Breaking: Say hello to Senator Al Franken; Update: Coleman concedes
posted at 2:35 pm on June 30, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
To no one’s great shock, the Minnesota Supreme Court has rejected Norm Coleman’s appeal of the election contest and awarded the Senate election to Al Franken. The decision, expected last week, stated that Coleman failed to prove that recounting thousands of rejected ballots would have impacted the final results:
It is U.S. Sen. Al Franken.
The Minnesota Supreme Court today decided that Franken, a Democrat, won the highest number of votes in last year’s U.S. Senate race and deserves a signed election certificate.
The court said that Republican Norm Coleman didn’t prove that a lower court made mistakes requiring a rehearing of the case. Coleman had asked the court to order thousands of rejected absentee ballots counted. He had hoped the counting would allow him to overcome Franken’s 312-vote lead.
As I wrote before, the equal-protection argument Coleman used for this appeal had more chance of success in federal court rather than state court. The state court kept itself to the issues of state law, rather than the more expansive federal issue of equal treatment of votes. No one who followed the arguments at the court can be surprised by this decision, which was unanimous.
Coleman could push this into the federal courts, but he has yet to commit to doing so. Tim Pawlenty indicated that he would follow the state Supreme Court’s direction in handling the election certificate, which means Franken will probably take his seat this week in the Senate. If Coleman appeals to the federal court, he will have to also deal with Franken’s status as a seated Senator.
My guess — and this is just a guess — is that Coleman will call it a day. We’ll soon see.
Update: Eric Black reports that the certificate was not specifically ordered. Hmmm. That gives Pawlenty an out, if he chooses to wait for a Coleman federal appeal.
Update II: Ignore my original update II. ABC News sent out an old report, and I didn’t catch it at first.
Update III: Catching this via Twitter from Howard Kurtz — Norm Coleman has conceded. He wants to focus on fishing more than the governor’s race for now, but I think he decided to stop now to preserve his viability within the state of Minnesota. Probably not a bad decision for him personally.
Update IV: Coleman’s statement, as provided by his campaign:
“Ours is a government of laws, not men and women. The Supreme Court of Minnesota has spoken and I respect its decision and will abide by the result. It’s time for Minnesota to come together under the leaders it has chosen and move forward. I join all Minnesotans in congratulating our newest United States Senator – Al Franken.
“Just a few last words about my legal challenge. Sure, I wanted to win. Not just for myself but for my wonderful supporters and the important values I have always fought for. I also thought it was important to stand up for enfranchising thousands of Minnesotans whose votes weren’t counted like the others were. After all, issues and politicians come and go, but voting is fundamental.
“It is the essence of democracy so I knew we needed to do everything we could to get it right.
“I am forever grateful and humbled by the people of Minnesota who have given me the honor to represent them – and even more grateful for their wisdom, courage, patience and understanding over these past several months.
“The path that I take in the future is not nearly as important today as the path that we must now — all travel on together — to strengthen our state and our nation.
“I have never believed that my service is irreplaceable. We have reached the point where further litigation damages the unity of our state, which is also fundamental. In these tough times, we all need to focus on the future. And the future today is we have a new United States Senator.
“I congratulate Al Franken and his victory in this election. He now enjoys the advantage that our Congressional Delegation has over the other 525 people on Capitol Hill: he represents Minnesota.
“I know the great ideas, the amazing work ethic and the historic ability to come together to get things done in this state will help him greatly, as it has me.
“Speaking of which, I think we all should take a moment to thank Amy Klobuchar and her staff. They have done a great job of carrying the burden of two Senators these last six months. She is an extraordinary public servant.
“I don’t reach this point with any big regrets. I ran the campaign I wanted. I conducted the legal challenge I wanted. And I have always believed you do the best you can and leave the results up to a higher authority. I’m at peace with that. As to my future plans, that’s a subject for another day.
“We live in a great country and a great state. We can all have confidence that by some path we don’t yet know – one which we can all come together to lay out – we will arrive at the better future we all seek.
“Thank you and may God bless Minnesota and America.”
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Scrumpy hugs are the best!
KCB on March 28, 2013 at 12:05 AM
*be making a peanut butter sandwich while Princess composes butt-handing response. not ignoring. brb.
Axe on March 28, 2013 at 12:06 AM
Instead of Helping Obama and his Partners – The Mainstream Media – in spreading and fanning the Message of Distraction that Obama and his Agents wish to Obfuscate the truth with, Allahpundit and this blog would be much more helpful if they EXPOSED the Complicity and Censorship The Mainstream Media uses to COVER UP the Racist Bullying and Threats they engage in over and over again to SILENCE The Truth!
williamg on March 28, 2013 at 12:06 AM
I want to marry 3 women and society won’t let me.
