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(Washington Post) Interesting He's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggonit, he might actually win   (washingtonpost.com) divider line 151
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6434 clicks; posted to Politics » on 25 Oct 2008 at 5:30 AM   |  Make this a Fark FavoriteFavorite    |   share: Share on OMGTWITTER WEB2.0share on StumbleUponshare on Facebook  more»   |    Get this fabulous T-Shirt and impress the methane out of your friends! shirt it!

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pawn 2008-10-25 05:33:25 AM  
LOL the wagon wheel!

/ this is funny if you lived in Mankato

 
triple 2008-10-25 05:33:26 AM  
al franken, democrats? best you got?

 
Swampthing in Korea 2008-10-25 05:37:26 AM  
I've heard he is not afraid to tackle the opposition.

 
Glasgowsfinest [TotalFark] 2008-10-25 05:41:15 AM  
triple: al franken, democrats? best you got?

I don't even know who Al Franken is, but who's the best the Republicans have got? Look who they nominated for the presidency!

 
andrewagill 2008-10-25 05:43:56 AM  
triple: al franken, democrats? best you got?

i158.photobucket.com

And a comedian who plays a milquetoast at that.

 
Mixolydian Master 2008-10-25 05:44:51 AM  
Al Franken's books are so focused and spot on, it borders on genius.

/They are also funny as hell, so he's got that going for him

 
TwistedFark 2008-10-25 05:48:21 AM  
I know some people absolutely hate Al Franken because he's written some pretty hysterical and eviscerating novels about the Neo-conservative movement, but I absolutely think he's awesome.

He's like a Jewish Mark Twain :)

 
bobbette [TotalFark] 2008-10-25 05:49:24 AM  
triple: al franken, democrats? best you got?

Al Franken > Arnold Schwarzenegger, no?

Anyway, that article made me so... optimistic. Dammit. Now I'm going to be sad if he loses.

/grumble grumble grumble
//emotional investment in political races: generally a bad idea

 
dasqoot 2008-10-25 05:52:22 AM  
He's never represented himself as other than what he wants to be, and could be. I've been a lifelong reader. He gets my 25 dollars and my love of the Twin-Cities music in support.

/Divide and Conquer or Multiply and Divide?
//Obscure?

 
hetheeme 2008-10-25 05:52:48 AM  
Glasgowsfinest: triple: al franken, democrats? best you got?

I don't even know who Al Franken is, but who's the best the Republicans have got? Look who they nominated for the presidency!


To be honest the current primary setup for BOTH parties is about a poor system as you can get, by pitting all candidates against each other in one massive pool and giving each voter only one vote you almost ensure that every major voting block that matters will be split. Fiscal conservatives get split between Huckabee and Romney, defense voters between McCain and Guiliani etc.

The setup of the system is flawed, id favor a ranking system that allows voters are given a certain number of votes and apportion them to the candidates they prefer in any amount they wish,

Example,

10 Votes,

Romney - 5

Huckabee - 3

McCain - 2

show support for the candidates you want to support, and not have to really split up voting blocks, support both huckabee and Romney, etc.

Electing McCain is less about what Republicans really want in a candidate and more about the natural results of the system's construction pushing the candidate with the least voting blocks that are shared by any other candidate. McCain had the moderates and undecideds after his main competition, Rudy, committed campaign suicide with his late big state idea, while the more hard right voters were split among the rest of the candidates.

Simply Game theory,

Democrats had it a bit easier since their field cleared out a bit faster, after Iowa and NH it was a 3 man race,

 
LlamaGirl 2008-10-25 05:53:46 AM  
Anything to get Coleman out of office. For serious.

 
RemyDuron 2008-10-25 05:54:56 AM  
hetheeme: Glasgowsfinest: triple: al franken, democrats? best you got?

I don't even know who Al Franken is, but who's the best the Republicans have got? Look who they nominated for the presidency!

