# Whoo! Go Franken! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 1, 2009, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963 "2009-08-01T06:39:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/21 "2009-08-01T17:51:10Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Saved us from Kerry and gave us Bush. You made a mistake. You said saved us from a detestable human being ,when you meant to say gave us 2, Bush and Cheney. That is as low as it gets. Then toss in Gonzales and Rumsfield and you have the cabal of thieves. No, I’m not a fan a Bush, nor most of his team, but I’ll take him over that pompous, low, dishonorable piece of shit called Kerry any day of the year. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/22 "2009-08-01T17:59:44Z")
Since this is in GD now…well, what’s the debate? Or is this witnessing? -XT ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/23 "2009-08-01T18:00:27Z")
Yeah, that Al Franken totally pwned that guy. Did you see when he said…wait, what did he tell him? The article doesn’t say. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/24 "2009-08-01T18:11:33Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > No, I’m not a fan a Bush, nor most of his team, but I’ll take him over that pompous, low, dishonorable piece of shit called Kerry any day of the year. Yes, going into combat and being shot at is certainly more cowardly than shirking one’s stateside military obligations. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/25 "2009-08-01T18:17:05Z")
yeah, what’s wrong with Senator Kerry? Not too good at getting elected, but altogether a decent human and patriot. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/26 "2009-08-01T18:17:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Yes, going into combat and being shot at is certainly more cowardly than shirking one’s stateside military obligations. Why you go is important. By most important is your conduct there. But I guess you could characterize Kerry’s gaming the system and getting his butt out of there toot suite as cowardly. Good point. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/27 "2009-08-01T18:20:27Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > yeah, what’s wrong with Senator Kerry? Not too good at getting elected, but altogether a decent human and patriot. He’s [Unfit for Command.](http://www.amazon.com/Unfit-Command-Swift-Veterans-Against/dp/0895260174) There are old threads about this, if you’re so interested. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/28 "2009-08-01T18:49:32Z")
Yes, there were, I was there. Your side lost miserably, having no facts to present. Kerry led the Viet Nam Veterans Against the War, men I admired then and admire now, I am proud to count several as life-long friends. And they laughed at Kerry, often, but affectionately and with respect. (Those early _Doonesburys_, for instance.) And he didn’t have to. He got this ticket punched, and yes, he was sorely bitten by the political bug, he had the fever. But he could have coasted, he had his creds, he had medals, he was a shoo-in for a political career in Massachusetts. Which he craved with every fiber of his being. And put it all at risk for an unpopular cause he believed in. He didn’t have to. If he were as villainous as you make him out to be, why did he do that? He could even have softly opposed the war, like any good wishy-washy liberal, and still come out ahead. But he didn’t. You know why he resigned as the leader of the VVAW? It was that medal throwing incident. He admitted that it worked as political theater, but opposed any repetition, he thought the VVAW should blend in with the rest of the movement, lend it their legitimacy, but not make themselves the focus. But the vets were psyched, and shouted him down. So he resigned. At the time, I thought he was wrong, but I had no vote, having never been in The Shit. Nowadays, I’m not so sure. Honor and courage are not a lack of base motives, or a lack of fear, it is the willingness to set them aside, and do what is right. When you, or I for that matter, have done as well we can take his inventory. Until then, have a nice cuppa. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/29 "2009-08-01T18:56:46Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > He’s [Unfit for Command.](http://www.amazon.com/Unfit-Command-Swift-Veterans-Against/dp/0895260174) Debunked many times. [http://swiftvets.eriposte.com/](http://swiftvets.eriposte.com/) [http://homepage.mac.com/chinesemac/kerry\_medals/truth.html](http://homepage.mac.com/chinesemac/kerry_medals/truth.html) > [@](#): > > There are old threads about this, if you’re so interested. As Corsi was for sure the main source in the recently debunked hatchet job against Obama, I would had thought that you learned already the lesson that he was just an expert on tossing BS. > **[Another unpleasant Obama association](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=487920)** > > There was this article in The Washington Times. It relays Obama’s association with Raila Odinga of Kenya. Mr. Odinga is not your average Ivory Tower Marxist. The group he lead was responsible for some horrific violence. And he made some troubling... ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/30 "2009-08-01T19:07:45Z")
