Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Judge lets Murkowski into Senate challenge case
AP via SFGate ^ | 12/2/10 | BECKY BOHRER, Associated Press

Posted on 12/02/2010 12:24:22 PM PST by SmithL

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) --

A state court judge is allowing Sen. Lisa Murkowski to have a say in a legal challenge to Alaska's U.S. Senate race.

Attorneys for Murkowski argued that she should be allowed to intervene in the lawsuit that her Republican rival, Joe Miller, brought against the state over the manner in which it conducted the election. Miller contends the state did not follow the law, notably in its decision to use discretion in tallying write-in votes for Murkowski.

Attorney Scott Kendall said in court Wednesday that Murkowski should be entitled to protect her "victory" and have a say in the proceedings. Judge William Carey agreed to let her into the case Thursday.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Alaska
KEYWORDS: joemiller; murkowski; obama; palin; voterfraud
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last
To: flaglady47; taxcontrol

““I am confused ... I thought she was already the sitting Senator. How could he deny her any seniority?”

“Because she would be coming in as a freshman “Independent”, not as a seniior “Republican”.”

No, that’s not it, since (i) Princess Lisa wasn’t elected as an Independent, and (ii) she claims that she has always been a Republican and promised to caucus as one if she won. The way that they could deny her full seniority would be if Miller’s lawsuit prevents the state from certifying Princess Lisa as the winner, which would result in the Senate not seating her on January 3 when every other incoming Senator will be seated. Even if they seat her the following week, she would have less seniority than any other Senator, since only *uninterrupted* Senate service counts towards seniority. By way of example, Dan Coats served 10 years in the Senate in the 80s and 90s, but when he is seated on January 3 he will have less seniority than Mark Kirk, who was seated in the Senate earlier this week after being certified as the winner of a special election for the term ending on January 3; Coats’s prior Senate service would only benefit him in giving him more seniority than the other non-incumbent Senators being seated on January 3. So if Princess Lisa’s Senate service is interrupted by her not being seated immediately upon the end of her Senate term on January 3, her 8 years in the Senate will mean bupkis as far as seniority is concerned.


21 posted on 12/02/2010 3:04:45 PM PST by AuH2ORepublican (If a politician won't protect innocent babies, what makes you think that he'll protect your rights?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman

If Princess Lisa is seated on January 3, she will keep her seniority that goes back to 2003 (or maybe late December 2002—maybe her daddy named her to the Senate as a Christmas present), since her service in the Senate would be uninterrupted. But if she isn’t seated on January 3 immediately upon the end of her current Senate term, it will interrupt her service, and her prior service would count only as a tie-breaker if she is subsequently seated on the same date as another Senator. As I explained in post #21, Dan Coats’s 10 years of Senate service a couple of decades ago merely give him a step up on the other non-incumbent Senators being seated at the same time as he, but will not allow him to surpass the seniority of those who were already incumbents on January 3 (not even that of Mark Kirk, who was seated earlier this week because he won a special election for the term ending on January 3 and thus will be an incumbent when he is seated for the term beginning on January 3).

I’ve long found the tiebreakers you mentioned to be kind of cool. You get a whole bunch of Senators being seated on the same day, but the ex-Senators get the highest seniority, then the ex-Representatives, then the ex-governors, and those with prior service in those offices are ranked by state population in the prior Census. I believe that Chris Coons (no prior congressional or gubernatiorial service, and representing one of the least-populated states) will be last in seniority—unless Princess Lisa isn’t seated on January 3, in which case she will be last in seniority when she is seated.


22 posted on 12/02/2010 3:16:37 PM PST by AuH2ORepublican (If a politician won't protect innocent babies, what makes you think that he'll protect your rights?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman

Oops, my bad, I forgot that Coons was elected to fill Biden’s unexpired term and thus was seated in November. So the Senator who will be last in seniority will be Kelly Ayotte of NH, unless Princess Lisa isn’t seated on January 3, in which case Princess Lisa will be last in seniority when she is seated.


23 posted on 12/02/2010 3:21:46 PM PST by AuH2ORepublican (If a politician won't protect innocent babies, what makes you think that he'll protect your rights?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: AuH2ORepublican
Interesting stuff. But since Chris Coons was sworn in November 15, wouldn't that put him ahead on the seniority list of everyone sworn in new after that date?

Excepting, of course, Joe Manchin, whose term as governor breaks the tie.

Your post #21 does explain why Princess Lisa is so anxious to get sworn in by January 3rd.

24 posted on 12/02/2010 3:25:08 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: AuH2ORepublican
Got it and makes sense now.

If Joe Miller's lawsuit is still keeping Princess Lisa from being seated by month's end, you can bet she will be offering him something of value to drop in during one of the first three days of January. This calls for popcorn!

25 posted on 12/02/2010 3:29:37 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Anti-Bubba182
It is scorched earth time.

Indeed.

It is scorched earth time!

The Republic itself is at stake.

26 posted on 12/02/2010 5:13:57 PM PST by houeto ("You know, I actually believe my own bullsh_t," --- BHO)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: The Comedian
Thanks for that weapon, liberals. Lets see how long you can withstand your own attacks.

Who has legal standing TC? It appeared that, against the sitting Governor, every weasel in the country had standing in Alaskan courts. Does that hold true for the Murky one?

If so, I'm in.


27 posted on 12/02/2010 5:28:23 PM PST by houeto ("You know, I actually believe my own bullsh_t," --- BHO)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: LibLieSlayer

How does she lose the primary and then win as a write in except by fraud.


28 posted on 12/02/2010 8:35:41 PM PST by Dianer0839 (Due to budget cuts, the light at the end of the tunnel will now be turned off.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Dianer0839

Absolutely... her family has been stealing elections and Alaskan’s money for 40 years... cowface knows how to steal an election... she is really a dim... and comes with everything that goes along with being an evilcrat.

LLS


29 posted on 12/03/2010 4:51:39 AM PST by LibLieSlayer (WOLVERINES!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: The Comedian

Yes you are absolutely right, its all about her making deals on earmarks, Alaskan politics is nothing but pork.


30 posted on 12/03/2010 4:56:54 AM PST by Eye of Unk (If your enemy is quick to anger, seek to irritate him. Sun Tzu, The Art of War.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

Lisa will probably get her win.

Since she played so dirty she deserves all the misery Joe Miller can dish her way.

I hope he keeps it going just for fun if nothing else.


31 posted on 12/03/2010 4:57:24 AM PST by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson