thank frigging goodness, we need a progessive and pronto, let’s hope franken is as strong as I expect

Hurray! Congratters to SENATOR Franken! thanks for update PPW

WOOHOO!!

Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!

Not to rain on anyone’s parade, but Gov TP still has to co-sign the election cert. (The order sez Al is “entitled to receive” it — doesn’t specifically order it signed.) Call me cautiously optimistic.

But at least the MNSC’s order is in!

He can’t be sworn in until Senate comes back in next week.

Thanks for all your coverage of this, PW. You’ve been a champ.

Effin’ A !!!!

Minnesota rules!

Today is a turning point for the Torture Party. They have become incompetent even at stealing elections.

:-)))))

you can leave now, Norm. no need to turn off the lights on your way out.

MSNBC reported 5 min ago that none of the usual signs of SCOTUS Appeal are apparent

http://www.mncourts.gov/opinio…..7-6030.pdf

T-Paw has said he would sign it once MN SC ruled.

Of course, whether one thinks he will follow through on this is another question.

So when does Al get seated in the Senate assuming the Gov signs the paper and the Supremes don’t take the case.
Under what grounds would Coleman likely file?

hear, hear!

also – what egregious said (WOOHOO!!)

Finally!

Steve Benen:

And speaking of Minnesotans, recent polling shows the vast majority of the state expecting Coleman to go away if he lost at the state Supreme Court. In the wake of this unanimous ruling, the demands for him to end this will likely be overwhelming. Whether he cares or not remains to be seen.

Anyone know which of the US Supremes has jurisdiction for MN?

What signs Scalia going Duck hunting with Darth right before a case. Or does Scalia only go duck hunting with people with cases before the court that are going to win?
Did Rush or Drudge have a scoop yet that the Supremes would take the case?

Citizen Nola Sue:

Pawlenty will sign the certification or he will drown what’s left of the GOP in Minnesota in his mornin’ coffee cup…and his prospects for national office go with Governor Sanford…the key now is whether or not the Minnesota DFL will come out of hiding and kick the Independence Party’s ass outta the state (South Dakota is a good spot for ‘em).

Well, TP has responded in a variety of “nuanced” ways on this question. One version was that he’d sign if ordered to do so. And this order doesn’t go quite that far. Seeing that the whole goal has been delay-delay-delay, there’s still wiggle room for Repubs to keep pursuing that goal.

We’ve been burned too much throughout the whole recount & contest. I’m at the point where I can’t believe it til it actually happens.

I get the impression at this point Coleman would prefer to slink away but the party will likely try to pressure him into making a Federal appeal, just to keep the seat in limbo.

Is Tiny Tim likely (or required) to issue the certification immediately or will he wait to see what Norm will do?

The SCOTUS is out until Oct. If numbnuts were to file a case, the ct. would need to agree to hear it and issue an order to stop Franken from being seated.

Not long before the decision came down, I saw Pawlenty -in an TV interview- say he would do what the MN Supreme Court instructed him to do. He’ll sign.

Pop! Boom! Splat!!!

Unmistakeable sounds of heads exploding. Love it. they knew this was gonna happen but they’re still gonna be pissed to no end.

new horizons for Norm: he’ll soon channel his inner explorer and set off to scout the heretofore unknown northwestern branch of the Appalachian Trail.

Norske, you must really be excited. No “PASS THE AMMUNITION . . .”?

btw – Fox News, which rarely covers any of POTUS speeches, unles they are major – eg Cairo, is currently running PBO’s feel good speech on Innovation – no headlines or the usual “also watching” bugs on the screen – teehee

Per the Uptake, Gov’s office aware of decision, but not planning to have a public statement anytime soon. (Noah Kunin sez that doesn’t rule out a written statement.)

Ya got the SIXTY ya ordered, Harry Reid.

No more excuses. Get it done.

Do Senate Republicans have any tricks left that might delay Franken being seated?

hey MN people… how much time for a motion for re-hearing? 10 days or something?

Thanks to PW for her wonderful coverage of this story.

Amen!

Fox should be passing out hankies at their Tea Parties this weekend so all the sore losers can wipe their tears.

