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You are here: Home / Politics / Media / The Franken Ads

The Franken Ads

by John Cole|  July 1, 20092:46 pm| 102 Comments

This post is in: Media, Politics

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Now that the Franken/Coleman election is finally over, I’m going through the Franken for Senate youtube channel watching some of his older commercials, and I think that consistently, he had the best commercials I have seen for someone running for something other than President. They ranged from the cute with this one featuring his grade school teacher:

Here is a feistier Franken:

Here is a hard-hitting piece that I doubt aired, but I thought was very effective:

Here is a defensive ad that I thought worked very well at deflecting charges that Franken is just a comedian:

And, of course, probably the most effective of the whole lot was this spot featuring his wife:

Go through the channel– there really are a lot of great ads from that campaign. I’m not sure what the “experts” would say, but I found almost every commercial to be very well done.

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Reader Interactions

102Comments

  1. 1.

    JayR

    July 1, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    I think that I read somewhere that the same people who did his ads did Wellstone’s in 1990. If you look at some of those they have the same flavor. They were cited at the time as one of the major factors in Wellstone’s out of nowhere win.

  2. 2.

    Napoleon

    July 1, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    I’m not sure what the “experts” would say . . .

    In a way it does not matter because in the end it is the man on the street/the voter (i.e. us) that matters. I don’t need to know how to cook something to tell you it taste good.

    You have to wonder if being a writer and in TV for years gave Al an advantage in working with his ad people (and vice versa, they may have felt more confortable making a pitch for something that was a little differant then the typical political ad with him).

  3. 3.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    July 1, 2009 at 2:58 pm

    I was never a huge Al Franken fan because I don’t think he’s all that funny when doing stand up, but as a satirist he is generally pretty good. But as someone who listened to his Air America show for almost the entire time it was on the air (and yes I even suffered throught the lame sketches and singing intros he did for his regular guests) he was probably more prepared for policy debate than most of the people now currently serving in DC when they first sought office. The guy is very well versed on the issues, and I don’t mean in just the talking points. He knows the material and can talk about important issues without sounding like he memorized a script.

    It doesn’t surprise me that Franken would have a very effective media campaign because as a former TV wrtier he knows what works and what doesn’t work. Its right in his wheel house.

  4. 4.

    Paul L.

    July 1, 2009 at 3:01 pm

    Where is this one? Where Franken runs from a debate.
    Medved-Franken-O’Neill Kurfuffle

  5. 5.

    flukebucket

    July 1, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    Loved the one with Franni.

    That is a true love story.

  6. 6.

    LD50

    July 1, 2009 at 3:11 pm

    I love the accent on his schoolteacher and the 4th-grade-geek photo of Al.

  7. 7.

    ironranger

    July 1, 2009 at 3:15 pm

    I saw Franken do his Air America radio show at UMD in Duluth, MN a few years ago. During commercial breaks Al showed old tourism ads he and Tom Davis had done for the city of Duluth. They made a good team.

  8. 8.

    The Moar You Know

    July 1, 2009 at 3:16 pm

    Where is this one? Where Franken runs from a debate.

    @Paul L.: In the great hall of “it doesn’t matter because he won”.

    AHHAHAHAHAHA 60 votes. Choke on it, Paul. You do what we tell you to, now.

  9. 9.

    jibeaux

    July 1, 2009 at 3:16 pm

    I think he’s going to work out better than probably most people think. He’s a pretty savvy guy, witty, and I have really liked his books. That Operation Chickenhawk cartoon he had in one of them was priceless. He writes a fair bit about his wife, who he clearly loves deeply. And I think he is pretty serious about policy to the point of wonkiness, and I think he’ll serve MN well. I know he won a plurality rather than a majority, and that his margin of victory was slim, I understand people’s hesitation about voting for “Stewart” and he’s probably going to have to continue to work to earn legitimacy, but c’mon, Minnesotans elected Jesse Ventura. He’s going to be just fine.

  10. 10.

    gex

    July 1, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    One that I remember vividly was Al and a Republican he worked with to raise funds to send armor and other equipment to soldiers. One of the great outrages over the whole Iraq debacle was choosing the date and time of this war and not doing what was necessary to properly equip our troops. The sad fact is that too many think supporting our troops = yellow ribbon magnet on SUV.

  11. 11.

    ironranger

    July 1, 2009 at 3:20 pm

    @Paul L.: Franken didn’t much like getting set up. John O’Neil is a disgrace, also.

