Sen. Al Franken Schools Hudson Institute Dilettante Over Health Care Bankruptcies & Cherry Picking

[Turborama]

Run time: 02:27 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgqqSHr0wVA   Posted on YouTube: October 21, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: October 21, 2009 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 13440

 
During a senate Judiciary sub-committee hearing on bankruptcies driven by catastrophic medical expenses, Franken stressed that despite the statistics people might throw around to point out the faults of the European health care systems, those countries do not share the problems that the United States has with bankruptcy related to medical debt.

"You can cherry-pick stuff to find one little place where somebody says our system works better than the French or the Germans, but we are talking about bankruptcy here today!"

Longer version in which he questions Elizabeth Edwards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIPbNEuVUeo

This is full of win!

:fistbump:


ETA here's the full session (thanks demodonkey)....

SENATE JUDICIARY HEARING ON MEDICAL BANKRUPTCY
Tuesday

Elizabeth Edwards, of the Center for American Progress and wife of former Presidential Candidate John Edwards testified on medical debt and bankruptcy. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), is the chairman of this Judiciary Subcommittee on the courts.
Washington, DC : 1 hr. 40 min.
http://cspan.org/Watch/Media/2009/10/20/HP/A/24502/Senate+Judiciary+Hearing+on+Medical+Bankruptcy.aspx

[opihimoimoi]

1. It was WORTH THE WAIT...Thank Somebody for Sen AL Franken...he is so much better than the Worm.

He makes the Pubs look like a Party of DUH....

[hmorehead]

42. I love Al Franken so much more since he's been Sen Franken. Thank you, Al Franken!

[the blues]

143. I gotta say, I always found Al Franken's comedy to be hit or miss, but...

...as a senator, he's batting a thousand.

[hmorehead]

146. Pretty much have to say you nailed it. He's much better in gov't than TV

[TommyPaine]

155. His Air America show was consistently awesome...

...as are most of his books. And he has made a great senator so far.

[Captain Hilts]

80. And the DNC and WH did NOTHING to help him get elected!! Go, Al!

[opihimoimoi]

91. Perhaps they thought he was gonna lose to the Worm???

[Scruffy1]

94. DNC

Damn Negative Conservatives. You can't expect those corporate whores to do much. What tipped the scales is Congressman Keith Ellison turning over his whole campaign to elect Al. I mean the whole office, putting people going door to door every night all summer especially in the inner city and I think he used most of his campaign funds for Al. The repukes threw millions in the pot and bought are local prostitutes like the Star Tribune and all the local TV stations. If we get a better health insurance system we'll owe Keith a big one. Al already pissed me off with his vote to throw ACORN under the bus, but if we get single payer or something close to it I will kiss him. Frannie is just a sweetie.

[Captain Hilts]

97. This was in '08 also! nt

[bobbolink]

123. Thank you... I didn't know that about Eliison. Contrary to you, I WON'T forgive

Franken for dumping on ACORN. When it comes to poverty, some things just aren't forgiveable.

I'm off to call Ellison's office to thank them...

Toll-free Capitol Hill Numbers:


1-800-828-0498 1-866-388-1015 1-866-220-0044 1-877-851-6437

[Loudmxr]

160. This gives him an unusual amount of power because he owes nobody nuthin'.

[Joe the Liberal]

82. Franken is better than 20 repubs combined. n/t

[bvar22]

101. Franken is better than 20 "Centrist" Democrats combined.

:dem:

[harun]

102. It is a big deal having a real progressive like this in the Senate.

[gadjitfreek]

165. Imagine if it had been Norm Coleman up there...

Why do people elect representatives who do not actually represent their best interests, but only special interests? Senator Franken, it was a long wait, but welcome to the Senate. Thank you for being on OUR side.

[Lasher]

2. What's the Hudson Institute even doing in the room?

Bunch of laissez-fare capitalists and neocons. Might as well have invited Orly, at least she would be funny - but not on purpose.

