Minnesota Supreme Court Decides for Franken

Bob Ryrd? Robert Byrd,methinks.

I think the willingness to push the oligarch line from Lieberdems like the odious Ben Nelson and Evan Bayh, and the longstanding do-nothingness desires of Harry “punch drunk” Reid are bigger threats to a filibuster-proof majority than anything that happened to Kennedy.
I could see Kennedy getting wheeled in on a gurney to be the last vote for the public option, while I could see Reid placing a “secret hold” on himself because he didn’t want to rock any boats before the election in two years.

The fact remains that Dem counties were a lot more lenient counting absentee ballots, and that gave Franken an advantage.

“like the odious Ben Nelson and Evan Bayh”
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and I am a troll for presenting facts that call into question Barack Obama’s bona fides when it comes to race?

It’s been a while since I’ve had full representation. Good thing the last 6 months have been so quiet.
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Kudos to Amy “caucus of one” Klobuchar.

Any bets if Coleman will do the classy thing and bow out at this point?

I would say, “Isn’t there a better way?”, and then realize that this counting votes phonomena is an indication of how evenly divided the country is between the right and left wings. Curious. Righties 1 Big One (Bush), Lefties 1 Big But Not As Big (Franken).
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Wonder if the Founding Fathers envisioned the judiciary as the arbitrator of democratic vote. With Clerance Thomas types lurking about, sends a shiver up the spine.

It’s about time that the senate seats Franken. And yes spob, you are a TROLL.

The whole 60 seat filibuster proof Senate has been overhyped anyway. As has already been pointed out, there has always been the Blue Dog faction to contend with. With or without the Dems hitting the magic 60 number.

Seriously? “Bob Ryrd”??? Just another example of an editor-free, spellcheck-free Swampland.

There should be term limits in the House and Senate. That would get rid of the problem of these really old senators with health issues that should have retired long ago. There also should be an age limit for congress and the president. Federal employees are forced to retire at a certain age.

I think, CP, I’m just a conservative who hits back hard, and you guys don’t like it.

The Borgen Project has some good info on the cost of addressing global poverty.

$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$550 billion: U.S. Defense budget

Conceded

Franken is senator.

formerly: Shouldn’t that be “Clearance” Thomas? As in they found him in the bargain basement in a pile of slightly irregular judges?

“formerly: Shouldn’t that be “Clearance” Thomas? As in they found him in the bargain basement in a pile of slightly irregular judges?”
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Yet another trollish comment from a troll. What’s with you guys–all venom and no argument?

queencersei 3:49pm: Any bets if Coleman will do the classy thing and bow out at this point?
“Classy”? Hell, NO! Coleman was the winner, outright.
This is the time to bring out those placards: “Where is my vote”! and “I voted Coleman, they read Franken!”

Look at the problems besetting Minnesota right now. Poor governance. Reforms are needed. Coleman is a good American. He is a patriotic American who loves his country much too much to give up on reforms now!

Coleman will not give up. He will keep on taking on those Mullahs at the supreme court and bring to Minnesota the reforms it needs. It may take weeks, months, years. Coleman will call upon his supporters and fellow reformers into the streets to demonstrate for reforms and rerun.

Where are the bloggers? Where is Twitter? Where is HRC and BHO? And Sakorzy and Brown!
The recent recount by the Mullahs was of little utility and the system suffers from a huge credibility gap with Minnesotans.
Reform now! Rerun NOW!
The world is bearing witness!

hells and spob, call him each what you like. I call him a hypocrite and a disgrace.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/06/023930.php
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Enjoy. Cartoon is awesome.

Enjoy. Cartoon is awesome.
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Finally!!! A “change of subject” we can believe in!
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Or not . . .

After suffering through this recount since last November, I favor Shakespeare’s advice: The first thing we must do is kill all the lawyers. The election judges did a fair and careful job with the recount, and the lawyers dragged it through the courts for another 6 months.

The first thing we must do is kill all the lawyers.
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davethompsonmpls,
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I am SOOO tempted to request a contest on “best lawyer jokes” but will not do so so as NOT to derail the discussion.

