--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I complained about it to Tim Kaine…" description: "\"“I complained about it to Tim Kaine. \"Flake gave me this stupid hat. This is the worst Secret Santa gift ever. What was he thinking?\" \"Staff error,\" sa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/al-franken-1407_vice-president_i-complained-about-it-to-tim-kaine-flake_1241647.png" --- # I complained about it to Tim Kaine. "Flake gave me this… ![“I complained about it to Tim Kaine. "Flake gave me this stupid hat. This is the worst Secret Santa gift ever. What was he thinking?" "Staff error," said Tim. He's really smart. And would make a great vice president. Goddammit. Now I'm depressed. Let's move on.” quote by Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/al-franken-1407_vice-president_i-complained-about-it-to-tim-kaine-flake_1241647.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/al-franken-1407_vice-president_i-complained-about-it-to-tim-kaine-flake_1241647.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/al-franken-1407_vice-president_i-complained-about-it-to-tim-kaine-flake_1241647.png) > ““I complained about it to Tim Kaine. "Flake gave me this stupid hat. This is the worst Secret Santa gift ever. What was he thinking?" "Staff error," said Tim. He's really smart. And would make a great vice president. Goddammit. Now I'm depressed. Let's move on.”” [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He humorously describes a disastrous Secret Santa gift and his frustration with the giver. **In simple terms:** A bad gift caused annoyance. Key Takeaway Find humor in mishaps. Themes frustration humor gift‑giving Mood sarcastic lighthearted Type satire comedy When to use this quote - holiday parties - workplace dynamics Key Concepts office culture political satire Questions to Reflect On - What makes a gift truly thoughtful? - How do you respond to unexpected setbacks? A Different Perspective May trivialize genuine disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Complained Tim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complained-tim-3877915/) [Gave Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gave-stupid-3877917/) [Kaine Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kaine-flake-3877916/) [Said Tim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-tim-1032272/) [Secret Santa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret-santa/) [Stupid Hat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-hat-2450851/) [Vice president](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vice-president/) ## Related quotes > [“You brought me here with impure motives?” The idea gave her a stupid thrill. He shook his head. “No. I developed them after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruthie-knox/you-brought-me-here-with-impure-motives-the-idea-gave-her-a-stupid/) [Ruthie Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruthie-knox/) > [A hat should be taken off when you greet a lady and left off for the rest of your life. Nothing looks more stupid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/a-hat-should-be-taken-off-when-you-greet-a-lady-and-left-off-for-the/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [When I auditioned for Tim Robbins for 'Cradle Will Rock,' the young girl who read with me was very young, and I said to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sukowa/when-i-auditioned-for-tim-robbins-for-cradle-will-rock-the-young-girl/) [Barbara Sukowa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sukowa/) > [I'm not afraid to make decisions. One of my friends said... we were talking about movies. It's really just a series of decisions you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-miller/i-m-not-afraid-to-make-decisions-one-of-my-friends-said-we-were/) [Timothy Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-miller/) > [I love Jughead. I love his one-step-removed perspective on everything in Riverdale. And I love the fact that he wears that stupid hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/i-love-jughead-i-love-his-one-step-removed-perspective-on-everything/) [Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/) > [“A hat should be taken off when greeting a lady, and left off the rest of your life. Nothing looks more stupid than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke-2/a-hat-should-be-taken-off-when-greeting-a-lady-and-left-off-the-rest/) [P.J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke-2/) > [Most of my relationships were people in the business. Having said that, me and Tim don't really talk that much about work. He comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helena-bonham-carter/most-of-my-relationships-were-people-in-the-business-having-said-that/) [Helena Bonham Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helena-bonham-carter/) > [For Secret Santa a few years ago, I bought one of the lads I used to play with a block of cheese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-vardy/for-secret-santa-a-few-years-ago-i-bought-one-of-the-lads-i-used-to/) [Jamie Vardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-vardy/) > [Can you imagine getting a gun for a secret Santa? That is especially not a good idea if you work in a post office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/can-you-imagine-getting-a-gun-for-a-secret-santa-that-is-especially/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [“Alexander Knight, Secret Santa is Black Velvet..." I chuckle, "Don't forget the Dark Prince." "I don't even know where to begin". "Don't worry, Princess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaye-p-hallows/alexander-knight-secret-santa-is-black-velvet-i-chuckle-don-t-forget/) [Kaye P. Hallows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaye-p-hallows/) > [May this be the year your significant other gives you a better gift than your Secret Santa does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-this-be-the-year-your-significant-other-gives-you-a-better-gift/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm writing a book called 'The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus' about the maths of Christmas: how to set up a secret Santa so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-fry/i-m-writing-a-book-called-the-indisputable-existence-of-santa-claus/) [Hannah Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-fry/) > [The gift from my Secret Santa wasn't anything special. That makes me sad. I bet you anything that Mary Elizabeth is my Secret Santa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/the-gift-from-my-secret-santa-wasn-t-anything-special-that-makes-me/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“What’s the deal with the secret Santa thing?” “If I told you, it wouldna be a secret.