Al Franken Quotes

"I'm a very indecisive person. I'd be a terrible politician."
(Sylvia Rubin, "A Franken Honest Discussion," San Francisco Chronicle, January 18, 1999)

"It might be crazy. I might not be the best candidate."
(Matt McKinney; Rob Hotakainen; Kevin Diaz, "Al Franken vs. Coleman? Comedian Ponders Idea," Star Tribune, November 11, 2003)

"I'm mean sometimes, but I'm just mean to people who deserve it."
(Transcript, "Today Show," NBC, March 31, 2004)

"I'm deranged, but I don't think I'm shrill."
(Laura McClure, "They Can Dish It Out But They Can't Take It," Salon.com, August 27, 2003)

"I'm white. I don't think I'm an angry person. I think I'm a person who's angry."
(Transcript: Interview With Al Franken, "Reliable Sources," CNN, September 7, 2003)

"I'm interested in politics for all the wrong reasons -- I'm interested in the sport, the entertainment value of it."
(Jim Ragsdale, "Franken Out To Harpoon Rush For Fun, Profit," Pioneer Press, February 22, 1996)

"Why don't we focus on what Afghan women can do? They can cook, bear children and pray. As I recall, that was fine for our grandmothers."
(Mitchell Fink With Lauren Rubin, "Liza Wants To Be A Hit, Just Not A Huge One," Daily News (New York, N.Y.), October 20, 1999)

"I'm not concerned about politics for the good reasons," and "I'm interested for the bad reasons. I'm interested for the horse race. It's fun to watch these people savage each other and lie."
(Anna Deavere Smith, "Cultural View; Inside The Political Mimic's Fun-House Mirror," The New York Times, August 16, 1992)

Asked why people shouldn't elect him: "I'd be terrible. I'm an indecisive person and I internalize a lot of stress. It's one thing to worry if a joke's funny and is this a good career move? But the idea of deciding which school gets funded and do you bomb Kosovo? . . . I'd be crushed."
(Paul Duchene, "The Joke Stops Here: What If Al Franken Were President?" The Oregonian, February 22, 1999)

"If I put myself on the ballot and even 50 people voted for me it'd be a travesty."
(Paul Duchene, "The Joke Stops Here: What If Al Franken Were President?" The Oregonian, February 22, 1999)

On running for political office: "And I tried to explain to people that I'd be terrible because of the pressure. I'm very indecisive, as it is, in my own life and the idea of making decisions for other people that affect their lives, I would be crushed by the stress."
(John McKay, "I Am Not A Political Satirist Al Franken Has Fun With Politics, But Only As An Observer," London Free Press, May 22, 1999)

"It's just that I don't know if I'd be very good at being a public official."
("Al Franken: The Rakish Interview," The Rake, October 2003)