Kanye West’s Twitter account has been suspended after he violated the platform’s policy against inciting violence by posting a design of a swastika inside the Star of David.
Twitter boss and tech-billionaire Elon Musk confirmed the suspension on Thursday (1 December), tweeting that he had “tried his best” to persuade the rapper not to share such posts.
On Thursday night, West shared the image of the Nazi symbol over the Star of David, a symbol of Judaism.
He then shared an image of Musk half-naked on a yacht. “Let’s always remember this as my final tweet,” West wrote.
“That is fine,” Musk replied on the image of himself topless. “This is not,” he wrote on the since-deleted swastika tweet.
West then shared screenshots of text messages, that he had apparently received from Musk, on Donald Trump’s social media platform Truth Social.
“Sorry, but you have gone too far.
Twitter boss and tech-billionaire Elon Musk confirmed the suspension on Thursday (1 December), tweeting that he had “tried his best” to persuade the rapper not to share such posts.
On Thursday night, West shared the image of the Nazi symbol over the Star of David, a symbol of Judaism.
He then shared an image of Musk half-naked on a yacht. “Let’s always remember this as my final tweet,” West wrote.
“That is fine,” Musk replied on the image of himself topless. “This is not,” he wrote on the since-deleted swastika tweet.
West then shared screenshots of text messages, that he had apparently received from Musk, on Donald Trump’s social media platform Truth Social.
“Sorry, but you have gone too far.
- 12/2/2022
- by Ellie Harrison
- The Independent - Music
St. Paul, Minn. -- Al Franken barely made it into the Senate the first time, squeaking by with 312 votes after months of recounts and legal skirmishes that left Minnesota Republicans salivating at the prospect of snatching the seat back from the former "Saturday Night Live" star in 2014.
So far, that's not playing out according to plan.
Four years into his term, Franken barely figures into the Gop's calculations for trying to wrest control of the Senate from Democrats. Republicans don't consider him a top target for defeat, and they haven't found a strong challenger in the Democratic-leaning state.
Should a competitive race not materialize, Democrats say much, if not all, of the credit should go to Franken himself.
To solidify his then-shaky standing, Franken employed a disciplined strategy that started in 2009 when he was declared the victor of a three-way race in which he won less than 42 percent of the vote.
So far, that's not playing out according to plan.
Four years into his term, Franken barely figures into the Gop's calculations for trying to wrest control of the Senate from Democrats. Republicans don't consider him a top target for defeat, and they haven't found a strong challenger in the Democratic-leaning state.
Should a competitive race not materialize, Democrats say much, if not all, of the credit should go to Franken himself.
To solidify his then-shaky standing, Franken employed a disciplined strategy that started in 2009 when he was declared the victor of a three-way race in which he won less than 42 percent of the vote.
- 6/22/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Not everyone has the motivation (or is brave enough) to quit their job, which they’ve been successful in for over a decade, to make a documentary about some of the international injustices that make them upset. But former investment banker Ami Horowitz did just that with his new film U.N. Me. After watching the Michael Moore Academy Award-winning documentary Bowling for Columbine, Horowitz was so inspired to showcase the injustices he has found with the United Nations that he decided to make a film about it.
U.N. Me follows Horowitz, who served as the film’s co-director, co-writer and producer, as he exposes what truly happens behind the closed doors of the titular international organization. Through interviews and Moore-inspired humor, Horowitz and his co-director and writer Matthew Groff aim to show the incompetence and corruption of the U.N. The two also strive to illustrate how the organization, which...
U.N. Me follows Horowitz, who served as the film’s co-director, co-writer and producer, as he exposes what truly happens behind the closed doors of the titular international organization. Through interviews and Moore-inspired humor, Horowitz and his co-director and writer Matthew Groff aim to show the incompetence and corruption of the U.N. The two also strive to illustrate how the organization, which...
