Democrat Al Franken wins the Minnesota Senate seat. One Word: FINALLY! How long was this race? I think I gave up following this race back in April. It was just dragging - with no relief nor winner in sight! Link With Franken in the seat, Democrats now holds a 60-40 majority in the Senate!Republican Norm Coleman has conceded to Democrat Al Franken in the Minnesota Senate race, ending one of the longest Senate races in American history and clearing the way for Democrats to hold a 60-seat supermajority in the Senate.
Coleman’s concession, given from the front of his St. Paul home, came just a few hours after the Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously ruled Franken the winner of last November’s Senate race. In a 5-0 decision, the court upheld a three-judge panel’s April 14 ruling that Franken defeated Coleman in the race by 312 votes out of 2.9 million cast. The 32-page opinion was remarkably decisive, picking apart and rejecting one Coleman legal claim after another.
In its final line of the ruling, the state Supreme Court said Franken is “entitled” under Minnesota law to “receive the certificate election as United States senator from the state of Minnesota.” Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty plans to sign the certification today, clearing the way for Franken to be sworn in early next week when the Senate returns from its weeklong recess.
“The Supreme Court of Minnesota has spoken, and I respect its decision and will abide by the result,” Coleman said. “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.”
Franken, in remarks outside his Minneapolis home about an hour after Coleman’s concession, said he expected to be seated early next week. Franken has already been told that he’s been named to two key committees — Health, Education and Labor and Pensions and Judiciary.
“It is time to bring the whole state together,” Franken said. “Over the past eight months, … Minnesotans have earned the right to take pride in the transparency and thoroughness of our election process.” Link
If Democrats stand and unite together on any issues, they can break a filibuster. With this supermajority, Democrat owns the agenda. Though Democrats are not perfect in any sense of the word and I know mistakes will be made, but my one advice (for what its worth), Don't Screw Up Big!
The people's voice have spoken - after 8 years of Republican domination, the country wants the ball in the other court. And the Minnesota State Supreme Court have handed the ball to Al Franken. Thank you Norm for accepting defeat gracefully.
All right Obama- you now have more power and support to fix this country! Don't let us down!
Comments
To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, the only thing worse than not having a super majority is having a super majority.
Getting 60 Democrats to vote on any one piece of legislation is like herding cats. Unless the implants are ready for Ben Nelson and Mary Landrieu, this could be a problem for Harry Reid. If you have 60 votes, you can no longer blame the Republicans when things don\'t get done.
It is time for Democrats to act like Republicans. Walking in lock step is not always a bad thing. Democrats should try it some time.
RSS feed for comments to this post.