U.S. Edition
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (CNN) - Democrat Al Franken will return to the nation's capitol Tuesday night in order to "prepare" for the possibility that he will be named the junior senator from Minnesota, his spokeswoman Jess McIntosh confirmed to CNN.
Franken is in the middle of a bitter court battle with former Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, thanks to a closer-than-close election and subsequent hand recount that left Franken in the lead with 225 votes. Coleman is challenging that outcome.
The former comedian and Saturday Night Live alum will stay in DC through Thursday and will likely meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
"The purpose is to prepare him for the Senate, in terms of policy, in terms of familiarizing himself with the institution of the Senate and how it operates, and in terms of the upcoming legislative agenda," McIntosh said.
"He'll be meeting with senate staff members, leaders with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and former Hill staffers–including Senator Wellstone's former Senior Policy Advisor– who are currently working in areas of Al's particular interest, particularly the economy and energy issues."
In a pair of op-ed columns in the Minneapolis Star Tribune Tuesday, Franken and Coleman outlined their respective positions on the stimulus plan, though neither will be able to vote on the measure.
Not surprisingly, their opinions are split along party lines: Coleman thinks the bill won’t do enough to boost the struggling economy, while Franken calls the legislation flawed but necessary.
Take an even closer look,this IS the republican party at it's best...... when they can't even beat a comedian NO republican should be laughing.
Don't do that now, Al. There are still cemeteries to register and ballot boxes to stuff. Don't waste any more money - you may still need to buy some more votes if the courts decide to count all the real votes.
I have never seen an election on the national scene stolen as obviously and as unashamedly as this one was.
The man stole it fair and square. Let's buy him a house in Washington.
Kimberly... It si by no means clear who won. The Dems decided to keep counting unil they got a number that they liked.
Lost ballots mysteriously 'found' two weeks after election night. Ballots stuck in machines. There is fraud in every election. In most of them, the margin of victory is great enough that it doesn't affect the outcome. This one is different.
If Franken won... fine, but don't even pretend that it is obvious.
Go Al! We're behind you 100%. Keep those people honest. You were sent to Washington because you are honest.
Al Frankenstein needs to pack up with his illegitimate votes and go home
Kimberly,
Just like the republicans won, clearly, in 2000 and 2004. Why is it that the liberal NUTS always complain when conservatives do things, but then claim they are justified when they do the exact same things?
Congratulations Senator Al Franken.
Norm needs to cede the race. He's a liar and a dishonorable politician who's standing in the way of Minnesota being able to have adequate representation in Washington.
Kimberly, take your pills...are you calm now? If you remember Coleman actually won then Franken asked for the recount. Now somehow things have flipped and Franken is winning by a small margin. Of course Coleman is going to contest it and once the court weeds out all the bs, we'll have the real winner.
Seriously, chill. Then do some research.
Franken is a very smart man–much smarter than the average senator, I'd wage. I expect a lot from him, as I'm sure Minnesotans do. Let's see if he can be anywhere as successful as a serious politician as he was (is?) as a comedy writer. If so, he–and we–will be in good shape. Funny guy? Absolutely. Good public servant? I guess we're about to find out. He may not be Wellstone, but I have little doubt that he will be, at least, an improvement to Coleman. Granted, that isn't saying much!
JJ said: "Take a close look, this IS the democratic party at it's best…"
I say: "Yeah and he beat your guy, so what does that say about him?"
This would be a good time for Al & Mrs. Franken to check out real estate in the District!!!
They should seat him. The Democrats can never have too many comedians. There sure don't have anyone with any brains, e.g. Reid, Schumer, Dodd, Kennedy, Kerry, et.al.
Coleman is being a typical GOP jerk. He lost. Let Franken have the Senate seat.
Franken should be there because he won, but there's always a sore loser that has to make a last ditch effort.
yeah jj this might be the democratic at its best BUT IT IS A HELL LOT BETTER THAN BUSH AND SHOOTER DICK
Franken is a joke, but he still head and shoulders above all but three republican senators. GOP=RIP
I can't wait for the republican nut jobs to try to knock off the only moderate republicans left in the Senate. What a coup for the democrats. They'll pick up any of those seats for sure if they plan to back a more conservative alternative.
the wingnuts have real problems when democracy is faithfully observed
no "the clown" has left town..George Bush left 3 weeks ago...and after 8 years of his circus Democrats have to go pretty far to do worse..
Al: Just start getting your office ready.
"The lady won, clearly, yet the conservative right NUTS came right out and said even though their guy came in second, he was the winner???? "
It happens. It happened in 2000... It happened in 2004... If it weren't for the undeniable mandate to reject failed policies, fear mongering, and the glorification of ignorance, it probably would have happened again.
Too bad we have to wait 2 more years for the Grand Obstructionist Party to figure out how irrelevant they are; then they can go back to playing the victims. Now that we've had a good look at how they run nations, we know that whining like babies while waving around their matyr complex like a flag is what they do best.
After California,Minnesota is the disgrace of the nation,Illinois comes in third
You obviously do not know what happened during the election and recount.
Can we please get our new Senator? We have bridges falling down over here.