CNN

its a moot point... err gripe. its minnesota's issue – no one else's.

we have one of the highest voter turnouts in the country – partly because we trust our officials.

this is a close race and i only hope neither side contests the outcome.

This is hilarious.... The GOP Senators would want to impose a filibuster in opposition to the preliminary seating of Al Franken because of 1000 improperly rejected absentee ballots....
But it was the GOP's litigation in Minnesota that halted the absentee voter ballot count. So, the GOP is objecting over something that they...themselves....imposed. What a bunch of idiots !!!!

Who cares what Cornyn thinks; he's not from MN.

Let the MNers decide their own state affairs; it is their SEN that is under discussion.

"The Coleman campaign is hoping the Minnesota Supreme Court will intervene over the issue of the improperly rejected absentee ballots because they say there is no uniform standard for local officials and the campaigns to review and count them."

The US Supreme Court already ruled in 2000 that citizens have no standing to bring cases to have their votes counted, let alone counted in some uniform way. That's YOUR Supreme Court there Norman...that's YOUR Supreme Court all you neo-lemmings.

Sounds like Norman is all for litigation now that he is behind, and all you neo-tard supporters are fully complicit in the hypocrisy....yes, that's all you swill-mouths that have been on here the past few weeks saying Frankin will litigate to seek to count more votes until he wins. Now who wants to litigate because they are behind? All you prissy rightwingers with your panties in a bunch can kiss my behind - that's how far behind you are.

The republican comments are so predictable. ACORN did nothing to the election process except register people that DO NOT EXIST. Do you really think they went and voted only in your immaginary MIND or total lack of mind. Who would let a person with a name and non matching SS # vote especially one not from the right state and or named Mickey Mouse. You need to get the facts before you type a comment. Some people will say anything and think others are dumb enough to fall for it!

Coleman is a career politician and a creepy Bush-lovin' liar.
The only reason he was ever Senator is because Wellstone's plane went down (mysteriously) 3 weeks before the election. He was hand-picked by Dick Cheney to run.

Coleman was mayor of St. Paul and he used the same sleazy east coast politics here that he uses in Washington.

and did i mention he's turncoat? Voted in as a Dem, then changed to the Grand Old Party.

Dump the creep. GO AL !

I guess everyone pretty much is missing the real story here. How the heck can Al Franken be that close to winning? I mean it's Al Franken against a sitting Senator. Holy Cow, it Coleman that bad? Come to think of it.....moved to Minnesota because he could not become a Senator in NY.....now losing to someone who wrote for SNL....

This process is making me very tired...yawn!!

Lets count the votes, just like we did in Florida back in 2000. Oh wait... nevermind...

It's in their GOP DNA to oppose anything Democratic.

To Mike Sloane – You should look at the challenged ballots. It IS two names with circles!

Might be time to give it up norm your lost to both:

Jesse Ventura for Governor

Al Franken for Sentator

Quite a body of defeats

Cornyn....hate to tell you this, but nobody should be seated until ALL THE VOTES ARE COUNTED....It is the people's choice, and you or any other politican has no right to made this decision. The voters are the only ones to make this choice. The American people have had enough of Republicans stealing elections...ENOUGH....wait until ALL votes are counted...whatever the outcome.

I don't think anyone should be seated until an official decision is made by the state of Minn. However.........................
Does anyone know what Coryn's point of view was when Coleman asked Al to step aside?

Gee, Just what we need.......A Texas senator deciding what is right for Minnesota! Does the Texas senator think he's really THAT important or is he also looking for his 15 minutes national attention. Just get all the legimate absentee ballots counted – get the election certified & then wait for the "no way it's not going to happen" legal challenge.

Maybe count the thousand Votes? Take maybe a couple of hours
or less. First one to 501 is in. Pretty simple.

WHAT? Why that's racist – The GOP is trying to block a white guy from the Senate.
Where's the outrage by the Dems and the White Caucus?

To all you republican mouthpieces crying foul, and to all those republicans claimingto be democrats I say go and whine to somebody who cares. You all sure didnt want a re-count done in Florida. You all wanted Bush so badly! Look at the big mess your sorry excuse for a president has gotten us into. Most of the country would throw their shoes at him if they could.

