It's Official: Franken Wins Minnesota Senate Seat

[WhatsHisNuts]

Minn. court declares Franken leading vote-getter

<cite class="vcard"> By BRIAN BAKST, Associated Press Writer Brian Bakst, Associated Press Writer </cite><abbr class="recenttimedate" title="2009-04-13T17:35:55-0700">

</abbr>
ST. PAUL, Minn. ? A Minnesota court confirmed Monday that Democrat Al Franken won the most votes in his 2008 Senate race against Republican Norm Coleman, who had already announced plans to appeal the decision.
Coleman has 10 days to appeal to the state Supreme Court. Once the petition is filed, it could further delay the seating of Minnesota's second senator for weeks.
After a statewide recount and seven-week trial, Franken stands 312 votes ahead. He gained more votes from the election challenge than Coleman, the candidate who brought the legal action.
The state law under which Coleman sued required three judges to determine who got the most votes and is therefore entitled to an election certificate, which is now on hold pending an appeal.
"The overwhelming weight of the evidence indicates that the November 4, 2008, election was conducted fairly, impartially and accurately," the judges wrote. "There is no evidence of a systematic problem of disenfranchisement in the state's election system, including in its absentee-balloting procedures."
In its order, the judicial panel dismissed two attempts by Coleman to subtract votes from Franken over allegations of mishandled ballots in Minneapolis.
The judges also rejected Coleman's argument that a state board improperly made up for a packet of ballots lost between the election. His lawyers conceded that the ballots' disappearance rendered them invalid and that Coleman was entitled to review all ballots as part of the recount.
Coleman's lawyers claimed dozens of ballots were double-counted when their originals couldn't be fed into optical scanning machines on Election Day. They said it was possible that originals and duplicates were included in the recount.
The ruling diminishes Coleman's chances of retaining a seat that he won in dramatic fashion in 2002, when he narrowly defeated former Vice President Walter Mondale. Democratic incumbent Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash with two weeks to go in the campaign.
Franken, a former "Saturday Night Live" comic, entered the Senate race more than two years ago. A third-party candidate's strong showing left Coleman and Franken virtually deadlocked on Election Night, triggering an automatic recount of 2.9 million ballots. Coleman led by about 700 votes before routine double-checking of figures trimmed his edge to 215 votes heading into the hand recount. By the recount's end in January, Franken had pulled ahead by 225 votes.
Coleman's trial began in January and his appeal could push the race into May or beyond.
Coleman's lawyers have said their appeal will mostly center on violations of the constitutional guarantee of equal protection, arguing that counties had differing standards in treating absentee ballots.
Franken's attorneys argued that no election is absolutely precise and that all counties operated under the same standard.
In addition to the appeal, Coleman can also initiate a new action on a federal level. Either side can appeal an eventual state Supreme Court decision to the U.S. Supreme Court or throw the disputed election before the U.S. Senate, which can judge the qualifications of its members.

:mj06:

I really like Franken.

 

[kosar]

:mj06:

I really like Franken.

Why? He's an obnoxious non-funny comic who is no less annoying than Lush Rimbaugh. Now he might be a member of the senate?

Ahhhh, America.

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

Why? He's an obnoxious non-funny comic who is no less annoying than Lush Rimbaugh. Now he might be a member of the senate?

Ahhhh, America.

I've read his books and really like what he has to say.

 

[The Sponge]

He knocked out another despicable guy who rubber stamp all of Bush's policies and brings more brains to the senate. What's not to like.:shrug:

 

[Trench]

I've read his books and really like what he has to say.

Anyone with a book titled "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot" belongs in Congress!!! :00hour

 

[Trampled Underfoot]

Lets all be honest. Franken should not be a Senator.

Hey the GOP has Arnold so I guess we are even.

 

[THE KOD]

I like Franken

would have voted for him

 

[djv]

Colman wont stop. Even tho each recount he drops back votes. Last one cost him 12 more. It,s what you call a poor loser. Now he will ask Minn surpreme court to change it,s mind. It,s a play by Reb party trying to stall over all senate count for inportant votes coming up. The dem,s need just to Reb votes when Franklin joins them.

 

[gardenweasel]

I like Franken

would have voted for him

no shit....

 

[gardenweasel]

if the guy legitimately won,congrats....i just wish his influence were confined to the "wise" people of the "fine" state of minnesota...unfortunately,his election will have ramifications on the rest of us...

but,i guess he needs work since "air pravda" hit that rough patch and declared bankruptcy...

