Why Al Franken shouldn't run for senator in Minesota

Maybe I have a wish to be back in Minnesota lately, I don't know; but lately I seem to be spending a lot of time writing about Minnesota people.

Al Franken, Saturday Night Live alum, comedian, author, host of the Al Franken Show on Air America Radio, is considering running for senator from the state of Minnesota. He has been considering the move since his friend, the great Senator Paul Wellstone, was tragically killed in a plane accident days before the general election in which he was running for re-election.

Al Franken is a good Minnesota boy who, as part of Franken and Davis comedy team, moved to LA and eventually to New York, where he lived until recently when he moved back to Minnesota. In the meantime, he gained status as a member of the Jewish Ivy League east coast liberal elite. Even though Minnesota progressive liberal trumps it any day.

I love Al Franken, and all he does. And I think he would be an effective senator. However, I think that running for Senate would be a mistake. Why? Because it would limit his voice and influence. Right now, I truly believe that he has more influence as an intelligent, articulate radio talk show host than he would be in the US Senate.

Of course I wholeheartedly agree that Norm Coleman, who handily defeated Walter Mondale after a ten day campaign to replace the dead Wellstone, need to be replaced, and preferrably by a Democrat.

But Al Franken isn't the one who should do it. (And, if he does run, I think he'll win.) We need Al too much to bury him in the politics on the Hill.