And Doggone It, I'm Rich Enough

A story in today's Strib reports that Senate candidate Al Franken may not exactly identify with Minnesota's Joe Six Packs and Sally House Coats when it comes to pocketbook issues:

Al Franken, a comedian and best-selling author before launching his Senate campaign this year, is worth between $4.3 million and $9.9 million, according to a financial disclosure form he filed with the Senate.

I'm guessing the variation in his net worth is determined by the daily closing price of Halliburton stock.

Franken, a Democrat who hopes to challenge Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman next year, also listed a salary of just over $1 million last year from his corporation, Alan Franken Inc. That corporation is the business entity that provides Franken's services (such as speaking engagements and his stint on Air America Radio), and then pays Franken a salary at the end of the year after commissions, taxes and other fees are paid, said his campaign spokesman, Andy Barr.

I wonder how that breaks down on a per joke basis. How about per funny joke?

You know the thing that the Senate really needs is more millionaires. Who will stand up and represent the big guy?

Even on the low end, that would easily eclipse Coleman, a Republican who listed only an IRA rollover valued at $564,000 in his assets. Coleman's report voluntarily provided the exact market value.

So can we now expect to see the jackasses in tuxedos, with top hats and monocles (the caricature of the typical rich guy you know) who showed up to protest Republican candidates start following Franken around this year? Don't hold your breath.

It's interesting that the Republicans are labeled as the "party of the rich," but time and time again the candidates you hear about with the big ching are Democrats. One of the other contenders for the right to face Coleman in '08 is Mike Ceresi, who, even after dropping a cool FIVE MIL in 2000 trying to get the DFL Senate nomination, still has millions in tobacco settlement money to burn. The man who beat him out that year and wasted six years in the Senate was the uber-rich Mark Dayton, who's threatening to run for governor in 2010.

On the national level, you have the likes of John Kerry and John "Two Americas" Edwards who recently completed construction on a mansion that you can see from space and charges public universities 50K to deliver speeches on poverty (apparently without irony!). Funny that the media never sees fit to ask one of these wealthy plutocrats how much a loaf of bread costs these days.