I guess with the overwelming turnout for the Presidential election, the GOP couldn't "sideswipe" it like they did in 2000 and 2004 so now, they are going to try it with Frankinand on a smaller scale. Good luck with that...

How about a run off. Neither one of those 2 clowns should be seated. Way too close for comfort.

Here's a test of intellectual honesty. Would you make the same comments if the situation involving the candidates was reversed?
I think we need to put political biases aside in order to establish unbiased methods for establishing procedures no matter who or what circumstances are involved. That said, it has been my impression that Minnesota has established guidelines for recounting votes automatically when races are this tight, no matter who is ahead. Both candidates are obviously attempting to maximize their chances of winning .. this is only natural under the circumstances and I would suggest we not berate either candidate in their quest for a Senate seat, as long as their actions are legal and ethical.

By the way, EW, I like the way you chide people for resorting to name-calling, then proceed discuss the "clowns" and the "gaggle of clueless nitwits" in our government. Satire can be such a healthy release.

Republicans have nothing left to lose at this point - which is why they are simply at obstructing everything... it's all they have left until the Dems get a 60 vote majority.

And THAT is why any question out there about a Democratic win that can be challenged IS being challenged, however lame the basis.

When we will have mail-in voting? I don't think that the USPS could screw up elections any worse than what we've had in various states the past 3 election cycles, do you? Oregon has it; it works just fine and gives you all the time anyone should need to make your choices.

Heck, let the Feds make a few cents on each mailed in ballot and we could create a special fund for printing up the ballots, etc.

It's not rocket science, Congress.

John Cornyn wouldn't know fairness if it hit him in the face.

I remember how many posters on these bloggs made fun of Georgia's election law that requires a run-off election if neither candidate gets a clear majority of the votes. Who's laughing now? The fairest solution is a run-off election. Franken would never go for this, though, because he knows that he would lose.

If you do the recount, republicans will always lose. If you do the recount of 2000, you know who will be the president (back dated). If you do the recount of 2008 presidential elections, McCain will lose Arizona, Georgia and West Virginia...

I feel so sad for Norm,Mike Connell got killed before he could fix the vote.

To the absent minded Republicans who say a comedian cannot be a Senator.....Rep Fred (Gopher) Grandy from Iowa. Representative Sonny Bono of California. Two actors!!! Both on the GOP side. What do you have to say to that you hypocrites?

In most states, only the Secretary of State is required to certify election results. I wonder whether Minnesota differs in requiring the Governor to certify results as well?

Or is the Republican minority in the Senate just trying to add requirements to what the law of Minnesota provides so that their party would have a veto over election results that they didn't like?

Honestly don't know the answer. Just wondering.

If anyone has enough hot air to sustain a fillibuster it's John Cornyn.

What hypocrites the Democratic "leadership" are. If Franken is seated, why not Burris???

The truth is Burris is appointed by a sitting governor. If Illinois has a case against their governor, they get better get on the stick and bring that case. As of now, apparently they don't. As unattractive as Blagojevich is, he is A) the Governor of the "great" state Illinois, and B) Innocent until proven guilty.

By contrast, no winner for either side has been declared by the "great minds" of Minnesota, so Franken has no business showing up in the halls of government. Unless, of course, he is accompanied by Coleman and they share a seat!

I am a life long Dem, and these unseemly antics make me want to switch my registration. Harry Reid is AWFUL, and Pelosi has delusions of grandeur.

First Jessie the body, then Al Franken, and now the inability to count. Minnesota has become a disgrace to this country. Im neither Dem or Repub, but if this States voters travel, its certainly on the short bus.

It is easy to sit here and claim that one side is stealing the election – in reality, there is a lot of nonsense going on in this election – differing standards for counting one ballot vs. the next ballot, etc. The same nonsense was going on in Florida in 2000 until the Supreme Court stepped in and put a stop to it.

Before you jump to conclusions about who is corrupt or stealing an election, do a little research into the discrepencies in how different ballots are treated. Otherwise, you come off as sounding shallow and reactionary.

