Franken for Senate

Franken told Bill Maher almost 2 years ago that he was probably going to run. Stuart Smalley is a witty comedian, but what else does he do other than recite the latest Dem talking points? What's next? Rush Limbaugh for the House? Ann Coulter for president? Keith Olbermann for President? We don't need more partisan hacks in Washington.
Hopefully the voters of Minnesota will be wise. raying:

 

Will Rogers once told Congress that they were the real professional humorists:

"When I tell a joke, people can laugh or not. When you guys do a joke, it's a law!"

 

A comedian of the political satirist variety which means he is well-informed.

At last! Some one called "far left" who actually is!

Race card? Um, "Jew" refers to religion, his own, not race.

 

Possibly the funniest political story I've heard is Franken's concerning some rightwing doofus who wrote in a column that liberals are kind of wimpy.

Franken called him up, and said that they could test that by having a fist fight, liberal vs. doofus.

He said he'd get back to him. Never did.

 

I think he means nationality, which we typically use interchangeably with race.

My mother used to work for our doctor, who is Jewish, in nationality and religion. They were having a discussion one day, I forget about what, but it led to his stating that Mom's nationality was Christian. She told him that was her religion, not her nationality. He said, "Well, my nationality is Jewish, so I thought yours was Christian." Mom got a kick out of that.

 

It makes about as much sense as saying one's nationality is African-American, even though Africa is not a nation and most African-Americans I know have never even been to Africa.

Don't ask me why we have some of the terminology that we do. I have enough trouble keeping up with what I am.:laugh:

 

From Merriam-Webster online version:

Definition of Jew:

 

Idunno???

Where's a translator when you need one?:laugh:

 

Jewish is also not a nationality. Jews can be American, Israeli, Ethiopian, German, etc.

So, can I convert to Oriental and change my race?

Jewish is a religion, not a race. Jewishness crosses race lines as it does nationalities.

 

The real question is, was Franken refering to his religion or his "race"?

Neither really - "New York Jew" is a cultural reference, further complicated by the fact that he grew up in Minnesota, not New York.

The reference to "race" in his statement was the US senate race which is a different kind of race altogether. I don't think you can say he played the "race card" with that kind of race.

 

Not really...how do you figure that one? What does that even mean?

Not so common as the Jews dispersed all over the world.

Yes, that is the joke of it - to more than a few, you would be.

Of course, Franken was not born or raised in a Jewish neighborhood in New York, unlike Coleman.

Nonsense, look at what you chose to quote: "Franken expects his years in New York to be an issue" which he states as "If I do run against Norm Coleman in '08, I'll be the only New York Jew in the race who actually grew up in Minnesota." He didn't say the only Jew in the race, did he? No, he said very specifically "New York Jew" which is NOT a race (in New York, the Hassidim are distinct from the European Jews and the Ethiopean Jews are considered a different race altogether).

It is only "obvious" to you because you consider Jewish to be a race, not because he does.

 

Right.

No, Jewish is not a race. Ethiopian Jews from Africa are racially distinct from Sephardim (I said Hassidim, but I meant Sephardim, sorry) from Persia by way of Spain and Portugal and from Ashkenazim from Northern Europe. They all have the same religion, more or less, but are different races (as generally distinguished).

No, not again, still - still not a race.

I apologize for confusing you, but my position is clear if not clearly stated: Jewish is a religion, not a race.

If Jewishness transcends race, how can it be a race?