U.S. Senate: Burning Down the House

[Lemur]

The Rumble in Minnesota is over. No, really, it's over. I can't decide if I'll miss the abusrdity, or if I'm glad that a no-longer-funny joke is at its end.

Republican Norm Coleman ended his bruising eight-month court fight over Minnesota's U.S. Senate seat this afternoon, conceding to Democrat Al Franken after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in Franken's favor.

The justices ruled today that Franken won the U.S. Senate election and said he is entitled to an election certificate that would lead to him being seated in the Senate.

"Affirmed," wrote the Supreme Court, unanimously rejecting Coleman's claims that inconsistent practices by local elections officials and wrong decisions by a lower court had denied him victory.

Two hours after the decision was released, Coleman said he would "abide by the results."

Within minutes, Gov. Tim Pawlenty's office removed the last hurdle to Franken's being seated in the Senate, saying he would sign Franken's certificate of election.

"Further litigation damages the unity of our state," Coleman said during a news conference held at his St. Paul home. "The future today is that we have a new United States senator."

[ICantSpellDawg]

The Rumble in Minnesota is over. No, really, it's over. I can't decide if I'll miss the abusrdity, or if I'm glad that a no-longer-funny joke is at its end.

Congratulations. The vast Democratic majority is now officially a joke.

[Xiahou]

The Rumble in Minnesota is over. No, really, it's over. I can't decide if I'll miss the abusrdity, or if I'm glad that a no-longer-funny joke is at its end.

Some might say it's just starting.

I look forward to seeing how the Democrats solve all the country's problems with their filibuster proof majority.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

I still had my hopes up for the Lizard People and their reform-minded platform.

[Lemur]

I know, ATPG, I was rooting for the lizard people too. At least we still have Sleestax ...

I look forward to seeing how the Democrats solve all the country's problems with their filibuster proof majority.

If they can involve us in two wars and pass something as ineffective and expensive as Medicare D, I will be duly impressed.

[Xiahou]

If they can involve us in two wars and pass something as ineffective and expensive as Medicare D, I will be duly impressed.

Well, just a few months in and we've got a $787bn+ stimulus (part D is estimated to cost less than than thru 2015) that was promised to keep unemployment under 8%, the house passed a cap and trade travesty that's reviled on both the left and right and we're looking at a healthcare reform package that's likely to call for huge new taxes in the midst of a recession. Not bad for just over 5 months- you've gotta give em time though. Franken isn't even sworn in yet.

[CountArach]

Well, just a few months in and we've got a $700bn+ stimulus that was promised to keep unemployment under 8%

Keeping in mind that most of it hasn't even hit the economy yet - I don't think you can blame rising unemployment on the stimulus package.

[Xiahou]

Keeping in mind that most of it hasn't even hit the economy yet - I don't think you can blame rising unemployment on the stimulus package.

So what are you arguing? That Obama didn't claim it would keep unemployment under 8%? You just seem to be confirming what the critics have said- that the spending is too slow to make a difference.

[CountArach]

So what are you arguing? That Obama didn't claim it would keep unemployment under 8%? You just seem to be confirming what the critics have said- that the spending is too slow to make a difference.

I think that Obama's promise was irresponsible and he shouldn't have made it. But to then draw that out into an attack on the Stimulus package as a whole is wrong. I think that it will bring unemployment back into check far faster than doing nothing or tax cuts and that is all I was saying.