It just doesn't get much better than this: A professional comedian upsetting an incumbent republican U S Senator.......LOL!!! Happy New Year cons!!!!!!

This Democrat think's Cornyn is right. Nobody gets seated until the votes are counted and a winner is certified. No jumping the gun.

I am a native Minnesotan and I can tell you that Norm Coleman has a history of poor politics. He is a true career politician and will say and do ANYTHING to keep a job. Take a look at how he asked Franken to concede when the voting was clearly unfinished! That said, Minnesota should have never even let it get this close as Coleman is a whole lot like out worst president ever, George W. Bush.

I love it. Talk about election fraud... if you don't like the results of an election, simply do what Al Franken does and recount, recount, recount until you manage to "win."

Hey, lookie here what I found behind your ear... nope it's not a quarter, it's more votes for Franken!

"Bigotry in the Senate"

You really have no idea what you are talking about. Burris is not only a Democrat, but a major figure within the Illinois Democratic Party. In fact, at no point in his entire electoral career has he ever run as anything other than a Democrat. Before you jump out with accusations, maybe you should, I don't know, actually read about what you are trying to comment on.

"Bigotry in the Senate" incorrectly stated that Burris is a Republican; he is not, he is a Democrat who has actually participated in the Democratic primaries for governor a few times.

There is plenty of room for differences of opinion without falsifying the clearly documented facts.

The GOP cares nothing about our country – all they care about is winning and fighting and causing problems.
That entire racist, troublemaking, bunch needs to be ousted from government.

GO FRANKEN!

Why can the Democrats posting here have to resort to name-calling in order to try to prove their point?

Our government is made up of a bunch of clowns that couldn't find their own arse with two hands, a flashlight and a road map...even after stopping to get directions. Nothing but a gaggle of clueless nitwits that could never understand what is going on with the people and their families. That goes for both sides.

We are sooo broken! How can it take two month to do a count and a recount? Everybody in the world must be laughing at us, and rightly so.

We need to fix this.

Forget e-voting, that's even worse. No levers, no butterfly ballots, no hanging chads. We need a ballot with two names, two circles and a pen! And we need to stop doing twentyfive different elections on one day.

I say spread it out!

Have the congressional elections in October, the presidential elections in November and everything local in January. Or even better, move all of this to summer! Who came up with waiting in line for hours in freezing cold in the first place? Geniuses!

Oh, and by the way, move elections to the weekend! Our system of electing our representatives is _still_ tilted toward the rich landowners, like it's 1777. And while where at _that_ we should get rid of the electoral college, it has no more purpose in a world where a TCP/IP packet can travel around the world in milliseconds!

The Republicans are going to refuse to seat a Democrat even if the state certifies the election, and yet they say that the Democrats can't refuse to seat a Democrat that has been appointed by an "alleged" criminal govenor? The hypocracy continues!

Both parties should sit back and wait until it is official. Minnesota, Illinois, Alaska...it is better than the Comedy Cannel.

Episode I:

Stewart Smalley goes to Washington.

I am an Illinois Democrat and anyone appointed by Gov. Blago should not be seated until things are resolved in this state. This is our mad governor playing the race card to get even with his critics in this state, which by the way is almost everyone. Burris was appointed after another African American turned the good governor down. The election in MN is not the same as what is going on here in IL, although, I don't think Franken should be seated until the election recount in MN is totally completed including any court action.

Wow,
Glad I don't live in Mini-sota. The state that elected a professional wrestler as Governor and now maybe an idiot comedian as Senator. Makes Illinois politics look good.

Chris January 2nd, 2009 3:41 pm ET
Then stop voting for these clowns. Everyone universally thinks Capitol Hill is inept but the voters put these people there — nobody else.
-------------------------------–
That's the real problem, isn't it? The typical American voter thinks everybody in Congress is bad except for their guy. Of course, being in MN, I know my guy is bad, which is why I'm rooting for Franken.
The other thing that bothers me is people that vote against their own interests based on the party of the candidate. Look at ND for a good example. Primarily a farm-based economy, and they overwhelmingly vote Republican even though Republicans, by and large, care nothing about the US farmer. I typically vote Dem, but that's mostly because I haven't seen a Rep worth voting for in the last 20 years.

