# How's Al Franken's Senate bid going? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 12, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239 "2008-02-12T01:57:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/381 "2008-12-23T22:00:54Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > I know, I’m having a hard time regarding Nate’s prediction with anything less than open-mouthed awe. The guy is a nerd’s nerd, man. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/382 "2008-12-23T22:06:32Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > We’re making progress though. Last time we went up she gleefully volunteered how impressed she was with a recent Obama interview she saw. “He really IS a family man!” I dunno what’s more disturbing – that that comes as such as a surprise to her (like the non-barbarous manners Bill O’Reilly observed in a Harlem restaurant), or that she assumes it matters. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/383 "2008-12-24T00:05:50Z")
Considering how viciously Obama’s been demonized by the rabid right, I’m not at all surprised that grandma would be shocked, shocked to discover he’s hornless and depitchforked. Saddened, but not at all surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/384 "2008-12-24T00:47:55Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > We’re making progress though. Last time we went up she gleefully volunteered how impressed she was with a recent Obama interview she saw. “He really IS a family man!” Whereas I spent the entire election cycle rebutting and discrediting my mother’s Fox News bullshit. :rolleyes: Damn, **Dio** , now I’d like to see some smartass reporter stick a microphone in Coleman’s face and ask how it feels to lose to both a Professional Wrestler and a Carpetbagging Comedian. That’d be pure gold. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/385 "2008-12-24T01:43:36Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The guy is a nerd’s nerd, man. Speaking of being a nerd’s nerd, it’s as good a time as any to revisit Randall Munroe’s homage to Nate in the mouse-over of [this xkcd](http://xkcd.com/500/). ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/386 "2008-12-24T14:51:50Z")
I wonder what Coleman does next if he losses this one. He could wait four years and run for Klobuchar’s seat, but she would likely crush him. In fact, I have a hard time thinking of any Republican who would want to go up against her. I think Pawlenty will walk away from the governor’s office as he can’t risk losing that race because it would kill his presidential ambitions. I could see Coleman making another run for governor. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/387 "2008-12-24T17:24:58Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Especially since 48 was the number Nate predicted. Well 27 was what he predicted actually, but the count is not final and will probably result in more votes for Franken. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/388 "2008-12-24T17:28:37Z")
I suggest pistols at 20 paces. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/389 "2008-12-24T17:30:27Z")
> [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](#): > > I wonder what Coleman does next if he losses this one. He could wait four years and run for Klobuchar’s seat, but she would likely crush him. In fact, I have a hard time thinking of any Republican who would want to go up against her. > > I think Pawlenty will walk away from the governor’s office as he can’t risk losing that race because it would kill his presidential ambitions. I could see Coleman making another run for governor. I’m guessing he’ll be done - at least as an elected official. He’ll be a very powerful lobbyist if he chooses, or he could become a professor at the Humphrey Institute in a second. ---
**Author:** ![Peanut\_Gallery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@Peanut\_Gallery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanut_Gallery)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/390 "2008-12-24T17:39:03Z")
> [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](#): > > I could see Coleman making another run for governor. I’m trying to imagine who he could lose to next… A quick google for famous Minnesotans … how about Bob Dylan? John Madden? Too bad Winona Ryder has a record… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/391 "2008-12-24T17:41:02Z")
I think Coleman’s ego is too big to let him walk away just yet. I’d put my money on him taking another shot at Governor. I just wonder what other novelty candidate will then crawl out the woodwork to snatch it from him yet again – a porn star, maybe? Or a rapper? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/392 "2008-12-24T17:42:16Z")
> [@Peanut\_Gallery](#): > > I’m trying to imagine who he could lose to next… > > A quick google for famous Minnesotans … how about Bob Dylan? John Madden? Too bad Winona Ryder has a record… Coleman could probably lose to the Pillsbury Doughboy (who is a native Minneapolitan, after all). Doughboy would fit **elucidator** ’s criteria…white-bread, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/393 "2008-12-24T17:47:48Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I suggest pistols at 20 paces. And I’ve got just the pistol. The Taurus Judge. Five shots, handles either .45 colt rounds or .410 shells. Three inch .410 rounds hold…I think it was 6 or 7 000 buckshot. Those are .36 (36 caliber) 70 grain shot. Can’t link to it, unfortunately, because it’s filtered at work, where I’m posting from. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/394 "2008-12-24T17:49:31Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Coleman could probably lose to the Pillsbury Doughboy (who is a native Minneapolitan, after all). Or to a can of Spam (also solidly and respectably Minnesotan). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/395 "2008-12-24T18:06:19Z")
I did so enjoy the spectacle of a Hall of Fame defensive lineman issuing a legal opinion regarding a “Saturday Night Live” writer. Pity there’s no longer a pro wrestler there to oversee the counting, though. Whatever happens, we can all thank Minnesota for adding entertainment to our electoral process. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/396 "2008-12-24T19:28:13Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Or to a can of Spam (also solidly and respectably Minnesotan). As is canned, creamed corn. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/397 "2008-12-24T19:32:58Z")
Cream of mushroom soup. The _sine qua non_ of Minnesota, ah, cuisine. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/398 "2008-12-24T19:37:24Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Cream of mushroom soup. The _sine qua non_ of Minnesota, ah, cuisine. The virtue being that it hides the stuff at the bottom of the hotdish really well… ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/399 "2008-12-24T20:19:32Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I did so enjoy the spectacle of a Hall of Fame defensive lineman issuing a legal opinion regarding a “Saturday Night Live” writer. Pity there’s no longer a pro wrestler there to oversee the counting, though. > > Whatever happens, we can all thank Minnesota for adding entertainment to our electoral process. Hey, my state has [Hercules](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065832/) for a governor! ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/400 "2008-12-24T22:49:41Z")
[Minnesota Supremes Shoot Down Crucial Coleman Lawsuit, Making A Franken Win Nearly Certain](http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/12/minnesota_supremes_shoot_down.php) > [@](#): > > In a unanimous decision handed down just now, the state Supremes denied Coleman any relief in a lawsuit he was waging to deal with allegations of double-counted absentee ballots, which his campaign says have given an illegitimate edge to Al Franken. The Coleman campaign was seeking to switch 25 selected precincts back to their Election Night totals, which would undo all of Franken’s recount gains in those areas and put Coleman back in the lead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239.md?page=21)