Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn, has a new book coming out called Al Franken: Giant of the Senate, which has an entire chapter dedicated to Ted Cruz. But before you start thinking this is some sort of bipartisan, feel-good story of the week, the chapter is dedicated to the Texas senator because, in the words of Franken, “I hate Ted Cruz.”
The chapter, entitled "Sophistry," uses the following two phrases to describe Cruz: "singularly dishonest" and "exceptionally smarmy." Franken, during an interview to promote his book, told USA Today's Susan Page, "You have to understand that I like Ted Cruz probably more than my colleagues like Ted Cruz, and I hate Ted Cruz.”
"Al is trying to sell books and apparently he's decided that being obnoxious and insulting me is good for causing liberals to buy his books," Cruz told Politico. "I wish him all the best."
Though the book has what seems like what is supposed to be a heartwarming anecdote about how he got along with Sen. Tom Coburn, everyone can get along with Coburn. He’s one of the most amiable politicians we’ve ever had, and he’s famous friends with former President President Barack Obama. (In fact, when Time Magazine named Obama one of their most influential people, Coburn wrote his friend’s entry.)
Though it seems Franken’s new book seems to have the same bipartisan charm as his previously published works, Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, it seems that one of this book’s selling points is just good ole-fashioned bitterness.