So then the democrats should refuse to seat a few repug Senators.

So play hardball with these ruinous scum. The republicans belong in jail anyway.

Everyone who voted repuglican over the last 10 years should be taxed at an 50 to 70% excess rate as reparations for the damage they have done to the rest of us.

I am from Minnesota and this time I would agree with the GOP. I think that when we get a senator it should be official and sanctioned. That there is no question as to the outcome of the votes.

I surely hope that the votes are not stopped from being counted like the Supreme Court did for the bush administration to give him the presidency. I think Franken will win, but I hope there is no question about it.

Objective thinking = My comments aren't anti Republican but the truth. The problem you have is accepting the truth. Please stop blaming the world because Republicans are stupid. It's not my fault.

Hey minnesota liberal I am from Minnesota too and we all know ACORN and the unions stole this election for Freaking Frankin.

Bigotry in the Senate - January 2nd, 2009 3:52 pm ET

Franken is going to be seated by Reid – Franken is white; has not yet been elected; and is a Democrat

Burris is not going to be seated – Burris is black; he has been legally appointed; and is a Republican

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sorry Gizmo,

Roland Burris, like Blagoyavich, is a Democrat. I should know; I'm from Illinois and voted for him 4 times.

Bigotry in the Senate:

Please get you facts straight. Burris is a Democrat.

Bigotry,

It isn't a coup d'etat. That takes place only when the head of government, and not the government itself is overthrown.

We have had a revolution. This occurs when the reigning government is forcibly removed. Since we have elections, that subsitutes for actual, physical force of arms. In our case, the republic form of government, which has been dying for decades, has been put out of its misery.

Benjamin Franklin was asked at the end of the Constitutional Convention what the Congress had created, and he famously replied" A republic Madam. If you can keep it."

Seems we have answered his question.

How come every time a republican senator speaks now they threatening to filibuster, but when they controlled the senate and a Democrat hinted about filibustering the republicans screamed bloody murder and said they were going to change the rules. Isn't that being hypocritical?

Franken would fit in well in Obama's Washington DC where no qualifications are required to hold office, ya know?

Burris is a Republican???

It really is about time that the supporters of the Glorious November Revolution take back those parts of the Country that are proudly democratic, and put some backbone into State's Rights. Then the proudly left wing states can have all the social programs they want without having to endure the harping and obstruction from those on the right, like the business community, investors, and nonunionized scab workers in their comfy suburbs. Let them go off to the Red states and make their own America.

(sarcasm off)

WAH! I want my binky! If you guys don't play the way I (cornyn) want to play then I'm taking my ball and going home WAH!!!!!

WAH! I want my binky! If you guys don't play the way I (cornyn) want to play then Im taking my ball and going home WAH!!!!!

Is is racist to identify the race issue around the Burris appointment as a Red Herring?

Am I offending any of you Silver Herrings out there?

All of this not seating is foolish. If these senators and congresspeople who don't want to seat the chosen, their pay should be deducted for everyday that they use taxpayers money, when not tending to the United States business.
The individual states and their legislature should handle their own procedures.

Ask not what your Country can do for you...

Ask what you can do for...

Me, Al Franken.

Come on, people, are you unanimously humorless? What's funny about Coleman (other than his victims, that is?)

I am a Democrat. And in this I agree with the Republicans. The Republicans cheated Al Gore in 2002. This world and this country would be in much better shape if not for their idiocy.

Anyway, the recount should be allowed to it's fullest completion. If there are iota of votes out there to be counted, it should be counted.

Democrats should not practice the down and dirty politics Republicans are part and parcel off. We are the party of the people and not Wall Street and Corporations. Let all the votes, every single one of them be counted. And let the chips fall where it may, and let that be the judge.

TYPICAL,PATHETIC,DESPERATE DEMOCRATS!RIGHT TONY.

Burris is a Democrat, for the record.

Weren't republicans demonizing filibustering just a few years ago when they were trying to install right wingers on the SCOTUS? What happened to an up or down vote?

Everyone on this page who is saying stuff about Franken is clueless. They've not listened to him and they've not heard his stances on issues. And he is also not the first actor to go to Washington remember Ronald Reagan. But to be honest I like Franken a million times more then Racist Reagan.

