Al and his team are very savvy, IMO, in forcing the hand of Bush water-carrier, Norm Coleman. If Coleman was just about to make the leap (and try to save his neck in the 2008 election), Franken's letter makes that a little harder (and points out the obvious: the Dems in the Senate cannot do this alone).

I think challengers for all Republican Senate seats should similarly go on record asking their Rethug counterpart to do the right thing. This could lead to great, dramatic moments in future election debates.

Al writes (with my emphases where I think he really puts the knife in, Minnesota-nicely of course):

July 10, 2007

The Honorable Senator Norm Coleman
2550 University Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55114

Dear Senator,

It's time for you to join me and a broad majority of our fellow Minnesotans in insisting that President Bush change course on Iraq and start bringing the troops home.

Since this war began, you have voted to support the President's policy of endless war and demonized those who stood up in opposition. Meanwhile, 3,600 of our men and women have died in Iraq, including 54 from Minnesota. Tens of thousands more American troops have been wounded.

The Defense Department reports that since the "surge" of troops into Iraq began, the level of sectarian violence has remained steady. American fatalities have increased. And there has been no progress in meeting political benchmarks that the Maliki government had promised long ago. The Bush administration has run out of ideas, and the people of Minnesota have run out of patience.

Most Americans understand that the President pays attention neither to the facts on the ground in Iraq nor to the will of the people here in America. Congress has offered, and passed, legislation that would force the President to change course. But the President has vetoed that legislation, a veto you voted to sustain. There simply aren't enough Democratic Senators to do this alone. Republican Senators have to do the right thing and force the President to end this war.

This should not be a partisan issue. I've been to Iraq four times to visit our men and women in uniform, and you and I both know that they serve with tremendous courage and skill. Republicans and Democrats alike should honor the sacrifice of our troops by refusing to allow this President to keep them in Iraq in the service of a misguided policy.

Several of your Republican colleagues have, in recent days, admitted that the President's current strategy is not working and called for a change of course. Unfortunately, you have not taken this step.

It's time to do what's right for the country. We shouldn't wait another day. You should be leading other Republicans in this effort; instead, you have chosen to remain a steadfast supporter of the Bush administration.

The Senate will have one more opportunity in the coming days to end this war. I urge you to change your position and support our troops by voting to bring them home.

Sincerely,

Al Franken
Minneapolis, MN

Nicely done.