  12. 12.

    PK

    July 1, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    Paul L
    What the hell was that link supposed to be? It showed nothing. Franken was not running away from anything and you are a fool!

  13. 13.

    kay

    July 1, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    @Paul L.:

    That’s powerful.

    Medved invited Franken and O’Neill to debate but neglected to tell Franken he’d invited O’Neill, or that they were having a debate?

    That’s fair. In some alternate universe.

    I hate the word “kurfuffle”. Do you have any idea why conservative pundits include it in nearly every screed they write? Is it mandatory?

  14. 14.

    JK

    July 1, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    In one of the Grateful Dead’s concert movies, Franken does a brilliant impersonation of Henry Kissinger.

    I’m glad Franken has finally won, but I think the Republicans have succeeded in seriously undercutting his legitimacy by dragging this thing on for so long. There was a quote from Coleman weeks ago, where he said words to the effect that regardless of who ultimately wins, the victor may not be viewed as entirely legitimate.

  15. 15.

    Raenelle

    July 1, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    “Stuart Saves His Family” is a really sweet and funny movie–a small, quiet gem. That must be one of the movies Franni refers to; I can’t think of what the other might be. Anyone know?

  16. 16.

    LD50

    July 1, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    I hate the word “kurfuffle”. Do you have any idea why conservative pundits include it in nearly every screed they write?

    It has a real 82-year-old-Bill-O’Reilly-viewer feel to it.

  17. 17.

    Politically Lost

    July 1, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    I know a lot of pixels have been spilled here about peak wingnut or the existence of a wingularity (my preferred term).

    If Obama X makes them crazy; then Senator Al Franken could create a wingularity so massive the known universe will reverse its outward expansion.

  18. 18.

    gypsy howell

    July 1, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    There’s no way he could be a bigger clown than 95% of the people currently in the senate. He’ll actually be much much better than the 95% (possibly 99%) of the people in the senate, because I really don’t think he’ll be beholden to the same corporate bribery racket currently maintaining a chokehold on our elected officials.

  19. 19.

    The Other Steve

    July 1, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    Norm’s Got to Go.

  20. 20.

    LD50

    July 1, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    I’m glad Franken has finally won, but I think the Republicans have succeeded in seriously undercutting his legitimacy by dragging this thing on for so long. There was a quote from Coleman weeks ago, where he said words to the effect that regardless of who ultimately wins, the victor may not be viewed as entirely legitimate.

    As I said yesterday, that and 50 cents will allow Norm Coleman and the Minnesota GOP to use a payphone.

    AF’s senator now, and he’ll very likely get re-elected.

  21. 21.

    Tsulagi

    July 1, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    Good ads. Even the one going after Coleman on Iraq wasn’t a negative ad. Ads to make you want to vote for him rather than against the other guy. Wonder if those were the ad types Coleman ran.

  22. 22.

    ironranger

    July 1, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    @kay: Big brave Medved had to have backup. Typical. 2, 3, 4 repubs to one liberal.

  23. 23.

    kay

    July 1, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    @PK:

    The link describes a “kurfuffle” that allegedly occurred because noted conservative leader Medved sandbagged a guest on his show.

    Sometimes they spell it “kerfuffle”. I think it means “lie”.

  24. 24.

    Xenos

    July 1, 2009 at 3:29 pm

    @Raenelle: When a Man Loves a Woman. Have not seen it, but heard it is excellent, and that it is used a lot in recovery programs.

  25. 25.

    Louise

    July 1, 2009 at 3:29 pm

    I’d seen the first-grade teacher one, but never the one with Franni. Wow. I’m all teary. That’s a great testimony, especially when you think of all supposedly more devout and serious politicians who have betrayed their spouses.

  26. 26.

    LD50

    July 1, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    Judging from Paul L’s usual weaselly behavior, I suspect he will ignore the responses to this and not post here again for another day or two.

  27. 27.

    JK

    July 1, 2009 at 3:32 pm

    I would love to have had an opportunity to see the reactions of Mitch McConnell and Big Bad John Cornyn as Norm Coleman delivered his concession speech.

  28. 28.

    kay

    July 1, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    @ironranger:

    Isn’t Medved a culture warrior, by trade? I thought they were dropping that scam, due to obvious reasons: South Carolina, Nevada and Louisiana. What were the others? Idaho and Florida?