Rusty Allen on March 28, 2013 at 12:06 AM
Rusty Allen on March 28, 2013 at 12:03 AM
Your poem from last night, was truly amazing!! I bow before the greatest Poet on HA!! (applause)… ^5
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:06 AM
It was? i must have missed that.
KCB on March 28, 2013 at 12:06 AM
And if they can consent, they get a free Barbie, right?
It’s late, I’m nearing end of my day here, but really, even a child can consent, so you should give your idea there more thought.
Lourdes on March 28, 2013 at 12:07 AM
Oh.. good idea. Me, too. I think I’ll have extra chunky peanut butter on cinnamon raisin bread. :) ~brb~
thatsafactjack on March 28, 2013 at 12:07 AM
Rusty Allen on March 28, 2013 at 12:06 AM
Your wish may come true sooner than you think ;-)
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:07 AM
Freakin’ haters!!!!!
KCB on March 28, 2013 at 12:07 AM
thatsafactjack on March 28, 2013 at 12:07 AM
That’s one of MY fav snacks too!!
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:08 AM
Good point..:)
Dire Straits on March 28, 2013 at 12:09 AM
Same sex marriage is legal right now in nine states and the District of Columbia. It’s been legal in Massachusetts for ten years. It was briefly legal in California. The states where it is legal are generally among the most liberal in the union. If I’m a fat mouthed liar for saying churches won’t be forced against their will to perform gay marriage ceremonies they don’t want to then make a list for me of all the churches in Massachusetts who have been forced to over the last decade. Tell you what, just provide me with one. Or in any other state where gay marriage is already legal.
*whistles Jeopardy! theme*
It’s not that I’m a fat-mouthed liar, it’s that you’re either so blinded by your own personal biases and preconceived notions that you’re willing to ignore the facts on the ground, or you’re just not very smart. You pick one.
alchemist19 on March 28, 2013 at 12:09 AM
Thank you, wonderful lady.
Rusty Allen on March 28, 2013 at 12:09 AM
I wrote my fingers off about John Dewey in January and Common Core in February. Common Core is educational indoctrination on steroids—it’s the Obama plan to nationalize education that’s slipped in virtually ignored on big blogs. Michelle Malkin is the only one I can think of who has spent any time on it.
Education is a yawner for most people, but the longitudinal data bases contain enough fodder to get anyone concerned. The The Radical Fingerprints On Common Core ought to wake people up.
Here are lists of the posts I’ve done:
http://upstreampolitics.wordpress.com/family/children/education/john-dewey/
http://upstreampolitics.wordpress.com/family/children/education/common-core/
That last link also list white papers on Common Core. The posts on Stopping Common Core and States Against Common Core lists other articles, websites, and information.
INC on March 28, 2013 at 12:09 AM
SSM should never be recognized until the government and churches are separate entities. That’s why I think society needs to change the whole way that “marriage” is described when the government is involved.
Midwestprincesse on March 28, 2013 at 12:09 AM
You have excellent taste, Spritely One, and we have a lot in common. :)
thatsafactjack on March 28, 2013 at 12:11 AM
No master, I heard it is best to vomit or defecate on them, unless they are crazy Germans who like that kinky stuff.
arnold ziffel on March 28, 2013 at 12:11 AM
Everyone knows you can’t whistle. You can blow all you want.
KCB on March 28, 2013 at 12:11 AM
Try feeding that line of utterly dishonest and disingenuous bullshit to Dr Neil Clark Warren.
SWalker on March 28, 2013 at 12:12 AM
I meant, of course, by way of food and politics, philosophy and the arts, and where we live…so many things. :)
thatsafactjack on March 28, 2013 at 12:12 AM
It will be different when it is national instead of state to state.
Cindy Munford on March 28, 2013 at 12:13 AM
Hot Air and Allahpundit COULD be helping to Hold This Racist Accountable, instead of Assisting Obama and his Agents in Spreading The Distraction and Obfuscation that they want to DIRECT The Media to initiate.
williamg on March 28, 2013 at 12:13 AM
Man, where do you begin….?
Cleombrotus on March 28, 2013 at 12:13 AM
Times are changing, we either ‘get with it’ or fall by the wayside…
None of us like the idea that the gays want to ‘hijack’ marriage…
None of us want any church to be forced to perform a gay marriage.
But in the end, who is the Judge who will judge all?
Certainly not us.
God above will judge…
All we can do is make sure that WE are right with God…
Discussion is healthy.