Also since I live in MN and I know the situation I'd like to say that I believe Coleman is trying to steal the election, just like Bush in Florida. Except Coleman won't be successful because MN is to Democratic.

Hey GOP,

I think you're out of line. It is the Dems who are threatening to physically remove the only African American Senator from the Senate chamber, not the Republicans. Who's the racist?

Coleman, I recall your intimation that Franken should just concede and give up the fight in November. Interesting how the tables have turned. In your own words, "It is up to him whether such a step (recount) is worth the taxpayer dollars it will take to conduct."

This chiclet-toothed imbecile gives the word Hypocrite a new face. Limbaugh must be so relieved.

Who is Al Frankin to show up in the Senate and expect to be seated before a winner is declared. This ought to be rich. Frankin shows up with no winner declared and is seated by Reid yet, Burris a man who was legally appointed will be physically removed. I can't make up stuff this bizarre.

Doesn't this just WREAK of the STENCH of Republican Party Politics as usual..... same ole – same ole.... I think I am about to spit up in my mouth!

Norm Coleman has got to be one of the most fake, political opportunists of them all. Another loser Republican about to lose. Ha!

Bill - January 2nd, 2009 3:44 pm ET

Its just democrats trying to subvert the system again.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dude.......you've GOT to be kidding.......after what we've seen the last eight years, you have GOT to be kidding!

Do it Franken! Show those posers what a real man can do....

Go 21st Century!!

Down with the neo-cons!

Change is in your hands Minnesota! Woo-hoo!!!

Franken is going to be seated by Reid – Franken is white; has not yet been elected; and is a Democrat

Burris is not going to be seated – Burris is black; he has been legally appointed; and is a Republican

Did we have an election or a coup d etat?

It doesn't matter to me on this, I'm still gonna make fun of the GOP because Al Franken got em scared...Al Franken for crying out loud...

What goes around comes around: ie 2000 election of the hyporite George W(orst) Bush. That terrorist!!!!!!

Typical, pathetic, desperate Democrats! The big Inaugural pork dinner is about to be carved up -- pathetic

If a vote has been cast for which consensus exists for the counting in a recount situation, count the vote.

CNN: "Cornyn, a Republican from the state of Texas, said a filibuster may be in order ..."

Is this the new Republican panacea? What a sad group!

Its just democrats trying to subvert the system again.

> Kick them all out and put real people in there to do the people's
> business.

Then stop voting for these clowns. Everyone universally thinks Capitol Hill is inept but the voters put these people there - nobody else.

When an articulate candidate comes around, like Ron Paul for example, who was the only one put forth plans with specific and detailed actions, the general public votes for the person who hasn't contributed anything more than a "yes, we can" catch phrase.

Quit turning the people's business into a popularity contest or a beauty pageant and then perhaps we may have change which can be measured... not the buzzword Obama and HRC talk about so much.

If this moron gets in the Senate then it is overwhelming proof that this country is run by idiots.

I'd accept a Blago nominee before this old, washed-up failure of a comic, actor, and radio host.

This yutz's tombstone will read, "Al Franken, what a waste"

Go Al!!! We need you in the Senate. Don't let them steal your seat like they stole the election in 2000.

Franklin ought to be patient atleast the other clown is still the Governor of Alaska.

Typical, pathetic, desperate Republicans!

Count the thousand absentee votes and seat whoever wins. What's so hard about that?

I second the motion to filibuster seating John Cornyn!

Flori-DAH

Minneso-DAH

This fight is great for the Republic,and our Democratic System. Let em fight it out just like the founding fathers did,(believe me it was no cake-walk back then, either) and resolve the issue with finality! Let's use our heads,and think ? I'd like to put this senate race in perspective.#1) There are a grand total of one-hundred senators, with a population of approx. "300 Million US Citizens" that they represent.#2) These senators will be responsible for selecting our next, "Two or Three Supreme Court Justices" currently planning on stepping down,for various reasons.#3) Finally,the checks, and balances currently being conducted on absentee ballots ,with cross-referencing death certificates,over-seas entries,and military, should not be taken lightly ,so as not to turn our great country into a "Banana Repupublic! These our just a few reason that," haste-makes-waste" with a rushed ill-gotten error putting the wrong," voting public's choice" into office,even if he/she wins by one vote! PS. Remember this:registering to vote is incredibly easy today, and the lenght of time to cast a vote is no-longer relegated to just one day in "November",...

