Objection Versus Obstruction

This is apparently the hot story of the moment, and it's fair to say that people on the Right are inflating this into more of a controversy than it really is. But progressives and liberals seem to be crowing a bit to much as well.



In terms of parliamentary procedure, Franken is most certainly in right in voicing his objection. And whether John McCain likes it or not, Franken didn't break the rules simply because he alleges that this hasn't happened in the entirety of his time in the Senate. And it obviously didn't bother Lieberman at all, as he laughed it off.

But liberals/progressives are missing a big point on this. While it's great that Franken is utilizing his right to object to Lieberman's incessant and ultimately pointless blathering, where have all the other Democratic Senators been? Why are they allowing members of the opposition to take control of this debate by being pure obstructionists? It's fine to laud Franken for his ability to speak with the voice of the majority that not only want but need affordable healthcare, but it's sad that not enough people within the Democratic caucus have the same passion and willingness to tell people like Lieberman to basically shut the fuck up.

The Grand Obstructionist Party

From Manu Raju @ Politico

Texas Sen. John Cornyn is threatening “World War III” if Democrats try to seat Al Franken in the Senate before Norm Coleman can pursue his case through the federal courts.

Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, acknowledges that a federal challenge to November’s elections could take “years” to resolve. But he’s adamant that Coleman deserves that chance — even if it means Minnesota is short a senator for the duration.

A three-judge panel is expected to rule any day now on legal challenges to the November election.

Coleman attorney Joe Friedberg has predicted that Franken will be on top after the court rules, arguing that an appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court could swing the election back in Coleman’s favor.

But what if that doesn’t happen?

Nobody really knows

And while this circus of ideology, on Coleman's part, the voting populous of Minnesota are being denied their second vote in the Senate.

Coleman appears to have lost any desire to represent his are of the state - if he ever had any to begin with - in an attempt to make Franken look like a fool. Perhaps that was Franken's initally want as well - but I seriously doubt that now.

I'll conceed the point enough to admit that Franken was initially a comedian, but it also must be pointed-out that the man has an intelligence and a passion to make his area of Minnesota better. He seems to genuinely want to represent the people there. But the comedian label is going to be hard to shake until he gets seated and can prove that he's got the chops.

At times, it seems as if Coleman is wanting this case to press on to the SCOTUS. But, after the mess they created in 2000 with Bush vs. Gore, they aren't going to come near this one.