  29. 29.

    Zuzu's Petals

    July 1, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    I notice the repetition of “I’m serious about …”

    Very smart.

  30. 30.

    gbear

    July 1, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    @JK:

    I would love to have had an opportunity to see the reactions of Mitch McConnell and Big Bad John Cornyn as Norm Coleman delivered his concession speech.

    I would imagine their faces were a blank wall of death. No thoughts whatsoever. They knew it was coming and I doubt they really gave a rat’s pitutie about Coleman. He was just a (momentary) strategy to them.

  31. 31.

    You Don't Say

    July 1, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    The Franni one brings tears to my eyes.

    Franken has shown incredible restraint through this election ordeal, which would try the patience of even the most placid person. He’s smart and well-versed. I think he’ll be a good senator.

  32. 32.

    Ash Can

    July 1, 2009 at 3:39 pm

    @kay: I’ve seen it spelled “kerfluffle,” and first encountered it on a web site that found and mocked (often in quite hilarious fashion) hissy fits, food fights, and dick-measuring contests that would occasionally erupt in various online pop-culture fandom forums. The word itself was used to refer to these silly dustups.

  33. 33.

    gex

    July 1, 2009 at 3:40 pm

    @kay: kerfuffle must be one of those code words conservatives use to let everyone know they are on the right team. Our local sports station has some personalities that talk about other issues too. I’ve noticed a very hard right slant (it is a Clear Channel station after all) and “kerfuffle” is heard almost daily.

  34. 34.

    Zuzu's Petals

    July 1, 2009 at 3:40 pm

    @ironranger:

    Yeah, I don’t think O’Neill could open his mouth without lying. He told some outrageous whoppers. The problem is, you have to be prepared with massive amounts of material in front of you – and know it all – in order to call him on it before your 30 seconds of air time is up.

  35. 35.

    BDeevDad

    July 1, 2009 at 3:44 pm

    I’m looking forward to him destroying Republicans on the Sunday Morning talk shows. Oh wait, he’s liberal. Nevermind, they’ll never have him on. Damn #DickWhisperer

  36. 36.

    gnomedad

    July 1, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    OT: Sadly, Karl Malden has left home without it.

  37. 37.

    JK

    July 1, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    James Inhofe on Al Franken: “I’ll tell you what a lot of people are thinking, and that is it looks like things are going to be over and we are going to get the clown from Minnesota … They are not going to get more than 35 votes.”
    Asked if he was referring to Al Franken, Inhofe confirmed that he was. “I didn’t mean to be disrespectful. I don’t know the guy, but … for a living he is a clown. That’s what he does for a living.”

    h/t http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/01/inhofe-on-franken-we-are_n_223981.html

  38. 38.

    gbear

    July 1, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    Franken gave a rather emotional ‘thank you’ speech at the MN state capitol just after noon today. I was a few blocks away but couldn’t go so I listened on the radio. At 1:00, all the air raid sirens in the state went off (which they do every first wednesday of the month at 1:00). They are very loud near the capitol.

    To me, the sirens just felt like how the wingers must be feeling today, and I got a smile out of it. I would imagine that many of the people still leaving the rally felt the same way. Oh, what a sweet day.

  39. 39.

    ironranger

    July 1, 2009 at 3:52 pm

    @kay: Shrug. It’s been awhile since I’ve even seen him mentioned anywhere. So many of these guys, I don’t even bother to check out what most of them are up to even if there is a link. I can only take so much of the insanity in one day.

  40. 40.

    gex

    July 1, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    @gbear: My friends who live near the capitol invited me up to go see it live. I couldn’t make it or listen on the radio. I’m sure it will be online soon enough.

  41. 41.

    kay

    July 1, 2009 at 4:00 pm

    @gex:

    I don’t listen to sports-talk radio, or sports, but I did on a long solo trip through western PA and I was surprised at how ideological it is.

    It was a call-in show. The host was less vitriolic and wingnutty than the callers. He’d cut ’em off if they tried to sneak a political rant in, so they’d talk really fast.

    Maybe it’s a broader category. People who call radio shows are wingnuts? Okay, most people who call radio shows are wingnuts.

  42. 42.

    Paul L.

    July 1, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    @The Moar You Know:

    AHHAHAHAHAHA 60 votes. Choke on it, Paul. You do what we tell you to, now.

