OK, I can't do it.
For about 13 seconds I thought "Franken: Sense & Mirth" was an amazingly clever title for a post about Saturday's Bernie Sanders benefit featuring Al Franken. But I quickly realized I must not be the first person to think of that. And a google search showed more than a few references, including Franken's one-time plans for using it as the name of his show.
Can't decide whether "Weekend at Bernie's" would have been worse.
Across the street from the Flynn were some trucks with Tarrant and Tarrant-inspired signs decrying "partisan hatred." All well and good if you ignored the ~U.S. Congress is controlled by Zionists~ signs right next to them.
Phil Hoff was there, and received a big round of applause after Bernie's high praise. And Bernie had the crowd applaud for all the state-wide Dems running who were there (of course, the fact that Bernie's not a Dem didn't get hightlighted)... Scudder Parker (who during a brief pre-event conversation revealed that he apparently married my good friend Max in 1996), Peter Welch, Deb Markowitz... And, of course, the Lt. Guv beefcake candidate combo of the boyishly good-looking John Tracy and the perhaps too-tan-and-handsome-for-Vermont, Matt Dunne, dressed in a blue blazer and open-necked peach shirt. (Though I have to admit, after looking at photos on their campaign websites, neither Lt. Guv candidate looked quite as dashing as they did Saturday night, so maybe I have my people mixed up.)
Leahy's State Director, Chuck Ross, read a statement by Leahy. I was looking for any signs that there might be some truth to the rumor that the "Leahy Mafia" is a little concerned about Bernie stealing the limelight from Pat if he gets elected. All seemed very convivial, though the curly-headed Ross seemed to be trying to assert the alpha status a bit with some not very funny references to Bernie's campaign manger Jeff Weaver's balding pate. So, maybe there's at least a little bit of there there.
Bernie took the stage and revved up the crowd and wonderfully mispronounced the names of Limbaugh (Limbo) and Hannity (Hennity) before introducing Al Franken, who spent the first 10 minutes or so acting out Peter Freyne's recent "interview" with Rich Tarrant, in which Tarrant says Franken's "partisan hatred" was not welcome in Vermont.
Using much of the stories and schtick from his show, Franken - in a jacket, jeans and bright white leather New Balance sneakers (remember the sneaker detail for later) - illustrated why he is nothing like the Rush Limbaughs of right wing radio as Tarrant had suggested, using, you know, actual facts.
But the real fun came after the show.
As we were leaving, my friend N noticed a white Dodge Caravan, with Bernie signs on the dashboard, sitting at the Flynn's side entrance. ~I bet that's Al's ride to Boston tonight,~ he said.
And, about 5 minutes later, as we were about to pass Springflower Market at the corner of Howard and St. Paul, N says ~Hey, there's the van again. I wonder if Al Franken's in there. Go check.~
So, I got out of the car and started walking toward the door. And, sure enough, I could see Al walking up toward the counter. By the time I opened the door he was blocking the entrance. So, instead of saying "excuse me," I blurted out - in a probably too loud voice - "Mr. Franken!?"
I delivered it as part announcement and fake surprise, designed to weaken the perhaps obvious fact that I had no other business in the market than to accost him.
I extended my hand. We shook hands and I said, "Thank you." He looked incredibly tired and confused. I think at first he thought I was one of Bernie's campaign staffers who had an urgent message for him.
So, awkward right from the start, leading me to try to clarfiy even more that I wasn't stalking him, so I said "Didn't expect to see you here... But I recognized your sneakers!" and walked further into the store to get the Reese's Peanut Butter cup my wife suggested I buy as cover.
At this point, because of the sneaker reference, which I guess could have been taken as a bit insulting, Franken said "Oh were you at the show?" I guess saying "thank you" to someone in Springflower Market doesn't quite make as much sense as it would in the lobby of the Flynn.
"Yes," I said.
"Was it good?," he asked.
"Yeah, it was great. I'm a big fan of your radio show, too," I added, taking an unreasonable amount of time surveying the candy aisle, waiting for him to leave. And keeping my back to him to further illustrate my nonchalance.
But, he stayed at the counter, while the woman he was with paid the rather genuinely surprised woman at the cash register, who appeared to recognize him. So, I placed the Reese's on the counter, opened my wallet and realized I had no money. Just as I goofily took out a credit card, N shows up by my side to bail me out with some small bills and his own <strike>candy</strike> half-and-half decoy.
Al then turned to leave and I said, "Thanks again."
With his back turned, he left N and I with this:
"Work hard."
I assume he meant to work hard in the coming election. And from the look of complete exhaustion on his face, I'd say he's following his own advice.
But, note to Bernie's staff: Springflower Market? I mean, I know Maplefield's is Republican-owned, but the snack selection is really far superior.
Shamelessly cross-posted at What's the Point?, a Vermont blog on netroots politics and the media.