MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (CNN) - Democrat Al Franken will return to the nation's capitol Tuesday night in order to "prepare" for the possibility that he will be named the junior senator from Minnesota, his spokeswoman Jess McIntosh confirmed to CNN.
Franken is in the middle of a bitter court battle with former Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, thanks to a closer-than-close election and subsequent hand recount that left Franken in the lead with 225 votes. Coleman is challenging that outcome.
The former comedian and Saturday Night Live alum will stay in DC through Thursday and will likely meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
"The purpose is to prepare him for the Senate, in terms of policy, in terms of familiarizing himself with the institution of the Senate and how it operates, and in terms of the upcoming legislative agenda," McIntosh said.
"He'll be meeting with senate staff members, leaders with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and former Hill staffers–including Senator Wellstone's former Senior Policy Advisor– who are currently working in areas of Al's particular interest, particularly the economy and energy issues."
In a pair of op-ed columns in the Minneapolis Star Tribune Tuesday, Franken and Coleman outlined their respective positions on the stimulus plan, though neither will be able to vote on the measure.
Not surprisingly, their opinions are split along party lines: Coleman thinks the bill won’t do enough to boost the struggling economy, while Franken calls the legislation flawed but necessary.
From CNN Politics
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What's the azz clown looking for? A bail out on his back taxes.
Coleman is such a jerk
Go Franken!
We need Congress to televise the conference meetings. Enough of the closed door meetings that do not disclose to Americans who is saying what, on their behalf. We need to know and we are demanding transparancy on this very important piece of legislation.
Franken is a crook.
Looking forward to the day soon when Franken is able to join the Senate for real.
The clown is back in town
A CEO who just spent corporate money to refurbish his office and Jet just fired 400,000 employees...... and now the Republicans want to give him a tax break.................. GOP economics 101
Hey Norm – isn't having your people represented more important than blocking Al from the Senate?
I know you don't like losing, it's why you switched parties to begin with, but honestly...
This reminds me of the Isreal thing right now. The lady won, clearly, yet the conservative right NUTS came right out and said even though their guy came in second, he was the winner???? What the HECK is wrong with the right wings of countries? They are sore losers, and cry babies. COLEMAN YOU LOST!!! America does NOT want another 4 years of mistakes made by the right. Just take it like a man and shut up!
I do believe this is one of the Boobs Dolly Parton was talking about in the previous story.
I recently read Franken's book about Lies and the Liars that say them – whatever the title was. I found it was the pot calling the kettle black. He was describing Coulter as a right wing nut and anyone else he could think of. While she is very far right, I'd like to point out that Franken is far left. He made the statement that NBC, CBS, CNN, etc were all fair and Fox News was the only biased network. I think its pretty closeminded to think that all the others networks aren't biased. We don't need far left or far right people in Congress, we need people that will be central and just resolve our issues.
Bravo Al Franken !!!
Take a close look, this IS the democratic party at it's best......
When did you get back?
he very well be a clown. but the facts are it looks like he's going to get the last laugh.now that's reality.not a joke!
Minnesota has a history of electing nutballs.
Franken is popular, and, gosh darnit, people like him.
Forget the haters... This is truly the Al Franken decade!
Franken is a wonderful comedian and has been able to say things with humor that no one can say otherwise! That takes a lot of intelligence! And Gerry... you are the one that sounds like the clown.... wait a minute.... Coleman, is that you man? Get out of here... you lost... get over it!
this country is a free fall keep this idiot back in his cabin in MN....VOTERS OF MN YOUR NUTS !!!!
THe democrats' moron. He looks like a moron.
Who gives a rat's rear-end?
The guy is a clown and a crook.
He looks like Frankenstein to me. Calgon take him away.