[Blue Lion]

Not that one.... or that one... or that one either.


Norm Coleman concedes defeat after MN Supreme Court rules for Al Franken

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_minnesota_senate

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Republican Norm Coleman conceded to Democrat Al Franken in Minnesota's contested Senate race on Tuesday, hours after a unanimous state Supreme Court ruled the former "Saturday Night Live" comedian should be certified the winner.

Coleman announced his decision at a news conference in St. Paul, bringing an end to a nearly eight-month recount and court fight over an election decided by only a few hundred votes.

"The Supreme Court has made its decision and I will abide by the results," Coleman told reporters outside his St. Paul home.

Coleman, appearing relaxed and upbeat, said he had congratulated Franken, was at peace with the decision and had no regrets about the fight, which started almost immediately after the Nov. 4 election.

"Sure I wanted to win," said Coleman, who called the ruling a surprise. "I thought we had a better case. But the court has spoken."

He declined to talk about his future plans, brushing aside a question about whether he would run for governor in 2010.

Franken's victory will give Democrats control over 60 Senate seats, the number needed to overcome any Republican filibusters to health care, energy, or other legislation they or the Obama administration is seeking.

But to exercise that strength, they will need to remain as united in support of a bill as Republicans are in opposition, regardless of regional differences, ideology, or political self-interest.

The situation is further complicated by the illness of two senior Democrats who have been absent from the Capitol for weeks. West Virginia Sen. Robert C. Byrd was recently released from a hospital after undergoing treatment for a staph infection, and Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is battling brain cancer. It is not known when, or whether, either will be able to return to the Capitol.

An early test could come next month, when health care legislation reaches the Senate floor. Democrats have been seeking agreement on a bipartisan plan with a handful of Republicans. But if those talks falter, they and the White House may end up in a situation where 60 votes would be needed to advance one of the administration's highest priorities.

The White House issued a statement saying President Barack Obama looks "forward to working with Senator-Elect Franken to build a new foundation for growth and prosperity by lowering health care costs and investing in the kind of clean energy jobs and industries that will help America lead in the 21st century."

According to Betty K. Koed, the assistant Senate historian, the 60-vote majority marks the first time either political party has reached that level since the late 1970s.

Coleman's appeal hinged largely on an argument that local election officials had inconsistently applied the state's requirements for absentee voters. He and his lawyers had hoped to bring thousands of disqualified absentee votes into the count, but the state's high court sided with a lower court and rejected that argument.

Because voting absentee is an option, voters who choose to do so have to comply with the law, the justices wrote. And they said there was no valid reason to apply a more lenient standard in judging absentees, as Coleman wanted, than the law required.

"Because strict compliance with the statutory requirements for absentee voting is, and always has been required, there is no basis on which voters could have reasonably believed that anything less than strict compliance would suffice."

Coleman could have carried his fight into the federal courts, but it was unlikely a federal court would have overturned the state Supreme Court decision. That possibility created months of intrigue over whether Gov. Tim Pawlenty would sign an election certificate if Coleman continued an appeal — a possibility that quickly became moot with Coleman's concession.

Pawlenty said he would sign the certificate later Tuesday.

Franken declared his candidacy more than two years ago, and he and Coleman have combined to spend $50 million in pursuit of the seat. That's more than double what it cost candidates in 2002, when Coleman won the seat that had been held by the late Paul Wellstone.

In the months since Election Day, both men have kept comparatively low profiles. After Coleman's term expired in January, he took a job as a consultant and strategic adviser to the Republican Jewish Coalition, a group that advocates in Washington on Jewish issues.

But Coleman also frequently appeared at the lower-court proceeding that handled his legal challenge, in contrast to Franken, who stayed away. Aside from some trips to Washington to meet with Reid and other Senate leaders, Franken has spent his time in private, saying he was studying issues to be prepared if seated.

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Franken told her Tuesday he's "ready to get started immediately." The Democrat said Franken is expected to immediately dive into the health care reform debate.

"This victory was hard earned for Al Franken and his family," she said. "Franni Franken had a suitcase packed, ready to go to Washington at a moment's notice, like you do when you're waiting to have a baby. She had a toothbrush, clothes, all of that, ready to go."

[iamzack]

Minnesota is still a state? I thought we ceded it to Canada when there were fewer than thirty teeth in the state.

[redsniper]

Back off zack, A Prairie Home Companion comes from Minnesota.

[Ford Prefect]

As does Al Franken. He wrote a book entitled Rush Limbaugh is a Big, Fat Idiot-- how bad could he be?

[Sushi]

Title reminded me of this:

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28784

[iamzack]

I hate that article. Too eerie.

[IceFire]

Minnesota is still a state? I thought we ceded it to Canada when there were fewer than thirty teeth in the state.

We're fine with our 10 provinces and 3 territories.  No need for any more

[iamzack]

Minnesota is still a state? I thought we ceded it to Canada when there were fewer than thirty teeth in the state.

We're fine with our 10 provinces and 3 territories.  No need for any more

What if we toss in North Dakota and Idaho?

[iamzack]

Oh, and Alaska.

[Kosh]

I would have thought he was talking about the fall of the republicrats, but that's ok.

[Liberator]

Well, you Euro guys are gonna get your wish...the USA is well and truly ****ed now...

[Kosh]

It wouldn't have mattered, both parties are just twins dressed in different suits.

[Blue Lion]

60 member majority now. This could be quite the show now.

[Black Wolf]

Depends if Obama still wants to play bi-partisan and tip-toe around the opposition. If he just gets up and goes, well, the US might finally start to grow up post cold-war and join the rest of the civilized world. Otherwise, well, more of the same.

[TESLA]

Well, you Euro guys are gonna get your wish...the USA is well and truly ****ed now...

The USA was well and truly ****ed from the 2000 election onwards.

[Liberator]

Well, you Euro guys are gonna get your wish...the USA is well and truly ****ed now...

The USA was well and truly ****ed from the 2000 election onwards.

Back it up to 1991 and I might agree with you...

[SpardaSon21]

Depends if Obama still wants to play bi-partisan and tip-toe around the opposition. If he just gets up and goes, well, the US might finally start to grow up post cold-war and join the rest of the civilized world. Otherwise, well, more of the same.

Obama has a reputation as a moderate and a post-partisan man.  And politicians do need to maintain reputations, since they don't have any real principles to replace them in case they are gone.  So don't expect Obama to go far-left anytime soon, as he needs to keep the American people thinking he cares about the opposition.

[Inquisitor]

Maybe he actually does?

[iamzack]

Maybe he actually does?

Ugh, I hope not. Until the Republicans come up with something other than "protecting" marriage and sucking corporate dick, they don't deserve to be listened to.

[NGTM-1R]

Maybe he actually does?

All things considered, he's probably far too forward-thinking to do so.