Video: Senator Al Franken sworn in today

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Senator Reid welcomes Senator-Elect Franken to the Senate

When my daughter was a little girl, we'd watch so many movies with former cast members from Saturday Day Night live, and I would tell her that Eddie Murphy, or Adam Sandler or any number of others got their big start on Saturday Night Live. Eventually, she would catch me as I started to say that this person 'got his big start on ', then she would exasperatingly finish with 'I know MOM! Saturday Night Live!'

The kid is 16 now. I just told her that Minnesota has a new Senator and he got his big start on Saturday Night Live. She said you've got to be kidding? I said no. She said that is totally hilarious. I said he's a very smart guy. Very smart and he cares too, about Minnesota and this country. Comedians are generally very smart and well informed individuals. Ask any of them. That was comedy by the way.

The Uptake Ruined Al Franken's Vacation

Video: Introducing the Junior Senator from the Great State of Minnesota

Part One of Two

Part Two of Two

Video: Norm Coleman's concession speech

It's over. Yay!

Norm Coleman lets go

Watching MSNBC. Norm Coleman is doing good. Minnesotans need two Senators. He congratulates Al Franken.

High marks for Senator Norm Coleman.

Mr. Franken goes to Washington (well, if Governor Pawlenty signs)

The MN Supreme Court ruled in favor of Al Franken, over Norm Coleman. Unanimously.

Norman Coleman to concede? Hmmmm....

I heard this today on the radio news in passing. I'm going to believe it when it actually happens. I'm going to be happy about it then too. But not until then.

Uptake Coverage Starts Soon: MN Supreme Court Hears Coleman V Franken

Franken - Coleman (kind of, sort of, maybe) final showdown begins Monday

The Minnesota State Supremes will hear the arguments regarding who won the Minneosta Senate race between Republican Norm Coleman, and Democrat Al Franken.

Franken is ahead by 312 votes, and if seated will provide the crucial 60th vote for the Democrats in the Senate, creating a filibuster proof majority. Well that is if recently minted alleged Democrat, Arlen Specter votes with the Dems.

Attorneys for Norm Coleman are expected to ask the Justices to open 4400 previously rejected absentee ballots for review.

The Uptake will be covering the proceedings and has this special reminder for anyone who might be interested.

Don't forget! Tomorrow, June 1, starting at 8:30 AM, we'll be broadcasting live the Coleman appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Tune in for the appeal, commentary, interviews and more. Drop by the live blog, too. See you then!

The Uptake provided a wonderful service during the recount process, and has done a terrific job of keeping Minnesotans, and the rest of us for that matter, informed about this critical Senate race.

Minnesota House Tax Chair Rep. Ann Lenczewski dispels the "evil tax" myth

From Democratic Underground:

"Minnesota House Tax Chair Represenative Ann Lenczewski reframes the tax issue noting that she does not buy the argument that taxes are evil. Cuts, she says, hurt people... and disproportionally hurt the poor and middle class more."

Wow, well worth watching the whole 15 mins...


Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's website: http://www.dfl.org /

Hey Governor Pawlenty: Certify Al Franken!

From The Political Carnival

Pretty Picture Time!: Senator Elect Franken and Vice President Biden

From the Organizing for America Blog

Video: Remember Al Franken?

Al Franken: "..and every once in awhile, I'll get grumpy... and I'll ask myself why am I grumpy? Oh I know why."

The Sight of Freedom

She voted against it all, just so you know. I see a Presidential run in her future.

"During the last 100 days we have seen an orgy. It would make any local smorgasbord embarrassed," Bachmann said. She then told the crowd that April 26 was National Debt Day, which conservatives commemorate as the moment government spending outpaces revenue. As Bachmann explains, "The government spent its wad by April 26. Every dime government spends after April 26 throughout the rest of this fiscal year is borrowed money." source: The Huffington Post

WATCH (orgy talk starts at 3:30):

Minnesota Ad: Certify Al Franken

Minnesota: 64 Percent Equals Two Thirds

From The Political Wire:

Nearly two-thirds of Minnesotans (64%) surveyed think Norm Coleman (R) should concede the U.S. Senate race to Al Franken (D), according to a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll. Just 28% consider last week's appeal by Coleman to the Minnesota Supreme Court "appropriate."

President Obama's Weekly Radio Address

Transcript from WhiteHouse.gov

THE WHITE HOUSE

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Washington, DC

Even as we face an economic crisis which demands our constant focus, forces of nature can also intervene in ways that create other crises to which we must respond – and respond urgently. For the people of North and South Dakota and Minnesota who live along rivers spilling over their banks, this is one such moment.

Rivers and streams throughout the region have flooded or are at risk of flooding. The cities of Fargo and neighboring Moorhead are vulnerable as the waters of the Red River have risen. Thousands of homes and businesses are threatened.

That is why, on Tuesday, I granted a major disaster declaration request for the State of North Dakota and ordered federal support into the region to help state and local officials respond to the flooding. This was followed by an emergency declaration for the State of Minnesota. And we are also keeping close watch on the situation in South Dakota as it develops.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency continue to coordinate the federal response. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is helping to oversee federal efforts and she remains in close contact with state officials. Acting FEMA administrator Nancy Ward has been in the region since yesterday to meet with folks on the ground and survey the area herself.

