Seconds ago, Norm Coleman announced that he concedes the election to Al Franken. He just called Al a minute ago, and stepped out side his home to thank everyone and make the announcement.
It is over.
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« Franken Wins Court Battle, Unclear if Pawlenty will Sign | Main | Palm Pre v. iPhone 3Gs v. 3G v. speed tests »
Coleman Steps Aside: Franken is Senator
Posted on: June 30, 2009 4:00 PM, by Greg Laden
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TrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/113833
Comments
Well, that's a surprise.
Posted by: Lou FCD | June 30, 2009 4:04 PM
This is a good day for Minnesota!
Posted by: SplendidMonkey | June 30, 2009 4:12 PM
I am shocked. I wonder what he's up to????
Posted by: Greg Laden | June 30, 2009 4:15 PM
I think he's gearing up for another run at the governorship.
Posted by: The Science Pundit | June 30, 2009 4:17 PM
Thanks Minnesota!
Posted by: DrugMonkey | June 30, 2009 4:21 PM
So the magic number has been obtained! Thanks Norm Coleman. This one time.
Posted by: Andrew | June 30, 2009 4:36 PM
Doesn't the Gov. still have to certify it? I wonder how many Senate votes he gets to make F. sit out first.
Posted by: Nathan Myers | June 30, 2009 4:37 PM
Nathan: Ugh. Technically you may be correct. However, there may also be a way for the Dems to seat Franken if Pawlenty does not certify.
Also, I promise you this: If Pawlenty refused to certify now, he will be impeached. All we need to do is grow some balls on our legislature.
Posted by: Greg Laden | June 30, 2009 4:41 PM
Yay yay yay!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Paul | June 30, 2009 4:44 PM
For all this delay, Franken should just be allowed to stay in the Senate for two terms, skipping the next election entirely.
Posted by: Wyatt | June 30, 2009 4:46 PM
I wonder, Greg, since only governor can call for a special session (which would be needed for impeachment) if Pawlenty could be impeached, or possibly recalled. He'll sign it, though, because Coleman conceding gives him an out and will help him save face for his conservative backers.
Posted by: Mike Haubrich, FCD | June 30, 2009 4:47 PM
BBC has it:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8127589.stm
Posted by: xavier | June 30, 2009 4:48 PM
He'll sign it.
Posted by: The Science Pundit | June 30, 2009 4:54 PM
Good going, Minnesota!
Posted by: Bob | June 30, 2009 4:56 PM
Smarm smarms smarm. I can feel it through the intertubes.
Posted by: jackie | June 30, 2009 4:58 PM
I will be interested to see what the reaction is when Al Franken walks onto the Senate floor for the first time.
Democrats would be right to applaud him. The Republicans should applaud him as well, or at least, fall silent.
Posted by: Greg Laden | June 30, 2009 5:02 PM
It certainly is about time. Thanks for keeping us posted on this for the last several weeks. Months.
Posted by: Tyra | June 30, 2009 5:06 PM
When was the last time the Democrats had 60 votes in the Senate?
Posted by: Paul D. | June 30, 2009 5:08 PM
Time for a well deserved beer.
Posted by: Liz | June 30, 2009 5:10 PM
Congratulations Senator Al Franken!
Posted by: Next State Over | June 30, 2009 5:12 PM
What are the chances that Coleman will run for Governor?
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 30, 2009 5:14 PM
Paul: When was the last time the Democrats had 60 votes in the Senate?
1979 (61)
Posted by: Greg Laden | June 30, 2009 5:19 PM
Paul, YouTube has it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5hjF652izs
Posted by: Andrew | June 30, 2009 5:35 PM
Wasn't it Coleman who said immediately after the election, (when he appeared to be ahead by a few votes) that the honorable thing for Franken to do would be to concede, and not put Minnesota through the required-by-law recount? Did it really take a half-year for honor to catch up with him? I hope Minnesotans remember which party deprived them of representation in the Senate for these six months.
Posted by: John Swindle | June 30, 2009 5:48 PM
Yes, he said that. No, it was not a half year. It was 8 months!
Posted by: Greg Laden | June 30, 2009 5:53 PM
Andrew, that youtube video was painful. You owe me several minutes of my life now.
Posted by: Liz | June 30, 2009 5:55 PM
I'm glad this is over because now I can focus on finding my new Russian Bride!!!! (see ads --->)
Posted by: xavier | June 30, 2009 6:30 PM
Who 'splodes first? Rush or BillO?
Simultaneous would be fine.
Posted by: natural cynic | June 30, 2009 6:34 PM
Given what Rush said about the supreme court's Hartford decision (9-0), he'll probably say that Coleman won the election contest and Franken mugged him and took the electioncertificate.
Posted by: Greg Laden | June 30, 2009 6:52 PM
I just heard that the governor has signed the election certificate. I assume it is being carried down the hall to Ritchie's office as we speak.
Posted by: Greg Laden | June 30, 2009 7:27 PM
Yeah, a 5-4 decision becomes a "nine-zip" win, and a 9-0 decision becomes scary hyperbole. I'd recommend Limbaugh take a remedial math course, but that isn't his problem -- it's an inability to face reality.
Posted by: Jason Thibeault | June 30, 2009 7:29 PM
Well, Rush has already compared Franken's recount victory to Ahmadinejad's. Right. Because those two elections have sooo much in common.
Posted by: The Science Pundit | June 30, 2009 11:07 PM
Then there are the folks who describe Coleman as "gracious".
That word, I do not think it means what they think it means.
Posted by: Wesley R. Elsberry | June 30, 2009 11:25 PM
Awesome. It took long enough... but it's over!
Or beginning... :)
Posted by: Inoculated Mind | July 1, 2009 12:50 PM
ugh. finally over.
however, i think both coleman and franken should be held accountable for the fiasco. the 312 vote difference is well within the error rate for both hand count and machine count. the vote discrepancy is meaningless. franken and coleman were tied. lots of money was wasted on recounts and litigation when there should have just been a coin flip to decide.
i am surprised that coleman conceded. he must have had some reason. i am scared to think of what it is. maybe a coleman/bachmann ticket for the next presidential race?
~shudder~
Posted by: rob | July 1, 2009 1:51 PM
Rob: I understand your frustrations, but when "oughtta be" and "what the law is" are different, especially when it comes to the election process, it is the law that has to be followed.
I actually suported Coleman's right to proceed as he did up to and not including his contest with the State Supreme Court. Yes, he had that right, but not a single legal expert speaking with a modicum of honesty thought it had a chance. This, and the way he did it shows that the SC appeal was a political gambit, and for that, he should be held (politically) accountable. Otherwise, neither candidate did anything wrong.
Posted by: Greg Laden | July 1, 2009 2:05 PM