Senate Democrats May Seat Franken Before Coleman Lawsuit Is Resolved

[DogPoundPup]

Source: Yahoo Politico

Senate Democratic leaders won't shut the door on the possibility of seating Democrat Al Franken before the state of Minnesota issues a certificate declaring a winner in the race.

Majority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday appeared to back away somewhat from his declaration earlier in the week that Franken's term "must begin and will begin soon," saying that Democrats would "be very patient" with the legal challenge that Republican Norm Coleman is mounting in the Minnesota courts.

But Reid would not commit to waiting until the state issues a certificate, which, under Minnesota law, can only happen once Coleman's legal contest is resolved.

"We're just going to do it when it's necessary," Reid said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20090109/pl_cq_politics/politics3005339

[truthisfreedom]

1. The dude finally grew some f***ing balls. Un-be-lieveable.

I'm stunned.

Throwing down the gauntlet. The pukes must be ripping their hair out.

[global1]

2. Don't Celebrate Too Soon Or Hold Your Breath - It Didn't Happen Yet.....

remember you're talking about the guy that wasn't going to accept anyone that was offered up by Blago.

[dflprincess]

10. I'm sure he will send Norman a strongly worded letter

suggesting that just maybe, if he (Normie) has time, he think about dropping the lawsuit.

[BlooInBloo]

5. Sucker.

:P

[deadmessengers]

3. now let's see if he shits himself at the sound of the word "filibuster". n/t

[AlinPA]

4. They won't seat him. It will be filbustered by republicans and we don't have votes for cloture. On

CSPAN yesterday McConnell said the entire republican caucus want an election for the seat in IL and the next sentence was talk of filibustering.

[BlooInBloo]

6. "cloture"

[AlinPA]

7. Oops, fixed, thanks.

[Nevernose]

18. That's what Reid doesn't get:

Better to be filibustered and lose, which forces their hand and shows them for the assholes they are, than to just give up, which makes us look like incompetents at best and wimps at worst.

[villager]

8. Oh I'm sure "'Balls Out' Reid" will be a fearsome force to be reckoned with...

n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. Harry Reid plays T-Ball

Everyone else plays hardball.

Harry Reid at the plate:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

11. they had better he was certified

[Mister Ed]

15. Actually, just the recount result was certified.

For Franken to be certified as Minnesota's senator, a certificate to that effect must be signed by Governor Tim Pawlenty and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. However, Minnesota law prevents them from doing so while Norm's election challenge lawsuit remains unresolved.

[AlinPA]

17. The republican governor will slow down the lawsuit .

[EconomicLiberal]

12. I'll believe it when I see it.

Knowing Reid, he'll get his ass handed to him by the Republicans again.

[elocs]

13. Trying to seat Franken now is a mistake--let the process play out to it conclusion under MN law.

I would think that Franken would want his seating in the Senate to be above questioning and that means waiting until the legal appeals are done and he is certified. If Burris needed to be completely certified under the law then it would do well for Franken to be the same.

[AndyTiedye]

14. We'll Be Lucky if He's Seated by This Time NEXT YEAR

[AlinPA]

16. At Coleman's press conference when he announced the lawsuit, he sounded like he was in for the long

haul. Months, years?

[groundloop]

19. Coleman will still be filing lawsuits...

from his jail cell when he's convicted of corruption. It'll help him pass the time. Which raises a good question... Which will happen first, Coleman gets tired of filing lawsuits or Reid grows a pair.

[AlinPA]

20. Don't hold your breath - we don't have a leader in Reid.