Joe Miller Just Won't Give Up

I don't really care about Alaska politics, but anyone would have to admit that after the Harry Reid/Sharron Angle battle here in Nevada, the Senate race in Alaska was one of the more interesting of the 2010 election. Lisa Murkowski's write-in campaign was historic, even if the results were down to the wire.  In close elections, the person perceived to be the winner is usually the winner. So, it is important to keep the thing in the air, to make it seem as though you are the winner, even if you don't know.

If you're George W. Bush, you get lucky, and the United States Supreme Court appoints you to office (but no precedent, just this once!). If you're Al Franken, you're lucky enough to both be certified the winner, and be running against a hardcore douche nozzle like the odeous Norm Coleman, who nobody wants to win anyway. If you're Joe Miller in Alaska, I guess you're just hoping for the tea party and Sarah Barracuda Palin to be enough to drag you over the finish line.

But mostly, I'm just running this piece because the folks at DailyKos picked the perfect video clip to run with it.

[Excerpt]

AK-Sen: It's not over until he runs out of courts.

As Joe Miller's statement yesterday makes clear, his quest to have the courts overturn the results of his failed election bid isn't over yet. While he won't stop Murkowski's victory from being certified and her being re-sworn in next week, he's leaving the door open for his continuing federal court challenge to undermine the basis of her victory and, he hopes, an ultimate certification in his favor which the Senate would accept. . .

Read more at: Daily Kos

A Recount in Minnesota: The Sequel

Image from the Washington Post

One of the stories I followed closely on the blog was the 2008 Al Franken/Norm Coleman battle for US Senator from Minnesota. I've been a fan of Franken's since the early days of Saturday Night Live, and followed his political career from his series of books, to his radio show on Air America Radio. Were it not for that, I probably wouldn't have known who Norm Coleman was.  But reading about him after hearing who he was, my opinion of his was rather low. Rhymes with coosh.

Anyway, in the epic battle that followed the 2008 election, the votes were so close (with Coleman marginally ahead), a state-required recount was ordered. Along the way, Coleman loudly played the victor, and Franken was a bit more subdued.  Franken eventually prevailed, and eight months later was seated as a Senator.  Right-wing world spun off its axis declaring dirty tricks, voter fraud and anything else they could think of, though evidence doesn't support that conclusion.  They're still sore about it.

But did you know that it's happening again, in the same state? Me either. This time its the governorship, and isn't making much of a media splash. But the story--and its players--is a pretty interesting read. If the Democrat wins, the Republicans will squeal that he stole it. If the Republican wins, they'll high-five and have libertygasms all over the place (and they'll claim the Dems tried to steal it).  Either way, it could be interesting to watch.

[Excerpt]

Lights! Camera! Action! 'Recount'

Now playing in a political theater near you: "Minnesota Recount: The Sequel."



Like most sequels, the cast might not be quite as star-studded as the original, and the plot lines and the suspense might be, well, lamer. . .

. . .Democrat Mark Dayton leads Republican Tom Emmer by close to 9,000 votes, or 0.42 percentage points — according to unofficial results from Tuesday's gubernatorial election, a difference that requires a state-funded hand recount of every ballot. . .

Read more at: TwinCities.com

No More Frankens? The Real Story.

Image from Politico

The Republicans are still sore about the Sen. Al Franken (DFL-Minn.) victory after a long recount in 2008.  All through the state-mandated procedure, they were crying foul, claiming dirty tricks and cheating. Former Sen. Norm Coleman played along, going so far as to pretend that he'd won, and that Franken was a sore loser who should give up. Then, after it was all said and done, Franken won, and Coleman got involved in organizations that make those charming political ads we've been treated to for the last several months.

There's a group out there called No More Frankens determined to stop a similar thing from happening again. Which is puzzling, since what happened in Minnesota is what is supposed to happen, by law. But the "voter fraud" bogeyman--though he is rare indeed--is a prime issue for a lot of conservatives. I think it's mostly a pretext for voter intimidation from the right, but hey, just my opinion.  But before we get into what are sure to be several contested races on Tuesday (and bellyaching likely from both sides), what really went down in Minnesota in 2008?  Here's one take.

