Boorishness and the boorish boors who cheat their way into the Senate

Al Franken is a big fat gasbag.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) scolded Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) on the Senate floor Thursday for allegedly mocking him while he delivered a solemn speech on Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan.

The dust-up came seconds after McConnell delivered a speech on Kagan’s nomination shortly before the Senate voted to confirm her to the high court.

Franken, who was presiding over the chamber from the dais, gesticulated and made faces while McConnell explained his opposition to Kagan, according to witnesses.

The television cameras broadcasting the speech on C-SPAN remained fixed on McConnell, missing Franken’s antics from the Senate president’s chair.

McConnell grew increasingly angry as Franken made fun of him before a crowded public gallery and Senate aides lining the chamber walls. Senate aides said they were shocked that Franken would flout the decorum of the chamber during such a solemn occasion.

After McConnell finished his remarks, he walked up to the dais and rebuked him.

“This is not ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Al,” McConnell said, making reference to Franken’s career as a writer and actor on NBC’s long-running comedy show, according to a witness who overheard the exchange.

After the vote, Franken walked to McConnell’s office to apologize but couldn’t find him. He has sent a personal note, instead.

It’s clear this goon hasn’t the faintest idea of the dignity of his position, which explains why he doesn’t feel the need to behave like an adult within the Senate Chamber. Yesterday’s asshattery was just another illustration of Franken’s contempt for traditions of Daniel Webster, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and Charles Sumner — towering statesman whose long shadows at the Capitol perpetually expose Franken as the garish dwarf he is. (H/T Sister Toldjah).

But then children never value things that they don’t earn themselves, do they?

Allahpundit weighed in yesterday:

Alternate headline: “Senate’s ‘Al Franken decade’ going to be an awfully long one.” What’s amazing about this is that, literally from day one, Franken has worked hard to suppress his jerkier impulses in the interest of being taken seriously as a politician. He’s done well enough thus far, but lately he’s been getting bored and just maybe a little distracted by the looming GOP tidal wave, so the pressure holding back the geyser of jackassery within ain’t quite as strong as it used to be.

Sister Toldjah sums it up:

I’m so glad the “adults” are in charge now. Aren’t you?