Liberal blogs are buzzing about Al Franken's performance on the U.S. Senate floor, claiming that he "destroyed" Republican Sen. John Thune's contention that the Senate health bill triggers taxes before significant benefits.
But the video shows a different story.
During Franken's Senate floor speech, the Minnesota Democrat appears to be rambling, confused and shocked when Thune interrupts him to "yield for a question."
Franken agrees to Thune's request and seems befuddled about Thune's point: The Democratic plan kicks in significant taxes almost immediately, with MOST of the Democratic healthcare plan "benefits" starting after 2013.
Franken's performance was so dismal that the acting president of the Senate had to interrupt his rambling to remind him that he actually held the Senate floor.
Other Democratic senators clearly wanted to assist the blustering Franken, with Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown leading the charge. Brown deflected Thune's critical point to discuss Medicare.
The Franken performance suggests that "Saturday Night Live" finally has found its way on to the U.S. Senate floor.
Seems to me like Franken did kick his ass by listing a few benefits that ARE scheduled to start on "Day One",and Thune couldn't refute him on these claims.
Not that Franken wasn't lying,too. He was,even if he is still too ignorant of the way things work to know he was lying.
The benefits may be SCHEDULED to take effect on "Day One",but they won't because the money to pay for them won't become available until 2014.
It seems to me they were both just playing partisan games in hopes of keeping the rubes distracted rooting for their favorite "team". BOTH of these men HAD to know the truth.
Seems to me like Franken did kick his ass by listing a few benefits that ARE scheduled to start on "Day One",and Thune couldn't refute him on these claims.
Ya gotta watch that at least a second time, Pete.
Thune presented a simple chart (which apparently confused the hell outta Franken) and highlighted one simple claim:
18 days was the countdown until higher taxes start paying for this sh*tty fraud of a bill, of which MOST of the so-called "benefits" don't kick in until the year 2525, aka 2014.
Thune couldn't "refute" this obtrusive, filibustering loon because Franken immediately turned Senate protocol into an SNL skit, vacillating between screeching like a coked out mental patient, and confused cuckoo.
But then what should what should expect? "Senator" Al Franken is the Dem's designated Clown. As if the Senate Chamber wasn't already a joke, it's now a first class Freak Show as well.
[Franken] is still too ignorant of the way things work to know he was lying.
Franken has always been an ignorant, lying buffoon - you're giving him too much credit.
BOTH of these men HAD to know the truth.
Again, not much to fake here; Thune told the truth of the matter, the dopey Franken engaged in nothing but lame diversionary smoke and mirrors tactics.
This insanely FAT-ASS health bill back-ends MOST of the bennies and front-ends the payment. This is like being forced to pay for a converted crackhouse in Camden, NJ for a million bucks, only to find out the deed restricts your use of it to the front stoop.
Again, not much to fake here; Thune told the truth of the matter, the dopey Franken engaged in nothing but lame diversionary smoke and mirrors tactics.
They both told partial truths and partial lies,but Franken was more effective at getting his across. There IS no disputing that some of the benefits in the bill will become effective on Day One. Franken wasn't lying about this,and Thune couldn't refute his claim.
Of course,Franken was lying in the sense that even though those things will take effect on Day One,the money to pay for them won't be there until 2014. If then.
THIS is why Franken kicked his ass. Thune SHOULD have pointed that out,but didn't.
As I've said before,bread and circuses. Games played to distract the rubes on both sides of the aisle.
They both told partial truths and partial lies,but Franken was more effective at getting his across. There IS no disputing that some of the benefits in the bill will become effective on Day One. Franken wasn't lying about this,and Thune couldn't refute his claim.
I don't believe Thune ever claimed NO benefits would kick in imediately; Just that "much" or "many" of the bennies wouldn't kick in immediately - which absolutely true.
Franken just made sh*t up and was extremely "effective" at being a loud, obnoxious clown who kept moving the goal posts. He's the Senate's Barney Frank, except Frank is far more convincing when he bullsh*ts.
If Thune seemed hapless it's because he was stunned at the Franken's accusatory buffoonery and purposely quirky way of he questioned Thune. Franken also managed the last word due to Chamber rules.
Of course,Franken was lying in the sense that even though those things will take effect on Day One,the money to pay for them won't be there until 2014. If then.
Again, MOST of what was proposed won't kick in immediately, and yes, Franken lied through his teeth about the revenue to pay for the 'Free 0bamaCare For Mexicans Act of 2010.'
THIS is why Franken kicked his ass. Thune SHOULD have pointed that out,but didn't.
How do you refute a half-dozen purposely confused charges from a Designated Deranged Doofus(D) in a couple of minutes?
As I've said before,bread and circuses. Games played to distract the rubes on both sides of the aisle.
Generally true...
But this issue is too crucial to have election thief and ACORN beneficiary Al Franken decide what's "The Truth."
How do you refute a half-dozen purposely confused charges from a Designated Deranged Doofus(D) in a couple of minutes?
How long has Thune been a professional politician,and a Senator?
How long has Franken been a professional politician and a Senator?
If Thune couldn't handle this newby,his ass was kicked.
I am no friend of Franken,but Thune didn't show me squat. All he has was that lame sign,a partial truth,and no response to what SHOULD have been expected questions.
Tell me this,if both you and I understand that no matter WHAT takes effect on Day One it won't happen until it is funded in 2014,why didn't Thune,a US Senator understand this and be ready to use it to refute what Franken claimed?
I am no friend of Franken,but Thune didn't show me squat. All he has was that lame sign,a partial truth,and no response to what SHOULD have been expected questions.
Tell me this,if both you and I understand that no matter WHAT takes effect on Day One it won't happen until it is funded in 2014,why didn't Thune,a US Senator understand this and be ready to use it to refute what Franken claimed?
I just watched that exchange again.
It's heavily edited despite the "LIVE" time lines. Exactly who said what when isn't clear either. I'd like to see a transcript.
Thune was making one simple point; Franken demanded that Thune's point include Franken's own badly articulated tangential point(s).
I guess my answer to you is, why should Thune play Franken's silly game? Franken engaged in several claims. Did Thune run out of time or did this video edit out any refutation? IF there was an opportunity or time for Thune, he SHOULD have eaten Franken for dinner.
It's damn confusing, but to me, Franken was an unhinged bull in a China Closet trying to create his OWN argument instead of addressing Thune's.
