Franken Interview on Thom Hartmann Show

Yesterday Al Franken was on the Thom Hartmann Show (audio above) to discuss Franken's candidacy for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota, where he's running against incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman. Right now, polls show the race to be a dead heat, but Franken seems to have the Big 'Mo - what with Michele Bachman below him talking like the hate-filled, scary neocon that she is running for reelection in the House, and the unpopularity of Bush and McCain in Minnesota, Franken is in position to come away with a victory in two weeks.

Also interesting to listen to their conversation on the Employee Free Choice Act; I happen to agree with them both. I think unions are an imperfect solution to the workers of America, but it beats the alternative. What's more, I think it's reprehensible that employees are fired in this country all the time for trying to organize a union.

Right now, union membership is at about 8 percent of our workforce (11 percent if you count governmental employees). That's a dramatic free fall compared to when President Reagan took office, when the number was around 25 percent. But, Reagan declared war on the middle and working class of America, and one of his first salvos was firing the striking PATCO air traffic controllers.

As I wrote over the weekend, support Franken if you can with even a $5 or $10 contribution. He's exactly the sort of progressive we need in Congress - smart, witty, and informed on the issues.