MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (CNN) – A state election board on Monday will announce Democrat Al Franken as the winner of the Minnesota Senate race, defeating Republican incumbant Norm Coleman, state officials told CNN Sunday.
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie told CNN the canvassing board on Monday will confirm that Franken won the race by a 225-vote margin.
Deputy Secretary of State Jim Gelbmann oversaw the tallying of roughly 950 improperly rejected absentee ballots Saturday, which was the last remaining hurdle in the canvassing board's procedure. He said no outstanding challenges remain and that the only thing left for the board to do Monday is certify the numbers. Their meeting will convene at 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. ET).
From CNN Politics
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
Thank GOD it's over. Minnesota sucks almost as bad as Florida.
But the votes of the Supreme Court's Republicans haven't been tallied yet!
Well at least Harry isn't saying we've lost the war in Iraq anymore. He may be right, but why is anyone listening to him for predictions rather than someone with at least a little bit of credibility?
Are you really saying that it's over? Thank God, finally, relief!!!
2000 al over again GOP, has too many connections in the courts
This shows that it (Al Franken) pays to have loyal ballot counters on his side! Congrats Stuart Smally! It should be very amusing to see and hear him in action in the Senate performing for Minnesotans!.
For Coleman wanted Franken to concede before the state-mandated recount was started.
If he fails to concede now that he has been shown that he did in fact lose, that'd be pretty amusing.
Hypocritical, but amusing.
Well I say thank God, who amoung us would believe that a Republican could win anything. Steal it maybe but never win. I'm proud of Minnesota for demanding real leadership. Will someone please tell me what has your previous Idiot Rep. do for your state?
If you haven't seen it, find the episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun where Al Franken played a politician. He does a good politician. He's had some experience playing politicians on SNL. He's more prepared to be Senator than W was to be Governor or President.
Way to go big Al!
It almost makes me want to cheer for the Vikings football team today!
"The effort by the Franken campaign, supported by the Secretary of State, to exclude improperly rejected absentee ballots is indefensible and disenfranchises hundreds of Minnesota voters"
My my my, the GOP sure sings a different tune when it's their ox that's getting "Gored," so to speak. The irony is just too sweet. We will never forget 2000. A court-anointed Bush led this country into a deep pit, but we're finally crawling out. Thank God! Head for DC, Mr. Franken, and godspeed!
Shows what a good recount team of Dems can do for you...Franken did a good job of keeping it close enough to get his team in and reverse the election day results. Not enough votesyet? Oh yeah, here's some more in my car trunk that should help you out, Al!
Congrats. MN! You are gaining a smart, honest and funny man to represent you! Al Franken.
Hey Steve!
What this really shows is that the republicans do not always get to suppress the vote. If Norm would have won, his shady activities would have made Ted Stevens' wrongdoings look small by comparison.
Looks like another democrat state goes corrupt. IL and NJ are bad enough. Hold onto your wallets.. The dems are coming and they're out for everybody's money.
Wow that was quite some race....reminds me of New York...
Congrats Senator!
Way to go Franken, if you can't beat em', cheat em'.
If everyone could have been such a better president than Bush, then how come none of the bebetters ran against him? Shut up or Show up. Losers.
Was it worth it? That remains to be seen.
Nice steal Al! At least George was later proven to have won Florida by independent media. Wonder if Minnesotans (not Dem party hacks) care enough to discover who really won Minnesota? Doubt if the media cares to look when a Dem steals an election.
The Coleman campaign will have seven days after the board and Ritchie certify results to file a post-election contest, which they have indicated they will do.
I don't think this is finished yet folks....
*Applauding for Franken* Alright.... and way to go! Another Democrat to aid in the recovery! And Senator Al Franken will do just that. Like Obama, he is highly intelligent and well educated... he knows what he is doing... and what the Repubs have NOT been doing!
You can count on theRepublicans drawing this vote out as long as they can. Sorta reminds you of 2000 in Florida doesn't it? We need all the humor we can muster over the next year or two as the economy continues to depress us. Luckily, Al Franken has come to the rescue. The only thing about Franken that may depress me is if he came across as intelligent, humorless in the Senate, and possessing of creative thought. Would that frost the GOP!' Between Bush, Rove (his puppet master), Cheney, Rumsfeld and friends, we have had all the humor we can stand. Good ridance!
you really mean "Sen. Al Farce-n."
what a clown!
now it makes sense. the chicken have come to roost.
Proud American: "I'm proud of Minnesota for demanding real leadership. "
Really? You think Al Franken is real leadership? Wow!! Good luck with that one!
Please muzzle Coleman and his henchmen before declaring Franken winner. Let it be. Let it be.
@ BB:
Nothing sucks as badly as Florida.
Period. That being said, this was certainly a nailbiter. Dems and Reps have to agree that it'll be an entertaining term.
wait a minute...here's some more votes for Al in my trunk....!
The Coleman campaign has also alleged that more than 100 ballots may have been accidentally counted twice and may have unfairly benefited Franken.Should've,Would've Cloud've Please move on
No Hillary = No Obama January 4th, 2009 5:46 pm ET:
Don't you feel a little silly using that screen name given the results of the election?
