The Next Senator From Minnesota?

based on the clip, what committee assignments should Franken expect?

McConnell is threatening a filibuster over Franken... but my question is under what rules does the Senate operate when it initially convenes? Isn't it necessary for the new Senate to pass the rule that allows for filibusters each term -- and aren't those kinds of organizing resolutions only considered once the membership has been sworn in?

Looking forward to Senator Franken bringing a little humor to the often too tight laced Senate.

pl: I am surprised by your question on Senate rules. Tell me more.

The Republicans are acting lick sore losers. They need to get over it and move along.

LIKE sore losers

My kingdom for an edit feature!

This is good news for Burris.

There are at least a dozen Senators who will not be able to conceal their outright hatred for Franken, probably including some Democrats. This should bring the Senate even closer to achieving oneness with Junior High School. Fun!

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said Monday that he does not believe Democrat Al Franken has “a legal right” to claim victory in the Minnesota Senate recount. [Link]

Get ready to gag.

In the Capitol just a few moments ago, Democrat Harry Reid said it was all over.
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Judging by Reid's track record, this means that litigation will drag on for another eight months and end with Franken getting kicked out of office.

Well, Al Franken is good enough, smart enough and doggone it, people [in Minnesota] like him!

So McConnell refuses to allow Franken to be seated provisionally (as has normally been done in past contested elections)? He wants to continue to deny Franken his seat until Coleman gets tired of filing (and losing) lawsuits?
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The GOP appears to be pushing their veto power into creative new areas. If they lose an election they just block the guy that beat them. Apparently, they've learned nothing from the last two election cycles.
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Could someone please file a lawsuit contesting McConnell's election (and Cornyn's, etc.). It doesn't have to be a good one. It can be just as frivolous as some of Coleman's recent complaints have been. Let's refuse to seat McConnell(using his own ridiculous standard) until he realizes that the seat is the property of the voters -- not the property of an unprincipled political hack. Or until we get tired of filing lawsuits

"Republican Mitch McConnell said it won't be over until the coming litigation is resolved"
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Technically he is right. State law has any final certification (Governor and Sec of State signing off) held until all legal challenges have been resolved.

Michael-Mitch is the real leader of the senate. So I until he says so it ain't over.

"There are at least a dozen Senators who will not be able to conceal their outright hatred for Franken, probably including some Democrats."
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What are the democrats going to do. Glare or send a sternly worded letter?

"There are at least a dozen Senators who will not be able to conceal their outright hatred for Franken, probably including some Democrats"
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What in heavens name are you talking about? The republicans I couldn't care less about but why do you say some Democrats? The guy has raised money for any Democrat who ever asked over the years.

Kudos to David Schuster for having Jane Hamsher on from Firedoglake.

I think Franken's kind of a dick and, despite policy agreement, he will be disliked by the old Villagers. I'm all for him since he votes my way, but we've certainly learned about how the Senate works this year, and I'm just saying that in my opinion Franken will be stirring up personality conflicts and it should be fun to watch.

Okay thanks.

Spencer Ackerman reports that Sen. Dianne Feinstein is upset with the selection of Panetta, petulantly complaining that she wasn't consulted in advance and that it would be best to have an "intelligence professional" in that position. CQ's Tim Starks reports that Sen. Jay Rockefeller is making very similar noises about this selection. Few things could reflect better on Panetta's selection than the fact that Feinstein and Rockefeller -- two of the most Bush-enabling Senators -- are unhappy with it.
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Feinstein and Rockefeller can go f**k themselves.
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http://washingtonindependent.com/23827/dianne-feinstein-not-too-pleased-with-panetta-pick

Franken's good at defusing bombs (metaphorically). I listened to his show on Air America back in the day, and always enjoyed his unique way of using humor, curiosity and calm intelligence to methodically defuse crazy right-wing attack dogs. This should serve him well in the senate.

"I'm just saying that in my opinion Franken will be stirring up personality conflicts and it should be fun to watch."
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Franken first speech on the Senate floor should tell all the old timer demos to pull their damn pants up from around their ankles and act like they have a pair.

If Feinstein and Rockefeller are swideswiped then that means Obama has got it right. These two clowns are Bush' prime Democratic enablers. Suck on it!

Franken ran as much to pick up Wellstone's legacy as anything else. And that legacy is more about hard work than firebrand speeches.
I would also expect a ton of work on Vet Affairs. Work that Wellstone was extremely effective at and Coleman blew off.