Cornyn: Coleman ‘owes it’ to Senate GOP to keep his old seat vacant

Here’s another open admission that the court challenge to the statewide recount that Al Franken won last month is as much about current political advantage for Senate Republicans as it is about any hope of Norm Coleman actually regaining his old seat. This is what Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who is also chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, says about Coleman:

He feels like he owes it to the voters of Minnesota and his colleagues here. He realizes how important retaining that seat is to us.

Democrats have taken up talking about the political effect of the vacancy, too — ruefully — but they are not talking about doing anything about it. An attempt to seat Franken ahead of the election contest trial’s end ain’t gonna happen until the courtroom drama is resolved, an occurrence Majority Leader Harry Reid somehow got the idea would happen by about a week from today.

Taking account of the Coleman campaign’s receipt of hefty donations-to-the-limit from a fistful of sitting GOP senators, The Nation puts Republican enthusiasm for Minnesota’s vacant senate seat in high relief:

In effect, key Republicans such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are paying $10,000 a piece to maintain their power to obstruct Congress.