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Franken: I Can't Wait to Start Work

Senator-elect stresses loyalty to state, downplays Dem. supermajority

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 30, 2009 5:06 PM CDT

(Newser) – Al Franken said he was “thrilled and honored by the faith Minnesotans placed in me” after the state Supreme Court declared him the winner of the Senate recount, CNN reports. "I'm so excited to finally be able to get to work " said Franken, who added that he got a "very gracious" phone call from Norm Coleman. In his news conference, Franken struck a cordial tone, saying he would stand on principle when necessary but would be willing to "compromise" for the good of constituents.

Franken said he looked at his role in the Senate not as “the 60th Democratic senator, but the second senator from Minnesota.” He also noted that he’s “junior to 99 senators.” The former Saturday Night Live comedian said he had a staff mostly selected to “hit the ground if not running, trotting.”

Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken watches a changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, Wednesday, March 25, 2009,  at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.
Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken watches a changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken leaves Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 10, 2009, after attending the Democratic policy luncheon.
Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken leaves Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 10, 2009, after attending the Democratic policy luncheon.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
Al Franken, in a file photo from April.
Al Franken, in a file photo from April.   (AP Photo/Craig Lassig, FILE)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 18 comments
Snarfeh
Jul 1, 2009 12:46 PM CDT
@2-bits: ^5 on SU! I ADORE StumbleUpon...it's the best thing to happen to the, er, internets...except I do wish the SEO crowd would quit using it to market shit....
Snarfeh
Jul 1, 2009 12:44 PM CDT
I can't stand HuffPo, Infidel. The only time I read anything from there is when it is referenced by another site like Newser. In fact, I don't even come to Newser directly. I access it through a real honest, down-to-earth, sassy-ass liberal site known as the anti-drudge: www.hinessight.com.
ABO_2012
Jul 1, 2009 12:11 PM CDT
I can't wait to see him on the Senate floor with a satellite dish on his head.

More Newser Stories

Dêjá Vu! Minnesota Begins Recount

Norm Coleman to Joe Miller: Give Up Already

Both Parties Get Ready to Recount

Dodd Rips Newbies—Ahem, Franken—for Lacking 'Civility'

'Informed' Franken Wows Lawmakers


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