Al Franken Press Conference

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Minnesota's nightmare is over.

I don't have a problem with the length of the recount process. I didn't support Norm Coleman candidacy but I support his right to contest the vote. It is time for Republicans to back election reform.

Franken tells the crowd he doesn't see himself as the 60th Democatic caucus member. Franken say he is the "second Minnesota Senator." Smart sound bite answer.

A 60 Democratic caucus translates into Democrats are still going to cave in.

"It's true," said Manley when reached by phone. "It is obviously sometimes difficult to say this to your audience [Huffington Post readers]. While this is, of course, good news to the people of Minnesota, President Obama, and the Senate Democratic, Franken's mere presence alone will not mean that the Democrats will be able to jam through our agenda, or make it any less critical for Democrats and Republicans to work together. We have a diverse caucus who represent diverse constituencies. No one's vote is ever automatic. Also... we have two senators that currently aren't voting right now. But then I would go back and say that up until now we have gotten very little to no help from Republicans who say no against everything and are prepared to bet on this president to fail."

On the Ed Show, Markos Moulitsas Zúniga said Democrats will have a hard time in 2010 if they can't anything done with a super majority. Bush passed tax cuts, the Iraq war and the Patriot Act with less Republicans. Senate Democrats have no excuse not to pass their agenda.