When will this ever end... seriously?

wow! I really looks like these two shmucks onnly care about winning. They don't care about the people here. They just want the victory. Pathetic....two sides of the same coin people....

For all of you who discount the ACORN effect, it looks like they are going to own another senator. This should also be a warning to you calling for an election in Illinois. The democrats and unions do not believe in fair elections.

Is this man not under investigation? And he wants to fight this election cause he is loosing? For God's sake, get the MN race over with!!!! This is worse than FL in '00.

The GOP is just delaying the inevitable...and wasting taxpayer money in the process. Unless Coleman has some hardcore proof that he can present to the Supreme Court that is not skewed through the eye of the ideological lens, the Minnesota State Supreme Court is not going to overturn it either. Senator Coleman couldn't convince enough people to vote for him over Franken–he is not going to convince enough people on the Court that his campaign should override the votes of a few million.

Had Coleman been doing a good job, this wouldn't even be a tight race.

50 votes at this late stage is just like a 50,000 vote win. Give it up Norm. Can you say , "Senator Franken?"

This is really beginning to stink, their have been 2 in the news who are being refused to be seated, so does that mean Michigan and Illinois will not have to pay taxes. No taxation with out representation. Its for the states to wage the legal battles over their senators. Not for the federal government to refuse to seat someone they don’t like for what ever reason. If this continues what would be the point in giving governors power to seat or in franking case even having an election, if the senate will override the people.

They need to toss a coin. HEADS for one and TAILS for the other and be done with it.

God 2008 was a messy year for elections.

There are enough screwballs in Washington . Keep Franken out !

Norm (call me Gary) Coleman has lost, and his cronies will use all of the 'Different Strokes' to try to save him. At the end of the day, Al will be the Minnesota senator, giving Norm more time to fight his corruption charges.

John Cornyn and the racist GOP will be done in 2009, the Raceicans will never amount to getting any minority ethic to save them As long as the GOP continue with it's superficial outreach to minority without substance they will go the way of he wiggs and the southern democrats of the 60s, 70s and 80s. Colin Powell was right withn 19 years or sooner the GOP is doomed. From TX, AZ, NM, CO, NV, CA will become majority hispanic stats within the next 10 years. America is about to become majority ethnic, the GOP will move to the middle east to start their new home in the apartheid state of israel or saudi arabia!

This is exactly why the Supreme Court had to step into the 2000 presidential election and end those fraudulent recounts. Every time Democrats lose a close election they cry “recount” and end up finding a way to steal a legitimate post from the Republicans. They tried desperately to do that in Bush v. Gore and the Court stopped them. Hopefully the same will happen this time.

Get ready for a whole lot of obstructionism by Republicans this year. They couldn't do the peoples work so they're going to keep the Dems from doing it too.

John Cornyn and the racist GOP will be done in 2009, the Raceicans will never amount to getting any minority ethic to save them As long as the GOP continue with it's superficial outreach to minority without substance they will go the way of he wiggs and the southern democrats of the 60s, 70s and 80s. Colin Powell was right withn 19 years or sooner the GOP is doomed. From TX, AZ, NM, CO, NV, CA will become majority hispanic stats within the next 10 years. America is about to become majority ethnic, the GOP will move to the middle east to start their new home in the apartheid state of israel or saudi arabia!

This whole recount looks like a farce anyway. Take a look at the challenged ballots at the Minnesota Star Tribune and you'll see what BS his lead is. If you take out the bogus decisions made on these contested ballots you'd see Norm Coleman with a solid lead of over 200 votes.

good luck minnesota

Mr. and Mrs. Clinton are extraordinaire.

So, before the recount was begun, Smilin' Norm Coleman demanded that Franken concede. The quick count was good enough for him–the fact that thousands and thousands of ballots still needed to be counted (whether they were absentee ballots improperly excluded, or ballots with stray marks that the machines refused to count, or whatever) did not matter. The election had happened, and we needed to know a winner, pronto!!

