Time For The Full Norwegian

Advice for my friend, Al Franken.

By Howard Fineman | NEWSWEEK
Published Jan 10, 2009
From the magazine issue dated Jan 19, 2009

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  • Posted By: stajry @ 01/18/2009 5:53:27 PM

    what does the term "full norwegian" mean? I have googled it to no avail.

  • Posted By: Mondrogan @ 01/13/2009 10:08:23 AM

    I see so many comments here that are critical of Franken. These seem to be mostly of the "I don't like his face" variety, since the man has yet to take office. I suspect that most of these remarks come from Republicans, probably the same people who voted in George W. Bush.

    Has anyone else noted a bullying, even menacing quality to Republican Party supporters, particularly over the last decade? I often get the impression, listening to diatribes from Rush, Sean, Bill, et. al., that if I were actually talking to them in person, I might get punched in the face if I were to disagree. I don't get that impression from Al Franken, Barack Obama, or even Hillary Clinton, although a glare from her might be almost as bad.

    At what point did we allow the bullies to take control? Shame on us for doing so.

    • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/13/2009 8:34:47 PM

      Please, get a grip. Look at how Republicans are treated on the Newsweak blogs, and you are really saying that they are the bullies? More like the victims of incessant and often highly personal attacks by the many left-wing zealots who hang out here (no surprise, since I'm sure most of them are unemployed). I think that what your sensing is that Republicans (like me) simply have to stand up for themselves.

      • Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/13/2009 9:38:28 PM

        From the nonbully who whines above about being picked on, we offer this... from a long suffering ever so abused repulbican:

        Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/12/2009 7:36:20 PM

        "it takes actual intelligence to understand Al's humor"?? Please tell me you are kidding. Al Franken was a complete failure as a comedian, was one of the most forgettable SNL cast members ever (he always made me realize just how talented the not-ready-for-prime-time-players really were), and he was a complete failure as a talk-show host on Air-head America. And you somehow think he will succeed as a US senator? Please, the guy should be stamped with a giant L on his forehead to identify hiim for what he is, and always has been... a LOSER!

        • Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/13/2009 9:43:49 PM

          Here's another reason why poor Jimbo can't understand what you're talking about Mondrogan:

          Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/13/2009 8:45:39 PM

          Well said, Al, and right on. Evidently, all of these limp-wristed lefties would happily stand on principal while American citizens are attacked and slaughtered.

          • Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/15/2009 6:45:36 PM

            Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/15/2009 6:37:54 PM

            Nope, but clearly part of the allies. And let's be honest with one another, I said exactly what that leftist douchebag was implying, and you know it.

            • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/15/2009 7:45:11 PM

              Thank you, 40yr, for publishing some of my best stuff and providing shining examples of me standing up for myself and my prinicpals, just like I said in my original post. Thank you for validating me.

              • Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/15/2009 8:06:53 PM

                Since you decided to jump the poster who thinks Al Franken is funny and you whined to Mondrogan that you have to 'defend' yourself, I thought I'd exhibit for Mondrogan some of your nonbullying, no-name-calling style of self defense.

                You must be so proud...

                • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/15/2009 8:15:28 PM

                  I am. Thank you again for picking some of my best posts, the very best examples of Jimbo-logic.
                  Let's be honest; Jimbo-mania rules.

                  To any of you little Jimbo-maniacs that may be reading this out there, I say:
                  Say your prayers
                  Do your homework
                  Take your vitamins

                  • Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/15/2009 8:51:10 PM

                    And, whatever you do, don't grow up a self-pitying whiner like Jimbo!

  • Posted By: misterharban @ 01/14/2009 8:21:00 PM

    Please don't tell my mother that I live and vote in Minnesota. She thinks I'm a crack dealer in Detroit.

    • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/15/2009 8:09:42 PM

      LOL!
      It makes you wonder; has the cold air gotten to them up there? How could they elect this clown?

  • Posted By: Galasso @ 01/15/2009 9:53:26 AM

    Fineman's statement that Al Franken as his friend and his vigorous defense of this clown removes all doubt about his lack of objectivity in commenting on political events and where he stands in the noise we have today in the written print. Fineman could not deliver an objective evaluation of a political event if his life depended on it.

    • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/15/2009 8:08:53 PM

      Well said. Fineman is nothing but a tool of the the far left, lunatic fringe of the Democrat Party.

    • Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/15/2009 5:30:55 PM

      At least he had the integrity to say he's a friend in the article. I'll give him that much.

  • Posted By: Qidisrupt @ 01/14/2009 7:10:09 PM

    I am glad to see Franken win. He is an honest Joe who will fight for the working class. Yeah, I'm one of those limp-wristed lefties...c'mon down to my place and I'll put every one of you middle-class crushing righties flat on your backs where you belong. Better yet...vote all of you right wing scheisters out of politics for good.

  • Posted By: LudwigVanBeet @ 01/14/2009 12:31:53 AM

    Good-Bye Repiglicans and good riddance to bad rubbish,, so sad to bad LOL lol LOL LOL LOL eat Cr-p Repigs and head for the desert for forty years where you belong.

  • Posted By: tiredofobama @ 01/11/2009 10:23:46 PM

    Ooops, I left out some other prize idiots to run for the Senate. KEITH OLBERMANN (the prize idiot), RACHEL MADDOW (Alice, from the Brady Bunch, had a daughter and it was Rachel), and CHRIS (a tingle up my leg) MATTHEWS. With these three intellectual midgets, it is only a matter of time and they will be in there with Franken.

    • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/13/2009 8:29:16 PM

      My God, you are right, Rachel Maddow looks like Alice from the Brady Bunch! It never occured to me before, but you are correct. The only difference is that Alice had a lot more sense.

  • Posted By: yippee21stcen @ 01/13/2009 2:27:32 PM

    tired of obama: OK, we get it. You don't like Democrats. Now, please go outside and get a life.

  • Posted By: yippee21stcen @ 01/13/2009 2:23:02 PM

    Mondrogan: You raise some very good points. While there are some on the Left who are overly aggressive and downright stupid at times, they are more than matched by today's conservative movement, which was once honorable and principled. I realize that those in the liberal/progressive might feel like gloating, but that's the last thing they should be doing. The right has done that ad nauseum -- and that arrogance has lead to a mighty fall.

  • Posted By: OhioGal @ 01/13/2009 10:27:21 AM

    It's time for Coleman to the graceful loser. They both campaigned hard and one of them had to lose.

  • Posted By: HB Freddie @ 01/13/2009 12:23:46 AM

    What's up with Minnesota? First, Jesse Ventura. Now, Al Franken. But who am I to talk? I'm from Cahl-ee-fawn-nee-ah.

  • Posted By: 1Blackcitizen! @ 01/12/2009 11:56:36 PM

    If Al Franken is your friend, you really really need to re-examine how you choose your friends!

  • Posted By: morgaffi @ 01/12/2009 11:02:33 AM

    Al Franken is hysterical. The same intellect that's behind the humor will make him an excellent public servant. As a droll observer and commentor on all the pomposity of the Category 5 Morons (thank you, Bill Maher), Al brings exposes the wingnuts of the Right as not much more than a bag of wind. They are thin-skinned screamers who can't bear having the same manure flung at them with their own shovels. They've driven the American political system into a ditch (along with our economy and self-respect), and steadfastly blame others for the wreckage at the top of their lungs. These aren't fart jokes; it takes actual intelligence to understand Al's humor. And personally, I'm tired of humorless hypocrites who don't really defend our interests while they're stuck in men's rooms passing hand signals. DON'T DO IT, AL!!

    • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/12/2009 7:36:20 PM

      "it takes actual intelligence to understand Al's humor"?? Please tell me you are kidding. Al Franken was a complete failure as a comedian, was one of the most forgettable SNL cast members ever (he always made me realize just how talented the not-ready-for-prime-time-players really were), and he was a complete failure as a talk-show host on Air-head America. And you somehow think he will succeed as a US senator? Please, the guy should be stamped with a giant L on his forehead to identify hiim for what he is, and always has been... a LOSER!

  • Posted By: tiredofobama @ 01/11/2009 10:18:54 PM

    I need to aplogize about comments that I have made about Barack Obama. Al Franken makes Obama look better alll the time. Of course, a septic tank looks good compared to Al Franken.

    • Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/12/2009 5:29:52 PM

      Might that be because you're in the toilet looking up?

      • Posted By: jh35180 @ 01/12/2009 5:44:40 PM

        And I guess you are in the septic tank with the Roto Rooter guy.

        • Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/12/2009 6:00:49 PM

          Is that because you're wondering why he left you?

  • Posted By: cheerios @ 01/12/2009 4:50:36 PM

    Grand Theft Al is more to the point...

  • Posted By: Dixie Flyer @ 01/12/2009 3:48:56 PM

    I honestly still can't believe the Democrats in Minnesota invested an entire Senate candidacy on this failed comedian. At least Reagan could halfway act! You know there HAD to be a grown-up somewhere in the Twin Cities they could have run instead. A book salesman? A crossing guard, perhaps? How about a Scout leader - either gender, would have made at least some sense.

  • Posted By: Dixie Flyer @ 01/12/2009 3:42:06 PM

    You know, "nightmarish" is the exact word I would use, too. Basically, Minnesota will have one Senate seat empty the next six years, but it is as good a time as any for a solidly Liberal state not to have both Senators on task, with Liberals running the whole shootin' match in D.C. What could AlF do, make them act more like Democrats?

  • Posted By: morgaffi @ 01/12/2009 11:05:17 AM

    By the way, what's the hell is "Full Norwegian"?

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 01/12/2009 1:32:31 PM

      In answer to your question, all I can think of would be that Minnesota's early settlers were a large percentage of Norwegian immigrants.

  • Posted By: morgaffi @ 01/12/2009 11:06:18 AM

    By the way, what the hell is "Full Norwegian"?

  • Posted By: morgaffi @ 01/12/2009 11:00:19 AM

    Al Franken is hysterical. The same intellect that's behind the humor will make him an excellent public servant. As a droll observer and commentor on all the pomposity of the Category 5 Morons (thank you, Bill Maher), Al brings exposes the wingnuts of the Right as not much more than a bag of wind. They are thin-skinned screamers who can't bear having the same manure flung at them with their own shovels. They've driven the American political system into a ditch (along with our economy and self-respect), and steadfastly blame others for the wreckage at the top of their lungs. These aren't fart jokes; it takes actual intelligence to understand Al's humor. And personally, I'm tired of humorless hypocrites who don't really defend our interests while they're stuck in men's rooms passing hand signals. DON'T DO IT, AL!!

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