Finally, the CW-makers on the Republican side of the aisle have come to the same conclusion that most of us came to months ago: it's over for Norm Coleman, he's lost the election, and he merely embarrasses himself and does a disservice to his state by continuing to tilt at windmills.
This is now coming from the most prominent right-wing voices in the country.
Former Gingrich Revolutionary, Rep. Morning Joe Scarborough:
"Seriously. Norm, I like you. You lost. Okay...Can we seat a senator so Amy [Klobuchar] doesn't have to do the job of two Senators? It is seriously not fair to constituents in Minnesota to drag this out any longer. It is over Norm, okay. It is over."
National Review senior editor Ramesh Ponnuru:
If he keeps up the fight, he is likely to lose, unnecessarily deprive Minnesota of a second senator, end his political career seen as a sore loser, and hurt his party in a state that is eager for this fight to be over. His team has talked enough about further legal challenges that if he leaves now, he will get some points for grace. (Needless to say, that sentiment would not be universal.) But this is, I think, the last moment where he can exit with some dignity.
Former Minnesota Sen. David Durenberger (a Republican):
"I don't know how the Democratic Party operates because I'm not one of them," Durenberger said. "But every time we had an opening, somebody like Karl Rove and (George W. Bush campaign manager) Ken Mehlman and the Republican apparatchiks in the White House decide who is going to represent Minnesota. Closed out the party, closed out everybody else. That's what's going on now ... 'We will continue to fund you, just to keep the Democrat out of the Senate.' At some point, somebody has to deal with what's the will of the people of Minnesota."
Minnesota conservative blogger Scott Johnson, of Powerline, writing at National Review:
Indeed, I can’t find a single good thing to say about [Al Franken] except that he didn’t steal the election.
How about traditional media outlets? From Minnesota's Albert Lea Tribune:
This newspaper endorsed Republican Norm Coleman for senator, but now it is time for him to step out of the race and let Minnesota have two senators again.
...
A good politician knows when he is looking bad and making his state look bad.
Throw in the towel.
The Worthington Daily Globe:
It’s becoming increasingly clearer that Coleman and fellow Republicans — desperate to keep the Democrats from strengthening their power — are pressing onward primarily for political reasons. Meanwhile, Minnesota continues to only have one U.S. senator, despite a prolonged process that has shown Franken to be the winner on two occasions.
We, like the Albert Lea Tribune, endorsed Norm Coleman over Franken. We also share the same opinion that Coleman, for the benefit of the state and its citizens, should concede. Norm Coleman and his attorneys claim they want to ensure no Minnesota voter gets left behind. Instead, they’re trying their best to leave Minnesota behind.
How does the general public feel about Normie's shenanigan's?
DemFromCT posted the following poll from PPP, with this note:
Minnesotans take their voting seriously. In 2008, 78.2% of voters turned out (see Minnesota Leads Nation in Voter Turnout for Seventh Straight Election Cycle.) They make us Nutmeggers (67.2%) look like slackers. And as of now, those MN voters want their junior Senator seated.
Public Policy Polling. 4/14-15. Registered voters. MoE 4%.
Do you think Norm Coleman should appeal the decision and continue to fight in court or should Coleman concede the race?
DemFromCT opines:
Good government voters really don't appreciate this kind of bullshit.
Hear, hear.
It's time for Norm to give it up. It was time for him to do so several months ago, and we said so, but there's a broad consensus now that he should call it quits, a consensus that crosses party and ideological lines.
It's a damn shame that Norm Coleman, Tim Pawlenty and John Cornyn don't have the decency, grace or insight to recognize this, but you can't have everything.
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