July 15, 2009
Posted: July 15th, 2009 09:25 PM ET

From
Minnesota Sen. Al Franken volunteered to switch seats with Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy after the Vermont senator's microphone stopped working.
Minnesota Sen. Al Franken volunteered to switch seats with Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy after the Vermont senator's microphone stopped working.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - It's only his first Senate hearing, but Sen. Al Franken took the chairman's seat at the Judiciary Committee Wednesday.

When Chairman Patrick Leahy experienced a technical problem with his microphone, Franken volunteered to switch places with the Vermont senator, and sit in Leahy's chair. Faced with little choice, Leahy ambled down to the far end of the dais, and sat in the junior senator's chair to finish his prepared written statement. Franken, meanwhile, sat in Leahy's chair smiling from ear to ear.

Ranking Republican Jeff Sessions congratulated Franken on the move to the chairman's spot: "This is the fastest rise of any senator in history!" But the Minnesota senator's shift was short-lived: he soon relinquished the chair, and waited on the side until Leahy finished his statement. Leahy then returned to the chairman's seat, where a new microphone was in place. And Franken returned to the tail end of the committee seating chart.

Franken is in his sixth day in the Senate.

Filed under: Al Franken • Extra • Patrick Leahy • Popular Posts


Latoya Jackson : Entrevista Completa En the Mail on Sunday: Michael …   July 15th, 2009 10:41 pm ET

[...] CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive ... [...]

A Stimulating Conversation • CrazyDrumGuy   July 15th, 2009 8:58 pm ET

[...] that Al Franken in the Senate Judiciary Chairman's chair? Who does this humorous clown, the distinguished gentleman from Minnesota, think he is? (CNN [...]

RSS agregator » Blog Archive » Franken gets a (temporary) shift to the chairman’s seat.   July 15th, 2009 6:40 pm ET

[...] Full story here –>^_^ [...]

HJA   July 15th, 2009 5:29 pm ET

Doug, New Jersey July 15th, 2009 4:53 pm ET

"Franken's nomination is great for the Germans. Now when we bring up their actions and who they supported in the 1930's, they can say yeah, well you guys elected Al Franken to the senate, really its almost a wash now."

Uh, Franken is a Democrat, not a Republican.

HJA   July 15th, 2009 5:26 pm ET

Judy July 15th, 2009 5:19 pm ET

"Obviously still enjoys the spotlight. What a joke"

At least he has a sense of humor. I laugh with him . With the GOP I laugh at them.

A Free Thinking American   July 15th, 2009 5:24 pm ET

While not a Dem, I did have the privilege of seeing Sen Franken on a USO tour in Iraq. Pretty funny guy with a big heart to match. I wish him well and hope that he uses his head to make decisions and not tow the party line.

All you Dems with blind faith in our current administration should read the book The Wave to see how dangerous blind faith and "the political flavor of the day" can be.

In the words of Bruce Springsteen "blind faith in our government, or anyone, can be dangerous."

Roger   July 15th, 2009 5:22 pm ET

Oh that Al Franken, always good for a laugh or two. I cant wait for Alec Baldwin to get in congress he is funny on his TV show. Lets keep electing celebrities. Look at what Ronnie & Arnold have done to California! Using all their old movie quips while running the state into the ground. So what if they are having to use state IOUs. Its hiliraous when Arnold says KALLY-for-nee-I & Ronnie would pretend he was the Gipper. So lets get ready to be entertained by another incompent "celebrity" politician.

UNHAPPY DEM, REALLY AM   July 15th, 2009 5:21 pm ET

Well, he was a good comedian.We'll see.

Keith in Austin   July 15th, 2009 5:21 pm ET

Someone needs to turn off all the Democratic microphones! Especially Stuart Smalley's

Judy   July 15th, 2009 5:19 pm ET

Obviously still enjoys the spotlight. What a joke.