I am copy/pasting my comment on this topic from the “Edwards Laundry” thread as I did not realize their was a post on the Coleman/Franken issue…
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While I am certainly not defending Norm Coleman, nor am I disputing the legitimacy of Sen. Al Franken’s victory, I do believe we should forever be leery of entertainers turned politicians, for one simple reason: their egotistical histrionics are too closely resembling of the behavior already existing with the Congressional corridors. If we want true outsider reformers we should always avoid those whose careers have already been made on entertaining, egocentric condescension.
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Franken actually has some fairly admirable policy initiatives, however, his history of ridiculing those with whom he disagrees, his blatant fabrication of ‘facts’ in his many books, and manipulation of others’ statements to discredit their view-points is entirely counter-productive to governing and in absolute contradiction to his own proclamation that he intends to work ardently with all of his Congressional peers to advance the policies he views as enabling America’s resurgent prosperity.
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In any case, he is now Senator Al Franken. I wish him the very best in his honest endeavors and I sincerely hope that I am wrong as to his character.

neoexile –
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“his blatant fabrication of ‘facts’ in his many books, and manipulation of others’ statements to discredit their view-points is entirely counter-productive to governing and in absolute contradiction to his own proclamation that he intends to work ardently with all of his Congressional peers to advance the policies he views as enabling America’s resurgent prosperity.”
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Aye matey – tha’ sort o’ shenanigans be only acceptable when it be republicans engagin’. Like ye seems t’ be doin’ ri’ now…
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Arrgh!

..his history of ridiculing those with whom he disagrees…
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Exiled,
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You’ll have to admit, though, that it will be interesting to watch if he gets on a committee with some of the more “over the top” GOP blowhards.
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C-SPAN could get more than a little entertaining during the debate broadcasts. I’ll bring the popcorn.

spob, your link supporting armed coup in Honduras did not impress me, nor did the cartoon linking Obama with other SA leaders, some elected, some not, bowl me over.
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What you are saying is that legitimate political manuevering by a lawfully elected (left wing) leader is properly met by overthrow by unelected military leaders. You know, how things have always worked in Latin America.
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Personally, I am happy that Obama and our country had nothing to do with it, so far as is known at present.

Neo,
I agree completely. I’ve long thought that entertainers have no place in politics, as it should be an arena reserved for serious minds like Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenneger, Jack Kemp, Fred Thompson, and Sonny Bono.

PW
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Oh, come now. Am I not entitled to my opinion? Especially, when I compliment my own disdain towards Franken with these:
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Franken actually has some fairly admirable policy initiatives
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I wish him the very best in his honest endeavors and I sincerely hope that I am wrong as to his character.
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Franken’s inconsistencies and inaccuracies are well documented, you can check Brian Maloney and Michelle Malkin.

So glad that after all the insults neo “wish(es) him the very best in his honest endeavors”. I thought the “honest” qualifier was a nice jerky touch.
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And it’s a shame that so few people understand which Shakespearian character said “The first thing we must do is kill all the lawyers” and in what context.

Apologies for the typos — they have, hopefully, all been fixed. More to come with Franken’s press conference expected at 5:15.
JNS

formerlyjames, are you really going to go on record as saying that Zelaya’s “maneuvering” was legitimate?
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Franken really ought to be in the Obama Administration–he and Geithner can compare notes on not paying taxes.

JNS, so what about outsourcing, now that the your idea that the rest of the world has to follow Kyoto has been debunked?

Vast-
Being an entertainer in and of itself is certainly not a complete indictment of one’s political capabilities, that is certain.
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However, Jesse Ventura? Need I say more?

PNNTO, Vast
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So, what? I am of the opinion that Franken is an overbearing, pompous ass with reasonable policy goals.
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Reagan, Schwarzenegger. These men largely professionalized themselves upon winning office and went about the tasks of governing. If Franken can check his act at the door, he should do fine. I am unsure, though, if he can separate his long-held theatrical personality from his rational views on domestic policy. We shall see. I hope he succeeds in engaging his peers and legislating effectively. I truly do.

neo-you write a jerky comment, pretend it wasn’t, and then say “So what?” and use the Governor of California as your standard for governing.
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Too perfect.

Neo,
I hear you, and honestly I do agree . . . kind of.
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While I think that politics should be a realm of thoughtful contemplation and reasoned discourse, I don’t think being an “entertainer” necessarily disqualifies someone. If they’re willing to leave their “entertainer” hat at the door and engage in the serious business they were elected to do, they can bring a lot to the table. If Franken can engage other elected officials in rational debate, and save the humor and histrionics for dealing with the fringe (Rush, Bill O’Reilly, and other clowns), he’ll do fine.
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Conversely, some of the most “serious” minds can act like utter fools when elected to public office. Bill Frist, MD made a complete fool of himself during the Terri Schiavo case, and Woodrow Wilson, one of our most “prepared” presidents, made a mash of things once elected.
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In other words, temperment counts, as does dedication to the job and the people. And I think Franken will score highly in both of those categories.

vw, and how did Frist make a fool of himself with the Terri Schiavo case?

vw, Franken will fit right in–a tax cheat in the Senate.

