# 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:** 49
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/961 "2009-06-01T22:57:34Z")
> [@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. I’m sure he’ll try either Arisia or Eddore after that. 😃 ---
**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 2, 2009, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/962 "2009-06-02T13:15:11Z")
I’m going to go with the minority position here and say that Coleman gives up after he loses this round. Reasons for this… - He looks tired to me. - He has the FBI investigation to worry about. - He won’t win this election anyway, no matter how many suits and appeals he files. - He would put Pawlenty in an awkward spot if he continues. He owes T-Paw after Pawlenty meekly took himself out of the Senate race when told by the Bush people they wanted a clean primary for Norm. - Minnesotans overwhelmingly want him to drop it. Now. If he were to play it out beyond the state SC he would become an object of pure ridicule and hatred. - The whole notion of the party wanting him to keep at it to deny the Democrats 60 seats probably doesn’t mean as much to him as people think. Norm would join the Socialist Workers Party if he thought it could get him back into the Senate. On the other hand, I think he has a very strong distaste for Al Franken. Coleman seems to genuinely dislike him on a personal level. He could keep this show going out of spite, but somehow I think this is the end of the road for Coleman. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/963 "2009-06-02T14:03:07Z")
> [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](#): > > … > > - Minnesotans overwhelmingly want him to drop it. Now… Has there been any polling on this question? I agree that’s probably the sentiment of most Minnesotans by now, but has anyone actually asked? ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/964 "2009-06-02T14:06:46Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Has there been any polling on this question? I agree that’s probably the sentiment of most Minnesotans by now, but has anyone actually asked? [Poll: More than half of Minnesotans want Coleman to concede](http://minnesotaindependent.com/35133/coleman-concede-franken-poll) > [@](#): > > Fifty-four percent of Minnesota voters want Norm Coleman to concede so Al Franken can take Coleman’s former seat in the U.S. Senate. That’s according to a new Rasmussen poll that also finds that 63 percent expect Franken to be seated eventually, whatever Coleman does. > > It’s a lower number than the 64 percent or 63 percent favoring a Coleman concession that other polls found last month. Those surveys were conducted, in full or in part, before Coleman filed his latest court appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/965 "2009-06-02T18:48:53Z")
Does it matter if he tries to push it any further? So far as I can tell, the MN Supreme Court is the highest court with jurisdiction in this matter. So Coleman finally finishes losing this one, and the Senate seats Franken. What more _can_ there be to it? ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/966 "2009-06-02T19:02:58Z")
[Pawlenty not seeking a 3rd term](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/eye-on-2012/pawlenty-to-retire.html) A reasonable conclusion is that he has his eye on the 2012 Pres nomination. If that’s the case, any thoughts on the effect of Franken’s inevitable win? I’m of the mind that he’ll be the national GOP’s bitch and drag things out as long as possible, but admittedly I don’t know Pawlenty that well. Any MN opinions? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/967 "2009-06-02T20:05:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Does it matter if he tries to push it any further? So far as I can tell, the MN Supreme Court is the highest court with jurisdiction in this matter. It kinda depends on the reason why Coleman gets shot down (presuming that is the case, of course). The way I read it, the only hope that Coleman has of taking it to the SCOTUS is on constitutional grounds — the foundation of _Bush v. Gore_ was an unequal treatment of ballots from county to county. However, the Minnesota Supremes seem to be headed toward the decision of denying Coleman’s appeal on the grounds of insufficient evidence, a matter which SCOTUS won’t touch. Common wisdom is that Pawlenty’s greatest hope is that he is ordered to certify the election by the Supreme Court. That’s the middle ground between stonewalling and signing in Franken. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/968 "2009-06-02T21:38:32Z")
And what if he showboats? What if he refuses on the grounds of Truth, Justice, and the American Way? Question becomes will that make him the darling of the tighty right, or make him look like a Pubbie WATB? See, he needs to do _something_ to attract attention, and, lets face it, the word “Minnesota” doesn’t exactly quicken anyone’s pulse. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/969 "2009-06-02T21:48:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Does it matter if he tries to push it any further? So far as I can tell, the MN Supreme Court is the highest court with jurisdiction in this matter. So Coleman finally finishes losing this one, and the Senate seats Franken. What more _can_ there be to it? He can, of course, allege that the decision of the Minnesota courts deprives either him, or the voters of Minnesota, of due process/equal protection of the law. It doesn’t even really matter what basis the Minnesota Supreme Court relies upon to end his claim in Minnesota, because he can always assert that the effect is the same. Of course, the chance of the Supreme Court granting certiorari is relatively small, I would think. His other option is to file a federal lawsuit in district court in Minnesota and allege that the election results violate federal law. In that case, he could request a restraining order, followed by an injunction, while the issue is litigated. I doubt that one would be granted, but it might just be a matter of finding a friendly judge… ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/970 "2009-06-02T21:56:54Z")
