Franken Cuts Lieberman Off, Won't Let Him Finish Floor Speech (VIDEO)

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ilovebacon

December 17, 2009 8:41 PM in reply to rbeats

McCain hates liberal Jews, only loves the conservative ones.

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Number6

December 18, 2009 1:11 PM in reply to ilovebacon

Crash McCain is living proof that the Senate chamber should have ejection seats.

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jjdjjd

December 17, 2009 8:45 PM in reply to rbeats

SAY THIS SLOWLY. 'FRANKEN PRESIDING OVER THE SENATE'. NOW THINK ABOUT IT. IT ANSWERS LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

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FebM

December 17, 2009 9:23 PM in reply to jjdjjd

Franken for majority leader!!! Yes we can!

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SCharb

December 18, 2009 12:46 AM in reply to FebM

I just had one of those rare moments where I hear an idea and instantly love it in every way.

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Steaming Pile

December 18, 2009 8:19 AM in reply to FebM

You can bet Franken wouldn't put up with the sort of chicanery that has been going on all year.

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Uberlib

December 18, 2009 10:36 AM in reply to FebM

Al is the MAN!

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SkippyFlipjack

December 17, 2009 10:21 PM in reply to rbeats

The third time, if you include the time Franken responded "That's what she said!"

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Docb

December 18, 2009 7:57 PM in reply to rbeats

Levin reminded Mccain that Franken had done the same thing earlier to another senator..it was a tactic used by Reid to move the debate along. Leibermutt just was looking for sympathy and ran afoul of the rules--then he fled town.. What pieces of cowarice we have elected over and over. Typical CS move by the mutt!
Additionally, Nelson was a corp CEO for Central National Insurance Group and won his race only with the help of the "Right to life Group' in Nebraska...by 50.99%..He will lose flat out without the RTL support!

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RruffPaw

December 21, 2009 4:38 PM in reply to rbeats

Who really cares what McCain thinks anymore. The people told him what they thought of him and his judgement (or complete lack thereof) a little over a year ago.

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pinson

See Harry? This is how it's done.

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MyMy

December 17, 2009 5:06 PM in reply to pinson

Yay! Go Franken... Republicans are abusing the filibuster, and every other Gregg Judd inspired trick in the book. Time to make them have a taste of their own medicine.

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AlphaLiberal

December 17, 2009 5:10 PM in reply to MyMy

Exactly. Someone needs to teach the Senate Dems how to stand up to the bullies and obstructionists who have set national records for abuse of the filibuster and minority rights.

If they weren't so punked by the Goppers they wouldn't have so many problems today with their base.

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LindaR

Oh, no!

Of course, the difference here is that when Mr. Franken exercises his rights as a Senator, one blowhard has to STFU.

When Mr. Lieberman exercises his rights as a Senator, millions of us get to die for lack of health care.

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s9

December 17, 2009 5:30 PM in reply to LindaR

This.

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Rootman

December 17, 2009 8:28 PM in reply to s9

Is.

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PaulieGooner

December 17, 2009 8:40 PM in reply to Rootman

EXCELLENT

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Gregwardo

December 17, 2009 9:02 PM in reply to PaulieGooner

news

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Shii

December 17, 2009 9:15 PM in reply to PaulieGooner

for

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NotBornEveryMinute

December 17, 2009 10:07 PM in reply to Shii

Arizona.

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greylox

**Al is worth every penny I donated to his campaign. YAHOO!

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Where was McCain's call for comity when Coburn requested that Sanders amendment be read aloud yesterday? Where was McCain's call for comity when Judd Gregg was handing out how-to guides to delay the debate and vote y any means necessary? Why are Democrats supposed to be deferral out of comity, but Republicans can do whatever the hell they want?

This will probably cause Lieberscum to filibuster the HCR Bill for some other made up reason, but I think everybody will see it's because Franken was mean to him. hell he probably left the floor to complain to Reid or ring up Rahm saying Franken was mean to him and he wants him to apologize.

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December 17, 2009 4:56 PM in reply to Walter Mitty

Asking for an extra minute was probably in Judd Gregg's Delay Manuel. If every obstructionist senator asked for an extra minute it would add 44 minutes of delay.

