{First, a cheap plug for my blog Senate Guru.}
This past Monday, the Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Republican Norm Coleman’s appeal of Senator-elect Al Franken‘s victory. Some estimates put the release of the Court’s decision at around two weeks from now. Election law experts are unanimous in their expectation that the Court will affirm Senator-elect Franken’s victory, as the state Canvassing Board and the three-judge panel both have previously.
| What is unclear is whether Coleman will appeal to a federal court after losing at the state level for the third time – and whether the federal appeal would or could delay the seating of Senator-elect Franken. No doubt that Coleman would need to rely on funds from Washington D.C. Republicans to keep his appeal going to the federal level. Republicans have to decide whether it is financially and politically worth it to continue funding Coleman’s appeals. With the state Supreme Court’s decision expected soon, we can provide a knock-out punch.
Thanks to the “One Dollar a Day to Make Norm Coleman Go Away” effort at NormDollar.com, progressives across the country have provided Republicans with disincentive from funding Coleman’s endless appeals. Due to Coleman’s obstinance, progressives have raised over $140,000 to put toward assisting progressive candidates for Congress against the very Republicans whose Party leaders and funders are keeping Coleman’s appeals going. |
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Getting the NormDollar.com effort over the $150,000 mark in advance of the Court’s decision would provide a nice exclamation mark on Republicans’ hesitation to continue financial support for Coleman’s appeals.
If Republicans tell Coleman that they will not fund his appeals any longer, Coleman will be unable to continue his appeals, and we can finally get Senator-elect Franken seated. A contribution to the “One Dollar a Day to Make Norm Coleman Go Away” effort will encourage Republicans to send that very message to Coleman. (Adam Green offers further thoughts on the topic.)