[BREMPRO]

29. here's the "good" doctor's bio

http://www.hudson.org/learn/index.cfm?fuseaction=staff_bio&eid=FurchDian

she's was a bush (the decider) appointee, former AEI fellow, former economist for the American Petroleum Institute, and regular contributer to fox news, so she MUST be objective and competent on this issue.

pure bought and paid for industry shill.

Franken pwnd her.

[GillesDeleuze]

33. her CV

Articles & Publications by Diana Furchtgott-Roth

* 10/20/2009
Can Bankruptcy Reform Facilitate a Fresh Start?
* 10/15/2009
Health Reform Won't Benefit Women
* 10/15/2009
The Effects of Health Reform on Women
* 10/08/2009
The Baucus Bill: An October Trick
* 10/01/2009
Job Creation Bills Will Kill Them
* 09/24/2009
The Truth About Income Inequality
* 09/18/2009
The True Cost of the Baucus Bill
* 09/17/2009
Don't Buy Specter's EFCA "Compromise"
* 09/14/2009
Who’s Looking After the Workers?
* 09/10/2009
Nothing New With Obama's Health Plan
* 09/07/2009
Union Bigs Get The Best Deals: A Sour Labor Day Lesson on Pensions
* 09/03/2009
Don't Buy Unions' Labor Day Bluster
* 08/27/2009
Obama's Excessively Optimistic Deficit Projections
* 08/20/2009
Turning Uncle Sam into Peeping Tom
* 08/14/2009
Are Women Paid Less Than Men?
* 08/13/2009
Obama's Health Care Bogeyman Is Obama
* 08/10/2009
Real Madrid, a Threat to Anyone
* 08/06/2009
The High Cost of Medical Malpractice
* 08/06/2009
Reduce The High Cost of Medical Malpractice
* 07/30/2009
The Healthcare Bankruptcy Myth
* 07/23/2009
Is America Ready for Single Payer Healthcare?
* 07/23/2009
'Rich' Taxes Cripple Small Towns
* 07/16/2009
A Very Unhealthy Health Bill
* 07/14/2009
Minimum Wage Hike Spreads Blue State Unemployment Misery
* 07/09/2009
Obama, Title IX, and Academics?
* 07/09/2009
Gender Equality: From Sports to Math and Science
* 07/03/2009
Getting a Summer Job: Entrepreneurship for Teens
* 07/02/2009
It's Time to Go Nuclear
* 06/26/2009
What Will The Climate Change Bill Do to Your Job?

----------------------

I can't believe people pay money for this sort of hackery.

[BREMPRO]

39. what a load of un-scholarly crap. Great to see the senator skewer the hackery quackery doc!.

she's a paid shill and her adopted british accent and oxford manner is pathological. Thank GOD we don't have these kinds of ghouls advising the White House anymore.

[12AngryBorneoWildmen]

51. Where IS she from?

I can't find anything earlier than her attending Swarthmore.

[BREMPRO]

57. skillfully hidden her background - my guess is she's from one of the inner rings of hell. n/t

[AllyCat]

77. I'm unable to place her accent. It sounds like a mix of about 12 different ones

Whatever. The only accent I can really discern is Liarish.

[Loudmxr]

161. LOL!!!!!! Tip of the humour hat to you!!!

[AllyCat]

162. :)

Glad I could brighten your day a bit.

[keepCAblue]

84. Gives new meaning to the word "whore"....n/t

[chervilant]

120. And

did you see the "drop a bull moose at 20 paces" glare on her face? Poor widdle shill--got her widdle panties all in a twist!

[spooky3]

122. She doesn't have a doctorate in ANYTHING

the highest degree listed is a master's degree.

[Amonester]

156. And yet, she obvioulsy knows zits about a question as simple as

how many health-care related bankrupcies they had in France!!

She's as dumb as the rest of the ** appointees pack of traitorous tools!

