I think that Franken should have taken his cue from Obama

[question everything]

who has been saying, repeatedly, that we have only one government and one President at a time.

I think that Franken's trip to Washington is really presumptuous. Coleman is still the MN Senator of this, 110 Congress.

[kickysnana]

1. Franken NEEDS to do Senator 001, he has no experience. n/t

[Bjorn Against]

2. If he does get elected he needs to be ready to serve.

There are all kinds of freshman senator orientations going on, and it is important that if Franken is elected he is ready on day one.

[Eric J in MN]

3. The reason Al Franken has to build ties with US Senators now...

...is that he may have to sue to get rejected absentee ballots counted, and that lawsuit may last for several months.

Franken doesn't want the US Senate to seat Norm Coleman while such a (potential) lawsuit is in progress.

[Eric J in MN]

4. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) voted on the Lieberman issue even though...

...he's not a US Senator yet. So did other Democratic Senator-elects.

Merkley refuses to say how he voted, but he spoke against Lieberman, and so he probably voted to remove Lieberman from his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee.

Also, Obama visited the White House even though we only have one president at a time.

[question everything]

8. Merkley and Obama won their races

And whoever was running the show should have barred Merkley from voting. Had the situation were reversed, and a Republican winner behaved as if s/he was already a Senator, our side would have been screaming bloody murder.

[kikiek]

5. I'm in the camp of he needed to do it. Norm is still campaigning so he used it. The voting

is over Normie. Unfortunately because I'd love to vote against you again. Can't stand the slimy weasel.

[lavndrblue]

6. I agree

That looked really bad. If he did go to fundraise then he should have kept it quiet, or let the fundraiser happen without him present.

[kikiek]

10. Looked really bad? Compared to Coleman's support from his sugar daddy? Hahaha.

Not even close.

[Dinger]

11. I Agree nt

[mnSky]

7. Get Real

Franken was there for fundraising. He even said while there in interviews that it 'presumptuous' to attend any of the newbie training at this point as a winner has not been established in the race. Franken continues to hold himself to a higher standard...rather like Obama.

Franken told WCCO-TV on Sunday that <b>it would be presumptuous to attend the orientation with the race between him and Republican Sen. Norm Coleman still unsettled</b>. http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=16&a=371248

Funny how the word persumptuous is used against Franken when he initially brought it up....

[Mnpaul]

9. I have no problem with Franken being there

Maybe something will rub off on them.

[LittleWoman]

12. It is not unusual or presumptuous

for both candidates in a close election which is being recounted to go to Washington for orientation. I live in the 15th district in Ohio which is currently being recounted and both candidates went to the orientation for new Congressmen and both agreed that it was appropriate. Norm just needs to get the knots out of his knickers!