That is a pretty overarching statement considering I am quite sure that Harry was not here to witness all the Presidents. And really what is the point to the criticism? Does it make Harry feel like a superior human being. Must be.
So it is totally indefensible when there is any appearance that the Republicans stole an election but absolutely acceptable when the Democrats steal one?
Coleman was declared the winner of this election THREE times people and only when the (Democrat) Secretary of State go involved did Franken seem to eek out a victory.
This stinks about as much as the Lutefisk that is sold in this hell hole of a state. What a pathetic government we have here in Minnesota. It amazes me the morons that live here actually had the cojones to elect a Republican Governor. We'll see how long those idiots take to boot him from office and turn our state into the socialistic welfare heaven they want it to be.
Nice work brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just goes to show you . . . Corruption, deceit, and election theft works! Heck, it did for Obama.
Mark my words: Over the next 4 years, the left is going to reap every last bit of discord, hatred, anger and idiocy it has sown.
So we can add Minnesota to the number of states where democrat fraud have produced the desired results. Amazing all those "found" ballots that were for Franken.
Recount until we win, that's the dems motto!!
Congratulations dems, you have turned us into Venezuela. Be proud.
AZdude
"The dems are coming and they're out for everybody's money."
You must of had your head stuffed up your backside for the last few months. the republicans have already stolen everybody's money.
This has been an interesting story. A midwest native who is now lives on the west coast. I had gotten interested in Al Franken as a politcal figure about a year ago and found it fascinating to continue to follow his senate race. Don't know anything about his opponent. Just wanted to let CNN know that they have been the quickest way to do this.
Minnesota just embarresed itself.
First, Cullen Sheehan, Coleman's spokesperson is lying in the story with this: "The effort by the Franken campaign, supported by the Secretary of State, to exclude improperly rejected absentee ballots is indefensible and disenfranchises hundreds of Minnesota voters." The fact is, the Franken campaign wanted to count ALL improperly rejected ballots – no questions asked. The Coleman campaign refused that offer AND they wanted to add in 600 or so cherry-picked absentee ballots from favorable precincts that had been properly rejected. I wish reporters would fact check and call spokespeople out when they say crap like this.
another lunatic "democrat" stealing an election!
america you voted for a character in a movie.....
you get Obama = a fake
he won't do crap.....he doesn't know how
and we Harry Reid ( the war is lost guy) you get what you deserve....clowns
but that is all you understand...so I'm sure you will like the show
Man, some Gop ers don't like it when they lose,look at the states they won,Almost all post slave states,the more people shift around they states the bluer they will get. They tried to crucify Obama in Pa, that was stupid! I was cracking up when they came here to rally people, I knew it was a waste of time, Even the Alabama part of Pa went for Obama.
Who would have thought that as far as electing U.S. Senators, that Minnesota would be the stupidest state in the Union.
Another corrupt democrat. Great. Amazing how they found just enough votes to win. Enjoy what you elected MN losers!
He didn't steal this election. Democrats always get more votes in recounts because poor cities have bad machines that don't count the votes right all the time, but that people looking at the ballots can see.
"Democrat fraud?" Remember FLORIDA – FLORIDA – FLORIDA ?
Nice to win one by a recount.... Welcome Al!
Let the lawsuits and whinning begin.
I'd rather have someone in the senate who has some humor,most of them mean looking,Can't wait to watch C-Span when they get back to work .I used to laugh my butt off watching the senate and house debate on things.
The GOP are a bunch of hypocrites.
This whole mess started because Coleman did not want up to 15K absentee votes counted, because, they were not delivered to each polling stations before they closed statewide closes.
It was never an issue of questionable ballots, it was a failure by State employees to correctly prepare and execute their duties.
The fact that not a single state employee that works full time for the board of elections has been fired is the real issue here.
Al Franken was the one candidate who wanted all votes counted regardless of outcome. It was Coleman who wanted your voted suppressed, as long as he was ahead.
I will pleased to see U.S. Senator Al Franken bring both fare play and ethics to the congress.
Just like the governor's race in WA state 4 years ago; dems keep counting until they win.
The film/documentary ‘Uncounted’ offers a good perspective for anyone who is questioning the outcomes of American elections since 2004.
FRANKEN FRANKEN FRANKEN !!! POOR COLEMAN CRYING A RIVER .LMAO
Coleman was up by 725 on election day. Then they recounted 5 times and magically found 1000 votes for Franken and now he leads by 225. Statistically speaking that is the equivalent of winning the lottery two weeks in a row. Sure you will find a vote here and there that was wrongly counted. 1000? Sorry not doable.
Congrats Dems. You have taken us to 3rd wold status of fraud.
Coleman wanted him to bow out on election night, well bye Coleman, maybe even jail, watch out for the soap trick
President George Bush is a great American!! I served under him (as my Commander-in-Chief) during Operation Enduring Freedom, and I have great respect for him. The vast majority of soldiers in the combat theater held him in high esteem.
I am so sick of hearing the wild-eyed (and leftist) politicians criticize him. Harry Reed, Nancy Pelosi, Jane Fonda, and the rest of the traitors would have been shot in the past!! May they burn in hell.
