If Al Franken Can Be a U.S. Senator, How 'Bout J.P. Patches?
The NYT and everyone else is reporting the Minnesota Supreme Court decision finally granting former SNL funnyman Al Franken the critical 60th seat for Democrats in the U.S. Senate. There, he'll join our state delegation of Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, neither of whom is particularly witty or quotable.
But look: If a formerly dope-smoking, Harvard Lampoon-writing, Stuart Smalley-playing comic can get elected to our nation's highest legislative body, that opens the door for any number of local performers. J.P. Patches, for instance, still enjoys tremendous public goodwill. And John Keister, from the old local Almost Live program, is still around. As are his former colleagues Nancy Guppy, Pat Cashman, and Joel McHale (lately moved on to The Soup).
Or, what local entertainer or celeb would you like to see representing us in Washington, DC?
17 comment(s)
Rebecca Larson says:
As a Minnesotan, I find this extremely offensive. Al is a Harvard educated, intelligent and compasonate person who is well qualified to represent our state in the senate.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 2:42PM
N in Seattle says:
As a non-Minnesotan, I too find this an offensive commentary.
Try again after Patches, Keister, et al. write several bestsellers, host nationally-distributed political opinion radio programs, organize a statewide political campaign, win a statewide election (both in the ballot box and in court), and fend off a barrage of scurrilous attacks for months on end.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 3:03PM
Gregory Dallum says:
Al Frankin is intelligent and well spoken far more than just a clown. The people of Minnesota know this, to bad you republicans (small r is best) get easily confused when someone who actually speaks complete sentences gets elected.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 3:13PM
stirfry says:
Sour Grapes! Pathetic.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 3:32PM
stirfry says:
Sour Grapes! Pathetic.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 3:35PM
Brad Peterson in SF CA says:
Oh, let's allow Mr Miller his ad hominem critique of soon to be Senator Franken. It will soon be forgotten.
The nation made jokes when Californians elected former actors Ronald Regan (reactionary pro-capitalist) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (centrist)as governors. And, though I never agreed with their political positions (I am a former Minnesotan from a Farmer-Labor Party family), I both took their move to politics and elected office seriously enough to be elected an re-elected... And the wider US electorate apparently took Mr Regan seriously as well - not just once but twice! Finally, look at it this way: If conservative Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) can also be a successful professional songwriter, why can't liberal comedian Franken also be a successful professional politician?
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 4:00PM
Commandant says:
Maybe Mr. Miller should run for office. That would ad another clown to the mix.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 4:15PM
rob says:
John Keister is an admired instructor at the Art Institute of Seattle, J.P. is still doing birthday parties for the aging former youngsters and Nancy is all public tv and groovy beats definite no for political aspirations.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 4:17PM
rob says:
Nice try Greg Dallum, what you meant was too bad not to bad. I'm a democrat for education!
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 4:21PM
Gregory Dallum says:
you are absolutely correct Rob I am a horrible typist.. my mistake.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 4:25PM
Marcus W says:
Even if Al Franken's only qualification was comedian (which is far from the truth), at least we can look at what is NOT on his resume. Nixon has conspiracy to commit burglary; Bush Jr has (at the very least) gross incompetence and election fraud; and Reagan betrayed us with outright treason.
If it was a choice between any of them or a comedian, give me the funny man any day.
Al Franken is a Harvard-educated political satirist. To be a satirist, one MUST be intimately familiar with the political system, be open to blunt criticism, and desire to change that system.
Oddly enough, in order to be a politician, one needs only to be familiar with the political system. Sounds to me like Al might be OVER-qualified -- like a sous-chef at Bennagin's,
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 4:26PM
lighten up! says:
people lighten up for crying out loud! we all love franken and are impressed by his accomplishments. Likewise, we all love JP, Keister, Cashman, Guppy & McHale and are impressed by their accomplishments. of course we are. people need to lighten up - go for a walk in the sun and get over yourselves! :)
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 4:53PM
Joker says:
all i can say is NANA NANA NANA NANA! TWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW (WITH THUMBS IN EARS AND FLAPPING HANDS) TO THE NAZIS REPULICANS! GO GOOSE STEP AND DON'T FORGET TO NUKE A GAY WHALE FOR CHRIST! CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR BILL O'RIELY SAY SENATOR AL FRANKEN ROTFLMAO! YOU GUYS LOST! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 5:50PM
tom green says:
Brian Miller's lame effort serves to remind us that writing good comedy actually requires intelligence.
Congratulations, Al.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 6:08PM
Bill says:
Why dis J P Patches & the "Almost Live" crew?
Posted On: Tuesday, Jun. 30 2009 @ 9:47PM
Aisha says:
Al Franken did not write for the Harvard Lampoon.
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 1 2009 @ 9:55AM
joe says:
J.P. Patches has yet to write three best selling books, or demonstrate a depth of knowledge on history and politics that exceeds pretty much everyone else in Washington. When your humor runs towards J.P. Patches, it will be hard for you to understand these things, and it can't really be explained to you, but Franken has an astonishing grasp not only of U.S. politics, government, and the problems facing his home state and our country, but also a surreal emotional intelligence and ability to work with other people. Anybody interested in Franken should read his second book, "Lies, and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them". This will give you the ammunition and insight you'll need to parse angry, meaningless, hit-and-run blog pieces like this one. His film "God Spoke" is also very good if you like documentaries. It covers the 2004 election and the run up to his decision to run for senate.
Posted On: Thursday, Jul. 2 2009 @ 7:58AM