# 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:** 56
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1101 "2009-06-30T20:04:26Z")
I seriously doubt **BrainGlutton** or anyone else on the SD thought this tread would go to 22 pages. ---
**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 30, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1102 "2009-06-30T20:18:36Z")
1. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1103 "2009-06-30T20:27:05Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Harry Reid’s worst nightmare! You misspelt Bill O’Reilly. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1104 "2009-06-30T20:27:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Republican Norm Coleman conceded his loss in a press conference Tuesday afternoon, saying he has called to congratulate Franken on his victory. [http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/06/30/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5126051.shtml](http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/06/30/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5126051.shtml) ---
**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 30, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1105 "2009-06-30T20:30:15Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > You misspelt Bill O’Reilly. Him, too. You realize this makes Franken the only senator who has ever been paid to impersonate another senator (actually, TWO other senators)? ---
**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 30, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1106 "2009-06-30T20:30:49Z")
Sheesh, finally! I noticed _Bush v. Gore_ discussed by the MSC at some length. Odd, since SCOTUS specifically said nine years ago that it wasn’t precedent… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1107 "2009-06-30T20:32:59Z")
Finally! I have had the hardest time keeping our gun-banning, abortion-forcing, farm-animal-marrying, heroin-for-everybody-for-free agenda a secret while this thing dragged out. C’mon, fellow liberals! Let’s bring this 230-year-old representative democracy DOWN! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1108 "2009-06-30T20:54:51Z")
I’m not a fan of Franken, but I hope he does his job well and I wish him luck. ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1109 "2009-06-30T21:00:28Z")
I agree (though I am a fan of Franken). I hope he rises to the occasion and becomes a good public servant. I think his (lack of) presence during this process is maybe an indicator that he intends to take this seriously. I still can’t believe Al Franken is a Senator. I mean, really. I feel like Doc in _Back to the Future_. “Ronald Reagan? The _actor_?” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1110 "2009-06-30T21:07:05Z")
Yeah, but you have to figure that, if for no other reason than the research he did for his books, he is at least as prepared for the job as 75% of the people who have held it in the last 100 years. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1111 "2009-06-30T21:11:27Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > I am guessing that he will. I think that the hand-writing is on the wall. He’s a few shekels short, too. 😃 Heh, I get one right for a change. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1112 "2009-06-30T21:34:24Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > May I ask who you supported in this little electoral contretemps? What has that to do with with the price of fish? My point was the money being pissed away for no good reason. Let’s just restrict it to court challenges. Recount if you will, but let’s both agree we won’t go crying to the judges when the final result is in. And Franken has both my congratulations and good wishes. ---
**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 30, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1113 "2009-06-30T21:40:28Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > What has that to do with with the price of fish? My point was the money being pissed away for no good reason. Let’s just restrict it to court challenges. Recount if you will, but let’s both agree we won’t go crying to the judges when the final result is in. Sorry. I think I read more into the post I replied to than what was there. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1114 "2009-06-30T21:59:33Z")
Will he be sworn in in time to vote for the cap and trade bill? I hear that will be tough to pass in the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1115 "2009-06-30T22:01:01Z")
It about time! I’m really glad to see Franken get this. Besides being a great entertainer, his political philosophies match mine closer than most politicians. Man, too bad he wasn’t a Canuck or a Brit because he’d be great in question period! ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1116 "2009-06-30T22:02:51Z")
At last I can unleash my pent-up bragging rights! You see, the Minneapolis Star Tribune published FOUR pro-Franken letters that I wrote–3 in the paper and one on the website. It’s not too far-fetched to imagine that they may have swayed 300 or so votes, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1117 "2009-06-30T22:06:24Z")
It ain’t over until the Fat Lady sings. Pawlenty said he would certify the winner if ordered by the courts. Despite the Minnesota Supreme Court declaring Franken the winner, it did not order the governor to certify the election. ---
**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 30, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1118 "2009-06-30T22:07:46Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Hell, if I were Amy Klobuchar I’d be suing Coleman for the doubled costs of being the sole Senate constituent-service office in the state for six months. Actually, the Senate allocated her office additional funds (taken from what would have been funds for Franken’s office) to help with these additional costs. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1119 "2009-06-30T22:07:46Z")
Given that Coleman conceded this afternoon at a press conference, I’m not sure what Pawlenty would gain by refusing to sign the papers. ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1120 "2009-06-30T22:09:22Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > It ain’t over until the Fat Lady sings. > > Pawlenty said he would certify the winner if ordered by the courts. Despite the Minnesota Supreme Court declaring Franken the winner, it did not order the governor to certify the election. Seeing that Coleman conceeded, how could he possibly get away with not certifying the election? Edit - someone beat me to this comment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239.md?page=55) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239.md?page=57)