Posted on 04/13/2009 4:37:37 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
Over five months after the election, a three-judge panel has declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of the Minnesota U.S. Senate race.
The judges issued their final ruling late Monday, stating "Franken received the highest number of lawfully cast ballots in the Nov. 4, 2008 general election."
They also have determined that Franken is entitled to receive the certificate of election.
Last week, Republican Norm Coleman suffered a blow after a few hundred previously rejected absentee ballots were opened and counted at the tail end of Coleman's lawsuit contesting his loss in a statewide recount. They broke almost 2-to-1 for Franken to pad his lead to 312.
Outside the courtroom, Coleman attorney Ben Ginsberg minimized the new margin because his side was certain to appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
"What happened today in the sphere of this election is really inconsequential," he said. "There's a much larger universe of ballots that should be opened."
Ginsberg said he hopes the high court would reinstate as many as 4,800 absentee ballots rejected by local officials.
Top Franken attorney Marc Elias said he doubted an appeal would change things.
"The problem that former Senator Coleman has is he lost fair and square," Elias said. "He lost because more people voted for Al Franken than voted for Norm Coleman. No amount of lawyering or sophisticated legal arguments is going to change that."
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, a Democrat, said he would welcome an appeal, saying he thinks the state's highest court could provide closure.
The appeal must come within 10 days after the final order from the three-judge panel that presided over the seven-week trial.
Norm’s term ended in January. The seat is empty. And, I’m not sure an election in a state isn’t determined by that state’s Supreme Court.
I’m sorry for Coleman. He may not be a pure conservative, but he was, after all, representing MN. Now look at what they have. And they are welcome to it.
I also love the DPMS rifles (have three) that are built in your State... and Minn Kota trolling motors. You must keep tavist smiley out of the Senate!
LLS
It pains me to even think about it.
LLS
But - they already had Mrs. William Jefferson Hillary Rodham Clinton, John eFfin’ sKerry (who, BTW, served in Viet Nam!), and Barney Frank, and Dennis Kook-cinich for that...what’s one more clown when...
58 have already climbed out of the little hybrid car in the center ring!?
(Not that I disagree in principle...)
A.A.C.
Better hand one over here too. At least Franken fits the democrat profile. No Change there! Ignorant and ugly!
The State of Minnesota should wear a bag over its Head.
What do the moonbats like to say? Selected -- not elected?
Coleman’s lawyer Ben Ginburg said a month ago he expected to lose at the state level but prevail once this went into federal court.
Bush v Gore is going to occur on the Senate level. Their are too many standards being used.
It isn’t over yet,folks. Don’t panic!
Under the Constitution, the Senate is the final judge of the elections of its members. (Article I, section 5, clause 1). The Democrats have not tried to seat Franken yet, because the Republicans have threatened a fillibuster if he is seated before the Minnesota courts rule, but at some point they are going to try to seat him.
Don't think it does, but it sure makes them MUCH more comfortable and emboldened considering some of the RINO's
let them reap what they sow...
Cheers!
I know exactly how you feel.
“It isn’t over yet,folks. Don’t panic!”
I’m not going to panic.
But I’m going to have another drink...
;-)
who is the jockey
They want him...they got him. The disgusting photo of this low life will catch up with him. How could anyone in their right mind give this little jerk any respect? Good God...what a joke and a clown. Now we can all sit back and watch him make an even bigger A__ of himself.
The secret to winning elections is to keep counting until your side has won.
I hope Norm Coleman pursues this to the SCOTUS.
If free and fair elections are not a First Principle of this country, and deserve defending, it's over.
We need to win some State Offices and reform the entire election process.
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