I sure hope that Minnesota can get used to being a congressional amputee.
Ever since the state's controversial November election, a legal battle has ensued over who won the rights to a seat in the U.S Senate.
At first it seemed that Norm Coleman, a Republican, had eked out a victory. But an automatic recount, triggered by the small margin of victory, found comedian Al Franken to be the winner. The state Canvassing Board met and affirmed Franken's victory. The matter has been taken to the Minnesota Supreme Court and a ruling should be handed down soon.
The smart money is on Franken.
Of course, none of this is to say that Minnesota is remotely near electing a senator. Coleman has indicated that he is willing to take this matter all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
I'm at a loss to fathom the depths of poor sportsmanship that are driving Coleman to these extremes. Have the memories of the invective heaped upon Al Gore when he retracted his concession already faded from Republican minds? It seems so.
Interestingly enough, the results of a recent Minnesota poll indicate that 64 percent of Coleman's constituents actually favor his concession.
An equally high percentage of Minnesotans expect his defeat, whether they want it or not. Furthermore, Coleman's numbers are weak even when only Republicans are polled.
The message is clear: A majority of Minnesotans believe Coleman should bow out gracefully.
I'm impressed by the tenacity of the man once dubbed the "fourth most corrupt senator." In the dignified body that housed Ted Stevens, that is quite the accomplishment. Coleman only wants what's right for Minnesotans and is determined to do everything in his power to ensure they receive that most precious gift: himself. He will pursue this course of action, even to the point of abusing the democratic process.
All of this is fair, though. Coleman has the right to throw a hissy fit and sue. That's one of the benefits of the American political system. When an election outcome is too close to call, a candidate can can turn to the judicial process rather than resorting to riots and violence. The only problem is that, ordinarily, there should be some evidence of foul play to support judicial mediation. Simply saying "no fair" because you lost is both absurd and pathetic.
Don't expect this situation to be resolved anytime soon. There is a lot at stake. If Franken wins, the Democrats will have their filibuster-proof 60 seats. And, despite the general trend of public opinion, Norm Coleman does have a core group of support. They will stick with him to the bitter end, which may come in an Alamo-style last stand in front of justices Antonin Scalia, John Roberts, Ruth Ginsberg and the rest of the merry pranksters. Coleman has decided to fight, and will, but he should consider one thing:
Is his obstinacy even remotely in the best interest of Minnesotans? This observer doubts it.
Eric Chianese is an English senior. His column appears weekly.
