Franken begins hiring Senate staffers

Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 11:11 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress, States, Democrats

From NBC's Mark Murray
Even though the Minnesota recount is still going on, Al Franken is now beginning to hire key staffers who would work in his Senate office.

Per a release, Franken announced that Alana Petersen -- who served as Democratic Rep. Jim Oberstar's political director and director of field operations -- would be his Minnesota state director.

"Drawing on her wealth of experience and her ability to reach out to every constituency in Minnesota, when I have the privilege of being certified, she'll work with me to ensure that we hit the ground running on Day One," Franken said.

*** UPDATE *** The Minnesota Republican Party released this statement criticizing the Petersen hire. "The truth could never be clearer that Al Franken has decided that 4,400 Minnesota voters are disposable. While the due process and equal protection rights of our fellow citizens are being denied, Al Franken is determined to thumb his nose at the Minnesota Supreme Court. This is another shameful episode of disenfranchising voters from Al Franken, and his disrespect for the constitutional rights of all citizens."

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Comments

Franken knows the truth.
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from another post
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Linda, W.Bloomfield, MI (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 10:36 AM)
My, my, Beverly in Chicago - - that sure is a lot of hateful "labels" you spew!!
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Linda,

I hope you're not afraid of the truth. I know that our president is not weak he gave the right prudent call in the gulf of Aden, is not a communist/fascist/ totalitarian/ jihadist Muslim. He is apresident who has garnered more hatred from the right wing nuts than in other president I've seen in my adult life. What is Newt tooting? I call it hate.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 11:21 AM)

Makes sense. But when is the MN court to review the case - assuming Coleman takes it there.
A side note: If Coleman looses, he owes Franken about 5 million dollars in court costs and other legal fees. Since much of the Coleman money came from the national Party and Congress reserves, does he have redress back to them?

RichardinDelmar (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 11:24 AM)

Linda, W.Bloomfield, MI (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 10:36 AM)
My, my, Beverly in Chicago - - that sure is a lot of hateful "labels" you spew!!
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Linda...your remarks are typical of the uneducated, ill-informed. You simply Mock what you don't understand. Oh, Linda, Mock means to make fun of.

Brian, Girard, OH (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 11:29 AM)

This is exactly what we need on the Hill another joke taking seat, as if Burris wasn't enough! The Democratic party will give a seat to any one!

jp,michigan (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 11:42 AM)

Hey Coleman I've got an extra shovel if you don't think your hole is deep enough. 5 million!! Best of luck though...oh wait you don't need luck just a few fellow republicans who'll decide who won the race.

dan Austin, tx (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 11:44 AM)

Sorry jp in michigan, the Democrats didn't give a seat to anyone...the people of Minnesota did. They may be crazy, they may have made a mistake, but that's the way things work in a democracy.

Mike, Indiana (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 11:47 AM)

This is exactly what we need on the Hill another joke taking seat, as if Burris wasn't enough! The Democratic party will give a seat to any one!

jp,michigan (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 11:42 AM)
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The Democratic Party didn't "give" the seat to Franken, the people of Minnesota did. Take up your argument with them if you don't like Franken.

Brian Crooks, Naperville, IL (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 11:49 AM)

On the Update:

Franken has been declared the winner. There is NO appeal on the radar for Franken. Of course he is doing what any responsbile elected official would do, he is staffing his office.

I am sure if he waited until the appeals ran out they'd claim he had squandered his time and was unfit to serve. This group is pathetic, delusional and quite frankly - profiteering off the Republican donations to keep it afloat. I wish the DC crowd would hold a few more fund raisers for Norm's legal defense. Every wasted dollar spent there is a dollar not spent on a legitimate gripe - assuming there are any,...