We just elected an individual who has ZERO experiernce in national security, and an individual who has ZERO legislative accomplish-
ments as the new Commander-in-Chief. Not a single thing on his Marxist agenda will eve get through the Congress. The Republicans will block it all!!
He was elected by those looking for a handout. This will be one of the absolute worst administrations in history.
I love it when Republicans are P.O. It's music to my liberal ears.
The state certifies the elections. It's what happened in the other 49 states. End of Story.
another corrupt democrat? You know six months ago people were screaming that Al Franken had "No discernible political prowess" Now, he has "Amazing Theft Stealing Election Abilities" to quote the show he wrote and starred on: What is he: "A floor wax or a dessert topping?"
Are you really that stupid? The only attempt at disenfranchising going on here has been Coleman's last ditch attempt to cherrypick rejected absentee ballots from Red areas to add to his total. Think before you type.
keep on whining,you right wing clowns....one bitter,painful loss after another! republican apoplexy is just so...so...ENTERTAINING!!! hehe
Hilarious. When they're ahead, it's all about "just admitting it's over." Once it actually is over and they're behind, they cherry pick illegal ballots and then rant and rave. The article fails to mention that they don't actually have any real legal challenges here. The complaints have been heard and found without merit.
I can't believe Franken even came close. Boy some of the elected officials this year are a joke.
Mike, how do you steal an election by getting more votes? Stop pouting.
Wow! Minnesota either has the most corrupt election officials (Ritchie is a HUGE supporter of Franken) or the dumbest voters ever in US history! How anyone could EVER vote for someone like Franken is unbelievable; he is one of the most unqualified, most despicable, most foul mouthed, most idiotic person in the US. Could the Senate, which says it won't seat Obama's replacement, really welcome Franken into their fold? Shame on you, Minnesota- SHAME!!!
Hooray for Al!
God bless Al Franken and have a good trip to Washington DC.
Wow. People actually believe that stealing an election is as easy as getting a fake driver's license. People seem to think you can make as many counterfeit ballots as you want, and there is no way anyone can stop you.
People also seem to think that a razor-thin, statistically meaningless margin of victory says something about what the people of Minnesota really want.
People worry me.
You democRATs really don't know what you got yourselves into.
This is the Jimmy Carter era, but worse coming our way. You're going to lose badly in 2010 and 2012.
Franken, Reid, Schumer, Pelosi, Frank, Dodd, Obama, etc. All the clowns that will take this country down.
Get prepared to say President Palin in 2012.
Hey Jennifer, wrong. Florida was proven stolen by Bush.
Minnesota just took a dump on it's own state.
The only reason this was close was because we had a strong Independant candidate. If there would have been a runoff, the vast majority of his votes would have gone to Franken. Bye bye, Slick!
Norm Coleman is a carpet bagging phoney. He was a democrat, now a republican, just wait...He'll be running for his home state's (NY) recently vacated senate seat. Time for some new blood. Many Minnesotans are glad to see him go. Next: Michelle Bachmann!
Oh yeah, Al is a horrible man. Give me a break. Congrats MN, you guys have done a great thing. Sorry Repubs...lost another one.
"So we can add Minnesota to the number of states where democrat fraud have produced the desired results. Amazing all those "found" ballots that were for Franken."
...and imagine all the legally-cast ballots for Al Gore in 2000 the the GOP court-appointed lackeys wouldn't let the Officials count!
It depends on whose ox is being gored, I guess.
PLEASE STOP SLAMMING MINNESOTA! It's not our fault; we didn't vote for him he cheated! How amazing that Al Franken was behind in every single poll and then lost the election and then kept counting until until he won. Please stop getting mad at Minnesota, we picked the right guy but celebrities have no dignity and cry until they get their way. WE GOT SCREWED!
This is such a pot of crock that someone like this Frankken will win. the ones counting the votes come from the same crooked croud of democrats always whinning and complaing. The comment made by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid about President Bush just goes to show that he is so crooked he things everyone good is too becasue he does not know good when he sees it. I all totally ashamed to even see his face on CNN.
GOOD AND FINALLY!
Now REAL politicians can do some work finally for the first time in eight years, practically.
I've said it before, the evil Joseph Stalin was right about one thing: Who casts the votes is irrelevant. It's who COUNTS the votes that matters. People (conservatives and liberals), do any of you still believe the government (at the national level) still belongs to you? Give it up. This government belongs to those corporations and people willing and able to purchase it. Until the people decide to stand up and be heard for reasons other than saving whales, free trade, and throwing blood on people wearing fur, the government will never be ours again.
Minnescrotums = Your so stupid you wouldn't know what real leadership was if you trip over it in the streets. Do you want to talk about your Governor? Please don't be an Idiot your entire life.
What is the source is for this thread's accusations that votes were manufactured or the election was stolen? From what I've read, the recount went smoothly. There was a missing 1-of-5 envelope and a question about some missing duplicate ballets, but in both cases rational actions/decisions were made. There was (and still is) some roll-your-eyes legal maneuvering, but the courts responded reasonably.
Furthermore, the recount wasn't requested by anyone (it was initiated and was state-wide as per election laws) and was very open and broadcast live throughout. There wasn't a circus-like atmosphere like there was in Florida in 2000 (congressional aids being flown in to create a protest/mob environment was shameful).
