-- Can someone explain to me why Coleman is hanging on like this? What does he hope to gain and/or what do the Senate Republicans gain from this? Is there some key legislation that they think that he will be on board to defeat? How does he show up and take his seat like nothing happened (or will happen)? Really, where is this going and why?

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R) nevertheless endorsed former Rep. Rob Portman's (R) Senate campaign in Ohio. The party is likely hoping to discourage a primary fight.

Probably smart on Boehner's part and not as fun for us: whenever the Republicans have to fight it out in a primary, the most batshit insane wingnut usually prevails by promising to pass a law allowing fetuses to carry automatic weapons or something. Portman is a run-of-the-mill, pro-business, beltway GOP guy, so here's hoping a bunch of really nutty Ohio Republicans decide that they lost the 08 elections by not being sufficiently radical right wingers and whip up a real doozy of a primary.

Also, I would guess that Coleman tying this up may actually help Dems in the Senate procedurally--only need 66 votes instead of 67 to end a filibuster.

If you heard about Bush's assertion that the press "misunderestimated" him, then you should know that this isn't the first time he's used this word (as per NYT's editorial writer, Gail Collins). Bush actually thinks that "misunderestimate" is a word.

How this clown got himself elected to be be our president twice will always remain a mystery to me.

Elie - I suspect the Reps consider 42 a big improvement over 41 when it comes to filibusters. But even more, with four Reps retiring in 2010 and several more in blue states, they see a tremendous risk of losing the ability to filibuster entirely. Furthermore, if Dems ever got to 67 (unlikely, but you never know), they could unilaterally change Senate rules.

Let the legal process work. Coleman can only delay the inevitable. It is highly unlikely that his legal maneuvers will work, but if they are not allowed to make them, then it creates the appearance of favoratism. So maybe it takes until March to seat Franken...so what? Once the state S.C. deals with this, then the governor and S.o.S. can certify the election. Franken will get there.

If some of these people actually spent more time doing something useful, they may not have to campaign so much.

Does this mean Charlie Crist's fake engagement is still on?

Franken was elected to a six-year term. If he's not seated until April of 2009, then he should be the Senator until April of 2015, not January, whether he wins or loses his reelection campaign.

This whole thing is bullshit. There's no reason the Minn. S. Ct. couldn't hear Coleman's suit right now. It's obviously a priority. Just hear the case, get it over with. If the SCOTUS could decide the 2000 election in a matter of days, they can decide this.

Does this mean Charlie Crist's fake engagement is still on?

Perhaps you missed it -- Gov. Crist and his fiancee were married (in December, IIRC).

Gov. Crist and his fiancee were married (in December, IIRC).

I did miss it. How about that? I never thought he'd go through with it. That's one in the eye for me.

Can someone explain to me why Coleman is hanging on like this? What does he hope to gain and/or what do the Senate Republicans gain from this?

I think the Senate Repubs really, really hate Franken--they know he's smart, funny, well-spoken, and can make them all look like the fools they are. Coleman doesn't have anything to gain, but probably nothing to lose either at this point, so's he doing what the Senate Repubs want.

But I have to say, I don't know why the Minnesota Supreme Court can't deal with this faster--they're scheduling dates likes it's some run of the mill appeal. I'd think they would want their two Senators like everyone else.

bubba,

They only need 60 votes for cloture, not 67. That would be to override a veto.

Bush actually thinks that "misunderestimate" is a word. How this clown got himself elected to be be our president twice will always remain a mystery to me. -CJ

I suspect it's because over 50% of the voting public also thinks 'misunderestimate' is a word.

As to Franken, Mark Ritchie can end this by certifying the vote. He's too chickenshit to do that, apparently. If only Democrats could govern free of the fear of Republican retribution, or at least learn that the behavior of said Republicans is not dependent on the actions of Democrats.

Not only is Coleman embarrassing himself, but he is causing Minnesota to be underrepresented in the Senate, thereby depriving Minnesotans of their equal representation in the Senate.

Bastard.

I missed Crist's wedding too. I thought he was still running for the Guinness book of records under the "most engaged" category...

doubtful,

thanks. too much going on for my pea brain.

Maybe we could get a Dem who is very well known in Texas to run. Somebody famous like Sandra Bullock. In Texas that last name is well known.