You got me there, on the mental gymnastics it would take to find a Republican Legitimate Gripe. Can't win them all.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 12:04 PM)

The Minnesota Republican party,the truth is that your Boy norm lost,the ballots they keep whinning over where all deemed to be not countable,something was wrong with them or they would have already been counted,this is more of the same lieing bunch that will keep up this game,and in the end will get the same results,Your party is a bunch of cry babys,take your Norm and get lost,and Take Pawlenty with you.he's another lemming who does what he;s told,and says what the party tells him he can say,but can't think for himself.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 12:05 PM)

Minnasotans elected Michele Bachmann (she is as looney as they come)- why not Al Franken? He is highly intelligent, thoughful individual who has been elected by the majority of his state.

Lia (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 12:07 PM)

It does not matter what Democrats do or don't do, the Republicans will critize it. Some ballots were not counter for a multiple of reasons, they have been bon over numerous times. Who is even to say who they voted for in the first place. Norm lost. Republicans did not wants the votes recounted when Bush stole the presidency, why should we let them have any recounts now.

Kathy (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 12:16 PM)

Hmmm... "This is another shameful episode of disenfranchising voters from representation, and the gop's disrespect for the constitutional rights of all citizens."

There, that's better, more truthful.

Jilli, Houston, TX (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 12:19 PM)

when were these boards taken over by a small group of right wing loonies???

Jennifer, Seattle, WA (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 12:19 PM)

It's about time. I am so disapointed at this reporting! The citizens of Minnesota are being denied full representation in their state, simply because some dumb ass, spoil sported republican can't accept the fact that he's lost the race.

So Norm just want to force himself into a seat...so sad....

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 12:20 PM)

Republicans are obviously crazy. They are now a fring party made of of whiners, complainers and terrorists.

The GOP is Goofy (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 12:34 PM)

Everyone should stop and look at Norm and his policies for a second and see why he lost the election - it is ok that Norm has constitutional rights to go to court, but he backs outrageous tort reform limits so you lose your individual constitutional rights and can't go to court against corporations who sell you toys with lead paint. What a hypocrit.

Todd, Texas (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 12:51 PM)

If Coleman had not said Frankin shoudl conceed when he was up 200 some votes instead of the legally required recount, I could believe him. But to claim Frankin is dissing voters now is a JOKE.

Paul Dobroski (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 12:55 PM)

i did not vote for al frankin

i did not vote for norm coleman

i did vote!

can i have my vote counted? (no, i am not demanding a court case)

i voted independent, and i want representation!!!

i think Frankin should be seated.

disenfranchised in MN (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 12:56 PM)

Republicans are sore losers.

LESD, Brooklyn, NY (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 1:14 PM)

GOP is RIP - party of bankrupt ideas and tax cuts to solve all woes...for the top 1% - the democrats wanted every vote counted in 2000 - the GOP sued to STOP Florida recount under way - sued to STOP the recount....NOW they have received a recount, sued for a court decision - all the make sure all votes are counted, and yet that is not good enough..time for the GOP to SOD OFF....gypocrites, party of NO..

SWL (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 1:16 PM)

You know I was pretty emabarrased to tell friends I had just moved to MN because of the 'Norm' & 'Michelle' factors, but, I moved from Texas and now its even more emabarrassing because of the 'Perry', Bush, papa Bush..etc..factors. C'mon, Norm, give it up! The people spoke, the courts have spoken! Now, I have to add the 'Pawtenky' factor--Guv, sign the paper! For the people!

Helen Lakeville, MN (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 1:22 PM)

To use one of our former president's favorite words, "misunderestimate" is what happens when republicans mock Al Franken. He may have been a comedian, but he's not dumb; in fact, he's pretty smart and he ran a smart campaign. He was professional throughout the recount and the many Coleman challenges. Republicans make a mistake if they "misunderestimate" him.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 1:37 PM)

Jessie Jackson Jr.

This is how you win an election - fairly

Instead of offering 5 million dollars for it!

When will JJ Jr get arrested?
Blago already spilled the beans on him!

Maybe they can be cell mates - teabagging?

The Last Living Democrat (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 1:38 PM)

To the Right Wingers who are the sorest losers on the planet: Al Franken is not an "anybody" (unlike say, Joe the "plumber"...)

