This morning when I read JTA's "World War III over a Senate seat?" I couldn't help but worry that this battle may be far from over.
In JTA's post on the Minnesota Senate race, Eric Fingerhut asked, "Will Minnesota ever get its second senator?" Fingerhut immediately answered his own question in his introduction to a Politico article that quotes Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) as "threatening 'World War III' if Democrats try to seat Al Franken in the Senate before Norm Coleman can pursue his case through the federal courts." The answer is, "maybe not."
However, another question came to mind: What's best for Norm Coleman?
I do not know Coleman personally, but I imagine that there aren't many people around him who consider Coleman's best interest over their own personal agendas. I have little doubt that Coleman's lawyers and political supporters have the ability and incentive to push this race well into the future. I fear that the inherently deliberative nature of our courts, combined with the partisan agenda of Coleman's advocates, means that the people of Minnesota will continue to be denied full representation in the Senate.
Yet, there comes a point when Coleman's closest friends need to remind him that it's his name at stake, that Coleman should think of his future and his former constituents. Coleman's true friends ought to remind him that sometimes the hardest people to say no to are your supporters. At the end of the day, the immediate past senator from Minnesota needs to look into his mirror and say, "Norm Coleman, enough is enough."
Coleman knows that there are ways to continue delaying his departure from this race, but he will also come to realize that the people advising him to prolong Minnesota's longest unresolved election are not the ones he should be listening to.
Crossposted on NJDC's blog.
Romney Helps Bankroll Coleman Recount Fund - The Caucus Blog ...
Isn't that what you lobbyists do? Normie will be a great addition to your club!
"It is difficult to imagine a clearer case of "textually demonstrable constitutional commitment" of an issue to another branch of government to the exclusion of the courts ... than the language of Article I, section 5, clause 1 that "[e]ach House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members." The provision states not merely that each House "may judge" these matters, but that each House "shall be the Judge" ... . The exclusion of others--and in particular of others who are judges--could not be more evident. ... [W]e simply lack jurisdiction to proceed."
Once the Minnesota Supreme Court rules, the only "judge" that can hear the case is the US Senate. All the talk by Republican Senators about appealing to Federal courts is totally pointless.
The trio of Judges who heard the Election Contest needed to closely examine some Minnesota Law before DENYING Franken his Certificate when Franken filed for a Summary Judgment they also denied.
But, they took the Election Laws pertaining to when an a certified winner of an election is to be issued the Certificate and in no uncertain terms Unanimously Ruled upon the matter taking time to very precise with their language in the Decision.
Immediately upon the Decision of the Highest Court IN MINNESOTA the Governor and Secretary of State are Ordered to prepare and issue the Certificate of Election.
The Decision of the Minnesota Court of Appeals is Coleman's last stop according to Minnesota Law.
That Decision was written Unanimously and prefaced with the Law and Courts Footnotes.
One more thing:
This Election is an Election for Senator.
The Supreme Court of The United States does not render Decisions in the matter of Elections of Senators. The Constitution prevents the matter from going to the Supreme Court.
Once Minnesota Highest Court renders a Decision; the next Body to hear the Case would be The United States Senate ... itself!
The majority of this country have spoken and they do not want this type scandalous behavior, they want something done that will make their lives better and preventing a senate seat from being occupied is to me another indication that the GOP could care less about being American.
Is there a finishing school for statesmen?
What about the people of Minnesota? What's best for them?
He has zero credibility and looks like a thief.
At some point a person should maintain some level of integrity,
Coleman clearly lost all of his-
Maybe it was statistical tie, but in the end Franken received more votes than loser Coleman.
If Coleman gave two hoots about his former constituents he would go home and worry about his other legal problems. Why are we Minnesotans sitting around waiting for Coleman to finally give up?
We should be demanding that Franken be seated.
You can always depend on Repulicans to cut off their nose despite their face, in fact I'm beginning to think that that's what they do best.
Michelle Bachmann to name another. Between the two of them they will be the gift that keeps on giving for years. Although I am absolutely amazed that Bachmann won after her anti American rant on MSNBC. BUT she does have to run again next year, so there is always hope she will be history.