Posted on 01/19/2009 6:37:56 PM PST by flattorney
- - Will Ask Three Judge Panel To Determine Which Ballots Were Wrongly Rejected
ST. PAUL – Fritz Knaak, lead recount attorney for the Coleman for Senate campaign today made the following statement:
“Next week begins an important step in getting to an accurate and valid number, and to determine who really won the 2008 United States Senate election. As we indicated at the end of the canvassing board proceedings, we believe the process was broken. And, one area where it clearly broke and has yet to be fixed is in the area of rejected absentee ballots. The discrepancies, problems and inconsistencies we saw during the recount process led us to file an election contest to protect the integrity of Minnesota’s election system and to ensure that no Minnesotan would be disenfranchised in this process.
“We have consistently believed that every valid vote must count, and that Minnesotans will only be confident in the outcome of this election if every valid vote is indeed counted. Everyone is well aware of the problems of double-counting votes of some Minnesotans. This double-counting of votes truly disenfranchises millions of Minnesotans. As is obvious, we intend to vigorously contest this matter and to ensure that Minnesota voters are all afforded equal protection under the Constitution and the concept of ‘one person, one vote’ is not seen as some quaint statement that holds no weight in law.
“I want to draw your attention to another issue that we intend to vigorously address beginning next week, and that’s this: We intend to request that the 3-judge panel allow for the possibility that the roughly 12,000 rejected absentee ballots be opened. “We expect that Minnesotans will share the same stunned disappointment we do to learn that the Franken campaign may actually oppose this fundamental act of fairness. Particularly when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, stated in a press release on November 26, 2008: ‘Today's decision by the Minnesota Canvassing Board not to count certain absentee ballots is cause for great concern. As the process moves forward, Minnesota authorities must ensure that no voter is disenfranchised. A citizen's right to have his or her vote counted is fundamental in our democracy.’ The principle of every valid vote counting was convenient only when it supported their purposes for the Franken campaign, which is a pattern we’ve seen from them throughout this entire process.
“Obviously, not every one of the 12,000 rejected absentee ballots was wrongfully rejected. However, those that were – those that were rejected through no fault of the voter – and conform to the laws of this state as to voting requirements, voter eligibility and voter intent – we believe those ballots must be opened. “In other words: If the absentee voter was alive on Election Day, was either a registered voter or included a registration card with his or her ballot, and did not otherwise vote, then his or her absentee ballot should be counted -- if the voter’s intent can be determined from the ballot. And I’ll say that again: If the absentee voter was alive on Election Day, was either a registered voter or included a registration card with his or her ballot, and did not otherwise vote, then his or her absentee ballot should be counted -- if the voter’s intent can be determined from the ballot.
“This is about equal protection, so voters in every county throughout the state can trust that their ballot was treated the same as a ballot in another county. This is about fairness in the process and for every Minnesotan who cast a ballot on Election Day. We don’t do so with the expectation that every vote will be a Coleman vote. “Instead, we do so because every Minnesotan deserves the right to vote and when they follow all the rules and cast a valid ballot, they deserve to have their ballot counted, and counted equally as every other ballot filed.
“We are now in a different phase in this process. The three judge panel – as clearly stated by the Supreme Court and the Minnesota Canvassing Board – is the exact right body to review this matter. The fact is, we're here and we’ll be before three judges who are empowered to do what the Canvassing Board could not – and what the Supreme Court in its wisdom directed us to do when we filed our contest in this election. This is the right time to be doing this. “And there are an extraordinary number of ballots to count. More than ever before in a Minnesota election. But, this election is not over just because more people than ever before cast their votes in this election. It will be over when each and every one of those individuals who cast a valid vote in this election has that vote counted – and has that vote make a difference.”
“I also liked Rudy, and would have preferred him instead of McCain except for his position on some social issues like abortion. “
Many of his critics say the same thing, but he committed in definite terms to appoint conservative SC justices like Alito, Roberts, and Scalia. This should not have been an issue, yet the single-issue pseudo-cons blew the election for us by tearing the only viable candidate we had to pieces.
I have come around to the thinking that Giuliani, despite his flaws, was our best hope.
You go, Norm!
If we can’t get rid of double counted ballots from Democrat dominated precincts, let’s not pretend there’s anything like a Rule of Law.
“I have come around to the thinking that Giuliani, despite his flaws, was our best hope.”
He was, and the derision that he endured was almost criminal.
“We have met the enemy, and they is us.”
Norm's looking for a job, maybe you can lure him to Texas and then you can enjoy calling him weekly begging him not to raise taxes or begging him to allow us to drill for our own oil and build nuclear plants instead of tilting at windmills with Nancy Pelosi.
“as opposed to a conservative candidate who could actually win, like Rudy)”
I don’t think Rudy could have carried it. He had one mantra, ‘9/11’ and it was starting to get old. And apologizing for my blanking on history, but how many Mayors made it to the Presidency.
Rudy had more than 9/11. He was tough on crime, fiscally responsible, a demonstrated successful executive, etc. Regarding his status as mayor—how many mayors have enjoyed the national recognition that he has?
Tell you what. I'll GLADLY trade you my Senator, DICK Durbin, for "RINO" Norm Coleman. After all, according to you, there's NO DIFFERENCE between Norm and a socialist RAT, right? You can have the DICK and watch him vote every week for gun bans, illegal aliens, abortion on demand, gay rights, Hillarycare, and surrender to terrorists. I'll take Coleman over that ANY DAY.
What do you say? Put up or shut up.
And BTW, if Norm Coleman sides with the RATs all the time, perhaps you explain why the RATs share your fanatic hatred of him, are so eager to replace him with Franken, and constantly booed him when he was a Democrat? Seems you and DU have the same feelings about Coleman. Isn't that special?
I don't hate Norm, he's a friendly and nice guy. I welcomed Norm into the Republican Party. I voted for him in his run for the Minnesota Governorship and I donated and voted for Norm in his 2002 senate campaign and was very glad to see him elected.
I'm tired of supporting politicians, helping them get elected and then having them side with the Democrats. I held my nose and voted for Norm and McCain (Sarah Palin actually) in 2008 but that was the last election for me and the rinos. If Republicans run conservatives or strong Republicans, I'll happily vote for those individual candidates, but no more straight line Republican voting.
As far as the rat hatred, it's Norm, not me, who's trying to please and attract the Dems that will never vote for him. And BTW, the Dems didn't rush out to reelect Norm...
Boy, I didn't see that one coming.
/S
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