To be honest the current primary setup for BOTH parties is about a poor system as you can get, by pitting all candidates against each other in one massive pool and giving each voter only one vote you almost ensure that every major voting block that matters will be split. Fiscal conservatives get split between Huckabee and Romney, defense voters between McCain and Guiliani etc.

The setup of the system is flawed, id favor a ranking system that allows voters are given a certain number of votes and apportion them to the candidates they prefer in any amount they wish,

Example,

10 Votes,

Romney - 5

Huckabee - 3

McCain - 2

show support for the candidates you want to support, and not have to really split up voting blocks, support both huckabee and Romney, etc.

Electing McCain is less about what Republicans really want in a candidate and more about the natural results of the system's construction pushing the candidate with the least voting blocks that are shared by any other candidate. McCain had the moderates and undecideds after his main competition, Rudy, committed campaign suicide with his late big state idea, while the more hard right voters were split among the rest of the candidates.

Simply Game theory,

Democrats had it a bit easier since their field cleared out a bit faster, after Iowa and NH it was a 3 man race,


Huckabee wasn't a fiscal conservative. . . He was pretty much a by the book populist.

 
His Sonshine 2008-10-25 05:55:28 AM  
I think even the more 'lefty liberals' would have to admit that this guy is a marxist to the bone. Plus he's also not a Christian and about 80% of Minnesota is Christian. Sorry but it's a fact that can not be denied.

 
CynicalLA 2008-10-25 05:59:18 AM  
His Sonshine: I think even the more 'lefty liberals' would have to admit that this guy is a marxist to the bone. Plus he's also not a Christian and about 80% of Minnesota is Christian. Sorry but it's a fact that can not be denied.

He's not a Christian, oh my god. And please explain how he is Marxist?

 
LlamaGirl 2008-10-25 05:59:28 AM  
His Sonshine: I think even the more 'lefty liberals' would have to admit that this guy is a marxist to the bone. Plus he's also not a Christian and about 80% of Minnesota is Christian. Sorry but it's a fact that can not be denied.

Since freaking when are we 80% Christian? Where the heck ya gettin' your numbers from?

 
RoyBatty 2008-10-25 05:59:34 AM  
Go Al!

 
hetheeme 2008-10-25 05:59:40 AM  
RemyDuron

Huckabee wasn't a fiscal conservative. . . He was pretty much a by the book populist.

yeah, i think you may be right,

It's 5 AM, ive been up for a looong time and can't sleep and it was almost a year ago that I was paying attention to the specific republican candidates, regardless, the point is about divided voting blocks, replace the candidates names with variable placeholders if you must, doesn't really matter.

 
Casanova.Frankensteir 2008-10-25 05:59:46 AM  
Franken winning a Senate seat would be the greatest thing in the history of things.

For one thing, Rush Limbaugh's head might explode. It's certainly worth a try.

 
CynicalLA 2008-10-25 06:01:01 AM  
His Sonshine: I think even the more 'lefty liberals' would have to admit that this guy is a marxist to the bone. Plus he's also not a Christian and about 80% of Minnesota is Christian. Sorry but it's a fact that can not be denied.

From your profile:
My main mission in life is driving kids towards Christ as a youth minister.

Indoctrinating the youth before they are able to make their own decisions.

 
shidekigonomo [TotalFark] 2008-10-25 06:01:27 AM  
ATM fees soon to skyrocket

 
hetheeme 2008-10-25 06:02:13 AM  
Also, isn't he running in Minnesota? The state that made a former wrestler their governor? Electing Franken would not be the strangest thing they have done by any means.

 
LlamaGirl 2008-10-25 06:02:52 AM  
CynicalLA: His Sonshine: I think even the more 'lefty liberals' would have to admit that this guy is a marxist to the bone. Plus he's also not a Christian and about 80% of Minnesota is Christian. Sorry but it's a fact that can not be denied.

From your profile:
My main mission in life is driving kids towards Christ as a youth minister.

