The political demands for Pawlenty to intervene in Minnesota's lengthy recount process have, indeed, been mounting. As [DNC Chairman Tim] Kaine notes in his letter, two-thirds of Minnesotans now "believe it's time for [Coleman] to concede." The governor himself, meanwhile, is facing new polls showing that 55 percent of his constituents disapprove of his job performance. And while officials inside the state generally believe these numbers to be a bit overstated, the highest Democrats in Minnesota are in agreement that if the Supreme Court declines Coleman's appeal in the next few weeks, Pawlenty is in a tight bind.
Here we are, more than four months into Barack Obama's first term...and Republicans are still holding the state of Minnesota hostage. You'd think that, even if Norm Coleman can't be convinced to man up and step aside, that Gov. Tim Pawlenty could find it within himself to seat Al Franken as Minnesota's junior senator. Every step of Minnesota's recount process to date has certified that Franken defeated Coleman. Granted, the margin of victory was beyond slim, but in a nation where the majority rules, it's time the voice of Minnesota's majority was recognized. Of course, if you're a Republican, it's not that simple; it never is.
For Republicans, it's not about the will of the People (unless, of course, a Republican is leading- see Florida, 2000). It's about power. It's about control. More than anything, though, it's about making certain that the Senate not seat Al Franken, whom Republicans hate with a venom and passion that's difficult to comprehend. If Minnesota had elected Satan as their junior Senator, I can't imagine that Republicans would have reacted with a greater degree of visible and obvious revulsion. Judging by the reactions of most Republicans, they would sooner be caught in flagrante delicto with a group of Congressional pages than to acquiesce to Franken being seated as Minnesota's junior Senator.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who, by most indicators is a decent and honorable sort, has for reasons fully understood only to himself refused to sign off on Franken's victory. Though he offers the usual practiced verbal vomit about respecting the will of the People, the reality is that he simply doesn't have to balls to do anything that might aggravate the GOP's de facto leadership (i.e.- Rush Limbaugh). If Pawlenty is to have any hope of gaining the GOP's 2012 Presidential nomination, and his plans are as yet undefined, he's going to need Limbaugh and his millions of drooling sycophants in his corner. Risking the wrath of Limbaugh means also running the risk of losing the support of the Dittoheads, most of whom seem to only think what they're told to by El Rushbo.
Instead of granting Minnesota it's full complement of Senators and thus full and equal representation in the Senate, Pawlenty seems content to let things drag out. In doing so, he's denying Democrats their 60th seat in the Senate, thus still preserving the possibility of a Republican filibuster. In reality, all Pawlenty is doing is demonstrating himself to be beholden to Rush Limbaugh and his ignorant, knuckle-dragging hordes. With just a wee bit of courage, Pawlenty could demonstrate that he recognizes when it's time to do the right thing and sign off on Al Franken's victory....because when I last checked, Franken had more votes than Coleman. I may be a Librul Democrat and a history major, but even I can do the math on that one.
Memo to Tim Pawlenty: SHOW SOME BALLS. MAN UP. MINNESOTA DESERVES BETTER.