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December 17, 2009 7:57 PM in reply to Walter Mitty

If there's one thing I'd like to see unanimous consent, it's for Joe Lieberman to speak more quickly.

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caseyindc

December 17, 2009 8:18 PM in reply to EH

Absolutely!

Or not speak at all.

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December 17, 2009 9:00 PM in reply to caseyindc

Eh, whatever, there's plenty of disagreeable people in Congress. It's just that...he...talks...at...such...a...dis-TINCT-ly...slow...pace.

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SickPuppy

December 18, 2009 11:25 AM in reply to Walter Mitty

to think that Judd Gregg was almost part of the Cabinet...WTH?!!

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slb

December 17, 2009 5:09 PM in reply to Walter Mitty

Thank you! Yes, if Lieberman is wondering what has happened to the "comity" in the Senate, he has only to look to the behavior of his fellow Republicans for the answer. He's never seen a member denied an extra few minutes to finish his speech? Well, I've never seen the minority party abuse the filibuster to the extent the Republicans have in the last two Congressional sessions. Turnabout is fair play, McCain. If you guys are going to play hardball, you'd better prepare to have it played against you in return.

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DrZee

December 17, 2009 5:39 PM in reply to slb

I swear... I thought he said "comedy" and after I snorted coffee up my nose and spewed on the screen, I continued to toss wadded up paper at the screen and called him names. No, it was not pretty.

Comedy is actually more like it -- those stallin' repubs are soooo like bad clowns.

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James D

December 17, 2009 11:42 PM in reply to DrZee

At this point in HCR, it's more like the "tragedy" of the senate, at least I'm not very amused by how horrible this bill has become. I think the republicans and conservadems have succeeded in making this a bill that would be better off dead.

Start over.
Use reconciliation.
Write a bill that history will be proud of.

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Steaming Pile

December 18, 2009 8:26 AM in reply to James D

Or at the very least, offer the House bill, warts and all, to the floor, and DARE Lieberschmuck to filibuster. THEN, you can go the voters and say, "uh, a little help here? We need to flip just ONE MORE SEAT to make this happen for YOU." But no. We have to play Lieberschmuck's silly-ass games, and we'll probably get our asses kicked as a result.

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slb

December 18, 2009 2:10 AM in reply to DrZee

Yes, as I was watching it, I got tickled thinking of the possibilities of the interchange of those two words!

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Msinformed

December 17, 2009 6:32 PM in reply to Walter Mitty

Oh. That wasn't a call for "comedy"?

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hms09ky

December 17, 2009 8:19 PM in reply to Walter Mitty

Right on! What was done to Sen. Sanders was unforgivable. The Republicans are making a mockery of the Democratic process. Comity and honesty went out the window a long time ago.

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ws84

December 17, 2009 11:04 PM in reply to Walter Mitty

RE: Walter Mitty,
Like Republicans call for Dems to resign over 'sexual escapades' but when they have them the point is mute.

December 17, 2009 4:56 PM

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DaveJ

Oh, that was sweet, sweet, sweet. The best was the comedic timing in Franken's "in my capacity as the senator from Minnesota...[dramatic pause]...I object," as well as Lieberman's "really?" Excellent stuff, Al!

December 17, 2009 5:05 PM

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Bull Schmitt

Dear Sen. Walnuts:

Perhaps it harms the comity of the Senate, but it sure helps the comedy of the Senate.

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December 17, 2009 5:07 PM

Franken is probably daring Lieberscum to find another reason to filibuster so he can then go on the talk shows and say "Lieberman is filibustering because I was a big meanie" and make Lieberscum to be even a bigger joke than he is.

And the bill would get defeated, which is good as well.

December 17, 2009 5:07 PM

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JefferyK

A taste of payback. Just a little.

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Richardxx

December 17, 2009 5:14 PM in reply to JefferyK

It's time for a lot of payback.

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EastWest

December 17, 2009 5:34 PM in reply to Richardxx

Time for payback? Ain't gonna happen. Dems don't have the balls for payback. Dems don't have the balls for much of anything, as it happens. Franken is the exception that proves the rule.

