I will be most curious to see what's next.

I'm trying to figure out why the U.S. Supreme Court would grant certiorari on a case that's about how a state counts the votes of its own citizens. Wouldn't a state's own courts be sufficient to handle such questions?

Congrats to Al, but this won't stop the Party Of No. When was the last time they actually filibustered? All the Republicans have to do is to go blah blah filibuster blah blah Democrat Socialist Party blah blah Freedom Fries and Harry Reid will buckle. We wont see any real changes in the Senate until he's gone.

You assume that logic and reason have been in play at all the past few months. Let's hope that Pawlenty finally does the right thing and gets the NY born Minnesotan on the next rail out.

and Amen.

I think if Pawlenty refuses to sign the certificate, the US Senate can (and must!) seat Franken themselves. I can't imagine the SCOTUS bothering to hear this case.

Congratulations, Senator Franken! The best man won. I look forward to your legislative career.

They've had the case for quite a while haven't they?

Slow news week, my arse.

I think that any further delay by Pawlenty would enrage the people of Minnesota and become quite the political liability.

I think Minnesotans are tired of being a national joke.

I think Minnesota-Nice has about run out for these republicans.

I'm trying to figure out why the U.S. Supreme Court would grant certiorari on a case that's about how a state counts the votes of its own citizens. Wouldn't a state's own courts be sufficient to handle such questions?

I thought the same thing until Florida 2000.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

-George Santayana

"... gets the NY born Minnesotan on the next rail out."

sforme, who are you talking about? Franken and Coleman were both born in New York.

Like that matters, really.

How Awful!

I can't wait to see the cops give Franken a perp walk. I bet he does it great!

Here is a piece of advice for all of you. If you are ever around Franken and he tells a joke, you better damn well laugh or he will kick your ass.

This is still the Supreme Court that seated George W. Bush, America's unelected war criminal President.

There's no reason at all why they shouldn't grant certiorari and reverse the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Now, it's only a matter of, what? Five more years of legal challenges? By then, of course, Franken will be running for re-election, during which his opponent will blast him for not having done anything in his first term. "Do Nothing" Franken, they'll call him.

Great that Franken was confirmed.

Now we just need to see a copy of his birth certificate....why? Just because!

Republicans don't do "courts". Or elections.

I wonder how long until they shoot up a church or bomb an abortion clinic to express how unfair life is to them.

But Franken's family moved to MN when Al was quite young, and Al grew up in a suburb of Minneapolis.

Coleman grew up in NY, and moved to MN as an adult.

(Neither one quallifies as a "carpet-bagger" IMHO).

The republican party cannot let go of their quest for power. It is *always* party before country, and let the people and their business be damned.

@Juliebird

Yup, Franken grew up in St. Louis park which is a first ring suburb of minneapolis

Very long overdue. After all, those of us old Saturday Night Live fans will remember Franken's announcement around January 1, 1980 that the 80's will be "The Al Franken Decade."

Assuming the Democrats have cojones (which never does seem to be the case), the way Coleman dragged and dragged it out can be used as a precedent. Any time, and I mean any time the Repugnicans win an election by less than 55% of the vote the Dems should tie it up in court, one appeal after another. If anyone questions that tactic then they can simply say it was based on Ab-norm Coleman's precedent.

Congrats to Frankin, congrats to a good decision by the panel. Great relief for Minnesotans who might finally be able to get on with business. I hope Gov. Pawlenty gets that pen in his hand very quickly.

But... We gotta stop looking at individual politicians like any one of them is a magic solution.

No single politician is our answer, regardless of the party. All are subject to the corruption, money games, and the realities of having to work in a system that's driven by special interests, favors, and at times desperation to hang onto careers.

As citizens we need to step up to the plate and demand reforms - especially in campaign finance, lobbying, and special interest Political Action Committees. Until we all get more involved, we might get a lone wolf who's a great servant here and there, but our current system will eventually either buy, castrate, or kill them.

Three of you need to pay more attention! It was the MINNESOTA Supreme Court that made this decision NOT the US Supreme Court. I would hope that the US Supreme Court would stay out of this LONG drawn out process - just in case Mr. Coleman wants to continue tilting at windmills.

We Minnesotans are just glad they FINALLY made a decision either way!