$100 for Barack Obama to help pay for what may have been the best I could have ever hoped for in a 30 minute political commercial last night.
And $57 for Al Franken. Why Al, you ask?
Simply put, the only reason I am here posting at dailykos as an energized democrat in 2008 is because of Al Franken.
I wasn't even registered to vote when I was in my mid-30's and heard about the Fox-Franken lawsuit. I remembered Al from my days as a young SNL viewer and just had to get a copy of "Lies, and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them" when it was published. The book was a tremendous mix of facts and jokes--I was clued into how the right was fibbing their way into roles of political power.
I followed Al to Air America and listened to about 38 seconds of his first show (streaming over the internet) before we must have overwhelmed the server. But the next day Al was back and I listened to his show for years. Much like his book, Al brought facts and political news everyday to the show but, just when you grew weary of heavy political content, here came Al with a Strom Thurmond impersonation that would nearly make me spit out my diet coke. In 2004 I registered and cast my first presidential vote for John Kerry because I couldn't leave the future of our country to the votes of others. It's been four years and I haven't regretted my first vote for President.
When Al left Air America to run for the Senate seat in Minnesota once held by his friend, Paul Wellstone, I missed his show. But we all must move on in life, and I have made donations to his campaign when I could.
Today I know that Al is a great mix of intelligence, humor, and someone that can see potential solutions where others see only problems. I couldn't recommend him more to a Minnesota voter, and I hope he wins the Senate seat within a week.
Tonight I raised my glass to Al and made my final donation to his campaign. But, more importantly, I ask you to give a couple of extra dollars to the campaign of your choice for this final push. And if you don't have your own choice, feel free to throw a couple of dollars to Barack and Al or Kos' Orange to Blue candidates. My best to all of them.