- 6/13/2012
- by Karen Benardello
- We Got This Covered
Title: U.N. Me Director: Matthew Groff, Ami Horowitz Screenwriter: Ami Horowitz, Matthew Groff Cast: Ami Horowitz, David Bosco, Ken Cain, Roberta Cohen, Norm Coleman, Simon Deng Screened at: Park Ave., NYC, 5/23/12 Opens: June 1, 2012 When I was in third grade, our teacher talked up the United Nations, which had recently been founded in 1945. In an auditorium program, we all sang “United Nations on the march/ With flags unfurled/ Together fight for victory/ a free new world.” And that was just the refrain to a song that made the Un seem like The Second Coming. Things did not turn out as idealistically as our naïve class was made [ Read More ]...
- 5/24/2012
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
Chicago – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 30 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of “U.N. Me” with a post-screening Q&A with director Ami Horowitz!
“U.N. Me” is one man’s outrageous journey to expose the corruption of the world’s most revered institution. The film, which opens in theaters and video on demand on June 1, 2012, stars David Bosco, Ken Cain, Roberta Cohen, Norm Coleman, Simon Deng, Charles Duelfer, Frank Gaffney, Stephen Groves, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Peggy Hicks, Michael Hussey, Colin Keating, Mark Kirk, Moise Lida Kouassi and Joe Loconte from writers and directors Ami Horowitz and Matthew Groff.
To win your free passes to “U.N. Me” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below. That’s it! This advance screening is on Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete below,...
“U.N. Me” is one man’s outrageous journey to expose the corruption of the world’s most revered institution. The film, which opens in theaters and video on demand on June 1, 2012, stars David Bosco, Ken Cain, Roberta Cohen, Norm Coleman, Simon Deng, Charles Duelfer, Frank Gaffney, Stephen Groves, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Peggy Hicks, Michael Hussey, Colin Keating, Mark Kirk, Moise Lida Kouassi and Joe Loconte from writers and directors Ami Horowitz and Matthew Groff.
To win your free passes to “U.N. Me” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below. That’s it! This advance screening is on Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete below,...
- 5/19/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann sought pardons for a major campaign donor now accused of fleecing faith-based charities in a Ponzi scheme. The 2012 presidential hopefuls should answer for helping make Frank Vennes Jr. respectable, writes Michelle Goldberg.
Last week, Frank Vennes Jr., one of the more bizarre characters in the history of recent financial scandal, was indicted on fraud and money-laundering charges in a U.S. District Court in Minnesota. A former North Dakota pawnshop owner who ostensibly found Jesus while serving a prison sentence in the 1980s, Vennes emerged as a pillar of Minnesota's conservative Christian community. Then, according to the indictment, he channeled millions into a Ponzi scheme run by the businessman Thomas J. Petters, who is now serving 50 years in federal prison. Much of the money Vennes raised seems to have come from faith-based charities, pastors, and ministers, some of who have lost their life savings.
Related...
Last week, Frank Vennes Jr., one of the more bizarre characters in the history of recent financial scandal, was indicted on fraud and money-laundering charges in a U.S. District Court in Minnesota. A former North Dakota pawnshop owner who ostensibly found Jesus while serving a prison sentence in the 1980s, Vennes emerged as a pillar of Minnesota's conservative Christian community. Then, according to the indictment, he channeled millions into a Ponzi scheme run by the businessman Thomas J. Petters, who is now serving 50 years in federal prison. Much of the money Vennes raised seems to have come from faith-based charities, pastors, and ministers, some of who have lost their life savings.
Related...
- 4/29/2011
- by Michelle Goldberg
- The Daily Beast
As Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty flirt with 2012 presidential runs, their home state's Gop is increasingly radicalized. John Avlon on how the swing state became wingnut territory.
Minnesota is a swing state, and its pendulum has swung heavily-from the liberal era of Humphrey and Mondale, past center-right figures like Norm Coleman, and right on to Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann, now both exploring runs for the Gop presidential nomination in 2012.
