After 7 months of court battles and legal proceedings, the Minnesota Supreme Court today unanimously declared Al Franken the winner of last November's senate race. In a 32-page document, the state's highest court rejected Norm Coleman's appeal case, which called for a counting of thousands of rejected absentee votes in addition to claims of trial errors and constitutional violations. Governor Tim Pawlenty (R), although not ordered directly by the Court to sign Franken into office, had stated earlier this week that he was willing to sign the winner into office as soon as the Court had reached their decision.
And, 5-0, that decision was to uphold Franken's 312-vote victory - a victory that gives Democrats a fillibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the US Senate.
Of course, Norm Coleman, (R) and former incumbent Minnesota Senator, could still appeal his case to the US Supreme Court if Pawlenty doesn't sign Franken into office - but there's no guarantee the federal court would sit for Coleman's case.
Or, as favorite Franken SNL character Stuart Smalley might put it:
"Because I'm good enough,
I'm smart enough,
And, doggonne it! - more people voted for me."
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Impressions of Moscow and its citizens under the Krushchev regime, centered around the opening of the 1959 American Exhibition. MORE >
By D A Pennebaker
1959, 45 min., color