Just this morning, MSNBC’s First Read listed several factoids that have accumulated during this fight:

$51.1 million has been raised between Coleman and Franken for the entire campaign
– $50.3 million has been spent between the two candidates
– $11 million (at least) has been spent on the recount
– 2,424,946 votes were cast
– 312 votes separate the candidates (Franken leads)
– 239 days since Election Day 2008
– 34 weeks since Election Day 2008
– 7 months, 27 days since Election Day 2008
– 4 seasons seen since Election Day 2008 election.

Thanks, Mods!

Harry will never run out of excuses, there is always incompetence if nothing else.

Trouble is- two of the sixty are out of Commission- Byrd and Kennedy are MIA.

8th Circuit used to be Alito.
http://www.law.com/jsp/article…..2431542536

Think it’s Alito

Yupper. No indications from Coleman that they’re doing so.

Here’s why they might decide to pull the plug on this: Norm’s legal expenses are costing nearly $150,000 a week. A WEEK!

That’s money that’s not going to the reelection campaigns of the various vulnerable GOP senators out there.

That’s Senator Franken to those of us in the cheap seats.

Yup, it’s still Alito.

Did you note Reid’s statement? He is still waiting for Pawlenty? What the hell kind of senate leader is this tool? All he has to do is seat him, now, or like he could have for the last several months. He is still waiting?
What the hell kind of senate do we have that this guy is considered a leader?

Last chance:Dollar a Day to Make Norm Go Away

Is this truly our last chance to kick Norm Coleman around?

Even if so (and I’m not banking on Pawlenty) you still have the option to donate a Dollar a Day to Make Norm Coleman Go Away.

Donations (so far, $183,000!) go to the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which helps progressive candidates run effective campaigns and win.

https://services.myngp.com/NGPOnlineServices/contribution.aspx?X=Ded7FwPHDsimVqfxTLqC4oxyDqohr3sAXJD gmaL7WvY%3d

Better link:

https://services.myngp.com/NGPOnlineServices/contribution.aspx?X=Ded7FwPHDsimVqfxTLqC4oxyDqohr3sAXJDgmaL7WvY%3d

Citizen foothillsmike:

And it’s not likely that the fascists can get a single SC Justice to hold up the seating of an elected Senator…even the crypto-Nazis on the SCOTUS don’t dare get in the way of 200 years of Senate prerogatives and self rule. The GOP national leadership is jest tryin’ ta cement the narrative of Franken’s questionable legitimacy…they’re jest tryin’ ta neuter ‘im before he ken get sworn in…and I think they will try and fillibuster his seating and complete the polarization of the Senate and give Obama no option but to move unilaterally on all major issues…I predict that Obama will give a big, public stage-sigh and then ram everything he needs including EFCA through before January 0f 2010.

Best news I’ve seen all day!

Has Coleman paid Franken’s expenses yet?

Yes!!!!

Congratulations to Sen. Franken!

And thanks indeed to Phoenix Woman, from a lurking regular, for staying with the story all these months.

Got any room on that bench you’re sitting on? If I’d any idea of the way politics would go in the past few years, I’d have chosen “skeptic” for a screen name.

Thanks beerf and pw.

Phoenix Woman – the thanks of a grateful blog-nation are due you for your constant work and reporting on this long-drawn-out process.

I sure hope Coleman is really going away.

Could there be a movement to hand Pawlenty a pen (or several) everywhere he goes until he signs?

That’s so far past disgusting, you can’t get there from here!

Yaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Citizen Peterr:

Don’t use the salutations when I gotta respond to breakin’ news…anyway, Brother Peter, the killin’ and corporate destabalizin’ of humans and other livin’ things goez on and on and…

Whitehouse and Franken need to have a private chat with Senator Reid. He needs to be persuaded to spend a little more time with his family.

That’s money that’s not going to the reelection campaigns of the various vulnerable GOP senators out there.

and what about the blackmailing spouses of former staffers ?, will no one think of the blackmailing spouses of former staffers ?!?!

Bill’O is shaking with fury!

