Al Franken: Hillary's Best Running-Mate?

[Kingpoleon]

Is Senator Al Franken, the charismatic member of the base, the best choice to be Hillary's running-mate?

He's more likeable than the likes of Klobuchar, Dean, Brown, and Warren, and he has more experience than Schatz, Murphy, and De Blasio.

[Penelope]

lol

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

lol

The more I think of it, the more I like the idea.

[Bakersfield Uber Alles]

I don't think that he would be a bad pick. He could help with progressive outreach, which would be good given that lots of Bernie suppoeters say they wouldn't vote for Clinton (which is probably BS though). The only "big" issue is that he doesn't speak Spanish, unlike Tim Kaine (who isn't as progressive, however).

With the rhetoric that's coming from Trump, I'm not sure that Hillary would need to do a lot of Hispanic outreach.

[Famous Mortimer]

Kingpoleon thread

[Lyin' Steve]

Well De Blasio doesn't have a snowflake's chance in hell of being the VP.  He stirred up drama by refusing to endorse Hillary and the police hate him, which looks really bad in this era of protests.

What's so great about Franken?  Does he have any noteworthy accomplishments in the Senate?

[ProgressiveCanadian]

Ugh no. Another Democrat running as a liberal just to turn establishment once in office.

Kingpoleon thread

Good point, knew something was off

[Kingpoleon]

lol

The more I think of it, the more I like the idea.

I actually got the idea from your post.

In my opinion, he's a very risky pick. Yes, he has star power, but Bayh, Booker, or Heinrich are her other best options IMO. If she wants to be safe, she'll pick one of: Castro, Booker, Hickenlooper, Heinrich, Brown, Perez, or Klobuchar. Franken is probably her best bet to rally the base.

I voted no, but it does sound pretty good.

[Famous Mortimer]

You are just naming random people. Stop.

[This account no longer in use.]

I've always thought that this was a great idea.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I'm glad this seems to be catching some traction.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

lol

The more I think of it, the more I like the idea.

I actually got the idea from your post.

In my opinion, he's a very risky pick. Yes, he has star power, but Bayh, Booker, or Heinrich are her other best options IMO. If she wants to be safe, she'll pick one of: Castro, Booker, Hickenlooper, Heinrich, Brown, Perez, or Klobuchar. Franken is probably her best bet to rally the base.

I voted no, but it does sound pretty good.

Bayh? No, too ACTUALLY moderate and very old news. Booker? The one who's really in bed with Wall Street, no. Heinrich... could work, young, photogenic ... maybe a little too lightweight and Hillary won't need help in NM.

Castro = empty suit, total token
Booker = see above
Hickenlooper = should be on the shortlist
Heinrich = see above
Brown = absolutely top-tier, even if a risk with Kasich still as Gov
Perez = Who? Yes, I  know who he is, but a total no-name?
Klobuchar = Again, possible, I just don't see an all-female ticket working.

[Mr. Morden]

What's so great about Franken?

He's good enough.  He's smart enough.  And doggone it, people like him.

[Santander]

Let's dispel with this fiction that Brian Schatz and Bill de Blasio are likeable or belong anywhere near the vice-presidency.

[Coolface Sock #42069]

Trump is poised to push a ton of independent and GOP voters to Hillary. If there is one figure divisive enough to push those voters back around Trump or to a third-party, it's Al Franken.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Trump is poised to push a ton of independent and GOP voters to Hillary. If there is one figure divisive enough to push those voters back around Trump or to a third-party, it's Al Franken.

Lol, how?

[Vosem]

This makes a certain amount of sense as a way to appeal to the Sanders crowd if Hillary was in real danger of losing them in the general, or as a way to shake up the race with a charismatic loudmouth (or is ex-loudmouth a better way to describe Franken?) but this election is hers to lose, and there's no reason to go for a high-risk, high-reward choice if the high reward is superfluous.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Picking Franken when facing Trump in GE is very likely?

Of course, I don't want to compare the two, but given Franken's past as a comedian, that would look as not very serious, especially if the GOP nominated a notorious RL troll.

If appealing to the Sanders crowd would be so important, there are other more credible running mates.

[Figueira]

Maybe not the best, but I think he'd be a decent pick.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Picking Franken when facing Trump in GE is very likely?

Of course, I don't want to compare the two, but given Franken's past as a comedian, that would look as not very serious, especially if the GOP nominated a notorious RL troll.

If appealing to the Sanders crowd would be so important, there are other more credible running mates.

That might be true if Franken hadn't already proven himself as an extremely competent senator.

Plus, I'm not sure how he's divisive. He's left, but not a controversial or inflammatory guy. He barely beat Coleman in '08. After six years of representing the people of Minnesota, they gave him an overwhelming mandate in '12, which honestly should have been a closer race. He's a solid politician and his personal qualities would sure supplement Hillary's weaknesses.

[tinman64]

Franken? Naw. The "Al Franken Decade" has passed.
(SNL reference for those old enough to remember)

[Famous Mortimer]

Franken has written a bunch of comedy books with all sorts of quotes that could be taken out of context. It wasn't a problem in solid Blue State Minnesota but it would be a problem at the national level.

Franken is aware of this problem and that's why, as a Senator, he has made strides to be as boring and uninteresting as possible. The guy is terrified of making jokes and is probably the only Senator who would actually turn down the VP slot if offered.

Furthermore, he really adds nothing to the ticket. He is not particularly liberal, he's been a DLC apologist forever, he's from a state Clinton will win regardless, and it's delusional to think he will attract the youth vote. He was on SNL 25 years ago, wasn't that funny, and he's an entertainment industry hack who wants to put every person under 30 in jail for illegally downloading films.

[Erc]

I seem to recall one of our posters here having dirt on Al Franken...if more to that effect exists and is verifiable, he certainly wouldn't fly.  Let alone all the other obvious problems.

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

His SNL past rules out being taken seriously, for better or worse.

[Comrade Funk]

I seem to recall one of our posters here having dirt on Al Franken...if more to that effect exists and is verifiable, he certainly wouldn't fly.  Let alone all the other obvious problems.

Isn't it well established he was probably doing coke as well as everyone else on SNL?

Meh, it was the 70s