GO GET 'EM, SEN. FRANKEN! :yourock:

[Zoeisright]

3. I'm so glad he's my Senator!

FINALLY.

[Angry Dragon]

4. So am I n/t

[Froward69]

24. And I am Jealous

he is YOUR Senator and not mine. x( Do not get me wrong, I am proud he is a Senator, I sent money for the effort. but I am still Jealous. We here have a spineless windsock as our "Dem" Senator in bennet(d)CO.

[kenfrequed]

41. agreed.

I was really campaigning hard for Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer up until the convention and I was worried after the convetion about Franken not being progressive enough, but he is doing a great job and I am happy I voted for him in the general election.

I like him a good deal more than Kloubachar who seems to be running to the middle or practically to the conservatives democrats at every loud noise.

[jwirr]

44. Me to. Now lets keep him there.

[ClayZ]

5. Oh, he is VERY GOOD!

Woooo Hoooo! K and R

[Hubert Flottz]

6. K&R

Take no prisoners Al! Al knows a joke when he runs into one...stuff like "Bipartisanship," now "that's a joke son."

[quark219]

7. Good for you, Al!

I hope to God that Al Franken inspires a number of his Democratic colleagues to grow spines and begin listening to their consciences.

He's certainly an inspiration to me.

[boobooday]

8. Al you are awesome

So glad he is there.

[rasputin1952]

9. The look on her face at the end was priceless....

She knew she had been had...ALL of the thunder was stolen...and people die from cancer every day in this nation; much of it preventable.

[opihimoimoi]

78. Beyond Priceless...the shock of being exposed with false talking points was a HOOT

GO AL

[ProgressOnTheMove]

10. No pulling the wool over Al's eyes. +1

[tclambert]

11. Well played, Senator Franken!

I salute you, sir.

[mucifer]

12. He is SOOOO well prepared.

[TrollBuster9090]

13. Franken should have brought a print-out from Fact-check-dot-org

Actually, Franken didn't have to answer that way. FactCheck(dot)org debunked those cancer survival rate numbers months ago. He could have just printed out the section of their website and brought it with him to the hearing. Their breakdown of the numbers is here:

http://www.factcheck.org/2009/08/cancer-rates-and-unjustified-conclusions/

Also, a set of anti-reform talking points has been written and circulated in various Op/Ed pieces by another HMO shill named Scott Atlas, including the cancer survival rate numbers. Most of those talking points have been debunked on the blog site of the PHYSICIANS FOR A NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM blog site:

http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/08/06/facts-about-american-health-care-revisited/

I highly recommend the PNHP website to anybody who's interested in the healthcare debate.

Anyway, to summarize what both factcheck and PNHP say, yes the REPORTED "five year survival rates" for certain types of cancer are lower in Europe than in the U.S., according to an article in the British medical journal LANCET. What they don't normally mention is that those same survival rates are the same or higher in other countries that have socialized medicine, like Canada, Australia, Japan and (*ghasp*) even CUBA. Thus, there is no negative correlation between cancer survival and socialized medicine, and the reason for the difference must lie elsewhere. (Differences in the mean ages of the populations, or other factors, for example.) The critics of the Lancet study also point out that it's an apple and orange comparison because the five year survival rates are not broken down by stage (cancer is diagnosed as Stage 1, 2 or 3) and compared by stage. Since the five year survival rate is defined by whether or not you're still alive five years after being diagnosed with cancer, the survival rates for certain types of cancer may APPEAR longer because the cancer was diagnosed earlier. But the net outcome is the same. You're diagnosed with the cancer at an earlier stage, but you still die from it. The only way to know for sure is to compare survival rates by stage, and the Lancet study didn't do that.


I have to say, I used to be a fan of "centrist" Democrats during the Clinton years, but the so-called centrists have sure put on a miserable show lately. The only people that have shown any guts or brains are the progressives like Franken and Kucinich.