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JefferyK

December 17, 2009 5:36 PM in reply to EastWest

I think there will be some payback, but in little needle pricks like this one. Not much, but it is something.

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mbayrob

December 17, 2009 7:07 PM in reply to JefferyK

I've never heard the senator from Connecticut called a "little needle prick" before. Can I use that?

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lousgirl84

December 17, 2009 5:39 PM in reply to EastWest

It's not a matter of balls. It's the way the dems play the game. It may not be the way we like it but that's how it is and how it has always been. The dems are the nice guys - the thugs are the bad guys.

That's my opinion and I;m sticking with it = like it or not. I have heard this "no balls dems" record for many many years. If the dems got into a shouting match with the thugs every time they opened their mouth, that's all they would be doing.

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cawleybo

December 17, 2009 6:11 PM in reply to lousgirl84

There's a lot of space between "getting into a shouting match every time" and rolling over (every time).

No one is asking them to be obnoxious. Just to have some convictions.

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davidal66

December 17, 2009 5:50 PM in reply to JefferyK

Is it time for payback? Really? So, would it be 'ok' with the liberals if Joe sticks the shiv in one last time and pull a last minute change and side with the Republicans? Seems to me that Al and the Pres need Joe's vote in the most needy way possible at this juncture.

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JefferyK

December 17, 2009 6:00 PM in reply to davidal66

Calm down: Franken's people are denying the smackdown was any kind of payback and, besides, we all know that Lieberman will never be punished for his behavior. If anything, he will be rewarded for voting in support of the bill, assuming he does so. Another chairmanship, perhaps? He must have been offered some sort of personal deal.

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Kevin Cassidy

December 17, 2009 6:32 PM in reply to davidal66

Joe sided with the Republicans a long time ago. Lieberman has already "snubbed Obama" on health care reform.

Where have you been?

I'm struggling to make sense of your posts

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JWK

December 17, 2009 9:28 PM in reply to davidal66

Yes. Really. And if Lieberman changed to Republican, that would change things how? 60 votes doesn't give we Dems anything anyway. I say kick Lieberman out of the Caucus, remove him from his prized chairmanship, and pass Health Care Reform through either Reconcilliation or changing the number of votes for cloture or all three.

December 17, 2009 5:08 PM

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AlphaLiberal

McCain is angry that Lieberman and the other knuckle draggers were prevented from being allowed to delay and delay and delay....

December 17, 2009 5:10 PM

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Clavis

Franken 2012. By then, won't he have more experience as a Senator than Obama did?

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delmoi

December 17, 2009 5:14 PM in reply to Clavis

No. Obama came in in 2004, Franken came in in '08.

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navamske

December 17, 2009 6:22 PM in reply to delmoi

Franken 2012. By then, won't he have more experience as a Senator than Obama did.

No. Obama came in in 2004, Franken came in in '08.

The answer isn't No, but it's not quite Yes, either. Obama took office as a U.S. senator in January 2005, so by the time of the 2008 presidential election, he had a smidgen under four years of experience at the federal level. If Franken, who was -- it was conclusively proven -- elected senator in November 2008, had taken office in January 2009, then his experience at the federal level in November 2012 would equal what Obama's experience was in November 2008. Because Franken didn't take his Senate seat until roughly halfway through 2009, he would come up short in this comparison.

Of course, by "federal level" I mean being a legislator at the federal level, specifically excluding Obama's experience as a state legislator. In 2012 Obama will have had eight years of experience at the federal level -- four as senator and four as president.

Ben Stein is a tool, but I'd like to see him run against Al for no other reason than the coolness of a Franken-Stein election.

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arias

December 19, 2009 8:26 PM in reply to navamske

You just explained in excruciating detail how and why the answer was a RESOUNDING (from recount) no. You're really not teaching a site of political junkies anything.

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Viva!America!

December 17, 2009 6:15 PM in reply to Clavis

So let me get this right? Franken politely and repeatedly tells Lieberman that his time is up and that qualifies him to unseat Obama?

Franken was refreshingly mature and I like him a lot, but what you are calling for is silly. In fact I like Franken so much I hope he doesn't run for president, I wouldn't want to see him torn down.

