Give it up already, Coleman - A Minnesotan's Commentary on the Senate Recount

I watched the Minnesota senate race closer than most. My boyfriend interned with Al Franken's campaign from its infancy, so of course I was rooting for him. Sure, if he'd lost, I would have been disappointed, but I knew that my candidate would concede defeat if he was, indeed, beaten by incumbent Republican Senator Norm Coleman.

When the results came in and indicated that Coleman was ahead by a mere 250-something votes, I knew this wouldn't be resolved quickly by any means. Considering that over three million ballots were cast, including my own, this narrow margin was well within Minnesota's automatic recount laws.

Senator Coleman, naturally, urged Mr. Franken to concede rather than waste time and taxpayer dollars on a recount. He felt he'd one fair and square, and he obviously was afraid a recount could turn the results away from his favor.

The arduous recount process was closely watched by the local media, as well as Franken fans such as myself (and, I'm sure, Coleman's fans kept a close eye on it, too). As it finally came to a close, I was elated to see that Al Franken had prevailed and he was now the one ahead by 250-something votes. After all the court cases, missing ballot fiascoes, wrongly rejected absentee ballots, and contested ballots had been counted or rejected as they should have been, the results came in Franken's favor and the canvassing board signed off on it.

Now, despite calls from pretty-much everybody, including former Republican Governor Arnie Carlson, to give it up already, Coleman is filing a lawsuit alleging the recount process was flawed and therefore the results were inaccurate.

Now, I know it is within his legal rights to contest the results of this recount. That is not what, myself and many other Minnesotans are frustrated with. Aside from the fact that we'd really like to have our second senator, no matter who it is, in Washington right now representing our state, many of us are frustrated by the obvious hypocrisy on the part of Mr. Coleman. From the beginning he spoke out against the recount, the review of wrongly rejected absentee ballots, and the like, claiming that by prolonging this process we were "wasting taxpayer dollars".

He now claims that he is suing to ensure that "every vote is counted" and that no votes were counted twice. Again, although we all realize he has the right to do so, it doesn't mean we have to respect him for doing so. Even those who looked at Senator Coleman in a favorable light are now beginning to see his reputation tarnished because of his actions and words during this recount process.

So, as a concerned Minnesotan, I'd like to let the rest of the country and the world know that you're not the only ones who wish this was all over with so our senators could get their butts to Washington and fix the numerous problems facing this country. In the next two months or more it will take for this legal process to be completed, the senate is likely to vote on important proposals involving the economy, policy in Iraq and Afghanistan, healthcare reform, and much more. Minnesota will only have half a voice during those debates and subsequent votes. Although, I believe Senator Amy Klobuchar (D) will speak up to make sure we're heard (in her adorable Minnesota accent, no less), she can only vote once.

Mr. Coleman, what is really more important here: you, or your state and country? I implore you to drop this lawsuit so that Minnesota can have equal representation in the senate. Though I doubt you'll listen, I suppose it's all I can do as a concerned citizen.