Related story on The Daily Beast: The Israel-Palestine Vote Igniting the Mideast
"An embarrassment of riches for Minnesota," is how Republican State Party Chairman Tony Sutton describes this prospect.
But plain embarrassment is likely to become the dominant emotion when the rightward gallop of the Minnesota Gop starts to come under national scrutiny.
The Minnesota Republican Party has undergone a "Bachmannization" in recent years, lurching to the right on social issues, with the prerequisite purging of centrists and elevation of ideological absolutists.
Minnesota is a swing state, and its pendulum has swung heavily-from the liberal era of Humphrey and Mondale, past center-right figures like Norm Coleman, and right on to Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann, now both exploring runs for the Gop presidential nomination in 2012.
Related story on The Daily Beast: The Israel-Palestine Vote Igniting the Mideast
"An embarrassment of riches for Minnesota," is how Republican State Party Chairman Tony Sutton describes this prospect.
But plain embarrassment is likely to become the dominant emotion when the rightward gallop of the Minnesota Gop starts to come under national scrutiny.
The Minnesota Republican Party has undergone a "Bachmannization" in recent years, lurching to the right on social issues, with the prerequisite purging of centrists and elevation of ideological absolutists.
- 3/26/2011
- by John Avlon
- The Daily Beast
After a protracted recount, comedian-turned-politician Al Franken has won the Minnesota Senate race to give Democrats a 60-seat majority in the U.S. Senate.
The state's Supreme Court declared Franken, a Saturday Night Live alum, the winner on Tuesday by 312 votes out of 2.9 million cast. Republican incumbent Norm Coleman then conceded the drawn-out fight.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at SNL's political sketches
Coleman led Franken on ...
Read More >...
The state's Supreme Court declared Franken, a Saturday Night Live alum, the winner on Tuesday by 312 votes out of 2.9 million cast. Republican incumbent Norm Coleman then conceded the drawn-out fight.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at SNL's political sketches
Coleman led Franken on ...
Read More >...
- 7/1/2009
- by Joyce Eng
- TVGuide - Breaking News
Comedian-turned-politician Al Franken has been declared the winner of an eight-month long U.S. senate race.
Franken ran for the Minnesota Senate on 4 November - the same night Barack Obama was named the new President - but a recount was needed to separate him from Republican rival Norm Coleman.
Franken won after the recount, but a series of appeals delayed the result for a staggering eight months.
On Tuesday the former Saturday Night Live star was declared the victor by the Minnesota Senate.
Franken ran for the Minnesota Senate on 4 November - the same night Barack Obama was named the new President - but a recount was needed to separate him from Republican rival Norm Coleman.
Franken won after the recount, but a series of appeals delayed the result for a staggering eight months.
On Tuesday the former Saturday Night Live star was declared the victor by the Minnesota Senate.
- 6/30/2009
- WENN
The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled 5-0 today that Al Franken won last year’s Senate election, and it didn’t take long for responses to start popping up in the Twitter-Wood feed, including reactions from Larry King and Graham Linehan. Magician and quick-witted thinker Penn Jillette also brought politics into his tweets, pointing out the relevance of his film “The Aristocrats” in a recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision.
The conversations weren’t all political though. Rose McGowan showed off a shot a of the new dog she adopted and Demi Moore posted her own puppy shot of Ashton Kutcher rolling around on the set of his new movie “Five Killers.” Meanwhile, “Twilight” actor Peter Facinelli was just innocently trying on a bikini and Russell Brand kept to what he does best, lacing an apology to his neglected Twitter followers with dog-and-leg-humping imagery. You’ll find all of this...
The conversations weren’t all political though. Rose McGowan showed off a shot a of the new dog she adopted and Demi Moore posted her own puppy shot of Ashton Kutcher rolling around on the set of his new movie “Five Killers.” Meanwhile, “Twilight” actor Peter Facinelli was just innocently trying on a bikini and Russell Brand kept to what he does best, lacing an apology to his neglected Twitter followers with dog-and-leg-humping imagery. You’ll find all of this...
