Ladies & gentlemen, the Senator from Minnesota...

[artscallion]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 10:01am

"At the moment, Franken has a 225-vote lead," after the weekend counting of what were deemed the last uncounted absentee ballots, said Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, a Democrat who oversaw the process.

Ritchie said unless the supreme court acts on Coleman's request and orders more ballots to be counted, he will reconvene the state's Canvassing Board on Monday to certify Franken as the winner of the November 4 contest.

A FULLER REPORT

Updated On: 1/5/09 at 10:01 AM

[romantico]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 10:55am

Coleman played a lot of dirty tricks during the campaign. If this turns out to be true,Goof for Al!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljrh72Qy1tw&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBOad11LueE&feature=channel_page

Posted: 1/5/09 at 10:56am

I cannot wait until the day I can torment my conservative friends with the phrase "SENATOR AL FRANKEN!"

New Year's eve my brother grumbled that Franken was "Stealing" the election. I said "Oh good. Now you know what it feels like. Bend over."

[artscallion]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 11:54am

If you taunt them with the phrase "Senator AND FORMER COMEDIAN, Al Franken" that'll really drive 'em nuts.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 11:59am

...a state that elected jesse the body ventura governor.

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 12:09pm

And Norm Coleman as senator.



and Michelle "McCarthy" Bachman congresswoman.

[romantico]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 1:02pm

Can't wait to hear the spin O'Reilly puts on this.

[clever name]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 1:16pm

Rush Limbaugh is breaking into his stash of oxycontin right about now. HA!

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 1:18pm

I'd love it if Franken stayed in character as Stuart Smalley for his entire tenure in the senate.

[pab]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 1:29pm

O'Reilly, back on November 18th

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 3:38pm

I actually think he'll make a great senator. He's exceedingly smart.

[pab]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 3:53pm

At 3:30 today the Elections Board officially certified Al Franken as the winner.

Legal battles next?
Minnesota elections board says Franken won

Updated On: 1/5/09 at 03:53 PM

Posted: 1/5/09 at 3:55pm

Senator Al Franken! God, that sounds great! He's good enough, he's smart enough and doggone it, people like him!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 5:44pm

Just what the Senate needs - another gasbag. What is one more comedian in the Senate.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 8:00pm

Al Franken is extremely smart and will do Minnesota proud! I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with him many times over the years and have always been in awe with his knowledge.
He tends to be no nonsense and straight to the point which is what we need in the Senate right now! Go Al and congrats!!!!

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 8:13pm

I don't doubt Franken's intelligence, however there's more to being a senator than being smart.

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 8:44pm

apparently not much more cause Norm Coleman was a senator.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 8:59pm

there's more to being a senator than being smart.

Like what?

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 10:26pm

Like working with other smart people. Like working with people who aren't that smart. Like working with people whose opinions and agenda differ from yours. Like being able to compromise while maintaining your integrity. Like working hard.

I hope he succeeds.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 11:41pm

I think he'll do all of those better than, say, Senator Fred Thompson.

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 8:31am

Well, now that Norm Coleman has lost to a wrestler and a comedian, what do we think of his future in politics?

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 8:44am

nice to see that you're setting the bar so low for him, pj. legal challenges remain before this thing is called though.

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 8:50am

While he has every right to those legal challenges, everything I've read (mostly on www.fivethirtyeight.com) indicates that his chances are very slim.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 8:52am

do you work for them? seriously?

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 8:57am

Seriously? No.