Al you are now a transportation study. They are going to study beaming you to deep, deep dark space using the Enterprise transporter. Doing it as part of that multi-party Minnesota Nice "trust me" advice you should be heeding.
This in June 4, 2008 reporting, from the AP:
Oberstar calls for Franken to 'disown' Playboy column
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressman Jim Oberstar, the dean of the Minnesota congressional delegation, joined fellow Democrats in criticizing Al Franken's 2000 sexually explicit satirical Playboy column.
Oberstar says in a statement Wednesday that the column was "amateurish and silly, he needs to disown it."
But Oberstar adds that he considers Franken to be bright and hardworking. Oberstar says he expects Franken will receive the DFL nomination this weekend.
Last week, three Democratic Minnesota House members, to varying degrees, criticized the column, which Republicans have been trying to make an issue in the campaign.
Franken campaign spokesman Andy Barr says that the candidate will continue to seek Oberstar's guidance during the race.
At least it's the transporter, Al, not one of those virtual machines where the story you wrote says ...
_________UPDATE________
I misread the Oberstar message. I was wrong. That simple. I was wrong.
Oberstar said, and apparently meant, only what he said, no hidden message that the Franken situation over the Playboy article and other writing was beyond salvaging -- Oberstar apparently meant only as Oberstar was quoted - that the issue and decision making should go to the delegates at the endorsement convention, and that Oberstar believed that Franken, in speaking there should publicly in an appropriate way "disavow" the Playboy thing, and somehow address and not duck the criticism Franken was receiving about it.
A very fair view. I misread it as more critical of Franken, which was incorrect.
The message was, Franken speaks and "disavows" the item, then the convention votes, and I, James Oberstar, will be satisfied with the outcome of that vote, whatever it is. And I, James Oberstar, am not in advance saying what it will be or what it should be.
It is for the convention delegates, not me, James Oberstar, to decide. That's how it worked out I was wrong in reading the Oberstar "disavow" comment as something judgmental beyond this retrospective view of what was said and how things turned out.
The most lingering thing Franken faces is the position expressed by Connie Perpich on behalf of Planned Parenthood, a reluctance to go along with Franken; and the resignation of the DFL Feminist Caucus head over how that caucus petitioned its membership to endorse Franken without due regard for the leadership position of the person who resigned. Finally there is the cold comfort remaining from Betty McCollum, who has yet to endorse Franken while having had no reservations whatsoever about endorsing revolving door lobbyist and career politician, Elwyn Tinklenberg. Her priorities clearly differ from mine. I am fully in support of Franken as the person pikced to take it to Norm Coleman, while I have great difficulty with the choice the DFL presents in the Sixth District, between its endorsed man, and the GOP's incumbent, between lobbyist and laughingsotck.