[Excerpt]

NoMoreFrankens? A Closer, Factual Look At The Minnesota Senate Recount



It seems almost certain that there's going to be a recount - or two or three -- come Wednesday somewhere in the United States, maybe in Nevada for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, maybe in Alaska where write-in ballots could determine Sen. Lisa Murkowski's fate, and even, some pundits believe, Sarah Palin's.



It's going to be fun. . .

Read more at:  TPMCafe

NY-23: Hoffman Un-Concedes Race

Image from source, Think Progress

I've gotta wonder if we might not have another Norm Coleman/Al Franken type battle in the birthing here. Glenn Beck (and Sarah Palin) would like very much to see this swing their way after the initial apparent defeat. And frankly, a reversal would be--not embarrassing, exactly--but something akin to it.

[Excerpt]

Hoffman ‘Un-Concedes’ The NY-23 Election After Prodding From His ‘Mentor’ Glenn Beck

On Nov. 3, Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman conceded the special election in New York’s 23rd district after finding out that he was losing considerably to Democrat Bill Owens, who has already been sworn in and cast an important vote for health care reform. However, “a standard process of correcting human errors in election night spreadsheets” has narrowed Owens’ lead over Hoffman from more than 5,000 votes to about 3,000, and the New York Board of Elections is counting around 10,000 absentee ballots. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Sen. Harry Reid Welcomes Al Franken to Washington

If you heard a couple of loud bangs, followed by a squishy, drippy sound, that is the sound of Bill O'Reilly's, Sean Hannity's and Bernard Goldberg's heads exploding. Cleanup on sound stage 5!

The Right-wing Response to Franken Victory

One of the biggest frustrations about being a current events/political blogger is finding other bloggers who encapsulate your own ideas better than you do. On the other hand, given the nature of blogging, and the general give-and-take sharing allowed in the forum, I can present to you those "better" writings anyway! So it's sort of a win-win.

I have long likened extreme partisans to sports fans, though I'm not sure if I've ever done a post about it. I remember a lady who used to work with me who was a dyed-in-the-wool Republican. After the 2004 election, I remember her cackling at me after George W. Bush won his second term. She knew I was pulling for John Kerry, and found it very amusing that "her team" won. I--needless to say--was not amused. But it was more for her likening it to a game than the politics. I thought that the Bush Administration was a dangerous threat to America (still do!). She saw it as not much more than a "win" for her side.

The excerpted blog post below does an excellent job using the same analogy as it applies to the Al Franken/Norm Coleman battle for the Senate. And it--admittedly--does it better than I could. Enjoy.

[Excerpt]

Dear Freeptards

Al Franken won. Welcome to Democracy.

When Norm Coleman said that Al Franken should concede the race 'for the sake of the people of Minnesota', you were all behind him. Then, when Coleman refused to concede 'for the sake of Minnesota', you embraced the hypocrisy and stayed right behind him.

Why are you all such hypocrites?

I'll tell you; Because you are not politically inclined, you are, for all intents and purposes; sports fans. . .

Read more at: Democratic Underground

Stuck on Crazy: FReepers Lament Franken Win

Image from Star-Tribune

I'll round out the evening's Al Franken posts with a bit of schadenfreude. As you might know, one of the wackiest far-right outposts on the internet is FreeRepublic. The denizens of this realm--known as FReepers--are in a lather about the ultimate win of Al Franken over Norm Coleman in the 2008 Minnesota Senate race.

I thought you might want to see some of the more unhinged responses to this long-in-coming eventuality. You'd think that they were sore losers or something.

And one more word before we begin. There is a PhotoShopped photo of Franken that keeps popping up on their site (and elsewhere in Right-Wing World). It depicts him in bunny ears, and a diaper, next to a package of "Luvs." The joke is lost on me, as I don't believe Franken has ever been rumored to be either a "furry" or into "adult baby" fetishism. But the FReepers seem to think the photo is genuine. Which gives Franken credit for having legs that would look good on a twenty-something. And gives the FReepers a big ol' gullibility trophy. On with the show. . .

"America takes another hit... "

"We as a nation have truly sunk to a new level of depravity and darkness."

"Seems like all we have been taking is hits lately ... Time to pray."

"America is effed. Glad all those people stayed home last November."

"WE ARE SO SCREWED"

"I don’t know how much more of this sh*t I can take... this really sucks."

