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That’s bad news for everyone else – and for our democracy itself.

Al Franken

Compared to the American public at large, probably a slightly higher percentage of journalists, because of thier enhanced power of discernment, realize they know a gay person or two, and are, therefore, less frightened of them.
AL FRANKEN

Compare Country Enhance Frighten Gau Higher Journalism Large Less Percentage Person Power Probably Public Slight Two
I hope you realize, in a democracy, laughter is assent.
AL FRANKEN

Assent Democracy Hope Laughter Realize
But when Americans lack the most basic information about our domestic surveillance programs, they have no way of knowing whether we’re getting that balance right. This lack of transparency is a big problem.
AL FRANKEN

Big Country Domestic Get Information Lack Problem Program Surveillance Transparency
He [Newt Gingrich] is the most unpopular politician in America. His favorable rating is only four points higher than the Unabomber.
AL FRANKEN

Country Favorable Four Higher Most Point Politician Unpopular
I’m a perfectionist and if I start making changes, I’ll never stop.
AL FRANKEN

Change Make Perfectionist Start Stop
I think Hell exists on Earth. It’s a psychological state, or it can be a physical state.
AL FRANKEN

Bipolar Earth Exist Hell People Physical Psychological State Think
I grew up in Minnesota, where we treasure our tradition of civic engagement – and our record of having the nation’s highest voter participation.
AL FRANKEN

Civic Engagement Grew Highest Minnesota Nation Participation Record Records Tradition Treasure Voter
Yeah, but you need an experienced radio veteran who is a liberal advocate. And there just hadn’t been any radio that did that. And so they weren’t trained.
AL FRANKEN

Advocate Country Experience Liberal Need Radio Stuff Train
The news movement conservatives that are just laying out, slathering out the disinformation and the lies, as I discuss in my book, ‘Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right.’
AL FRANKEN

Balance Book Conservative Discuss Disinformation Fair Just Lay Lie Like Look Movement News Out Slather
I once asked the most fabulous couple I know, Madonna and Guy Ritchie, how they kept things fresh despite having been married for almost seven months. ‘It’s a job, Al,’ Guy told me. ‘We work at it every day.’
AL FRANKEN

Ask Celebrity Couple Despite Fabulous Fresh Job Kep Month Once Seven Thing
Antitrust law isn’t about protecting competing businesses from each other, it’s about protecting competition itself on behalf of the public.
AL FRANKEN

Antitrust Business Compete Competition Each Other Law Protect
I don’t think I’m an angry person. I think I’m a person who’s angry. I’m angry at the Bush administration;
AL FRANKEN

Administration Angry Bush Mean Person Think Wall
There’s no comparison between NPR and the propaganda that you hear from Rush or from Sean Hannity.
AL FRANKEN

Between Book Comparision Hear Liar Lie People Propaganda
But in the right-wing media, they do have a right-wing bias. And they also have an agenda. So their agenda is: we’re an adjunct of the Republican Party, and we’re going push that agenda every day, and, as you say, brand these stories that help further the right-wing cause.
AL FRANKEN

Agenda Also Bias Media Party Right Wing
And I think that being able to make people laugh and write a book that’s funny makes the information go down a lot easier and it makes it a lot more fun to read, easier to understand, and often stronger. So there’s all kinds of advantages to it.
AL FRANKEN

Book Down Easy Fun Information Laugh Make People Think Understand Write
You know, Lincoln was funny. I don’t think F.D.R. was very funny. But Lincoln was funny. Lincoln was really funny. But I think you should get elected first, and then show that you’re funny.
AL FRANKEN

Elect First Funny People Really Should Show Think
I can assure you, this is not about spying on the American people.
AL FRANKEN

Assure Country Nsa People Spy
The Freedom of Information Act doesn’t apply to Silicon Valley. And you can’t impeach Google if it breaks its ‘Don’t be evil’ campaign pledge.
AL FRANKEN

Campaign Freedom Google Impeach Information Pledge Silicon Valley
That he armed the Mujahideen, that he armed Saddam, that he armed Iran, that he armed two-thirds of the Axis of Evil, and that he funded terrorists in Central America. He was, in my mind, a terrible president.
AL FRANKEN

Arm Axis Central Country Exil Fund Mind Terrible Terrorist
I believe people have a right to know what’s going on with their information and how it’s collected, how it’s stored and who gets it.
AL FRANKEN

Believe Collect Go Information People Right Store
It is my fondest wish that in the fullness of time, the American people will look back on the Franken presidency as something of a mixed bag and not as a complete disaster.
AL FRANKEN

Back Bag Country Disaster Fondest Fullness Look Mix People President Something Time Wish
Which is why I think any loving, committed couple — gay or straight — should be able to get married.
AL FRANKEN

Able Committ Couple Gay Get Love Married Straight Think Why
We love America just as much as they do. But in a different way.
AL FRANKEN

Country Different Do Love Mean Much Way Year
The reason I wrote political satire was because I thought it – politics – was important… that public policy was important. Then I transitioned into books, then into radio.
AL FRANKEN

Book Country Important Policy Political Public Transition Wrote
If you control the flow of information, you can control the conversation around important issues. If you can control the conversation, you can change this country.
AL FRANKEN

Control Conversation Country Important Information Issue
When I first started writing for television in the seventies and eighties, the Internet didn’t exist.
AL FRANKEN

Eighties Exist Interest Seventies Show Start Television Worry Write
Oh, no, you’re kidding.’ I go, ‘No, I’m really honest.’
AL FRANKEN

Go Honest Kidding No Oh Really

That’s bad news for everyone else – and for our democracy itself.

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That’s bad news for everyone else – and for our democracy itself.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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