Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 22 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Editorial: Coleman is better than Franken
Published Friday, October 17, 2008
It is one thing to rise within the structure of Minnesota politics and then run for Senate. It is another to be a celebrity and then run for Senate.
Republican incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman was the mayor of St. Paul before running for Senate. He knows Minnesota. Comedian challenger Al Franken definitely is familiar with American politics — he has authored best-selling books — but we doubt whether he is familiar enough with Minnesotans.
Franken indeed grew up in Minnesota and even for a time in Albert Lea. We like that about him.
But we doubt whether Franken would be in the state if it weren’t for his national political aspirations. We suggest he run for local offices before he shoots for the Senate.
Franken seems to be running on his famous name and a victory surely would rekindle his celebrity opportunities down the road. It worked for former Gov. Jesse Ventura, but least the pro wrestler had been a mayor of the sixth-largest city in Minnesota before he ran for governor.
Coleman, even if he ends up in a Senate minority, would get more done for Minnesota. Amy Klobuchar already is established and respected among Democrats, which likely will find themselves in the Senate majority. It would be helpful for the state to have senators on both sides of the aisle. It is worth noting that Coleman is a former Democrat.
Plus, we would imagine senators of any party would be able to work easier with Coleman than they would with a celebrity. Imagine their view: Would the statements they tell Franken in D.C. circles be lampooned down the road? Is Franken in it for Minnesota or in it for Franken? It is tough to get down to brass tacks with a celebrity in the room.
Washington needs politicians willing to reduce the bipartisanship. We aren’t convinced that Franken fits the bill.
Coleman does.
Coleman also gets high marks from the National Education Association — a good sign he is his own thinker — and he has fought the good fight for veterans, among many other issues where he has been responsive to state needs.
The Coleman-Franken race has been ugly, but that’s the fault of both candidates. Ignore the TV commercials. Look at the qualities of the men.
When you add it up, Coleman is the better man. He deserves your vote.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
Posted by allake (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to admit it, I was wrong. I figured they would go for Barkley.
Posted by Truthbetold (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! The editor got this one right!! Congrats... good thinking.
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was sure they would go with the celebrity because he fits the tax and spend idea they support. At least they understand we want someone from Minnesota to repersent us not some Hollywood clown.
Posted by mnisgreat (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What exactly has Norm Coleman done for Minnesotans?
"We have real problems out there, real challenges," Norm Coleman said. "In the end it's about who can work out there and who can solve it."
So just what exactly has Norm done for Minnesota??
I don't think any of us asked for triple the price of gas, 80% increases in our health care premiums, or 20% decreases in our home values, or 6.2% unemployment in Minnesota, or $700 billion of our tax paying dollars going to Iraq, or another $700 billion dollars of our tax paying dollars going to Wall Street.
No I am certainly not going to reward Norm Coleman for this horrendous performance. Al has some good ideas for changing the course of this country and getting Minnesota back on track to bringing more jobs to our state and stopping the redistribution of wealth FROM the middle class into the pockets of the top 2%.
Posted by time2share (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Republican incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman was the mayor of St. Paul before running for Senate. He knows Minnesota." This statement makes me laugh. Maybe he knows how to get HOCKEY BACK TO MINNESOTA, for example, but how can us middle class person on a lower class income afford the tickets to go see a hockey game, baseball game or football game. It's pretty obvious that Coleman has no clue what is going on in RURAL AMERICA!!!! The company I worked for left Minnesota to go into Iowa. When this company begged for assistance, they were told that there was no help for us and given no help but then it was a short time later that we started seeing that HOCKEY was coming back to Minnesota. BIG DEAL. Companys have been forced out of Minnesota because the present administration are not offering the same insentives that our neighbors to the west and south are offering to lure manufacturing into their states. How about luring some good paying companies back to Minnesota so we can afford to take our kids to the movies or a ball game or hockey game. I can't even afford health care. I don't see Coleman helping me with that!!! Thanks but no thanks Coleman!!!
Posted by mosedart (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My problem with Norm is that the only thing he cares about is himself. He was a lifelong Democrat but then saw the opprotunity to takes his political career higher not as a Democrat but a Republican. So what does he do? He sold out all his morals and values and adopted the Republican party line. Now Franken is no better, why would we vote in either of the parties that got us into this mess. Barkley has my vote.
Posted by Free (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Time2share,
Your issues with Sen. Coleman are focused on things that should be handled by our state officials. Keeping companies here is the job of state office holders not federal office holders. If you want to take issue with his support of the farmbill or his support for cutting ferderal taxes on business than go for it but to blame him for things that our own state reps did would be wrong.
I would say you need to talk to Ms. Brown and ask her what she has done to cut taxes or what she has done to keep jobs her in rural Minnesota. I think you will find she votes to send your money to the cities and to tax. But this is off topic. Remember Sen. Coleman is a federal offical not a state offical state.