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December 17, 2009 5:10 PM

Republicans already don't like Franken because he "tricked" them to vote against justice for rape victims.

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Msinformed

December 17, 2009 6:40 PM in reply to Walter Mitty

Repubs don't like Franken because he's smarter than they are* and gosh darn it, people like him.

*the dumb ones don't know it, but the less dumb do know it

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hollywood

December 17, 2009 7:07 PM in reply to Msinformed

Yes Franken is smart and funny and not at all afraid of calling their bullshit. They are scared as hell of tangling with him and looking like fools and liars.

December 17, 2009 5:11 PM

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Jay Lapidus

Skewering John Thune's health-care lies last week, cutting off Joe Lieberman today: that's the Al Franken that I expected to see when he ran for the Senate! I thanked the junior senator from MN on his fan page for silencing my state's junior senator.

December 17, 2009 5:12 PM

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slb

Go Al! I hope the other Senate Democrats are taking notes. And Obama as well.

December 17, 2009 5:15 PM

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freaktown

hey what good is having a time limit if nobody is ever going to enforce it?

December 17, 2009 5:18 PM

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ruhappynow

Thank you Senator Franken!

December 17, 2009 5:20 PM

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DaddyD

LOVE Al. Makes it real, doesn't he? I'm sure there's a good reason why that was a stupid move on his part, but, on a visceral level, that just rocks.

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WaitWut?

December 17, 2009 5:33 PM in reply to DaddyD

It will hinder his chances for any help from across the aisle. Other than that, it will be a huge boost to his nationwide support. Which would be "better"? Thinkin' he'd rather be on our side than make deals with them.

Damn! Thank you, MN for having the balls to elect him! He just might be what we've all been hoping for!

Poor Joe. BWAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! In some sick way, I wonder if deep down in that cold, cold, icy heart of his he didn't actually appreciate someone standing up to him. It hasn't happened in a very, very long time.

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slb

December 18, 2009 2:17 AM in reply to WaitWut?

Franken wasn't going to get any help from across the aisle anyway. He had the temerity to defeat a Republican incumbent, so they've targeted him from Day 1.

December 17, 2009 5:20 PM

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Stroszek

Love love love LOVE Franken!

December 17, 2009 5:32 PM

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Winski

Can you leave an address where I can send Al a baseball bat for the next time he does this?? As does slb..hope every other dem is taking notes....

December 17, 2009 5:34 PM

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sawgrass

Best part...when the Democratic Senator corrected McCain:

McCain: "I've been around here 22 years, and this is the first time I've ever seen a member denied..."
Democratic Senator: "The same thing DID occur earlier this afternoon..."

McCain: "I just haven't seen it before myself..."

Well, Johnny, then don't go snoozing again in the Senate--then you won't let a simple and obvious fact undermine your sanctimonious grumpy old man self. A shorter version: "You kids get off my lawn, especially that brat from Minnesota who is picking on my BFF."

http://www.eyesonobama.com/blog/content/id_31898/title_McCain-Has-Worst-Attendance-Record-in-Washington/

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fastpathguru

December 17, 2009 10:41 PM in reply to sawgrass

Well maybe if John McCain didn't have such a crappy attendance record, he may have seen a few more things happen in the Senate.

December 17, 2009 5:35 PM

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apodaca

I ask unanimous consent that Al Franken be deemed to have kicked Holy Joe's sorry ass in public.

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WaitWut?

December 17, 2009 5:43 PM in reply to apodaca

Second.

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baba2nde

December 17, 2009 5:55 PM in reply to apodaca

without objection.

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benjoya

December 18, 2009 2:56 AM in reply to apodaca

so ordered.

December 17, 2009 5:41 PM

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AnswerFrog

Treat them with the disrespect they have EARNED.

December 17, 2009 5:41 PM

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Duck Stab

Awwwww, pity the poor maverick who is so upset his girlfriend from CT got treated in a manner he disapproves of. Boo hoo for you, Johnny. I guess Al doesn't get invited to the Sedona ranch for BBQ?