The treatment of Obama is much like the treatment of Kerry. One is white, from an elite background, and a war vet, the other is not. Yet they are treated very much the same. I wonder, what might be the connection? Hmmmm. Ponder, ponder… ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/31 "2009-08-01T19:08:06Z")
I’m so glad Franken has his priorities in line… Lets see, what should I do first… Economy…no Healthcare…no Jobs…no, I got the only one I’m concerned about Afghanistan…no I know!!! Bring me the head of T Boone Pickens and those damn swiftboaters ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/32 "2009-08-01T19:09:44Z")
Happily, Franken is a liberal, and capable of farting and chewing gum at the same time. It is a pity he took out ten minutes from these vital causes, but I think they will yet recover from his appalling lapse. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/33 "2009-08-01T19:13:57Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > I’m so glad Franken has his priorities in line… > > Lets see, what should I do first… > > Economy…no > Healthcare…no > Jobs…no, I got the only one I’m concerned about > Afghanistan…no > I know!!! Bring me the head of T Boone Pickens and those damn swiftboaters Really? You think this was the first thing he did? You think it was his first priority? Sad. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/34 "2009-08-01T19:20:03Z")
I must admit, it still makes me a little sad that people will defend the SwiftBoaters and Pickens despite all of the evidence out there showing their accusations were little more than innuendo and mostly debunked. But then I cheer up a bit when I remember what a cowardly little prick Pickens was shown to be when he reneged on his challenge. It’s all a pathetically sad piece of our country’s history. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/35 "2009-08-01T19:26:49Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > I’m so glad Franken has his priorities in line… > > Lets see, what should I do first… > > Economy…no > Healthcare…no > Jobs…no, I got the only one I’m concerned about > Afghanistan…no > I know!!! Bring me the head of T Boone Pickens and those damn swiftboaters I can’t believe that you wasted time writing that post. Don’t you have something more important to do? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/36 "2009-08-01T19:27:27Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > The treatment of Obama is much like the treatment of Kerry. One is white, from an elite background, and a war vet, the other is not. Yet they are treated very much the same. I wonder, what might be the connection? Hmmmm. Ponder, ponder… The common denominator is their politics. Why should people, in the political sphere, treat them according to their backgrounds or race? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/37 "2009-08-01T19:28:44Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I don’t. > > But if I’d successfully made a billion dollars, I think I might step back from the the trough and let someone else in to have a go, while I tried to spend it. 😃 This is absolutely ridiculous. When people make money, they don’t take it from other people. They create value (by inventing something new, or performing valuable services, etc.). Therefore, if Pickens stepped back from the trough (i.e., stopped making money), then he would stop creating value, and it doesn’t mean that any other person would make the money that Pickens would forego. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/38 "2009-08-01T19:30:50Z")
Anyone want to take bets as to whether magellan will actually learn from the posted cites or will ignore them and use the same, bullshit swiftboater link the next time someone mentions Kerry? I believe I’ve pointed out to him that the swiftboaters were liars in the past… so his previous track record for being willing or able to learn and assimilate new data isn’t good. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/39 "2009-08-01T19:50:45Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > This is absolutely ridiculous. When people make money, they don’t take it from other people. They create value (by inventing something new, or performing valuable services, etc.). That’s really not always true. But of course, in your worldview, rich people are always benevolent sheerly by view of their wealth. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963/40 "2009-08-01T19:54:39Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Kerry’s response about being too busy meeting with his internal staff was brilliant. 😉 (Only if this joke translates well) Almost as good as anti-establishment British comedian Peter Cook’s regrets: "David Frost rang Peter Cook up some years ago. “Peter, I’m having a little dinner party on behalf of Prince Andrew and his new bride-to-be Sarah Ferguson. I know they’d love to meet you, big fans; Be super if you could make it: Wednesday the twelfth.” “Hang on… I’ll just check my diary.” Pause and rummaging and leafing through diary noises. And then Peter said **“Oh dear. I find I’m watching television that night.”** ~ Stephen Fry [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963.md?page=3)