Jun 30th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
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June 30th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Ah, good. Now the state supreme court has ruled on the issues stemming from the recount, surely nothing can prevent the just and proper outcome.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Who wants to bet Coleman appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court and holds up Franken’s seating another several months to a year?
June 30th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
[...] Matt Y [...]
June 30th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Who wants to bet Coleman appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court and holds up Franken’s seating another several months to a year?
Pawlenty has indicated that barring an immediate hold by a federal court he will sign the certificate, at which point Franken’s seating can only stopped by a filibuster I doubt the Maine women would support. And given that every court has now ruled unanimously for Franken, and there’s not actually any case there, I would think it unlikely for a federal court to take such action.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Hooray, I guess. Also? Hooray for the Twins’ 1987 World Series victory.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I think it’s a darn shame that it took the senseless deaths of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett to bring the Minn Sup Ct to its senses and make it do the right thing
June 30th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
In addition to the partisan satisfaction, on policy terms, this means one more vote for climate change, for health care, and for EFCA – and it means that if Democrats bring their entire caucus to the floor, they’ve got 60 votes and can pass cloture motions. This affects not just policy, but also the twenty or so important appointees that Republicans have put a hold on.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Here’s MSNBC’s report explaining what this ruling really means. Does Franken get to be a Senator now?
http://www.gotchamediablog.com/2009/06/al-franken-still-winner-of-2008.html
June 30th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Given the GOP behavior in the last months (years?), it would be very surprising if they didn’t try to drag this a few more months (years?).
June 30th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
So is there an order available or just the opinion?
By the way, I would be quite surprised if a federal court issued a stay for any length of time.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
So I’m pretty sure this is a harsh blow to several moderate Senate Dems.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
So I’m pretty sure this is a harsh blow to several moderate Senate Dems.
Really? I would think Ben Nelson just became the most important person in Congress.
June 30th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
So I’m pretty sure this is a harsh blow to several moderate Senate Dems.
You’re thinking about it the wrong way. The order of power goes 60-59-58 in terms of the most liberal. So Snowe and Collins lose power, and Nelson/Lincoln/Landrieu all move up a spot, because their votes are more likely to be #60 than Snowe’s is now.
June 30th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
What are Al Franken’s policies again?
June 30th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Alejandro:
http://www.alfranken.com/content/issues
There ya go.
June 30th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
This is yet another chance to point out that the filibuster is insane and should be dissolved.
Dems need 60 votes to break a filibuster. And any day that Kennedy or Byrd is out sick, they STILL need 60 votes. In fact, if a bare quorum of 51 members is present, you STILL need 60 votes to break the filibuster. If you were to try to override a veto with just 51 members present, you’d need only 34 votes to achieve a supermajority.
June 30th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
StevenAttewell,
Thanks. So at first glance it looks like a laundry list of protectionism mixed in with turning the state of Minnesota into a big ethanol farm.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Coleman concedes. Congrats Al.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
@12, 13: I’m thinking about the group just to the left of Nelson/Lincoln/Landrieu. The ones that won’t openly admit opposition to things like EFCA but love throwing their hands up in the air and blaming the almighty 41 seat GOP caucus for the everlasting status quo.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Brent,
Ah, I see your point now, and I agree. As I would put it, it is about to become quite clear that if things aren’t getting done in the Senate, that is because of the marginal Senate Democrats.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Welcome #60. Elections have consequences.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Alejandro:
Duh, a farm-state senator is going to support farm-state constituents.
The key things are EFCA, health care, and climate change.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Al has probably been bankrupted by legals bills, and the Republicans probably consider that just revenge on someone who mercelessly lampooned them for so many years. I gave him a little, but would like to know the total, how much he got from the Democratic Party, etc.
June 30th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
It’s over. Norm conceded. Thank Ganesha.
June 30th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Coleman concedes. Congrats Al.
Dang. pwned by Why oh why. By an hour.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
So is this the beginning of the Al Franken Decade?
June 30th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
@14
Remains to be seen.
However, his Chief of Staff was a lobbyist for the telecommunications industry — so keep a watch on his net neutrality stance.
http://www.implu.com/lobby/324918
July 1st, 2009 at 6:14 am
Congratulations to the author of “Lies!” and “Rush Lumbaugh is a big, fat idiot”!
July 1st, 2009 at 7:31 am
So is this the beginning of the Al Franken Decade?
Holy crap. I wonder what Joe’s up to these days. I bet he’s out of college.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:39 am
He’s also going to take your guns, implement the Fairness Doctrine, and surrender to the terrorists.
And there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it.