The question now is when will Gov. Pawlenty issue the certification?
Al Franken really did win the election for U.S. Senate in Minnesota last November. That’s the decision of the three judges who heard former Sen. Norm Coleman’s lawsuit challenging Franken’s recount victory.
“Franken is entitled to receive the certificate of election,” states the order signed by Judges Denise Reilly, Elizabeth Hayden and Kurt Marben.
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The overwhelming weight of the evidence indicates that the November 4, 2008 election was conducted fairly, impartially, and accurately. … After seven weeks of trial, the factual record is devoid of any allegations of fraud, tampering, or security breaches on Election Day, during the recount process, or during the election contest.
We know Gov. Pawlenty will wait until the State Supreme Court rules because he has said as much, and I agree with Howie, let's start a recall of The Minny G.
Coleman and the GOP want to protract this as long as they can, just to make it more difficult for Obama to overcome GOP de facto filibusters on his entire agenda. He has already announced he will appeal to the state Supreme Court. Governor Tim Pawlenty has vowed to allow Minnesota to go without a second senator for as long as the Republican Party is willing to finance challenges and lawsuits. It's clear that Minnesota voters should start a recall of Pawlenty.
Al Franken should be sworn in and it's time for the Blockenator to move the process along. Nate Silver has a long analysis on Coleman's chances. It's just another bad day for Bill O'Reilly.
The Scar says: Scarborough to Coleman: "Norm ... [y]ou lost ... It's over Norm, OK? It's over."
JOE SCARBOROUGH: OK, I don’t mean to keep interrupting your news, but when are the Republicans going to give up the ghost on this?
BRZEZINSKI: Yeah.
SCARBOROUGH: Seriously. Norm, I like you. You lost, OK?
DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, but he released the Following Statement via presser:
Despite losing ground in the vote count, and credibility after increasingly questionable and inconsistent legal challenges, Coleman and his attorneys have vowed to appeal the decision to the Minnesota State Supreme Court and if unsuccessful there possibly the U.S. Supreme Court. Leading Republicans in Washington, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republican Campaign Chairman John Cornyn, are supporting Coleman’s appeals as a way to obstruct Franken from being seated to a Senate seat he has rightfully won to prevent Democrats from claiming their 59th seat in the 100 member body.
“Enough is enough,” said Kaine. “It is time for Norm Coleman to concede and for Al Franken to be sworn in as the next U.S. Senator from Minnesota. The voters of Minnesota months ago elected Al Franken to the Senate – and during every step in the legal process that judgment has been confirmed. Norm Coleman’s own legal challenge resulted in more votes for Al Franken and now a three judge panel has ruled Al Franken the winner.
Former Senator Coleman’s insistence on continuing his quixotic quest for this seat at best shows that he is putting his own political ambition ahead of the people and worst that he is complicit in an effort by national Republicans to deny Al Franken this seat for as long as possible so there is one less Democratic vote for President Obama’s agenda for change. “The people of Minnesota deserve two Senators and the people of America deserve 100 in the U.S. Senate. More importantly, the voters who cast ballots on Election Day deserve to have their verdict stand. Senator Coleman may have a right to continue his legal challenges no matter how hopeless they are, but the right thing to do here is to concede defeat and allow this saga to end once and for all.” Kaine went on to say that regardless of whether or not Coleman concedes, the state should issue an election certificate based on tonight’s ruling so Franken can be sworn in immediately.
(corrected version)
