Recount trial: Coleman dealt blow, but no knockout

Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | February 14, 2009 | KEVIN DUCHSCHERE

[rhema]

Dealing a blow but not a knockout to Republican Norm Coleman's hopes, the judges in the U.S. Senate election trial on Friday tossed out most of the 19 categories of rejected absentee ballots they were considering for a second look, making it clear that they won't open and count any ballots that don't comply with state law.

On its face, the ruling looked to be a victory for DFLer Al Franken, whose lawyers had urged the judges to turn down 17 of the 19 categories and said Friday that they had very nearly done it.

"We are obviously very pleased with the court's decision ... there's a large chunk of ballots that have now been taken out of play," said Franken lawyer Marc Elias.

But Coleman's attorneys saw it differently, saying that the ruling leaves untouched about 3,500 of the 4,800 rejected absentee ballots they want the court to open and count, enough to make it possible for Coleman to overcome Franken's 225-vote certified recount lead.

Coleman lawyer Fritz Knaak said that those remaining votes -- along with the ballots of registered voters who were thought to be nonregistered as well as the ballots of voters whose signatures looked mismatched but weren't -- will eventually result in Coleman's return to the Senate.

The order "has a very limited impact," Knaak said. "We're disappointed that all 4,800 won't be counted, but we're very pleased that the 3,500 that do remain are still there."

[nathanbedford]

Hugo Chavez to the south of us for life.

Al Franken to the north of us for bathos.

And in the middle we got a guy who won't produce a $10 birth certificate.

[LRS]

"We are obviously very pleased with the court's decision ... there's a large chunk of ballots that have now been taken out of play," said Franken lawyer Marc Elias.

[rhema]

One saving grace if you’re a Minnesotan: Michele Bachmann

Actually, three saving graces: Bachmann, John Kline (zero earmarks requested in his tenure), and newly elected representative Erik Paulsen

[rhema]

Ping

[Old Sarge]

"there's a large chunk of ballots that have now been taken out of play,"

My, we've come a long way from Florida, where "every vote should be counted"...

[saganite]

Harry Reid has said he won’t seat Coleman. If Coleman wins and is certified it will be good watching Harry eat those words.

[Diogenesis]

Is there an Election the Democrats win without fake votes
replacing real votes which are cast aside? Apparently not.

[pabianice]

Stealing elections one fraud at a time

[shelterguy]

I guess the Star and Sickle is still writing misleading headlines. From the article;

“But Coleman’s attorneys saw it differently, saying that the ruling leaves untouched about 3,500 of the 4,800 rejected absentee ballots they want the court to open and count,”

A “knockout blow” would have been accurate if 3500 had been rejected. But that is why I stopped taking the Star and Sickle 8 years ago after their unbelievably biased coverage of the 2000 election.

[Red_Devil 232]

Rules - - Michele Bachmann

[Dr. Ursus]

She’s a winner!

[Fireone]

Rules are good.

[rhema]

Ideologically, intellectually, ethically, and pulchritudinously, she sure beats this:

[CapnJack]

I thought this question was solved by now an the Un-funny idiot was the winner.

So who is representing MN in this senate seat right now in congress?

[shelterguy]

Nobody is seated as of yet.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Doesn’t it also mean that if ballots from Franken leaning counties were accepted under those same rejected reasons they they should be rejected and the votes removed, too?

[StarFan]

Disheartened to read that this will NOT END SOON.

"But although many ballots have been removed by the ruling, it may also have the effect of lengthening the trial. The order states that Coleman must show that the ballots he wants counted were legally cast, not just that they shouldn't have been rejected. Displaying absentee ballot envelopes with obvious problems won't be enough, the judges wrote.

"There may be fewer ballots to look at, but proving them up may take longer," said Coleman attorney Ben Ginsberg.

[twigs]

Franken is such an undisciplined, uncontrolled fool. Reid may come to regret that he’s ever heard the man’s name.

[KansasGirl]

This is just too easy. When Franken wins, we make him the face of the Democrat Senate, along with Reid and his speedway to nowhere, Chris Dodd and his sweetheart Countrwide mortgage, and Roland Burris and his pay to play Senate seat.