Jezebel: Al Franken

What's Next For "Don't Ask Don't Tell"

Irin Carmon — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:30:51 EDT

Yesterday's Senate failure on the Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal was disappointing, but as White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs put it, "I don't think this is the end." Oh yeah? More »

Christine O'Donnell Cancels Media Appearances, Has "Secret Muslim"-Pushing Advisor

Irin Carmon — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:34:55 EDT

Christine O'Donnell canceling major media appearances — even Fox News — means her 90s-era Politically Incorrect appearances pack even more punch. The latest: sparring with Al Franken. But wait! She has a new website, and it has positions! Sort of. More »

Judiciary Committee Puts Kagan One Step Closer To Supreme Court

Anna North — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:20:00 EDT

The Senate Judiciary Committee just voted 13-6 to confirm Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court. Lindsey Graham was her only Republican supporter, and many others were worried she was a liberal "activist" who hated marriage and the military. More »

Gaga Goes Fishing In Heels; Amy Winehouse Names Her Vagina

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:40:00 EDT

Lady Gaga took a break from touring to go fishing in New Zealand, "She didn't take her heels off once - she went down to Onetangi beach to go fishing in her eight-inch heels, undies and a man's business shirt..."

Repubs Think Franken Painted Them As "Rapist Sympathizers"

LatoyaPeterson — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST

The GOP is complaining that Al Franken isn't doing enough to combat leftists from "tap[ping] into the natural sympathy that we have for [victims of rape]" and it's making them look bad. Here's a thought: stop defending rapists! [Politico] More »

Republicans: Defending Rape Victims Is A "Political" Move

Anna North — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:20:00 EDT

Last night, Jon Stewart called out the 30 Senate Republicans who voted against Al Franken's amendment to bar the government from contracting with companies that force their employees to agree not to sue if they get raped on the job. More »

Sen. Franken Fights KBR On Behalf Of Rape Vicitims

LatoyaPeterson — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EDT

Sen. Al Franken's amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill passed yesterday; the amendment penalizes companies that restricts claims of sexual assualt and discrimination to arbitration. The opposition claims that this is "a political attack" aimed at Halliburton/KBR. [ThinkProgress] More »

Were Dogs Originally Man's Best Meal? • Farmers In India Selling Wives To Pay Debts

Katy Kelleher — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:40:00 EDT

• We're so used to thinking of dogs as companions that we often forget the most basic reason people buddy up to animals: Food. A new study suggests wolves were first domesticated in southeastern China for their meat. • More »

Recycle Old Sex Toys Into Snack Sorters • Study: Divorce Is Bad For Health

Katy Kelleher — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:20:00 EDT

Stupid Intentions has figured out a (not at all) useful way to recycle your old vibrator: repurpose it as a "popcorn sorter."• More »

Kumar: Now Smoking In The Real White House

Megan Carpentier — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EDT

Kal Penn's in the (White) House, Al Franken's in the Senate, Sarah Palin's gone fishing, Obama's in Russia, and conservatives are (still) in Crazytown, but luckily, Gawker's Alex Pareene is with me, trying to figure out what it all means. More »

Screw The Husbands: What Is Today's Humiliated Wife Wearing?

Sadie Stein — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EDT

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GMA is concerned about how Jenny Sanford is "coping." Robin Givhan says, just look at the clothes: she's fine! But when we see Ruth Madoff's roots? That analysis is accompanied by Schadenfreude. More »

Michael Jackson's Death Now Influencing Iranian Protesters

Megan Carpentier — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EDT

Is Michael Jackson bad for Iran? Is Minnesota Govenor Tim Pawlenty giving up on his bromance with Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell? Did John Edwards really make a sex tape? The Washington Independent's Spencer Ackerman helps answer these important questions. More »

You Gotta Love A Good Bailout, Until You Don't

Megan Carpentier — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EDT

Everyone still has their knickers in a twist about the $165 million paid in bonuses to the dicks at AIG, except for CNBC's Rick Santelli and the guys who actually got them. More »

Wednesday Is Breakup Day For Politicians And Their Spawn

Megan Carpentier — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EDT

Man, who isn't getting dumped this week? Levi Johnston's reportedly got some good company in Charles Freeman, the teacher's unions, the card check bill and Obama's budget. More »

Ladies And Gentlemen, Senator Al Franken

Hortense Smith — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:35:00 EST

One more thing! Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Richie claims that the state will officially confirm Al Franken as the winner of the Minnesota Senate race on Monday. Doggone it, people DO like him! [CNN] More »

Blagojevich Actually Manages To Do Something Stupider

Megan Carpentier — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:40:00 EST

Governor Rod Blagojevich rammed his head more throughly up his ass and found someone to join him: former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, who is Blago's new appointment to Barack Obama's Senate seat. [Washington Post]

Barack Rides Unicorn To Power; Bristol Palin Pops

Megan Carpentier — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:40:00 EST

DC artist Chris Bishop has created this extremely prescient image of the inauguration in T-shirt form for all your speech-watching needs. [Chris Bishop via Boing Boing]

You're Going To Need This Puppy To Get Through The News

Megan Carpentier — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:40:00 EST

The Bidens plan to add to their household by getting another puppy from the pound. Double puppy snuggles! [Huffington Post]

Bill Clinton's Big Release, Obama's Smaller Releases

Megan Carpentier — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:30:00 EST

Bill Clinton's donor list for his foundation and presidential library have been released. Yeah, there's all kinds of foreign government money on there, what did you expect? [Politico]

Hillary Clinton Is Not Getting Involved In Her Seat, But She's The Only One Who Isn't

Megan Carpentier — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:30:00 EST

Clinton told her supporters to stop talking smack about Caroline Kennedy unless they're going to endorse someone else. She doesn't want people to believe it's coming from her. [Politico]

It's Going To Be An Oprah-guration!

