Ending the Game in Minnesota

In a game I was playing over Christmas, there was a rousing debate as to when the game would actually end. It was one of those point games where the first person to reach a predetermined score would win.

It was decided that 50 would be the magic number, this number chosen over an alternative scoring method I suggested that would end the game immediately after the turn where I first gained the lead. Let us just say that though I am not necessarily a gracious winner, I am reported to be a very bad loser.

Al Franken wouldn't have it any other way.

Scott Johnson at Power Line points out that Norm Coleman might still have a plan in place that could potentially derail this fiasco. I fear however, that Coleman has allowed the pendulum to swing too far to the other side.

When the closeness of the Minnesota senate election became apparent, there were a number of people that believed Coleman could not hang onto his seat through the recount process. He was simply too proper to fight a guerrilla fight. This appears to be the truth.

I lay most of this blame on the gentlemanly Norm Coleman and GOP leadership. He and his campaign, at every turn, chose to assume that his political opponents would also choose to travel on the high road. His arguments were reasonable and his tactics were commendable except, of course, that he will not remain in an office that he successfully campaigned for. He argued in good faith when his opponent had a lower calling where faith matters little.

Most people do not want to fight in the gutter against rabid partisan ideologues. That is why we vote for others to fight the battles that we, for whatever reason, choose not to fight on that stage. The GOP and Norm Coleman have, by fighting a less than energetic fight to hold onto his seat, failed Republicans and conservatives nationwide.

The Republican Party needs energetic leadership that is not afraid to go into the gutter if need be. A hodgepodge of milquetoasts does not a successful party make.