I am mostly grateful that this has been resolved for Franken’s sake. The waiting must have been terrible.

I am also grateful to have an additional Progessive in the Senate, although I don’t expect it to shake things up that much. The media can tout the “filibuster-proof majority” all they want, it is a myth. Republicans (often) march in lock-step, not Democrats.

Phoenix Woman – the thanks of a grateful blog-nation are due you for your constant work and reporting on this long-drawn-out process.

True dat! PW……the go-to lady on all things Franken election.

After all these years of dealing with amateurs, it will be nice to have a professional comedian in the Senate!!

Do Senate Republicans have any tricks left that might delay Franken being seated?

I think that at this point all they can do is hope that Joe Biden screws up the oath.

Thank you, PW! Yaaay!

Would that he chokes on it.

Byrd is out of the hospital, at least, FWIW.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes…..-hospital/

So, the odds are 50/50? At least that is better than with John Roberts.

LOL!

Citizen ratfood:

The fascists’ strategy of polarizin’ the congress and forcin’ the Democrats to move unilaterally has only served as a big dick up Harry Reid’s ass now that the Dems have 60 votes. If he doesn’t hold his caucus together to force up or down votes on major issues then he will not be majority leader by September.

Rick Hasen points out the one flaw here:

The bottom line is that the Court says that Franken is entitled to an election certificate, but there is no direct order to the state’s governor to sign one. We’ll see what the governor does, if Coleman does not concede, as he well may at this point. If not, the opinion is not final until the period for rehearing ends… That’s a ten day period, enough time to file an emergency stay application in the U.S. Supreme Court. It would go to Justice Alito, now circuit justice for the Eighth Circuit.

However, considering that the legal fees for this case alone (remember, Norm’s also fighting the Kazeminy lawsuit) are around $145,000 a week, the NRSC may well have decided that their money is better spent on protecting vulnerable GOP senators in next year’s elections.

Finally! Now if icky Norm will bow out quickly like an adult.

The best comment of the thread!

more good news

WOOHOO!!

Citizen AZ Matt:

Bill O’Reilly is shakin’ with fear and will probably gag on that big black crow stuck in his throat.

“Governor Instructed to Certify Election”?

As far as I can tell, the decision includes no such instruction. There’s also a waiting period that needs to expire (footnote 22)

The democrats can now celebrate their official stealing of an election. There was so much vote fraud going on in the Iron Range that it is sickening. You libs may not like to hear that but it is the truth.

I dunno, if the Dems picked leaders based on effectiveness Harry would have been out some time ago. Then there is the problem that Senate Dems are unlikely to craft any truly progressive legislation because so many of them serve their corporate masters instead of the people, albeit in a slightly less obvious manner than the Republicans.

Inside Baseball on MN Election Law 4-1-1 front paged at Big Orange

Finally, I’d started to think the trolls were all at a convention or something.

We’ve been taking notes from Karl Rove, turkey.

Citizen frederic:

Welcome to the real world of FDL, Brother Fred, how does the earth look from up there on the lunar surface?

As for “vote fraud” on the Iron Range…have you ever tried stealin’ ANYthing from an Iron Ranger…JEEzus, these people hold their votes more dearly than their children!!

Wow we finally “Stole” an election?? About time the Democrats took a page from the Republican play book, gee I wonder just how many elections the Republicans really stole?? They have always used Voter suppression, intimidation, illegally removing voters from the rolls and down right cheating in the talling of votes… kinda like weighing someone one a scale with your foot on the corner behind their back!!

oh look PW, your first stalker !!! :D

Next we’re going to be hearing some of that ACORN shit

Just because Mr. Flintstone lays out bait one is not required to take it.

Popcorn time!

Well, y’know they ARE pro-life… they never let a straw man die.

I told you no good would come of that damn in ‘n out critter door !!
so “they can come and go as they please” you said ! …why I oughta :D

Citizen ratfood:

The Senate doesn’t hafta craft ANY legislation …the House of Representatives will drive the issues and all differences will be settled in conference if necessary…the cover of need for “bi-partisanship” has now been removed…Obama and the Democrats only hafta hold their caucus together for cloture votes and then hold 50 votes for passage of anything.