December 17, 2009 5:41 PM

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baba2nde

Give 'em hell, Al.

(He is a quick study, that gentleman, isn't he? Good call, MN).

December 17, 2009 5:50 PM

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ohyeathatsright

Then McCain spent 2 of his minutes getting all flustered about it. This is 'comedy' (not comity)!

December 17, 2009 5:53 PM

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MrSmith1

Thumbs up to Sen. Franken!

December 17, 2009 5:54 PM

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JEP07

Franken/Grayson 2016!!

December 17, 2009 5:58 PM

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Andreams

Well, we now know we have one Democratic Senator who isn't a wuss. Hurrah for Franken! Both for cutting Liebermouth off and getting McCain to dramatize about something other than healthcare.

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Steaming Pile

December 18, 2009 8:31 AM in reply to Andreams

We actually have enough Dems who are not wusses to make a majority all by itself. It's the sliver of Dems who have been there for years and years and have all the power who need the spine transplants.

Has anyone else made that observation, or is it just me?

December 17, 2009 6:20 PM

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Viva!America!

Man you guys get off on anything. This was a smack down? Is this a guy thing?

December 17, 2009 6:20 PM

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neutral party

THIS IS NOT A "SMACK-DOWN". Honestly, what is up with the HuffPo-ization of TPM?

Watch the vid - Franken seems apologetic. His body language basically screams, "Sorry to do this but I have to." "Awkward moment"? Not at all. Lieberman realized that Franken was following orders on procedure and didn't take it personally.

Now, if you want to get on a rant about Sen. McBlowhard, go right ahead. His response to this innocuous exchange was over-the-top, even for him. What a nit-wit.

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Captain Howdy

December 18, 2009 6:08 AM in reply to neutral party

Yep, that was exactly my take on it too. I sense that Franken gleaned a little satisfaction from the procedure, but it mostly seemed like he was just following orders.

And yeah, HuffPo is a cesspool of stupidity and childishness.

December 17, 2009 6:20 PM

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davidal66

So, with all this disgust concerning Joe Lieberman, I would guess the general feeling around here is it would then be ok for Lieberman to side with the Republicans and snub President Obama on his chief domestic accomplishment: health care reform; do I have this right?

One may laugh at this video today, but regret it Christmas Eve.

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Kevin Cassidy

December 17, 2009 6:29 PM in reply to davidal66

No help is coming from across the aisle -- ever. I think Franken is one of the few democrats who gets this.

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East Coast Aussie

December 17, 2009 8:17 PM in reply to Kevin Cassidy

I think you're right.

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Papa-Bear

December 17, 2009 8:13 PM in reply to davidal66

Can you repeat that... honestly the logical dissonance was just too loud to understand what you were trying to express in your previous post.

December 17, 2009 6:23 PM

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Deb V.

Although I've been very unhappy with Senator Lieberman the last few years, he was far more graceful about being turned down than McCain was about defending against the supposed slight. Both Lieberman and Franken showed a far greater sense of comity than the senator from Arizona.

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Msinformed

December 17, 2009 6:43 PM in reply to Deb V.

McCain is a self-admitted hothead.

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Barry Champlain

December 17, 2009 9:30 PM in reply to Msinformed

How DARE you! Sen. McCain was tortured by nonwhite enemies!

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Realist

December 18, 2009 3:16 PM in reply to Barry Champlain

And Senator Max Cleland lost three limbs in Vietnam. Then, running for relection in 2002, he was tortured by Geogia White Supremists.

December 17, 2009 6:23 PM

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stillexhaling

Good to see the junior senator from Minnesota exercising the rules of the Senate. And, yes, the comedic timing injects some life into it. And, he got Joe to stop talking. Spoonful of sugar kind of thing. YESSS!!!

December 17, 2009 6:25 PM

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Mateo123

Amen. Amen.

Look, this has been going on for eleven months! Eleven! Can you imagine?! And, he needs another minute? He should have thought about that when he was dragging his feet for the last several months, before joining the program.

December 17, 2009 6:26 PM

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Viva!America!

