Franken: "I'm Very Certain That The Governor Will Do The Right Thing"
Al Franken made a public appearance today in Minneapolis, speaking to an Earth Day rally where he was introduced to an applauding crowd as "Senator-elect Al Franken."
"I'll be going to Washington soon and will tell my colleagues that Minnesotans are ready to do their share of the work," Franken told the crowd.
Franken also spoke to reporters, and said he expects that Gov. Tim Pawlenty will sign the certificate of election after Norm Coleman's appeal has finished at the state Supreme Court.
"I'm very certain that the governor will do the right thing," said Franken. "The state Supreme Court has said that once the loser has exercised all his options in the state court, then that would be the appropriate end of that, then the winner should be certified."
Josh
Matt
Eric
Sure he will. Because Timmay has never been a partisan hack, now has he?
April 22, 2009 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Timmeh is not a partisan hack. Timmeh looks out for Timmeh.
Timmeh has never had a strong conviction except for the ones Grover Norquist gave him ("No New Taxes"). He's an empty suit, pleasant enough, who twists this way and that to try to figure out which way he should go. Think Norm Coleman without the teeth.
Timmeh will go whichever way he feels will put him in the best political position. His state's voters, or the big national Republican donors? If he refuses to certify you can guarantee he's got his eyes on a presidential bid, 'cuz he's done with the voters of his state.
April 22, 2009 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
You summed it up pretty well. Timmy is as slippery as Coleman used to be before the bright spotlight of a failed election contest shone down on him. I think Timmy can switch sides on an issue faster and with less fanfare than Coleman could, too.
My favorite Timmy trait is where he takes credit for something that he was adamantly opposed to (i.e. rail transit) until it got passed anyway and turned out to be successful. He has staff who go around finding ways to get his name on anything that might score points for him.
He manages to stay under the radar most of the time. What he ends up doing on the certification might just change that.
April 22, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting take for an outsider like me on MN politics. What I've always been curious about is why the opposition didn't hang that collapsed bridge around Pawlenty's neck? Didn't he quash funds for infrastructure upgrades the year before it collapsed upon several dozen of his constituents? Why isn't his career done by now?
April 23, 2009 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
He will if he's paying any attention to the mood of his electorate - it's definitely in his own best interest.
April 22, 2009 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is if the mood of the electorate isn't "not paying attention"
April 22, 2009 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some questions with someone with knowledge of MN election law:
1) What, if any, statutory or case law to argue that the process is final upon completion by the Mn. S.Ct.
2) Is there any precedent that the Mn. S.Ct. can and will compel Timmy to sign the damn certificate when they reach an opinion?
April 22, 2009 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
1) The supreme court's own opinion in Franken's earlier request for a certificate.
2) It's called a writ of mandamus, and it would issue upon Franken's request, provided Pawlenty refused to comply with the law voluntarily.
April 22, 2009 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, I know what it's called, and how it works. I'm wondering if there is much precedent in MN for the S.Ct. telling the Guv to get off his duff and follow the law.
My guess is that Pawlenty is looking to save face by pulling a Reid, making the national Rs happy by saying he won't sign it, then making his own state constituents happy by signing it when the Mn. S.Ct. says to sign it [re Burris: First he said he wouldn't, then he said, "Gee, shucks, the law says we gotta."]
April 22, 2009 7:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Heh Heh! Franken called Coleman "the loser"!
April 22, 2009 7:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is there a possibility for Franken to file a motion to the Supreme Court ordering the Gov and the SoS to grant the certificate as soon as the SC decides Coleman's appeal?
April 23, 2009 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink