The Minnesota Senate Recount

[Jake]

Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything. - Joseph Stalin

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by Jake

Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything. - Joseph Stalin

There isn't any finer folks living than a Republican that votes the Democratic ticket. - Will Rodgers

[generaladm]

TPMDC | Talking Points Memo | Minnesota Election Judges Toss Coleman's Faulty Evidence, Tell Him To Try Again

The first day of the Minnesota election trial has come to a close, and it couldn't have been a fun day for Norm Coleman, who was present in the courtroom to watch everything that happened. It's not a good day when the court throws out your evidence and tells your legal team to submit it all over again.
Earlier today, Franken attorney Marc Elias raised serious questions about the Coleman campaign erasing sections from photocopies of rejected absentee-ballot envelopes that they're attempting to get put into the count. Later questioning by Elias of Coleman legal staffer Gloria Sonnen revealed that the submitted copies also include written notes added on to the envelopes by the Coleman team, and it's impossible to tell what writing was there originally and what was added by the Coleman camp.
The judges have now ordered Coleman's legal team to subpoena and submit the original ballot envelopes themselves, if they want them to be reviewed and potentially counted.


cont...

TPMDC | Talking Points Memo | Coleman's Supposedly Friendly Witnesses Backfire

We have seen the best thing that Norm Coleman's legal team has done so far in this election trial -- and it ain't pretty.
This afternoon the Coleman team was bringing in rejected absentee voters to show that their ballots were improperly tossed. So far the court has heard from six people, most of of whom said they were contacted by the Republican Party in the last few weeks. They mostly seemed sympathetic enough, putting a human face on the disenfranchised Coleman voter -- but at least two of them appeared to have been rejected properly under the conditions of Minnesota law.
One of the voters was Douglas Thompson, who admitted under oath that his girlfriend filled out his absentee ballot application for him, signing his name with her own hand and purporting to be himself. His ballot was rejected because the signature on his ballot envelope (his own) did not match the signature on the application (his girlfriend's). The Coleman team's argument appears to be that he is still a legal voter in Minnesota, as the signature on the ballot was his own, even if admitted dishonesty was involved in getting the ballot.
Keep in mind: Thompson's story came up during the direct examination by Coleman lawyer James Langdon. So the Coleman camp fully knew this information and decided to make him into a witness.
Another one of the voters, an older man named Wesley Briest, initially responded that he voted at the polls -- not by absentee. Then Coleman attorney James Langdon showed him his absentee ballot envelope, reminding him that he did not go to the polls, too. Upon cross-examination by Franken lawyer Kevin Hamilton, Briest admitted that his wife, who served as the witness on his ballot, did not fully complete the witness section of the absentee ballot.

[stxbuck]

Originally Posted by generaladm

TPMDC | Talking Points Memo | Minnesota Election Judges Toss Coleman's Faulty Evidence, Tell Him To Try Again



TPMDC | Talking Points Memo | Coleman's Supposedly Friendly Witnesses Backfire

Uh, that isn't good-for Coleman's chances personally, and for whatever BS his attorneys are trying to pull. Personally, I would feel like moving to Wisconsin if it looked like Al Franken was going to be my senator, but the integrity of the ballots is paramount, and if someone is too stupid to follow the directions-tough luck-your "intent" doesn't mean a darn thing-ask all the Jewish Buchannan voters in Broward county in 2000.

[Bucklion]

Apparently it ain't over yet...

Senate recount trial judges put 4,800 more ballots in play

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by Bucklion

Apparently it ain't over yet...

Senate recount trial judges put 4,800 more ballots in play

There is most definitely light at the end of the tunnel.
That ruling was one of two made yesterday of significant importance to the election contest.

The other ruling left untouched all the ballots which were opened and counted during the recount - Coleman now accepts they were legit. That ruling was made with prejudice.

The ruling central to the linked headline is actualy a half-a-baby ruling.

Coleman wanted 11,000, Franken far fewer.
Judges went just under half-way.

Moreover, there are no more rulings to be considered that would explicitly favor Coleman. Plus, a reasonable assessment (538.com) of the merits of the ballots left following that ruling suggests that Coleman might expect to see a net of fewer than 32 ballots that merit reconsideration - and that also fall into his column.

There is apparently one more ruling to be made, based on a request from Franken to look at 771 other ballots, thought very likely to favor Franken.

This is most likely over with Franken the winner.

[BuckeyeMike80]

what the hell is it with these people?

Franken corporation owes California $5,800

MPR: Polinaut: Franken owes $70k in back taxes

Do as I say, not as I do......

[MaxBuck]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMike80

what the hell is it with these people?

Franken corporation owes California $5,800

MPR: Polinaut: Franken owes $70k in back taxes

Do as I say, not as I do......

A bit misleading, as it appears Franken's problem was paying tax to the wrong entities as opposed to not paying taxes at all.

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by MaxBuck

A bit misleading, as it appears Franken's problem was paying tax to the wrong entities as opposed to not paying taxes at all.

Besides which Coleman would a total [censored]ing idiot to raise a ruckus over Franken's taxes when he is under investigation for much larger issues of graft and corruption.

[BuckeyeMike80]

Originally Posted by MaxBuck

A bit misleading, as it appears Franken's problem was paying tax to the wrong entities as opposed to not paying taxes at all.

Yeah I just like it that a mistake that has been happening since 2003 didn't get fixed until he was running for Senate.

REAL coincidental eh?

[sandgk]

Imporant step forward to resolving the result of this Senate seat election.

Franken officially declared winner of the election contest by the panel of 3 judges comprising the Election Contest Court.

Over five months after the election, a three-judge panel has declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of the Minnesota U.S. Senate race.
The judges issued their final ruling late Monday, stating "Franken received the highest number of lawfully cast ballots in the Nov. 4, 2008 general election."
They also have determined that Franken is entitled to receive the certificate of election.

Next Step - 10-days for possible appeal by Coleman.

The appeal must come within 10 days after the final order from the three-judge panel that presided over the seven-week trial.

If he appeals it likely goes right to MN-Supreme Court for rapid resolution.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, a Democrat, said he would welcome an appeal, saying he thinks the state's highest court could provide closure.

(Insiders claim Coleman is the proverbial one-legged man).

Following which over to Pawlenty issue certificate and Franken gets sworn in - likely early May.

[DaytonBuck]

National Review says Coleman should call it quits

/liberal narrative destroyed

['BusNative]

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - BREAKING: Minnesota’s highest court rules for Al Franken ? - Blogs from CNN.com

(CNN) - Minnesota's Supreme Court has dismissed former Sen. Norm Coleman's challenge to the state's November election results and declared Democratic challenger Al Franken the winner.

The unanimous opinion ruled that Franken "received the highest number of votes legally cast" and is entitled "to receive the certificate of election as United States senator from the state of Minnesota."

The former "Saturday Night Live" writer and performer had declared victory in the disputed race after a recount ended in January, but Coleman ? a Republican who had been seeking a second six-year term - went to court to challenge those results.

Coleman still could attempt to take the challenge to federal courts, but Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, told CNN on Sunday that he would sign Franken's election certificate if the Supreme Court ordered it.

finalmente.

[AKAKBUCK]

Originally Posted by 'BusNative

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - BREAKING: Minnesota?s highest court rules for Al Franken ? - Blogs from CNN.com



finalmente.

This was still going on?

Jeebus.

[Steve19]

If you had told me that Al Franken would be elected to the Senate and Arnold would be elected Governor of California, I think I would have bet everything I had against that.