This is a beautiful story: A Minnesota blogger has beat the professional media to the punch on Al Franken’s tax problems. Mr. Franken, the unfunny funnyman who wants to make an even bigger joke of the Senate, seems to owe some state tax. In 17 states. And it’s not just taxes:

Brodkorb wouldn’t reveal how he first got the notion to check up on Franken’s business dealings in New York and California, but said simple searches on government Web sites delivered the goods: New York had levied a $25,000 judgment against Franken’s private corporation for failing to carry workers’ compensation insurance, and the corporation was in forfeiture in California.

Imagine, if you will, that Trent Lott had been fined for failing to carry workers’ comp insurance or that John McCain had a private corporation in forfeiture. New York Times and Washington Post, above-the-fold, is where you’d see that.