The fascist game of chicken has forced Obama and the Democrats to put the pedal to the metal…no one will be able to hide anymore ‘cuz the people are watchin’.

Wonder why it is that the rethugs are the ones that wind up in prison for voter fraud.

It will be much fun to hear what drug addled Rushbo says. Franken wrote a successful book “Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot”. Bill O’Reilly was also written about in Franken’s “Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right”. Fox Network (with Billo’s strong support) sued to stop the book. Franken publicly called Billo a liar to his face. Funny!

But to many on the other end of the political spectrum, Franken is a menace who has taken name-calling to a new level — referring to conservative writer Ann Coulter as a “nutcase” and Rush Limbaugh as a “big fat idiot.”

Franken gained his newfound notoriety last May at an unlikely forum, which was aired on the cable channel C-Span2.

“Actually God asked me to write this book, because he was so pissed off at Bush who claimed, whose friends claimed, he had been chosen by God. And God said, ‘No, he hadn’t. He was just chosen by Clarence Thomas,’” said Franken at a book convention, where he was promoting his book “Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell Them.”

“So Bill, I’m sorry that I call you one of the many people who do lie in my book,” he said to Fox News’ conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly, who was also present.

A heated exchange with O’Reilly, who was also hawking a book, turned the usually sedate event into a shouting match.

O’Reilly responded by saying, “You’re supposed to be here 15 minutes, this idiot goes 35, OK? All he’s got in six and a half years is that I misspoke, that I labeled a Polk award a Peabody.”

Soon the two were talking over each other.

“You had your 35 minutes, now shut up,” said O’Reilly.

“This isn’t your show, Bill,” Franken countered.

And then came the lawsuit.

Fox News’ lawyers, reportedly at O’Reilly’s urging, filed suit against Franken, claiming the title of his new book violated their trademark motto.

But, Franken got the last laugh. The judge threw out the case and Franken got a windfall of free publicity.

That’s one small step for Franken, one giant leap for progressives in the spirit of Paul Wellstone.

Tsk, tsk, fred. The Iron Range consists of rural & very small town communities. Pretty hard to commit wide spread voter fraud let alone even once without a whisper from anyone. Small town people don’t miss anything if there is a good story they can spread. And what an insult to all those honest, hardworking township & city election workers.

More than anything, I’m glad and hopeful that Sen. Al’s voice will be effective in the discussions about health care and so many other issues.

Heh, heh. You know the Iron Range well.

Since when have facts gotten in the way of a good rethug rant.

So Fred, can we put you down as bringing Beer ? Jello Salad ? Paper Goods ??? ’cause that last one gets a little dicey with us ‘Libs’ – 100 % recycled and all . . . hmmmmmm ?

*snicker*

Put him down for tea bags.

Never happened even Once in my lifetime!!

Evidently that was a hit-and-run. There must be no joy in Troll-ville today, the mighty Norman has struck out.

That’s Senator Franken to those of us in the cheap seats.

“Franken Beats Frankenstein”

Citizen ironranger:

Bless yer heart, Citizen ranger-person, but as a native Minnesotan who was born in Bemidji and whose Norwegian Grampa helped clear cut the White Pines outta the northern tier 100 years ago, I find it absolutely hilarious that the fascist shills for the corporate big boys are tryin’ ta speak for the Finns and Swedes and Norskies who have been fightin’ these fascist fuckers since Paul Bunyon picked up his ax.

YAAAAAAAYYYY !!!

Uh … Norm … don’t let the Door hit your ass …

Oh, thank you for the full story! I knew only the very basics and to think it happened on the relatively staid C-Span.

You mean Rush hasn’t imparted his wisdom on it yet?

Apparently Frederic packed it in and went fishing. Here’s hoping he snags that irritable Redfish.

LOL !!!

Hapless Harry needs 80 votes to grow a spine …

This is great news, wooo-hooo!

