Franken: "We're Going To Win Soon"

Al Franken gave his first national media interview since November to Air America's Mark Green Friday. Franken acknowledges the difficulties of his long electoral purgatory but says that none of that really matters, because he is "going to win soon." Here's an excerpt; Air America has the full audio.

GREEN: We talked before air about an election night a few years back when I spent two hours in an emotional deep freeze not knowing whether I had won or lost a close and big race. So how have you handled a three month -- and counting -- emotional deep freeze?

FRANKEN: Well, Frannie and I Iook at each other at night, usually right before we go to bed, and go like: "How long is this gonna go on?" But, it really looks now that it's going to get resolved in my favor, and soon, and so I'm actually excited to get there. So that sort of overcomes the frustration of: "How long can this go on?"

GREEN: What's the hold-up? Haven't you been certified the winner by the secretary of state of Minnesota?

FRANKEN: Well, I've been certified as the winner of the recount. So I just want to be fair to everybody. When I was certified by the state canvassing board as the winner of the recount, Coleman, as is his right, filed a legal contest contesting the outcome of the recount. And that was January 6th, the day that I could've been seated as the winner of the recount. Then we went to trial January 26th, and this is the fourth week. At the end of this past week, the judges issued a ruling, which we think is a great ruling, which narrowed the standards and scope of the absentee ballots that have been previously rejected...then the Coleman people kind of did a 180. They had not wanted these ballots included at all, but now that they're behind, they wanted them all included. The narrowing of the universe of these absentee ballots that could be counted is such that we really believe we're going to win, and we're going to win soon.

The interview also airs on XM and Air America affiliates on Saturday from 6-7 pm Eastern and then on Sunday from 9-10 am Eastern.

Comments

[motoGpifupleez]

Franken: "We're going to win soon"
Coleman: "It's not about win/lose, it's how much money your party is willing to spend in legal fees".

[danusgram]

Al please hurry up and get in the senate so we can turn our attention to getting rid of Bachman.

[Waitaminute]

I wish this court will call it for Al. It's not like they haven't already put up with NORMIE'S frivolus law suits. His britches are down, he is done, so stick a fork in him.

[deweym]

As far as I am concerned you have already won Senator Franken. You won at the ballot box, you have won in public opinion, and you have won in the way you have carried yourself through what I can only imagine is a most challenging time. Through it all you have shown great poise and humility. Norm Coleman on the other hand through this process has further proved that he is a liar and a hypocrite and that the last thing on his mind is the interest of the good people of Minnesota.

By the way, if anyone missed the video of Norm having his arse handed to him as he was shilling for Bush's illegal war in Iraq, this is a MUST SEE. It is one of the finest moments in the US Senate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyyGoPerzWc

[camper65]

Caligula's horse in the Senate. Now, THAT"S the kind of change we hoped for!

[WorkingClass]

It took Minnesota two months to do a recount. Another month to get into a court room. And now the trial is a month old. How much time will be required for the appeal? The second appeal? The election was a tie. Minnesota should make do with one senator until the next election.

[Anthro]

Why? Besides, that is not the law in Minnesota.

[danusgram]

yes it is I live here

[danusgram]

I meant to say no that is not the law

[deweym]

Well, ya see, we can't do that as we live in a democracy. As such, we need to follow the will of the people as demonstred in the voting booth. So however inconvenient it is, the will of the people of Minnesota must be honored and they chose Senator Franken.

Not to mention Norm will be tied up in courts and on other legal issues in forethcoming indictments regading funneling campaign money through his wifes company as well getting free suits. It will be hard to govern from a jail cell.

[AdamND]

It wasn't a tie and Franken won so why should Minn do with only 1 senator for 6 years??

[JRsNana]

You really can't write this stuff. Al Franken, comedian and writer, becomes a US Senator (D) while Rush Limbaugh, "Big Fat Idiot", openly becomes the leader of the R's. Get me some popcorn.

[wedgie]

AL! Thanks for being tenacious and tough. You're one guy who won't roll over for Fox News and the haters on the right wing.

THANK YOU!!!!!

**

[hildutus]

Not with the RNC pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into Coleman's legal challenges.
The best government money can buy!

[FZliveson]

Government IS money. After a while the picture gets more clear-- like one of those
pictures you have to stare at for a couple minutes until your eyes go crossed.

[HLL]

Been rooting for you all along, Senator Franken. Happy to hear it won't be much longer now. You should be seated in the Senate as you won the re-count fair and square.

[samandally]

I just heard he found more uncounted ballots in his kids diaper.

[wedgie]

You loose. Hush up.

**

[longfeltwant]

Loose? Really? You are going to chastise someone and then make a second-grade spelling error? That's bold!

[dwillisno1]

Not only that he found Senator Vitter in there too!

[ralph10]

One problem. One's a teacher and the other one is getting ready to graduate from college.

[carnelld]

The longer the Republicans can prolong the Minnesota Senate seat fight, Democrats are denied one (1) vote in the U S Senate. If there is a slim chance that Coleman can win in court or Franken makes a mistake, all well and good.

If not the Republicans delay.....­delay.....­delay.....­...and delay. The Democrats have a propensity to defeat themselves. If the Democrats remove Senator Burris from Illinois, that would be another vote the Democrats would lose, for a while. This would give the Republicans an opportunity to continue their campaign to oppose and degrade Obama's administration.

Remember Obama's stimulus Bill passed the Senate, just barely with the 60 votes needed. Obama is to release his first budget next week. The Republicans will be howling and throwing bombs at Obama's budget like the "taliban" they profess to be like.

Politics is not rocket science, and in a two party system there is no such thing as bi-partinsanship. You either beat your opponent or your opponent beats you.

The Republicans recently donated $250,000 to Norm Coleman's campaign to continue the court fight. This money is an investment by the Republicans. They will either win the seat or gain public relations and media exposure worth much more by opposing the Democrats and making them look
impotent.

[lj9283]

Mr. Coleman yesterday filed a motion that basically said that he wants to reject all of the absentee votes he previously accepted. Pure obstructionism.

[dtghope]

Well done, Senator Al Franken!

A deserving win. Best wishes in your new senatorial position!

[endeavor]

Keep going Al, John Wilkes Limbaugh and Bill O'Liely are rooting for you also.

[Nostrodamus]

Go get 'em Al. America needs you in the Senate! This protracted costly struggle just goes to show the Republican Party does not give a hoot about the country. In the crises we are in , this is no time for partisan bickering.

[Stilts9]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I give you the "All-Time Republickin' Sore Loser"

Norm Coleman