Republicans to Filibuster Democrat Plans to Seat Al Franken

An interesting little game is playing out in Minnesota and with the Democrat party. Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken are locked in a disputed senate race that is in the midst of yet another recount.

Norm Coleman won the original vote as well as the first recount before Al Franken miraculously “found” some votes that weren’t counted and he is now in the lead.

Beacuse Norm Coleman’s senate race is still undecided he will not be allowed to sit in on the senate proceedings when they resume on Tuesday. He will have no input and no vote as well as no seat on the floor. Makes sense to me. How can a senator be seated when we don’t know who that senator should be?

Since he has not been certified a winner in the race, Coleman may have to give up his privileges as a senator, including his desk on the floor, his personal office and his right to vote on legislation, according to Democratic aides familiar with the rules.

On the other hand, Democrats are trying to seat Al Franken in the senate even though the race is still undecided.

Some have suggested that Franken could be seated provisionally

This has drawn the ire of minority leader John Cornyn who has promised to filibuster any attempt to seat the as of now unelected Al Franken.

This is a very, very serious matter,” Cornyn said. “I can assure you that there will be no way that people on our side of the aisle will agree to seat any senator without a valid certificate

While the election still isn’t certified neither candidate should be allowed a seat on the floor. It seems obvious to me. Yet the Democrats are counting their chickens before they hatch, they assume that because Al Franken is winning this recount that he should be allowed a seat on the senate floor. This battle for the senate seat could go on for quite a while and as long as it does neither man should be allowed to sit on the senate floor.

I am sure that Democrats will complain that this is the obstructionist politics as usual and they should know about obstructionist politics. It is they who have obstructed over the last eight years. But this isn’t about obstructionism it is about the rules of the senate, it is about what is right and wrong.

Al Franken is probably going to win the seat but until he does he shouldn’t be allowed to sit in it.