For those pointing out that there is no order that the certificate be signed it strikes me as odd that there wold be one. The court would normally assume that the governor would perform his duty and it would be odd for them to issue an order contrary to such an expectation. I would expect that they would look for an action by Franken if Pawlty doesn’t follow the law and only then would they act. That’s the way courts normally work, isn’t it?

Absolutely … well deserved round of applause to Phoenix Woman through this whole sordid affair !!!

Hot spit! You are on a real roll this thread!

Norm will now have a lot more time to pursue his extra-curricular activiites.

He doesn’t need a spine, he needs a conscience.

You got that right.

hah!

p.s. did I read somewhere that Pawlenty is currently out of the state ??

love it!

OT. Nasty shooting in Detroit four students and two others at a bus stop.

I don’t mind if all Franken does is offer wisecrack rebuttals to every Repug talking point …

Taxidermy?

Al could be very good on the talking head circuit, although junior senators are not often invited.

Argentina?

I hope you’re right, Norske but every time Reid has an advantage, he seems to find a way to lose it.

Citizen cbl2:

He’s probably in Argentina on a trade mission, tryin’ ta boost his “international relations” portfolio…I hear that a rather nice lookin’ lobbyist for Argentine bankin interests is free at the moment.

I was under the impression that the individual states are totally in charge of their elelction law and the SCOTUS would have an excuse to butt in juristiction only in the case of some plausible violation of federal law?

OMFG … I’m stealing that line, ratfood !

Will Franken’s upcoming press conf be televised?

Oddly, the Minnesota court did NOT order the governor to sign the certificate, which is about the only way Pawlenty can wriggle out of this. It would be nice to get the headline right. Wishing doesn’t make it true.

Don’t taze teabag me, bro !

To much important stuff coming out regarding Michael Jackson

Ha! Might help him in his off time pursuits.

Put him down for tea bags.

hah hah hah.

Wonder why it is that the rethugs are the ones that wind up in prison for voter fraud.

great question

just like it is the rethugs that grow government far more then the other party, just like it is the rethugs who increase taxes far more then the other party, just like it is the rethugs who destroy national security, who destry our military, who are the antithesis for image of our country, who destroy business, who destroy the middle class

and then run on the exact opposite their actions, performance and intentions

those are the rethuglicans

As I read it the ruling said he was entitled to a certificate.
It is the governors duty to issue a certificate.

The UpTake (www.theuptake.org) will be providing live coverage!

There was so much vote fraud going on in the Iron Range that it is sickening

Norske,

Something tells me that Fredric is in the habit of talking out his ass.

Will Franken’s upcoming press conf be televised?

unfortunately not, msm is still working on the king of pop’s death. /s

another episode in great minds think alike. what are you drinking?

H2O

thanks!

Enjoy.

Wow. The UpTake, which has done an amazing job of covering the entire process, since the election, is being shut out of Coleman’s press conference, which is being held in Normie’s backyard.

Pathetic. But really, do we expect any more?

The Uptake, however, will not be broadcasting the Norm Coleman presser – they just got tossed out:

Coleman staffer Tom Erickson telling us we can’t film their prsr cuz we’re not real news. We have Capitol creds. Says our pass is homemade.

Ludicrous.

Former sen Coleman up on toobz momentarily

msnbc says coleman presser will be carried live.

Well, maybe a few sentences of it if they follow the usual game plan…….and they will monitor the rest and keep us updated. s/

Norm’s presser at 4 p.m. … will he be another Joan of Arc(step aside for the good of MN) or a Jack of Ass(take this to SCOTUS)

Commenters on the UpTake liveblog saying MSNBC & CSpan will carry the Coleman presser, which Coleman has pettily refused The Uptake admittance.

CONCESSION!

Coleman congratulates Franken on his victory – your brains will fall out go boom

Coleman concedes

we have the live video feed & live blogging from minnesota http://www.relaxedpolitics.com/?p=10787

Oooh! MSNBC headline:

COLEMAN ACCEPTS LOSS [!!]

(exclamation points mine/s}

OMG!!!! A day I’d all but given up on!!!!

Senator Franken!!!!!

Yippee!!

Even the BBC reporting it at top of hour news.

BREAKING: Norm Coleman runs out of $$$ concedes !

