With Sen. Al Franken keeping his inner comedian (mostly) under wraps, a New York Times columnist suggested today that's not altogether a good thing.

In an online column, Timothy Egan even came to Franken's defense over the junior senator's quiet dissing of Sen. Mitch McConnell earlier this month: "it was heartening to see him make at least a feeble attempt at mocking this enfeebled institution the other day, grimacing during remarks by the dour Senator Mitch McConnell."

Egan added: "If ever there was a place in need of more comedy, and less comity, it's the U.S. Senate." The whole thing can be read here.