    I wonder if there is a way to get John O’Neil on the Senate floor for filibuster vote. Don’t have 60 votes if Kerry and Franken are running away screaming like Perez Hilton.
    Enjoy your victory.

    The only downside for Democrats is that they can’t credibly blame the fiscal and economic woes on Bush anymore as they will have cornered the political market. I say “credibly” because they will continue to do so, and the media mostly won’t call them on it, but such claims will be laughably false. The real question is, how and when will this come back to haunt them?

    Typical. 2, 3, 4 repubs to one liberal.

    Every watch the Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow or Ed Schultz on MSNBC?

    Note what constitutes “fair and balanced” on Ed Schultz’s show. Kos and Bill Press.

    To be fair last night I saw a similar thing on Hannity last night with hotties S.E. Cupp and Kimberly Guilfoyle.
    Youtube “watch?v=1Ldp5TAxkHs” No link as three links in a post here send it to moderation.

    Judging from Paul L’s usual weaselly behavior, I suspect he will ignore the responses to this and not post here again for another day or two.

    ;)

  43. 43.

    gbear

    July 1, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    @gex: Looks like TPM has it.

  44. 44.

    Trollhattan

    July 1, 2009 at 4:06 pm

    If (soon to be) Sen. Franken were instead, Rep. Franken, I’d fear some damage to his re-electability, but that six-year senate slot will completely erase the detritus from this Coleman mess. It’s within his power to succeed (or screw up) all on his own.

    I can easily believe he’s got the smarts and policy & issues knowledge to be quite good in the job. I don’t know what sort of politician he might prove to be. Hopefully, somebody in the party can take him under his/her wing and teach him the ropes so he can go forth and kneecap Inhofe himself. (Is there anyone in the Senate quite as shameful as that twit?)

  45. 45.

    Comrade Stuck

    July 1, 2009 at 4:10 pm

    @Paul L.:

    I wonder if there is a way to get John O’Neil on the Senate floor for filibuster vote.

    You wingnuts just keep livin’ in the past PL, that’s what yer good at.

  46. 46.

    The Tim Channel

    July 1, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    Knowledge gained from thread: Kerfuffle is the new gay. Frankin has an incredible relationship with his charming wife.

    Already knew: Medved is an asshat extraordinaire. Franken is brilliant and funny.

    Odds n Ends: I’ve seen the Running Mags pictures of Sarah. WTF? They barely got the dirt over Farrah’s coffin and SarahPee is gunning to be the latest pinup girl….or next presidential candidate??? WTF??? Sully’s right about the baby prop magic. Is he still looking for an actual birth certificate?

    She does look dam good.

    Enjoy.

  47. 47.

    JGabriel

    July 1, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    Paul L.:

    Every watch the Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow or Ed Schultz on MSNBC?

    Or the 3 hours of Joe Scarborough on MSNBC every weekday morning, huh? What do you libtards think about that, huh? Huh?

    Wait, what?

    Oh.

    .

  48. 48.

    gbear

    July 1, 2009 at 4:17 pm

    Hopefully, somebody in the party can take him under his/her wing and teach him the ropes

    Franken was very close to and learned a lot from Paul Wellstone. He’s in pretty good shape right now. I just hope that he doesn’t unlearn the stuff he already knows.

    I think that he’s going to be a great senator in a year or so.

  49. 49.

    ironranger

    July 1, 2009 at 4:23 pm

    Somebody needs a nap. My kids are long grown up but I still recognize the signs.

  50. 50.

    Paul L.

    July 1, 2009 at 4:24 pm

    @The Tim Channel:
    Farrah is still considered a pinup girl?
    Is Rachel Welch is still considered a pinup girl?
    Do you really want to bring up Birth certificates conspiracy theories?
    When is Sully going to release his medical records proving he doesn’t not have AIDS dementia complex?
    Jackalope Time!!!!!!
    Who is favorite pinup girl?

  51. 51.

    Ash Can

    July 1, 2009 at 4:30 pm

    OT (h/t GOS)–

    GOP Congressmen to Michele Bachmann: Ix-nay on the ensus-say.

    (Personally, I hope she continues to ignore them. I’d so love to witness her epic shitfit when she’s informed that her legislative district is going “poof.”)

  52. 52.

    Zuzu's Petals

    July 1, 2009 at 4:30 pm

    I wonder if there is a way to get John O’Neil on the Senate floor for filibuster vote.

    They’d have to know which rock to turn over first.

