TPM: Reid Spokesman: He Will Not Try To Seat Franken Tomorrow

[OregonBlue]

In a statement given to Election Central, Harry Reid's office says that he will not attempt to seat Al Franken in the Senate tomorrow -- though they are reiterating Reid's call for Norm Coleman to concede the race rather than drag it out.

The statement from Reid spokesman Jim Manley:

"Now that the bipartisan state canvassing board has certified Al Franken as the winner, we hope Senator Coleman respects its decision and does not drag this out for months with litigation. Shortly after Election Day, Coleman criticized Mr. Franken for wanting a recount and wasting taxpayer money. Now that it is clear he lost, Coleman should follow his own advice and not subject the people of Minnesota to a costly legal battle.

"However, there will not be an effort to seat Mr. Franken tomorrow."

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/01/reid_spokesman_he_will_not_try_to_seat_franken_tom.php

[NightWatcher]

1. could Reid be a more spinless wuss? oh wait, I forgot, we are talking about HARRY REID

how long before he comes out and concedes that since we dont have 60 Senators (fillibuster proof) the Dems will not even submit any legislation that the repukes might disaggree with?

[SoCalDem]

4. Reid's askeered of the Chinless turtle-man

I hope Al shows up anyway, and goes on the DC/NY media circuit..

[thunder rising]

5. It's a wonder they MF stand up at all and not quiver on the floor like so much jello

[Earth_First]

2. Is there any particular rules governing this exactly?

I mean, hasn't the MN SoS certified that Franken has won the election by means of a recount?

What Senate rules would prevent Reid from seating Franken during the inaguration of the 111th Congress?

[thunder rising]

3. It's impossible to underestimate the fucking low fortitude of Reid and the DLC/Blue tic dems

[Dennis Donovan]

6. I don't blame Harry. The last thing we should be doing is...

...pissing off Republicans.:scared:

:banghead:

[EconomicLiberal]

7. I thought Reid said he would seat Franken tommorrow.

Now he's changing his mind?

What a sackless piece of shit.

[villager]

8. These worthless, spineless fuckheads. I hope Obama takes an LBJ approach to 'em

...and constantly chews their asses out. If they're gonna quiver, it might as well be productive quivering...

[Swede Atlanta]

9. Reid and Pelosi have to go!!!!

They are both the most spineless wimps I have ever seen in American political life. Let them retain their seats in respective Houses of Congress and vote with us but for God's sake get them the hell out of the leadership. They are both totally incompetent.

[bluestateguy]

10. Harry Reid: Making us actually miss Tom Daschle

nt

[ikojo]

11. So where is the forrmer member of the JDL

accusing the Senate of antisemitism if they do not seat Al Franken?


:sarcasm:

[AlinPA]

12. Maybe the republicans threatened a filibuster and that frightened Reid.

[OregonBlue]

13. McConnell threatened a filibuster.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid offered the toughest language he has ever used in arguing that Norm Coleman’s career in the Senate is finished.

“Norm Coleman will never ever serve in the Senate,” Reid told Politico’s Manu Raju. “He lost the election. He can stall things, but he'll never serve in the Senate.”

Al Franken was declared the winner today by the state’s Canvassing Board in the closely-contested Minnesota Senate race, defeating Sen. Norm Coleman by 225 votes. Coleman’s campaign has said it is contesting the result, preventing Franken from receiving an election certificate until all the legal challenges are resolved.

Reid added that he will not be trying to seat Franken in the Senate on Tuesday. When asked if Franken would be sworn in tomorrow, Reid said: "No."

In his victory statement today, Franken said he was “ready to go to Washington and get to work just as soon as possible.” But a Franken campaign spokesman said he has not yet made plans to travel to Washington.

Senate Republican leadership has threatened to filibuster any attempt to seat Franken before his victory is officially certified.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0109/Reid_Coleman_will_never_ever_serve.html

State Canvassing Board has certified but I believe the formal certification by the MN Secretary of State's office will not take place for another week.

[crimsonblue]

14. how could a filibuster of this possibly hurt the Dems?

It makes the Repubs look vacuous and petty, not to mention undemocratic, for obstructing a lawfully elected official from joining Congress.

[Occam Bandage]

15. Franken hasn't been elected yet.

The state has not issued a certificate of election, and will not do so until all court challenges are resolved.

[crimsonblue]

16. oh, well ok then.

I still say Reid's a douchebag.

[depakid]

17. He can be seated provisionally- it's just that Reid's too timid to do it

As recently as 2007, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) was seated without prejudice by the majority-Democratic House while his election was being contested, and in 1997 the majority-Republican Senate provisionally seated Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) after her GOP opponent alleged irregularities in her very narrow win.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/12/cornyn_indicates_senate_gop_wi.php

[AlinPA]

19. I don't think they are worried about that. But Reid shakes in his boots when they threaten anything

[Enrique]

18. who cares?

Franken is going to be the senator. Who cares if he's seated tomorrow?