Al Franken (right) cut off Joe Lieberman at the 10-minute mark, infuriating John McCain (left). (AP Photo)
The Senate's health care debate looked more like "The Three Stooges" when Al Franken cut off Joe Lieberman's oratory at 10 minutes (that's the rule) on Thursday and John McCain went running to the media to tattle on him Friday morning.
Lieberman, an Independent whose swing vote recently made him the most powerful man in the deadlocked partisan Senate, was still rambling about Medicare when his 10 minutes were up. Franken, a Democrat who unseated a Republican by a margin of 312 votes in a protracted recount and is now the newest member of the Senate, cut him off.
Lieberman asked for "unanimous consent" to finish his speech, but Franken didn't consent.
Franken: "In my capacity as the senator from Minnesota, I object."
Lieberman: "Really? ... I don't take it personally."
The next morning McCain, a Republican who is known for being willing to "cross the aisle," fumed to reporters:
I’ve been around here for more than 20 years, yesterday on the floor of the Senate, the senator from Connecticut was finishing up his remarks … and was objected to by the newest member of the United States Senate – and in the most brusque way.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why we pay those boys the big bucks.
Here's the video:
Comments
We love Al.
That move by Franken just got him his re-relection.
Never seen that, in all your time in the Senate, John? Hmmmm ... this from ThinkProgress.org, quote:
"On October 10, 2002 — just ahead of the looming mid-term elections — the Senate rushed a debate on a war authorization giving President Bush the power to use force against Iraq. The resolution ultimately passed the Senate after midnight on an early Friday morning by a vote of 77-23.
During the course of the frenzied floor debate, then-Sen. Mark Dayton (D-MN) spoke in favor of an amendment offered by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) that would have restricted Bush’s constitutional powers to wage war against Iraq. After a minute and a half, Dayton ran out of time, prompting this exchange:
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator’s time has expired.
Mr. DAYTON. I ask for unanimous consent that I have 30 seconds more to finish my remarks.
Mr. McCAIN. I object.
Drew Williams says:
"....Mr. McCAIN. I object."
told you McCain was a weasel...he's the one that cried to the press.
All 3 are rotten with Franken leading the way.
Thank God, Franken is finally funny. He never was as a comedian but he is hilarious as a senator. Would be less scary if this was SNL rather than real life.
Al is a gem. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Hang in there man! Correction: Lieberman is a BOOB and McCain a stooge.
wow, Sen Franken demonstrated a complete disregard and disrespect for seniority, courtesy and nearly an abuse of authority. He didn't even call the vote which is procedure. The Senate is the most exclusive "club" on the planet, where the right and the left enjoy bean soup and comraderie, and they expect a degree of respect to accompany remarks. Franken entered the Senate as a court jester, and with this exhibition he's secured that role for his tenure. They (Dems and Reps) will steer clear, and he won't even run. Man, I'm glad i'm not from Minnesota - comics and wrestlers are your best representatives?
Wow, it all comes around. Joe Lieberman, of ALL PEOPLE IN THE SENATE?! The one whose support the left desperately needs at this of all times - and he can't even get a moment to conclude his remarks?
LMFAO!!!
Those who are cheering Franken on: are you that clueless? Do you not realize just how risky and potentially STUPID that move was on Franken's part.
As they say in sports after intentional personal fouls that go uncalled, "I think Lieberman took Franken's number". It remains to be seen how that will go around and come around, but make no mistake. It will come back around.
Welcome to the United States Senate Al. You're doing a heck of a job!
Go Al! Make the senate productive rather than a home for old men that want to justify themselves with meaningless babble.
Do McCain and Lieberman want to cut funding for Alzheimers? Maybe they forgot.
Something about just the way that Franken talks and carrys himself makes me wonder about all the other extreme left dimwits.
The Top 2 issues in this country is the economy and job creation. Democrats are LOSING headway there while focusing on healthcare and climate change.....two things that only the environmentalists and sick people care about.
I believe us other americans more than have the majority.
Time to listen to the right if we want the good years back. You aren't going to get them with a Democrat controled House and Senate when most there are on the non traditional, extreme left.
.Steven Douglas says:
"...Those who are cheering Franken on: are you that clueless? Do you not realize just how risky and potentially STUPID that move was on Franken's part."
No. Liberman has proven a backstabber and will no longer be treated with kid gloves. Expect "in kind"? Franken has realized, as I hope all Lib Democrats, that "in kind" is coming and has been coming ANYWAY regardless of all the "pretty pleases". So,bipartisanship is off the table. Every democrat that does exactly like Franken did, will be getting the votes of all those angry at democrats that have played the bipartisanship game while letting Cons destroy everything they have tried to accomplish. Franken is the mold for what we need the rest of the democrats to become. Someone with balls.
That's impossible BONDI because like yourself male dems have been neutered and reduced to obama boot-lckers ala Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann.
Impossible Sir says:
That's impossible BONDI because like yourself male dems have been neutered and reduced to obama boot-lckers ala Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann.
Is that why they scare you? "OMG OMG OMG! The neutered progessive obama boot-lckers are DESTROYING AMERICA! OMG OMG OMG!!!! Can you imagine how much power they would have if they had balls???? OMG OMG OMG! What is we gonna do??? We don't know nothing bout birthing no babies, Miss Scarlett!!!"
Sound like Joe Bondi tryin' to sound black cuz, that rayciss.
Tyronne says:
"Sound like Joe Bondi tryin' to sound black cuz, that rayciss."
it only sounds racist to a wigger trying to "pass"
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