I just finished "Al Franken - Giant Of The Senate"

[madaboutharry]

It is brilliant. Sen. Franken wrote a serious, and funny book, as only he can. He writes about his childhood, his family, his comedy career, how he loves his wife Franni, his Senate campaign against Norm Coleman, and he writes that Ted Cruz is a complete and smarmy jerk who is universally hated in Washington.

And he has much to say about Donald Trump.

He also writes about his love for and friendship with the late Sen. Paul Wellstone and how every day he is guided by Paul's legacy.

It is an insightful and charming book.

I now love Sen. Franken even more.

[mucifer]

1. I'm reading it, too. It's very enjoyable.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Al is the real deal.

[Les Cowbell]

3. Wellstone

In one of his previous books I've read he talked abut his affection and admiration for Wellstone, a courageous and decent man from everything I've read, as well as a great senator. I think Franken went to the senate hoping to emulate him. I believe he has held up that standard.

[dflprincess]

8. Not just to emulate Wellstone but to avenge him

It was hard enough for those of us who admired Wellstone to see that smarmy, lying liar Coleman in his seat - it must have been unbearable for Wellstone's friends.

[zentrum]

11. I will never understand...

....how the people who could vote for Wellstone, could follow up with a person like Coleman. It's one of the great mysteries to me.

[dflprincess]

13. There were a lot of voters who had filed absentee ballots

who weren't able to revote because they were out of state. The Secretary of State ruled that it could not be assumed that a voter who had filed absentee for Wellstone would have voted for Mondale. The state Attorney General (a Democrat) agreed (not that he was happy about doing so).

Had Wellstone lived, I'm sure he would have squeaked past Coleman. The race had been close but after he voted against the IWR he got a big bump in the polls.

[zentrum]

23. Okay. Thanks.

Will think on this.

[babylonsister]

4. Great recommendation to read this, thanks. I love Al! nt

[snort]

5. My daughter and I are going to see him Sunday

and I am really looking forward to it. Whoot.

[spanone]

6. i'm reading it now...he's brilliant ...i'm just in and he's made me both laugh out loud and cry

smoked pot, dropped acid and went to harvard

[Generic Brad]

7. Is he setting the stage for a presidential run?

He would be such an outstanding leader.

[leftieNanner]

17. I'm reading it too

And I don't think so. He loves working for the people if Minnesota.

[redstateblues]

9. Wish I had a Senator like that

[a kennedy]

12. and I thank gawd everyday he IS my Senator.

[Lucinda]

10. It's on my reading list

Love Franken!

[moonscape]

14. I bought the audio book - and it's going to be a great

listen on my next road trip!

[Ilsa]

20. I assume franken reads his own book?

I may have to do this. Those commercials with reactions of people listening to Audible are enticing.

[moonscape]

22. Yes, in another thread I had asked who the reader was

and when the answer was Franken I ordered.

[orleans]

15. i plan on reading it

and, ugh-shiver-cringe, i had forgotten all about fucking norm coleman. (lol -- was it necessary to mention him and that part of the book?)

[phylny]

16. I'm reading it now.

I have laughed out loud already. I've read his other books which were great as well.

I wish he was my friend.

[QED]

18. Rolling Stone has a good article on him

I'm looking forward to reading the book too.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/al-franken-on-trump-working-with-republicans-doing-acid-w484586

[madaboutharry]

19. Thank you for the link.

[dalton99a]

25. +1

[mnhtnbb]

21. Waiting list of 37 people for 1 copy at my library!

So I just bought it--along with his Lying Liars--on Amazon. Going to need a lot of books to read while I'm recovering from knee replacement surgery in July.

[BootinUp]

24. I remember reading Liars in one sitting

I'm sure I would be similarly engrossed. Will have to get it soon.

[Nitram]

26. Thanks for the review. Been putting off buying it, but now I will.

[archiemo]

27. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Disappointed when it was over!!! Love Al!!

If you read it digitally, make sure you read the footnotes as they are hilarious?

[Warren DeMontague]

28. He also can tell you the specific difference between a 1980 and a 1981 "Althea"

Love Al.

[mahina]

29. My copy is on the reading table, ready for me.

Thanks for the info. Can't wait.