A public Stoning for Coleman, Knaak

Dec 10th, 2008 by admin

The Franken-Coleman recount is such a big story locally that it’s easy to forget that it’s inspiring national coverage and debate from all sides of the political spectrum.

One especially contentious article about the recount appeared in the most recent issue of Rolling Stone. In it, political writer Matt Taibbi takes aim at Norm Coleman while going easy on Al Franken — not too surprising considering Rolling Stone’s traditionally left-leaning slant.

Taibbi refers to the incumbent senator as “a creepy, weird-looking character, a beanpole in a suit topped with a rigid mousse helmet of politician hair, like the offspring of a mop and a game-show host.”

However, Taibbi also saves a few barbs for Coleman lawyer Fritz Knaak, ridiculing Knaak’s suspicions over the neutrality of Secretary of State Mark Ritchie in the recount process, and declaring Knaak “a surprising late-season entrant in the nation’s [Jerk] of the Year contest.” Except he doesn’t call him a jerk, exactly.

Dear Santa: All I want for Christmas is to have the recount over with.