But we can’t change a thing, all we have is prayer.
My 2 cents worth…
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:13 AM
I’m so glad you’ve written about Common Core, exposing it for the sham it is — no, not sham, the horror that it is.
The Hippies and Black Panthers and Weather Underground and Symbionese (sp?) Liberation Army have aged and are now entrenched in government and education. Now their Haze has become Normal, or so they claim, and they are dedicated to making sure that all up-and-coming youth experience the thrills of being Radical and Corrupt.
Lourdes on March 28, 2013 at 12:14 AM
And this is why the GOP is going to die a political death.
Barbies. Who the heck talks about Barbies in politics? My gosh. Grow up.
Midwestprincesse on March 28, 2013 at 12:14 AM
I’m not talking to him, I’m talking to you.
alchemist19 on March 28, 2013 at 12:14 AM
thatsafactjack on March 28, 2013 at 12:12 AM
I got that hon, thank you!!
You just say it better! :-)
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:15 AM
Got Me Under Pressure – ZZTop
thatsafactjack on March 28, 2013 at 12:16 AM
.
Just another hurdle for the Atheist or God is dead crowd.
One cannot have Liberty without Morality. You cannot have Morality without Faith.
God and Faith must be killed by the progtards. That is their goal here.
FlaMurph on March 28, 2013 at 12:16 AM
That was the sales pitch for The Hindenburg, wasn’t it? You know, be among the Kool Kids, Fly High, crash and burn…
Lourdes on March 28, 2013 at 12:17 AM
Also, there’s a trajectory to this thing that you are failing to notice. It isn’t going to end with SSM.
Cleombrotus on March 28, 2013 at 12:18 AM
Don’t get out much do ya?
It was an allegory… the reference to barbies…
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:18 AM
*munch*
:) Just screwing around.
Get to see JPeterman though. Pretty cool.
Axe on March 28, 2013 at 12:18 AM
I thought the same thing.
Midwestprincesse, I’d suggest reading this from The Heritage Foundation on the questions and answers driving the marriage debate.
It’ll take you less than 10 minutes. Even if you don’t agree or it leaves you with more questions, you’ll at least have an overview of things that are being said.
INC on March 28, 2013 at 12:19 AM
Lourdes on March 28, 2013 at 12:17 AM
I forgot me sarc tag… :-)
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:19 AM
You’re the one who wrote that marriage should be allowed as long as someone “could consent”.
It’s an immature, entirely naive if not clueless thing to state. Thus, “they even get free Barbies!”
Children can consent. Offer them free Barbies, or no school or a pony or ten kittens, listen to their consent.
Lourdes on March 28, 2013 at 12:19 AM
This fight isn’t about equal rights. Its about forcing a lifestyle to be the law of the land and punishing those who won’t accept it.
RedRobin145 on March 28, 2013 at 12:20 AM
Most will stop marrying folks all together..:(
Dire Straits on March 28, 2013 at 12:20 AM
Not going to happen, the princess is a moby or troll me thinks.
SWalker on March 28, 2013 at 12:20 AM
You got it in one!
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:21 AM
Legs – ZZTop
thatsafactjack on March 28, 2013 at 12:21 AM
Really. Excellent.
Axe on March 28, 2013 at 12:21 AM
So, if a 3, 4, 5, 9 years old consents, you’re ok with it?
You’re like the muzzies, except there the parents do the ‘consenting’.
Schadenfreude on March 28, 2013 at 12:22 AM
SWalker on March 28, 2013 at 12:20 AM
I like that you are gonna post some of your work here!!
A suggestion tho, instead of linking the comment, just change the link to that page in your nom :-)
I wish you had a wider audience… you write good stuff!!
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:23 AM
What’s a baby sea lion matter in the big scheme of things? He has been so great pulling the male Sarah Brady act.
arnold ziffel on March 28, 2013 at 12:23 AM
Lourdes on March 28, 2013 at 12:23 AM
Be very aware and scared. This is now precedent.
Schadenfreude on March 28, 2013 at 12:24 AM
No, Midwest…the GOP is not going to die a political death because they fail to embrace SSM.
Cleombrotus on March 28, 2013 at 12:24 AM
I’m as ‘unlisted’ as one can be these days.
How is your sandwich? Mine was excellent. Thanks for the suggestion. :)
thatsafactjack on March 28, 2013 at 12:24 AM
Thanks. I started in January and thought I’d do a few things on School Choice week, but as I did I realized I really needed to write about Common Core. But because Common Core is the culmination of where the progressives have been headed for over 100 years, I realized I should start by going back and talking about the godfather of educational progressives, John Dewey. To know John Dewey is to know Bill Ayers & co.
