He's good enough, he's smart enough, and, dog gone it, he's officially a Senator for the state of Minnesota.
Republican Norm Coleman conceded to democrat Al Franken, bringing an end to an eighth month long period of court battles and vote recounts over the hotly contested senate race. Coleman announced his decision soon after Minnesota's supreme court made their decision that Franken should remain the winner. 
Franken's victory gives the democrats control of over 60 Senate seats, which gives them the ability to overcome any Republican filibuster on the progressive ambitions of the Obama administration. Yet democrats can't get too confident just yet, as two of their own are currently absent; the old Senator Robert Byrd (who underwent treatment for a staph infection) and Senator Edward M. Kennedy (who is battling brain cancer). Therefore, some degree of "working across the aisle" (as is the thing to say)with some Republicans may be still be necessary. The test may come next month when health care reform legislation is presented on the Senate floor. Though some collaboration with Republicans is being attempted, the democrats will likely have to rely more on their strength in numbers to succeed in passing the legislation.
