WASHINGTON (CNN) – Minnesota Senator-elect Al Franken's arrival on Capitol Hill some eight months after Election Day has set off a message battle in anticipation of the 2010 midterm elections.
"60," a new Web video released Tuesday by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, features campaign footage of Franken and invites viewers to hold Democrats responsible in 2010 now that there are 60 Democrats in the Senate.
"With 60 senators, [t]he Democrats have total control. No checks. No balances," flashes onscreen over the Franken footage.
The video suggests that Democrats have the power to push through legislation on a number of issues all with "no debate," because Franken potentially gives Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid a filibuster-proof majority.
"They own everything. . . . and have no onto blame now . . . In 2010, you can hold them accountable."
The release of "60" comes a day after Franken made his first appearance on Capitol Hill since his opponent Norm Coleman conceded a razor-thin race in the wake of a ruling for Franken by the Minnesota Supreme Court.
"A lot has been made of this number 60," Franken told reporters Monday. "The number I focus on is number two. I see myself as the number two senator from Minnesota."
"Democrats are not looking at Sen.-elect Franken's election to ram legislation through this body," added Sen. Harry Reid, who appeared with Franken. The Senate Majority Leader said that he hoped the Republican minority would take part in bipartisan negotiations on legislation instead of being what he called a "party of no."
Franken's arrival does not automatically guarantee Reid a filibuster-proof majority. Due to health problems, Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia and Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts have frequently been absent from the Senate since the start of the 111th Congress. Even with the Senate Democratic caucus at full force, with Byrd and Kennedy were present, every one of the 60 Democrats in the Senate would have to vote in lock-step to break a filibuster.
Related: Even with Franken, breaking up (a filibuster) is hard to do
From CNN Politics
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Yet the party of no and slander offers no alternatives except the same tired old scorched earth, slash and burn politics.
Hey GOP, LEAD, FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE WAY!
Please folks... The ad is assuming that we will all be upset over what was not accomplished during this cycle. I challnege the libs to do great things. Everyone will benefit including the libs. Obviously, I am not a lib but if they really do great things then I want to jump on that horse.
Where is the daisycutter footage? The GOP electorate loves the feeling and sense of fear or of being 'afraid'....of something or someone.
The REPUBLICAN'Ts are the party of "NO". No new ideas and No help for the average citizen of the USA.
What ad will be displayed if the Democrats succeed? "Vote for us... we blew it but now ask forgiveness"?
PLEASE cry me a river! No wonder Palin acts like a child. She has plenty in her party acting the same way. GROW up GOPer's!!!!
It's like watching a bunch of middle school childern.
As for Pete King, In the past when a Republican has slammed some one they ended up getting caught doing the same thing. So when you slammed Michael Jackson, apparently you're just trying to cover up the same thing. Maybe you're the sicko buddy!!!
Keep talking to the base, Republicans. That will ensure you get nowhere in 2010 and 2012.
alan July 7th, 2009 12:27 pm ET
make the world a better place shoot a democrate in the face. Tinme to assignate some dems they way they assignated palin
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Hahahah! What? I bet the Secret Service would like to visit you.
yeah democrats will indeed shot themselves in the foot – even the acorns will get tired of paying more for gasoline, cigarettes, booze, food, clothes, electricity, cable, heat, cell phones, internet, health care, insurance, etc. etc. etc.
The NRSC is pathetic! It is hard to find the words how riduculous they appear with this "propaganda" campaign. Worse part is some of my friends and co-workers are beginning to buy it.
Their memories of W's failures are amazingly short. Not nine months ago they were screaming from Republican heads to roll.
My fellow Americans seem to have no brains at all.
Anybody hear the idiot on the Glen Beck show stating how America needs Osama Bin Laden to detonate a major device so as to make Americans demand to be safe? Did anyone see Glen Beck agree with that idiot? That's the Republican agenda....HATE AND FEAR!!
I think I may have figured out why the Republicans have been pushing out moderates. They may be strategizing to get them to empower a third party which may attract enough independents so that their numbers may be enough to get elected in a three way vote. Because at this point they really don't have enough votes to effectively take the democrats on one on one.
Why are you peopke upset? You have wanted total control. You now have it. Are you afraid of the responsiblity??? You've always had Republicans to blame before. Now you can do everything you want. Just be prepared to pay the price for big government. If you do good things, you have nothing to fear. Let's see how this plays out, shall we?
The republicans are wrong, there is still checks and balance: It's called the voters and election, and that was why they through the republican bums out of office.
Alfred E. Neumann – you are without doubt the biggest clown.
About 7 months into the term of this Congress and a little over 6 months into Obama's term: to say that somehow responsibility for the current economic problems in the country fall squarely on the shoulders of the Democrats is PATENTLY ABSURD. No serious economist or policy analyst would believe that. Maybe if things get WORSE in a year or two, there may be some validity to that, but right now we are dealing with the results of bad policy for the last 8 years.
That ship just doesn't turn that fast....
RNC – the American public will not be fooled by your tactics. We hear a lot of criticism from the Republican Party, but no plan to get America out of the ditch it is in. Put your efforts into offering some reasonable legislation that will work, then if it is shot down without consideration by the Democrats, then you can complain. You are accountable for doing the jobs that you were elected to do – so do it.
Seems like the GOP's strategy is to create a gigantic mess, then blame the people hired to clean it up. Do they think everyone is stupid?
Yes. Because the democrats are a unified block with no dissenting opinions.
DEMOCRATS gained the majority on the House in 2006..... it has been down hill since then. Now that hold on power is totally debate-proof. Yes, the DEMOCRATS are responsible for everything now, no question about it at all.
You know, I can remember shortly after Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN), died in a plane crash, when for nostalgic reasons people left their Wellstone stckers on their vehicles, that the Republicans coldly said "Get over it, he's dead". Well Republicans, get over it, you lost.
Hey..Proud Member Party of No...give us some examples of all these screw-ups? And are you offering your apology for the last 8 years?
Apparently they haven't paying much attention to Democrats lately... or ever. When you have a broad-based party, folks tend to have different policy views and different concerns. I guess the GOP's Borg-like group think wouldn't understand that. So responsibility, sure, but "no checks or balances"... I don't think so.
Yes, that's right. The Democrats have majority rule and can introduce and push through legislation at their will with little or no discussion, sort of like.... the GOP from 2001 to 2009. Upset? Stop your crying and get your GOP voters to the polling places next election! That is, if voters are still voting Republican.
I think people would do well to look in the mirror for an answer as to who is to blame for this countries problems.
Millions of people buying houses they couldn't afford.
Run away credit card debt.
Labor unions demanding ridiculously high salaries and benefits.
Parents more concerned about buying their kids iPods and cell phones than they are concerned about the kids lack of education.
No one saving any money.
There's enough blame for all. It's time everyone started accepting some of the blame rather than pointing fingers at the government