Why Isn't Mark Kirk Being Sworn In Now?

You know why:

Illinois Republican Mark Kirk won’t be seated in the U.S. Senate in time for the start of the lame duck session of Congress this month – unlike two other newly elected senators.

The session begins November 15. But state officials say the paperwork officially declaring Kirk the winner of the Senate race won’t be delivered until November 29.

That should still allow Kirk to participate in two weeks of the session in December. He argued strongly during the campaign that voters needed to send him to the Senate quickly so he could help block spending and tax increases.

Two Democrats are expected to be sworn in at the start of the lame duck session. Chris Coons of Delaware will fill the remainder of Vice President Joe Biden’s term, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia replaces the late Robert Byrd.

Hmmm; Joe Manchin (Democrat) from a Democrat state; Chris Coons (Democrat) from a Democrat state; Mark Kirk (Republican) from a Democrat state.

Hmmm.

Well, you know the Illinois state motto: "Just because a Republican wins by an unstealable margin, and the Democrat concedes the race, doesn't mean the election is over."

Whatever ambush is coming - cap & tax ramdown, card check ramdown, a VAT ramdown - the next two and a half weeks will be the window of maximum vulnerability.

Exit question: Perhaps this explains the GOP's suddenly avid interest in a flipfest?