Who does No. 2 work for?

Posted: Monday, July 06, 2009 1:41 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Congress, Democrats

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Appearing somber -- and not cracking any jokes -- Sen.-elect Al Franken, a former Saturday Night Live star and liberal talk radio host, said while there's been a focus on the number 60, he's focused on another number.

"I see myself as the No. 2 senator from Minnesota," Franken said, standing beside Majority Leader Harry Reid, who spoke prior to Franken. Franken, who will be sworn in tomorrow at 12:15 p.m. ET by Vice President Biden, will become the junior senator from Minnesota.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar is that state's senior senator.

Video: TODAY’s Meredith Vieira talks with former “Saturday Night Live” actor Al Franken about his position as Senator-elect after more than 200 days of legal wrangling.

Reid, who has the pressure on him now to hold a sprawling caucus, challenged Franken -- a likely reliably liberal vote -- to stay in line.

"I expect him to help deliver on the change this country is demanding," Reid said, citing health care, energy and the economy. "I'm confident Sen.-elect Franken will make a difference."

Reid also challenged Republicans to not just be "the Party of 'No'."

"Moving America forward will still require the cooperation of Republicans," Reid said, adding that Democrats "don't want to ram legislation through this body."

But, he added that Franken's election does not "adbicate" Republicans of the responsibility to govern. "I would hope the 'Party of 'No'' is coming to an end," Reid said.

Franken had no problem avowing the issues Reid spoke of. Franken said tops on his agenda would be: better health care for residents of his state, wages, education, and an "energy policy that creates jobs" and "addresses climate change" and that "is going to wean us from our dependence on foreign oil."

"America's best days are ahead of it," Franken said, adding, "I'm ready to get to work."

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Comments

I was surprised to learn last week that Senator Al Franken graduated from an Ivy League college with a degree in Mathematics. That sure makes clowns out of his detractors who only think of him as a comedian. I have every confidence that Al will make things add up as Senator. He does know who he's working for, the people of Minnesota. With such great Senators like Klobuchar and now Franken I'm mystified how Bachmann Moron Overdrive got elected in the same state.

I guess we should be thankful to the Wicked Witch of Wasilla resigning Friday as she has blown the media's overobsessive coverage right off the air. So funny how she thought she could bury her sordid story on a holiday Friday without realizing that the media has not gone fishing and is on the job analyzing her cowardly decision.

In Senator Al Franken We Trust!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 1:50 PM)

"I expect him to help deliver on the change this country is demanding," Reid said, citing health care, energy and the economy. "I'm confident Sen.-elect Franken will make a difference."

franken will keep his word. He is on board with HCR and the President's agenda for moving this Nation forward. I want to see the stimulus package moved into higher gear. I don't want the Governor's in certain States (Alabama) that are experiencing budget short falls to mismanage the funds.

It is an excellent idea to keep the funds going to the areas in all states focusing on job creation, not paying off mismanagement of funds.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 1:50 PM)

Someone tell Reid that the republicans might be more apt to cooperate if the democrats wouldn't shut them out of so many meetings and then they present a bill for vote that no one has read.

KLM in MI (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 1:51 PM)

Franken is #2 alright.

Austin P, England (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 1:51 PM)

Good thing Senator Al Franken wants to get our country weaned away from foreign oil. I saw some dimwit post here that we have plenty of oil, massive reserves. Yeah we have 3% of the world's oil reserves and use 25% of the consumption. Only a fool would believe we can Drill Baby Drill our way out of the foreign oil dependence. Thankfully Senator Al Franken is no such fool.

In Senator Al Franken We Trust!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 1:53 PM)

Thak you Senator Franken. Nice to hear a coherent message coming from a politician. Of course as a Harvard educated mathematician, we of a reasonable turn of mind, whould expect nothing else from you.

dem (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 1:54 PM)

It's been worth the wait to have a second senator from the Land of 10000 lakes.Coleman gave a nice speech when he threw in the towel.To bad the election dragged on so long and the two had to spend 7 million on lawyers.See how much the Obstruction party can cost someone when they do there thing.And what is amazing is that republicans keep wasting there assets.Most have a money tree at the RNC office.They spent 2.9 million trying to change the peoples choice for the seat.But as I have said all along,this ain't Florida,and the Republicans don't run Minnesota.

jesse St Paul MN (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 1:54 PM)

Minnesota - we're holding you accountable for this one. Ventura was all yours. This halfwit you elected affects all of us.

US Citzens (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 1:57 PM)

Was that an "Austin Powers" reference?

Reger Bixley, New York, NY (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 1:58 PM)

It is about time the "mess in Minnesota" is finally over! Senator Franken has a lot of catching-up to do, and let us hope he is starting his work very soon. Time to keep moving forward America! Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! The party of no has got to go!!

Rock. Janesville,Wisconsin (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 1:59 PM)

Now we're electing tax evading, unemployed Air America jocks to the Senate. The place has really gone downhill since the Democrats took over.

Louie Wrene, Ohio (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 1:59 PM)

Franken is a clown. But the good news is that he doesn't really have to use his limited intellect. All he needs to do is vote for what Obama and Reid tell him to vote for.

It's kind of a fallacy to say that Franken is the 60th vote. While we know that Franken will simply vote how he's told to, there are several thinking democrats that will not vote for this left wing agenda that will bankrupt their states and the nation for decades to come.