INC on March 28, 2013 at 12:24 AM
I didn’t mean stop what you are doing and write a book. :)
I just meant, you know, push the discussion. Link something. That kind of thing.
INC covered it.
Axe on March 28, 2013 at 12:24 AM
Yes, I like your work, too, SWalker.
So good night, all.
Lourdes on March 28, 2013 at 12:24 AM
Axe on March 28, 2013 at 12:21 AM
And you! I have read what you write also, you are pretty insightful yourself there… thought provoking to say the least!!
Good job! ^5
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:25 AM
I don’t think I’m failing to notice. SSM is not the first shot nor the last. The downhill rolling of the rock of civilization is just gaining speed to the bottom.
Cindy Munford on March 28, 2013 at 12:25 AM
NOT THE SAME MAN AS THAT OTHER DEWEY
Axe on March 28, 2013 at 12:25 AM
I’ve been watching that, too. I think it’s likely contagious.
Good evening, Schadenfreude. :)
thatsafactjack on March 28, 2013 at 12:26 AM
Lourdes on March 28, 2013 at 12:23 AM
Lol no gulag for me!! :-)
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:26 AM
As aggressive as the Gay Mafia is, they’re still capable of knowing when it’s the proper time to engage in a hudna. But just watch what happens if the Supreme Court passes the same sex marriage equivalent of Roe vs. Wade. They’ll bare their fangs and sue anyone and everyone who doesn’t willingly go along with dragging this country back to the decadence of Ancient Rome.
If you look at the way they have conducted themselves over the past 30 years, it’s hard to come to any other conclusion. They push a little, then a little more. And when they win a victory, they start pushing harder and harder. And now, all of the sudden, if you only support civil unions and not gay marriage, you’re a bigoted redneck, you’re Bull Connor.
Screw the Gay Mafia, and screw all it’s defenders. I support a middle ground between two extremes, and you represent one of those extremes.
ardenenoch on March 28, 2013 at 12:27 AM
My thoughts are daily provoked, but sometimes I am unable to cognitively put two sentences together!!
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:28 AM
Calling it a night!
KCB on March 28, 2013 at 12:28 AM
No, it doesn’t.
Schadenfreude on March 28, 2013 at 12:28 AM
I think that’s already happening. When Mark Steyn first started writing about the population I think the U.S. was at least at replacement level, I don’t think we are anymore. And then we will be told we need the immigrants.
Cindy Munford on March 28, 2013 at 12:28 AM
This is such a silly argument. It’s silly because under the “new word” created, who cares what the word is (this doesn’t matter – merely it’s definition would) would bar such an instance from happening. I think society needs to be welcoming of all divergent types of relationships. Rip the bandaid. I refuse to be bigoted on the issue.
I am a woman of faith. I went to a private grade school. I believe in God and I’m Pro-Life. I’m not going to be pressured by your or other social conservatives (who can all be under the same pro-SSM camp on libertarian grounds of getting out of the realm of marriage in general) to change my thoughts.
Just because I approve of SSM doesn’t mean that I approve of what SSM stands for. There is a difference. You can either move the Party forward or you can be a part of the Party that elected Mitt, the boring candidate who couldn’t even beat Obama. I will not stand for this.
Midwestprincesse on March 28, 2013 at 12:28 AM
I thought that was Illinidiva. The princess seems to have walked in at the end of the movie and started telling us what the plot was about after we’ve read the book, seen the film and written our reviews.
INC on March 28, 2013 at 12:28 AM
Evening Jackie
Schadenfreude on March 28, 2013 at 12:29 AM
Hotel California – Eagles
thatsafactjack on March 28, 2013 at 12:29 AM
Evening Scrumpy et all, incl. Dicoocoo.
Schadenfreude on March 28, 2013 at 12:29 AM
Whether you approve or not, pedophilia is the next “tabu” to fall. The stage is already being set.
Cindy Munford on March 28, 2013 at 12:31 AM
Night!
No nice things. :)
Confuses me.
Axe on March 28, 2013 at 12:31 AM
.
Some of us still believe that jumpin on another guys butt and giving it an Arkansas A$s pounding is deviant behavior – outside of a natural norm. Forcing marriage “equality” on society will try to give homo sexual activity a normalcy it does not naturally deserve. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. Just not normal.
FlaMurph on March 28, 2013 at 12:31 AM
Thread winner!!..:)
Dire Straits on March 28, 2013 at 12:32 AM
:) Did you know I wrote a post titled The Two Deweys to make sure people realized there were two!
They were both progressives, though.
