# 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:** 50
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/981 "2009-06-04T21:07:13Z")
> [@](#): > > PAWLENTY: Well, as your viewers may know, Minnesota law does allow the governor to sign an election certificate until the state court process is complete. It is not yet complete, but it may be about to be complete. > > And, when it is, and they direct to sign the certificate, I’m going to sign it. There’s not going to be some undue delay or the like. But I’m going to follow the direction of the courts in that regard. And we’re going to have a decision here in the coming weeks [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525101,00.html](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525101,00.html) [‘He will be done’: Coleman confidants say he’ll stop at state courts](http://minnesotaindependent.com/36202/coleman-will-be-done) > [@](#): > > U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman won’t take his election contest to federal courts. That’s the direction unnamed Coleman confidants say the former senator is leaning, according to Roll Call. “He will be done,” one GOP source said. > > Senate Republicans are still urging Coleman to fight on, even if the Minnesota Supreme Court rules in favor of Democrat Al Franken. > > Roll Call says Coleman still staunchly believes in his cause but might not have the energy to carry it beyond a final setback in Minnesota courts. ---
**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 4, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/982 "2009-06-04T21:52:37Z")
Hrm…Obviously “energy” is code for “cash,” but I wonder if Norm is serious about quitting or if it’s a strategy to hold the GOP up for more “energy.” He’s also got the FBI investigation, though. Maybe some of the party has gotten wind that Norm might not be able to slip that chain so easily, and maybe they’re starting to think maybe it’s better to start backing away from him. The fact that T-Paw is also telegraphing his intention to give up the fight is a good indication Coleman probably really does intend to quit, but I still don’t feel comfortable turning my back on either of them. ---
**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 4, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/983 "2009-06-04T22:02:17Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > but I still don’t feel comfortable turning my back on either of them. Hell, no! With those teeth, Coleman could hamstring you in a second! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/984 "2009-06-04T22:23:31Z")
Oh, heck, go ahead and turn your back. Just don’t bend over. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/985 "2009-06-05T02:40:10Z")
Net says Coleman is about to end it. I believe it was in Huffington. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/986 "2009-06-05T02:50:10Z")
A link: [http://www.rollcall.com/issues/54\_140/news/35511-1.html](http://www.rollcall.com/issues/54_140/news/35511-1.html) Key phrase: > [@](#): > > Sources close to Coleman say the former Senator would likely give up his legal battle and accept defeat if the Minnesota Supreme Court decides in Franken’s favor. That’s because Coleman anticipates that Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) would ultimately sign Franken’s certification papers. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/987 "2009-06-05T03:09:49Z")
And why wouldn’t he? Pawlenty has recently said he won’t seek another term as Minnesota governor, likely for a presidential bid in 2012. Pawlenty is obeying Minnesota law by allowing this thing to be dragged out in state court even if it also happens to help his party, the Minnesota SC has now decided, as far as the state is concerned the issue is over, it’d be political poison to not sign Franken’s certificate, regardless of whether or not Coleman appeals. And Coleman doesn’t have a fucking prayer to become the next Minnesota governor. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/988 "2009-06-05T03:18:16Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He’s also got the FBI investigation, though. Maybe some of the party has gotten wind that Norm might not be able to slip that chain so easily, and maybe they’re starting to think maybe it’s better to start backing away from him. I’ve not been following this closely. What’s the FBI issue? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Understander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@The\_Understander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Understander)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/989 "2009-06-05T04:05:28Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I’ve not been following this closely. What’s the FBI issue? [Oh, Norm’s just kickin’ back.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/10/fbi-investigating-coleman_n_149840.html) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/990 "2009-06-05T11:26:29Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > And Coleman doesn’t have a fucking prayer to become the next Minnesota governor. Chris has a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/991 "2009-06-11T15:45:19Z")
Expected but still so very nice: **[Minn. court orders Coleman to pay $95K to Franken](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090610/ap_on_re_us/us_minnesota_senate)** ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/992 "2009-06-11T16:00:44Z")
That’s just incentive for him to appeal further. ---
**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 11, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/993 "2009-06-11T16:41:10Z")
This could very well be the break the McCain campaign was waiting for. ---
**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 11, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/994 "2009-06-11T17:58:43Z")
I suspect the last surviving member of the Dewey '48 campaign committee will also be highly encouraged (if he ever wakes up from his nap). ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/995 "2009-06-11T19:19:48Z")
From Salon: > [@](#): > > One thing the Coleman camp had asked for is that the court stay the charges until the Minnesota Supreme Court, which is currently considering the case, weighs in. But instead, the court wants the money paid immediately, something a Coleman spokesman says isn’t going to happen. That means the former senator will be charged interest for every day the payment is late. A class act all the way. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/996 "2009-06-12T01:14:24Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > This could very well be the break the McCain campaign was waiting for. _snerk_ ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/997 "2009-06-15T23:10:11Z")
[Coleman: It’s Not About Me](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/06/coleman-its-not-about-me----one-vote-in-the-senate-is-about-the-future-of-the-country.php?ref=fpblg) He’s even _more_ of an asshole than I thought. And I didn’t exactly have a high opinion of him in the first place. What the hell is wrong with you Minnesota, that you even elected this douche once? ---
**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 15, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/998 "2009-06-15T23:24:56Z")
> [@MeDrewNotYou](#): > > What the hell is wrong with you Minnesota, that you even elected this douche once? If Wellstone hadn’t gone down in that airplane, Coleman wouldn’t have come within sniffing distance of DC. It took the death of his real opponent and a right-wing noise machine distortion of what happened at the memorial service for that opponent to get him elected. ---
**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 15, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/999 "2009-06-15T23:25:27Z")
The other guy was dead. ---
**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 15, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1000 "2009-06-15T23:27:50Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The other guy was dead. Didn’t stop Carnahan. Then again, the live guy was Ashcroft in that case… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239.md?page=51)