Ensign: Dems Would Pay "Heavy Political Price" If Franken Disputes Election in Senate

spectator ^ | 12.2.08 | Philip Klein

[jessduntno]

Ensign: Dems Would Pay "Heavy Political Price" If Franken Disputes Election in Senate By Philip Klein on 12.2.08 @ 4:37PM

Sen. John Ensign, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said in a conference call that Senate Democrats were unlikely to take the political risk of contesting the Minnesota election results in the U.S. Senate.

"I think that the Democratic majority will not want to see this come to the Senate," Ensign said this afternoon. He added that, "there will be a heavy political price to pay" if they try to overturn the choice of Minnesota voters.

Ensign said he faced a similar decision in his 1998 Senate race, when he went through a recount but still trailed Harry Reid by about 400 votes. "I was in the exact same position that Al Franken is in today," Ensign said. He said he conceded the race without taking it to the courts or to the Senate even though there were irregularities in the election.

"It's pretty clear that Norm Coleman is going to win this race in the recount, just like he did on election day," Ensign said.

As for the Georgia race, based on tracking polling, Ensign said Republicans expected Saxby Chambliss to win by 5 to 6 percent. He also said Sarah Palin's appearance provided a late boost.

"She was able to get a lot of people excited, and make sure they were focused on the race," he said. Especially helpful, according to Ensign, was all the press attention generated by her celebrity, which helped remind voters who may not have been paying attention that there was a run-off today.

[jessduntno]

"It's pretty clear that Norm Coleman is going to win this race in the recount, just like he did on election day," Ensign said."

let's just keep beating them...

[Chet 99]

it all comes down to GA. if Chambliss wins, the GOP will be able to tie up senate in business to protest a Franken election theft. If GA falls, there will be no real means to protest other than complain and hope the American Sheeple will give a damn in 2010

[skeeter]

Franken, you contemptable weasel.

[originalbuckeye]

Go Ensign!! We need some strong Republicans to stand up to the lie/cheat/steal Dems! It's about time.

[Mr. Know It All]

if Chambliss wins, the GOP will be able to tie up senate in business to protest a Franken election theft.

1. The Senate has the Constitutional authority to decide who does and does not get seated. Were the situation reversed, and a Republican Senate seated Norm Coleman despite a razor-thin recount win, we'd be answering complaints with, "Read the Constitution, DUmmies!" The Constitution is not a document that only applies when we find it convenient.
   
   
2. We are in a time of crisis. If the Republicans jam the Senate for doing something entirely Constitutional, it's not the Democrats who are going to be paying a political price.

If the Republican party has decided to respond to the recent defeat by becoming completely self-absorbed and disconnected from harsh political realities, then we might as well start writing its obituary now.

[Tzimisce]

What heavy price? They control everything and the first thing they’re going to do is make sure that voters can NEVER get rid of them.

And the Senate Republicans will go along with it so they can get 2 minutes of puff on Olberman’s nightly show.

[chainsaw]

Franken is nothing but a joker, trying to sucker the senate democrats into doing something rash. (Disenfranchise the Minnesota voters.)

[Chet 99]

Ridiculous.

Just because they have the power does not mean they should use it.

The GOP declined to intervene in razor close races when they were on the losing end and controlled Congress, while the Dems have repeatedly done so.

[Theodore R.]

Demos can steal this seat, and the American sheeple will never know what happened. They are too informed to understand.

[justkate]

“Dems Would Pay “Heavy Political Price” If Franken Disputes Election in Senate...”

OK...At least I’m not the ONLY one that finds that statement completely laughable.

A “heavy political price”? Such as what? A tongue lashing from Arlen Specter? Maybe a press release from the RNC whining about election “irregularities”?...a press release that the MSM will label as more “Republican grumbling” (if they even bother to bring it up?)

Could someone please tell me when Democrats ever pay a heavy political price for anything?

[Dahoser]

"I think that the Democratic majority will not want to see this come to the Senate," Ensign said this afternoon. He added that, "there will be a heavy political price to pay" if they try to overturn the choice of Minnesota voters.

What heavy political price would that be? A socialist with a questionable birth certificate got elected President to go along with leftists in control of both houses of Congress while the free enterprise system is being destroyed day-by-day and socialism is put in its place. Why would it be the Minnesota Senate race that makes people go, "Hey! You can't do that!"

[Gay State Conservative]

Message to Senator Ensign;

You need to have your head examined.There's *no* downside for the RATS if they choose to steal this seat.Not in Minnesota.Not ANYWHERE.

[Dan(9698)]

If the Republican party has decided to respond to the recent defeat by becoming completely self-absorbed and disconnected from harsh political realities, then we might as well start writing its obituary now.

Couldn't have been said any better by Nevill Chamberlain himself.

[StAnDeliver]

Meow.

[Seaplaner]

Franken, you contemptable weasel.

It's hard to imagine anything just plain ickier than sitting near Al Franken in the Senate.

(This could drive some Dems "across the aisle", n'est ce pas?)

.

[rigelkentaurus]

I have yet to see the rats pay a heavy price for any of their foul deeds, and, pray tell, what heavy price would be paid if they cheated again and put Franken in office?

Regardless of Minnesota and Georgia’s outcome - let’s say they are both Republican. As for republicans being able to block the Senate - I must be a little math challenged, so someone please help me. I cannot find 41 votes for much of anything? Snow, Collings, McCain, Graham, Lugar, Spector, etc, etc - those RINOs will vote rat 90% of the time - how do we ever get 41 votes on anything?

[kesg]

it all comes down to GA. if Chambliss wins, the GOP will be able to tie up senate in business to protest a Franken election theft. If GA falls, there will be no real means to protest other than complain and hope the American Sheeple will give a damn in 2010

I am also mildly skeptical that a majority of Americans will give much of a damn if the Democrats allow Franken to steal the seat in order to get to 60 votes. Having said that, it looks like Coleman is going to win the recount, and if the polls are right Chambliss is going to win today in GA.

[jdege]

The Senate has the Constitutional authority to decide who does and does not get seated.

True, but.

They have the power to refuse to seat Coleman, whether he wins the election or not.

They do not have the power to seat Franken if the State of Minnesota certifies Coleman as the winner.

[Theodore R.]

oops, too uninformed are the sheeple. Do you think they will ever learn?

[Chet 99]

Ummmm... in 1984, the Republican was the certified winner in an Indiana House race... the House Dems voted to seat the Democrat instead, over the protests of the Republicans.