Contra Franken.
While we’re merrily bashing the Republicans for their lightweight candidates, for their Palins and their Quayles and their Huckabees, for their mindless and empty celebration of outsiderism and maverickitude, let us take care not to employ a double standard. Let’s not overlook Democrat Al Franken, the former Saturday Night Live fixture and Air of America radio host who is running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota and may very well defeat incumbent Republican Norm Coleman (who will not be defended here). Granting that Franken is a great deal smarter than Sarah Palin, and much better informed on the relevant issues, his claim to high office is in essentials no better than hers. He, too, is an embodiment of Washington-outsider appeal, whether he 
claims to be or not, because his viability as a vote-getter and his ability to raise more money than Coleman are predicated on his celebrity, and on that alone. Franken is an electoral novelty, a symptom of the very same thoughtless shake-up-Washington syndrome that gave us Palin this year and Ross Perot in ‘92. Even the late lamented Sonny Bono, who represented a southern California House district for some years, got there by way of the mayoralty of Palm Springs. It would be nice if the voters of Minnesota chose not to reward the excessive appetite of a middling sketch comedian and tepid political satirist who–without a single authentic moment of public service in his personal history–is trying to leap into The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body in one bound on the basis of the refreshing contrast he believes he strikes against establishment Washington. There are worse Republicans than Coleman, and he will likely be part of a harried and handcuffed minority party after January anyway. If Franken loses–and I hope he does–he should consider establishing his political credibility in some other way before trying again. I suggest the Coon Rapids City Council.
claims to be or not, because his viability as a vote-getter and his ability to raise more money than Coleman are predicated on his celebrity, and on that alone. Franken is an electoral novelty, a symptom of the very same thoughtless shake-up-Washington syndrome that gave us Palin this year and Ross Perot in ‘92. Even the late lamented Sonny Bono, who represented a southern California House district for some years, got there by way of the mayoralty of Palm Springs. It would be nice if the voters of Minnesota chose not to reward the excessive appetite of a middling sketch comedian and tepid political satirist who–without a single authentic moment of public service in his personal history–is trying to leap into The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body in one bound on the basis of the refreshing contrast he believes he strikes against establishment Washington. There are worse Republicans than Coleman, and he will likely be part of a harried and handcuffed minority party after January anyway. If Franken loses–and I hope he does–he should consider establishing his political credibility in some other way before trying again. I suggest the Coon Rapids City Council.