In addition, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is assisting in the emergency construction of levees. The Coast Guard is aiding in search and rescue efforts while the Department of Defense is helping to move people and supplies. Members of the National Guard have been activated and are on the scene as well.

Hospitals and nursing homes in the area are being evacuated and residents in poor health or with special needs are being transported to higher ground. Teams from the Department of Health and Human Services are aiding in this work. And the Red Cross is in place to provide shelter and supplies for folks in need.

It is also important for residents in these states to remain vigilant in monitoring reports on flood crests and to follow instructions from their state and local leaders in the event that evacuations become necessary.

My administration is working closely with Governors John Hoeven, Mike Rounds and Tim Pawlenty. And I’ve been meeting with Senators Byron Dorgan, Kent Conrad, and Amy Klobuchar, as well as Congressmen Earl Pomeroy and Collin Peterson, to pledge my support. I will continue to monitor the situation carefully. We will do what must be done to help in concert with state and local agencies and non-profit organizations – and volunteers who are doing so much to aid the response effort.

For at moments like these, we are reminded of the power of nature to disrupt lives and endanger communities. But we are also reminded of the power of individuals to make a difference.

In the Fargodome, thousands of people gathered not to watch a football game or a rodeo, but to fill sandbags. Volunteers filled 2.5 million of them in just five days, working against the clock, day and night, with tired arms and aching backs. Others braved freezing temperatures, gusting winds, and falling snow to build levees along the river’s banks to help protect against waters that have exceeded record levels.

College students have traveled by the busload from nearby campuses to lend a hand during their spring breaks. Students from local high schools asked if they could take time to participate. Young people have turned social networks into community networks, coordinating with one another online to figure out how best to help.

In the face of an incredible challenge, the people of these communities have rallied in support of one another. And their service isn’t just inspirational – it’s integral to our response.

It’s also a reminder of what we can achieve when Americans come together to serve their communities. All across the nation, there are men, women and young people who have answered that call, and millions of other who would like to. Whether it’s helping to reduce the energy we use, cleaning up a neighborhood park, tutoring in a local school, or volunteering in countless other ways, individual citizens can make a big difference.

That is why I’m so happy that legislation passed the Senate this week and the House last week to provide more opportunities for Americans to serve their communities and the country.

The bipartisan Senate bill was sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Ted Kennedy, a leader who embodies the spirit of public service, and I am looking forward to signing this important measure into law.

In facing sudden crises or more stubborn challenges, the truth is we are all in this together – as neighbors and fellow citizens. That is what brought so many to help in North Dakota and Minnesota and other areas affected by this flooding. That is what draws people to volunteer in so many ways, serving our country here and on distant shores.

Our thanks go to them today, and to all who are working day and night to deal with the disaster. We send them our thoughts, our prayers, and our continued assistance in this difficult time.

Thank you.

Multi-tasking

Republicans and their talking heads are now saying that the Democrats are using distraction by pointing out the Rush Limbaugh appears now to be the head of the Republican party.

Perhaps. I haven't found it to be distracting myself though. Just a little bit tiring.

I've listened to the Rush to Rush stuff, AND been trying to pay attention to as much of the rest of the news of the day as I can, including but not limited to the President's budget. I've also been paying attention the fact that many of the President's nominations are being held up. Not good and not very nice either.

Yay me! I'm multi-tasking!

They did give ole Mr. Limbaugh a pretty big platform and great deal of time at their Conservative party, and one thing that is entirely certain is that Mr. Limbaugh does not hold back.

The platform that Mr. Limbaugh was given at CPAC, would be akin to Dems making Al Franken the keynote speaker at one of their get-togethers. The Republicans and Rush would have a field day with that.

Oh yeah. I forgot something. Al Franken is very likely going to be the Senator from the Great State of Minnesota. Franken actually ran for something after having been a comedian and a radio talk show host for Air America Radio, representing talk-left. The court fight is still ongoing in MN, but it's still looking like Franken is going to win the contest.

Maybe Mr. Limbaugh should run for something. Now that would be a hoot!

source: Daily Kos

Where in the world is the other Senator from Minnesota

What ever happened to that Minnesota Senate race way back in November of 2008 between Republican incumbent Senator Norm Coleman, and the Democratic challenger, Al Franken? I went to Nate Silver to see if he had anything and this is what I found:

I largely abandoned this story when it exited the recount phase and entered the legalistic quagmire phase. But Eric Kleefeld hasn't over at TPM, and I suggest you go read his coverage. The latest? The Coleman team, having apparently realized that they'll have no shot to win a re-re-count, are now pushing for a re-vote.

It's pretty much all there from Kleefield, good, bad, indifferent and tedius.

Josh Marshall at TPM had a 'weird' reaction to some chatter regarding the Senate race up North.

I've been picking up word that Republicans on the Hill genuinely think Norm Coleman is going to get the results of the November elections tossed and have a revote. And if not genuinely, that they've all convinced themselves to say they believe it. As I told one friend who passed word on to me about this, the Coleman people must be smoking some powerful weed. Because nothing that has happened in the trial gives the remotest indication that anything like that will happen.

See now. Somebody still cares about this race. Everything is not about Rush Limbaugh all the time.

Well, maybe it is. I'm kind of tired of hearing about Rush myself. And more so, tired of thinking about him.