PNNTO
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“Jerky” comment or not, I am entitled to my personal views of Franken. Though, I do not let that blind me into hoping he fails. Quite the opposite, as a Senator of these United States of America I sincerely hope he excels.
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As for Schwarzenegger, I mentioned him in respect to his transformation from entertainer to quasi-serious politician. I am not implying anything as to his policies, failed or otherwise.

Franken’s inconsistencies and inaccuracies are well documented, you can check Brian Maloney and Michelle Malkin.

BWAAHAHAHAHA!! I’m sorry, but that was hilarious. If you want an ounce of accuracy in your “fact” checks, try using a third party. I’m sure there are media and political watchdogs who could tell you about Frankin’s inaccuracies. Michelle Malkin is almost, but not quite, as unbiased as Rush Limbaugh

And back to the subject at hand: Finally!!!! The writing has been on the wall for months now, and while I can’t blame Coleman for contesting the initial results, this circus was dragged out way too long. I hope Frankin does check his attitude at the door, if only because the democrats don’t need their own Michelle Bachmann.

Okay neo.
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I’m off to pop a bottle of Korbel Natural that has been chilling since last November.

ohiolib–Franken has issues with paying his taxes–he ought to fit right in. He, Geithner, Conyers, Rangel can compare notes.

I never said he didn’t have tax issues. I did say that using Michelle Malkin as a fact check source is ridiculous, which I will stand by. She may be right occasionally, but she’s hardly a reputable source.

N-R: I was not aware of that film–will check it out. I did a fair amt. of my grad work on Edward Said, so my opinions about Palestine were set long ago. I just can’t bear to engage on the topic–it’s like an incredible vortex of ignorance and hate.

Ohiolib
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While I tend to agree with you on Michelle Malkin’s general bias, her lucid debunking of many of Franken’s more egregious claims is in no way less credible due to her personal political views.
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Furthermore, my opinion of Franken has little to do with Malkin’s work, and nearly everything to do with his own observable behaviors.

“I have never believed that my service is irreplaceable”
And neither has anyone else.

neo –
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True, ye be entitled t’ yer opinion. I were just pointin’ out tha’ in th’ examples ye were allegin, yer own party be full o’ pros a’ tha’ kind o’ behavior.
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Just wantin’ t’ be fair an’ balanced, me hearty! Ye were makin’ it sound li’ this were a partic’lar unique “failin’” o’ Senator Frankin by offerin’ wha’ appeared t’ be a left-handed compliment. Tha’ be my readin’ o’ th’ situation.
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arrgh!

ohiolib –
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A word o’ advice, me bucko, (buckeye?)
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Do not, under any circumstances, be tryin’ t’ reason wi’, enlighten, engage, ‘r have any sort o’ rational discourse wi’ spbob (spongy)!
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Just tell ‘im t’ go f ‘imself an’ move on t’ others more in touch wi’ th’ world o’ reality…
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Arrgh!

JC
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Ah, Edward Said. “Orientalism” is a great read…
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As for “Occupation 101″ its an unnecessary documentary for the well-informed, however it cuts right through American media’s sinful reporting of the conflict with poignant and accurate historical analysis, graphic footage and imagery, and extremely insightful interviews with former American diplomats and Congressmen, such as Paul Findley, founder of Council for the National Interest (the counterpart to AIPAC), human rights organizers, journalists, and, of course, Noam Chomsky.

PW
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Fair enough, you call ‘em as you see ‘em. Can’t fault you for that.
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Cheerio

Ah, PW, you’re once again your charming self.

Coleman will now have more time to spend with the FBI.

Good web story JNS. Thanks.

I second PNNTO.
Significantly more detail and insight than I initially expected.

I tried to call Amy Klobuchar last week to put a plug for a public option for the health care bill. The first time I sat on hold for 10 minute before giving up, the second time I finally got through after 5 min on hold. So I too, will be glad for a second Senator.
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I think Al will be a good man in Paul Wellstone’s old seat. I think (hope) he will be as passionate and honest…although Wellstone cannot ever be truly replaced. He was such a great Senator. If Franken is half as good I’ll be pleased.
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JNS, nice web story.

“After nearly eight months, millions of dollars in legal fees, two appeals and a recount, GOP incumbent Norm Coleman conceded gracefully…”
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JNS: Please re-read this sentence and you’ll realize how ridiculous it really sounds.

kbanginmotown, funny, Dems are the ones that started this whole election by litigation thing, and the GOP lacks class for following their example . . . .