Biden: Al Franken Is A “Leading Legal Scholar”

[alp227]

This morning’s gem from Vice President Joe Biden is his declaration that Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., is a “leading legal scholar.” It just goes to show that you can do great thing if you believe ”I’m good enough. I’m smart enough. And doggone it, people like me.”

(...)

Franken is clearly smart and has proven a leader on many issues. However, Biden’s tendency to use superlatives where mere adjectives would do has become rather pathological.

full: http://jonathanturley.org/2012/04/12/biden-al-franken-is-a-leading-legal-scholar/

Geez, and you wonder why the late night shows make fun of Biden all the time. And Franken doesn't even have a law degree!

[Cirque du So-What]

1. I think a case could be made that

compared to practically anyone else in the Senate, Al Franken takes his job seriously enough to actually study the law. Still, Joe Biden needs to turn it down a notch or two.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Franken is far more knowlegeable about the law and government

than some people who have law degrees (e.g., Michele Bachmann). He graduated cum laude from Harvard with a degree in political science, and was a fellow at the Kennedy School of Government, so he's pretty well-versed in at least the aspects of the law that relate to politics and government. He's not a prominent legal scholar like, say, Lawrence Tribe, but he knows his stuff.

[Cirque du So-What]

7. Agreed

I am very glad we have Al Franken in the Senate.

[Snake Alchemist]

8. He's probably far more knowledgeable that many doctors as well with that degree. nt

[LanternWaste]

28. In regards to the law, most certainly.

"He's probably far more knowledgeable that many doctors as well with that degree..."


In regards to the law, most certainly.

[JDPriestly]

16. The OP does not seem to have thought about the definition of a legal scholar.

It is not synonymous with being a lawyer. I think that Al Franken is indeed a legal scholar, but not a lawyer.

But then, not all law school graduates become lawyers. Different words, different meanings.

Al Franken is a legal scholar. He is studying the law in order to perform his tasks as a member of the Judiciary Committee. Listen to some of his participation in committee sessions and you will agree that Franken is a legal scholar -- one who is studying the law.

[FSogol]

2. So, you logged onto a Democratic website to bash the Democratic VP & a Democratic Senator because...

[alp227]

36. Biden made a fool of himself. Just like saying "Rush Limbaugh is a leading feminist scholar."

[FSogol]

39. Except Biden was just joking.

[Auggie]

3. Obama/Clinton, 2012

[JDPriestly]

17. Not Clinton. I do not want to see her in government.

She is quite a sell-out especially to Indian business interests.

[gateley]

35. Because you think Biden shouldn't have said this? Tough crowd.

And no thanks to Obama/Clinton, but good luck on that.

[RZM]

4. Biden does seem to have have a penchant for gaffes

I think he's a very capable public servant and was a good choice for VP. But he does have his faults.

[renegade000]

10. it's a small price to pay i think

especially for someone who's been at the higher-levels of Washington as long as he has and hasn't used his insider status to greatly enrich himself.

[JDPriestly]

14. This was not a gaffe.

Since being placed on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Franken has been reading and studying the law and is, therefore, quite accurately described as a legal scholar.

The term legal scholar is not the same as the term lawyer. In fact some law school graduates might call themselves legal scholars but did not pass a bar exam and therefore are not lawyers.

[PatSeg]

33. I don't see a gaffe either

Franken is far more intelligent and educated than most people realize and Biden's comments were appropriate, as well as humorous.

[jillan]

22. Compared to Romney? Santorum? I think Biden's 'gaffes' pale in comparison.

[RZM]

25. Romney for sure has been gaffe-prone this cycle

All politicians do it from time to time of course.

[Snake Alchemist]

5. The man has had two near-fatal brain aneurysms. Give him a break and give it a rest. nt

[Rex]

26. Who Biden or Al?

Did not know that...yikes.

[Snake Alchemist]

27. Joe

http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/04/us/biden-resting-after-surgery-for-second-brain-aneurysm.html

[Rex]

29. Holy cow, thank you so much I had no idea!

Just raises my respect level for the VP.

[thelordofhell]

9. He can also do this.............

[zorahopkins]

18. FLORIDA?!

He's left off Florida!!???

