Comedian-turned-candidate Al Franken couldn’t get elected dogcatcher here in “Bush Country,” but he’s now Minnesota’s new senator.

It only took attorneys, party hacks, election officials and the courts a mere 238 days to decide the 2008 election’s outcome, one that will likely be debated almost as long as the 2000 presidential election.

Democrats should savor the victory. Now capable of scuttling threats of Senate filibusters, they must assume full responsibility for the running of the government and legislation passed and signed. Blaming Republicans for all that ails good government will ring increasingly hollow in our ears.

We wish Democrats the best. They’ll need it.