Indoctrinating the youth before they are able to make their own decisions.


SHH!!! You can't point out fallacies like that!

 
Glasgowsfinest [TotalFark] 2008-10-25 06:03:02 AM  
His Sonshine: Plus he's also not a Christian and about 80% of Minnesota is Christian

Does that mean they won't vote for him just becasue he's not Christian?

They deserve to get some fundie dickend in that case.

 
CynicalLA 2008-10-25 06:04:28 AM  
LlamaGirl: CynicalLA: His Sonshine: I think even the more 'lefty liberals' would have to admit that this guy is a marxist to the bone. Plus he's also not a Christian and about 80% of Minnesota is Christian. Sorry but it's a fact that can not be denied.

From your profile:
My main mission in life is driving kids towards Christ as a youth minister.

Indoctrinating the youth before they are able to make their own decisions.

SHH!!! You can't point out fallacies like that!


I'm sorry, thank you Jesus!

 
LlamaGirl 2008-10-25 06:05:04 AM  
hetheeme: Also, isn't he running in Minnesota? The state that made a former wrestler their governor? Electing Franken would not be the strangest thing they have done by any means.

Most people, my entire family included voted Ventura because they didn't want to vote for anyone else. It was a total throwaway vote. And it bit them in the rear. I laugh about it still. And then I remember the economic explosion here in MN because of it...

 
Casanova.Frankensteir 2008-10-25 06:06:02 AM  
His Sonshine: ...he's also not a Christian and about 80% of Minnesota is Christian.

And the other 20% live in Keith Ellison's district?

 
CynicalLA 2008-10-25 06:06:18 AM  
LlamaGirl: hetheeme: Also, isn't he running in Minnesota? The state that made a former wrestler their governor? Electing Franken would not be the strangest thing they have done by any means.

Most people, my entire family included voted Ventura because they didn't want to vote for anyone else. It was a total throwaway vote. And it bit them in the rear. I laugh about it still. And then I remember the economic explosion here in MN because of it...


We elected the Conan The Barbarian, so I wouldn't feel bad.

 
hetheeme 2008-10-25 06:07:21 AM  
CynicalLA: His Sonshine: I think even the more 'lefty liberals' would have to admit that this guy is a marxist to the bone. Plus he's also not a Christian and about 80% of Minnesota is Christian. Sorry but it's a fact that can not be denied.

From your profile:
My main mission in life is driving kids towards Christ as a youth minister.

Indoctrinating the youth before they are able to make their own decisions.


The term "youth minister" usually refers to someone who deals with people between 13 and 19, an age where "kids" are influenced by everything about everything, you might call early childhood ministry "indoctrination" but 13-19 is pretty much fair game.

Just clearing that up.

 
CynicalLA 2008-10-25 06:07:29 AM  
the

 
MorrisBird [TotalFark] 2008-10-25 06:07:32 AM  
His Sonshine: Plus he's also not a Christian and about 80% of Minnesota is Christian. Sorry but it's a fact that can not be denied.

Plus he's not a cow and about 80% of Minnesota is bovine. Sorry, but it's a fact that cannot be denied.

 
LlamaGirl 2008-10-25 06:07:36 AM  
CynicalLA: LlamaGirl: hetheeme: Also, isn't he running in Minnesota? The state that made a former wrestler their governor? Electing Franken would not be the strangest thing they have done by any means.

Most people, my entire family included voted Ventura because they didn't want to vote for anyone else. It was a total throwaway vote. And it bit them in the rear. I laugh about it still. And then I remember the economic explosion here in MN because of it...

We elected the Conan The Barbarian, so I wouldn't feel bad.


Yous guys totally copied us.

 
MorrisBird [TotalFark] 2008-10-25 06:08:39 AM  
LlamaGirl: Yous guys totally copied us.

They did Reagan first.

