"AN AMAZING DOCUMENT...
succeeds on quiet, frightening terms."
- Elvis Mitchell, NEW YORK TIMES
Politically Bent
Al Franken will share his views on life, liberty
and the pursuit of the presidency.
HARRY KIRSBAUM
Staff Writer
A
l Franken is in demand.
Watch enough nighttime
political television shows and
chances are you will see him
matching wits with Democrats and
Republicans alike.
Best known for his
work on Saturday Night
Live, he has thrived as a
political satirist since his
book Rush Limbaugh Is A
incumbent running."
Currently writing a screenplay and
working on a TV pilot at Fox, he
offered his observations on the current
political scene to the Jewish News dur-
ing a phone call from his New York
office.
Poking fun at Lieberman:
"It's not tough because
he's Jewish, it's tough
because I like him so
much."
The Bush camp and neg
Big Fat Idiot and Other
ative campaigning:
Observations came out in
"They're going to have
1996.
to be careful how they do
Franken, an
it, but they're going to do
unabashed supporter of
it. And they'll have other
all things not conserva-
people do it, too. Bush
tive, brings his Jack
will say, 'It's the RNC
Benny-like delivery to a
(Republican National
Detroit Friends of Bar-
Committee), it's not me.'
Ilan University fundraiser
Look at what he did
at Congregation Shaarey
against McCain ... the
Al Franken:
Zedek on Sept. 13. The
ads saying he was against
In his 1999 book
topic will be — what
breast cancer research and
"Why Not Me: The
else? — politics.
he was bad for the envi-
Inside Story of the
Franken authored
ronment. They will go
Making and the
Why Not Me: The Inside
negative. I know they
Unmaking of the
Story of the Making and
will."
Franken Presidency,"
the Unmaking of the
A possible presidential
the author chose
Franken Presidency
debate on Letterman:
Joe Lieberman as his
(Delacourte Press) in
"It's stupid, but
vice presidential
1999, as a response to
Letterman's having fun."
running mate.
people who suggested he
The most deliberately
enter politics. In it, he
funny politicians he's met:
chronicles his rise to the presidency
"Bob Dole has a very good sardonic
by beating Al Gore to become the
sense of humor. Lieberman has a good
Democratic nominee.
sense of humor. Gore has a good sense
After a campaign pledge "to walk
of humor. Gore gets stuff. He's actually
the state of New Hampshire, diagonal-
good at after-dinner speaking, which
ly, and then from side to side," he
has to be funny. He always exceeds
selects Joe Lieberman as his running
expectations because the expectations
mate, and defeats Newt Gingrich on a
are so low. He killed at the Gridiron
single campaign issue — banning
dinner. He absolutely killed."
ATM fees — to become the first
Jewish president.
Al Franken speaks Wednesday,
But he resigns after being forced to
Sept. 13, at Congregation
cooperate with the Joint Congressional
Shaarey Zedek. Doors open at 7
Committee on the President's Mood
p.m. The program starts at 7:30
Swings because of a severe bout with
p.m.,
with a dessert reception at
chronic fatigue syndrome, an attempt
9
p.m.
Tickets are $180 per per-
to clone himself — and "slugging
son.
Make
reservations with
Nelson Mandela."
Detroit
Friends
of Bar-Ilan
According to Franken, not much is
University, (248) 540-8900.
different about this election, "other
than a Jew on the ticket and no
❑
"****
FRANK, ELOQUENT...
UTTERLY FASCINATING."
• John Anderson, NEWSDAY
"FASCINATING...
CRITICS PICK OF THE WEEK
a performance documentary about
history.. structured in court and mediated
by the camera." - 1 Haberman, VILLAGE VOICE
"***
99
- Hannah Brown, NEW YORK POST
"* * * Allows Eichmann to
convict himself as a man unfazed by
his own inhumanity,"
-lack Mathews, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
"MESMERIZING
a harrowing and
extraordinary
historical moment.
-Jason Zinoman, TIMEOUT
The
Speciall
A film by Eyal Sivan ;and Rony Brauman
One showing only
Monday
SEP
11
7:30 p.m. -
c7he
C-xcif4-dive &Nay...a
DETROIT FILM THEATRE
THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
T.J.'s CRYSTAL GALLERY CAFE
OPEN ONE HOUR BEFORE SHOWTIME
Showing this weekend:
THE SORROW AND THE PITY
(FRANCE-1971, RESTORED-MARCEL OPHULS)
Sep. 8
Sep. 9
Sep. 10
313.833.3237
for information, or
to receive a DFT
2000 film schedule
7 p.m. ONLY
1 p.m. & 7 p.m.
1 p.m. & 7 p.m.
The Simone Vitale Band
4$) 544-7373