"reading this felt like a punch to the stomach after this week of death and destruction"

"Our long state nightmare has ended...our long national nightmare begins."

"How much more evidence do we need to prove that this Republic is lost forever?"

"Absolutely disgusting. Everything is totally upside down. WTH is going on???????????????????"

There's a whole lot more, if you dare at: FreeRepublic

Franken Defeats Coleman Finally!

Image from source, MSNBC

Election 2008 is finally over. And while everybody is talking about the "60-seat super majority" now in the Democrats' hands, I'm not so sure it's going to matter. There is the infamous problem of Democrats lacking spines. There's the unwillingness to give the Republicans at least a little of their own medicine. And there is the fact that Al Franken's victory did not come with any pressure, or any chastisement to speak of.

Still, I've been a Franken fan for a very long time, and I'll be happy to see him in the Senate. Let the Al Franken Decade (or 5-1/2 years) begin at last!

[Excerpt]

Franken: 'So thrilled' at Minn. Senate race win

Al Franken ascended Tuesday from the hallowed ranks of former "Saturday Night Live" comedians to an even more exclusive club, outlasting Republican Norm Coleman in an eight-month recount and courtroom saga to win a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Read more (with video) at: MSNBC

Al Franken/Norm Coleman Battle Wages On

Photo from source, Star-Ledger

Every time I see a new story about Al Franken and Norm Coleman, and their protracted battle to be Senator from Minnesota, I can't believe it's still going on. Moreover, I can't believe that Harry Reid and other Senate Democrats haven't made more of a stink about it. If the situation were reversed, Sean Hannity would be jabbing his chubby fingers at the camera, whining about it every night. In fact, if the situation were reversed, I can't imagine that it wouldn't have ended by now.

[Excerpt]

Al Franken-Norm Coleman Minnesota Senate race: It ain't over 'til . . . when?

What in the world is taking so long?

We're talking about deciding who won last fall's Minnesota U.S. Senate race and putting someone in that seat in Washington. It's been empty some six months now while the nation installed a new president, took on billions of dollars in new debt to rescue Wall Street's big banks and the auto companies, and began the monumental task of reshaping the country's costly health care system and fashioning new regulations for the stricken financial industry. It's more serious work than Washington normally witnesses in a decade. But Minnesota has had only one Senate voice in the process, not two. . .

Read more at: The Star-Ledger

Minnesota Newspaper: Norm Coleman, It's Over

Image from source, Talking Points Memo

I still can't for the life of me figure out why Harry Reid and other Democratic Senators aren't raising more of a stink about the Norm Coleman/Al Franken fight in Minnesota. Do you think for one minute if the situation was reversed that Republicans--even in the minority--wouldn't be raising holy hell? It'd be over by now, and the Democrats would have caved.

As it stands right now, Democrats are in a position that may not be repeated anytime soon. Presidential popularity, a large base, both houses of Congress. I'm not asking for them to become jackasses with idiotic nicknames like "The Hammer," like the Republicans did. It would appear that Democrats are just as lilly-livered in the majority as when they were under the GOP boot heel.

[Excerpt]

Nick Coleman: Time to end charade in Senate race

After the 2008 Senate race ended in a virtual tie last November, I wrote that Minnesotans had tossed a coin that landed on its edge: Many voters, it still seems to me, voted against Norm Coleman or Al Franken, not for them. . .

Read more at: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Wingnuts Believe Dead People Voted in Minnesota

Image from Blueboard

Norm Coleman's chances of re-defeating Al Franken for Senator from Minnesota have been almost universally nixed. Every challenge has ultimately gone Franken's way. Even Governor Tim Pawlenty has said he'd certify the vote after the latest challenge wraps up.

But the wingnuts around the blogosphere have a new ace up their sleeves. They--and apparently only they--believe that almost 3,000 dead people voted in the election. And as you know, the only dead people who vote are Democrats. Or something.

Anyway, I haven't found any source other than an arch-right wing site that has this story. But I thought I'd present it anyway, so my readers would know what's going on. Take it with a grain of salt. And notice, even though they report initially that nearly 3,000 dead people voted, they later sort of contradict that.