- 6/30/2009
- by Brian Warmoth
- MTV Movies Blog
State supreme court rules that Franken can finally take his seat; opponent Norm Coleman concedes.
By Ira Teinowitz
Finally, Minnesota has its senator.
The state's supreme court ruled on Tuesday that Al Franken recieved the highest number of votes legally cast and is entitled “to receive the certificate of election as United States senator from the state of Minnesota.”
Following the court's ruling, his Republican opponent Norm Coleman conceded. “Sure I wanted to win,” he said at a news conference outside his home in St. Paul, adding ...
By Ira Teinowitz
Finally, Minnesota has its senator.
The state's supreme court ruled on Tuesday that Al Franken recieved the highest number of votes legally cast and is entitled “to receive the certificate of election as United States senator from the state of Minnesota.”
Following the court's ruling, his Republican opponent Norm Coleman conceded. “Sure I wanted to win,” he said at a news conference outside his home in St. Paul, adding ...
- 6/30/2009
- by Lew Harris
- The Wrap
Franken in character as Stuart Smalley.
By Lee Pfeiffer
When comedian Al Franken announced he was running to gain the Democratic nomination for senator in his home state of Minnesota, many political pundits scoffed. Franken first came to fame as a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live - and the notion of the straight guy who immortalized the over-the-top gay character of Stuart Smalley becoming a United States senator seemed preposterous. Now, after one of the most contentious political battles in recent American history, Franken has been declared the legal winner of the race, which he ran against Republican Norm Coleman last November. The margin of error was paper-thin and Coleman used every legal remedy available to him to challenge repeated counts that showed Franken winning by only a few hundred votes. Today, the Supreme Court of Minnesota pronounced Franken the legal winner and Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty...
By Lee Pfeiffer
When comedian Al Franken announced he was running to gain the Democratic nomination for senator in his home state of Minnesota, many political pundits scoffed. Franken first came to fame as a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live - and the notion of the straight guy who immortalized the over-the-top gay character of Stuart Smalley becoming a United States senator seemed preposterous. Now, after one of the most contentious political battles in recent American history, Franken has been declared the legal winner of the race, which he ran against Republican Norm Coleman last November. The margin of error was paper-thin and Coleman used every legal remedy available to him to challenge repeated counts that showed Franken winning by only a few hundred votes. Today, the Supreme Court of Minnesota pronounced Franken the legal winner and Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty...
- 6/30/2009
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Al Franken was good enough and smart enough, but doggone it, he wasn't a senator—until now. Nearly eight months after voters cast their ballots, the Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that the Saturday Night Live veteran turned Democratic politician is the winner of his extremely close U.S. Senate race against incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman. The state's highest legal authority reaffirmed a lower court decision that the 58-year-old Franken beat the incumbent by a razor-thin margin of 312 votes despite numerous challenges by Coleman's camp. "Al Franken received the highest number of votes legally cast and is entitled...to receive the certificate of election as United States...
- 6/30/2009
- E! Online
As thousands of protesters took to the streets in Tehran this weekend, beginning what would swell into Iran’s largest protests since the revolution of 1979, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad didn’t want to hear their complaints that last week’s presidential election had been manipulated. Defending the vote’s legitimacy, he likened his opponents to unruly soccer fans acting up after their team had lost. But Ahmadinejad glossed over a glaring — and still unexplained — red flag. How do you count 40 million hand-written ballots in a matter of hours? In our post-hanging chad era, it should be fairly obvious that ballot-counting is a) a total pain in the ass, b) a not-so-quick process, and c) bureaucratic hell. Just ask the folks in Minnesota, where it took more than two weeks to hand-count the 2.9 million ballots cast in the Senate race between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken. And we all know how...
- 6/17/2009
- Vanity Fair
Comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member Al Franken is a U.S. senator. Sort of.
