-1. “Curt: I want to discuss issues and Franken is an issue.”

-2. “His joke about drugging and raping a woman is an issue.”

-3. “According…Senator.”

-4. “Franken’s satire about drugging and raping a woman is an issue.”

Lets talk about issues. Why was Clarence Thomas given hell but people like Bill Clinton and Al Franken get a pass? Before you have the right to talk about the issues you have to apologize for the way that Clarence Thomas got treated. Or else this an issue.

Half the voters in Minnesota are woman. Are you saying that a man who talks even in a joking manner deserves the vote of a woman. Maybe you can show me where Norm Coleman has joked of raping a woman?

Okay if you want an issue why bash Coleman because Coleman wants the oil companies to be drilling for oil in places where the Democrats for years have said no. Just think Flash if years ago we had allowed drilling and oil won’t be at $139 a barrell today. Oh that’s right as long as we don’t do policies that look like they are giving benefits to Exxon you don’t care what the price of oil is.

I’m looking forward to an issues campaign. And issue number one is that Al Franken has shown that he’s not qualfied to be a United States Senator.

Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN

Hmmm, let me use your own words:

“”If you”"

actually listened to Al Franken’s Speech

“” and can’t figure out that “”

he apologized

“”you are a moron. Turn your computer off and get your head examined.”"

Why is the MNGOP so scared to talk about actual issues, because if this campaign came down to debating the issues they wouldn’t have a chance in hell. All they have is smear and slime, and MDE is the King of Smear and Slime!!

Keep it up Mike, your track record of electing Democratic candidates is better than your GOP one. The party must be proud!

One might say that it takes more guts to have a convention so open and accessible to the other party’s operatives…

I know from talking with Michael that he cares about issues. It’s just that Michael was appalled, as I was, with Mr. Franken’s behavior.

I find Mr. Franken’s talking about drugging & raping a woman almost as repulsive as what Mark Olson did.

Now we’ll have to tolerate Coleman the RINO for another 6 years.

Al Franken could be somewhat similar to a Pat Paulsen for President, and go around from State to State with an effective comedy routine.

9:30 a.m. – Ron Carey, Chairperson of the Minnesota Republican Party, “previews” [as in his press release yesterday] the day of his 27th Wedding Anniversary, with MBB/MDE’s writings [and other GOP communications] of drugging and rape of a woman.

It is easier to talk about sex jokes and Playboy articles than debate issues.

Eric, AF will get his butt handed him when we get to that, too. His position on renewable energy is typical liberal garbage. There’s nothing there about increasing oil exploration & production. That’s a losing argument with gas at $4 a gallon, especially with 57% of Americans now favoring increasing oil exploration on federal lands.

Meanwhile, I think Minnesotans are repulsed that Mr. Franken thinks it’s satire to talk about such things as rape.

Character still matters & Franken doesn’t have any.

Did I miss read this? They do their Q and A which ends before eleven. Then they start the endorsement after noon. Shouldn’t they have done the endorsement right after the Q and A.

Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN

Unfortunately, there might be those few who are also waiting for some comments about drugging and raping beasts.

Could it be that because according to Representative Laura Brod and the information that she did not present, the profile of someone being raped fits the students and their parents of an urban area more than it does in her area?

Michael is one of the greatest shock bloggers there is and he is not disappointing today.

Is it just me, or is Michael neglecting to live blog anything about the OTHER candidate? To read this post, one would think Al was debating himself.

Why do the schools in Minneapolis get thousands of dollars more per kid than the schools in greater Minnesota?

The DFL legislature only made this gap wider in the last session.

As a teacher I just want you to hand over every last dime of your cash and the cash of everyone around you so that I can be exceedingly wealthy.

You are doing a great job as usual. Look at the liberals above whining and trying to change the subject. Thanks for being a patriotic American!

“We have to invest in our kids. And you see the return on investment right away.”

Please tell us, Michael, do you oppose early-childhood education?

Well how dare he! I am officially outraged that he wouldn’t abide by the Republican talking points that you have so conveniently laid out for him. It is high time we kick Tim Walz right out of the Republican Party.