Now that the votes have been recounted, thousands of ballots improperly left out the first time have been counted, and the will of the people is clear, Smilin' Norm has now decided that his loss wasn't as fun as his win, and that Minnesota doesn't need full representation in the Senate right away–and, now, the games are beginning!

Folks, mandatory recounts are conducted in the case of extremely tight margins to ensure that improperly rejected ballots haven't affected the outcome. Think about it: If 20,000 votes separates the winner from the loser, but 5,000 ballots were rejected for extraneous marks, the rejections can't possibly change the outcome of the election. But if 2,000 votes separates the winner from the loser and 5,000 ballots were rejected, those rejections could possibly change the outcome. So it is the DUTY of a democracy to ensure that those rejected ballots were rejected for good reason–and, if not, to count them. The will of the people must be heard.

Smilin' Norm gets this, but he's so desperate to win that his belief in democracy is taking a backseat.

Good for Cornyn, if the votes are not made official it would be a disgrace for Franken to be seated. If he wins legally then more power to him and let the Minn people live with the lable of electing clowns to high office.

The reason Al Franken has been making mostly political jokes in his career as a comedian is because he actually cares about politics. He is not seeking political office as a joke as many of his denouncers suggest. Coleman is just a sore loser who could care less about the will of people who some may have filled out their ballot with some minor technical error. Hinting he may sue on the highest court proves he does not care about actual voters–only properly filled out ballots.

c'mon republicains losers, give up

Go to the mat on this one Democrats. You gave in on Florida in 2000 and see where that got us as a country? Nobody is giving the Donkey a medal for honor as a result of pulling out of the fight.

You need to show the country, and the Republicans, that you are not a bunch of wussies. That will help Barack get re-elected in 2012.

Franken is such a joke, and I'm a democrat. BUT, the is no way that he is capable of being a US Senator. After all, the guy is a comedian -and not even a very good one.

Just have a revote and get it over with.

I'm all for Al Franken instead of the creep who has been shown to be a crook. Give me a break. The republican sympathizers are so pathetic. Why doesn't your guy step down like a man? Oh yeah - "manhood" is defined in the old white guy's party as waging war - cuz they're erection-less for the last twenty years. SO-O-O sad.

I don't care WHO wins as long as ALL votes are counted ONCE. No vote suppression by the republicans, no double votes for the Democrats. Coleman's fight to suppress votes just shows you he's thinks only of himself, not the will of his constituents. If he REALLY cared about his own people, he'd want every vote counted ... no matter who that vote was for! Fight for DEMOCRACY and "We, the people" not your own interests!

Some oone needs to introduce Cornyn to Harry Reid. Reid is the one that sets the agenda for the Senate.

Exactly how does Cornyn think the Franken seating issue will make it to the floor for filibustering?

@Chris I concur on both points.

Shall a committee of us posters gather in Minnesota on a given date and time and

COUNT THE DANG BALLOTS FOR THOSE IDIOTS????????

Geez, what does it take? How many voters are there in Minnesota that they can't count the dang ballots in a reasonable time?

Hey folks! If all the states would vote by mail like we have in Oregon for years, then no state would have these problems.

We have no electronic voting machines in booths that can go awry, no hanging chads since we have no chads, we have paper ballots so we have backups, you just mark your ballot with a pen/pencil like you did in school. No rain to drive in, no parking problems since we have no polls. You mark your ballot at home or at the office, sitting down with a cup of something, relax, and take your time. You have two weeks!

Poster who calles himself "Proud American" injecting anti-Republican messages in 3... 2... 1...

Frankenputz has no sense of humor. I'm laughing out loud that he thinks votes don't matter. He didn't think that in 2000! Suck it up, gopmoron!

I predict John Cornyn will be corned.Just another Texas carpet bagger for big oil and Guns and arms industry.

We will continue to count the votes. Until I win or Cloeman loses.
Whichever comes first.

What makes Franken think he has won? I think he should wait until there is no doubt before barreling his way to the Senate and then looking like a fool if it is found that Coleman is the winner.

