Coleman ready to throw in the towel?

[babylonsister]

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/?last_story=/politics/war_room/2009/06/04/coleman/

Coleman ready to throw in the towel?

Thursday brings an interesting update from Roll Call on the state of the never-ending race between former Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., and Democratic challenger Al Franken. For one thing, the paper reports, the Republican establishment is, at this point, basically willing to let Coleman take the case as far as he wants, or drop it when he wants.

That's particularly important in light of this passage from the article:

Sources close to Coleman say the former Senator would likely give up his legal battle and accept defeat if the Minnesota Supreme Court decides in Franken’s favor. That’s because Coleman anticipates that Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) would ultimately sign Franken’s certification papers.

If that's true, it'd represent a reversal. Throughout the legal battle, Coleman's team has, by all appearances, been preparing for a final showdown in federal court, even tailoring the language of their arguments for those courts rather than Minnesota's.

― Alex Koppelman

[malaise]

1. Pawlenty said as much

on GEM$NBC

That’s because Coleman anticipates that Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) would ultimately sign Franken’s certification papers.

[Kittycat]

2. More like Coleman is going to try and run for Pawlenty's seat,

with the martyrdom campaign.

[onehandle]

4. I will give generously to anyone who runs in any campaign against Coleman.

He is Done in politics and I say so.

[HopeHoops]

13. He can just join the other has-beens like Santorum and be a FOX talking head.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Soylent Brice]

16. don't forget KKKarl. i suspect as much Darth will be joining them also.

[MADem]

10. God help that state--what a horrible governor he'd be! nt

[tabbycat31]

18. it could be worse

I heard a rumor that Michele Bachmann wants the governorship. I'd take Sarah Palin over her.

[Winterblues]

19. Nah.. I heard the 2012 GOP ticket will be Palin/Bachman

A real pair to draw to..

[MADem]

21. I'm gonna get in on the early betting, and go for a GOP slate of MITTS-PAWS!!!

I'm going to hope they get beaten like that dead horse we see cropping up around here every so often, too!!

[havocmom]

11. Paging Jesse Ventura

Call for Jesse Ventura on the red phone...

[LynneSin]

3. At this point Pawlenty has to worry about his future. Coleman's future is already in the dumpster

Perhaps Pawlenty is working a backdoor deal where Coleman accepts defeat but might see a future position with the Pawlenty 2012 campaign. Because Coleman resigning is the ultimate win for Pawlenty because if Coleman gives the election to Franken then Pawlenty can sign the statement and say it was was Coleman's doing.

[dflprincess]

14. Normie will get a nice cushy lobbying job.

He and Laurie will give up their sham of a marriage. She'll move back to California and Normie will go back to openly harassing every waitress in every restaurant or bar he goes into.

[MineralMan]

15. I like the way you talk...mmm-hmm!

[joeybee12]

5. He needs his free time now...has to prepare for his criminal trial...n/t

[LynneSin]

6. He's going to need legal fees too and he doesn't have the cash that Franken has

Perhaps Coleman might work out a deal where if Coleman concedes then Franken won't demand that Coleman pay legal fees. And as much as I'd like to see Franken sic it to Coleman with legal fees, I think if Franken is to get on the good side of Minnesotans then he'll pay for his own fees himself.

[LiberalFighter]

7. Coleman shouldn't get off scott free.

Consider that Franken had to pay legal expenses because Coleman kept drawing the case out.

Coleman should pay at least 50% of Franken's expenses.

[LynneSin]

9. Coleman should pay for all of it but it's not going to help Franken in the long run.

Franken is going to start his career as senator probably pretty unpopular. Taking the high road and skipping the legal fees is Franken's way of putting this mess behind him and focusing on what is most important - doing his job as Senator. I think that will go far with restoring his approval in Minnesota.

If Coleman resigns there is no need to pour salt on his wounds other than spite.

[joeybee12]

17. As much as the desire for revenge against Coleman is strong within me...

...anything that gets this mess over and gets Al seated sooner is a plus because he needs time to prove himself.

[ejpoeta]

8. i hope that coleman's obvious lack of interest in the will of the people via his little

tantrum through the courts would be enough to be the end of his career. I never understood why they would go to federal court anyway, as this would be a state issue, and the republicans claim they are for state's rights.

[krispos42]

12. Coleman's being floated as a gubernatorial candidate in 2010.

If this drags on until election day 2010, he'll have an epic fail.


I can imagine a situation where he wins the governor's seat, then the SCOTUS rules in December of 2010 he won the 2008 election, so he resignes from the Senate and picks his replacement!


THAT would be fucked up.

[gratuitous]

20. Oh yeah, that could happen

And monkeys might fly out of my . . . Well, you know.

As long as the only damage Coleman sustains is to his tattered reputation, and the upside is that he can continue to "contest" the election and deny Franken the Senate seat Franken rightfully won, Coleman will keep this going. I've heard about 16 different deadlines so far for Coleman to give it up, and none of them have been met. Norm will maintain his challenge pro se if necessary, because the alternative is the end of his political career and obscurity.

[saltpoint]

22. Most of us didn't care much for Norm Coleman to start with and he's

done nothing since being elected to Paul Wellstone's seat to change our minds.

Very likely we liked him little then and like him much less now.

I hope the Minnesota Supreme Court gives Franken the nod and I hope that little weasel Pawlenty has enough sense to sign the damn certificate. It's high time this was resolved.