Democratic Badass of the Week: Al Franken

Since I went to the trouble of writing about Democratic Milquetoasts, I figured I’d better write about their opposites.

This week’s award of Democratic Badass of the Week goes to Al Franken!!!

Nope, I see no signs of Stuart Smalley behavior in Minnesota. Al stood up and delivered a well-earned black eye to Norm Coleman and Minnesota Republicans. Chances are he’s going to win, as of this writing (though Coleman could still pull it off, though it looks increasingly unlikely, knock on wood…) Even if Al doesn’t win, he’s shown enough fight to earn some respect.

Al Franken did not have an easy fight. When the election judges finished their counts on November 4th, he was behind by only 571 votes – well within the margin for a mandatory recount. Norm Coleman didn’t take long to start publicly demanding that Franken concede, and to start insinuating that a refusal to concede meant he was a “poor sport” among many other things.

And so began a long slog that still isn’t quite finished. Franken rallied his volunteers and his team of lawyers with the cheer “What do we want?” “PATIENCE!!!” “When do we want it?” “NOW!!!” So the recount began, and Al Franken’s team immediately went to work, fighting hard to ensure that every single vote was counted. Coleman didn’t make it easy for them – issuing thousands of ballot challenges, filing lawsuits, trying to shave votes from being counted using technicalities. But the law in Minnesota is quite clear. If a ballot clearly shows, through any means, the intent of the voter, then the intent must be respected and the vote counted accordingly.

Al and his lawyers went to court and fought to see every vote counted, and they won! I’m sure Coleman and his supporters are apoplectic right now, as every vote that can be counted is counted, and that’s… okay. Republican tears of anguish sustain me! Mmmm, their sweet and yummy tears of unfathomable sadness…

So, Al, reap your rewards! Welcome aboard as the fifty-ninth member of the U.S. Senate’s Democratic caucus, and take home this bonus prize as Democratic Badass of the Week! Because you’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and doggone it, people like you!