(Senator) Al Franken Asks Minnesota Supremes to Certify His Win
By Susie Madrak Tuesday May 12, 2009 10:01amWould it be great if this was finally over? But no, Norm "Sore Loser" Coleman continues to do the dirty work for the national Republican party. See, when Republicans steal an election and Democrats protest it, we're cry babies. And when Democrats win an election, Republicans insist it's illegitimate. Do you ever get the feeling that Republicans just don't like democracy?
Al Franken asked the Minnesota Supreme Court on Monday to affirm his victory in the 2008 Senate race and hand down a ruling that would direct Gov. Tim Pawlenty to certify him the winner.
“We think the law is clear,” said Franken's lead attorney, Marc Elias, pointing to a state Supreme Court ruling on the matter in February that he said indicated “that the certification would issue after the state court process ended.”
The Minnesota “Supreme Court is the end of the state court process,” Elias noted.
The request came as part of Franken’s reply brief to Republican Norm Coleman’s appeal of a trial court decision that declared Franken the Senate winner by 312 votes out of 2.9 million cast on Nov. 4.
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Whats it going to be 2012 before someone finally makes a decision who won?
Yes. That's the GOP plan.
symbol should be changed to a slug.
in a Banana Republic.
..;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_slug
.............like Haiti, where the rich, ex-pats called up the WH which then sent men dressed in UN uniforms to kidnap a legally elected president Aristede and dump him in Africa where he came from, in the priviledged mind, that is.
I think the Minn. Supreme Court isn't set to hear this until June 1, at which point, they won't direct Pawlenty to do anything for fear of being called activist judges. Pawlenty will do nothing for a while until Franken sues again. In the unlikely event that Pawlenty or the Sec. of State actually does his/her job, Coleman will get an emergency stay from Scalia (Bush v. Gore redux) and we'll wait for the SCOTUS.
Come on, Timmeh, prove me wrong and demonstrate a faint glimmer of humanity in a Republican.
..maybe I'm wrong, its been awhile, but wasn't there a provision in Gore v. Bush that that decision was a One-time only ruling? I know that doesn't sound right but at the time it was necessary to get W into the White House so he could continue the process of f*&^-ing up America.
You remember correctly.
The SC declared the decision was not to be taken as "precedent" in any future cases... although, despite that ruling, it has (sorry, can't find the link).
. . . "one-time" as they may be, set precedents anyway.
unless another Republicant needs it.
I don't know who is paying for all the lawyers involved in this but if the deal was that the loser would have to pay for the winner's lawyer, I'm betting Coleman would have tossed in the towel a long time ago.
...with that idea (I once supported it too) is that millions of people (and the Wal*Mart's) with loser-cases will simply hire big-name celebrity lawyers to win cases that shouldn't win, and the loser (usually the little guy) will have to pay for the million dollar fat-cat lawyer that twisted the system.
My fondest wish to come out of this mess is for Al to become outspoken on the need for election "paper-trails" and Instant Runoff Voting.
If anyone knows the need for it after all this, it's Al.
IRV would solve all sorts of problems. It's a hard sell though. Paper trails is another matter. Anyone who opposes that must have something to hide. (I'm looking at you Ohio.)
IRV is only applicable when it is required to get a majority to win an election. In this case, only a plurality is required and Senator Franken is winning this election fair and square, IRV would not be an option here. The election is following the laws of the state, albeit slowly.
Of course, Sore Loser Colman could end this circus at any time, just like he suggested Al Franken should have done on the night of the election, before all the votes were counted.
Of course now that Franken has dared to ask the court to hand down a ruling I expect the media to go crazy with accusations of his trying to steal the election.
I thought Republicans were staunch supporters of states' rights - other than political expediency and delay (I know, Duh.), why would they want to submit one of the most important prerogatives of state power, the certification of an election, to the federal judiciary?
If a Democrat were trying to reverse an election result in this way, the think-tankers, neocons and paleocons would be all over this like rabid dogs.
Republicans are strong supporters of Republicans. And nothing else.
they could exert some political pressure and backroom arm wrestling to get this thing ended. But history has shown us that even when they are in power the Democrats seem powerless against the well-oiled Republican/rightwing machine. Of course, the MSSC will uphold the lower court [which did a sterling job], Coleman will immediately get a stay of the Certification from a loyal Bushie Fed judge, appeals will go to the USSC and they will rule sometime after the summer recess - let's say October-November.
October 2014?
Harry Reid exert pressure? ROFLMAO!
If Harry got involved, the democrats would end up ceeding the majority to the republicans through negotiations - so that the GOPers would "consider" asking Coleman to concede.
Then he would hold a press conference proudly excaiming that the Franken fiasco "may" soon be over.
Reid: "To discuss this breakthrough, I would like to introduce the republicans who will now be heading the Senate committee's."
For people who supposedly hate government of any kind, they sure will go to extreme lengths to be in it. What's up with that?
Must be some ulterior motives the repukes have?
In the Republican mind government is for other people.
Defense, to keep others cowed.
Immigration, to keep others out.
Justice, to keep others from having the rights that they cherish.
This is quite an interesting moment in our history. Only 20% of the people are registered Repubs, because of their extreme ideology, and yet 40% of the senate is still GOP. So they are a sizable minority and can inflict damage to the very democratic foundation of our country, as they are doing in this matter.
Hopefully this statistical discrepancy will be corrected at the next election. Otherwise, they pose a threat to bring down a majority in congress that is trying to improve things.
Not unlike "The Party" in Orwell's 1984.
like Wyoming and Alaska still get the same number of Senators as California, which would be the world's 5th largest economy. Bullshit, if you ask me.
Senator Franken sounds nice.
Minnesota just can't win for losing, can they? First Paul Wellstone gets murdered and everyone just goes on about their business, now they finally elect someone reasonable and intelligent to take his place and he can't get seated!! WTF Minnesota?? Gary Keillor, get a Prairie Home Companion audience together and march on the capitol building!! C'mon!!
to try to prove that Obama can't get anything done.
Obama can't get anything done, because they made sure he didn't.
... you turned your back on the election fraud that took place in 2004 ... talked that sore loser shit ... how does it feel to have it effect you in this way? ... still what to pretend it doesn't exists?
... next time don't be so quick to disregard the obvious ... congratulation senator ... for corporations ... or the people?
Sore loser obstructionists... petty criminals and pranksters.
This is what they now are offering as a national party. Pretty sad.
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