Although Minnesota's Canvassing Board certified Franken as the winner of the lengthy recount on Monday, a legal challenge by Republican incumbent Norm Coleman may keep the results from becoming official a while longer, according to The Associated Press. Coleman, who initially was believed to have a 215-vote lead, is arguing that ...
Read More >...
Although Minnesota's Canvassing Board certified Franken as the winner of the lengthy recount on Monday, a legal challenge by Republican incumbent Norm Coleman may keep the results from becoming official a while longer, according to The Associated Press. Coleman, who initially was believed to have a 215-vote lead, is arguing that ...
Read More >...
- 1/6/2009
- by Adam Bryant
- TVGuide - Breaking News
Comedian Al Franken has officially won his marathon race for the U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota - but his opponent has already vowed to challenge the results.
The former Saturday Night Live star has been deadlocked with his political opponent, Republican Senator Norm Coleman, for nearly two months after votes from the November election were recounted.
But the state's Canvassing Board certified on Monday that the Democrat funnyman had won the race by 225 votes - out of nearly three million cast.
Speaking to reporters outside his Minneapolis, Minnesota home, the star said he was "humbled" to be elected.
Franken's battle with his rival is expected to continue, however, after Coleman's legal aides announced plans to file a lawsuit disputing the results within 24 hours, calling the data "invalid and unreliable".
The former Saturday Night Live star has been deadlocked with his political opponent, Republican Senator Norm Coleman, for nearly two months after votes from the November election were recounted.
But the state's Canvassing Board certified on Monday that the Democrat funnyman had won the race by 225 votes - out of nearly three million cast.
Speaking to reporters outside his Minneapolis, Minnesota home, the star said he was "humbled" to be elected.
Franken's battle with his rival is expected to continue, however, after Coleman's legal aides announced plans to file a lawsuit disputing the results within 24 hours, calling the data "invalid and unreliable".
- 1/6/2009
- WENN
Apparently Al Franken is good enough and smart enough—and at least 225 people like him more than the other guy. The political humorist and former Saturday Night Live writer-actor is poised to join Congress as a Democratic U.S. Senator from Minnesota after the state's Canvassing Board on Monday finally certified the results of his hard-fought battle against incumbent Republican challenger, Norm Coleman. The final tally showed Franken 225 votes ahead of Coleman, the teensiest of margins compared to the millions of votes that usually separate two candidates. Briefly addressing reporters outside his Minneapolis home, Franken said he was "humbled" and prepared for the job. But while...
- 1/5/2009
- E! Online
Claiming a 35- to 50-vote lead over Republican opponent Norm Coleman, former Saturday Night Live regular Al Franken is declaring that he will win Minnesota's contested U.S. Senate seat race. "We are more confident than ever that Al Franken will be the winner of this election," reads a posting on the Democrat's Web site. Only not so fast, counters the Coleman campaign. "This process is still a long way form being complete," the incumbent said in a statement. The state canvassing board is set to complete its work counting votes today, Bloomberg.com reports. The Coleman camp insists 100 votes have been double-counted,...
- 12/23/2008
- PEOPLE.com
Comedian Al Franken has pulled ahead in the marathon race for the U.S. Senate seat in his home state of Minnesota.
The former Saturday Night Live star has been deadlocked with his political opponent, Republican Senator Norm Coleman, since the Supreme Court called for a recount on 19 November - because Franken trailed by less than one-half of one per cent of the total.
But after a five-member state board began reviewing the disputed ballots this week (beg15Dec08), the comedian jumped ahead by more than 100 votes, taking the lead at 249.
Franken's recount lawyer Marc Elias explains, "When the recount is over and all the votes that were legally cast are counted, Al Franken will have won this election and will be declared the winner."
However, a spokesperson for Coleman has been quick to brush off the lead: "We encourage everyone to just hang on until the process is finished."
A state court ruled on Thursday an estimated 1,600 absentee ballots had been improperly rejected and would still need to be reviewed.
The former Saturday Night Live star has been deadlocked with his political opponent, Republican Senator Norm Coleman, since the Supreme Court called for a recount on 19 November - because Franken trailed by less than one-half of one per cent of the total.