Yes, God bless Minnesota. Don’t let the door hit ya….

hallefuckinluyah.

Unfreakin’ amazin’! The guy is actually acting like a decent human being……or Joan of Arc, if you prefer. *G*

he has an uncanny resemblance to sanford.

Well, Coleman’s staff wanted to have their last little Republican (”I’m in charge here”) power play. Before they report to the unemployment office tomorrow morning.

Yeah, Normie has a slimy, chameleon-like ability. Not that I have anything against the lovely actual chameleons.

so, reid, go seat him NOW.

this is the fantasy edition of comments.

*G* … I did all this kabuki to make the voices of disenfranchised Minnesotans heard …

Only if his BFF, HoJo approves …

Only slightly less dramatic than Cleo and her asp. :)

Now back to the important stuff. Michael Jackson …………

Does this mean it makes no difference whether pawlenty signs the bloody certificate or not if coleman has conceded?

Goodbye Norm, again
Though I never knew you at all
You hadn’t the grace to uphold yourself
While those around you crawled

They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on a treadmill
And they made you change your game

And it seems to me, you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I, well, I just kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

Is that what they were waiting on? Making as sure as they could that Franken would be seated because making it a Federal case was going to be impossible because SCotUS was in recess?

Leave Norm Coleman alone!

-G

I heard that the five justices couldn’t get it all together.

10,000 maniacs: better lake than never!

WONDERFUL!! Thanks, PW for keeping us posted.

Tipping a few cold ones for the Franken, and a BIG thanks to all here for the coverage! FDL RULES!

I heard Ensign got a standing ovation when he returned let’s see what kind of welcome Franken gets.

It’s great, ain’t it :-)

I guess they did in the end.

hmmm, is “praying the rosary” the new “hiking the appalachian trail”? [Coleman just said his wife is in Rome at the moment, and was “praying the rosary” when she heard the news.]

[yeah, i’m going to hell…]

Hiking the Appalachian Trail is still hiking. Hiking for Argentine Tail is something else entirely.

PW!

Your coverage of this long unfortunate affair has been exemplary, I’m a huge fan.

I’ve mentionned this before, but, my payback wish would be that a staffer calls Billo, every morning that Senator Franken is in his office:

” Mister Bill O’Reilly? This is Senator’s Franken office, please wait for the senator…(Celine Dion Muzak)

Billy Boy! Senator Franken here, oops, please hold….’

I know, it’s Bart Simpsonish, but, I’d love it.

LOL!

And, of course, it should be recorded.
of course, as BillO would never get on the phone, it would really only be torturing the employee.
Maybe the call could go to that stalker/producer for BillO…

Time to celebtrate another Lowenbrau moment for Coleman — good riddenance to bad garbage.

Remember that we’re talking about relations between independent branches of government here. They are supposed to be friendly and respectful of the rights and privileges of the other branches. Ordering the Governor to sign the election certificate would be a very unfriendly act, especially without an official refusal to sign. Up to this point, everything has been phrased in hypothetical terms. Now it’s reality, and Gov P can either man up and do the right thing, or he can shill for the RNC.

If Pawlenty’o’nuttin’ decides to shill for the national part and refuses to sign the certificate, I expect that Franken will file for a Writ of Mandamus immediately and that the Court will grant it.

Myself, I think that the Court should have issued a writ of mandamus along with the decision, but I’m more than fed up with all the s*** that’s been flung around by Normie and his financial backers.

so what WAS the final cost of this particular thuglican foo foo kabuki, i wonder???
idjits!

I am just going to assert that the opinion was authored by Notre Dame’s finest Supreme Court Justice, Alan Page!

Good Riddance,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75yo42QvSPM

For those within driving distance of Minnesota — DFL has announced the victory rally will be TOMORROW, JULY 1 AT 12:00 NOON, AT THE CAPITOL. Apparently Franken will be speaking — big free event, so everyone should come.

Some folk have been waiting since November for a rally.

Yeehaw. Congratulations Senator Franken! I saw this earlier on tv and let out a big scream. I was asked if I’d won the lottery. I wish.