Al Franken cut off Joe Lieberman’s remarks on health care reform on the floor of the U.S. Senate Thursday. The Connecticut independent had reached the end of his allotted 10 minutes when Franken, presiding over the Senate, said his time was up. Lieberman asked for a moment more, but Franken said no.
LIEBERMAN: … insurance for pretty much everybody in our country–
FRANKEN: You have spoken — I’m sorry. The senator has spoken for 10 minutes.
LIEBERMAN: I wonder if I could ask unanimous consent for just an additional moment.
FRANKEN: In my capacity as senator from Minnesota, I object.
LIEBERMAN: Really. Okay, I won’t take it personally. I will ask unanimous consent that the remainder of my remarks be included in the records as if read.
FRANKEN: Without objection.
Here’s the video, via TPM. The clip includes Sen. John McCain’s grousing about Franken’s move afterwards.
It’s at least Franken’s second momentous occasion presiding over the Senate, a duty that’s rotated among the members. He was also in the role in August, when the Senate confirmed Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.











14 Comments »
Comment posted December 17, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
Minnesota should be very proud of Al.Fraken. The rest of the country thinks your a bunch of crooks and idiots for electing that fool.What the hell are you doing up there? It’s like electing Bozo the Clown for office.
Comment posted December 17, 2009 @ 5:55 pm
Pardon me Kevin — It was Connecticut that elected that fool Lieberman, not Minnesota.
And, of course we’re proud of Sen Franken. You should be as well. At least one senator has the cajones to stand up to Lieberman.
Comment posted December 17, 2009 @ 6:06 pm
FANTASTIC!!! THROW THE HAMMER FRANK!!!!
Comment posted December 17, 2009 @ 6:16 pm
Kevin, I’m afraid you don’t speak for the rest of the country. The rest of the country does not think Minnesota is full of crooks and idiots. I, as a Californian, am impressed with Minnesota’s track record of being one of the most progressive states in the country. I think Sen. Franken is a refreshing change from most of these Senators who seemingly care less about the people of this country and more about lining their pockets with money from special interests(ie. Pharmaceutical cos.).
I thought Bozo the Clown was actually elected as President of the U.S. from 2000-2008.
Comment posted December 17, 2009 @ 9:25 pm
Well its too bad that Al Franken is your poster child of ACORN election tactics.
And Josh get your facts straight..it is no secret that the Democrats are the ones who struck the deal with the Pharmaceutical Companies to get support for this bill, the Administration promised them no more competitive pricing from Canada for medications, it is not even a secret.
I almost hope this passes because I want to see everyone back track when they are standing in line holding a number like at the DMV to get a doctor visit.
Comment posted December 17, 2009 @ 10:19 pm
Say what you will, Bozo could always tell the difference between your and you’re, Kevin.
Total punctuation smackdown. Oh yeah, oh yeah…
And we are VERY proud of Al, thank god SOMEONE can stand up to that douchebag.
Are you related to Norm?
Comment posted December 17, 2009 @ 11:43 pm
After watching what McCain and the group of Delay and Denyers did this past week , how in the world can he talk about “what is going on here”?
Comment posted December 18, 2009 @ 5:03 am
I don’t know what kind of health care reform will come out of this session, but I strongly suspect it won’t be much. There is, however a silver lining behind this very dark cloud. I am reminded of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Don’t be embarrassed if you’ve never heard of it, there really isn’t a hell of a lot to remember about it; a mere pittance, really – a scrap of leftovers tossed out to “American Negros” (in the parlance of the age) in order to appease them. But it made the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – the one we remember – all-the-more easier seven years later.
We’ll live to fight another day.
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Goshen, New York
Comment posted December 18, 2009 @ 8:14 am
There ain’t a dimes worth of difference between a republican and a democrat, Lisa. Never was, never will be.
Ever heard of the phrase dialectic process? Look it up sometime, and learn about american political tactics for corporations to use against the masses.
Al Franken is a champion of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. That (should) make him conservative under the true definition of conservatism. The meanings of liberal/conservative lables have been lost in the dialectic process, and both sides are fighting against the peoples will.
Al Franken is the most dangerous senator on capitol hill besides Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich because he is a truth seeker with a brain. We need many more just like him.
Comment posted December 18, 2009 @ 8:18 am
Franken has quickly become one of my favorite politicians in the time he’s been in office.
Go Al!
Comment posted December 18, 2009 @ 10:43 am
GO AL! Keep giving ‘em hell!
Comment posted December 18, 2009 @ 11:00 am
People like Lisa will never cease to amaze me. She said: “I almost hope this passes because I want to see everyone back track when they are standing in line holding a number like at the DMV to get a doctor visit.”
When you have NO INSURANCE you DON’T GO TO THE DAMN DOCTOR. The amount of people that have no health insurance in this country is ASTOUNDING. It’s ABSURD that we spend BILLIONS of dollars on blowing up BROWN PEOPLE, but when it comes to taking care of people in our OWN COUNTRY people like LISA throw themselves on the ground and have a TEMPER TANTRUM like a 3 year old. GROW UP!
Comment posted December 18, 2009 @ 11:58 am
Droopy Dog wants more time to talk and that’s okay. Stewart Smalley won’t let him talk and that’s okay.
Comment posted December 18, 2009 @ 1:29 pm
I’m surprised that people are championing Al’s actions. Namely, the “rush” that this health care bill has been given to get done by X-mas now. What in the hell is the big hurry? Would a few more weeks provide time for people to actually READ these bills to determine if they support them or not?
Al’s put up some lip service to protect the 4th Amendment, for example, but then voted to accept more affronts to personal liberties and voted along with the socialist dems (not much differnece with the pubs these days, they seem equally hell-bent on fascist limitations of freedom.)
I also find it very curious that one of the FEW Senators that doesn’t have a background in LAW is on the judiciary committee. It’s almost like they just wanted someone on the committee to rubber stamp all things dem/socialist. Hmmmm….
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