Sen. Al Franken Gaffes Again

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Potty Mouth?

Some say departing White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel has a well deserved reputation for colorful language. But Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen told a breakfast this week, Emanuel's fondness for four-letter words is overblown.

Mullen described Emanuel as "incisive," "direct," "engaged," but "actually" not profane. But Emanuel seemed to concede the point today, reminding the President of one of his contributions: "I'm sure you've learned some words that you've never heard before, and in any -- and an assortment of combination of words."

Rahm once said, in his house the phrase "blank you" is a sign of endearment.

Leadership Issue

Minnesota Democrat Al Franken has goofed up again while presiding over the Senate. He mistakenly recognized Senator Tom Udall as "the senator from Utah."

Udall quickly reminded Franken he is actually from New Mexico. Franken quickly apologized, "Oh, God. I'm sorry. The senator from New Mexico."

That isn't his only embarrassing Senate moment. Franken noodled -- doodled rather and nodded off during then-Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan's testimony. And most notoriously, Franken mocked Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who later admonished Franken, saying, "This isn't 'Saturday Night Live,' Al."

Product Placement

And finally, schools in Boston's north suburbs will soon start selling advertising space on notes they send home with students. Our affiliate there -- Fox 25 -- reports that a school committee in Peabody approved a plan to sell 10 business-card sized ads on the backs of permission slips and other forms sent home to parents in hopes of raising up to $24,000 a year. All the ads will be age appropriate.

In the search for money, the district has already tripled bus fees, which got us thinking -- what if school buses sold ad space like NASCAR? Maybe that would keep those bus fees down.