Al Franken graduated from Harvard (yes that Harvard) cum laude (Latin for with honors) in 1973 with a BA in Political Science. He's been a writer, director, actor, political activist, and host of Air America (not a sports shoe)

Everybody clear?

Susan the Librarian Las Vegas NV (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 1:44 PM)

Remember Gore vs. Bush? That case was decided in Florida-not the US Supreme court. I think yhat governor of Minnesota is making a big mistake by not signing thr necessary certificte. You can bet he would have spurs on his pen if Coleman had brrn thr-e winner. I used to live in Minn.-Scandavavians have a very long meory. Get over it and plan. Susan

susan ridley eastland,tx (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 2:07 PM)

Franken should file suit first- demanding that he be issued an election certificate. That would put Coleman on the defensive.

It is amazing how ill-informed so manyof the posters here are. To clarify a few points: Norm Coleman was ahead on election day, by over 200 votes. MN state law required a recount, which concluded that Franken's lead was 225 votes. Coleman contested this total, and the court panel concluded that Franken's lead should be increased to 312 votes. Coleman currently contends that about 4,000 additional absentee ballots should be counted, and has indicated that he will appeal to the MN Supreme Court. He was given 10 days to do so, and we are currently on day 8 and counting...

Eric, St. Paul, MN (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 2:15 PM)

Ready to hit the floor running. That is a good idea. Election count= Coleman lost
Recout=Coleman lost
Appeal=Coleman lost

Now the MN Supreme Court, if they hear the case is likely to agree with the 3 judge panel= Coleman lost.

eagle1776 (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 2:21 PM)

This is getting ridiculous! A recount is fine, it should be done. But hasn't it happened several times now???? Somehow I get the feeling that Colman thinks if he keeps recounting it'll suddenly go his way. Get over it! You lost! Let Minnesota have its representation! And I never could stand Franken, but it looks like he won, fair and square.

Netsrik, SLC UT (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 3:38 PM)

And Sen. Coleman has no problem with allowing the entire state of MN voters to have only one vote in the Senate to preserve the interests of 1 voter-him.

Deborah Greenlawn, NY (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 3:42 PM)

And Sen. Coleman has no problem with allowing the entire state of MN voters to have only one vote in the Senate to preserve the interests of 1 voter-him.

Deborah Greenlawn, NY (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 3:42 PM)

Its simply amazing that so many people! Are so blind!

It just shows the true state of this countries Educational System.

Keeping the Ignorant in the Dark is the Best way for the Republicans to stay in control!

Scott, East Lansing, Michigan (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 3:44 PM)

Get your facts straight. The recount is over, it does not "continue" as you put it. Franken won, fair and square. Coleman is the sore looser that can't let got. I think it's a smart move on Franken's part. He'll need a staff when he gets seated, might as well use this time to do that.

judesuper (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 4:02 PM)

Hey repubs, you're on the wrong site. This is not fix noise. Go away.

judesuper (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 4:04 PM)

I'm sorry. The recount "is still going on"? Did I miss something?

Fred, Menlo Park (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 4:35 PM)

*** UPDATE *** The Minnesota Republican Party released this statement criticizing the Petersen hire. "The truth could never be clearer that Al Franken has decided that 4,400 Minnesota voters are disposable. While the due process and equal protection rights of our fellow citizens are being denied, Al Franken is determined to thumb his nose at the Minnesota Supreme Court. This is another shameful episode of disenfranchising voters from Al Franken, and his disrespect for the constitutional rights of all citizens."
___________

Since when have Republicans cared about constitutional rights?

Jackson, Seattle (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 5:03 PM)

To be a commedian takes some smarts. Finding something funny in ordinary events, people and things is something most of us cannot do. Remember Minnie Pearl of Grand Old Oprey? She had a PhD. Yes, kiddies a PhD. One smart cookie she was and so in Al Franken. Bill Cosby, another commedian also has a PhD. So don't think just because someone is a commedian that they are somehow stupid, ignorant or uninformed, it's really quite the opposite.

moir (Sent Monday, April 20, 2009 6:13 PM)

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