Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty made his first stab at a 2012 Presidential run this past Thursday. Giving a speech at the Republican National Committee's summer meeting (YouTube), he set to introduce himself to a national stage. First thoughts? Meh.    Continues...

The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that attorneys for former Senator Norm Coleman have failed to prove that a lower court or elected officials violated the constitutional guarantee of equal protection.

In short, Democrat Al Franken beat Norm Coleman in the 2008 election by 312 votes, becoming the 60th Democrat in the Senate.

What's the price tags on the contested Minnesota Senatorial race? The GOP spent almost $1 million last month, the Democrats just at little over $250,000. Overall expenses are reported to be over $12 million and there's still no final decision.

As the Minnesota Supreme Court listens to the latest arguments in the Norm Coleman/ Al Franken fight over the junior Senate seat, the Republican Governor, Tom Palwenty has announced he will not run for a third term. Coleman, with the help of the Republican party, has been fighting tooth and nail to deny the Democrats another seat in the Senate, especially since Franken would be the 60th Democrat, theoretically giving the Democrats the power to pass legislation without a single Republican vote. Talking Points Memo says this announcement is bad news for Franken.    Continues...

The G20 officially starts today.

Israel's new foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, says "those who wish for peace should prepare for war".

Kathryn Sibelious, the all but certain Health and Human Secretary, pays up on back taxes and heads before the Senate Finance Committee today.

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor conveniently gets principled on the Democrat's Bonus Bill by voting "present"

Dicey situation for Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is coming up. He can either sign the election certificate for Democrat Al Franken or hold off for Republican Norm Coleman's continued legal challenges. Either way, somebody or party is going to be pissed.

The House votes today on legislation to regulate, but not ban, tobacco.

Minnesota Senator citizen Norm Coleman has an idea on how to solve the state's troubled Senatorial race:

Republican Norm Coleman and his attorneys have suggested the state consider re-doing the Nov. 4 election because of fundamental flaws in the way the ballots have been counted.

Coleman challenged the Jan. 5 recount results, which gave Democrat Al Franken a 225-vote lead out of 2.9 million cast. The ensuing trial, called an “election contest,” is now in its sixth week.

Other Minnesotans remained divided on the issue.

Glad the elections are over? Six places in America don't know how that feels.