  53. 53.

    gbear

    July 1, 2009 at 4:31 pm

    While we’re on the topic of MN politics, conservative legislators are sending out a press release explaining why Bachmann is crazy and wrong for telling people to resist filling out their census reports. Apparently her colleagues are getting really sick of her BS. Haha.

    Ack! Ash Can beat me by a minute. My link is to Steve Benen/Washington Monthly

  54. 54.

    LD50

    July 1, 2009 at 4:31 pm

    @Paul L.:

    When is Sully going to release his medical records proving he doesn’t not have AIDS dementia complex?

    Facile fag bashing is desperate even for you, Paul.

    Tho no great surprise.

  55. 55.

    kay

    July 1, 2009 at 4:35 pm

    @Comrade Stuck:

    There is a way to get O’Neill on the Senate floor to debate Franken.

    An election. Oops…right there’s the problem, right?

  56. 56.

    Ash Can

    July 1, 2009 at 4:35 pm

    @gbear: Hey, it’s too good not to repeat! :)

  57. 57.

    LD50

    July 1, 2009 at 4:35 pm

    @gbear:

    Tho note he gets in the obligatory ACORN!! reference:

    “The unfortunate irony is that Ms. Bachmann’s boycott only increases the likelihood that ACORN-recruited census takers will be dispatched to her constituents’ homes. Anyone who completes and returns their census form will remove any need for a census taker to visit their residence.

    I’m sure the only reason the GOP objects to Bachmann’s antics is that the only people she’s likely to influence are other members of the Black Helicopter crowd, thus causing the census to undercount the right wing loony population.

  58. 58.

    The Saff

    July 1, 2009 at 4:37 pm

    Roll Call reports that the three congressmen approached Bachmann privately and asked her to stop the boycott. They went public because Bachmann “appeared unfazed by their request.”

    She really does seem to be as dumb as a box of rocks.

  59. 59.

    Tax Analyst

    July 1, 2009 at 4:39 pm

    Paul L.
    @The Tim Channel:
    Farrah is still considered a pinup girl?
    Is Rachel Welch is still considered a pinup girl?
    Do you really want to bring up Birth certificates conspiracy theories?
    When is Sully going to release his medical records proving he doesn’t not have AIDS dementia complex?
    Jackalope Time
    Who is favorite pinup girl?

    Wow! Fifty-four words in search of a point. Dude, you sound like Leslie Caron’s pre-song babble in the title track of “Gigi”.

    I’ll call your fifty-four words with just two: Grow Up

  60. 60.

    chopper

    July 1, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    @gbear:

    some gooper realized that if conservatives failed to report their households in the census it would surely lead to electoral underrepresentation down the road.

    which is why i encourage the nutbags to never, ever return census forms or answer the door.

  61. 61.

    beabea

    July 1, 2009 at 4:42 pm

    I agree with you John, those were very good. Refreshingly straightforward and they don’t insult the viewer’s intelligence like so many political ads seem to do.

    Haven’t seen any of Norm’s ads (not that I want to, at least not without my shades on), but his must have slung a lot of dirt for him to come as close as he did to somebody who ran such good ads. Cause you know the saying about negative ads: “Everybody hates them, and they work.”

  62. 62.

    Ash Can

    July 1, 2009 at 4:43 pm

    @JK:

    Asked if he was referring to Al Franken, Inhofe confirmed that he was. “I didn’t mean to be disrespectful. I don’t know the guy, but … for a living he is a clown.”

    And Inhofe, for a living, is a horse’s ass. I don’t mean to be disrespectful. I don’t know the guy. This is just what he does, that’s all.

  63. 63.

    LD50

    July 1, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    @The Saff: I bet she gave them that creepy, dead-eyes expression she has in response.

    I can just see the GOP congressmen shaking their heads as they left her office “Don’t quote me on this, but that bitch is CRAZY!“

  64. 64.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    July 1, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    @Ash Can:

    You mean someone was actually listening to me this morning (as in reading what I wrote?) Great FSM I have more power than I knew!

    Me from this morning:

    “The problem is that the batshitcrazy Bachman is going to get some poor soul just trying to do their job to put food on the table census worker assaulted or worse shot. With the rhetoric she has been spewing it is going to happen and the blood will be on her hands. I hope to FSM that someone in her party takes her to one side and points out the error of her ways before those poor census workers start knocking on doors.”

  65. 65.