From ThinkProgress.com:

"A Senate staffer tells ThinkProgress that the reason Franken cut off Lieberman is because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) office has been asking all presiding chairs to enforce the 10-minute rule for both sides. Franken was simply following the direction of leadership."

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Kevin Cassidy

December 17, 2009 6:38 PM in reply to Viva!America!

Please note -- Franken did not "cut off Lieberman". Lieberman's allotted time ran out. The presider, Franken, chose not to seek unanimous consent to extend the time.

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East Coast Aussie

December 17, 2009 8:26 PM in reply to Kevin Cassidy

Given Lieberman would have kept talking unless Franken made the motion to enforce the time limit, yes he did cut him off. And he denied consent to continue for 'just a moment'.

From what you're suggesting, what this may represent in Senate rules is clearly different to human social interaction.

The 'exercising my right as a senator' bit was thrown in as mirror to Lieberman's feelings of self righteousness regarding his continued negotiation and subsequent blockage of HCR. He shot him down with a nice twist of lemon.

I liked Franken when he out maneuvered Coleman, and I'm liking him even more as I see him in action,

December 17, 2009 6:31 PM

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sully18

The whole point is about the fact that no one except Mc Cain can stand to listen to Joe`s bullshit.
I sure hope that they strip his chairmanship and kick him out of the caucus,and the party; and the Senate.

December 17, 2009 6:32 PM

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labman57

Lieberman's obstructionist, anti-reform stance has been the equivalent of telling progressives in the Senate, "F*CK YOU!"

Franken to Lieberman: "Right back at ya, pal."

December 17, 2009 6:35 PM

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JennieB

Fistbump to Franken.

And really McCain? Because last Spring I heard a member of your party call the President of the United States a liar during a joint session. I don't recall you being offended about that. Sit down and STFU.

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jdb316

December 17, 2009 6:49 PM in reply to JennieB

If you're referring to Joe Wilson, then McCain did denounce that later in the evening.

December 17, 2009 6:38 PM

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georgecs

That's what happens when you let an actual person in the hallowed halls with these f*cking self-important nitwits.

December 17, 2009 6:54 PM

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geofu54

he didn't take it personally

Oh, he definitely did. He's such a self-centered ass not to. We all know that.

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IMNOTBITTER

December 17, 2009 8:15 PM in reply to geofu54

Oh yeah you now he went back to his office threw a hissy fit as he does so well. I was just talking to someone on the phone and we said good bye by saying.......F£$K JOE LIEBERMAN and his whore wife! Maybe we should start a trend.

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farnsworth

December 18, 2009 12:41 AM in reply to IMNOTBITTER

He is going to run home to his lovely wife Madrassa and cry. Get all Droopy Dog.

Wish I could have watched.

December 17, 2009 7:05 PM

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theone718

Shakes it up a bit. I like that.

December 17, 2009 7:07 PM

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dougom

It is beyond hilarious to see that the person who appears to have the most spine in the Senate is . . . a former comedian who is now the freshman Senator from Minnesota.

These folks need a little less comity, and a little more horse sense. The fact that this horse sense is coming from a former SNL writer is . . . well, I hover between "appalling" and "exhilarating."

December 17, 2009 7:36 PM

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Hank

Franken for majority leader. Isn't it obvious?

December 17, 2009 7:44 PM

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jeffgee

It was OK when Joe Wilson yelled during the President's address but when Al Franken holds Lieberman to his time limit, the GOOPers crank up their outrage for their honorary fellow GOOPer Joe.
As any stand-up comedian knows, when the red light comes on, wind up your act.

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December 17, 2009 7:55 PM in reply to jeffgee

I suggest reading previous comments to prevent teabagger-like repetition.

December 17, 2009 7:56 PM

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neumannd106

This isn't even close to news, TPM...

December 17, 2009 8:08 PM

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sean

Thank God Lieberstain and Crying Johnny invested in that wrinkle-free cotton panty company...

December 17, 2009 8:14 PM

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Shoto

Thank you, Senator Franken, for proving that Holy Joe is too stupid to read a clock. Same as for Senator "Get off o' my lawn" McCain...