But after a five-member state board began reviewing the disputed ballots this week (beg15Dec08), the comedian jumped ahead by more than 100 votes, taking the lead at 249.
Franken's recount lawyer Marc Elias explains, "When the recount is over and all the votes that were legally cast are counted, Al Franken will have won this election and will be declared the winner."
However, a spokesperson for Coleman has been quick to brush off the lead: "We encourage everyone to just hang on until the process is finished."
A state court ruled on Thursday an estimated 1,600 absentee ballots had been improperly rejected and would still need to be reviewed.
- 12/22/2008
- WENN
There is a circular kismet in Ron Howard's "Frost/Nixon" nomination for best directing: In 1977 he was nominated for best supporting actor in "The Shootist," and attended the ceremony while at the same time broadcaster David Frost was holed up at the hotel and working with his research team on the history interview. "It's funny to think, 31 years later, that I was actually downstairs him."
The nomination is Howard's fifth, and the feelings are not old hat. "What I'm realizing is that I don't think you ever become blase about this kind of acknowledgment. It's the immediate recognition of the challenges that your most recent work presented; each time I make a film, anyone makes a film, it's a huge undertaking and two years of your life.
And Howard, used to making high-concept, big-budget, star-driven Hollywood movies, is also grasping with how much the awards season means to films that are opposite of that.
The nomination is Howard's fifth, and the feelings are not old hat. "What I'm realizing is that I don't think you ever become blase about this kind of acknowledgment. It's the immediate recognition of the challenges that your most recent work presented; each time I make a film, anyone makes a film, it's a huge undertaking and two years of your life.
And Howard, used to making high-concept, big-budget, star-driven Hollywood movies, is also grasping with how much the awards season means to films that are opposite of that.
- 12/11/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Attention to the senate races on November 4th was little compared to the hot seat of the presidential race. However, now that several states face runoff elections, Republicans worry about a Democrat filibuster-proof majority. Following three runoff elections, the Democrats move closer to the majority.
In Minnesota, Al Franken follows Republican Norm Coleman by only 200 votes. According to the Franken campaign on November 28th, they were confident of a Franken win. Franken has the opportunity to sue, forcing absentee ballots that are rumored to have been miscounted, to be recounted. Franken could easily achieve his 200 votes here.
While in Alaska, Ted Stevens’ recent conviction allowed Mark Begich to swoop in and collect votes. Begich, Anchorage mayor, and a democrat in a mostly Republican state now leads the polls in a hotly contested Senate race. The Daily Kos shows Begich leading by 1,022 votes as of 3:30 Pm December 1st, 2008. Although Stevens...
In Minnesota, Al Franken follows Republican Norm Coleman by only 200 votes. According to the Franken campaign on November 28th, they were confident of a Franken win. Franken has the opportunity to sue, forcing absentee ballots that are rumored to have been miscounted, to be recounted. Franken could easily achieve his 200 votes here.
While in Alaska, Ted Stevens’ recent conviction allowed Mark Begich to swoop in and collect votes. Begich, Anchorage mayor, and a democrat in a mostly Republican state now leads the polls in a hotly contested Senate race. The Daily Kos shows Begich leading by 1,022 votes as of 3:30 Pm December 1st, 2008. Although Stevens...
- 12/4/2008
- BooshMagazine.com
Comedian Al Franken's opponent for a for a U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota has lashed out at the star for meeting with Congress leaders pending a vote recount.
The former Saturday Night Live star beat six opponents to take the Democratic nomination with 66 per cent of the public vote in the state's primary election in September.
He has been accused by Republican Senator Norm Coleman - who leads by 206 votes - of acting pre-emptively by meeting with Senate Democratic leaders on Tuesday - two weeks after the general election.
Coleman's spokesman tells the New York Post, "It is highly presumptuous for Mr. Franken to undertake such a visit when his real purpose appears to be fundraising and gaining partisan advantage from non-Minnesotans."
