He Said It

Playboy Magazine put out a 50th anniversary issue in January 2004 that included an interview with Al Franken. It’s mostly the usual insults directed at Franken’s enemies, but this exchange was striking, especially given how recent the interview was:

Playboy: Do you see yourself ever holding office?

Franken: No. I would be crushed by the sense of responsibility. Voting on whether to authorize the use of force is a big decision, especially on a close call. I don’t know if I could handle that. That’s what you’re doing when you elect someone: You’re giving them the opportunity to handle it.

It was a moment of self-knowledge that the voters should take to heart.

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