What happened to Al Franken ?
Back in the day of Steward Smalley, a character presented by Mr Franken, there was, as is the case of the best presentations of comedy, the kernels of truth of life from his perspective were presented. They must have resonated with enough people, as he was able to engage in politics and become more well known from those perspectives through his books. I know that I was convinced that he was one of the few people who “Got It !” when I read Lies: And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them. That people, such as Rush Limbaugh, could so overtly use enough facts to subvert the truth, reminded me of all the preachers my family gave money to, because they were so easily duped. I had listened in to these preachings and could always tell the moment “the palming” took place. That being the time, like a magician uses, to conceal and misdirect the sheeple, listening to them. Al Franken’s book, revealed, like my observations of preachers and magicians, the slight of mind used to deceive. So when Mr Franken went to Washington, there was the hope that, like Mr. Smith, he was going to stand up in the midst of the swamp and fight for Truth, Justice and what was good for the American Way.
It is ironic, that he survived attacks of sexist behavior during his campaigns to finally become a senator, only to be hit again with similar allegations that resulted in his resignation. And, given the zeitgeist today, it must be a binary choice to place him with Bill Cosby, Pope Benedict, Roy Moore, John Edwards, Charlie Rose, Dennis Hastert, Bill O’Reilly, Mike Tyson and so many more, in the same box of contempt. Maybe $130,000 only works for some people. But I digress.
Al Franken was insightful prior to his Senate work by combating the pre-social media influences working for Air America. The big problem was that the audience he was preaching to was a demographic less powerful than the wealthy sponsors of conservative radio. On top of that, the brilliant expansion of exploiting this audience by Roger Ailes and his navigation of calling an entertainment division “News” pureed any representation of facts or information as “truth” that “liberal” radio tried to provide. In fact, after 9/11, it was evident that the Brave New World of 1984 was just two decades early in its prediction. It was noble of Al to fight to make a difference during this time, and I believe that he has strenuously done so in all the hearings I’ve seen him in on C-SPAN.
So now that he is not in office anymore, and their is chaos in 2 of the three branches of government...ha, another budget crisis is still pending in March. If one listens for a call to collective reasoning, I hear nothing. In fact the Simon and Garfunkel song about sounds of silence plays over and over in my head. Rush Limbaugh, deaf because of his opioid addiction and a good christian family man with his fourth wife, seems immune to scandle. Yet, like the good NRA card holders they are, the conservatives have picked off, perhaps rightfully, another “liberal”. Regardless, Al Franken must use his new freedom to fight from the outside. Unlike Steve Bannon, perhaps he can lampoon his “sins” with the rest of the “sinners” and point out that having “balls” is really hypocrisy. I am hopeful, sadly only within shouting distance of this diary, that he will find his voice outside of government to fight the good fight! I turn my lonely eyes to you.