So unless there's some bombshell of corruption on the way, it seems that MN deserves kudos for how things were conducted.
On a side note, hopefully Franken will acknowledge that he won by an insignificant margin and will do his best to represent everyone by being a centrist (he's a little too partisan for my taste, though I do think he's smart and reasonable enough to be an effective senator).
COL John W. Harden, Jr. = Your Brain Dead, Good Lord your stupid.
I am and always have been a democrat. I can't stand Bush and am as excited as anyone about Obama! I have lived in California my whole life and am proud of the social strides and democratic senate leadership that we are famous for (except for Arnie).. I do not think that Al Franken is cheating his way to the win in this election but that being said... I am ASHAMED to have him represent in any way the democratic party that I love so much.. He has shown himself as verbally vulgar, shamefully pompus, lacking even the most basic knowledge of the history of the democratic party and is the type of democrat that will end up costing us votes in the future. His campaign was run terribly and every time he spoke, it was just like his radio show rather than like a true leader (like Obama, Hillary, Pelosi). His politics will drive a stake between Americans rather than unite us under one strong democratic leader like the three mentioned above. I cannot believe that just because he is a democrat that you think that he deserves our support...
Minnesota took a dump on its state before. He was called Jesse Ventura. And Republicans embraced him. Well, as best as they could as I'm sure it was hard to get their arms around that steroid riddled body.
Palin has about as much of a chance being president as Rush Limbaugh does. That is unless she distinctly disowns her entire soon to be in-laws. Let's see: A guy who hung out with John Belushi or a woman whose "Possible In laws" got caught selling hard drugs. Really it all evens out.
Congratulations Minnesota! Now we have another clown in the Senate!
As if Harry Ried isn't enough of a joke!!
Ding, dong, the crook is gone! Celebrating today in Minnesota!!!
Proud American: Your nt goode with grammer are yuu? Who is the idiot?
THANK GOD! Congrats Al!!!
Minnesota must be in very bad shape if their voters turned ignorant and elected trash like Franken a senator.
Franken has a Juris Doctorate. Remember Republicans, our idiots aren't really idiots.
Franken is a vulgar stupid man and MN deserves him. He fits right in with the perverts!
Go Al! You are good enough, you are samart enough and doggonit more people voted for you. Declare victory fast before this thing gets to the Supreme Court. Just ask the world how well it goes when the supremes stop the counting.
This is the payback for Florida 2000. Shut up and take your medicine, Republican Party.
That finally settles it. Both the Democrats and Republicans are riddled with crooks and cheaters.
One more heel on the republican throat.Paybacks are good.
George worst-ever Bush learned how to get elected, count the votes on the United States Supreme Court, thier votes outweigh all votes counted together whether pro or con. Thanks to thier vote in 2000 America is in the condition it is in today, isn't it GREAT.
Awesome. Here's hoping the Democrats finally see a supermajority after the next election!
COL John W. Harden, Jr.
YOU are exactly what is wrong with this country. WE are the ones to fix it. Take your hate and war-mongering swill and propaganda and shove it where the sun don't shine.
With no Supreme Court to turn to and have him declared a winner in spite of the people's wishes and votes as in Bush 2000, Coleman will have to put out the light!. He tried desperately to steal the election but the people have prevailed. Let the good times roll!
Hope this is the end of the Franken/Coleman debate.... Franken won, now can we drop it, Coleman?
Oh, I forgot.... an individual calling him/herself IDIOT in response to something I said, belittled my Teacher's Union....
....may I make a gentle suggestion? Please look for the Upton Sinclair book, "The Jungle", if you want to know what it was like in this country BEFORE unions. It's an easy read... but a bit gory and depressing. Then if you can STILL belittle Unions, be my guest. Of course, don't forget that you called yourself Idiot...not me.:)
We really need to know our history, idiot! *LOL* Sorry, I could not resist! The very idea of someone calling themselves "idiot" as they try to belittle someone else is very amusing to me!
Bopper I think that would be you. If you send my your address I will send you a copy of Hooked on Phonics. Did your mother name you Bopper?
The people of Minnesota have spoken..... get over it GOP..... We know you all don't believe in democracy.... its too "liberal" for all you cons.
Texas Teacher, you really are hopelessly insane.
As you can see, the voters have gotten smart and wised up to what the GOP has been doing. With such good, God-fearing people like Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly and other radicals spewing their hatreds and GW Bush and D Cheney leading the charge into oblivion, it is time the GOP was put to rest. RIP>
Ken January 4th, 2009 6:05 pm ET
"So we can add Minnesota to the number of states where democrat fraud have produced the desired results. Amazing all those "found" ballots that were for Franken.
Recount until we win, that's the dems motto!!
Congratulations dems, you have turned us into Venezuela. Be proud"
-------------------------------–
SERIOUSLY, Ken, you can say that after Florida and Ohio in 2004? You need to reread YOUR history! That is the Republican mantra "if you can't win honestly, then win anyway you can!" Republican Gov., Republican Supreme Court? You mean you don't recall?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I think Alaska takes the cake for re-electing an 'actual' crook. He's not a career politician so maybe he'll do some good for MN.
but now I think they should feature it on Comedy central
I think the right man won. He's good enough, he's smart enough, and gosh darnit, he likes himself.