The manual recount to certify the final outcome starts on Wednesday.
The former Saturday Night Live star beat six opponents to take the Democratic nomination with 66 per cent of the public vote in the state's primary election in September.
He has been accused by Republican Senator Norm Coleman - who leads by 206 votes - of acting pre-emptively by meeting with Senate Democratic leaders on Tuesday - two weeks after the general election.
Coleman's spokesman tells the New York Post, "It is highly presumptuous for Mr. Franken to undertake such a visit when his real purpose appears to be fundraising and gaining partisan advantage from non-Minnesotans."
The manual recount to certify the final outcome starts on Wednesday.
- 11/18/2008
- WENN
The actor: Robert Davi, a veteran character actor best known for playing bad guys, heavies, and dirtbags in movies like 1985's The Goonies, 1995's Showgirls, and the 1989 James Bond film Licence To Kill. He's also played his share of lawmen in movies like Die Hard and the '90s television show The Profiler. Davi makes the transition from actor to writer-producer-director with The Dukes, a genial comedy/drama/heist film that again casts him as a small-time criminal, though this time, he's also the hero. Davi is also an outspoken conservative who recently appeared in David Zucker's An American Carol and a commercial for Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman, alongside fellow Republican entertainers Stephen Baldwin, John Ratzenberger, Victoria Jackson, and Pat Boone. The Dukes (2008)—"Danny" Robert Davi: Well, people that know me say that's probably the closest role to who I am. Danny is an absolute character,...
- 11/11/2008
- by Nathan Rabin
- avclub.com
A full day after Minnesota voters went to the polls, Al Franken's candidacy for the U.S. Senate was uncertain.
His entertainment future was even cloudier.
Franken's candidacy, which began in February 2007 as what was in some ways a statement run, culminated in an absurdly close election that probably won't be decided until December.
With all precincts reporting, Franken trailed Republican incumbent Norm Coleman by just 477 votes out of more than 2.8 million votes, a fittingly close end to the most dramatic and expensive race of this campaign season. (Both men, with 42% of the vote, were considerably ahead of third-party candidate Dean Barkley's 15%.)
By law, the close margin triggers a recount at the option of the second-place candidate. Franken said on Wednesday that he would see the recount fight through until the end, and even alluded to the possibility that his campaign might pursue voter irregularities in parts of the state.
His entertainment future was even cloudier.
Franken's candidacy, which began in February 2007 as what was in some ways a statement run, culminated in an absurdly close election that probably won't be decided until December.
With all precincts reporting, Franken trailed Republican incumbent Norm Coleman by just 477 votes out of more than 2.8 million votes, a fittingly close end to the most dramatic and expensive race of this campaign season. (Both men, with 42% of the vote, were considerably ahead of third-party candidate Dean Barkley's 15%.)
By law, the close margin triggers a recount at the option of the second-place candidate. Franken said on Wednesday that he would see the recount fight through until the end, and even alluded to the possibility that his campaign might pursue voter irregularities in parts of the state.
- 11/5/2008
- by By Steven Zeitchik
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
He may be good enough and smart enough -- but does he have enough votes?
Long after most races had been decided, the bid of a former "Saturday Night Live" comedian to join the United States Senate remained uncertain Tuesday night.
Al Franken's bid to unseat Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in Minnesota was in limbo as of 12:40 am Pt Wednesday, with less than 2,000 votes separating the two. With 97% of precincts reporting, Coleman held a razor-thin lead, 1,165,845 to 1,164,212, over the entertainer upstart from the Democrat-Farmer-Labor party, with third-party candidate Dean Barkley trailing both with about 421,000 votes.
Those numbers virtually assured a recount, which according to Minnesota law is triggered if the margin of victory is less than half of 1%, and so the result may not be known for days.
If Franken is able to pull out a victory, it would cap a remarkable transformation of a "Saturday Night Live" icon,...
