Coleman And Franken Make A Deal

Minnesota Public Radio reports that Sen. Norm Coleman and challenger Al Franken have struck a deal on disputed absentee ballots in their recount.

The plan they've submitted, which must be reviewed by the Minnesota Supreme Court, would count rejected absentees only if both sides agree they were wrongly cast aside.

The proposal draws out the process past the high court's end-of-the-year deadline. It could leave Minnesota without a decision on who won the race until after the new class of Senators is sworn in on Jan. 6.

Ritchie said concluding the work in time for the new session of Congress is not something he's at all concerned about.

"We've been really clear in saying our top priority is accuracy and transparency and the timing thing is just not our issue," [Secretary of State Mark] Ritchie said. "I want to put an underline, we don't care as long as it's accurate and we've done it in an accurate and transparent way. We don't care when it's done."

Coleman, meanwhile, lost a bid to have 16 discarded challenges reconsidered. His only current hope seems to lie in dubious legal maneuvers, such as using the Election Day results over the recount results in 25 specific precincts.

UPDATE: The Minnesota Supreme Court has granted a request from the Franken and Coleman campaigns to approve a framework for counting wrongly-rejected absentee ballots.

Comments

[gcallaghan]

I'll take Pending Double-Crosses for 1,000, Alex.

[XFilesTheTruthIsOutThere]

Why am I not surprised that repukelicans are calling Al a cheat. Like I said yesterday here, if they can't lie, cheat or steal an election, they'll whine and cry that the other side has cheated.

Get use to calling Obama your president and Franken the new senator from MN.

Go Al!!!!

[Imzadi]

Microstation7 - another new 527 heard from. ZZZZZZZZZZ...

[baghdadjoe]

It's time for Coleman to concede. He'll be going to jail soon anyway.

[jnratliff]

Good point baghdadjoe, but on the bright side norm will be there with all his friends! cunningham, stevens, abramhof, I'm not exactly sure but I think his name is nye the one from Ohio. If we get really lucky the rolls could be increased by maybe another 600 or so before it's done. I hope!

[AZterritory]

They could have hired this recount out to the state kindergarten classes and had it done faster.

[nellie]

What's your hurry?

[Grunty1]

Al, I'd recommend that you go over the ones that voted for YOU first. I guarantee that NoMorals Coleman will argue against every single one of yours.

[klevenstein]

The reasoned approach (!what a concept!) the the MN SOS is taking will emphasize how wrong Katherine Harris was when she hurried Bush into certified winner status (thus setting the stage for him to be approved by the SCOTUS). That was a fiasco. This, on the other hand, will have been a transparent process in its entirety, and when the ultimate winner is certified, there will be very little doubt that it was the best possible determination. It will be clear that it doesn't hurt one bit to take the time needed to do this. The 2008 Senator from Minnesota will serve 6 years, and a few days lost from the start of his term will be relatively minuscule.

True American patriots understand America's democracy, and will have the patience to see our election system work properly to count as many legal citizens' votes as can be counted accurately.

[lizziekw]

"I want to put an underline, we don't care as long as it's accurate and we've done it in an accurate and transparent way. We don't care when it's done."

That's exactly the right attitude to have towards this.

I don't know about the "deal" they've struck. I'm not sure it's a good thing. Still, Franken's no fool and he has done well handling the recount so far. If it's all right with him then I guess it's okay.

Go Al!

[robertjames]

Talk about making a deal with the devil!

[lornejl]

Making a deal with a repub never works out well, I hope you know what you are doing Al.

[Angelic11]

Minnesota, the new Florida...only worse-
....z z z z z z z z z z z z z z

[Grunty1]

Except not even close.

[DeniseD]

At least they are counting every vote. That is the only fair way to determine the winner.

[willfarnaby]

Too bad that creep, Suxbush Shambliss, prevailed ! 60 seats... Especially since, all the evidence indicates that his initial victory was due strictly to the Rethugliecon Voting Machine Co.

[Microstation7]

Aw lying sore loser. Oh yea democrats never cheat.

[Tom Payned]

It's an interesting piece of observation that those who shout the loudest of wrongdoing on the side of one party, beleive it because that is why they have and would do in the same situation if the roles were reversed.

In other words, I think though doth protest too much.

Face it, the Rethugs got thumped nationwide the last two election cycles, not because of Dem cheating, but because the public woke up and saw what the 2000 and 2004 election did to our country, our budget, our home values, our standing abroad, our job security, and overall health and welfare.

[Brillig]

Wouldn't it be nice if everyone in the so-called greatest country on earth was able to fill out a simple ballot?

Then there would be no need for this timewasting and other rubbish.

Why not have each child in school practice filling out ballots as part of the general school curriculum?

Why not have states agree to keep the one simple version of the ballot so that this can be taught?

[OrbitOfOurOwn]

Dude, an ignorant, uneducated, incapable populace is all that keeps the Re.thugs in power. Why would they want to educate them (unless it was brain.wash.ing to say "only vote for those with an R next to their names"?

[NotMcCain]

The same standardized, consistent, easy to use and understand ballot design for every voter?

What a concept!

[Grunty1]

Go on NRP or Star Tribune and look at the DISPUTED ballots.
The vast majority of them were absolutely fine.

[lakat]

It would also be nice if there were no obstructions to voting, especially in traditionally Democratic areas. It would be nice if all ballots were counted. It would be nice if we had an amendment to the constitution that spelled out a citizen's right to vote and have it counted. It would be nice if there was jail time meted out to those who would deny a person's right to vote.

[dogwatch]

Good luck on that last vote that breaks the tie.

[tcuoohjohn]

No problemo... With Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins the Democrats have 61. Snowe and Collins as the last of the New England Republicans will vote with the Dems on critical issues to save their hides.

[ibsteve2u]

Ritchie said. "I want to put an underline, we don't care as long as it's accurate and we've done it in an accurate and transparent way. We don't care when it's done."

What the hell? Is Ritchie a Democrat or something?

[golferman]

No, he just said he wants an accurate count, you know count every vote. But I sure don't want Gore doing this. I want someone who will fight to have every vote counted.

[shockmagog]

And not Kerry either. Absolutely.