...than a partisan hack taking pains to make sure all the rules are followed until the end result desired is achieved. Almost reminds one of a tinpot dictatorship...

Vincent Bugliosi ought to write a book on this mess, as he so brilliantly did when he exposed the travesties of Bush v. Gore.

It seems to me Pawlenty's view is open to interpretation. Pawlenty is in a tough spot: he's got a reelection to think about, and he will flat-out lose GOP support if he concedes the Senate race before Coleman does.

But, obviously, MN with one senator is a pretty big disenfranchisement. I doubt he'll have any Democratic support by refusing to end the end game.

What's the likelihood of a higher power speeding thing along? What recourse for the people?

The vast majority of people in Minnesota are sick to death of the the wrongend wingnuts impugning our excellent and completely transparent election, recount and contest process and the National Republican party using it as a delaying tactic while we are represented by only 1/2 of a Senatorial Delegation in Washington.

Between the inaninty of Michelle Bachman, the stubborn, self-serving intransigence of Norm Coleman, who has proven to us that he cares about nothing and no-one but himself (a decidedly un-Minnesotan attitude), and now Governor Pawlenty, who appears ready to jump on that same bandwagon, most of us good Minnesotans are seeing all too clearly that we have nothing in common with what the Republican Party has become.

The more these folks pursue this subversion of our most recent election, the longer they will dwell in the wilderness in Minnesota Politics. Right now we're looking at about 20 additional years (they've already suffered major losses in the past two elections). Up until now, Governor Pawlenty was the exception, but if it becomes clear that he's going to attempt to subvert Minnesota state law in favor of the wishes of the National Republican party, he's TOAST, too.

That if Coleman had the edge in votes, and it was Franken who was doing all the legal crap, Pawlenty would long ago have pulled some procedural stunt out of his ass to put Coleman in the senate. He would have done it using words like "imperative" and "vital" and "honoring the obvious will of the people."

he would have had the election certificate signed already.

This guy is a partisan swine like Vermont's governor who is going to veto marriage equality because it goes against his religious beliefs.

One does wonder how much the GOP put in the coffers of Mr. Paw-plenty to make him drag this out as long as possible.

Franken should just go to Washington. He won, get over it already Republicans. Talk about sore losers!

Pawlenty is correct that the Minnesota Supreme court said that he should wait till the state appeals process is done to sign the election certificate.

What is unfortunate, is thaat he seems to have the appeals process wrong. According to the Politco transcript, he said that the current case is in the district court and then it has to be appealed to the Minnesota Appeals Court and then to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

That is not the process for this case. The current case is being heard by a special 3 judge panel, not a district court. From there it can be appealed straight to the Minnesota Supreme Court. I would expect that process to take less than a month. So my guess is that Franken will be seated by Memorial Day.

begging for Rush Limbaugh's forgiveness.

Coleman can't win but by keeping this going as long as possible he helps his party block legislation from getting through the Senate.

Once Franken is seated it'll be that much easier to overcome the "threat" of filibusters that allow the GOP to block any legislation that doesn't have 60+ votes to support it.

Minnasota is not some right wing wonderland, so, this crass gop stalling tactics are going to kill the gop in MN. We all know what the final result will be, Franking will be seated.

Sorry, Tim, but whether or not you're "ready to sign" is irrelevant. Eventually "The Norm" will get a brain and concede or the Supremes will take a look at his appeal and say, "Get lost!" At that point, Pawlenty will sign the election certificate that sends Franken to Washington or he can expect massive protests and swift legal action to initiate a gubernatorial recall election.

I can't believe this is still going on. What is wrong with my fellow Americans? Democrats!! Why aren't goddamn Democrats getting up in the morning and yelling that these thieves are trying to fucking steal this thing, yelling all day long until they go to bed at night, and repeating it the next day, and every day, 24-7.

Months of waiting?!? Good lord these people should be in the streets rioting until they get their elected Senator seated. "The end of the Republican party in Minnesota"? No! These guys are doing great. And everybody is too prim and propper and believes these jerry rigging assholes are all playing strictly by the book. Wake up you sleep heads! They are trying anything and everything they can to pull a victory out of this. Wake up and take what it yours! Stop taking the bullshit! It is starting to become pathetic.

@gkrevvv: It'd be great if the GOP in MN loses popularity on this. The news stories covering this recount don't cover Minnesotans' attitudes towards this whole mess at all. At this point I have to guess that Coleman is seen as a desperate, whiny loser. As for Michelle Bachman...when do her space alien overlords bring her back to their home planet?

Every day this drags on, the Republicans look worse and worse. And no matter what they do, it's still going to end with Al Franken in the United States Senate.

It's like watching the GOP shoot themselves in the foot again and again and again. I just can't get enough.

Fight on, Norm! Dig that hole as deep as you can! Let Governor Tim help!