    Comrade Stuck

    July 1, 2009 at 4:46 pm

    Senator Inhoffe calls Franken “a clown”. Wingnut meltdown continues….. with dumbest motherfucking Senator in history…..from Oklahoma……. breaking news…

    edit- I hates the Ash Can.

  66. 66.

    Ash Can

    July 1, 2009 at 4:50 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt: Wouldn’t it be nice if they actually did give a shit about the census workers? Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, they’re on her case because they’re terrified that her idiot supporters will actually listen to her and do as she says, and they’ll be out yet another R on the House floor.

  67. 67.

    Ash Can

    July 1, 2009 at 4:51 pm

    @Comrade Stuck: As I said to gbear, the good stuff bears repeating. (And PS, credit goes to JK for breaking this here. :) )

  68. 68.

    Comrade Stuck

    July 1, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    @Ash Can:

    This is true:)

  69. 69.

    ironranger

    July 1, 2009 at 4:57 pm

    Hilarious. Bachmann is even too nuts for her own party. Never thought I’d see that.

  70. 70.

    gex

    July 1, 2009 at 4:57 pm

    @beabea: Norm’s ads were as disgusting as possible until about October, when he tried to spam us all with false equivalence (“I’m going refuse to run negative campaign ads”) as though he and Franken were slinging the same volume of mud. And then, he really couldn’t deliver on that because a lot of the ads for Norm were paid for by other groups.

  71. 71.

    gbear

    July 1, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    @Comrade Stuck: As I said to gbear, the good stuff bears repeating.

    and I would add that the good stuff sticks.

  72. 72.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    July 1, 2009 at 5:05 pm

    @Ash Can:

    True dat, however whatever their motives I hope that they continue to tell her to STFU. As they said following her advice is going to guarantee people get a knock on the door. I know this is probably a rhetorical question but is there really no leadership in the republican party that can shut her up?

  73. 73.

    flukebucket

    July 1, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    @Ash Can:

    Congresswoman Bachmann can not be reached

    Ain’t that the damn truth.

  74. 74.

    gbear

    July 1, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    I know this is probably a rhetorical question but is there really no leadership in the republican party that can shut her up?

    Only a big fat lingering smootch from W will do the trick.

    (although one from Reagan would probably work too)

  75. 75.

    gnomedad

    July 1, 2009 at 5:13 pm

    OT again: on Glenn Beck:

    CIA’s former bin Laden expert: “The only chance we have as a country right now is for Osama bin Laden to deploy and detonate a major weapon in the United States.”

  76. 76.

    Ash Can

    July 1, 2009 at 5:16 pm

    @gbear: Aaack! Now I need brain bleach!

  77. 77.

    Comrade Stuck

    July 1, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    Newest wingnut shark jump. Ad says Obama policies just like what Hitler did. Meltdown reaching critical mass. Peak Wingnut can be seen from Glenn Becks front porch……..breaking news…….. Wolverines!

  78. 78.

    Comrade Stuck

    July 1, 2009 at 5:43 pm

    Limbaugh declares Michael Jackson flourishes under Reagan, dies under Obama.

    Too much. I can’t take it no more.

  79. 79.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    July 1, 2009 at 5:45 pm

    I keep thinking about Franken’s book “Why Not Me?” about his run for the Presidency. Anyone who has not read it, should.

  80. 80.

    ironranger

    July 1, 2009 at 5:52 pm

    @Comrade Stuck: Rush is really running out of material.

  81. 81.

    JGabriel

    July 1, 2009 at 5:53 pm

    ironranger:

    Hilarious. Bachmann is even too nuts for her own party.

    That won’t last long. Before you know it, the saner Pubs will either leave the party or move to the crazy, where Bachmann lives.

    Keep in mind that Reagan and Goldwater were once thought to be the far side of crazy, and people thought “trickle-down” economics would never make a comeback after Hoover.

    There may be occasional exceptions, brief periods where it plateaus or even recedes for a little while, but, in general, Crazy is how the GOP trends.

    .

  82. 82.

    Comrade Stuck

    July 1, 2009 at 5:58 pm

    @ironranger:

    And as irony would have it, the same time line of success could be largely applied to Rushbo himself. Except for the final stage, yet.

  83. 83.

    Mark Gisleson

    July 1, 2009 at 6:05 pm

    John, you wouldn’t have been so pleased had you actually lived here and if you had had to sit through the TONS OF GARBAGE NEGATIVE ADS AL AND NORM RAN.