If anyone really cares what someone who does comedy thinks of this...all I have to say is this: WOO HOO! ONE OF US IS IN!! Oh the joy in thinking that Franken could Filibuster anytime he wants, and he hung around Andy Kaufmann? I'm in HEAVEN. It's "The Franken Decade". This nomination just made me want to watch C-Span more! It's going to be must see television right behind Stewart and Colbert!
If you look at the original of many of the "challenged" ballots, it becomes painfully clear that neither side is really interested in counting the votes – but only in winning.
I would say over 95% of the challenged ballots were frivolous challenges where the "intent of the voter" was absolutely clear. Take a look at http://senaterecount.startribune.com/
Wouldn't it be nice to have a few politicians who actually care about the "will of the voter" more than about their own ambition! What does it feel like to vote for a candidate you are actually trusting and not just the lesser of two evils / weasels?
Just like Washington States 2004 governors race..... the "honorable" democratic party kept finding votes until they conjured up enough of them. It looks like the U.S Senate really will be a joke...and a bad one at that. What the hell were the people of Minnesota thinking to even allow this to happen??? Beautiful state, ignorant voters!
Funny how the Repukes called us sore losers when we showed how Bush stole Florida with the help of Katherine Harris and his corrupt brother Jeb, and now they rant and rave like the crybabies they are with conspiracy theories of Franken's "cheating" while offering no evidence whatsoever.
Coleman is a crook! Go Al Franken! I voted for you!
Congratulations to newly elected Democratic Senator of Minnesota Al Franken!
Whatever happened to the corruption charges & criminal investigation against Norm Coleman?
He would join a very long list of corrupt Republicans such as Richard Nixon, Warren G. Harding, George W. Bush, North Dakota Republicans, Tom Delay, Andrew Johnson, Oliver North etc.
I am absolutely disgusted with some of the comments on Frankin's win! It seems that most of these negative commenter's have not
been living in the real world. If anyone should be accused of
trying to steal the election........................ IT IS WITHOUT A DOUBT
NORM COLEMAN, he has tried sooooooooo many times to
overturn the recount it is now past the point of being funny, and
guess what? HE IS STILL PULLING HIS SHENANIGANS!
To Shaun Landry.... Really stupid analogy. And they let people like you vote? Pitifully sad!
Another Republican bites the dust. How these people can still show there faces after what they have done to our country is beyond me. They all need to be taken out with yesterdays garbage.
James,
Perverts? Wasnt it a republican senator that was looking for gay sex an an airport restroom? Did the GOP kicked him out? What? They didnt. He is still in office! Some moral majority the GOP turned out to be.
i'm glad this recount is over, lets hope the best man won.
Vinny Connecticut, et al..... Minnesota has a Republican Governor! Republican Supreme court.... please tell me that you don't believe that Franken could win this election if there was any way possible that the Repugs could have stopped him?
Just give Minnesota to Canada. MN citizens have proved to us through time that they are incapable of electing qualified leaders.
COL John W. Harden, Jr. if you are the typical type of person leading our troops then I wish our troops all Gods Help they can get because they will DEFINITELY be needing it to stay alive with morons like you running things. Your blinders are completely covering your eyes now.
BTW, Coleman will probably be going to jail sometime this year after the investigations surrounding him are finished. Coleman makes Blagoyavich (sp) look like a school girl when it comes to corruption.
JV, James and the rest of you. You've probablouy never met the man and have no right to judge him. You may call him vulgar because of the previous profession he was in, a comedian. But as a person, off the stage, he is a fine respectable man. So how you judge. You have probably been vulgar sometime in your life, but you weren't paid to do it. It is the right thing to count ALL ballots, not disgard any including absentee ballots. Coleman is a liar and a cheat and made money from very wealthy lobbists. So run down the politicians in your own states, you have better knowledge of their track record.
To all of the Al Franken Haters: Franken did not request the recount–it was automatic by state law. Elections tend to undercount votes in poor areas due to less $$ to ensure good equipment, procedures, etc., which is why the recount favored Franken.
Statistically speaking, the swing is only 500+ votes, or 0.008% out of many, many votes, so it is not unreasonable that a recount would favor EITHER candidate by a few hundred votes. This says that MN is doing a relatively good job holding elections (and, isn't the governor, Tim Pawlenty, a Republican–are you accusing him of favoring Franken?).
People, let's not forget, you win some, you lose some. Let it be. Let us congratulate Mr. Franken and wish him much success in meeting the needs of the people of Minnesota.
What will Smarm Coleman do for a living once he is released on parole? I predict that he will either sell used cars or shill for late night infomercials.
To all who are praying for the new administration to fail I say to you what i said to those who wished for the bush administration to fail "grow up!!"
The fact is bush had eight year's to work his magic he had a majority in the senate till 2006, he had a 90% approval rating after 9\11 this country gave him and the republicans there good graces, but he squandered it all away.
