So, can anybody tell us what's the absolute longest that Norm can drag this out?

[Ken Burch]

If the U.S. Supremes refused to take his appeal, would that end the whole thing?

What's the theoretical drop-dead date(or range of dates)past which Norm can't keep this going any longer?

[dflprincess]

1. I heard today that it will be sometime in June before we'll know what the State Supreme Court says

He could try to go Federal then - but it is also possible that once the case is out of state courts the State Supremes could order a conditional eletion certificate to be issued.

[CatholicEdHead]

2. I hope that happens

it could take years to make it through the Federal system. Ideally the GOP would love for Norm to stall for 6 years to deny Franken his entire term for the good of the GOP. :puke:

[Avidor]

3. It could be a long, long time....

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFfJRxjd52o

Drew Friedman:

[radhika]

4. MN Folks are Apparently Fine with This

According to poll results I heard, the folks in MN are satisfied with 'the process'. So I guess that accounts for why Governor Pawlenty feels no need to give his state their full representation, and provide an election certificate to the winner. It also accounts for the re-election of an idiot like Michelle Bachmann.

[Mister Ed]

5. Or not.

The latest Star-Tribune poll says most people are fed up:

Minnesota Poll: Most want Coleman to call it quits

Nearly two-thirds of Minnesotans surveyed think Norm Coleman should concede the U.S. Senate race to Al Franken, but just as many believe the voting system that gave the state its longest running election contest needs improvement.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/43699772.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DU

But the bottom line is that it's laws, and not popular opinion polls, that determine the course of events here. Minnesota election law is being followed to the letter in this matter. It's unfortunate that the law enables Coleman to delay in this manner. Maybe the laws will be modified in the future to accelerate the process, or perhaps to provisionally seat the recount winner during court challenges. But for now, we have to follow existing law.

What accounts for the re-election of Michele Bachmann is the fact that she comes from a congressional district that was heavily gerrymandered to include a slim majority of right-wingers. She doesn't represent Minnesotans as a whole, and could never win a statewide election.