Franken Wins! Minnesota high court rules to end recount -- but leaves Pawlenty an out
By David Neiwert Tuesday Jun 30, 2009 12:00pm
Finally, it looks like the longest hissy fit in Republican history is finally drawing to a close, eight months after the election:
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that Democrat Al Franken be certified as the winner of the state's long-running Senate race, paving the way for a resolution in the seven-month fight over the seat.
The high court rejected a legal challenge from Republican Norm Coleman, whose options for regaining the Senate seat are dwindling.
Justices said Franken is entitled to the election certificate he needs to assume office. With Franken and the usual backing of two independents, Democrats will have a big enough majority to overcome Republican filibusters.
However, there's a final hitch:
Coleman's campaign didn't immediately return a call for comment. Nor did Gov. Tim Pawlenty, whose signature is required on the election certificate Franken needs to be seated.
Pawlenty, a Republican, has said he would sign the certificate if ordered to do so by the court. The court's ruling stopped short of explicitly ordering the governor to sign the document, saying only that Franken was "entitled" to it.
You may recall that when Pawlenty was on TV earlier this week, he indicated he'd sign the certificate -- but used very lawyerly language in doing so:
... I'm going to follow the direction of the court, John. We expect that ruling any day now. I also expect them to give guidance and direction as to the certificate of election. I'm prepared to sign it as soon as they give the green light.
... Well, a federal court could stay or put a limit on or stop the effect of the state court ruling. If they chose, if they do that, I would certainly follow their direction. But if that doesn't happen promptly or drags out for any period of time, then we need to move ahead with signing this, particularly if I'm ordered to do that by the state court.
Now, it would be a mighty thin straw to grasp, but Pawlenty could say that since he wasn't ordered to sign it, he doesn't have to (and then point to any appeal filed by Coleman as a further excuse). Normally, I'd guess that sanity would prevail and Pawlenty wouldn't attempt it. But given the behavior of Minnesota's GOP throughout this fiasco, anything seems possible.
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Coleman is about to concede.
concede
Norm Coleman said enough was enough. He would not pursue any other acton on the federal level.
Senator Al Franken! I like the sound of that!
He's a Clintonista center right Democrat whoi will vote as he is told by special interest.
If I think he is too center right,how does that make me a troll? Hmmm. You geniuses explain that one!
Explain, with examples on how he is too "center right" rather than just throwing it out there with absolutely no backing other than your say so. I'm willing to listen to specifics and evidence.
From his website!
"A single-payer system would be the most effective in terms of reducing administrative costs, and I would be thrilled to support such a system. But I believe that today’s political environment requires a creative and flexible approach to covering every American."
That is from his site. Center right corporate double fucking speak!
a response doesn't change my opinion. Also, he said he favors a single payer system. Max Baucus has already killed any chance of single payer.
OK since when does a Senator from Montana tell me what rights to fight for? Hmmm? If the dems wanted single payer it would pass. But they don't and Franken is a new cog in the machine.
Five comments deleted by five different posters. May we please have an explaination, Site Monitor?
I'd likee to ask the same question so I can avoid possibly doing the same thing.
I guess you can't call someone a troll, no matter how trollish they are.
"A single-payer system would be the most effective in terms of reducing administrative costs, and I would be thrilled to support such a system. But I believe that today’s political environment requires a creative and flexible approach to covering every American."
That is from his site. Center right corporate double fucking speak!
Since I haven't heard anything serious about single payer being considered in this bill, he sounds like he is on board with public option...at least that's the way it sounds to me.
that's the rub. When congressmen and senators say it's not politically feasible that is code for "our biggest contributors don't want that so we can't do that".
Obama and Pelosi and Baucus and all the other "conservatives" in congress don't give a fuck about us.
I think you might get more respect if you gave us the facts that make you feel the way you do about Franken. Just a friendly suggestion.
"A single-payer system would be the most effective in terms of reducing administrative costs, and I would be thrilled to support such a system. But I believe that today’s political environment requires a creative and flexible approach to covering every American."
That is from his site. Center right corporate double fucking speak!
'too center right' according to you is fine. your a progressive and that's how you view it. who mentioned "troll"? what was a better alternative than franken that was
running in the mn. u.s. senatorial race?
a progressive
who was the progressive running against franken? how did that candidate do in the polls?
He won the primary because he was on TV for years. Period. He had a clerar advantage in name recognition. Also the Democrats don't want progressives to win ANY races. A few sneak through. That guy form Ohio Steve something was told basically to step aside because the PARTY decided Sherrod Brown was going to be the candidate.
wow thanks for the info. i guess. next topic.
Sorry, but I think someone else in here has already taken the name ProgessiveTroll.
who can regurgitate mindless platitudes.
actually formed opinions based on things like records, facts, etc. Maybe we've moved on to fighting fire with fire?