I did not vote for bush in 2000 or 2004 but I never hoped he would fail or that he would spend eight years ignoring an impending financial credit and loan crisis which he claims was caused 10 years ago well he had eight long years to say "Gee look what those idiot Clinton's did, well better get to fixing that" The point being let these characters screw up first before you start screaming the Apocalypse is coming. One more time Grow Up!! Sad part is I bet most of you think you already have
Coleman wanted Franken to concede on election night when it just appeared he was going to win.
Now the Franken has been certified the winner, Coleman will not concede?
Another example of repub hypocrisy
Col Harden ....Reading the reactions by the "Libs" to your comments reaffirms my belief that there are alot of idiots with voting power in our country. Thankyou for your service and your comments. What ever happened to.."ask what you can do for your country."? I think we are seeing alot of "what can your country do for you." citizens in this world of ours.
Well tomorrow will be an interesting news day. Maybe we will all get to see Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and Joe Scarborough heads explode on live TV.
Texas Teacher, YOU need to read up on history. For the billionth time, the 2000 FL recount WAS finished by a group of liberal newspapaers following the standard advocated by the Gore campaign. Bush still won. Stop spewing your twisted view of history. Get over it already. You can google this and actually learn something if you have the basic intelligence to do so. I hope to God you're not really a teacher. If you are Texas acedemic standards must rival that of Haiti. It figures you'd belong to a union. They had a place once, in 1900 when there were no labor laws. Today they are as obsolete as your tired liberal rhetoric.
Now, we are witnessing the stealing of a Senate election by the Dems in Minnesota, the selling of a Senate seat by a Dem Governor in Illinois, Richardson withdrawing from the Obama cabinet under a cloud of scandal.....
Change we can believe in...
On yeah.
Goodness, stealing a Senate elction for a complete moron like Al Franken.
I'll never again vote for a Democrat.
Well I can see from all the comments here, that most must be Republicans, and they probably do not live in the state of Minnesota, so they have no clue as to what we have endured under Coleman, so hush! I have met Al Coleman, he is a down to earth, caring person. Our country has been put through the ringer under the rule of the Republicans and a Republican President. Now is the time for our country to get back on track and heal, economically and rebuild our standing around the world. Smart Americans will not vote for the "brain dead, ditsy" Palin in 2012 or another "same old same old" Bush or any other rich loving, lobbist loving, radical right Republican. With our schools in decay though, who knows if we will have any bright intelligent youth to make an educated vote in 2012.
Does it matter if there are 100, 200 more votes for either side? How many percentage points is that? 0,1%? 0,01%? Who ever will sit in senate after the dust has cleared can't claim a good mandate with such a narrow margin.
These narrow margins make it easy to manipulate elections. If someone would say "The GOP won California 60 to 40" everybody would say "They cheated!". But if they win by 0,5% nobody can be sure (even so common sense would say it can't be).
This MN election may fall in this category. My guess is the GOP cheated and the Dems called their bluff. Could be the other way around, who nows. As i said, with margins like this... We should stop recounting to find that one "swing vote" and instead start revoting (run-offs) until there is a clear mandate (let's say a 5-10% spread).
I guess we should not count the other 650 absenttee votes that were found that could favor Colemen. Oh, thats right we should only count the Democratic votes.
The people of Minn are now officialy the laughstock of American. Senator Franken of SNL ___WOW what a joke
When it comes to stealing elections Zimbabwe and Robert Mugabe ain't got nuthin' on Minnesota and Mark Ritchie .
No wonder Reid thinks he can keep a black man out of the Senate.
Liz in DC, you are right, absolutely right about the re-count, but the idiot Republican supporters here either don't know that, or ignore that fact. And for those that say there are alot of liberals here.....wrong! I am an independent and will not vote liberal, democrat or republican, I vote for the candidate I feel will do the best job for the country I love and live in. So please, stop calling people you disagree with "liberals" because that is false!
Why do you dumb Republicans call people "liberals" when they do not agree with you?
For all the repubs whining that Al Franken isn't qualified to be a senator, contrast these two academic records -
Al Franken, graduated from Harvard cum laude, and becomes a Senator.
George Bush, graduates from Yale with a C, and becomes president.
Doesn't take much to figure out which one was way more unqualified.
I guess this means that he's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggonit, people like him!
How any people here can be proud of any particular party is beyond me. The repubs squandered the countries trust and they deserve their comeuppances. The libs here gloating are pathetic too. Look at Reid and Pelosi and their congressional recent approval rating and weep. The dems are just as disgusting and their days are numbered as they always are.
Those here calling this colonel a warmonger should be booted off of here, SHAME ON YOU!
Coleman was a loser, and Franken is a pathetic unfuuny joke, just like the Minnesotans who voted for his unfunny rear end.
It's all grotesque....
This guy Al Franken is a moron. I hope the supreme court will throw him out.
Just like the Democrates to break the laws which they helped write. Thought MN had a law that a person couldnt be certified till all cases ran their course, but I forget the Dems are in charge now and they dont have rules they need to follow, its just us honest people.
COL John W. Harden, Jr.
Experience in JROTC doesn't count as serving.
Be proud Minnesota...you have set the standard for the rest of America to follow with your clown senator. We wish we were you.
Come on republicans, you lost get over it!