[Excerpt]

MINNESOTA VOTE FRAUD: 2,812 Dead Voters

A review of Minnesota’s statewide database of registered voters revealed at least 2,812 deceased individuals voted in last November’s general election, according to a new report by the “traditional values” advocacy group Minnesota Majority.

After obtaining the list of voters who participated in November’s election, the group hired an independent firm who specializes in “death suppression” for direct mailing lists to review the data. The process, which involved matching names and addresses to state death records, bore troubling results. . .

Read more (if you dare) at: Red State

Gov. Tim Pawlenty to Retire?

Image from source, Washington Post

This doesn't bode well for Al Franken getting seated in the US Senate anytime soon. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has every reason to keep delaying it, considering that the conventional wisdom is that his retirement as Governor is a hint that he wants to run for President in 2012. So, keeping Franken out could only help his image in the now hardcore-only GOP.

I never thought a guy with a goofy name like Pawlenty would have a chance, but after "Barack Hussein Obama," I suppose that little bit of wisdom is out the window.

[Excerpt]

Pawlenty To Retire With An Eye on 2012

Gov. Tim Pawlenty formalized his decision not to seek a third term in 2010 moments ago even as he acknowledged: "I still have a lot of ideas and energy left."

In response to suggestions from Democrats that he was leaving because he could not win a third term, Pawlenty insisted he "could have and would have" won in 2010, rattling off a series of recent polls showing his electoral strength.

Pawlenty did not directly address questions about whether he would run for president in 2012 but did note that he was "not ruling anything in or out" in regards a national bid. . .

Read more at: The Washington Post

Norm Coleman/Al Franken Fight Drags On

Photo from source, Minnesota Public Radio

Oh, brother. When will this thing finally be over?

[Excerpt]

Coleman appeal heads to state's highest court

Minnesota's long-running U.S. Senate battle reaches another milestone Monday.

The state Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the election contest, which currently has Republican Norm Coleman trailing Democrat Al Franken by 312 votes. Coleman's attorneys will argue a special three-judge panel didn't adhere to the constitution in coming up with that tally. . .

Read more at: Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesotans Want Norm Coleman to Concede to Al Franken

Image from source, Talking Points Memo

I still can't believe that Senate Democrats aren't screaming bloody murder about the ridiculously protracted 2008 Senatorial election in Minnesota. But then, I'm quickly losing patience with Senate Democrats, and have no shortage of things about them that I don't understand. Republicans may be the party of "NO!" but at least they're predictable.

C'mon, Harry Reid! I live in Nevada, and I already have one clueless boob, Sen. John Ensign (R-Obviously) to worry about. Do you really have to keep making it two? Republicans--even out of power--would never stand for this. Norm Coleman is dragging out his fight with no real chance of winning. He's stalling, it's obvious, and Reid is doing nothing. Ridiculous.

[Excerpt]

Poll: Majority Of Minnesotans Want Coleman To Concede Defeat To Franken

A new Rasmussen poll reaffirms that Minnesotans want their disputed Senate race to finally end and for Norm Coleman to concede defeat to Al Franken, with the result still bottled up over six months after Election Day. . .

Read more at: Talking Points Memo

Al Franken is Tired of Waiting

Images from source, Politico

And who wouldn't be? While a Senator's term is six years, those are broken into three sessions. Before long, a full quarter of Franken's first session will be gone, and he hasn't even been seated yet. Norm Coleman--the guy what used to be Senator--has no chance of winning, by all accounts, and is just dragging this out to be a pill. With the GOP's enthusiastic support of course. Republicans, in or out of power, would never sit quietly for this. They'd be making noises worthy of a metaphor I can't think up right now.

Al Franken looks to finally be making a little noise. Good for him, it is long past time.

[Excerpt]

Franken Asks Court To Give Minnesota Governor A Direct Order

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. . .”

Read more at: CQPolitics

(Soon to Be) Senator Al Franken Meets VP Joe Biden

Photo from source, AmericaBlog

Posted strictly for the picture, and the fact that it drives conservatives nuts.

[Excerpt]

The President of the Senate met with the Democrat's 60th Senator

. . .Yes, the Minnesota Supreme Court, not the U.S Supreme Court, should be the final arbiter (although the Republicans know Coleman has lost. If the guy had an ounce of class, he'd concede.). . .