Chad   July 15th, 2009 5:19 pm ET

Wow the party that elected actors Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and singer Sonny Bono think this guy is a clown? I know Senator Franken was on SNL, but that just means he has a sense of humor...that does not mean he isn't smart enough for his current role. Having a degree from Harvard does mean he is plenty educated, and his record for political activism speaks for itself.

You would think that the party of "pulling yourself up by your boot straps" would be proud of Americnas who worked hard and obtained a lofty status. Oh wait, only if your political ideas match do we appriciate the American dream.

Enlightened Voter   July 15th, 2009 5:17 pm ET

I understand why they chose Franken, he is intelligent and open minded. Doug, New Jersey – wow dude, I sure you hope you take meds for your condition. You are the reason us PROUD LIberal Democrats have the majority. You people hold your bibles and self righteousness while your hearts are wrapped in hate. I could never be a republican, I have a conscience.

CitizenJ   July 15th, 2009 5:15 pm ET

You conservatives are hilarious. The party of Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and every other conceivable anti-intellecutual thinks Al Franken is a joke? He graduated cum laude from Harvard. Just because you hate humor and you hate smart people, doesn't mean that every smart person with a sense of humor is a joke.

Tom   July 15th, 2009 5:14 pm ET

Not sure how many of you are from minnesota, but I am excited for franken, and those of you joking about ventura, he actually turned out to be a pretty good governer. In any case wether you are a republican or a democrat franken certainly can't do worse for minnesota then norm coleman did. What a terrible senator.

FORMER republican, NEVER again!   July 15th, 2009 5:14 pm ET

Doug, New Jersey & Obama=enabler of the lazy – and those similar to you guys are the reason the republican party is a shrinking base. We are tired of the hate, divisiveness and the unpatriotic attitudes of you guys. You guys don't love this country because you want the President to fail and you will lie, cheat and steal your way to make sure that he does. Fortunately you guys are a dying minority. There are sooooo many people like me that are FORMER republicans due to folks like you!

Barbara   July 15th, 2009 5:14 pm ET

What I like about Al is that he is a good man with a good heart. He'll do the right thing.

Robin   July 15th, 2009 5:08 pm ET

Let's pop a tent down on that circus!

GOP = Party of Tolerance   July 15th, 2009 5:06 pm ET

Thank you CNN this is the most important news of the day. Thanks for focusing on the real issues facing America.

The Believer   July 15th, 2009 5:02 pm ET

Oh grow up CNN! Let the man do his job. How are we to take him seriously if you make light of everything he does. He extended some senatorial courtesy and you turn it into some high school prank. Grow up and do some real reporting! Please!

This Is Great   July 15th, 2009 5:00 pm ET

It is such a pleasure to read these rants of losers! God help us is they get in power again.

makesUwonder   July 15th, 2009 4:54 pm ET

And Franken says this about Sonia Sotomayor.................

"she's good enough, smart enough, and dog gone it, people like her"

Really!?   July 15th, 2009 4:54 pm ET

What an embarassment, but they also "elected" Jesse The Body Ventura Governor.

Obama=enabler of the lazy   July 15th, 2009 4:53 pm ET

Let the clown lead the circus!! Another great Democrat that you fools voted for. Are there no standards within the Democratic party that people actually voted for this idiot? Just goes to show how brain dead or brain washed you people are. Or is it just plain lazy that you can't go out and support yourself?

Doug, New Jersey   July 15th, 2009 4:53 pm ET

Franken's nomination is great for the Germans. Now when we bring up their actions and who they supported in the 1930's, they can say yeah, well you guys elected Al Franken to the senate, really its almost a wash now.

gt   July 15th, 2009 4:45 pm ET

sen franken is use to playing musical chairs or duck duck goose... what a joke on people of america,,,

Alex   July 15th, 2009 4:42 pm ET

Now if only the Dems would give him Harry "Droopy Dog" Reid's role as majority leader, maybe they'd get some things done!

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   July 15th, 2009 4:35 pm ET

That's just a glimpse of what's to come. Out with the old, in with the new. I knew Sen Franken was an intelligent guy, but he asked some substantive questions such as the question about privacy being the Constitution.

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