Give It Up, Norm

Although a Minnesota court ruled unanimously that Al Franken won the US Senate race by 312 votes in an election that was "conducted fairly, impartially, and accurately," the Republican candidate, Norm Coleman, insists on dragging out the process by appealing to the State Supreme Court. All of which appears to be a delaying tactic to keep the winner, Al Franken, from taking his seat and voting in the Senate. Does Mr. Coleman not realize that the manner in which a candidate handles defeat reveals more about his character than the manner in which he handles victory? Perhaps, a man who cannot admit defeat gracefully does not belong in public office.

And, to make matters worse, one of the Supreme Court Justices with a serious conflict of interest has not recused himself.  Justice Dietzen contributed to Norm Coleman's campaign on two occasions and also served as the campaign attorney for Republican Govenor Pawlenty's 2002 campaign. Two other justices have recused themselves because they served on the State Canvassing Board. If they felt their affiliation with the State Canvassing Board was a conflict of interest, surely being a Republican campaign attorney and donating to the campaign of Coleman is a much more serious conflict of interest.

Unfortunately, it appears to be all about delaying Franken from joining his fellow Democrats in the US Senate.  This is another piece of the Republican committment to obstructionism.