If you thought THIS was an example of a progressive Democrat taking apart an HMO industry shill, take a look at Dennis Kucinich taking apart Dr. David Gratzer, a shill paid by the Manhattan Institute to conjure up bad statistics about the Canadian health care system. Gratzer is originally from Canada, but was being sponsored by right wing think tanks to write anti-Canadian health care books and newspaper columns since before he was even a medical student. Fact: the only safe jobs in the United States these days are the Wingnut Welfare jobs. If you're from a country like Canada with a socialized medical care system, and are willing to go around saying nasty things about it in front of Congressional sub committees in the United States, you'll never starve!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DII7v8yeRjs

[Hekate]

50. Far better he should have the facts on the tip of his tongue than a printout from an online source

It makes for FAR better speech and political theater. ;-)

Hekate

[Number9Dream]

62. Welcome to DU, Trollbuster - good post

I added those links to my favorites.

[SemperEadem]

67. I disagree

obviously, he knew what he was talking about and didn't need a print out from factcheck--and the fact that he quickly countered her bluster and put her ass in check with the facts in the moment tells me that he's already schooled himself in the issue and didn't fall into the usual Dem posture of shutting up because they didn't prepare themselves before climbing into the ring.

[axollot]

14. K & R! I love it when he speaks in the Senate! n/t

[zoff]

15. PWNED!

[trumad]

16. Yep---never take on a policy wonk like Franken.

[ejbr]

17. Finally, SOMEONE tells these asses

"STOP FEEDING ME SHIT!!!" Bravo!

[Piewhacket]

18. BAM!

[Stumbler]

19. Go Al!

[Bette Noir]

20. Senator Franken is one smart guy.

I'm very proud of him.

[Triana]

21. Sen. Franken, Rep. Grayson - BOTH of them are great!

Franken/Grayson 2012 - or 2016?

(or Grayson/Franken - I don't care)

[Justpat]

22. Go Al!

I love this guy.

[Lu Galasso]

23. Stuart saves the debate.

he has got to limit his boring, child like rhetoric to make a point. does he have to mention 3 different countries we get the pointv. But good on AL to take her to task on cherry-picking. Seems like 'Stuart saved the discussion.'

[jwirr]

45. When we have idiots like the rw listening to what is being said it is

necessary to say it 3 times. Al is not only talking to the chorus he is also speaking to the ill informed pugs who do not understand anything.

[juno jones]

58. Shakespeare says things three times too.

Sose the idiots in the back get the message.

Protip: Welcome Lulu, but ya might wanna stop with the 'Stuart' stuff. It stands out like a sore thumb. You'll never make it to 20 posts, you'll burn holes in yer socks way too soon.

[Puzzler]

63. There's a very good reason he gave three examples...

... it's called making a point.

[Mulehead]

129. Uh, Lu...

Its called a rhetorical device. Once the good "doctor" blundered into his trap, Al set her up again, and then again. In boxing, it's called a combination punch. In politics, its called making a point AND kicking ass.

And I second the friendly protip to lay off the "Stuart" stuff; that and your low post count and your apparent difficulty in understanding the old "one, two, three strikes yer a paid corporate shill and are outta here!" technique employed by Al kinda signals to the really smart people here at DU that you wandered over here from Troll Land, and not surprisingly, are having trouble keeping up with the grownups.

Enjoy your visit!

Go Sen. Franken! So good to have someone worthy of Paul W's seat back in the Senate.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

142. Enjoy your forthcoming

pizza!

[BREMPRO]

25. Franken rocks! He's got the facts, and he uses them brilliantly and forcefully.

that junior obfuscater didn't have a chance against him..

[valerief]

26. I be thankin' Franken! Great job!!!! nt

[Big Orange Jeff]

27. The real question is, who is the hotness behind Al??? Wow!!

eom

[cognoscere]

60. Same question I have. n/t

[nyc 4 Biden]

64. That is Sen Franken's assistant Maria.

She is always with him and yeah she is perty. Here is a better http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0">pic.