At least as far as I know the godfather Dewey didn’t steal the ideas of others.
INC on March 28, 2013 at 12:32 AM
Tell me more about how Mitt won….
Look, I’m in the Pro-Sarah Palin camp. And I think you can be pro-marriage and pro-SSM. I don’t like the term SSM because I don’t think that marriage should be the term used at all.
You can either grow the Party or you can watch it die in front of your eyes. Your choice.
Midwestprincesse on March 28, 2013 at 12:32 AM
Mitt is with you.
Schadenfreude on March 28, 2013 at 12:32 AM
I hear you..:)
Dire Straits on March 28, 2013 at 12:33 AM
No, you most assuredly are not.
SWalker on March 28, 2013 at 12:33 AM
Good night Ken dear!! God Bless :-)
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:33 AM
All he needs is Bluegill to tell him he’s a good writer and his career will take off.
RickB on March 28, 2013 at 12:33 AM
Night KCB, frequently referred to as Ken.
Axe on March 28, 2013 at 12:33 AM
::rollseyesagain::
A tad touchy just beneath the surface, are you now, Princess?
I think SWalker was right about the Moby aspect.
Lourdes on March 28, 2013 at 12:33 AM
You are forgetting, are you not, that because of guys like Dewey, she and most of her friends have been conditioned to be unable to process that information.
You can’t give them facts, you have to get them to see that they’re not interpreting the data correctly first. That means somehow overriding those years of conditioning they’ve been subjected to.
Tough job.
Cleombrotus on March 28, 2013 at 12:33 AM
Axe on March 28, 2013 at 12:31 AM
Accept it :-)
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:34 AM
You are right..:(
Dire Straits on March 28, 2013 at 12:34 AM
Well I’d like another one or two my self but mrs ziffel practices sword and knife fighting skills.
arnold ziffel on March 28, 2013 at 12:35 AM
You are wise, SWalker.
Lourdes on March 28, 2013 at 12:35 AM
The rumblings about this are just starting. I noticed on Bill Bennett’s show last week that he is interested in hearing the drawbacks to Common Core. You might want to email your stuff to him.
Cindy Munford on March 28, 2013 at 12:35 AM
No, I was referring to alchemist, Ms. Munford.
Cleombrotus on March 28, 2013 at 12:36 AM
LoLz..:)
PS..Good evening..:)
Dire Straits on March 28, 2013 at 12:36 AM
Good night, my friend. Sleep well. See you soon. :)
thatsafactjack on March 28, 2013 at 12:36 AM
I’d rather have the Delta Force.
arnold ziffel on March 28, 2013 at 12:36 AM
Cleombrotus on March 28, 2013 at 12:33 AM
Tough it is.
I am relentless one on one…I finally this evening got the comment of ’2 good points’ out of a liberal friend of mine!!
I think the eyes are opening… :-) I have faith…
Scrumpy on March 28, 2013 at 12:37 AM
Axe is right. You can contribute by pasting a link. You don’t have to hoe the entire row.
My kids are young adults now, and I homeschooled them for many of their years. I’ve been immersed in education for a long time.
INC on March 28, 2013 at 12:37 AM
This should never be approved. I just think that the GOP needs to move with times. It can be both the Party that is pro-traditional marriage while also being “pro-rights to people that love.” And I don’t think that’s a bad thing.
I’m not saying that we will bring over gay people to the cause. It’s not going to be this large shift right away. But I think that the GOP can slowly, over time, erode the that ship that it’s been on whether conservatives want to face that fact or not. I see this as a good movement to the cause for the GOP rather than some deviant culture thing. Sorry, but straight people participate in many deviant acts too.
Midwestprincesse on March 28, 2013 at 12:37 AM
Oh, I am not arguing that the GOP will not die, I’m simply saying that it will die of deeper reasons than that. An embrace of SSM would merely be a symptom not the cause.
Cleombrotus on March 28, 2013 at 12:38 AM
Free Bird – Skynyrd
thatsafactjack on March 28, 2013 at 12:38 AM
Indeed.
She and him are one – it’s weird that she hammers him.
Schadenfreude on March 28, 2013 at 12:38 AM
You sound more like me tonight than usual. :) Not to imply your opinions on the subject are the same as mine, at all –
But, you hate this thing.
You want to let the horse rot and get back to the economy, yes? Just checking.
*checks pulse*
*checks forehead*
Maybe I forgot the pills . . .
Axe on March 28, 2013 at 12:38 AM
Easy solution for those that believe as you do: Don’t participate in activities as described.
Anything else?
Midwestprincesse on March 28, 2013 at 12:39 AM
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