Read more at: AmericaBlog

Norm Coleman Still Appealing (Not in a Good Way)

Unappealing photo from source, Huffington Post

In truth, Minnesota's former Senator, Norm Coleman is thoroughly unappealing. But he continues his pointless fight, in order to stall Al Franken from taking over his seat. There is no "greater good" to be gained here, and slim hope of Coleman actually somehow regaining his seat. This is simply an effort to put a stick in the spokes of the Democrats. If the shoe were on the other foot, the Republican noise machine--as creaky and rusty as it is--would be screeching at full volume. It is long past time for Democrats to do the same.

[Excerpt]

Coleman Appeals Election To State Supreme Court

As expected, Norm Coleman formally appealed the results of the Minnesota recount election to the state's Supreme Court on Monday, adding another stage to an already lengthy electoral process.

The former Senator's legal team hosted a conference call late Monday afternoon to announce their much-anticipated move. They would not rule out the idea of taking the case even further: the U.S. Supreme Court. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Al Franken Wins! But wait. . .

Images from source, Politico

I'm back from my trip to Ohio, and late to get back to the blog. We have a party for a friend to plan for, which is cutting into the ol' blogging schedule. Still, I'm hoping to get several new blog posts up tonight and into the wee hours to freshen this place up a little.

First up, the Al Franken/Norm Coleman Senatorial battle in Minnesota. The 2008 election is still not over up there, and the reason for that seems to be. . .well. . .Norm Coleman and the Republican Party do not want it to be over. Repeatedly, Al Franken has been handed victory after victory, lending little doubt to the fact that he did indeed win the election. By a squeaker, sure, but he won.

Coleman--egged on by his party, and by the die-hard supporters--keeps pledging to battle on anyway. It has become a stalling game, irrespective of the fact that Coleman has little chance of actually winning. I decided to link to a right-wing blog for a change on this issue for a couple of reasons. First is that there is a poll up, asking what Coleman should do next. I thought you might like that. And second, it will give you an opportunity to read the comments, and see not only dissent (just a little), the bizarre rationalizations and rank hypocrisy involved when it is the Republicans who are on the short end of the stick. Enjoy.

[Excerpt]

Minnesota Recount: Panel gives election to Franken

As expected based on its initial rulings on absentee ballots, the Minnesota election contest panel reviewing the Senate race has awarded the election to Al Franken over Norm Coleman. The additional ballots allowed by the panel actually increased Franken’s lead, and the panel ruled that Coleman did not prove any systemic failure in the election or recount process. It called the evidence for Franken “overwhelming. . .”

Read more at (the aptly named): HotAir

Al Franken Widens Lead; Norm Coleman Still Won't Concede

Images from source, Politico

It is long past time for Democrats to start making a real issue out of Norm Coleman's refusal to concede to Al Franken in Minnesota. If the situation were reversed, the Republican noise machine would be at full volume, demanding that Franken concede. If you doubt that, you haven't been paying attention.

[Excerpt]

Franken Lawyer: Al Won; Coleman Legal Spokesman: We'll Appeal

At post-court press conference, lead Franken attorney Marc Elias commented that the election contest is essentially over, with Al Franken the winner after the court had 351 previously-rejected ballots counted, which boosted Franken's lead from 225 votes to 312.

"Today is a very important step, as we now know the outcome of the election contest," said Elias, "and that is the same outcome as the recount, which is that Al Franken has more votes than Norm Coleman. . ."

Read more at: Talking Points Memo

Norm Coleman is the Energizer Bunny

But not in a good way. Hypocrisy is extremely common in politics, with positions doing a 180-degree turn, depending which shoe is on which foot. One side will scream "up or down vote!" when they are in the majority, and the minority is jabbing them with a stick. And then, once out of power they've got the stick, and that up or down thing doesn't have the allure it once did.

Well, this Norm Coleman/Al Franken battle is a little like that. When it looked like Coleman had won, and the state-mandated recount was activated, Coleman wanted Franken to concede anyway. Once the situation was reversed, Coleman is dragging it out endlessly. There have even been rumors that this could go to the US Supreme Court, using Bush v. Gore as a precedent! If you'll remember, B v. G had the Republicans with the shoe on the other foot, and then counting every vote wasn't so important. . .