Seconds ago, Norm Coleman announced that he concedes the election to Al Franken. He just called Al a minute ago, and stepped out side his home to thank everyone and make the announcement.
It is over.
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Well, that’s a surprise.
This is a good day for Minnesota!
I am shocked. I wonder what he’s up to????
I think he’s gearing up for another run at the governorship.
Thanks Minnesota!
So the magic number has been obtained! Thanks Norm Coleman. This one time.
Doesn’t the Gov. still have to certify it? I wonder how many Senate votes he gets to make F. sit out first.
Nathan: Ugh. Technically you may be correct. However, there may also be a way for the Dems to seat Franken if Pawlenty does not certify.
Also, I promise you this: If Pawlenty refused to certify now, he will be impeached. All we need to do is grow some balls on our legislature.
Yay yay yay!!!!!!!!
For all this delay, Franken should just be allowed to stay in the Senate for two terms, skipping the next election entirely.
I wonder, Greg, since only governor can call for a special session (which would be needed for impeachment) if Pawlenty could be impeached, or possibly recalled. He’ll sign it, though, because Coleman conceding gives him an out and will help him save face for his conservative backers.
BBC has it:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8127589.stm
He’ll sign it.
Good going, Minnesota!
Smarm smarms smarm. I can feel it through the intertubes.
I will be interested to see what the reaction is when Al Franken walks onto the Senate floor for the first time.
Democrats would be right to applaud him. The Republicans should applaud him as well, or at least, fall silent.
It certainly is about time. Thanks for keeping us posted on this for the last several weeks. Months.
When was the last time the Democrats had 60 votes in the Senate?
Time for a well deserved beer.
Congratulations Senator Al Franken!
What are the chances that Coleman will run for Governor?
Paul: When was the last time the Democrats had 60 votes in the Senate?
1979 (61)
Paul, YouTube has it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5hjF652izs
Wasn’t it Coleman who said immediately after the election, (when he appeared to be ahead by a few votes) that the honorable thing for Franken to do would be to concede, and not put Minnesota through the required-by-law recount? Did it really take a half-year for honor to catch up with him? I hope Minnesotans remember which party deprived them of representation in the Senate for these six months.
Yes, he said that. No, it was not a half year. It was 8 months!
Andrew, that youtube video was painful. You owe me several minutes of my life now.
I’m glad this is over because now I can focus on finding my new Russian Bride!!!! (see ads —>)
Who ‘splodes first? Rush or BillO?
Simultaneous would be fine.
Given what Rush said about the supreme court’s Hartford decision (9-0), he’ll probably say that Coleman won the election contest and Franken mugged him and took the electioncertificate.
I just heard that the governor has signed the election certificate. I assume it is being carried down the hall to Ritchie’s office as we speak.
Yeah, a 5-4 decision becomes a “nine-zip” win, and a 9-0 decision becomes scary hyperbole. I’d recommend Limbaugh take a remedial math course, but that isn’t his problem — it’s an inability to face reality.
Well, Rush has already compared Franken’s recount victory to Ahmadinejad’s. Right. Because those two elections have sooo much in common.
Then there are the folks who describe Coleman as “gracious”.
That word, I do not think it means what they think it means.
Awesome. It took long enough… but it’s over!
Or beginning… 🙂
ugh. finally over.
however, i think both coleman and franken should be held accountable for the fiasco. the 312 vote difference is well within the error rate for both hand count and machine count. the vote discrepancy is meaningless. franken and coleman were tied. lots of money was wasted on recounts and litigation when there should have just been a coin flip to decide.
i am surprised that coleman conceded. he must have had some reason. i am scared to think of what it is. maybe a coleman/bachmann ticket for the next presidential race?
~shudder~
Rob: I understand your frustrations, but when “oughtta be” and “what the law is” are different, especially when it comes to the election process, it is the law that has to be followed.
I actually suported Coleman’s right to proceed as he did up to and not including his contest with the State Supreme Court. Yes, he had that right, but not a single legal expert speaking with a modicum of honesty thought it had a chance. This, and the way he did it shows that the SC appeal was a political gambit, and for that, he should be held (politically) accountable. Otherwise, neither candidate did anything wrong.