[R. P. McMurphy]

145. Fool me once. . .

OMG I lost my rick-roll cherry. I feel so cheap. :blush:

That was low nyc 4 Biden. :spank:

[Stardust]

164. D'oh!

:spank:

[girl gone mad]

111. A woman whom you're never going to meet and who has absolutely no interest in you.

Another mystery solved.

:rofl:

[Big Orange Jeff]

134. Gee, thanks, Captain Buzzkill

[liquid diamond]

144. Hahaha.

I was hoping I wasn't the only one that noticed her. She's smokin!
BTW I'm pleasantly surprised at how well Senator Franken is performing as a senator. He's a brilliant guy.

[wroberts189]

28. Franken is a force to be reckoned with KNR nt

[Jackpine Radical]

36. I love the way the Republicans dismissed him as a clown.

Actually, Franken is a genius-level thinker. Not a "comic genius." A genius. He hasa humane perspective, a tremendous fund of knowledge, and a solid ability to THINK. The sad thing is that the Republicans are incapable of understanding his true nature. To them he'll always be a clown.

[Frank Cannon]

47. He has an encyclopedic mind and incredible debating skills

He has a knack for explaining complicated things in simple ways, no doubt honed through years as a comedian and writer.

[frebrd]

117. They didn't dismiss him as a clown - they knew better......

They were trying to get other people to dismiss him as a clown.

I don't think it's working!

:)

BTW: He still needs a lot of help after the marathon "election".

https://secure.alfranken.com/page/contribute/09ADWeb

[Jackpine Radical]

127. He's destined to be one of the great ones.

I have immense respect for his depth of mind.

[wroberts189]

136. Yes I agree..very insightful. nt

[aquamarina]

30. I am so thankful this man is sitting in that chair.

[xxqqqzme]

85. Seriously! What a

colossal improvement Franken is over that utterly useless clown he beat. The people of Minnesota are being well served. Congratulations to you all for choosing an advocate.

[swilton]

31. Bring it on!

:bounce: :fistbump: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :fistbump: :loveya:

[KansDem]

32. Wow! What a difference from corporate-sponsored senators who sit and drivel...

..reading from corporate-approved talking points.

The GOP senators would just sit and nod approval to whatever the corporate shill was selling...

[shellgame26]

34. BOOfuckingYA!!!!

I loves me some Franken!!!

[proReality]

35. A BIG K&R

It's nice to have one more member of Congress speaking up for the people of this nation. So few of them dare since they're indentured servants of the corporations.

[Love Bug]

37. Go Al! Doin' us proud!

[jsgindc]

38. And she thought she was going to outsmart him.....

with her comeback.

W R O N G !

That clip would make a great commercial

[geckosfeet]

40. Thanks Senator Franken, for showing the rest of them how it's done

and advocating for universal health care for the people of the United States.

[Zambero]

43. Relying on the Sarah Palin model

"Dunno. I'll have to get back to ya on that one". Not a credible approach then, or now.
Once again, Senator Franken rises to the occasion!

[femrap]

46. k and r

What a fucking great breathe of fresh air. I love Al. :applause:

[happygoluckytoyou]

48. tell that son-of-a-bitch FRANKEN to QUIT USING FACTS TO MUDDY THE WATER !!! lol

[Hekate]

49. Al Franken is a brilliant man with all the facts at his fingertips. This is the role of a lifetime.

Damn I'm glad he's finally in the Senate.
:applause:

Hekate

[digidigido]

52. He's great, but watching Elizabeth Edwards was amazing. It reminded me that she

was the reason I sent John Edwards money. I think she's so smart and soulful, and I
always thought he was a little smarmy, so I figured... if she sees something in him
then maybe I'm wrong, I forgot love is blind

[jgraz]

53. President Obama, are you watching?

THIS is the kind of strength we need from our Democrats.