And he's also left off the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Just sayin'.

[jsmirman]

41. He puts in Florida near the end

I have to watch again to see if he gets to the UP.

[dmr]

42. The UP is there, right below Lake Superior, & Florida

is hanging on down there, too.

[Egalitarian Thug]

19. Now, that's impressive! I wish they had included his narrative. n/t

[jsmirman]

40. Man, I love Al Franken

would that we had about 50 to 60 of him...

[IADEMO2004]

11. Isn't Biden telling a joke?

I will stand with Biden and Turley should post a link to his original source so we can see the context. I'm tired of the Biden out of control poo.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

12. I read it as a joke. I don't know what the BFD is. nt

[JDPriestly]

13. I like Biden. He is very kind. It was a bit of a joke, but I am smart enough to get it.

Of course, not everyone is.

Being a "legal scholar" in my book would mean being one who is studying the law. It is not synonymous with being a lawyer. To the contrary, a law student would qualify as a legal scholar as did my ancestor who "read law" in the local courthouse just for fun.

Biden was probably gently joking as he is inclined to do, but he did not misstate any facts.

It is very apparent that as a member of the Judiciary Committee in the Senate, Al Franken has taken his obligation to study the law, to be a legal scholar, quite seriously. Any intelligent person who has a good staff can become a legal scholar.

[Egalitarian Thug]

23. Many states don't require a law degree to be a judge.

IIRC Lincoln was self-educated. We get too hung up on degrees and certificates, we believe they convey competence, a fiction that any professional can attest to.

[bigtree]

15. pathological?

. . . a standard meme of the VP's conservative critics.

It's always interesting to me how folks have to go to conservative sources for their material when dumping on this Democratic administration. Turley should know better. You? I think you should stuff your phony concern.

[EFerrari]

20. Franken may not be a scholar but he is a genius.

His "people in stock photos for Al Franken" is about the best fund raising hook I've ever seen.

[jillan]

21. Someone who studies the law is a scholar. What's your point?

[Rex]

24. Oh? What late night talk show hosts make fun of Biden all the time.

You must be watching some kind of different TVEE then I. Maybe you can elaborate?

Also, why are you dissing two of our best?

Seems strange...but whatever.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

30. Al Franken didn't get that Academy Award (C) nomination!!!!!

As "Amtrak Baggage Handler #1" in the movie "Trading Places"

I can't imagine why!!!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

31. Political science and law are not the same thing but are related.

I have a law degree. You learn about the powers of the Supreme Court in Constitutional Law and the powers of the different branches.

I took a course called Legislation. It is a course about how to write a valid and enforceable law. Most of the strange laws that Republicans are passing are either unconstitutional on their face, or void for vagueness.

Political science would be much more helpful for a politician. everything I know about Congress and legislatures I learned in high school Government class, and I've forgotten most of it.

Since Al Franken already has a political science degree, he can study the law and learn what he needs to know without going to law school. That said, there are far more Democratic politicians that are lawyers than Republicans. I think a law degree will usually help in understanding the legislative process.

[gateley]

32. Biden's a good guy. He's got Obama's back, big time. I don't wonder why comedians make fun of him

"all the time" (:eyes , I wonder why those of us who like to tell ourselves we are concerned with what matters feel it's okay to jump on Biden for harmless statements.

[blogslut]

34. Al Franken is a damned smart fellow

And I bet he would give Jonathan Turley a run for his money if it came to a contest.

[KoKo]

37. Biden can always "sound good when he's doing his "Forceful/I'm Clued In Populast Charge"

when he's on the Campaign Trail.

Just remember, though. Biden was complicit in giving us "Clarence Thomas for Supreme Court."

Biden seems a "good heart" who get's very misguided and thrown off message at many points in his career. Remember he's Senator from Banking State Delaware...where both Banks and Wall Street Firms and Others can sign up to get their verification. It's a cushy state ...where a Senator can feel they are "doing good for their own" and "look the other way" when things go badly.

He has a very mixed past as charming and clueless at the same time...he may seem.

[Zax2me]

38. Maybe he is

Who's to say he isn't?!