DG, Houston, TX (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 1:59 PM)

I'm sure Franken will be a typical addition to his party. Lending his 1 vote to the liberal Status Quo. Yippee. What I find funny is everyone on the hill is very concerned/excited about this 60 Senator Majority. Wasn't it three years ago the Dems were abondoning Lieberman? And then again back in Sept. when he spoke at the GOP convention supporting John McCain didn't they abondon him again. Of course he is back in the club now because they need their 60 votes...Harry Reid is an ignorant buffoon.

You know there is an interview of him on You Tube where he actually tries to convince the guy interviewing him that the income tax is voluntary, and it isn't like a slip of the tounge or a gotcha moment. He is quite adament in his belief that the US income tax is not compulsory.

Jonathan Flint, MI (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:04 PM)

First Read: "Reid also challenged Republicans to not just be "the Party of 'No'."

Sure. So, Harry, can we have school choice? Harry says no! So Harry, can we carry a gun to protect ourselves? Harry says no! So Harry, we like our current health care plan, can we keep that and not have the government take it over? Harry says no! So Harry, can you reduce our taxes on both businesses and individuals so we can create jobs and care for our families? Harry says no! So Harry, can the government stop it's deficit spending so our kids and grandkids of tomorrow can have a good life and not pay for the sins of the government today? Harry says no!

Thanks Harry.

JT Lawton, Texas (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:04 PM)

Harry wants the Republicans to lay back, not struggle, and just try to enjoy the reaming they are going to get.

Yosef, NYC (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:05 PM)

FRead --- "I expect him to help deliver on the change this country is demanding," Reid said,

I don't recall anyone demanding we put $10T on the national debt.

Nevermore (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:07 PM)

From Previous line: Conservative Analyze Palin' Move>

Fred Banes is as dumb as a post and should not be considered an authority on much of anything.

Bill Kristol calls this a big gamble and potentially shrewd.

From Palin's perspective, she would lose any potential Presidential bid if she remains in Alaska. Her long shot hope is to come to the lower 48 where she can play politics and campaign. To understand what is happening with Sarah, you have to see the world through her eyes. Crazy as that sounds. She needs to be free to begin a 3 1/2 year run. We have not heard the last of Sarah. She will not just go away.

Ron Indiana (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:09 PM)

Jonathan Flint MI - I'm sure Franken will be a typical addition to his party. Lending his 1 vote to the liberal Status Quo.

Yes indeed. Al will be just like Illinois own Roland Burris in that regard.

Franklin S., Woodridge IL (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:11 PM)

"WHO DOES NO. 2 WORK FOR?"

America is about to get the biggest national swirly ever inflicted on them.

Bully Boy (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:13 PM)

Nashville_fan, Anita, FRedhead - you three are impossbile to deal with. If Obama said the sky was pink, you'd believe it. You don't want to face hard facts of what Obama has said, so be it. Live in the dark. No one really cares.

Bo Reedly, Atlanta (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:19 PM)

Beverly, Nash and the rest of the gang. Thanks for keeping the party of no brains and BS stright out here today. Let's make them KEEP IT REAL. They have no substance, they are a dieing breed. Those clowns have nothing to offer but complaints, no soloutions...

They forgot that MSNBC and other media outlets that weren't in the GOP pockets had to vet Palin. They hand selected the media outlets that they allowed interviews with. After Katie Curic interviewed her and she made a comedy act out of herself, they started to blame Curic.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:19 PM)

DG,,,Houston we have another under-educated comment coming from the area.Of coarse we have lot's of unders here,so it's not to uncommon to here Rushies daly's repeated by the Likes of DG.So get out your crayons lone stars.Al graduated from Harvard,with honors,limited intellect,maybe for a dim wit like DG,but Al's wipped out a hand full of books,with words,not pitchers,wrote and directed a few movies,and has more sense in his limited brain then all the Bushies put together.See DG, Al got into Harvard because he deserved to be there,not Daddys coat tails.So for all you Wingers,get ready to be called out,as Al has never been short on words,and calling out spinners.

jesse St Paul MN (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:22 PM)

the gop worries that minnesota elects a comic to the senate, but has no trepidation about the moron from texas stealing the presidency. with a star-studded array of such elected notables, craig, vitter, sanford and palin, the gop will rebound with alacrity!
wait, lets add the three dough boys, limbo, newt & cheney. this show is better than anything saturday morning cartoons ever offered. the gop is a joke that keeps on giving, but its a shame hoe they hurt america!

tom tyskiewicz, forest hills, pa (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:23 PM)

Stocks way down again at the open. It's that 'jobs' thing Obama made a priority in his administration. Barry appears confused though, we all thought he'd create jobs, not destroy them.

Where is Barry anyway?

Where's Barry (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 9:35 AM)
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I guess using your logic, since the stock market is currently up you now support President Obama? After all, your totally failed logic is that the market being down was proof he was a horrible President. So using logic, if a down stock market shows he's a bad President, an up stock market shows hes a good President.

I suppose you think that before President Obama the stock market went up every day?

Chris - IL (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:24 PM)

FRead --- "I expect him to help deliver on the change this country is demanding," Reid said,

I don't recall anyone demanding we put $10T on the national debt. Nevermore (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:07 PM)
===================================================

Tell me about it, Nevermore! It kind of makes me wonder why George W. Bush and the Republican party did that during the last administration...

The Rational Hatter (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:24 PM)

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