Empty victory for a hollow man How Norm Coleman sold his soul for a Senate seat.

Salon.com ^ | Nov. 7, 2002 | By Garrison Keillor

[GreatOne]

Well, I don't think they have those same "rules" in D.C., do you? I hope Karl Rove has this under control.

My brother worked for former Sen. Rudy Boschwitz (he who Wellstone defeated) in 1990. He would tell me that Boschwitz was fond of saying that if he had a nickel for every "niece" he met, he'd be a millionare. Also had Doug Bandow speak at my college, and he had some very interesting tales about some of our "best and brightest" - on both sides of the aisle.

[Post Toasties]

I vaguely remember some discussion a couple of years ago concerning some politician's sex life. Seemed like some people couldn't let go of it....

Then you've apparently forgotten that there were several, including a member of the USSC who the 'Rats couldn't let go of the sex lives of....

[Howlin]

Don't miss this one.

[Gunder]

As a Minnesotan, I must say that Garrison Keillor is one of my favorite writers. I've spent many a road trip listening to him read his books (on tape). But I fear I may have purchased my last tale of the goings-on in Lake Woebegon. Farewell, Garrison. I've enjoyed our time together.

[SoCar]

He was part of the "progressive caucus" part of the international. Evil people go watch Dr Zhivago a couple times.

Not sure what this means. Like I said I despised Wellstone's philosphy, yet I don't doubt that he truly believed in what he preached.

Wrong as he was, I don't believe he was one of the true evil ones. I'm glad he's not in the Senate, but I could never celebrate his tragic death.

I think it's this kind of good vs. evil stuff that was on display at Wellstone's memorial/rally that cost Mondale the election. There are those on the other side that are truly evil, like the Clintons. Many of the Dems have adopted the worst of the Clinton characteristics. There are some that are merely just wrong thinking. I always viewed Wellstone as one of those.

[MadIvan]

I think there has only been one golddigger/model/SF desperate enough for the limelight, to marry someone as hideous as GK.

I actually think he's been married twice. First was a college sweetheart, the second was a lady from Denmark. I started getting A Prairie Home Companion shortly after he was swooning for her on the air.

He's lost his edge, certainly. In Lake Woebegon Days, he came up with one of my all time favourite lines:

"Wayne, you're so dumb you deserve to be a Democrat."

Since then he's been grasping at straws. Liberals and funny rarely go together.

Regards, Ivan

[nathanbedford]

So there you have it. No hard proof about a zipper problem, but I've heard enough, and from credible people, to know that it is probably true. Their marriage is unconventional, at best, but again I wouldn't be surprised to hear that it is actually Clintonian in nature. Sorry to disappoint.

Thank you for your post which I took to be an attempt to outline the facts as you know them. It was complete in this respect and it acknowledges that you have "no hard proof" Let's compare Keillor:

Norm got a free ride from the press. St. Paul is a small town and anybody who hangs around the St. Paul Grill knows about Norm's habits. Everyone knows that his family situation is, shall we say, very interesting, but nobody bothered to ask about it, least of all the religious people in the Republican Party. They made their peace with hypocrisy long ago. So this false knight made his way as an all-purpose feel-good candidate, standing for vaguely Republican values, supporting the president.

Keillor has something to insinuate but nothing to allege "his family situation, shall we say is very interesting". What the hell is that supposed to mean? He has no proof but, rather than acknowledge that omission, he blames its absence on "religious people in the Republican Party" who are "hypocrites" for not "asking about it" and presumably providing the proof which he assures us "everyone knows" anyway.

This is a vicious kind of smear made all the more malevolent because Keillor has marketed himself as such a folksy down home way which dissarms critical analysis by unsuspecting listeners to his publicly supported radio program. His reference to "religious people in the Republilcan Party" borders on despicable anti - christian religious bigotry and should not be condoned.

Keillor is an unfortunate example of the mean spiritedness to which his pary has descended. Shame on NPR.

[Petronski]

A pledge is a legally enforceable debt.

[karlamayne]

"My brother worked for former Sen. Rudy Boschwitz (he who Wellstone defeated) in 1990. He would tell me that Boschwitz was fond of saying that if he had a nickel for every "niece" he met, he'd be a millionare. Also had Doug Bandow speak at my college, and he had some very interesting tales about some of our "best and brightest" - on both sides of the aisle. "

I've seen the same in other states. Both parties. This party has usually been able to keep it in the closet, or maybe it's just because the "Donkey's" like to flaunt it, dun'no. Basically, it has to do with the type of individuals who gravitate to political life. Also the kind of spouses who crave the good life and look the other way. I don't think the folks in Arkansas have caught on yet. Or maybe just the "Donkey's."

[metesky]

I have never understood why the liberals hate Nixon. He is their dream guy.

EPA, China, ESA, OSHA, and on and on.

A liberals wet dream.

[gore_sux]

I have an idea!

Maybe we should let MPR and Garrison know what we think?

[Steve Eisenberg]

St. Paul is a small town and anybody who hangs around the St. Paul Grill knows about Norm's habits. Everyone knows that his family situation is, shall we say, very interesting, but nobody bothered to ask about it, least of all the religious people in the Republican Party.

Hard as it may be to believe, it is actually possible, even in today's world of loose morals, to be seen eating in a restaurant with a woman not your wife, while your wife is out of town, and to not be dishonoring your spouse. I am blessed that my wife does not jump to dirty conclusions are Keillor does. It would be gross and disgusting for the "Republican Party" to "ask about" Coleman's "family situation."

However, this won't stop me from listening to APHC on the car radio. It sure beats the rest of radio nowadays.

[jlogajan]

Thanks for the insider info. :-)

[SarahW]

I hope he has the integrity to deal with his marriage instead of trying to cover it up. I hope if he really wants to be with other women, he will end his marriage in a dignified way, and accept the consequences of that hard choice.

Bill Clinton had an integrity problem, not simply a zipper problem.

Coleman's not my senator, but he's in my Senate, and I'm glad he was elected. I understood he was a moderate Republican; and believe he was elected to deal with the war on terror more than any other reason. Moderates and conservatives alike didn't want ol' Mondale getting in the way.

It's the time to be talking about prosecuting a war, and Mondale was blathering about making sure kids were "ready for school", whatever that means.

[saminfl]

Does this mean that the right is done with rummaging through everyone's sex life? I vaguely remember some discussion a couple of years ago concerning some politician's sex life. Seemed like some people couldn't let go of it....

As usual, that is the myth you libs try to pass to the public. The right cared about perjury, obstruction of justice and RAPE. That is what your guy did. Maybe he got BJ's in the oval office at the same time he was discussing using our military, but he committed crimes and got away with it.

[cookcounty]

Now....just why did Keillor move back to the US from Denmark?

[cookcounty]

This is the funniest thing Garrison has written in 15 years!!

[zook]

I'd love to see Ted run! BTW, when I see your handle, "Actionnewsbill," right away I think of Bill Bonds! (I'm a former Dearbornite, myself.)

[Lancey Howard]

I try to keep in the habit of asking myself why someone has written any article that I have just read. What point was the author trying to make, and why did the author think it was important to make that point?

In the case of this screed by Keillor, I read it and could conclude only that Keillor is a bitter little man. He had no point to make - - he just wanted to slime somebody.