Read his fucking books. Read his website. WTF?
"A single-payer system would be the most effective in terms of reducing administrative costs, and I would be thrilled to support such a system. But I believe that today’s political environment requires a creative and flexible approach to covering every American."
That is from his site. Center right corporate double fucking speak!
Posting a comment on a left wing blog. So hard core. I wonder have you ever participated in civil disobedience? Ever been arrested? Ever quit a job for ethical reasons? I've done all those things and I realize its nothing. You want to talk about fighting fire with fire look at the people in Iran who are risking death or worse for a legitimate election. Or talk to a friend of mine who risked torture fighting for freedom in Chile.
If you actually do talk to those people you'll hear about revolutions and how they take time. It doesn't happen over night. And Franken is no Che Gueverra but for democrats he's pretty far left. And like you I would rather elect Denis Kucinich president and have Noam Chomsky secretary of state but unlike you I realize that change requires some work.
I read his book "The Lying Liars...". He blasts the Republicans and neo-cons throughout his book.
He has been very progressive and independent minded for as long as I have been following him.
Given those points, I am not from Minnesota, so he is not my Senator. However, if he were to move to my state, I would gladly vote for him.
What does the law say? I don't care what Pawlenty says he is going to do or not do. What is the law?
Pawlenty is quoted in Minneapolis Star Tribune: "I'm not going to defy an order of the Minnesota Supreme Court. That would be a dereliction of my duty."
I don't suspect you are really interested in the law, since you lambasted Franken calling him a "Clintonista." Why not let Franken's actions determine what kind of senator he will be?
I am a progressive. Franken is not. Watch and see how he votes. Right down the line like a good tool.
You're saying he should vote with Repubs against the Dems to prove he's a good liberal?
You makes lots of sense.
I didn't say that.
read your post.."right down the line", meaning always with the Dems, never against.
I think Franken can speak for himself and very eloquently.
I edited out anything that I think can be interpreted as an attack.
Now, I do like Franken, but have no hard and fast opinions on his politics yet. I though Obama would be a catalyst for change too, I fear I may be proven worng....I hope not with Franken.
Was Paul Wellstone a progressive? Franken could be another Wellstone. We'll just wait and see. Which progressive did you hope would win, jhunter?
Paul Wellstone was against gay marriage. No one is perfect.
Both he and Clinton professed religious reasons for being against it. Seems true progressive liberals are a rare species.
to mask the fact they are really whiny white liberal missionary imnperialists.
Uh-hum! Right!
Tool!
sore losers, republican scum.
Point. Set. Match.
Congrats to Al. Now he has just enough time to concentrate on his reelection bid.
Really! That's what I was thinking.
As long as Franken doesn't sell out to the healthcare lobbyists, he has an automatic vote for reelection from me based on what the MN Republican Party has pulled.
That started a month ago.
to start workin it?
"How long is a senator's term in office? 6 years. √
That's Senator Al Franken. SAY IT!!!!!!
You're his bitch now.
I really cant wait to hear him be forced to say Senator Franken. You just know it's gotta be killing him.
to turn on O'Reilly today to hear him drone on and on and on and on about what a wimp Coleman is for conceding to the Socialist Al Franken. To the Comedian Al Franken.
Ha!!!!
See! Every now and then we win some fights!!!
Anyone taking bets on BO using the term "Senator Stuart Smalley" more than "Senator Al Franken."
Bill might actually go in for that kind of action.
Anyone approaching the utter vileness of an O'Reilly should by rights be completely riddled with the kind of self loathing that only a good Master/Slave S&M routine can exorcise.Anyway,I digress.
Al?It's about GD time these shameless dickweeds are at least pretending to do the right thing,though I won't believe it until I see it.
What hospital is Billy in anyway, this had to have given him a massive heart attack.
fat ass drugie rush. I wonder if there in the same room.
while he's in a Federal Prison?
Can't wait to hear some Robert Hunter quoted on the floor!
What's the over/under on Pawlenty signing? I'm taking even money on 40 more days.
Since Coleman conceded. I believe Pawlenty will sign fairly soon. Pawlenty is clearly booking ahead now and starting his run for the Republican Nomination in 2012.
I expect good things from Al. Both as a spokesperson and Senator.
Regardless of what some might say, I have read his books, and Al is smart, articulate, and liberal.
During the 90's when Clinton republican-lite DLC was blossoming along side the GOP agenda, Al was one of the few to take on the "Big Fat Idiot," and the rest of the rightwing propagandists. He is no Clinton flunky.
His writing is also funny while at the same time laying things out the way they are. He is one of the few writers who can make me laugh out loud while reading his work.
Born in 1951. GDMF'in Boomer.
