Opinion: Recount Day 238: Coleman quits; Goshdarnit Al Franken’s a senator

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Well, it’s finally over. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled 5-0 today that Democrat Al Franken won the more than 2.9-million vote Senate election there by a landslide 312 votes.

Hours later Republican incumbent Norm Coleman conceded defeat to the former comedian. Coleman said he “will abide by its results” and “now congratulate Al Franken and his victory in this election.”

Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty has indicated he will sign the official election certificate according to the state’s top court decision.

Now, Coleman, the former mayor of St. Paul, can decide on his rumored run to replace Pawlenty in the governor’s office next year, while Pawlenty ponders a presidential run in 2012.

Besides bringing an often-blue sense of humor to one of the world’s most exclusive clubs, Franken will be the 60th Democratic vote out of 100, preventing the possibility of any Republican filibuster if GOP members could ever agree on such a thing.

And providing that the recent Republican turncoat Arlen Spectervotes with his new-found Democratic BFFs, which he’s warned he won’t always do. Which explains Rep. Joe Sestak’s developing primary challenge back home in Pennsylvania.

And providing that 91-year-old West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd keeps surviving his frequent hospitalizations. As reported by renowned Byrd expert Don Surber here, the longest-serving senator ever was released most recently today after recovering from a staph infection contracted while he was fighting a minor infection..

Texas Sen. John Cornyn,chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said: “I would like to commend both Norm Coleman and Al Franken on a hard-fought campaign. In particular, I would like to be among the first to welcome Al Franken to the United States Senate.”

Developing.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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