I still think we should import and use election officials from Zimbabwe, they, like the Democrats can't be bought.
He's good enough,
He's smart enough,
And doggonnit' the people voted for him
Now Franken doesn't want to count all the votes. He's a joke.
Mike, Syracuse NY,
You quit trying to rewrite history, the republicans and bush stole the 2000 election and no amount of GOP media induced lies will change that.
It was a sad time in America to see an election stolen and then to have a republican Supreme Court side with the republicans – that was not democracy!
Mike from Syracuse,
Wrong! How can YOU consider yourself educated with such a flimsy understanding of history? Bush V Gore is very clear, that the SCOTUS overturned the Florida Supreme court's verdict, claiming the Florida justices had misinterpreted legislation written by Florida legislators. In doing so, they stopped the recount in which Bush was ahead a mere 500+ votes. Even Patrick Buchanon admitted that due to the horrible butterfly ballots (courtesy of Bush's younger brother Jeb) that many voters had mistakenly voted for him instead of Gore. This was patently clear as these votes for Buchanon came out of the most liberal precincts of Florida. YOU need to accept that the 2000 election was decided by 5 corrupt supreme court justices and NOT the American people. GET OVER YOURSELF!
Franken will make a great Senator.
Wait until 2010, when Republicans lose even more seats in the Senate and House.
The Republican Party is the walking dead. Gone. Done. Kaput. Fini.
Oh, the South and the Plains States will have some bitter ignorant people, who insist on clinging to their guns and their religion [Obama spoke the unvarnished truth], but this nation is finally headed towards a better future, slowly but surely.
Thank God for that.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. It has been a hard win, but the truth will come if it is done fairly. I wish that Gore had had the same opportunity in 2000. Is so, our world would be a different place.
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great job Minnesotan's, the system works! Maybe, Al can bring a little common sense ,and humor to these empty suits?
As I have posted on a score of forums since election day, Coleman should have simply conceded when he found he had only won by a thousand or so. As soon as the word 'recount' was uttered the end result was known. The dems would find, discover or create enough votes to 'win'. They will change what defines a legal vote, will go to court, deal with friendly judges and put the entire process in the hands of partisans. There is no part of the election process more corrupt and crooked.
I know the result before the first vote is recounted, you do you...everyone does, so why waste everyone's time and money. All republican winners by a small margin should simply concede.
The process is crooked. The dem always wins. Just concede.
So much hate and whining from the right.
If that's the best you can do, it's no wonder we're in the state we're in........smh
democraps have stolen another election! Proven Fact!
Send in the clown.
To bopper:
Chastising someone else about grammar is oxymoronic coming from you. "nt," "goode", "grammer," "yuu." Please don't throw stones.
"LIGHT of the world shine on us, LOVE is the answer." (James Taylor).
Peace in.
How nice to have someone truly funny in the senate. Given the state of the nation after 8 years of W, we all can use a laugh.
This whole situation is the fault of our state elected officials. It has been eight long, long, long years since the five Republican Party Hacks on the Supreme Court ordered a state court to stop counting votes in a close election. Most of the nation believes that the Republicans did not win the 2000 election. I certainly don't.
The technology exists to record and verify the voter's intent in every election, but our state officials – including certainly the elected officials in my home Texas – but we have done little or nothing to prevent these close elections in which recounts result in half the electorate feeling cheated and the "victorious" candidate must serve under a cloud. Bush was in that situation until 2004, with half the country believing that his presidency was illegitimate as well as incompetent. After 2004, we had to accept W. Bush as legitimate even if he was clearly incompetent.
Elections are important in a democracy. Too bad our states don't agree.
Stolen
Senator Al Franken. Is that the straight line or punch line to this political joke?
Jesse Ventura, now Al Franken
Could be Rocky the Flying Squirrel in MN's future
What were Minessotans thinking giving the Great Paul Welstone's seat to Norm Coleman to beggin with?
For you people who think Al Franken is a "comedian" who is "an extreme liberal", think again. He is Harvard educated and he actually is very center-left (like the Clintons, put aside the dislike you may have for Clinton and look at his actual politics). After all, he comes from a former Republican family who changed parties in the 1960's, after the Repubicans fought against the civil rights for African-Americans. Before you listen to the right wing barkers, do your research.
I don't know, but on all sides of the aisle, you people really need to pick up a copy of Warriner's Grammar, and maybe Strunk & White's The Elements of Style, before you write another sentence on that thar Interweb. I tried to read this comment thread and got a migraine. Thus proving that, thanks to American schools, the people will never get smarter than our leaders ever again. Keep proving me right.
Edward Morris
Portland, Oregon
Bring It
Congratulations, Minnesota! Although I don't agree with your ancestors' land theft through abrogating Treaties, I wholeheartedly agree with your handling of recounted elections.
And another thing, Minnesotans, you're one of worst states for fingering people (using the middle finger) to either express your IQ or exclaiming dissatisfaction with the other's driving abilities. I can't tell which.
Anyway, the bottom line is I commend you for electing not only Al Franken but putting the recount under a microscope so all can see.
Thanks.