Say what? So what's so bad about GDMF'in Boomers other than bush is one?
of others, so you must ask them. You just happened to get in between.
If I'm in between anything you can bet I'm lost or just wandering around.
Pawlenty is going to look like a total ass if he doesn't sign this thing and real soon. Does he really want to make a name like that for himself right now?
Pawlenty will look like a bigger total ass than he already is...
Seven fucking months.
I wish...
expanding on the horizon? OMG it's O'reilly's head. Run! It's gonna blow. To put it more succinctly: Fire in the Asshole!
can't be far behind!
Hey Obama, here's a shining example of how willing the Repugs are to reach across the aisle in post-partisan cooperation. 8 months later it's Senator Al Franken. They're really all good sports, right?
Suck on THIS noonen
But PLEEZE put your teeth back in first!
Feel free to not reply with a video link (bet you can't resist).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEpzkRF9WVo
(Warning...warning...warning...Will Robinson!!!)
You are a very bad boy.
;)
You are a naughty, naughty boy....
You don't have anymore excuses. You can't cite the "need for Republican votes", (like you'd get them anyway), to strip progressive ideas out of climate change and health care reform.
Al should be fun when he speaks on the floor of the Senate. Especially if he is following a republican who has just said something insane like global warming is a hoax.
again.
Our cable company here decided last year to remove c-span II from our cable and if you want to get it again you have to rent a box from them for an additional five bucks a month. Bastards! They are not getting one more cent from me.
Why pay more to get more crap?
That's what we have too. Just basic cable but they keep screwing around and trying to sell more stuff each month.
This gives the Democrats the SUPER MAJORITY!!!!!!
Yeah, right. Now take sixty votes and start subtracting.
Ben Nelson -- 59
Joe Lieberdouche -- 58
etc., etc., etc.
I'd love one of these idiots on TV to describe one critical issue on which the Democrats could muster the full 60 votes to end a Winger filibuster.
On the radio, some BBC twit is now talking about Democratic "dominance" in Washington. I guess that explains why the public option is sailing through the Senate without opposition.
I just hate seeing how the fact that the Dems NEVER vote in lock step, whilst the Repubs will mindlessly mass together like the bots they are. I hate having political parties.
Diane 'I can't believe I'm from California' Feinstein...
She 'leglislates' like she's from South Carolina...
A 'Democratic' rep only in title...
Time for Obama to take the kid gloves off and for Rahm to do instead of say...
Now if only Sen Byrd and Kennedy were well enough to come on the floor and vote.
to get into the Senate, not after they were already there.
Tsk Tsk
Don't make me come over there with this bar of soap, young man.
for ANY health care vote.
But we can't criticize him? I guess jhunter is either a moderator or frinedly with them. I'm out. John, you're blog has become very red state. No criticism allowed!
♥
an auto delete key word? I didn't think I said anyhing wrong upthread.
I couldn't stop staring at the reporter's shirt. Are those buttons? Oh my god, those are buttons!
has to be having a good laugh
Are we discussing Israel and Hamas again??
Norm Coleman stormed the site, tied up the site monitors and grabbed the "delete" button. The guy must not have gotten over losing the election yet. Someone has gone to untie and free the site monitors.
Ahahaha!
especially when the conversation went from Hamas to the ethics of West Bank settlement policy very quickly.
Geez, and I thought we were talking about Al Franken.
Oh and the dreaded T-word
I seriously doubt that I fooled him, but maybe I made him smile a little. That couldn't hurt, could it?
Thanks PoP.
BTW, how's the summer in FL? Been stuck out here in CA; I miss the weather...
In a word, hot! Thank goodness we are getting rain so we aren't a tinder box for fires.
So you are ticklish are you? So am I, to the point of my calling it pain.
Who's "progressive and who's not".
Oh yeah, buddy? Well I'm more progressive than YOU are!! :)
Are not. LOL
A: ista
B: Cigar
C: Was robbed by an unqualified colored fellow.
D: Knows the various and sundry meanings of "is"
instead of Cadillac's and drank Chardonnay instead of Jim Beam over ice.
http://fupaper.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/st...
Congrats to Al!
Just sent a message to his senate site...
Don't forget your books, your show, and your purpose...
carrying the torch of Paul Wellstone.
Here's hoping he remembers this!
Congratulations Senator Franken
Good luck in Congress. I know you are a people's
politician and I am proud to have cast my vote for you.
Sleepy Eye, MN
VIDEO: Doggone it, congratulations, Senator Franken
Great video, Captain K.
Congratulations indeed, Senator Franken!
...quivering in their boots about now.
Sorry to be so lowbrow, but doesn't this network have a wardrobe person?! Re-watch this clip and take a good look at the blouse of the woman on the right. Sheesh.
Oh, and congrats Al....
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