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrelyn-sparks/what-s-the-deal-with-the-secret-santa-thing-if-i-told-you-it-wouldna/) [Kerrelyn Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrelyn-sparks/) > [We really love decorating the Christmas tree around Christmas and have our little fun by playing Secret Santa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunny-singh/we-really-love-decorating-the-christmas-tree-around-christmas-and/) [Sunny Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunny-singh/) ## More by Al Franken > [I want to reclaim 'liberal.' I'm a liberal, and I think most Americans are liberals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-want-to-reclaim-liberal-i-m-a-liberal-and-i-think-most-americans/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [“The Democratic Senator’s Serenity Prayer God Grant Me the Serenity to Accept the Things I Cannot Legislate The Courage to Legislate the Things I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/the-democratic-senator-s-serenity-prayer-god-grant-me-the-serenity-to/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I'm for Israel's right to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-m-for-israel-s-right-to-exist/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [You have to love your country like an adult loves somebody, not like a child loves its mommy. And right-wing Republicans tend to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/you-have-to-love-your-country-like-an-adult-loves-somebody-not-like-a/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Antitrust law isn't about protecting competing businesses from each other, it's about protecting competition itself on behalf of the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/antitrust-law-isn-t-about-protecting-competing-businesses-from-each/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Putin has had many positive experiences working with Western political leaders whose business interests made them more disposed to deal with Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/putin-has-had-many-positive-experiences-working-with-western/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I'm crushed by the responsibility of writing a satirical book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-m-crushed-by-the-responsibility-of-writing-a-satirical-book/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [“right wing’s most common techniques—including the deceptive use of statistics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/right-wing-s-most-common-techniques-including-the-deceptive-use-of/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I know I have an awful lot to learn from the people of Minnesota.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-know-i-have-an-awful-lot-to-learn-from-the-people-of-minnesota/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Apple has long been a leading innovator of mobile technology; I myself own an iPhone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/apple-has-long-been-a-leading-innovator-of-mobile-technology-i-myself/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I am a Minnesotan, and not just because I root for the Vikings and the Twins. I like the Minnesota-nice sensibility. I like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-am-a-minnesotan-and-not-just-because-i-root-for-the-vikings-and-the/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [My dad didn't graduate from high school, ended up being a printing salesman, probably never made more than $8,000 a year. My mom sold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/my-dad-didn-t-graduate-from-high-school-ended-up-being-a-printing/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [“As the polls began closing in the East, with states like New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Virginia going for Barack Obama, it was quickly becoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/as-the-polls-began-closing-in-the-east-with-states-like-new-hampshire/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Net neutrality isn't a government takeover of the Internet, as many of my Republican colleagues have alleged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/net-neutrality-isn-t-a-government-takeover-of-the-internet-as-many-of/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Demagoguery sells. And therefore, radio stations will put it on. But that doesn't mean that you can't do something else and also make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/demagoguery-sells-and-therefore-radio-stations-will-put-it-on-but/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) [Explore all 245 Al Franken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) ## More Vice president quotes > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [“Military life and culture seem to be foreign territory for many of the people who write for national magazines and newspapers today. Every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-luttrell/military-life-and-culture-seem-to-be-foreign-territory-for-many-of/) [Marcus Luttrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-luttrell/) > [ “In all, the future secretary of defense and wartime vice president\[, Dick Cheney,\] would receive five deferments during the Vietnam War, protecting him from… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-savage/in-all-the-future-secretary-of-defense-and-wartime-vice-president/) [Charlie Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-savage/) > [“Humphrey had even visited the CASPER facility on multiple occasions under the cover of darkness during vacations at the Greenbrier. In 1970, after his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-m-graff/humphrey-had-even-visited-the-casper-facility-on-multiple-occasions/) [Garrett M. Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-m-graff/) > [ Ladies, \[motherhood\] is a full-time job. Do not kid yourself that you can be a dental receptionist and a mother; that you can be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/ladies-motherhood-is-a-full-time-job-do-not-kid-yourself-that-you-can/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [I was at the vice president's Christmas party. I thought that his speech was spectacular, and I knew that it was a very emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-whitford/i-was-at-the-vice-president-s-christmas-party-i-thought-that-his/) [Bradley Whitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-whitford/) > [A year ago, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the supreme court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-year-ago-my-approval-rating-was-in-the-30s-my-nominee-for-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Hollis thought he looked like William Burroughs, minus the bohemian substrate (or perhaps the methadone). Like someone who'd be invited quail shooting with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/hollis-thought-he-looked-like-william-burroughs-minus-the-bohemian/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [We also need to make sure women can be in charge of their reproductive health. We can't defund places like Planned Parenthood, where women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-teigen/we-also-need-to-make-sure-women-can-be-in-charge-of-their/) [Chrissy Teigen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-teigen/) > [I don't think Cheney started off in 2000 with a burning desire to become vice-president. I think the prospect gradually became more appealing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/i-don-t-think-cheney-started-off-in-2000-with-a-burning-desire-to/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [If Vice President Albert Arnold Gore, Jr. had won his home state of Tennessee on November 7, 2000, he would have become president of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bessent/if-vice-president-albert-arnold-gore-jr-had-won-his-home-state-of/) [Scott Bessent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bessent/) > [Other than they may or may not have discussed the relative merits of the Electoral College vs. the popular vote, what I am told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-tumulty/other-than-they-may-or-may-not-have-discussed-the-relative-merits-of/) [Karen Tumulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-tumulty/) > [Al Gore, the former vice-president of the United States, lives in a mansion that uses more electricity than the average family's bungalow! David Suzuki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linwood-barclay/al-gore-the-former-vice-president-of-the-united-states-lives-in-a/) [Linwood Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linwood-barclay/) > [ One of the oddities of this election is the man that \[Donald\] Trump chose as his vice-president, Mike Pence, is one of the Kochs'… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/one-of-the-oddities-of-this-election-is-the-man-that-donald-trump/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [Its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-h-stephens/its-foundations-are-laid-its-cornerstone-rests-upon-the-great-truth/) [Alexander H. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-h-stephens/) [Browse all 452 Vice president quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vice-president/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I complained about it to Tim Kaine. \"Flake gave me this stupid hat. This is the worst Secret Santa gift ever. What was he thinking?\" \"Staff error,\" said Tim. He's really smart. And would make a great vice president. Goddammit. Now I'm depressed. Let's move on.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Al Franken" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-complained-about-it-to-tim-kaine-flake-gave-me-this-stupid-hat-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Vice president" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-complained-about-it-to-tim-kaine-flake-gave-me-this-stupid-hat-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/al-franken-1407_vice-president_i-complained-about-it-to-tim-kaine-flake_1241647.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/al-franken-1407_vice-president_i-complained-about-it-to-tim-kaine-flake_1241647.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/al-franken-1407_vice-president_i-complained-about-it-to-tim-kaine-flake_1241647.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I complained about it to Tim Kaine. \"Flake gave me this stupid hat. This is the worst Secret Santa gift…” — Al Franken", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Al Franken", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I complained about it to Tim...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-complained-about-it-to-tim-kaine-flake-gave-me-this-stupid-hat-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-complained-about-it-to-tim-kaine-flake-gave-me-this-stupid-hat-this/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```