This is just a Gregoire all over again. Acorn did its job. The Soros/Democrat bureaucrats did their jobs. This was bound to happen when votes are bought, fabricated and manufactured. It's just sick when the machine master used by Gregoire is brought in to make sure Franken is given the win. Not sour grapes...just reality!
This is GREAT! Here is Senator number 59! I only wish GA would have elected 60 but hey! And to all those repubs who are crying foul at dems "Cheating elections again and again", name ONE election in the past dems have stolen. ONE!!!!!! Here is the repub list in the past few years:
2000=GW in Florida
2004=GW in Ohio
Name ONE election dems have stolen. ONE!!!!!
Jenny, you wrote....
You democRATs really don't know what you got yourselves into.
This is the Jimmy Carter era, but worse coming our way. You're going to lose badly in 2010 and 2012.
Franken, Reid, Schumer, Pelosi, Frank, Dodd, Obama, etc. All the clowns that will take this country down.
Get prepared to say President Palin in 2012.
I say, "In your dreams".
Al Fraanken is a comedian, but a very brilliant man. He will be an excellent Senator. I remember the day he announced on Air America that he was going to run, I was very upset because he was so great on air, not only funny but very aware of what is going on in the country.
MN has a lot to be happy about with Al.
Oh great. Another clown is headed to D.C.
> Mike, Syracuse NY January 4th, 2009 7:38 pm ET
>
>
> Texas Teacher, YOU need to read up on history. For the billionth
> time, the 2000 FL recount WAS finished by a group of liberal
> newspapaers following the standard advocated by the Gore
> campaign. Bush still won. Stop spewing your twisted view of
> history. Get over it already. You can google this and actually learn
> something if you have the basic intelligence to do so.
Several different studies were done by various media organizations and some showed Gore as having won while others showed Bush as having won (depending on the recount method).
On a side note, most conclude that had the butterfly fiasco not happened, Gore would've won by a decent margin. Of course, that the butterfly design would be confusing/problematic for elderly people with poor vision, arthritis, etc was simply an oversight (nothing corrupt or intentional) and there was really nothing that could be done to fix this after the fact.
Don't take my word for any of this; you can read all about it on various websites (though I suggest avoiding partisan blogs as they tend to tell half-truths... at the very least, follow links to cited sources and get the full stories).
Ever hear of the DAILY Machine from Chicago. They cheated and got Kennedy in by finding 10,000 votes. Al Franken is a joke, but not funny. But he fit in with the rest of the clowns in D.C. Did you know that Nancy Pelosi owns stock in the Pickens wind farm company.
c.
YAY!!!!!!!! DEFEAT REPUBLICANS AT ALL COSTS!
)
Way to go people of Minnesota.Yea Al.Lets see if Rush Limbaugh can pull the cigar from his own orfice without choking.
I've read all the comments and frankly am disgusted by the vile hatred from liberals and conservatives alike. It makes me ill. Yes, the Dems and Repubs have different ideas, but they all want the best for this country. Stop the hate. Sheesh, you guys sound like a bunch of kids not getting their way on the swingset.
I'm glad that Minnesota took the time to make sure every vote was counted. That is what is important in any election, but especially one so close. This is America. It is what democracy is all about.
So Dems, stop your gloating. Repubs, stop your name calling. It's time that we band together to pull this country back up to the greatness we should be.
The democrats take this country down? Never. How much further "down" could it go? And who did it? The republicans. Nixon – recession. Reagan – recession. The first Bush – recession. The 2nd Bush – Depression. When are we ever gonna learn?
Congratulations Senator Franken!
Be a man, Normie. Concede. Its over.
Coleman needs to get out of the way, it's over. Don't be a sore looser. But we will see, you can tell a tree by it's fruit!
Al, you made it .. just don't let Coleman take it to the US Supreme Court. He'd win 5-4.
As a Canadian, I am amazed that a country such as the U.S. cannot seem to conduct an election without all the nonsense of Forida/2000 or Minnesota/2008. You obviously do not have something as basic as a central control organization; who would set a national standard for every state to follow. Oh I forgot, that would be too socialist. Never mind that it actually works! No , better to have the bitterness and controversy that always creates one party feeling cheated; because the system stinks.
It's funny to hear *servicemen* spewing against Al Franken when the man volunteered for the USO, for heaven's sake. Including trips to Bosnia and Baghdad.
Complain about the election and the results all you want, but don't cast aspersions on the man, thank you. It's no way to treat someone who supports our troops.
repubs have history of cheating election and win, but this time it didnt work out as they wished. Thank god, we got rid of corrupted coleman.
You republicans are full of BS – Franken won the election now -GET OVER IT!
Proud American, Texas Teacher- just read and let yourself go with the flow, OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMBA! OBAMBA! OBAMBA! OBAMBA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMBA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMBA!, lower your head in reverance and whisper, "yes we can". Now go change your pampers so you don't have to sit in the wet spot I just created for you.
Look Cheryl I don't have to know him, What has he done for Minnesota except move there?! Electing Franken was Incompetence , plain Incompetence. It's obvious that you Minnesotans who cast a Franken vote are not competent to vote at all!. One more thing Cheryl as far as your Coleman accusations, PROVE IT!!!!!!! Put your keyboard where your mouth is.