On Monday, the Minnesota State Canvassing Board certified Democrat Al Franken as the victor in the U.S. Senate race recount, beating incumbent Republican Norm Coleman by 225 votes. In a press conference the next day, however, Coleman rejected the Board’s ruling, vowing to wage a court battle to challenge the results. A trial will likely begin in 20 days, but “a Coleman lawyer said a decision may not be known until two months from now.”
Despite the potential for a prolonged legal battle, conservatives are urging to Coleman to fight on and promising to filibuster any Democratic attempts to seat Franken while litigation is pending. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), for instance, has said that he is solidly behind Coleman:
– “The race in Minnesota is not over,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said. “It’s well-established in the Senate: The way you get sworn in and the way you get seated is to show up with an election certificate. And that is determined under Minnesota law.” [1/5/09]
“The only people who have pronounced the Minnesota Senate race over are Washington Democrats, and the candidate who is the current custodian of the most votes,” McConnell said in a written statement released Tuesday. “The people of Minnesota certainly don’t believe this is over.” [1/6/09]
It’s interesting that McConnell is willing to let an election — which has already had a recount — hang in the air for two months. After all, less than a month after the 2000 election, McConnell was already demanding that Al Gore concede to George W. Bush. McConnell’s comments to the Lexington Herald-Leader on Nov. 27, 2000:
We’ve had a count, we’ve had a recount, we’ve had a recount of the recount. It’s been three weeks since the election and it’s time for Gore to be a statesman and give it up.
Karl Rove, another person who was obviously rooting for Gore to concede, also said on Hannity and Colmes earlier this week that “Al Franken cannot unilaterally declare himself the senator from the state of Minnesota and show up in Washington.”
coleman himself advised franken to concede right after the election...
January 8th, 2009 at 10:48 amKarl Rove, another person who was obviously rooting for Gore to concede, also said on Hannity and Colmes earlier this week that “Al Franken cannot unilaterally declare himself the senator from the state of Minnesota and show up in Washington.”
_____________
Uh, Karl? Franken didn't "unilaterally" declare himself the winner. The State of Minnesota OFFICIALLY declared him the winner.
Self-medicating again, Karl? It shows.
January 8th, 2009 at 10:48 amJust shut up, Mitch.
¶ AIO
January 8th, 2009 at 10:48 amWhat is it w/ wingnutters and their complete inability to accept reality?
January 8th, 2009 at 10:50 amThe way you get sworn in and the way you get seated is to show up with an election certificate
- - Not if your name is Roland Burris.
January 8th, 2009 at 10:51 amBadmoodman Says:
- - Not if your name is Roland Burris.
____________
Well, that one was different. It was ***God's Will***.
Roland don't need no stinkin' cert....
January 8th, 2009 at 10:53 amHypocrite Republic666ans? I'm shocked, shocked I tell you!
January 8th, 2009 at 10:56 amMitch McConnell (R-Ky.)?
Why do Kentukians hate America? They keep sending this human roadblock back again and again to obstruct the people's business and promote stupidity.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:02 amMaybe McConnell has had a change of heart since 2000 and regrets asking Gore to quit... HAHAHAA - sorry, couldn't keep a straight face.
.
The Republic of Stupidity Says:
What is it w/ wingnutters and their complete inability to accept reality?
They still believe they have the magical power to create reality, by going on talking-head shows and saying up is down.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:05 amJust 8 short years later reich-wingers soundly are "outraged" over election results not going their way. Hypocrites.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:05 amYeah, but that was before all the votes were counted.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:08 amOn the face of it we have both senate majority and minority leadership roles being held by persons who may actually have no leadership capabilities.
Both got their positions by maneuvering, manipulating and deal making.
The good news is that finally we have an incoming President who does have sound leadership skills.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:14 amA couple of days ago, one of the trolls used Mitch McConnell as an example of a Republican with impressive "stature".
It really burns when hot coffee shoots out of your nose.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:14 am"Impressive stature" = Giant steaming pile of BS.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:26 amshoeless Says:
A couple of days ago, one of the trolls used Mitch McConnell as an example of a Republican with impressive “stature”.
He may not have the stature, but I bet he has an impressively wide stance, in public bathrooms.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:28 amThat picture up top there? Go look at it.
That's his "bedroom face."
January 8th, 2009 at 11:28 amThose poor Republicans. Just eight years ago, they were toasting one another on permanent hegemony in the U.S. Now they're whining and threatening useless court battles. That must really hurt.
Wingnutania:
January 8th, 2009 at 11:29 amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVPy-ejcbjM
vomit...