    These two guys made the Olympics all but unwatchable in Minnesota.

    Yes, these ads were fine, and you missed what I thought was the best one with a Texan Republican endorsing Al. But that doesn’t excuse the sludge that polluted MN airwaves last summer and fall.

  84. 84.

    Zuzu's Petals

    July 1, 2009 at 6:06 pm

    @LD50:

    Speaking of:

    FactCheck: Is ACORN providing workers for the 2010 census?

    (Hint: no.)

  85. 85.

    LD50

    July 1, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    @Zuzu’s Petals: ZP, that’s not the way the world really works anymore. The GOP is an empire now, and when it acts, its creates its own reality.

  86. 86.

    Zuzu's Petals

    July 1, 2009 at 6:15 pm

    @LD50:

    Thanks, I needed that.

  87. 87.

    Fleem

    July 1, 2009 at 6:40 pm

    Surprised nobody mentioned the awesome web ad, “Al Franken Hates Puppies” which was actually linked from here at some point.

  88. 88.

    Batocchio

    July 1, 2009 at 6:49 pm

    They’re very good, and his initial announcement video is excellent. The best ever, IMO, are the 1990 Wellstone ads, created by Bill Hillsman (Carleton College grad). A lot of people tried to rip that style off, but it only really works with off-beat politicians. Wellstone was completely sincere, and the ads were very clever and insightful, so they got tons of free air time on the news – Wellstone pulled off quite the upset, especially since he only had 1.5 million to spend versus Boschwitz’ 7 million. (Some of my friends worked on the Wellstone campaign.)

    If Franken’s radio show could be criticized for anything, it was that at times it could grow dull and slow-moving. He wasn’t lacking on substance, would have some in-depth policy discussions, and did some great (sometimes funny) debunks. The guy’s been pretty serious for a long time now. I’m really rooting for him.

    Plus, O’Reilly’s head will explode.

  89. 89.

    Rosa

    July 1, 2009 at 7:03 pm

    Great sample of Franken ads. It’s fun to go back and watch these now that the election is finally over–7 months later!!!
    For some perspective on what media commentators are saying about Franken’s win, check out this report on Newsy.

    http://www.newsy.com/videos/franken_funnyman_or_senator

  90. 90.

    DaBomb

    July 1, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    Wow, these were pretty good ads. The one with Franni was the best.
    @Comrade Stuck: I gotta say that is some of the craziest crap I have ever heard.

    That takes the Wingnut Horizon to a “whole notha level”.

  91. 91.

    Wolfdaughter

    July 1, 2009 at 8:01 pm

    Mark Gisleson:

    Care to provide any links to negative Franken ads?

    I know at least one reason that Bill O is so unhinged when it comes to Franken (among other issues which unhinge BillyBoy. Is there anything about which he is truly sane?)

    PublishersWeekly, at the annual meeting for publishers, booksellers, librarians, etc., has at their annual banquet noted speakers who form a panel. Each speaker is allotted a half hour, I believe, to present their views. Then there is discussion and debate.

    One year, ’03 IIRC, the three speakers were O’Reilly, Franken, and Molly Ivins; Ivins was absolutely brilliant, BTW.

    Franken went first and he ran over his time, but the moderator didn’t stop him. O’Reilly became progressively more livid as Franken spoke, since the latter got in some pretty good digs on O’Reilly during his speech. I believe O’Reilly actually didn’t let Franken finish, but started interrupting with ripostes, and then took over the podium, and the moderator couldn’t get him to shut up (granted, few people could).

    He raved and screeched for the next half hour, making no sense, literally spitting, looking like he was about to stroke out. Franken was not his best on this occasion but he at least made sense, whether or not you agreed with him. Bill O just screamed an unhinged rant and looked silly next to Franken and especially next to Ivins, who then proceeded to give a lowkey talk, never raising her voice, about her then latest film which had interviews with people who had suffered as a result of toxic wastes being dumped into soil and rivers. (How I MISS that woman!)

  92. 92.

    Mr Furious

    July 1, 2009 at 9:25 pm

    I consider myself somewhat of an expert, and I thought his ads were brilliant. He also had the best-designed website of any campaign I ever saw. Even better than Obamas.

  93. 93.

    Brendan

    July 1, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    Ok, granted the Franken campaign didn’t pay for or technically write this ad, but I still love it.

