Ballot counting under way in Coleman-Franken Senate race

the courts have ruled in Franken's favor.....Norman has already appealed....cost Minnesota taxpayers even more........he will never win abother election in Minnesota, unless we have an office of sleeze.................

Flatblade wrote:

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This has been mentioned before, but from a practical standpoint, if an election is headed to a recount and "missing" ballots aren't counted, doesn't this invite theft of ballots?

I agree, which is why there are very specific laws/procedures laid out in the rules govening the election and the precaution and security that is supposed to be taken at the end of the election day. Are the steps, as outlined, always followed? Humans are human, they make mistakes, misplace things, etc.

boatdude wrote:

the courts have ruled in Franken's favor.....Norman has already appealed....cost Minnesota taxpayers even more........he will never win abother election in Minnesota, unless we have an office of sleeze..........

Sorry, Pawlenty already occupies that office.

Richard S wrote:

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Sorry, Pawlenty already occupies that office.

You misspelled Pogemiller!!

How about doing some journalism? From what geographic area are were these ballots? Why did the judges allow them and not others? What are the political backgrounds of these judges? These basic questions need to be answered and I am pretty sure they would be asked and answered if Franken were currently behind.

It either case it doesn't matter who is ahead. This situation is very disturbing and the fact that our journalists would allow these types of investigations to go unexplored for WHATEVER reason further damages a citizen's faith in the electoral process.

What's more, it's disturbing what average people are willing to allow simply because they want their guy to win. Doesn't anyone see the damage this causes?

Nowhere wrote:

How about doing some journalism? From what geographic area are were these ballots? Why did the judges allow them and not others? What are the political backgrounds of these judges? These basic questions need to be answered and I am pretty sure they would be asked and answered if Franken were currently behind.
It either case it doesn't matter who is ahead. This situation is very disturbing and the fact that our journalists would allow these types of investigations to go unexplored for WHATEVER reason further damages a citizen's faith in the electoral process.

We were basically saying the same thing in 2000, when the Supreme Court Justices, appointed by his daddy, selected W as POTUS.

Was your faith damaged then?

Nowhere wrote:

How about doing some journalism? From what geographic area are were these ballots? Why did the judges allow them and not others? What are the political backgrounds of these judges? These basic questions need to be answered and I am pretty sure they would be asked and answered if Franken were currently behind.
It either case it doesn't matter who is ahead. This situation is very disturbing and the fact that our journalists would allow these types of investigations to go unexplored for WHATEVER reason further damages a citizen's faith in the electoral process.

The press and journalists have already answered these questions. Since it is obvious that you have access to a computer, why don't you go find the answers. To show up and not have done your homework damages our faith in your cognitive process.

This farce that Coleman keeps perpetuating stopped being about a man wanting to serve his country a long, long time ago (assuming it ever actually *WAS* about that and not just another political scumbag looking to get rich).

Coleman's continued refusal to accept the facts, recount after recount, and his childish, petulant temper-tantrum appeals just go to prove without any question that this is about Coleman's ego, and his partisan refusal to put his state and his country before his political party.

Coleman, and anyone who continues to support him, should be ashamed.

GunnySteve wrote:

This farce that Coleman keeps perpetuating stopped being about a man wanting to serve his country a long, long time ago (assuming it ever actually *WAS* about that and not just another political **** looking to get rich).
Coleman's continued refusal to accept the facts, recount after recount, and his childish, petulant temper-tantrum appeals just go to prove without any question that this is about Coleman's ego, and his partisan refusal to put his state and his country before his political party.
Coleman, and anyone who continues to support him, should be ashamed.

Wrong!, The man has a right to due process, regardless. Until he has exhausted those avenues given to him by statue and law, he has the right to continue his struggle. And those who support him have no need to be ashamed, anymore than if Franken was in this position.
The shame is, Barkley didn't pull in more than 10% of the vote, that is the shame

Niether of the Above wrote:

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Wrong!, The man has a right to due process, regardless. Until he has exhausted those avenues given to him by statue and law, he has the right to continue his struggle. And those who support him have no need to be ashamed, anymore than if Franken was in this position.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/...

The day after the election:

Coleman urged Franken to waive his right to a recount, saying that the prospect of changing the result was remote and that a recount would be costly to taxpayers (about $86,000).

"I just think the need for the healing process is so important." Coleman said.

I'm not saying Coleman has no right to exhaust all of his possibilities before giving up, I just wonder how much thought the shameless hypocrite is giving now to the cost of his struggle to taxpayers, knowing that the "prospect of changing the result is remote", or how just important he considers the "healing process" that was oh so important to him the day after the election.

Niether of the Above wrote:

The shame is, Barkley didn't pull in more than 10% of the vote, that is the shame

Barkley got 15% of the vote.

http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/sta...

GunnySteve wrote:

This farce that Coleman keeps perpetuating stopped being about a man wanting to serve his country a long, long time ago (assuming it ever actually *WAS* about that and not just another political **** looking to get rich).
Coleman's continued refusal to accept the facts, recount after recount, and his childish, petulant temper-tantrum appeals just go to prove without any question that this is about Coleman's ego, and his partisan refusal to put his state and his country before his political party.
Coleman, and anyone who continues to support him, should be ashamed.

GunnySteve, I support Coleman and his continued efforts to win this election. First, If he were to give up at this point, he doesn't deserve to win. He owes this appeal to everyone that voted for him. Second, If this were about him getting rich, public service as a Senatoris a well paying job but, as former Senator Daschle has proven, it is much more lucritive as a lobbyist.

Lastly and most important, thank you for the service to our country.

Niether of the Above wrote:

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Wrong!, The man has a right to due process, regardless. Until he has exhausted those avenues given to him by statue and law, he has the right to continue his struggle. And those who support him have no need to be ashamed, anymore than if Franken was in this position.
The shame is, Barkley didn't pull in more than 10% of the vote, that is the shame

Bravo, Neither of the Above, to your first point.

However, Barkley did recieve more than 10%.

GB Fan wrote:

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Bravo, Neither of the Above, to your first point.
However, Barkley did recieve more than 10%.

I stand Corrected!

Isn't one of the basic Republican fundamentals based on the States having the right to govern themselves with very limited federal guidance. Therefore, wouldn't a U.S. Supreme Court appeal be a slap in the face to the State Supreme Court by a party that supposedly supports state's rights? Shouldn't the counties be allowed the same defferance when tallying their individual votes?
I am not trying to be confrontational about this, just trying to understand how this is all supposed to work. There just seems to be alot of hypocracy involved in these court cases by a man who tried to shame his opponent into conceding the race on election night to save the state some money.
Let's move on now. Again, I am sure the people of Minnesota will find a place for Mr. Coleman to continue his service to our state with the honor he deserved as our Senator.(Governor?)
Even as a Minnesota democrat, I have always had respect for Norm but that respect seems to be waning.
Let's earn it back again and concede this race. Let's get our state fully represented again.

It's time.

I don't like it, but if I were Norm and had gone this far down the path, I'd certainly take the appeal to the MN Supreme Court.
I hope for the sake of the politicians, and for their constituents that the decision of the MN Supreme Court is the FINAL say on this senatorial election contest.
My 2 cents of advice to Norm: I recommend that you find a legal team that presents facts and evidence instead of throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks. If your appeal to the MN Supreme Court is 'more of the same' then I recommend you throw in the towel.

Coleman ....heading to court to appeal a decision and ask that more legally rejected votes are counted, originally asked the court to not to count those votes.....
He was against it before he was for it
quite the flip flopper.