Senator Franken, Finally

The Minnesota Supreme Court has finally gotten around to voting, at their unreasonably (to me) leisurely pace, 5-0 to affirm Democrat Al Franken as Minnesota's junior U.S. Senator yesterday. GOP loser Norm Coleman, soon after the ruling, conceded the election to Franken, averting an even longer drawn-out appeal process to the U.S. Supreme Court. And the Gopher State's Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty has said that he will promptly sign the necessary certificate to allow the winner into the Senate.

Well, it's about time! A lot of the blame can be pinned on Coleman for being a sore loser. Certainly those Republicans (and others) who thought this about Al Gore in 2000 (who caused George W. Bush to miss not even one minute in office) can see this. Al Franken has missed six crucial months in office when he could have been an important factor in a new president's legislative agenda. How would Coleman have liked it if the shoe were on the other foot and it was Franken holding HIM up from taking his Senate seat?

But I think there is more to this delay than Norm Coleman. The Republican Party has embarked on an obstructionist strategy ever since the new Congress and President have taken office this year. In Congress, especially the Senate, they have used every trick in the rules book to hold up bills and presidential nominations. This even includes bills and nominees that the GOP had no particular objection to. The idea, apparently, is to slow down everything in order to keep as much legislation they disagree with from becoming law. Well, once again I say them, "You guys lost the election! The American people chose the Democrats and their agenda this time around. Better luck next time!"

I think Al Franken will be an excellent senator. I've read a couple of his books and, if they are any indication as to which issues matter the most to him and how he will vote, then his tenure in office will be a pleasure for me to follow.

I can't wait for the moment when I tune in to C-Span2 and see Senator Al Franken sitting up there, presiding over the United States Senate with a gavel in his hand and his trademark infectious grin stretching from ear to ear!