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Editorial: Time for Senate fight to end
Published Tuesday, April 7, 2009
This newspaper endorsed Republican Norm Coleman for senator, but now it is time for him to step out of the race and let Minnesota have two senators again.
Coleman could learn a lesson from Washington state politician Dino Rossi.
There was a tight race for governor in Washington state in 2004. Republican Dino Rossi, a state senator, went head to head against Democrat Christine Gregoire, the attorney general. The incumbent governor did not seek re-election.
At the end of tallying, Rossi led by 261 votes. By law, there was a recount. Rossi led by merely 42 votes. Gregoire took the lead of 129 votes after a third recount was done by hand. Justices threw out four votes, and the number changed to 133 votes.
Like with Coleman, there was a lawsuit that followed. It was over disputed ballots. The judge ruled against Rossi.
But unlike Coleman, Rossi did not appeal the ruling. Gregoire became governor.
Rossi knew when fighting became a waste of his time, the time of his supporters and the time of the citizens in his state.
There are too many important issues in Minnesota to let the state be without Senate representation. Whatever the means, Franken holds the lead in the race by 225 votes, and the courts have agreed with that result.
Coleman is now only delaying the seating of Franken and in doing so is not servicing his staff, his financial contributors or the people of Minnesota.
For a time many Minnesotans followed the case closely, but now, after five months, they mainly see stalling. As for the rest of the country, at first, Americans thought Minnesota looked like a diligent place for vote recounts. Now, it’s starting to seem like an election laughingstock.
And Coleman, who rails against career politicians, is looking like a career politician who is losing his career.
A good politician knows when he is looking bad and making his state look bad.
Throw in the towel.
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Comments
Posted by cabinman (anonymous) on April 7, 2009 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Coleman is a hypocrite, on election night he said that Al should drop out because he was ahead. I am all for him taking every avenue he can to try to win because if he didn't I really would not have wanted him to win.
Posted by cabinman (anonymous) on April 7, 2009 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
but he should not have said that.
Posted by Culture_Warrior (anonymous) on April 7, 2009 at 9:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Coleman needs to hold out to the very bitter end. Putting that foul mouthed "comedian" in just to give us "two Senators again" would be ridiculus.
Posted by trifid (anonymous) on April 7, 2009 at 10:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Tribune is correct once more. As of late Coleman is merely a pawn in the hands of the National Republican Party which is pouring in tons of cash to delay one more democrat vote in Washington.
Franken is lacking, for sure. But who will look more foolish when Franken the Clown gets more votes than Mr. Business Coleman??.......maybe the voters!
Posted by ericf (anonymous) on April 8, 2009 at midnight (Suggest removal)
feedman must be right. After all, he used all caps.
Seriously Coleman supporters, if the circumstances were reversed, how swayed would you be by Franken supporters taking stupid cuts at Coleman? That's how swayed Franken supporters are by calling him "foul mouthed" or "clown".
Posted by chrish (anonymous) on April 8, 2009 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The mistake Coleman made was that he publicly asked Franken to concede. In hindsight, not the best PR move.
Let's be honest, whomever was on the losing end of this would be challenging until there were no options left. It is unfortunate that this is going on so long but I would rather see us "get it right" versus rushing through no matter how painful this is.
No matter who is declared the winner, they really aren't. They have to know that a majority of the state didn't vote for them when you factor in the Barkley supporters.
Posted by cabinman (anonymous) on April 9, 2009 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree 100% with you chrish, I want someone who runs for public office to want to use everything in their power to win. I would not want that person to win if they were not willing to do that. But by him saying that is on election night and now not doing the same is pure hypocrisy.
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