SATURDAY ROUNDUP

Democrat Al Franken’s projection that he’ll defeat Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) is doubted by conservatives, while liberals praise President-elect Barack Obama for pledging a robust role of science in his new administration.

Despite Franken’s projection that he will win Minnesota’ Senate race by 35 to 50 votes, the outcome is still a coin toss according to Jennifer Rubin of contentions. Things aren’t over yet in Minnesota, Patrick Ruffini opines at The Next Right, though the blogger says a Franken victory would be devastating to the GOP.

A focus on science will be a welcome change from the last administration, Christy Hardin Smith asserts at Firedoglake after Obama laid out a vision for the role of science in his administration today in his weekly radio address. Obama took a swipe at President Bush by pledging to protect science from ideology, Eric Kleefeld writes at TPM Election Central, while Daily Kos’s Susan G lauds Obama’s pledge that the U.S. will be a world leader in science and technology over the next four years.

And a list of Caroline Kennedy’s policy stances, as provided to The New York Times by a spokesman, earns the Senate hopeful criticism from one conservative blogger. Kennedy is no more than a traditional “New York liberal,” Townhall.com’s Amanda Carpenter writes after learning that Kennedy supports gay marriage, abortion rights, and other policies forwarded largely by liberals.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Hickenlooper, John Salazar Strong in Colo. – brownsox, Daily Kos
Caroline Has Policy Positions – Amanda Carpenter, Townhall.com
The Warren Invocation Controversy – P. Yousefzadeh, RedState
Hedge Fund Bailout – Josh Marshall, TalkingPointsMemo
Obama’s New Pastor Problem – Max Fisher, The Plank
Obama Weekly Address: Science Nominees – C.H. Smith, Firedoglake
The Dynastic Struggle – Ann Althouse
Angling for Cheney – Scott Johnson, Power Line
The Party of Ideas as Weapons – Paul Rosenberg, Open Left
No More Minnesotas – Patrick Ruffini, The Next Right

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
For Obama Cabinet, a Team of Moderates – Washington Post
Franken Projects Win by 35 to 50 Votes – The Hill
After Lifeline, Big Three Are Still In Deep – NY Times