Coleman should move on

Minnesota Republican Norm Coleman needs to give up his legal battles to keep Democratic challenger Al Franken from taking a seat in the U.S. Senate. The reason: This is still a democracy, and Coleman clearly has lost the election.

At a three-judge panel’s direction, prompted by a Coleman lawsuit, another batch of ballots was opened this week, and Franken gained another 87 votes. He is now 312 votes ahead of Coleman.

It’s over. Even a growing number of conservatives wants Coleman to end his tortured fight. Among other things, Minnesotans on both sides of the aisle are frustrated by not being represented by two senators in Washington.

If Coleman wants to show that he’s a grown-up and worthy, perhaps, of being elected to a public office in the future, he should end this mess now and move on.

Besides, with Nevada's dry, reserved Harry Reid running the Senate these days, a funny man like Franken could really liven things up in the Capitol.