June 30, 2009 5:37 PM

Franken: "I Can't Wait To Get Started"

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Election 2008
(CBS)
Democrat Al Franken said today that he "can't wait to get started" in the U.S. Senate following a nearly eight-month legal battle with former rival Norm Coleman.

Franken, accompanied by his wife and amid cheers from supporters, said he had received a "very gracious call" from Coleman, who earlier conceded the Minnesota Senate race after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled against him in an appeal over disputed absentee ballots.

Franken's final margin of victory over Coleman was just 312 votes out of 2.9 million cast.

Franken said he and his family are "so thrilled that we can finally celebrate this victory, and I am so excited to finally be able to get to work for the people of Minnesota."

"I know there's been a lot of talk about the fact that when I'm sworn in I'll be the sixtieth member of the Democratic caucus," Franken said, a reference to the fact that his presence in the Senate gives Democrats a filibuster proof majority. "But that's not how I see it."

"I'm going to Washington to be the second senator from the State of Minnesota, and that's how I'm going to do this job," he continued. He acknowledged, however, that he hopes to help push through President Obama's ambitious agenda.

Earlier, Coleman made an appearance at which he announced his concession and said "it is time now to move forward." The Republican could have appealed the Minnesota Supreme Court decision to federal courts but elected not to do so.

In his comments, Franken thanked Minnesotans for their patience and said he would fight for everyone in the state.

"I won by 312 votes, so I really have to earn the trust of the people who didn't vote for me," he said.

Franken said he had spoken to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who said Franken will be on the Health, Education, Aging, Indian Affairs, Labor and Pension and Judiciary Committees.

Watch Senator-elect Franken Discuss His Victory:


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Add a Comment See all 24 Comments
by DaBroiler July 1, 2009 11:54 AM EDT
Since you're new to DC Al, here's how the game works:

When House Democratic leaders were rounding up votes Friday for the massive climate-change bill, they paid special attention to their colleagues from Ohio who remained stubbornly undecided.

They finally secured the vote of one Ohioan, veteran Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Toledo, the old-fashioned way. They gave her what she wanted - a new federal power authority, similar to Washington state's Bonneville Power Administration, stocked with up to $3.5 billion in taxpayer money available for lending to renewable energy and economic development projects in Ohio and other Midwestern states.

House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry A. Waxman, California Democrat, included the Kaptur project in a 310-page amendment to the legislation unveiled at 3 a.m. Friday, just hours before the bill was to be debated on the House floor. The amendment was packed with other vote-getting provisions, both large and small, that had been sought by dozens of wavering Democrats.
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by hungry1968-15 July 1, 2009 9:04 AM EDT
by ronaldr5-2009 June 30, 2009 8:40 PM PDT
He will fit right in! AND he'll be the first U.S. Senator to take the oath of office wearing only a thong and a tin foil hat. After that, it will start to become amusing in the Senate. It's too bad Soupy Sales is long passed from our midst; HE would have given Al a run for his money! Anyway Al, weclome to 'Toon Town!!






Soupy Sales is still alive.

Just so you know.
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by BeckieBest July 1, 2009 8:17 AM EDT
Goodbye neoclowns.
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by jakedog030 July 1, 2009 7:44 AM EDT
Oh, yeah... one more thing.... Google "Franken Diaper" and see what comes up. Say hello to your new Senator, Minnesota!!!! LOL!!!!
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by jakedog030 July 1, 2009 7:43 AM EDT
Given his past history of drug abuse and emotional outbursts, I give Franken about 2 years before the people of Minnesota come to their senses and recall him. He also has a propensity for violence. We could see fists fly in the Senate. This is what you get when you elect an emotionally unstable liberal former comedian who has failed at just about everything he has done. Now he can add "Senator" to his list of failures. Also, he should've won this election hands down given the anti-Republican/anti-George Bush climate in November of 08. A lot of folks who voted for Obama couldn't pull the trigger for Franken. It shows you just how uncomfortable a lot of Minnesotans -- especially Democrats -- are uneasy with him as their Senator. Get your popcorn and sit back, folks.... this is gonna be one weird freak show....
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by parrots7 July 1, 2009 9:18 AM EDT
How have you failed when you Win ?? Is this another talking point you got from the Radio ?? Dumb Repugs!
by dahizzle July 1, 2009 7:23 AM EDT
Bush and Cheney killed the GOP. lol.......
Reply to this comment
by ronaldr5-2009 June 30, 2009 11:40 PM EDT
He will fit right in! AND he'll be the first U.S. Senator to take the oath of office wearing only a thong and a tin foil hat. After that, it will start to become amusing in the Senate. It's too bad Soupy Sales is long passed from our midst; HE would have given Al a run for his money! Anyway Al, weclome to 'Toon Town!!
Reply to this comment
by nanc12 July 1, 2009 10:25 AM EDT
Soupy is probably very surprised to find out he's long passed, since he's still very much alive. Are there episodes of his show on DVD? He was definitely the anti-Mr. Rogers, lol.
by indivthinker June 30, 2009 11:32 PM EDT
Yet another congressman who is not afraid to tax us to death just for turning on a light, screw our grandchildren by loading up 1+ trillion dollars a year on the deficit, and sell himself to the unions and the illegals.

Democrats... worse than the Republicans, but not by much.
Reply to this comment
by ReallyMeanIt June 30, 2009 11:02 PM EDT
Franken: "I Can't Wait To Get Started"
-----------------------------------------
So al, which part of America you would liked to destroy first?
Better get going, obama had a good head start......
Reply to this comment
by ReallyMeanIt July 1, 2009 12:11 PM EDT
skyk-2009, barrack is only in the office for a fews month and he significantly increased the national debt. Imagine if he have more time......
Wake up and smell the coffee, barrack campaign was mostly based on fear and lies.
Speaking of 6th grade, al franken fits right in.........he's capable of much worse, lets his moronic actions speak for itself.
by tautomer June 30, 2009 10:15 PM EDT
Obama will have no excuses anymore. That's a good thing. Now he can get about creating those 2.5 million jobs. Let's see, so far hes down by about 2million, so we're looking for 4.5 million NEW jobs in the next year. Franken the clown should help with that.
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