 
Casanova.Frankensteir 2008-10-25 06:09:19 AM  
CynicalLA: We elected the Conan The Barbarian, so I wouldn't feel bad.

Whaddaya mean "we"? I voted for Carl Weathers...

 
CynicalLA 2008-10-25 06:09:30 AM  
LlamaGirl: CynicalLA: LlamaGirl: hetheeme: Also, isn't he running in Minnesota? The state that made a former wrestler their governor? Electing Franken would not be the strangest thing they have done by any means.

Most people, my entire family included voted Ventura because they didn't want to vote for anyone else. It was a total throwaway vote. And it bit them in the rear. I laugh about it still. And then I remember the economic explosion here in MN because of it...

We elected the Conan The Barbarian, so I wouldn't feel bad.

Yous guys totally copied us.


Gary Coleman ran in our election, beat that. What you talking about Willis?

 
hetheeme 2008-10-25 06:10:33 AM  
LlamaGirl: hetheeme: Also, isn't he running in Minnesota? The state that made a former wrestler their governor? Electing Franken would not be the strangest thing they have done by any means.

Most people, my entire family included voted Ventura because they didn't want to vote for anyone else. It was a total throwaway vote. And it bit them in the rear. I laugh about it still. And then I remember the economic explosion here in MN because of it...


No intent to insult here, I only said strange, not stupid.

Something something totally out there can be just what is needed.

/// still don't like franken though

 
CynicalLA 2008-10-25 06:11:48 AM  
Casanova.Frankensteir: CynicalLA: We elected the Conan The Barbarian, so I wouldn't feel bad.

Whaddaya mean "we"? I voted for Carl Weathers...


Good choice, Chubbs was qualified.

 
hetheeme 2008-10-25 06:12:10 AM  
hetheeme: LlamaGirl: hetheeme: Also, isn't he running in Minnesota? The state that made a former wrestler their governor? Electing Franken would not be the strangest thing they have done by any means.

Most people, my entire family included voted Ventura because they didn't want to vote for anyone else. It was a total throwaway vote. And it bit them in the rear. I laugh about it still. And then I remember the economic explosion here in MN because of it...

No intent to insult here, I only said strange, not stupid.

Something SOMETIMES something totally out there can be just what is needed.

/// still don't like franken though


It is soooo time for me to get some sleep

 
His Sonshine 2008-10-25 06:13:38 AM  
It's the same thing with Franken that it is with Al Gore in that they go around talking about helping people while they're in private jets. It's marxist because they want to 'spread the wealth' but of course that doesn't mean their own wealth. Oh no of course not. What is scary is that these clowns might get their super majority. Hello socialism!

 
LlamaGirl 2008-10-25 06:14:40 AM  
hetheeme: LlamaGirl: hetheeme: Also, isn't he running in Minnesota? The state that made a former wrestler their governor? Electing Franken would not be the strangest thing they have done by any means.

Most people, my entire family included voted Ventura because they didn't want to vote for anyone else. It was a total throwaway vote. And it bit them in the rear. I laugh about it still. And then I remember the economic explosion here in MN because of it...

No intent to insult here, I only said strange, not stupid.

Something something totally out there can be just what is needed.

/// still don't like franken though


Why do you care? Last I checked I was the one paying higher taxes on gas and *gasp!!!!!* cigarettes coz Coleman has very little better to do... Worry about your own state elections.

 
Goodfella 2008-10-25 06:22:00 AM  
This is great. In him the policies of Paul Wellston will live on.

www.inthesetimes.com

RIP Paul Wellstone

 
Glasgowsfinest [TotalFark] 2008-10-25 06:22:54 AM  
His Sonshine: Hello socialism!

If that's what you think Socialism is, you said hello to it a couple of weeks ago when the administration decided to spread your wealth around to the bankers...

/that's not Socialism.

 
LlamaGirl 2008-10-25 06:24:11 AM  
hetheeme: LlamaGirl: hetheeme: LlamaGirl: hetheeme: Also, isn't he running in Minnesota? The state that made a former wrestler their governor? Electing Franken would not be the strangest thing they have done by any means.