Long after most races had been decided, the bid of a former "Saturday Night Live" comedian to join the United States Senate remained uncertain Tuesday night.
Al Franken's bid to unseat Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in Minnesota was in limbo as of 12:40 am Pt Wednesday, with less than 2,000 votes separating the two. With 97% of precincts reporting, Coleman held a razor-thin lead, 1,165,845 to 1,164,212, over the entertainer upstart from the Democrat-Farmer-Labor party, with third-party candidate Dean Barkley trailing both with about 421,000 votes.
Those numbers virtually assured a recount, which according to Minnesota law is triggered if the margin of victory is less than half of 1%, and so the result may not be known for days.
If Franken is able to pull out a victory, it would cap a remarkable transformation of a "Saturday Night Live" icon,...
- 11/5/2008
- by By Steven Zeitchik
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
From the tiny township of Dixville Notch, N.H., to the sidewalks of Santa Monica, voters flocked to the polls in record numbers Tuesday in what is arguably the most important as well as the most exhilarating election in decades. And for these last crucial 24 hours, the media -- starting abroad with foreign broadcasters, the worldwide blogosphere, cable news networks, radio pundits and the Big Four -- rose to the occasion with blanket coverage of the historic returns. The Hollywood Reporter also fielded a global team to provide readers with a blow-by-blow rundown of the round-the-clock highlights. All times Est.
2 a.m. MSNBC reports amazing numbers from the Minnesota Senate race. With 89% of precincts reporting, Norm Coleman leads Al Franken by 172 votes -- 1,048,956 to 1,048,784. (Read more about Franken's too-close-to-call race)
1:03 a.m. Ktla cuts from its election coverage to show breaking news of a high-speed pursuit.
12:50 a.m.
2 a.m. MSNBC reports amazing numbers from the Minnesota Senate race. With 89% of precincts reporting, Norm Coleman leads Al Franken by 172 votes -- 1,048,956 to 1,048,784. (Read more about Franken's too-close-to-call race)
1:03 a.m. Ktla cuts from its election coverage to show breaking news of a high-speed pursuit.
12:50 a.m.
- 11/4/2008
- by By Erik Pedersen
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Comedian Al Franken is running for a U.S. Senator seat in Minnesota after winning the Democratic nomination on Tuesday.
The former Saturday Night Live star beat six opponents, taking 66 per cent of the public vote in the state's primary election.
Franken will face current Republican Senator Norm Coleman and Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley in the November election.
The former Saturday Night Live star beat six opponents, taking 66 per cent of the public vote in the state's primary election.
Franken will face current Republican Senator Norm Coleman and Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley in the November election.
- 9/10/2008
- WENN
Former Saturday Night Live cast member Al Franken will run for the US Senate in Minnesota in 2008. A senior Democratic official from Minnesota confirmed the comedian has decided to run for office, but he has not made an official announcement. The 55-year-old has been calling members of the Minnesota congressional delegation to get their advice on his candidacy. He announced this week he would be leaving his show on Air America Radio on February 14, and told listeners he would be making a decision soon on his run for office. Franken will take on Republican Norm Coleman, a first-term senator who is among the Democrats' top targets. In addition to his work on Saturday Night Live, he has also written several best-selling books combining humor and politics.
- 2/2/2007
- WENN
WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Senate Government Affairs Committee's investigative panel plans to convene an "industry round-table" aimed at resolving the issues facing the copyright, consumer electronics and Internet industries. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., said he hopes that an open discussion among the entertainment, consumer electronics and Internet industries can solve the problems without government regulation. "The time has come to recognize that solutions to this challenge are not going to come solely from government," he said. "In 1998, Congress passed legislation that was intended to protect the entertainment industry and copyrights. Yet within less than five years, the legislation was bypassed by technology. With the advent of technology such as peer-to-peer networking, law, technology and ethics are now not in synch. We need to find other ways to solve the problems rather than issuing lawsuits and lobbying Congress to pass tougher laws."...
- 1/14/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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