Al Franken is a very funny man, no doubt. He also has some hilarious political satire. That’s fine… for a comedian. But Al Franken is starting to make his way actually INTO the political arena… and that makes me nervous.
It’s not that Franken isn’t a smart man. He is. Actually when you really listen to him it’s scary just how intelligent this guy is. But the he also reflects the main problem in American politics (at least how I see it). Left and Right with absolutely no middle ground. To Republicans, everything that is democrat is stupid… not because of its merits, but just because it’s from a Democrat. To Democrats, everything that is republican is evil. Not because of its merits, but just because it’s Republican.
Al Franken is one of those. If something is Republican, or comes from a Republican’s mouth, then it’s stupid and evil and dumb. Even if Ann Coulter (who is in fact an evil raging psychotic bitch in my opinion) were to say “kittens are cute”, Al Franken would find a reason to take issue with it… just because it came from Ann Coulter. And that’s not productive for anyone.
So why bring all this up? Well the new documentary called “Al Franken: God Spoke” is almost upon us. Here’s a quick synopsis from the good folks at CHUD:
Franken fearlessly confronts pundits and politicians, blurring the boundaries between political satire and impassioned citizenry. Featuring a host of beltway insiders including Ann Coulter, Michael Moore, Al Gore, Robert Kennedy Jr., Sean Hannity, William Safire, Karen Hughes and Henry Kissinger, the film is an often hilarious look behind the front lines of the media wars during the most contentious election in recent history. But ultimately, AL FRANKEN: GOD SPOKE is a personal drama of transformation as Franken moves from his seat in the sidelines to become a contender in the political ring.
You can count me as VERY interested in seeing this film. The story itself is fascinating… even if the outcome makes me nervous.
you know, I cannot agree with you any more strongly about the problem with american politics. Coming up from North Carolina, sometimes it seemed that it was even more damning to one’s popularity and likeability to proclaim yourself republican as it would have been to become a civil rights activist in the late 60’s.
To be fair, I really doubt Al Franken can be fair about anything. Pretty much any time I see him speak I cringe at his slanted viewpoints. But the man CAN be moderately funny.
I sometimes feel that entertainment in America has gotten too political. Shows like the ( amazingly funny ) Daily Show take a liberal slant about 90% of the time. The problem is, half the show’s creators aren’t even American ( i’m under the impression that they’re from Canada. ) and are knowingly affecting American politics.
I know it is a dangerous road to tread, but sometimes I feel that just as there is a seperation between Church and State, there should be a seperation between Entertainment and Politics.
The Problem? of course it’s who decided what crosses the line? Who decides wehre freedom of speech ends and political positioning and pandering takes over?
These are problems that will never be resolved, I know. But hey. It’s kinda a sign to those who think that the higher ups in the governments of the world are “bumbling buffoons” may not be quite so dumb as they’re made out to be…but rather, that the problems are SO FREAKING COMPLEX that NO SOLUTION WILL EVER BE AGREEABLE TO EVERYONE.
I also want to point out that this title is much better than one of Al’s previous books, which, i believe was called “LIES and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them”
as soon as I saw that book in the stores I knew it wasn’t anythign but his own personal vendetta against people he didn’t agree with.
the following fact is subjective in and of itself, but for the most part, the TRUTH is RELATIVE to the interpretor.
This is one of the reasons why people tire of hearing entertainers get into politics. It’s like a drug: you go in for one hit, then that turns into “I can quit anytime I want,” then it’s all that defines you. Al Franken is one of those, Dennis Miller (for equal time) is another. Intelligent? Certainly. Funny people? Yes, at one time.
As for no middle ground, it’s there when you get past the screaming media. The number of conservative bloggers I know of who can’t stand Ann Coulter are numerous. A liberal friend of mine wishes Michael Moore would retire and stop embarassing her. The South Park guys havet it right: the people on the left and right screaming the loudest are the same people.
Jim Wallis or Cal Thomas seem to be a liberal and conservative (respectively) that don’t resort to screaming or defining their opponents as evil. If I’d like to see an opinion beyond the yelling, I usually check them out.
“Until then, why should we believe he could run a country when he hasn’t even shown if he could run a small district in his local town?”
If only more people thought this… see Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, two people with virutally no political experience who jump right to California governorship.
Dennis Miller should run…
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John, I strongly disagree. This doc most likely will tilt towards his viewpoints. I don’t entirely agree about your barb on Ann Coulter, although she raises good points in her recent book, she does go overboard on a few points (such as the 9/11 widows for the Democrat Party etc) – but so does Franken. In all fairness, you did point out that is is too far left as Coulter is too far right….
But don’t say “he’s intellegent and funny” and then call Coulter an “evil raging psychotic bitch”. To be fair, I don’t find Franken funny, and I don’t see him as that intellegent. But I wouldn’t call him or describe him as “a mad sociopath” either, not counting his remarks on the “Today Show” in 2005:
Matt Lauer: “All right, Karl Rove and Scooter Libby what’s their future? What’s your prediction in terms of indictments? Yes or no?”
Franken: “Oh they, they’ll be indicted. I, I am absolutely sure and this is about, of course, the war in Iraq really. It’s about the justification for the war and smearing Joe Wilson by outing his wife who’s a CIA agent. George H.W. Bush, the President’s father, said, as, when he was head of the CIA, that outing a CIA agent is treason. I agree. So I think that Rove and Libby will be executed.”
[Franken’s book at that time “Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Liar”. Yeah, that’s intellegent..]
I do agree that the politics is out of hand. When I go to the voting booth, I never vote straight ticket (one party) I vote for the best person for the job, Republican or Democrat. I even voted for Bill Clinton when he first ran for President. I vote for who I think will do the best job. How times have changed.
Here’s what the left says “Republicans are idiots! They should stop whining and SHUT UP!”
Here’s what the right says “Democrats are idiots! They should stop whining and SHUT UP!”
Right:Your’e stupid!
Left:Your’e a Nazi!
Right:You’re a fool!
Left:You are mean spirited right wing bastard!
Right:You are a mean spirited left wing nutjob!
Everyone imposes his own system as far as his army can reach.
-S
Hey Varun,
I’ve heard a lot of people talk about Stewart. And although I’m a big fan of his… the question I keep asking is… What the hell does he know about governing?
To me, it’s sort of the same thing as a singer taking a lead role in a movie.
Sure, if Jon Stewart quit his entertainment job… went and got involved in local government for a few years, and then government at the state level for a few more years… then maybe I’d be down with it…
Until then, why should we believe he could run a country when he hasn’t even shown if he could run a small district in his local town?
Just a thought.
If some one can convince Jon Stewart to run…..that would be much better.
he can actually talk to republicans
he critiques all political parties
best president ever?