Franken Criss-Crossing Minnesota As Senator-Elect, Playing Up The Economy
Al Franken is now asserting some semblance of political authority, while his paper-thin election victory remains bottled up in court. Franken has just launched a series of town-hall meetings around Minnesota, taking on the role of a sort of Shadow-Senator to discuss the economy -- and obviously, the importance of sending him to Washington soon so he can help fix it.
The Franken camp just announced that Al held the first meeting today in St. Paul, and has more planned for Duluth and Rochester in the next two days. At the events, "Senator-Elect Franken" has been discussing the economic issues with the local mayors, starting today with St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman (no relation to Norm, who is also a former St. Paul mayor).
From the Franken camp's press release:
"This is not an easy time to be a mayor," said Franken. "Every day, you're asked to do more with less. That's why it was so critical that we pass the economic recovery package. America and Minnesota have been through times of crisis before, and each time we have found ways to turn crisis into opportunity. Minnesota's cities are centers of incredible innovation and economic growth, and I want to help you keep your cities strong."
Mayor Coleman said, "Right now, Washington is debating matters of enormous consequence to Minnesota's economy. Senator Elect Franken understands what our cities need to prosper and we're ready for him to go to Washington to be a voice for us."
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Good plan.
It's painfully clear that Coleman is trying to keep Franken out of the Senate for as long as possible. The only way he'll stop is if Minnesota voters start pressuring other Republicans in the state, or the Republican brand, threadbare, sad, and intellectually dishonest as it were, starts to decay even further.
February 16, 2009 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let them do that.
Let the rethuglikkkans make themselves known in Minnesota as the party of sore losers.
There are a few close House races in 2010 and this is going to be great for the Democrats.
February 16, 2009 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
And thus the "Quimby" designation...
February 16, 2009 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting strategy by Franken ... if you pretend something long & hard enough, it eventually becomes reality because the conservative establishment (including the MSM) would rather have their reality handed to them than figure it out themselves. I predict that the courts will suddenly toss out all Coleman's challenges and Franken will be seated within a week of this strategy being launched.
So, does anyone besides me recognize the Republican playbook here? Good to see someone on our side putting it to good use.
February 16, 2009 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Politic like a Republican. Vote like a Democrat.
February 16, 2009 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lucky for you that the internet imbues all its users with such a short attention span that next week no one will remember what you predicted this week.
You have to know Norm Coleman. He has NO REASON or INCENTIVE to give up. He has hired the state's best criminal lawyer, an expert at sowing confusion and taking command in a court room; and the national Thug party's given him their best "post-election" lawyer, a guy who is as ruthless and unprincipled as they come, willing to obstruct and obfuscate till doomsday.
I had thought that one circumstance might make Norm suddenly step back---if it became clear that the state courts were going to toss out his challenge as having no merit. Then he would have stepped aside before that ruling, in order to be able to continue to claim that the election was unfairly stolen from him.
Once it became clear that the state courts were going to allow the arguments over which ballots to count; in other words that the recount would continue in the courtroom after being completed by the election officials---then Norm just settled in for the long haul. And he doesn't mind if it is a REALLY long haul.
Everything with Norm is wrapped up in being a professional politician. He is very much in the situation of Lyndon Johnson in 1948---there is simply no option for Norm except to win in the end, by hook or by crook. In this case, by both. (I urge all TPM-ers to read Robert Caro's "Means of Ascent" about the 1948 Texas election, if you haven't already.)
If Norm conceded, the next minute he would be a nobody. No reporters genuflecting to him, no businessmen doing favors for him, no other politicians kissing his ring, and worst of all, no likely electoral future. It would kill him, at least psychologically.
I want everyone to appreciate what Al Franken is doing by hanging tough. This is what the national Democrats have not understood. Gore in 2000 and Kerry in 2004 would not stick up for the people who elected them---and as a result, they were cheated and the people were cheated. And now, Rove is going to be let off the hook, it looks like, by the same feckless, spineless, clueless Democratic national hacks.
As for Al Franken, Reid could assert the power of Article I, Section 5, and settle this business in a week. But he won't.
February 16, 2009 11:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this is something he should have done this back when he should have been sworn in to office. Better late than never, but be prepared for Coleman to do likewise.
February 16, 2009 2:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
First Jesse, then Al, is there anyone out there who doesn't know Minnesotans are "different".
(see "How to Talk Minnesotan")
February 16, 2009 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink