FINALLY!

After several months of Norm Coleman assishness, Al Franken is finally named the second Senator (elect) from the great state of Minnesota. Go Vikings!

Anyway, it is now time for the Democrats to grow a pair and get something substantial done. I, for example, want real health care reform WITH A PUBLIC OPTION. If the Dems -- yes, including you, Obama -- can't get this done now, you are going to lose seats in 2010 ... and probably should.

TL Out!

MORE FRANKEN WATCH

Interesting interview with Coleman's lawyer yesterday. Here's part of it ...

Joe Friedberg, attorney for former Sen. Norm Coleman's recount effort, seemed to suggest in a MN radio interview yesterday that Democrat Al Franken will wind out on top when the three-judge panel finishes reviewing the counting process. Friedberg says that he's "done" but that the case could drag on for some time.

Q. Joe, are you done?
A. Yes, I'm done.

Q. Let me ask you in a different way. Is Norm done?
A. Well, I think that we have been trying this case with the appeal record in mind, and that's where we're going, and it's going to be a very quick appeal, and then I will know whether or not it worked.

Q. Well, when you say quick appeal, are you confident that you are going to lose the case in front of the three-judge panel? By losing the case, I mean Norm ends up with less votes.
A. I think that's probably correct that Franken will still be ahead and probably by a little bit more. But our whole argument was that it was a constitutional argument, and it's an argument suitable for the Minnesota Supreme Court, not for the trial court. So we will see whether we were right or not.
...

Q. We could still be awhile before this thing gets decided?
A. Yeah, I think that's clearly true.

I have to admit to being torn on this one. I mean, I can't complain about Al being the "winner" by most accounts. But, how long can Coleman drag this thing out?

And, by the way, if Coleman takes this thing to The Supreme Court or whatever, does he realistically have any future in elected politics?

COLEMAN WATCH

In my on-going obsession with Al Franken's run for the Senate, three recent events have me a little concerned. First, there was the news that Norm Coleman's lawyers convinced the court to review some rejected ballots that were (apparently) all hand-picked from heavy Republican districts. Then, there was this rather Divine blog entry from Smart Politics. Here's the most important quote:

When asked about the recount and how it is affecting him personally, Coleman said he starts every day with a prayer and that he knows “God wants me to serve.”

And finally, there was this gem from Huffington Post about some big-wig GOP fundraiser for Coleman:

Propping up Coleman's legal campaign has proven a win-win for the GOP. The party continues to hold on to the possibility of picking up the seat, but they also keep Al Franken from becoming the Democrats' 59th caucusing member. And with the Minnesota election likely to remain unresolved until April or May, Franken's absence will loom large over many of the intense, filibuster-inducing legislative fights in Congress.

So, in summary, the G-O-P and the G-O-D are now pulling out all the stops to prevent Franken from taking his seat in the Senate.

Should I be worried?

NORM COLEMAN "OFFICIALLY" A HYPOCRITE

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am a complete and unapologetic fan of Al Franken. I mean, Lies (And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them): A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right has to be one of the best (and funniest) political books ever written IMHO.

Anyway, as you might expect, I've been obsessively monitoring the roller coaster ride that is the Minnesota recount, and I was finally able to breath a little sigh of relief when The Minnesota State Canvassing Board "officially" declared Franken the winner. Before I get too excited, however, I have to deal with (loser) Norm Coleman's inevitable challenge of the election results. Here is a recent quote from Mr. Coleman:

I really believe that the people of Minnesota want to get this right, no matter what side of the aisle you are on ... Until these issues are settled, any attempt to seat a Senator who is not properly certified violates Senate precedent, and usurps the will of the people of Minnesota.

Now, I'm obviously not happy about this challenge, but that's not what really ticks me off. No, what I'm mostly upset about is that no one in the media is remembering this little story that came out right after the initial election results in November had Coleman ahead. Here's a quote from that Star Tribune article:

Coleman urged Franken to waive his right to a recount, saying that the prospect of changing the result was remote and that a recount would be costly to taxpayers (about $86,000).

"I just think the need for the healing process is so important..." Coleman said.

So, Mr. Coleman, I'd like you to think long and hard about the following:

1) The prospect of changing the election results is remote.

2) All your court battles are going to be costly the taxpayers.

3) Now that Franken has won, the healing process is just really so important.

I look forward to your concession speech!