Comments on: Franken attorney: ‘I think we are done’

By: Paul Demko

Paul Demko — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:56:57 +0000

The Pi Press reports that Ginsberg’s contention that the ballots examined were disproportionately from Franken-friendly precincts is a myth. According to the paper’s analysis, 215 of the 351 ballots counted on Tuesday — or roughly 60 percent — were from cities or counties that Coleman won:

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_12094019?nclick_check=1

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:01:48 +0000

The Strib reports that no election certificate can be issued until the legal case is resolved. The paper implies that this means that the MN supreme court must rule. But, the case is resolved–it is (perhaps) being appealed.

One wonders why candidates haven’t tied up MN elected offices in this manner previously. There has got to be a better way. In my opinion, the court should have limited themselves to deciding whether the election board’s actions were legal. Period. The court should not concern itself with individual ballots. Basically, we are finding that courts get to decide who gets to vote and who wins elections. I am not sure that is what writers of the constitution had in mind.

Right now, the courts seem in no hurry to provide MN with a senator. What is more important on their docket?

By: AB

AB — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:59:53 +0000

“(…) There are a number of Democrats who are privately very concerned that this is continuing now well into a month. Al Gore, at this rate, is going to become — will be remembered as the Tonya Harding of American presidential history, unwilling to accept the results after we’ve had a count, a recount, and a selected hand recount in overwhelmingly Democratic areas.
The American people are saying through the surveys: It’s time to bring it to a conclusion.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), KENTUCKY
December 4, 2000″

I guess that Coleman is the Tonya Harding of the US Senate history …

By: bill

bill — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:07:44 +0000

Norm Coleman will really need to give up on a political future if he wants to keep pursuing this. He may already figure he is done in politics anyway and that it just does not matter, his future lays in the hands of the GOP money masters.

Franken won the election and the rules have been pretty clear and above board. Coleman’s claims have never resonated with anyone other than people in the base of the Republican party. It was just a damn close election and Franken won. Coleman needs to accept that and move on.

By: obvious

obvious — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:47:36 +0000

All the absentee votes counted so far are heavily Franken.
The Obama voters were specifically instructed to vote early, this is no surprise.
Another 10,000 absentee votes and Franken will lead even more.

Norm has never been about winning but obstructing MN from getting a Senator seated.
So far he is doing a great job. When are we going to get the pitchforks and torches and
stop this farce.

By: Raul

Raul — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:41:30 +0000

It is a sad say when a hack like Franken is elected. Goodnight to our sweet Republic. Shame on you American “citizens”…. we had a great thing going.

By: Keith Kuckler

Keith Kuckler — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:19:15 +0000

As I have said before, if the Minnesota Supreme Court, rules in Franken’s favor, Ritchie should go ahead and issue a certificate of election, send it to Pawlenty’s desk, and, put the burden on him, if he wants to go to the mat with Coleman. That way, the public will forever associate Pawlenty’s name with the loser Coleman. That may give Pawlenty to think about.

By: Chris Steller

Chris Steller — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:23:02 +0000

MN Central, not sure I get your question, but there was a third pile where Gary Poser put the ballots that were not for Franken or Coleman. Those ballots tended to attract more smiles and sometimes serious interest from Elias, Coleman attorney Tony Trimble and Poser himself. But beyond that I don’t know what the ballots looked like. One was a primary ballot.

Poser said he was first looking for any disqualifying identifying marks on both sides of the ballot. He didn’t disqualify any that I saw, and none were challenged by either attorney.

By: Minnesota Central

Minnesota Central — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:10:33 +0000

QUESTION : Ritchie was on WCCO radio and described the process including the 42 that did not belong to either Coleman nor Franken. His comment implied that the group included not only votes for Barkley but also ballots that did not include any selection for the Senate race. Did anyone notice if there were any ballots that did indicate a preference ? If so, that would indicate that the process was not biased.

COMMENT : Since Franken closing argument specified 252 ballots that should be counted (and finalized at 430), he really did not get any preferential treatment. In fact, it appears that Coleman got a significant number of ballots considered when his data appeared to be weak. Although, the case may be over, Franken’s attornies should be upset.

By: Eric Ferguson

Eric Ferguson — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:58:43 +0000

I have trouble believing Coleman had evidence his lawyers didn’t present. Maybe they didn’t have it. I’m really starting to think it wasn’t incompetent lawyers or bad PR that did in Coleman, but the votes just weren’t there. His lawyers and PR could have been great, but it wouldn’t have mattered.