Minnesota Supreme Court: Franken “Is Entitled”

Just out this afternoon is the Minnesota State Supreme Court’s decision that former SNL writer, performer, and darling of the left wing, Al Franken, has won the election to the US Senate. Here is the text found at the end of the Court’s opinion:

“For all of the foregoing reasons, we affirm the decision of the trial court that Al Franken received the highest number of votes legally cast and is entitled under Minn. Stat. § 204C.40 (2008) to receive the certificate of election as United States Senator from the State of Minnesota.22. Affirmed.”

So is it time to break out the champagne and party poppers?

I personally don’t think so, but that is my nature – to doubt. Always to expect the worst. Because when it comes to being spiteful and underhanded losers, expecting the worst from Republicans is not such a bad bet.

Think about it. The Senate is in recess for the 4^th of July and won’t reconvene until Monday, July 6^th. That’s the earliest date that Al Franken can be sworn in and officially take his seat. That’s almost a whole week to cook up an appeal to a more sympathetic US Supreme Court. A court that has a reputation for overturning elections.

Think about it. While the Secretary of State of Minnesota is a Democrat and would have no qualms signing Franken’s certification, Governor Tim Pawlenty is a Republican and would put himself under a severe lens from the right wing of his party if he also signs the certification that would give Democrats a filibuster-proof Senate. It would all but kill his chances at the Republican nomination for President in 2012, nomination from a field whose numbers are slowly dwindling.

But wait, you say, Tim Pawlenty has gone on record as saying that as Minnesota’s governor, he would be bound by his state’s Supreme Court’s decision and would have to sign the certification if he is ordered to do so by the Court.

And that is the reason you have to read the decision, especially their last statement that I reproduced above.

Because they didn’t order Pawlenty to sign the certification.

They merely said that Al Franken was “entitled” to it.

Who knows what will eventually happen. Coleman could just throw up his hands and take the third strike in his career (1. losing to a professional wrestler, 2. winning against a corpse, 3. losing to a comedian) and fade back into the woodwork. Pawlenty could just give in and say “I’ll sign that sucker, nobody’s going to beat Obama in 2012 anyway, where’s a pen?”

Yeah, all of that could just happen.

But I’d be really surprised if it did.

UPDATE: Now we hear that Coleman has opted for strike three and has conceded. I guess this takes Pawlenty off the hook as well.

The fat lady is clearing her throat.

UPDATE 2: ... and will apparently belt out her tune later on tonight. Pawlenty says he is going to sign the certification later on tonight. Apparently Al Franken IS good enough.