December 17, 2009 8:20 PM

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IMNOTBITTER

Oh and another thing I did today was this I called up Joes friends Snow..... Collins.... etc. and said since the most hated man in america wont' get his phone lines unclogged would you ask senator ......fill in the blank ......to give joe a message for me...GO F YOURSELF LIEberscum!.....

December 17, 2009 8:44 PM

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NobleCommentDecider

Franken was just getting Mavericky!

I've never heard of a Senator who moved into his wife's parent's $5.5 million house and then stayed for twenty years, its not done.

December 17, 2009 8:48 PM

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atticus1104

Awesome video of Jane Hamsher, from Firedoglake, calling out Lanny Davis for lobbying for a health care bill that will make billions of dollars for companies that help pay his salary.

http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=3423

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December 17, 2009 9:04 PM in reply to atticus1104

that video is pretty lame, why not include the response?

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December 17, 2009 9:06 PM in reply to atticus1104

nevermind, your comment history indicates you blogspam that site fairly regularly. trying to feed an echo chamber?

December 17, 2009 9:25 PM

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Barry Champlain

As totally expected, Tweety played the first part of this clip... leaving out all of McCain's Republican Outrage and Righteous Indignation, and (most of all) Sen. Levin's gentle correction of Sen. McCain, pointing out that he could have "seen" such a dastardly show of disrespect in the venerable Senate that very afternoon, had he been paying attention. Not to mention McCain's weasel words, about how, um, he said HE had never seen it, not that it hadn't ever happened.

Thus, exonerating by editing all of the RW disingenuousness that went down, in this episode.

You can pretty much guess Tweety's premise. Was Franken's behavior rude?

Now, guess the general consensus among the Villagers.

December 17, 2009 9:51 PM

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Lndsnark

Al Franken's problem is that he hasn't been around enough to be fully compliant with the rules, unwritten and unspoken, that drive "The Club." I hope he never does, but the pressures to comply are immense and are the reason we're in the mess we're in.

December 17, 2009 9:53 PM

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dustin

Those who turn everything into republication vs. democrat are fools. It is just another version of he said/she said.

Our "free' education system has really failed us. It seems many have trouble thinking for themselves, so they side with one side on every issue. It is sad.

Who cares if Franken didn't give Joe an extra minute. I am sure it has nothing to do with Joe's recent opposition to the health care deform bill. Further more why did McCain have to try and get in his 2 cents on something that has no importance to any debate the senate should be partaking in.

December 17, 2009 10:27 PM

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rynato

Lieberputz spoke for the first 0:33 of the video, but I couldn't tell you a word he said.

I could not stop muttering, "fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you."

December 17, 2009 10:58 PM

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bluepapa

Did McCain mean to say the "comedy" of the Senate?

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chard

December 17, 2009 11:04 PM in reply to bluepapa

that was "comity."

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AllanCook

December 18, 2009 9:42 AM in reply to chard

It was "comity," but it sure sounded like "comedy." And, really, to call Al Franken on the carpet for not respecting the "comedy" of the Senate is too funny.

December 17, 2009 11:01 PM

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chard

I hate watching McCain play the offended party. He's a f--king Republican, he is incabable of being offended.

December 18, 2009 12:25 AM

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andtheglaven

Maybe Sen. Klobuchar will stop carrying water for Obama and stand up for the progressives that elected her (though I doubt it). It's too bad Lieberman is only doing exactly what Obama wants him to anyway according to Salon.com (http://salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2009/12/16/white_house/index.html). It's hard to believe Minnesota sent Franken AND Captain Crazy Bachmann to congress - now THAT'S comedy.

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arias

December 19, 2009 9:48 PM in reply to andtheglaven

Oh ok. So because Glen Greenwald at "SoWhat.com" makes this conspiratorial claim it must be true. Think I'm going to hurl.

The actual logic behind Greenwald's arguments are, if examined, incredibly weak. Greenwald himself is a no compromise liberal ideologue who will take the highroad to sacrifice the good for the perfect every single time and will use empty straw men arguments to make his stupid claims that don't hold up in the real world ad nauseam.