[MplsAnnie]

54. At least MN has one decent senator - Klobuchar is pathetic!

She STILL doesn't have a position on the public option!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SomeGuyInEagan]

65. Agreed. Amy is a disappointment. n/t

[Angry Dragon]

79. I know

I called her office and was told she has not told her staff of any decision on public option.

Have wrote her many times and gotten no response.

[bvar22]

104. Klobuchar.....

...brought to you by the Centrist/Republican wing of the Democratic Party (DSCC).

[RobbinsdaleDem]

55. I am so proud to be a Minnesotan who voted for Al Franken.

[frebrd]

119. I'm proud to be a Washingtonian who has supported him.......

since he first mentioned on Letterman one night that he was considering running for the Senate.

I'm still supporting him - he still needs help.

https://secure.alfranken.com/page/contribute/09ADWeb

[sabrina 1]

56. I don't know how I missed this, thanks Turborama

Franken is great so far ~ guess Repubs knew he would be so they kept out of DC as long as they could.

K&R for another great Dem.

[Faygo Kid]

59. Awesome.

Plus, the young staffer behind him is a babe.

[heliarc]

121. I hate to be trite about it...

or offend anyone here with higher minded sensibilities, but I agree... And as much as I hate to admit that things like the hot assistant behind him matter. They do. Largely because asshats like that harpy Ann Coulter continue this stupid fixation on accusing the left of not being as attractive physically as the right... as if that was some sort of measure of worth anyway... or even made sense to quantify. Unfortunately for a whole lot of Americans who watch Martha Stewart and care if Oprah or Jessica Smith is having a fat day or not, it IS a measure of worth and the Dem party has had an image and presentability crisis for a while.

Stephanie Miller, this Franken Staffer, Michelle Obama... I don't think it hurts to have a lot of great looking strong women providing a face for the party... I like the smirk on her face when Franken piles it on hard too.. because I smarts are what the Dem Party can offer that the Stupid party can't. Why not add a little sex appeal!

No offense but Henry Waxman is not sexy... I think he's great, but he's got some insurmountable problems in this department.

[Enthusiast]

61. Brilliant Senator Franken!

He's a REAL Democrat!

[bertman]

66. He's a lot better in the Senate than he was on Air America!! Great work, Senator Al!!

[SomeGuyInEagan]

68. Whaaaaaa? His Air America show was great.

I still miss it. Also miss Mark and Mark in the morning. But thought Franken's show, especially when he had Joe Conosan (sp?) on Fridays, was a must listen show. No yelling, no hysterics, great humor and lots of myth busting.

[bertman]

69. Yeah, it was pretty good, but I got tired of his endless "ahhhh"'s and "ummmm"'s.

He did have some good guests on, but he seemed to run out of steam after a while. We now have Ed Schultz and Thom Hartmann. No regrets.

Don't get me wrong 'cause I love Al. Sent him a chunk of change to get elected and to fight Coleman's recount b.s.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

70. Well, it's easy to repeatedly shout pre-written talking points :-)

Listening to Franken's show was like sitting in and listening to a thoughtful conversation between interesting people.

[bertman]

73. I guess it's my personal prejudice that I hate it when people are constantly filling empty

spaces in a conversation with Ahhhh or Ummmm or Like or Ya' Know.

It's okay to have a soundless moment in a conversation. Pet peeve.

[DeSwiss]

71. No she didn't try to go there!!!!

- If this is the best the insurance companies can come up with they're in more serious trouble than we are......


K&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[defendandprotect]

72. Thanks, again, Sen. Al Franken !!

[Sherman A1]

74. Game, Set..... Match

:spank:

[AllyCat]

75. Thank you Senator Franken!!!

He's so good at making people look foolish with their stupid talking points. Thank you Minnesotans and all who helped him be legitimately elected.

[Plucketeer]

76. This is SO refreshing -

having these fresh-faced and unfettered junior representatives to speak on THE PEOPLE'S behalf and not as puppets of lobbyists and their owners!

