By: Ryan Grim

Al Franken emerged from a meeting earlier today and told reporters he was "cautiously optimistic" about the ongoing recount in Minnesota, where he trails slightly.

RedState has a translation of that phrase — using Franken’s own words in his 2005 book, "The Truth (With Jokes)": 

Cautiously optimistic? That’s not good. That’s an optimist’s way of saying, “We’re screwed.” I’ve instructed my wife that if a doctor ever tells her that he’s “cautiously optimistic” about my test results, she is to pull the plug immediately. (Source: “The Truth (With Jokes)”, p. 12)

Copyright © 2008 Capitol News Company, LLC | Distributed by Noofangle Media