Franken Reels After Thune Question on Senate Floor

Liberal blogs are buzzing about Al Franken's performance on the U.S. Senate floor, claiming that he "destroyed" Republican Sen. John Thune's contention that the Senate health bill triggers taxes before significant benefits.

But the video shows a different story.

During Franken's Senate floor speech, the Minnesota Democrat appears to be rambling, confused and shocked when Thune interrupts him to "yield for a question."

Franken agrees to Thune's request and seems befuddled about Thune's point: The Democratic plan kicks in significant taxes almost immediately, with MOST of the Democratic healthcare plan "benefits" starting after 2013.

Franken's performance was so dismal that the acting president of the Senate had to interrupt his rambling to remind him that he actually held the Senate floor.

Other Democratic senators clearly wanted to assist the blustering Franken, with Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown leading the charge. Brown deflected Thune's critical point to discuss Medicare.

The Franken performance suggests that "Saturday Night Live" finally has found its way on to the U.S. Senate floor.