The United States legislative branch operates with 435 representatives, with numbers divvied up based on state size and with 100 senators, 2 for every state. But not this year. In 2009, we are operating with 99 senators. The unlucky state to not have a full complement? Minnesota. A state known for making headlines in politics:

Minnesota, remember your governor from 1999-2003, Mr. Ventura??

(cont.)

The November ’08 election ended with the incumbent, Norm Coleman (Rep) beating the former comedian/SNL writer-turned-liberal activist Al Franken (Dem) by a slim enough margin that an automatic recount was triggered by state law. How slim??? Try 215 votes out of more than 2.8 million cast (or, less than 0.0075%). During the recount, ballots were ruled illegal, then legal, then illegal again. Others were ultimately found after initially being lost. These were only a few of the many bizarre shenanigans reported on by the media (with most being not nearly as bizarre as what went on in FL…). Lawsuits to rule out and to rule in handfuls of ballots were inevitably filed by both sides. However, when the recount was completed (Jan. 5, 2009), the State Canvassing board had actually flipped the result and suggested Mr. Franken had won by 225 votes, much to his delight:

Al Franken, after learning he had snapped victory from the jaws of defeat.

However, the election certificate cannot be granted until all lawsuits are settled and you didn’t think ole’ Norm was going down without more of a fight, did ya’??

“Let’s see, now which one of them here laws can I use to keep filing suit to just put this whole thing on ice until ’10??”

Well, a Slate article gives the low-down on where this whole mess currently stands from a legal standpoint. Although it looks quite convoluted for Mr. Coleman, it seems the infamous Bush v Gore decision of 2000 is going to play a significant role in the ultimate outcome. Get comfortable kids, we’re going to be here for a while…