# Minnesota has a senator: Franken wins **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 30, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513 "2009-06-30T20:45:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/1 "2009-06-30T20:45:08Z")
Story [here](http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/30/franken.ruling/index.html). And here I thought we were going to make it to the next election without a second senator. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/2 "2009-06-30T20:49:26Z")
Awesome! Thanks for posting this! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/3 "2009-06-30T21:41:21Z")
A comic as a Senator? Next thing you know, they’ll elect a movie actor as President of the United States of America, or a wrestler as … wait a minute … ---
**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, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/4 "2009-06-30T22:01:52Z")
> [@taxi78cab](#): > > Story [here](http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/30/franken.ruling/index.html). But that story says that Pawlenty will sign the certificate on Tuesday – but tomorrow is Wednesday, not Tuesday. Typical CNN inaccuracy. ---
**Author:** ![PeacePlease](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@PeacePlease](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeacePlease)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/5 "2009-06-30T22:16:48Z")
Finally!!! ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/6 "2009-07-01T00:06:20Z")
On behalf of my state, let me apologize in advance for the buffoonery that is certain to ensure. God, I hate that schmuck. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/7 "2009-07-01T00:16:10Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > On behalf of my state, let me apologize in advance for the buffoonery that is certain to ensure. > > God, I hate that schmuck. The Coleman years weren’t all that grand. ---
**Author:** ![PeacePlease](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@PeacePlease](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeacePlease)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/8 "2009-07-01T00:22:27Z")
I believe you meant to type ‘that is certain to ensue’, **Rysdad**. And I disagree. Looking forward to Senator Franken’s term! Congrats and get on with it already! ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/9 "2009-07-01T00:26:08Z")
From the OP’s article: > [@](#): > > Franken supporter, Barb Farrell, said the victory ends what she deemed “rediculous” court proceedings. I wonder if it is Farrell or CNN that doesn’t know how to spell “ridiculous”? ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/10 "2009-07-01T00:29:03Z")
Apparently he’s good enough, he’s smart enough, and doggone it, Minnesotans like him. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/11 "2009-07-01T00:41:31Z")
The 2010s will indeed be The Al Franken Decade. (Man, I am OLD.) ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/12 "2009-07-01T00:42:06Z")
> [@PeacePlease](#): > > I believe you meant to type ‘that is certain to ensue’, **Rysdad**. > > And I disagree. Looking forward to Senator Franken’s term! Congrats and get on with it already! You’re absolutely correct about the first item, and and all I can say about the second is, “Don’t blame me.” 42 percent of Minnesotans voted for Franken. 42 percent of Minnesotans voted for Coleman. Damn fractions. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/13 "2009-07-01T01:17:30Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > On behalf of my state, let me apologize in advance for the buffoonery that is certain to ensure. > > God, I hate that schmuck. I’m inclined to think he’ll do a fine job, but if not I think 'Sotans can rest assured that any Senatorial buffoonery will be overshadowed by whatever we trot out in the ensuing years. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/14 "2009-07-01T01:37:31Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I’m inclined to think he’ll do a fine job, but if not I think 'Sotans can rest assured that any Senatorial buffoonery will be overshadowed by whatever we trot out in the ensuing years. Actually, I think Jan Schakowsky will be a fine Senator. Agreed that Franken looks to be a good 'un from all indications, though. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/15 "2009-07-01T01:43:57Z")
If he is going to represent Minnesota in an embarrassing way, it will be a challenge - he’d have to out batshit Batshit Bachmann. And Minnesotas had little to do with electing actors as president. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/16 "2009-07-01T01:48:23Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > And Minnesotas had little to do with electing actors as president. Yeah, thanks for Mondale. We really appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/17 "2009-07-01T05:52:38Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > On behalf of my state, let me apologize in advance for the buffoonery that is certain to ensure. Well I say good luck to him. Lord knows Norm Coleman and the state Republican party have set the buffoonery bar extremely high. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/18 "2009-07-01T15:53:17Z")
His wife Frannie was at the acceptance speech. I think Sanford of S.C. should fix him up with an Argentinian. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/19 "2009-07-01T17:57:16Z")
Now that Al Franken has won an incredibly close election with all kinds of irregularities that had to be settled in court, I wonder… does he feel just a LITTLE more sympathy for G.W. Bush’s situation in 2000? Both times, we had extremely tight races that came down to multiple recounts, at the end of which there was STILL no way to be 100% sure who won. Both times, the authorities involved did the best they could, and came up with a result tha twas BOUND to tick off half the electorate. Both Al Gore and Norm Coleman eventually conceded defeat, even though both probably feel confident that they won. If Minnesota Republicans spend the next 6 years chanting, “He’s NOT my Senator,” will Franken understand? Or will he growl that they should shut up and stop whining? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513/20 "2009-07-01T18:14:39Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Both times, the authorities involved did the best they could, and came up with a result tha twas BOUND to tick off half the electorate. > > Both Al Gore and Norm Coleman eventually conceded defeat, even though both probably feel confident that they won. That’s not the impression I got from following the MN election saga. It seemed pretty transparent and reasonable to me, and there seems little doubt that Franken did get more votes. Why would Coleman feel confident that he had won? Why would half the electorate be ticked off at the “authorities involved”? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnesota-has-a-senator-franken-wins/501513.md?page=2)