[Updated: see below]

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) claims to be a Senator who "brings people together to get things done." I discovered a perfect example of the kind of leader that Norm Coleman is, but it requires a bit of splainin' or back story so that you can understand the entire context in which Norm took this bold stand which I will eventually get to. I think after I am done explaining, you'll agree with me that Norm is a brave man who takes bold stands based on principles.

Not.

Norm uses this phrase "brings people together to get things done" to distract Minnesotans from his divisive partisanship and lack of leadership on any of the most important issues for Minnesotans. I call this Norm-speak^TM. He's blindly supported President Bush's Iraq War and economic policies (tax breaks for the richest Americans). He only started talking about healthcare reform in 2007 when polls showed it was a top three issue for Minnesotans.

When the Republicans controlled Congress, Norm state that he "philosophically opposed" the filibuster. At the time it was the Democrats only means to block knuckle-dragging, mouth-breathing, right-wing trolls from becoming Federal or Supreme Court judges.

"I came to the Senate to get things done. I have never supported a filibuster, no matter how controversial the issue."
(Norm Coleman's 12/21/2005 Press Release)

Once the adults got control over the Senate after the 2006 elections, the Republicans began filibustering everything. The pusillanimous Harry Reid (alleged Senate Majority Leader ... though calling him a leader is a bit of a stretch) allowed the mere threat of a filibuster to be enough to stall bills or amendments or anything the Republicans wanted to stop, actually. Norm flip-flopped on filibustering and voted along with his party well over 100 times to block almost everything the Democrats were trying to do. In the first 6 months they easily broke the record for the most filibusters in any 2 year congressional cycle.

Now don't forget, Norm is a leader. He's a leader who brings people together. He's a leader who gets things done. Here's his act of bravery (from the subscription only Roll Call):

Twice on Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) mentioned a mysterious Republican Senator who doesn't agree with his leadership's decision to try to block most bills from even coming to the chamber floor for debate.

"This morning, one of the Republican Senators, whose name I won't mention, said at a meeting with a number of people downtown ... 'There's a lot of frustration within the Republican Caucus about blocking motions to proceed'" to legislation, Reid said on the Senate floor.

Coleman acknowledged to Roll Call that he was that unnamed Senator but indicated that he did not intend to give Reid a talking point for why Republicans should end their record-breaking string of legislative filibusters.
(Roll Call)

Wow. Now that is bravery in the face of his party leadership. That is leading America and Minnesota to a better tomorrow. He stood up to his Party's leadership because he's philosophically opposed to what they are doing. Remember, he came to Washington "to get things done."

This is the sad reality that is Norm Coleman: The Senator you can count on when it doesn't matter.

Update: DFL Chair Melendez's statement

DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez responded to the news that Norm is suddenly now concerned about Republicans abusing the filibuster:

Just who is Senator Coleman kidding? A mere 72 hours ago, he voted to filibuster a bill that would have helped the renewable-energy industry create new jobs, not to mention boost teacher credits and student loans. And it wasn’t the first time that he’s filibustered alternative energy.

“Worse, Coleman has voted time and time again to filibuster middle-class tax relief, housing assistance, comprehensive immigration reform and ending the war in from Iraq — showing that when push comes to shove, he will always put George Bush’s wishes and the Republican Party line over Minnesota families.

“And Senator Coleman has been a cheerleader for the Senate Republican caucus, which in this Congress has broken the all-time record for filibusters. Just last year, Coleman wrote an entire op-ed piece praising the filibuster!

“It’s all too predictable that in an election year, when Minnesotans want solutions to the problems that they’re facing, Senator Coleman pretends that he’s in favor of actually getting things done. But Coleman’s sorry record tells a very different story: of consistently blocking progress for hardworking Minnesotans in order to protect corporate special interests and the well-connected lobbyists who fight for them.”