January 8th, 2009 at 11:30 amStatesmanship went the way of Wall Street. Greed and hypercompetition killed both.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:30 amI could have gone all day without that image burning in my brain, ElBruce... >shudder<
Amazing how when the tables are turned, the Republicans wind up acting exactly the same way they've accused the Democrats of acting. And yet, the Democratic leadership still seems to feel that the Republicans are in charge....
January 8th, 2009 at 11:31 amHypocrisy... it's the reich-wing way.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:33 amYo, Mitchie - STFU, you chinless whining pile of dogcrap.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:44 amthe way you get seated is to show up with an election certificate. And that is determined under Minnesota law.”
January 8th, 2009 at 11:51 amSo when Al shows up with his official Minnesota state election certificate in hand, will Mitchy allow him to insert it?
Have they realized yet that they are the minority party again?
And deservedly so.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:51 amNevar says:
Both got their positions by maneuvering, manipulating and deal making.
I'm not 100% sure, Nevar, but I believe Reid and Mitchell - both major league *ssholes - got their positions solely because of seniority.
You are absolutely correct neither are leaders, and as f***ed up as our US Senate is, I sincerely doubt either could have maneuvered their sorry, gutless *sses into their current positions.
I still shake my head in amazement when I hear Reid is a former "boxer". Yeah, if one considers a human punching bag a "boxer", I guess. Tonya Harding could fight Reid - in his prime - and whip that scrawny little f***s behind, I'm sure.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:55 amLokidog says
I’m not 100% sure, Nevar, but I believe Reid and Mitchell - both major league *ssholes - got their positions solely because of seniority.
Lokidog says he himself is an idiot. How could Reid have more seniority than the crypt keeping (but patriotic) Senatory Byrd from WV?
That f***er crawled in there the day Lincoln was assassinated, I believe.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:57 amI see a pattern forming in recent election disputes including Florida in 2000, the Washington State governor's race, and now this Minnesota Senate Race. In each case the Democrat has pledged to stay on through the legally allowed or mandated recounts while the Republican has gone to court to stop the recount.
In this latest case Coleman would have had Franken resign before the race was even called. Franken held on until after the mandated recount and came out on top. Asking your opponent to resign before the votes have been counted (or recounted) is no better than asking him to resign before the election. It's just stupid.
I hope Coleman holds on and runs again for the Senate in six years. He will lose just like crybaby Rossi did here in Washington. Actually, strike that, I hope Coleman finds himself in jail for accepting bribes.
January 8th, 2009 at 12:01 pmGet over it, Mitch. Your day is done. Contribute something positive or shut the F up.
January 8th, 2009 at 12:02 pmSeniority has something to do with the leadership positions, I'm sure, but not entirely. There are other murky factors I have never been able to understand...
January 8th, 2009 at 12:03 pmThere are other murky factors I have never been able to understand…
You and me both. And dontcha just know those SOBs just love it - and want it - that way.
January 8th, 2009 at 12:14 pmNevar Says:
Seniority has something to do with the leadership positions, I’m sure, but not entirely. There are other murky factors I have never been able to understand…
They get voted into those positions by members of their party, IIRC. Consider Noot Gingrich back when he was elected Speaker.
January 8th, 2009 at 12:19 pmShouldn't Mitch excuse himself to go watch young men sweating up and down a field?
January 8th, 2009 at 12:24 pmIt's obviously competence cause if it was Reid wouldn't be majority leader I know the caucus votes on it
January 8th, 2009 at 12:37 pmNevar Says:
Seniority has something to do with the leadership positions, I’m sure, but not entirely. There are other murky factors I have never been able to understand…
make that not competence like my mind
January 8th, 2009 at 12:39 pmThat was my only point, that these "leaders" don't have the skills to actually lead. They seem to be mere figureheads, parroting the party line, and when things go bad the mob fades into the background while the stooge takes the hits.
January 8th, 2009 at 1:18 pmKind of like ol' what's his name, president #43.
IOKIYAR
January 8th, 2009 at 1:44 pmWhen Democrats lose an election through fraud, disenfranchisement, stopping the counting of votes or intercession by the SCOTUS, that is quite all right -- just suck it up, dems.
But when Republicans lose an election because all votes werecounted, the election commission is one of the most respected, when the SC of the state approves the procedure, they still feel the necessity to go to court and contest the result.
Sucking it up is not for them; they prefer to whine, stomp their feet, hold their breath and make a scene, hoping someone will give them a lollipop to shut up.
McConnell Urges Coleman To Fight On, Despite Urging Gore To ‘Be A Statesman’ And Concede In 2000
only a fool expects anything but totally hypocrisy from a republican.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:16 pm.
Is Mitch McConnell still the biggest idiot in Washington? Just asking.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:46 pm