The last look on this gal's face is preciously telling. It's the look of a LOSER! :rofl:

[Claire Beth]

81. I just love Al Franken and how I wish

there were more like him serving us.

[Autonomy]

83. I'M THANKEN FRANKEN!!

Good job, Senator Al. :)

[Bozita]

86. Was that woman able to walk out of there on her own?

[LaPera]

87. Franken sets up & phases questions to the point with no room for BULLSHIT by the slimy Republicans,

the greedy corporate stooges or the insurance lobbyist!!

Cheers to a tough Al Franken....Let's hope he doesn't get soft & spineless like so many Dems have over time.

[ihavenobias]

88. Big K & R n/t

[NewJeffCT]

89. Fantastic job by Senator Franken

That still must make O'Reilly's head spin...

[Cass]

90. Wow - good stuff!

Al Franken is doing us all proud.

:kick:

[opihimoimoi]

96. The MAN ROCKS...them Pubs should be embarrassed as hell..Norm is turning into a WORM with jealousy

[Aviation Pro]

92. "Doctor" meet tear in asshole....

...we used to refer to this as a Tyrannosaurus Rex ass chewing.

[jgraz]

93. Franken/Weiner 2016

:D

[bvar22]

106. Franken/Weiner 2012.

:dem:

[jgraz]

116. Franken/Weiner 2009.75

[vaberella]

95. While we have Grayson in the House we have Franken in the Senate.

Well alongside Kerry. Thanks for these guys. Bless them.

[pundaint]

153. Yeah, I loved what Kerry did as a member of Baucus' committee

[Captain Hilts]

98. This guy can COMMUNICATE!!!!

[mzmolly]

99. I remember some thinking Franken would be a moderate/softy?

:rofl:

K and R.

[quiet.american]

100. That was deeply satisfying. Excellent work from Sen. Franken. nt

[Ikonoklast]

103. Sen. Franken absolutely mugged that shill.

She looked like she just took a punch to the gut at the end; Sen. Al blindsided her just when she thought that by changing the discussion she would score points.

That shit don't fly no more, toots. People are wise to paid industry shills and their cherry-picked 'facts'.

[Turborama]

138. "That shit don't fly no more, toots."

LOL, that's exactly what his eyes were saying!

:rofl:

[earthboundmisfit]

105. The spirit of Paul Wellstone is smiling! n/t

[MNmom]

107. He's about 9000 times better than MN's other senator!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCLWV1Mw7Y4 Watch the billionaires thank her for still not having a position on the public option!!

[slipslidingaway]

108. knr and watch Senator Whitehouse who proceeded Franken...

same witness.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/289547-1


Senator Whitehouse at the 42:30 minute mark to one of the witnesses...

'Did you actually read the bill that is the subject of today's hearing...because you seem to veer across three lines of traffic and attack proposals that are not the subject of today's jurisdiction'

Diana Furchtgott-Roth
Senior Fellow
Hudson Institute
Washington, DC


Posted here including witness list...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8707988&mesg_id=8708233

[mascarax]

109. I'm so proud of Al!

YES. This is why I phone banked and door knocked...thank you, thank you.

[girl gone mad]

110. Caught this yesterday on c-span..

it was the best 2 minutes of my entire day :)

[moonbatmax]

112. Would this be what we call...

...an Elbow From the Sky?

>>>!!BAY-YUM!!<<<

[ingac70]

113. ...

http://www.factcheck.org/2009/08/cancer-rates-and-unjustified-conclusions/

[hvn_nbr_2]

114. Of course, the librul media played this clip endlessly.

Oh, wait! Wrong universe.

[Thrill]

Forget Al. Who is the hot aide behind him?

Run time: 02:27 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgqqSHr0wVA   Posted on YouTube: October 21, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: October 21, 2009 By DU Member: Thrill Views on DU: 13440

 
:)

[The Sushi Bandit]

115. Who is the Babe behind Al?

i'm in love!

[stlsaxman]

125. ... and her reactions to Frankens line of questions is PERFECT! yeah- she's GOOD!