Megan Carpentier — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:30:00 EST

Oprah Winfrey is talking her show on the road to D.C. during the Inauguration. Let the speculation begin about which members of the new Administration will be appearing. [Access Hollywood]
Congress is going to pass a law to reduce the salary of the Secretary of State to block Republican efforts to keep Hillary Clinton from serving on Constitutional grounds. So much for pay equity in an Obama Administration. [Talking Points Memo]
Al Franken says he's pulled ahead of Norm Coleman in the Minnesota Senate race. [Politico]

Caroline May Be The Only One Who Doesn't Want Hillary's Senate Seat

Megan Carpentier — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:40:00 EST

The race for who will ultimately lose to New York Governor David Paterson's desire to appoint state Attorney General Andrew "Shucking And Jiving Is Not A Racist Phrase" Cuomo to Hillary Clinton's Senate seat is on! Bill Clinton, Nita Lowey and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. are out, Caroline Kennedy might be in. [CNN, The Hill, New York Times, The New Republic]
Senator Lisa Murkowski told Governor Sarah Palin not to even think about the 2010 primary, but plans to kick her designer-clad ass if she does. [Politico]
Governor Bill McGrabbyhand Richardson will be your next Secretary of Commerce. [Washington Post]

For Thanksgiving, Some Heavy News For Reflection And Fluff For Dessert

Megan Carpentier — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:30:00 EST

Armed gunman in India today attacked 7 different sites in Mumbai in a reported attempt to kill as many Americans and Brits as possible, not that they spared any Indians while they were killing. At least 78 people lost their lives. [Huffington Post]
In addition, the FBI has information that al Qaeda may have discussed attacking subways and trains in and around New York City this holiday weekend. People in New York should expect an increased security presence. [Huffington Post]
On the eve of a holiday dedicated to stuffing one's face with rich food, it is important to note that the number of Americans on food stamps is expected to reach an all time high this month. It's something to chew on with your turkey, and then give thanks that you're either not one of those Americans, or, if you are, that the anti-government Republicans didn't manage to dismantle at least that part of our important but much-maligned "welfare" state. [Washington Post]

Hank Williams Jr. Pains Our Ears, And Our Brains

Megan Carpentier — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:30:00 EST

Hank Williams Jr., who we started studiously ignoring after he murdered our national anthem during a Palin rally, has decided that he's not quite done with being part of a losing campaign and will challenge Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander in the primary for the 2010 race. [Politico]
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman today threw out Florida's 31-year-old law prohibiting LGBT Floridians from adopting children, noting that there was no scientific evidence to support the ban and Florida allows LGBT people to foster children. The state plans to appeal. [Wall Street Journal]
Barack Obama is adopting, too, and not just a puppy — he's adopting current Defense Secretary Robert Gates for his own Administration. [ABC News]

Prop 8 Challenge Moves Forward, Other People Screwed For Once

Megan Carpentier — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:30:00 EST

The California Supreme Court this afternoon granted a hearing to the Prop 8 opponents' challenge to the ballot measure that eliminated same sex marriage rights in the state. It did not, however, issue a stay that would have allowed same sex marriages to continue. [Equality California, California Supreme Court (pdf)]
Missouri finally finished counting its votes and has narrowly gone for McCain. Obama still gets to be President, though. [Politico]
A judge has ruled that Al Franken's campaign is entitled to written reasons why certain absentee ballots were rejected, which is expected to help his efforts to oust Norm Coleman. I'd bet the voters whose votes were rejected would like to know that sort of thing, too. [Politico]
But the Dow fell again, so we're all pretty well screwed for now no matter what. [Huffington Post]

Al Franken In A Skimpy Suit: Prettier Than Palin?

Jessica G. — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:20:00 EST

People gave Sarah Palin a lot of crap for her pageant past, but she's not the only candidate for political office to strut her stuff in a skimpy swimsuit. Behold! Al Franken! The Daily Show found some 70s footage of the potential Minnesota Senator (whose race is still undecided) doing the catwalk in a Speedo and sash. Jon Stewart introduces Franken's pageant turn by saying Franken is "seen here endangering his future political career," but we beg to differ. This could seriously up Franken's support among Chippendales' patrons. Clip above. More »

Liberals, Palin Would Like The Senate To Take Out the Trash

Megan Carpentier — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:30:00 EST

Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid has decided that the entire Democratic caucus will vote next week whether Independent Senator Joe Lieberman will keep his seat as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee after having back John McCain and gone negative against Obama. [TPM Election Central]
How negative did Lieberman really go? There's a video to count the ways. [Politico]
And both the Clintons swear that — despite leaked reports that rather obviously came from Lieberman's camp — they aren't pushing to keep Lieberman at Homeland Security or in the caucus. [Politico]
Racist Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss, who, according to the Constitution represents all the citizens of Georgia regardless of their race, knows the reason he didn't avoid a run-off election because not enough of "his" people turned out. You know, white people. That always vote for the white guy. Because they're white. [Think Progress]

Loose Lips

Jessica G. — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:45:00 EDT

Oh my gawd, y'all: sources say Britney Spears will host Saturday Night Live on November 22nd! • Speaking of SNL, remember former castmate Victoria Jackson? Well she's in a new ad denigrating fellow SNL alum/ democratic Minnesota Senate candidate Al Franken. According to the Huffington Post Jackson wrote on her website, "I don't want a political label, but Obama bears traits that resemble the anti- Christ and I'm scared to death that un- educated people will ignorantly vote him into office." • Sarah Silverman will appear with her on-again, off-again bf Jimmy Kimmel as a guest on his late night talk show Thursday night. Maybe this time she'll sing about fucking Ben Affleck. Or even better, Casey! More »