# 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:** 48
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/941 "2009-05-07T22:15:49Z")
Nothing really new on the topic, but I found this Q & A with Eric Black, the Minnesota political blogger, rather enlightening as a summary of the current state of affairs: [Black Blog](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/05/04/DI2009050402934.html) > [@](#): > > My guess is the SCOTUS will not take the case. Among other reasons, unlike a race for prez, the final constitutional authority on a Senate race is the Senate itself. Scalia, when he was still an appeals court judge, wrote that the courts have no role in Congressional election disputes. Surprising bit of info about Scalia’s past rulings of which I was unaware. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/942 "2009-06-01T14:26:45Z")
Oral arguments are underway before the MN Supreme Court. They’re only supposed to last an hour or so. The hearing is being [streamed live](http://www.startribune.com/local/46495552.html?elr=KArksUUUycaEacyU) on the Minneapolis Star-Tribune website. The Court will not hear any more oral arguments aftre this morning, but will probably take a couple of weeks to issue its decision. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/943 "2009-06-01T14:54:50Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Nothing really new on the topic, but I found this Q & A with Eric Black, the Minnesota political blogger, rather enlightening as a summary of the current state of affairs: > [Black Blog](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/05/04/DI2009050402934.html) > > Surprising bit of info about Scalia’s past rulings of which I was unaware. That does not mean he wont change his mind this time. His political slant is clear . Roberts slant is clear. They know who they work for. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/944 "2009-06-01T15:04:11Z")
It won’t go to them, because they’ll deny cert. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/945 "2009-06-01T15:24:28Z")
Orals have concluded. The Court is adjourned. A decision is “forthcoming.” ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/946 "2009-06-01T15:27:26Z")
It’s hard to get a read. They drilled both sides very well. And regardless of the arguments, I think Franken’s lawyer is a much better lawyer. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/947 "2009-06-01T15:35:24Z")
The attorney who was arguing for Coleman, Joe Friedberg, is well-respected, but may not be giving it 100% of his passion. He has a fairly high profile media presence in the Twin Cities (he’s a regular guest on local talk radio), and he’s not exactly a political conservative or someone who generally supports the GOP. He admitted publicly that he did not vote for Coleman (though I don’t think he said who he did vote for – it might have been Barkley), but joined Coleman’s team for his appeals essentially for the money. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/948 "2009-06-01T16:21:37Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > A decision is “forthcoming.” Is it just me, or is that basically meaningless? ---
**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:** [June 1, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/949 "2009-06-01T16:28:28Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Is it just me, or is that basically meaningless? Well, yeah…they aren’t going to officially have a decision until they’re done deliberating. It’s incredibly likely to be in favor of Franken, and they may have already decided that based on the paperwork, but they can’t just say “Okay, we already know what we’re deciding, so here it is…” immediately after oral arguments. They’re going to at least appear to deliberate. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/950 "2009-06-01T16:42:01Z")
So if the US Supreme Court refuses to hear this is this thing over? ---
**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:** [June 1, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/951 "2009-06-01T16:43:17Z")
Plus it’s just very vague as to _when_ the decision will be rendered. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/952 "2009-06-01T16:43:50Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > So if the US Supreme Court refuses to hear this is this thing over? NEVER!!! Or yes, there’ll be nowhere else to appeal the decision. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/953 "2009-06-01T17:08:51Z")
Coleman could file a federal lawsuit rather than take the case to the SC. This would stall things a lot more than a direct appeal which the court almost certainly won’t hear anyway. After he loses in federal court he could then take it to the SC if he really wanted to drag this out to the maximum. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/954 "2009-06-01T17:23:17Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > NEVER!!! Or yes, there’ll be nowhere else to appeal the decision. They will not stop until the United Federation of Planets refuses to consider their case, and even then they may appeal to Trantor… ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/955 "2009-06-01T17:48:34Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > They will not stop until the United Federation of Planets refuses to consider their case, and even then they may appeal to Trantor… Heck, appeal to the Valar, then if it goes against Coleman, take it right to Eru. Though I doubt Eru would overrule the Valar, especially if Mandos handed down the opinion. If that doesn’t work out, he could try Melkor. But that’d have to be a rejection of the legitimacy of the rule of Eru, so it’d be a real longshot. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/956 "2009-06-01T17:52:19Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > They will not stop until the United Federation of Planets refuses to consider their case, and even then they may appeal to Trantor… > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Heck, appeal to the Valar, then if it goes against Coleman, take it right to Eru. Though I doubt Eru would overrule the Valar, especially if Mandos handed down the opinion. > > If that doesn’t work out, he could try Melkor. But that’d have to be a rejection of the legitimacy of the rule of Eru, so it’d be a real longshot. Does anyone else see the irony here? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/957 "2009-06-01T17:55:59Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Does anyone else see the irony here? The Arisian councel effectively disbanded when Mentor left the plenum. I suppose the Children of the Lens could pass judgement. Better? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/958 "2009-06-01T18:07:58Z")
I think Coleman would rather appeal to Emperor Palpatine to disband the Senate, rather than let Franken be seated. At this point, Coleman’s fully committed to this tactic and he can’t just jump off without admitting he’s a hack. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/959 "2009-06-01T18:38:24Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Is it just me, or is that basically meaningless? No, it’s an indication that they plan to issue a ruling soon (in legal time). Otherwise they could have said that the matter will be ‘under consideration’ or just not said anything at all. It probably means that they had mostly made up their minds already based on all the documentary evidence in the case, and the oral arguments were just to clarify any last questions they had. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/960 "2009-06-01T18:40:35Z")
Forget a new election. Coleman lost at every court. He is through legally. He is just obstructing Franken from his seat as long as possible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239.md?page=47) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239.md?page=49)