[maxpower]

118. Right on Sen. Franken

Peace,
Max

[myrna minx]

124. I love my Senator.

Thank you for restoring honor to Senator Wellstone's seat.

[BootinUp]

126. That lifted my spirits a little!

GO FRANKEN!!!

So she was saying that the reforms proposed would increase bankruptcies? The final bill hasn't been written, how the F does she know that? But I liked his answer better.

[TexasLady]

128. GIT em AL!

Good Job!

[Seldona]

130. What is it with all these newly elected politicians telling the truth lately?

I don't think corporate America has an answer for it. They may try, but if this keeps up, we the people might actually get our government back.

Great job Senator Franken.

As an aside, I bet that just has to borrow under Bill O's skin. Senator Franken. Say it with me Bill. LOL

[Mister Ed]

131. Ladies and Gentlemen, I daresay the contributions you were able to make to this man's campaign...

probably did more good than any other political contributions you've made in a long, long time.

:toast: :dem: :patriot:

[bertman]

132. I just watched this again. How Sweet!!! Telling the shill that she's full of shit. Beautiful!!

Kickety kick kick.

[patrick t. cakes]

133. brilliant effing kick

[Grassy Knoll]

135. That was great...

She had the look of a teenager who got caught by her father with a condom in her purse.

[BrklynLiberal]

137. I am soooo glad that man is a Senator now....

[Suji to Seoul]

139. uber pwnage!!!! How does that feel, you right wing shill?

You got seriously pwned!!!

I wish he was my senator, but I have Grampy McCain and that douche nozzle Kyl!

[Subdivisions]

140. Ohhhh! SNAP! Love it! K&R! n/t

[toymachines]

141. The look on her face...

PRICELESS

[ThoughtCriminal]

147. Just a Cherry Picking Moment

I like it when anti health-care lobbyists, pull out a stat like this to attack universal health care proposals.

By selectively legitimizing comparisons I think it opens them up to an easy smack-down. By just about every measure of public health, the United States is way below the standards of other countries.

[rhett o rick]

148. United State Senator Al Franken. I just cant say that enough. In fact I send an email a day to

Billo just to remind him.

[NJCher]

149. well, now we know why the repubs fought so hard to keep him from the office

They fought Franken with everything they had.

On another subject, think about what we've seen over the past decade. Senator Wellstone's death.

Coleman getting in. Bush.

And now we have Al.

What a turnaround.


Cher

[earcandle]

150. Al Franken, you are so cool! Thanks so much.

[pengillian101]

154. Here ya go.

[tb1988]

151. He puts Minnesota's other senator Klobuchar to shame!

I've been pleasantly surprised by how good he's been as a senator.

[zenprole]

152. Are you absolutely certain???

Hang on, folks.

After a few decades of clockwork displays of spineless monotone, of pasting very large targets on laughably modest political goals, are you sure Franken's approach is the right way to go for Democrats? Some might assert that trashing a transparently vicious and self-serving footsoldier of the fascist right with reasoned debate and crushing facts is too confrontational and hierarchical.

I'm just asking, because if this sort of directness becomes the order of the day for the Democratic Party, ordinary people might come to appreciate and expect that sort of leadership.

This reply isn't about minimizing Senator Franken's fine display, but (in baseball terms) pointing out that someone finally threw some strikes after more than a generation's worth of intentional walks. Here's to plenty more brushback pitches. And if the goosesteppers want to lean into the strike zone, they must be shown it's done at their own peril.

[jillan]

157. Haha - did you see the look of defeat in her eyes at the end?

Priceless!

Woohoo Franken!

[Mythbuster]

158. Smack!! Biatch!! n/t

[Loudmxr]

159. HAHA! Oldest trick in the radio book. The non sequituer. Only Frankin turned the tables.

[SeattleGirl]

163. Dear Al: As someone who had to file bankruptcy because of

medical bills, I sincerely thank you!