Odds that Coleman will at least explore the option of running for Governor again? Remember, he was one of the guys who lost to Jesse. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/971 "2009-06-02T22:18:13Z")
**Ah HA** ha ha ha ha! Thanks for reminding me! (chuckle, snerk…) ---
**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 2, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/972 "2009-06-02T22:47:17Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Odds that Coleman will at least explore the option of running for Governor again? > > Remember, he was one of the guys who lost to Jesse. If he’d conceded early on, and he was gracious about it, I think his chances would have been pretty good, not only to get the Republican nomination, but to win. The Democratic field is pretty thin, and the Senate race would have all been water under the bridge by now. Minnesotans like good grace and manners, and, in my opinion, would probably have given Norm at least as much of a look as they gave him in 1998 (when he was beaten by the Body), and barring another 3rd party aberration probably would have won a tepid plurality and if not elected to thunderous ovations and Obama-like enthusiams, at least elected. Now, though…the polls and the conventional wisdom say that he’s politically finished in Minnesota. A majority of voters want him to concede, and it’s not because most of them especially love Al Franken. It’s an issue of good grace. As much as it makes me blanch to say it, I think Michelle Batshit is a better bet for the GOP nomination for Governor than Norm is at this point. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/973 "2009-06-02T23:33:15Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > . . . and, lets face it, the word “Minnesota” doesn’t exactly quicken anyone’s pulse. I dunno. I once heard a song on _Prairie Home Companion_ to the tune of “Oklahoma!” The refrain is “M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A! Minnesota! Not bad!” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/974 "2009-06-02T23:43:41Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I dunno. I once heard a song on _Prairie Home Companion_ … Had you pegged as a big fan of post-modernist irony. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/975 "2009-06-03T01:09:50Z")
“Powdermilk Biscuits: They give even Republicans the strength to get up and concede when the race is well and truly lost.” ---
**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 3, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/976 "2009-06-03T02:30:12Z")
Coleman is finished in Minnesota. I suspect he won’t even bother to live here in the future. He did take a job with a New York lobbying firm. That should really resonate with voters. Although he is one of the most underwater home owners in the state. That kind of ties him to his house. The Pawlenty move comes as zero surprise. He’s been running for President for some time now. It would help him to national Republicans to refuse to sign a certificate after a SC ruling, but it would damage his approval rating in MN which might make him look a little less viable as a candidate. After all if the people in your home state don’t approve of you… It would help Pawlenty if the court orders him to sign it or if Coleman just gives up. If Franken does win and Pawlenty refuses to to sign the certificate look for the Senate Democrats to try and seat him without it. The Republicans would have to hold ranks tight to maintain a filibuster to prevent that effort from succeeding. The “party of no” filibustering to deny the ruling of the state SC. That would make great TV. And as an aside, Pawlenty’s presidential run is not being taken too seriously here or anywhere else as far as I can tell. But I’m going to go out on a limb and say that he has a very good chance of actually winning the nomination. The competition he will likely be facing (Palin, Romney, Huckabee, Jindal, Gingrich, Paul, etc…) are the most laughable collection of candidates imaginable. People generally don’t know who T-Paw is, but that puts him in a favorable place relative to that collection of clowns. And don’t forget the road to the nomination starts next door in Iowa. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/977 "2009-06-03T02:39:39Z")
> [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](#): > > The Pawlenty move comes as zero surprise. He’s been running for President for some time now. **Seriously?!** Everything I’ve read about him in this thread or elsewhere indicates a level of mediocrity that makes Joe Biden look godlike! ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/978 "2009-06-04T20:48:27Z")
The murmur around town is that Coleman is outta money and doesn’t have much prospect for raising enough for a Federal SC run, so if (when) he loses the MN court bid, hopefully this will be over. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/979 "2009-06-04T20:55:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > …Everything I’ve read about him in this thread or elsewhere indicates a level of mediocrity that makes Joe Biden look godlike! Since when has that stopped anyone (including Joe Biden, twice) from running for President? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/980 "2009-06-04T20:56:46Z")
Everything I’ve heard and read on the subject makes it sound like Coleman is tilting at windmills. But for an issue this important to end because one side runs out of money is ridiculous, too. It’s been a farce up til now, but I was hoping it would end with a gavel and not with a rimshot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239.md?page=48) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239.md?page=50)