Don't we have enough of a mess in IL without MN adding to it?

The dems are starting to look pretty desperate when you add the whole Caroline Kennedy mess into it.

I hope Bill Clinton is Senator of NY....Blago is impreached and someone younger than Burris (nothing against him personally) like maybe Jessie Jackson Jr. will be appointed by the interim governor and that Coleman (sorry I can't stand Franken) wins in MN.

Only time will tell!

WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH FOR CELEBS THAN TURN TO POLITICS
GUESS WHAT JOKES DON'T DO THE JOB FOR VOTERS.

NAM VET NH

What a about the $75,000 that Coleman and his wife rec
illegally. Better to seat Coleman have the Senate kick him out
and never mind the Republican bickering. This way were rid of
him and the Texas two step once and for all

These Senators really need to get over themselves and get on with the Country's business. I do not care who represents which State in a close election, toss a coin and get on with it already. The huge issues facing this Country are so pressing and the Senate is fussing over election results that they have no business fighting. What's the fight? A state is conducting a mandatory recount. One candidate is slightly ahead and there are some contested ballots to be counted or discarded. It's not rocket science and it certainly is not the Senate's business. In case Cornyn has forgotten this his State is Texas not Minnesota. He needs to butt out.

Lol, I doubt he would be saying this if Coleman were winning...

RNC-Racist Nasty Crooks we had enough of you sit down and Shut UP!!!!!!!!!!!

If Franken is so incompetent why block him from his seat? Afraid of something?

And this Cornyn guy, is from the same state that gave us Dumber and More Dumber (refferring to the Bush's), why should i care what the MINORITY PARTY says?

Regarding the MN Senate seat, it is beyond a "no-brainer" that NO ONE should be seated until the recount is over and a winner declared. This is irrespective of who comes out on top.

It is appropriate for all involved to absolutely avoid any presence in Washington, D.C. when the swearing-in ceremonies take place for newly-elected officials. Neither Senator Coleman nor Al Franken has been "elected" yet.

DUH ! ! !

Ballots with an X through Franken's name, count for Franken. Ballots with an X through Coleman's name, also count for Franken!

Crooked, sleazy leftist politcs.

Republicans need to grow a backbone and fight this injustice!

Sleazy Democrats and Acorn – perfect together!

Cornyn and Coleman... birds of a feather, eh? Egad.

And here comes my Hateful Republicans losers.

It won't matter. The wrong guy will get elected because that's all we have to pick from. Not that I care...as long as I get my government cheese!

If Franken could seat himself early because he has a whole 50 votes more than Coleman, than Coleman could have seated himself right after the election when he had 240 more votes than Franken and would have been more entitlted due to the difference.
Franken is already starting to split my side with his brand of crummy humor. Get the clown out of there and lets hope that with the final count of the absentee ballots, that this guy gets waxed. Anyway, it doesn't matter, as whoever wins, the other will take it to a higher court.

Here they go, when Republicans can't win an election fair and square, they will steal it. Did I just read Supreme Court in this Article??

If Franken wins after playing all the dirty tricks he's done so far, I will be absolutely disgusted with our election system. I'm already very unhappy with the way groups like ACORN blatantly abuse the system and I'll never understand why we can't require voters to show a state-issued picture ID.

The people of Minnesota should be embarrased that this race is even close. First Jesse Ventura and now Al Franken. Al Franken is a complete tool. Enough said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with the GOP in this case. I support Mr. Franken, but protocol and etiquette must be respected. The MN senate seat should not be filled until the appropriate MN governmental officials have signed and certified the final election results. There is no hurry, and Democrats can take the high road by cordially respectingg the legitimate concerns of the opposition. America wins when our congress can respectfully & professionally resolve a very contentious issue.

Ha ha ha ha ha

It's not just democrats holding things up. It's the "other" ones too.

Kick them all out and put real people in there to do the people's business.

as a resident of Texas, I'd like to filibuster having John Cornyn seated.

Doesn't Cornyn know votes are irrelevant? They ought to seat him and then send his idiotic butt home in disgrace after the recount. This is not funny, much, like all of his Franken's jokes....