Minnesota ruling favors Franken as recount looms

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Sen. Norm Coleman has failed in an attempt to block some absentee ballots from being counted in his close race with Democrat Al Franken.

A Ramsey County judge on Saturday denied the request because of lack of jurisdiction. The incumbent Republican had tried to block 32 ballots from heavily Democratic Hennepin County.

Coleman's campaign says the ballots were not counted on Election Day or were not kept in sealed boxes. It says the request was made amid "increasing questions about unexplained and improbable shifts in vote counts."

The most recent vote tally has Coleman leading Franken by only a couple hundred votes. A recount is planned.

Comments

[AverageDude]

I am not into comedians being leaders. However, Al is determined to make a difference and I support him 200%.

[Georgia1992]

I agree with you. Also, I'm not into actors running for political offices. Look at California.

[olephart]

Reagan?

[incontempt]

perhaps,...a ponder though, comedians are acutely aware of the injustices and troubles, "whats wrong with this picture" sort of thinking. after all, most comedians draw their material from actual events and ironies.

[metogamekun]

I had the pleasure of being involved in a project a few years ago that included Al Franken. He was smart, made excellent contributions to the project and worked his butt off. I was very impressed, not really having known much about him before.

We could do much worse than having Al in the senate (and have.)

[majorteddy]

Every 4 years the Republican National Committee allocates a certain portion of their budgeted campaign funds to suppress the vote court challenges and suppress the vote maneuvers to keep as many ballots form being counted as possible with the knowledge that a larger portion of Democratic voters are poor uneducated people who makes minor mistakes in voting that by stricter rules would disqualify votes where intent was clear. This is an election strategy and is not just something that happens.

[larmarch5]

So true. Now I urge every reader here to contact your state legislators and encourage them to initiate laws making vote by mail available in your state. It will absolutely increase voter participation, improve voting accuracy, reduce costs of elections, and reduce voter suppression. Look at the states that had mail-in ballots and voter turnout compared to those that don't. This is not "absentee" ballots. All we have to do in CA is call, write, or go on-line to request a mail-in ballot. Then we can mail it in, or drop it off at a polling place. Fantastic!

[MDinOK]

Do you have to request the ballot or does the state or your local election office mail all registered voters a ballot even if not requested?

[jeffrey678]

Conservative paul Weyrich on you tube in 1980.

[JulieSA]

To Democrats, enforcing election laws=voter suppression. Dems are pro-fraud, unfortunately. Every effort made by those who want to make the system cleaner and more transparent in fought by the Dems.

[Marcozi]

Right. that's why Norm is trying to stop the recount mandated by state law.

LOL. Try again.

[lefty247]

Please Ala, Please Budda, please multi-million year old man in the clouds or outer space- let Franken win.

I luv Al Franken...he is an American treasure....and a win would be soooo icing on the cake---

[crossoverwriter]

GOOoo, Franken, we need you!!!!

[larmarch5]

I just want to see Billo's head explodes when Al is declared the winner. Have you noticed how the Faux Gnus boyz look kind of like wax figures starting to sag and melt?

[Mattie]

I live in MN, and had the privilege of voting for AL Franken. We will have to wait until the middle of December to know the outcome, but I am hopeful. I'm hopeful that he will govern in the way that Paul Wellstone did, and bring some integrity back to Washington

[glesslib]

If Norm was a pretty decent Senator in Minnesota, this wouldn't even be close. So none of these typical party shenanigans are surprising. It will sound funny to say "Senator Al Franken", but I am sure we'll all get accustomed to it. He's a very smart and funny guy. Emphasis on the smart part.

[Americatortures]

But...he's NOT!!!(Coleman is not a decent senator!)

[BluePrideSMW]

Comedy takes mucho brains... that's why there aren't very many right-wing comedians. I'm keepin' my fingers crossed.

The Obamas are Moving On UP!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf3uGsMxsoQ

A sublime Moms Mabley version of Abraham, Martin & John. It's President-Elect Obama's Legacy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge32xtm23rQ

[Mattie]

good point, Ann Coulter is always saying how funny she is.....I guess I just don't get her humor!

[Mannock]

Sure she's hilarious...in a Julius Streicher way.

[courageunderfire]

I have never once seen Ann Coulter say anything remotely funny, as long as I have seen her. Although I must admit that I get physically ill at the mere site of her, and change the chanel immediately!

[glesslib]

Gee, you don't find Dennis Miller's whimperings funny?

[Americatortures]

Why isn't the GOP EVER embarrased about squelching the votes-about keeping Americans who voted from having their votes count...not only in Minny...but in every part of the country where they can get away with this brand of anti-democratic activity???

[RepublicanMicky]

And Al smells "GREAT",.....just doesn't have that "LOSER BUSH" smell........

[Americatortures]

Coleman smells like old carp!!!

[ObamanKenobi]

We also need to contact anyone we know in GA and rally them in the runoff behind Martin. It's looking like Stevens will win Alaska and then be forced out, because the GOP don't want his conviction hanging over their minority heads. It's likely Sarah Palin will become the Senator that prevents us from having the 60 member majority. She's like a fly on the wall that you just can't swat!

But yes, things look good for Franken but we also need to help out in GA.

[Americatortures]

The Republicans are ALWAYS the ones who do NOT want to count all the votes cast.....yes....the UN-AMERICAN ONES!!!

[whatchamean]

based on the 2.9 million votes cast, there will be around 11,600 "spoiled ballots". Optical scanners need to be able to read the ballot and cannot do so if someone uses a check mark or circles the choice. Lot of new (Obama) voters who will may have not understood the process. Looking very good for Al right now. Coleman has proven to be the skunk we all new he was. Sory for the citizens of MN
if he wins.

[ObamanKenobi]

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/34116044.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUs

I think Coleman is reeeeeeeally scared of the recount because they have 25000 ballots that did not record Senate votes, because the scanners did not pick them up. The recount would count these votes, and 18000 of these ballots are in Obama-leaning counties.

It's safe to say, Franken WILL be the new Senator by a significant margin

[w&cheneysuck]

I sure hope your stats are correct!

[brownforall]

Im hoping your right on that too!

[jazzman]

Let's keep praying. Minnesotans weren't very smart this election. They sent the single worst legislator, Bachman, back to Washington and now their on the verge of sending Coleman back as well. It kind of sully's the State's reputation as one of having good and effective politicians but maybe they'll get lucky and send the right person, Frankin, to Washington thus redeeming themselves from being the dumbest of the blue States this season.

[AxelDC]

"The Senator has reported all the gifts that he has ever received."

[TheBlueArsenal]

Does that include Paul Wellstone's tragic and untimely death? Which is the greatest gift this stooge ever received. It even outranks his birth. Man, I miss Paul Wellstone.