    This is DCCC-produced, and I know I’m quite simple to please, but this is still one of the more clever ads I’ve seen.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hck2mnDqBdE

  94. 94.

    JMN Is Now asiangrrlMN's Official Stalker

    July 1, 2009 at 10:25 pm

    @Wolfdaughter: The talking fish ads are one example of the negative Franken ads:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bDi3jVCX1w&feature=related
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4RfT7J0_5Y
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhnvcuOOXyM&feature=channel

    The last ad that John links to, featuring Franni Franken, is also a negative ad, but you have to know the subtext to understand it. Coleman has long been rumored to have a sham marriage, with his wife living in another state. I can find a half dozen people who will swear to you that a friend of theirs has seen Norm traveling around with a hot younger woman who isn’t his wife. As it happens, I believe that there probably is something to this, but actual hard evidence is really thin on the ground. When Franken did ads with his wife, pretty much every Minnesotan recognized that he was making a subtle comparison to the rumors about Coleman’s marriage.

    It’s still a great ad, but it’s no use pretending that Franken didn’t engage in plenty of negative campaigning of his own. I don’t really have the same harsh view of negative ads that most people do, but, yeah, the Olympics were pretty much unwatchable, as were the baseball playoffs.

  95. 95.

    The Main Gauche of Mild Reason

    July 1, 2009 at 10:42 pm

    @JMN Is Now asiangrrlMN’s Official Stalker:

    I don’t really have the same harsh view of negative ads that most people do, but, yeah, the Olympics were pretty much unwatchable, as were the baseball playoffs.

    I don’t have quite the same reaction to upbeat/mocking negative ads that I do to the black-and-white ominous music ads. I think most people would say that these are pretty mild as negative ads go.

  96. 96.

    AhabTRuler

    July 1, 2009 at 10:42 pm

    I don’t really have the same harsh view of negative ads that most people do, but, yeah, the Olympics were pretty much unwatchable, as were the baseball playoffs.

    To be fair, that’s how I feel about television advertising in general, especially car commercials.

  97. 97.

    Phoenix Woman

    July 1, 2009 at 11:13 pm

    I’m looking forward to seeing him in the Senate. I can easily see him in a leadership position four to five years down the road.

  98. 98.

    drillfork

    July 1, 2009 at 11:32 pm

    @gex:

    To me, what sums up the Coleman campaign is the time they called out Franken for a years-old satirical essay he wrote. The piece, being raunchy satire, included some raunchy things about the subject of rape, and — similarly to how the Palinites were recently going after Letterman — Norm’s people tried to portray Franken as pro-rape.

    After six years of lockstep support for George Bush, Coleman’s team was running so far away from W. that they concluded that their best “strategy” was to make it a referendum about Al Franken’s ability as a comedian.

    Amazing…

  99. 99.

    JMN Is Now asiangrrlMN's Official Stalker

    July 2, 2009 at 12:09 am

    @drillfork: I don’t really like Al Franken, but he is a better comedian than Norm Coleman, and I’m damned sure he’ll be a better Senator. That’s a low bar, though.

    I have no idea why Coleman is talking about running for governor. He already lost that race, to a professional wrestler. He needs to run for the MN Supreme Court, so he can add being beaten by a football player to his political resume.

  100. 100.

    Wile E. Quixote

    July 2, 2009 at 2:38 am

    Wow, lots and lots of Paul L. today, methinks that Paul is desperate for attention. What’s the matter Paul? Did bad old Erick Erickson give you a wedgie and a noogie over at RedState? Has Michelle Malkin taken out another restraining order against you? Another love letter to Debbie Schlussel returned unopened? Hey, have you seen that Sarah Palin pictorial in Runner’s World? Check it out, it should cheer you up, there’s enough wanking starburst material there to keep you and Rich Lowry busy for days, so cheer up and sally forth, Onan the Barbarian.

  101. 101.

    gopher2b

    July 2, 2009 at 11:42 am

    I’m a terrible person. In one of the videos, Al says he’s there for the kid who sells his plasma to go to college. My first thought was, well the stupid kid shouldn’t have bought a plasma t.v. Then, two seconds later I realize he was talking about a different kind of plasma and I moved to the left a little bit (inch by inch).

  102. 102.

    Meridy

    July 2, 2009 at 5:05 pm

    @Raenelle:

    “When a Man Loves a Woman” must be the other film Franni was talking about, Raenelle.

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