 

[StevieD]

if the guy legitimately won,congrats....i just wish his influence were confined to the "wise" people of the "fine" state of minnesota...unfortunately,his election will have ramifications on the rest of us...

but,i guess he needs work since "air pravda" hit that rough patch and declared bankruptcy...[/QUOTE]

Yes, all those Fox rating did you Republicans so well in the elections! :142smilie :142smilie

 

[marine]

Franken winning this seat corrupts the entire voting process. I hope the citizens of Minnesota riot in the streets after this one.

 

[gardenweasel]

don`t get me wrong...i`m happy for franken...

if he`d lost,theres an excellent chance that he`d have ended up on the surreal life along with other "stars" of his ilk like erkel, that "runaway bride" chick, and joey buttafucco.....

either that or he`d end up fighting tonya harding on pay-per-view just to stay in the spotlight(tonya 3-1 fave vs this metrosexual wussy)........:lol:

 

[gardenweasel]

Franken winning this seat corrupts the entire voting process. I hope the citizens of Minnesota riot in the streets after this one.

the fact that this was even close shows you the mentality of many minnesotans....this is the group that elected muslim idiot keith ellison and jesse "the body" ventura....

apparently a whole lotta chimeys are clogged up north...

 

[The Sponge]

Have to laugh here. This guy is a neo-cons worst nightmare. A guy with brains who calls out bullshit and as sorry is it is for the misinformed, the guy knows all the issues. There isn't a more qualified guy so for my friends (cough cough) on the right quit crying. That no good Coleman stood there time after time blocking measure after measure about war profiteering like a true pussy would. Rubber stamping everything Bush and Cheney wanted.
This creep Coleman was another conman that worked hand in hand with Cheney to pull a farse on the military so seeing Marine with a bad taste in his mouth about Franken basically sums up why it is a good thing for the country to get another senator in there that is for the working people and will look for the military.

 

[gardenweasel]

Have to laugh here. This guy is a neo-cons worst nightmare. A guy with brains who calls out bullshit and as sorry is it is for the misinformed, the guy knows all the issues. There isn't a more qualified guy so for my friends (cough cough) on the right quit crying. That no good Coleman stood there time after time blocking measure after measure about war profiteering like a true pussy would. Rubber stamping everything Bush and Cheney wanted.
This creep Coleman was another conman that worked hand in hand with Cheney to pull a farse on the military so seeing Marine with a bad taste in his mouth about Franken basically sums up why it is a good thing for the country to get another senator in there that is for the working people and will look for the military.

"it's not the people who vote who count.... it`s the people who count the votes who count."...

/al franken

 

[smurphy]

'Stuart Saves His Family' was a very good movie

 

[bleedingpurple]

Most of you know that I lean more towards the DEMS and Franken did win the vote.. I would of voted for Coleman.. He was great when he was mayor of St. Paul. Franken is an obnoxious ULTRA liberal. He won this vote because Coleman's campaign adds were missing the point. They were taking what Franken said as a comedian and making it sound like that was his agenda. People could see right through it. Too bad for Coleman. While Franken's adds linked him to Bush. Hard enough for a republican to win that state let alone being linked to Bush.

 

[Chadman]

Thanks for your bullshit "clogged chimneys" commentary from the "intelligent south", Wease. A couple questions and points here - first, I didn't vote for Franken nor Coleman - I voted for the independent. I don't like Franken much - and Coleman is as shady and right-wing connected as it gets from everything I've read and understand. His money support runs long and deep in some pretty unscrupulous areas, and he has always been a political chameleon and used everyone to make himself look good - which never happens. He simply switched parties from DFL to republican after losing his election, and stuck close to Bush - taking a few hits for him along the way - when Dubbya's times were good. I think he's a complete sellout and liar - and there's plenty of proof of both. Happy to see him go, and I hope he spends plenty of "his" own money to continue to lose the election.

Minnesotans have been tired of the status quo for a long time, and do have a sense of humor when it comes to the political process we have. I didn't vote for Ventura, nor would I, but he did as well as most from most reports - down the middle and no BS, pretty much. And again, I don't care for Franken, but glad Coleman was ousted - no matter what.

Marine - how did Franken's win "corrupt the whole system?" Interested to see your insights on this. No rioting yet - and won't be. More support for his side of looking at things than the other up here.

I think it's kind of refreshing that we see new people and new ideas here from time to time - compared to the same old multi-term dinosaurs that litter the legislation in other "more intelligent" states. Of course, it's easier to sit in those places and make fun of others who aren't afraid to look at things from another angle, or vote for someone different or unique. The old "stay out of my yard and state" mentality does work for many these days, tho...no doubt.

 

[marine]

I was not referring to Franken himself being voted in, I was referring to the way that boxes of votes kept magically appearing during the recount that were suprisingly all for Franken.