In this case he bases his opinion that Obama is against the PO and has Joe carrying his water for in his words "perfectly rational reasons" like "preserving and expanding power". Thinking readers are all stupid enough to fall for his explanation of apples being oranges he uses a singular diametric example of the pressure the White House exerted on "freshmen" legislators in the House (threatening to cut them off on any help for re-election) and asking with a straight face why he doesn't play the same hardball with Senators Nelson, Lieberman, and Lincoln. Does Greenwald really think everyone is dumb enough to fall for his sleight of hand in thinking that hardballing "freshman" reps from the house are in the same league as these 3 senators? Why does he conveniently ignore the crucial legislation left to be passed this session that will require these three's cooperation?

I could go on but please do yourself a favor by not citing the world of Greenwald for what goes on in the real world. It could improve your credibility if that's important to you.

December 18, 2009 4:26 AM

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wigwam

Here's the part that really slays me.

Everyone is actually watching this melarky and commenting on it as if these people were real or had anythign worth saying at all! Well Franken may be comedy but at least he is not (yet) owned by the banking elite - and McCain? are you kidding? These men (mostly) - who strip the livelihoods right out of the people - who are literally feeding at the trough; are standing around ARGUING about how THEY TREAT EACH OTHER?????

WTF???

If this is not real high comedy - then I have no idea what is.

People. Look the other way.
Read.
THINK.

The banks now run this country as surely as I am a lucky white woman. It's a FACT. Get over the stupidity of watching these clowns and get about the business of learning about economics and MATH and read people like Nathan Martin and Karl Denninger and Mish and Zero Hedge and Naked Capitalism and Ron Paul (who's been talking for 20 years as no one listened) and WAKE THE HELL UP.

If you ignore these stooges long enough they will disappear.

The more attention you give them, the more real they become - and the more expensive - they do not care about YOU they only live to feed.

I can count on the fingers of one hand the ones I think are not that and they are all already out on a limb and waiting for you to show up and join them -

But you are all predictably busy taking sides in a pointless media driven battle to choose sides instead of recognizing the complete idiocy and distraction of the game in the first place!

The titanic is sinking and you are debating the arguing of the elite top class passengers as they try to decide who will throw YOU overboard!

If I were you, I'd be finguring out where teh life boats are and how to work them.

Ignore these men, and their talking heads counterparts on the tv too.

what a total waste of time.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=49qmXh5krNc#t=0m36s

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Captain Howdy

December 18, 2009 6:14 AM in reply to wigwam

Yep, the whole Left vs. Right, Democrat vs. Republican dynamic is a complete and utter sham.

There's nothing but the haves and the have nots...

December 18, 2009 10:29 AM

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GTFOOH

Got to love Franken!

December 18, 2009 11:43 AM

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A. Harke

Keeping it bold...

The Trademark Company

December 18, 2009 5:29 PM

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Deo

Well, short of schreeching "You LIE!!!", Al did the right thing. WAY TO GO, Mr. Franken! I support your OBJECTION.
Go, Al!

December 19, 2009 1:59 AM

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Zeus

With all due respect, McCain, I think so-called "comity" is the problem in the Senate. Everyone seems to be chums with each other and their close pals the corporate lobbyist. Civility has meant enablement, cowardice, and failure to represent American citizens. Franken has hit on something here. Go for procedure and use those rules to send a message that we will not submit ourselves to your self-indulgent drivel in opposition to real democratic reform.

December 19, 2009 2:06 AM

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Zeus

With all due respect, McCain, I think so-called "comity" is the problem in the Senate. Everyone seems to be chums with each other and their close pals the corporate lobbyist. Civility has meant enablement, cowardice, and failure to represent American citizens. Franken has hit on something here. Go for procedure and use those rules to send a message that we will not submit ourselves to your self-indulgent drivel in opposition to real democratic reform.

December 19, 2009 4:13 AM

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jfields

If McCain is so offended, perhaps he should have chosen Lieberman for VP, instead of handing dangerous amounts of power and influence to Sarah Palin and endangering the republic for the next 25 years with the mere possibility that she could someday be elected to high office—or, for that matter, any office above the rank of dogcatcher.

As for Senator Franken, his legend is just beginning.

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Tosh

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Tosh

April 2, 2010 8:44 AM

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