Posted by time2share (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess the reason I feel Coleman could do more is because of the way Gov. Pawlenty is constantly associated with Bush and McCain and Coleman is as well. I see them arm in arm constantly in the news. It sounds like maybe this could be a positive for Minnesota people, to be associated with people who are considered in high favor with the president. To have a governor who is one of McCain and Bush's pets should be a positive, but you are right "free" they are federal positions. You have to admit Coleman has been in office for some time now and other than building the bridge and "bringing hockey back to Minnesota" he has done nothing that I can see, he has filled his pocket with money from insurance companies and free trips from oil companies. Seems kinda unfair when many of us in rural America can't afford insurance, or to take our families on vacation. By the way, that commercial that he states that he has pulled his negitive ads kinda cracks me up. The only reason he did that is because he was discredited on all of them so he had to...What a whiner, anybody got any cheese to go with that?...
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Very funny Virginian... Be careful you may get attacked for stating your view. People are quick to pull us down. We are just like crabs if one starts to climb out and think for themselves it is the duty of the group to pull the individual down.
Posted by demo1960 (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Norm has done much for the state of MN. He has worked in the past for subsidies for alternative fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. Something John McCain opposes. But even though Norm is willing to verbally disagree with President Bush, the majority of the time he votes with him. Franken can tend to come off as a little snarky, smart but snarky. I am beginning to think Barkley might be the way to go. Pawlenty has not been a bad govenor. McCain should have picked him and he wouldn't have half the problems he does now.
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought McCain supported ethanol? I have looked pass that because I have stong feelings about ethanol.
Franken is a joke and not a funny one either.
Posted by time2share (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Virginian, do you actually live in Minnesota? Unlike NoDFL, it is hard to tell where you're from by your username. I don't think it's fair for you to attack people who think differently then you. We all have a right to express our feelings...Like the rest of you Republicans you choose to express yourself by insulting the opposition. Sounds like you're a little scared to me. Who knows maybe it'll be Coleman wearing the clown suit...
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think both sides attack there time2share. No side is any better or worse than the other. I don't think anyone is scared of anyone. We all view the facts from our own stage in life.
Posted by OldTrojan (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Honestly, I do not really care about how other people think. The fact is that Coleman is a Bush Behinder-Licker. I can hardly wait for both Bush and Coleman to take a hike come Inauguration Day. Coleman has done nothing but help drag our country down the tubes. Perhaps one day he will move back to New York so we do not have to deal with him here.
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope all of you watched 20/20 tonight. You may have had a shock. I always knew that common sence would make a come back. I really hope the city council watched..... Life will be better if they did.
Posted by mrthunder (anonymous) on October 18, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW WHAT STATEMENTS. BLAME HIM FOR THAT, HER FOR THIS
YOU ALL REALIZE NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE IN TELL ALL ECONOMY COLLAPSES. LIKE THEY SAID IT ALL STARTED 50 YEARS AGO WITH THE FIRST CREDIT CARD. NO ONE WANTED TO SAVE FOR WHAT THEY NEEDED THEY ALL WANTED TO BY KNOW AND PAY LATER. WILL YOU ALL ARE PAYING LATER. IN THE FORM OF INTEREST RATES NO ONE HAS MONEY TO INVEST BECAUSE YOU ARE ALL PAYING HIGH THE TEREST RATES ON CREDIT CARDS. SO I SIT HERE AND WAIT FOR THE BALL TO LOOSE ALL ITS ARE AND WE CAN GET BECK TO THE BASICS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOMETHING YOU SAVE THEN BUY IT. AND IF YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT BURGER COAST YOU BY THE TIME YOU PAY OF THE INTEREST RATE YOU COULD OF BOUGHT THE COW. SO ENJOY YOUR RIDE
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on October 19, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seveoson,
You do relize that it was the GOP that freed the slaves right? That it was the GOP the ended segragation in schools and the military right? I find it funny in your hate filled rant that you left those facts out. One last one it was the dem's who controlled the segragated south and your Dem. Sen Bird who was first elected on a pro KKK stance.
Be careful when you throw stones...... Obama could never have ran if it wasn't for the GOP.
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on October 19, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So true....
Posted by Truth (anonymous) on October 19, 2008 at 7:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wow and people think I am angry. Your arguments lose even me and I can follow most liberal rants. So come up for air my dear dear obamanut and remember you live in the best country ever because even you have a right to vote.
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on October 19, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The right was a question. Not a political stance. You have some issues with the brave men and women who defend your right to rant and rave on these boards. I so worry about you. The military dosn't look for wars and a President can not start one. If you understood your constitution (the very thing that gives you your right to attack our leaders and each other) you would know that congress is the only one. You also would look back and see that congress approved this war you so complain about. You would also know that Obama was not even in the Senate so he could not have voted against it.
Again you can believe what you want and say pretty much what you want. We live in a great country. I think we all can agree that this is still the best place to live.
Posted by Truth (anonymous) on October 20, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone should go to this link and watch John S. Politically incorrect guide to Politics. Watch all the parts it goes after both sides. Please check it out
http://abcnews.go.com/2020
Posted by e__bow (anonymous) on October 21, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well, virginian, i never thought i would say this .. but if your comment is true about not taking leads from any religious organization, you have just earned some respect from me. finally, a conservative who thinks for himself (herself?) without having to always double-check with the pulpit.
well played.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)