Most people, my entire family included voted Ventura because they didn't want to vote for anyone else. It was a total throwaway vote. And it bit them in the rear. I laugh about it still. And then I remember the economic explosion here in MN because of it...

No intent to insult here, I only said strange, not stupid.

Something something totally out there can be just what is needed.

/// still don't like franken though

Why do you care? Last I checked I was the one paying higher taxes on gas and *gasp!!!!!* cigarettes coz Coleman has very little better to do... Worry about your own state elections.

I was gonna say something snarky back about how my comments barely rose to the level of caring to any significant degree, but then I checked your profile and saw this



After that I couldn't possibly be snarky after such a brilliant mix of Firefly and Lolcats

Hats off to you Llamagirl,

and don't be so quick to bite, at least I was being polite, which is more than you can usually expect from FARK lol


Can we cuddle and make up now? I never did say my family wasn't completely mental in electing Jesse THE BODY Ventura....

 
Casanova.Frankensteir 2008-10-25 06:30:51 AM  
hetheeme: I was gonna say something snarky back about how my comments barely rose to the level of caring to any significant degree, but then I checked your profile...

Whoa. Firefly lolcat=good. Dark Crystal action figures=awesome.

And it's hard to make them out from the picture, but if those are Zanti Misfit figurines then llamagirl = eternal win.

 
andrewagill 2008-10-25 06:32:01 AM  
His Sonshine: Hello socialism!

Whatcha knowin'? I've come to see your people growin'.

 
Casanova.Frankensteir 2008-10-25 06:34:01 AM  
andrewagill: His Sonshine: Hello socialism!

Whatcha knowin'? I've come to see your people growin'.


Aincha got no dimes for me?

Doot-in' doo-doo, feelin' Marxy....

 
bobbette [TotalFark] 2008-10-25 06:34:31 AM  
His Sonshine: I think even the more 'lefty liberals' would have to admit that this guy is a marxist to the bone. Plus he's also not a Christian and about 80% of Minnesota is Christian. Sorry but it's a fact that can not be denied.

You didn't just say someone is disqualified from holding office because they're Jewish, right?

Because if you did say that, I would like to introduce you to my pimp cane.
peacecorpsonline.org

I would love for you guys to get very personally acquainted.

 
syrynxx [TotalFark] 2008-10-25 06:36:23 AM  
Can we get someone to review these links who has cookies turned off?

 
andrewagill 2008-10-25 06:36:25 AM  
Casanova.Frankensteir: andrewagill: His Sonshine: Hello socialism!

Whatcha knowin'? I've come to see your people growin'.

Aincha got no dimes for me?

Doot-in' doo-doo, feelin' Marxy....


Well done, sir.

 
TheOther [TotalFark] 2008-10-25 06:37:37 AM  
hetheeme: Democrats had it a bit easier since their field cleared out a bit faster, after Iowa and NH it was a 3 man race,

Yeah, the system only works if you have at least one or two people worth electing. When your sorting through a bunch of grumpy actors, cross-dressers and RON PAUL!, a graduated system is as useful, or useless, as any other.

 
CynicalLA 2008-10-25 06:38:45 AM  
bobbette: His Sonshine: I think even the more 'lefty liberals' would have to admit that this guy is a marxist to the bone. Plus he's also not a Christian and about 80% of Minnesota is Christian. Sorry but it's a fact that can not be denied.

You didn't just say someone is disqualified from holding office because they're Jewish, right?

Because if you did say that, I would like to introduce you to my pimp cane.


I would love for you guys to get very personally acquainted.


Powell said it best.

Powell also spoke passionately against the insinuations by some Republicans that Obama is a Muslim.

"Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian. He's always been a Christian," he said. "But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, 'He's a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists.' This is not the way we should be doing it in America."

 
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