appears to be: a loser.
Mallard T. Drake on December 11, 2008 at 5:46 PM
Why did the Government give out the voters personal information in the first place? I think the state of Minnesota should be sued for invasion of privacy.
jlemieu1 on December 11, 2008 at 5:53 PM
I understand that the election laws in Minnesota are very clear. Why no mention of the law since that is what is actually at issue here?
snaggletoothie on December 11, 2008 at 5:53 PM
Ed never said Franken cried. He said, “Franken tries turning on the tears”
snaggletoothie on December 11, 2008 at 5:57 PM
Franken knows that the only kind of contest he can win is a self-pity contest.
RBMN on December 11, 2008 at 5:59 PM
For your “Franken is a Loser” meme…
Nethicus on December 11, 2008 at 6:00 PM
I still want the overseas military votes counted that Gore got thrown out in 2000.
whitetop on December 11, 2008 at 6:31 PM
Is that Miss Minnesota USA ?
redrock on December 11, 2008 at 6:32 PM
I got my hopes up to see Frankenstien cry too. Hell, if Hillary can do it, anyone can.
4shoes on December 11, 2008 at 6:35 PM
if you’ve eva been to minnesota, yes.
seeing this guy makes my skin crawl, about as much as listening to obama speak.
sandlin71 on December 11, 2008 at 6:42 PM
I still can’t get my mind around how nearly half of the voters in MN would consider voting for this guy. What is it that they see in him? Or would they vote for any Democrat who ran?
Red State State of Mind on December 11, 2008 at 6:49 PM
Classic of the ‘I’m not responsible’ Oprah mentality. These people believe they are victims for failing to vote correctly.
I have voted ‘Absentee’ several time while I was in the Army and each time I read the ballot carefully (at least twice) and ensured all the required information was provided. My ‘absentee’ votes have always been counted.
Helloyawl on December 11, 2008 at 6:51 PM
If these peoples’ legitimate ballots were rejected in error, I think it’s sad. I would be upset if it happened to my ballot too.
However, to my knowledge the current law states that the only ballots that are eligible for recounting are the ballots that were considered eligible on election day.
If you don’t like it, change the law for next time. You don’t change the rules in the middle of the game because you hope you can get the outcome you want. We’ll see how important this issue actually is to them if they continue to try to change the law after the election is certified and there’s no longer a chance of changing the outcome.
JadeNYU on December 11, 2008 at 7:03 PM
For some reason, I’m getting a different video than everyone else apparently. No Franken in the one I’m seeing, 6 minutes 11 seconds.
baldilocks on December 11, 2008 at 7:04 PM
Baldi,
You might notice my post removed the “but” from your statement.
warbaby on December 11, 2008 at 7:17 PM
…and the “I” was of course first person singular.
warbaby on December 11, 2008 at 7:23 PM
I hate to seem cruel, but the guy who claims to be a quadriplegic in the video moves his right arm in the video. That means he is not a quadriplegic according to the definition:
: one affected with paralysis of both arms and both legs.
He may regret having made that video.
AnthonyK on December 11, 2008 at 7:40 PM
Franken is trying to pull a Claire McCaskill “Michael J Fox” on Norm Coleman. What a pathetic loser.
P.S. Someone tell that old white man that he’s not allowed to wear Bill Cobsy sweaters.
MsUnderestimated on December 11, 2008 at 7:44 PM
It’s at the 5:25 mark on the video…
AnthonyK on December 11, 2008 at 7:52 PM
Did you ever notice that liars talk out of the side of their faces? What is it with this guy’s mouth??
afotia on December 11, 2008 at 8:07 PM
MsUnderestimated:
We’re old men, kiddo. We wear what we want. ;-}
Love your blog, btw.
warbaby on December 11, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Filing for a class-action BAWWWsuit.
ZK on December 11, 2008 at 8:34 PM
In defense of the quad guy, I don’t think he is controlling his arm. I think Keith Olberman and Katie Couric are manipulating his arm from below camera range.
snaggletoothie on December 11, 2008 at 8:55 PM
If Franken manages to steal the election, he will instantly be one of the most rational, judicious, competant, caring, bi-partisan Democratic members of Congress.
He will leap ahead of Pelosi, Reid, Franks, Shummer, Durbin, Rangel, etc.etc.etc.etc.etc.
We shouldn’t be saddened by someone who will raise the IQ of that group of beanbags by at least 20 points.
And his list of crimes is way shorter than those others as well.
notagool on December 11, 2008 at 9:00 PM
LOL!!! HE may turn out to be the Anti-Joe the Plumber…
AnthonyK on December 11, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Mr. Sleeze Incorporated, at his best….
DL13 on December 12, 2008 at 12:10 AM
Funniest thing I’ve seen Franken do since “Stewart Saves His Family.”
sulla on December 12, 2008 at 2:17 AM
Unexpected???? I expect nothing from Franken but successively deeper and more pathetic nadirs: continuing the pattern of his entire career.
landlines on December 12, 2008 at 9:51 AM
AL FRANKEN = FRANKENSTIEN MONSTER
byteshredder on December 12, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Well, it certainly brightened MY day. Once Franken is definitively vanquished, I assume that he hasn’t the heart for another political run in the future. With nothing else holding him in Minnesota, he’ll probably revert to his New York residency. He only carpetbagged to Minnesota for this shot-which will become a much better state for his having left it.
Doug on December 12, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Maybe Al ouhght to go back and play his Deep Thoughts character. Touchy, feely, touchy, feely…
thetowncrier on December 12, 2008 at 11:59 AM
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