Franken's Fate In Hands Of GOP Gov. Pawlenty

Politico:

The legal fight between Al Franken and Norm Coleman is headed to the desk of Gov. Tim Pawlenty -- a no-win predicament for a Minnesota Republican with his eye on a White House run in 2012.

Franken won big Tuesday when a three-judge panel allowed the review of no more than 400 absentee ballots in a race he currently leads by 225 votes. Coleman's camp says an appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court is coming; once that's done, the dispute lands in Pawlenty's lap.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[power1]

I don't this election should be called until every vote is counted.

[nicole473]

It has.....ov­er and over and over......­.what a crock.

[Grunty1]

Then you think it should be called in Franken's favor day. Congratulations.

[hjfraser2002]

They have. where have you been. Yes, they are allowing 400 more to be counted. But Coleman will have to get 313 of those votes to win. I think the lotto has better odds. This is a stalling tactic now. Coleman is being funded by the RNC to ensure the dems don't get that 59th seat for as long as possible.

[MrsGreebers]

I think the decision to pursue the case at a federal level will depend on how important the national GOP believes Pawlenty will be in the next election cycle. If he's someone they feel is viable on the national scene, they aren't going to support any effort by Coleman to extend this madness at the cost of Pawlenty's reputation.

My guess: Palin and Jindal are officially jokes at this point, Pawlenty is a well-spoken, highly presentable red gov in a blue state, and Pawlenty has (so far as I've noticed) behaved with impeccable graciousness and loyalty to the rule of law during this whole thing. Thus, indications are that he will not delay the certificate after the MSC rules, unless presented with a killer legal opinion OR a stay at the federal level. The GOP is running out of viable national figures and they aren't going to throw him away on a lost cause.

If, OTOH, they don't think Pawlenty is nationally important, they will support Coleman as long as they can in order to a) deny the Dems a critical vote and b) keep this platform for spreading lies about ACORN, election-stealing, etc.

[Imzadi]

Thank you for that very cogent analysis. I agree.

[dax49]

sounds like they are gearing up for a repeat of their florida "slight of hand"

[nicole473]

I agree. And I think we need to label these creeps as what they are ---- TRA.ITORS.

[SailFree]

The first thing one has to recognize is that there is absolutely no statistical evidence or theory by which a recount is any more accurate than the original count. I would submit it is likely to be MORE ACCURATE. The Democrats have had less time to cheat!

[Grunty1]

I'm surprised you didn't mention ACORN, parrot.

[joebloe]

So by your logic, Franken is the winner!!

Cool, let's seat him already!

[hjfraser2002]

PROJECTION. Read up on it and look in the mirror.

[dynagirl7371]

If a recount is no more accurate, then why did we do one at all? If I remember correctly, Coleman was crying for a recount until he realized that it appeared a second time that he had lost. At that point he wanted to omit some of the ballots while he was ahead. Cheating? I think you meant to say Republican­s/Coleman.

[stevi]

Pawlenty is in a lose-lose position. If he "does the right thing" he will never get another far right vote, if he goes the Coleman route his Presidential hopes are OVER! Of course, that bridge thing did it for me. If you cannot take care of your states main arteries how can you be trusted to take care of America's infrastructure? It is interesting how the bridge thing is over and nobody brings it up or asks questions, amazing.

I do no envy Pawlenty's political position one bit, he's done.

[Grunty1]

It couldn't have happened to a better guy.

[dashboard]

If T-Paw sides with Coleman he won't win re-election as Governor in 2010. He basically has shown his hand that he will run for President in 2012, that will be a huge sand pounding campaign as BHO will kick anybody that makes a run at him.

[dynagirl7371]

Um... Pawlenty's job IS to do the right thing. Remember, he's in a PUBLIC office representing the people of his own state??? He should be more worried about facing himself and his constituents than he is about heading to the White House. But for the record, we already know he's a weenie.

[ohmetoo]

This just goes to show you what a frivolous lawsuit is about. How obstructionism, the gop, the medical community, and big business work. That it is going on in our election process is a travesty in my opinion.

Us little people don't have the resources to mount this type of battle, monetary or any other resources. Who protects what is right and what is just?

[JoeTheBlogger]

another politico article ... yawn ....

[Lillopa]

why then pay or have judges?

[Jane43]

How tiresome. Even the biased Star Tribune that is linked in the article has it wrong.

"To be sure, the danger of seeming to be a sore loser has dogged both candidates in the topsy-turvy race: first Franken, when he pressed his right to a mandatory recount of Coleman's narrow election-night lead; and then Coleman, when he challenged the recount that left him 225 votes behind."

Franken didn't "press" anything. The operative word is "mandatory". Minnesota election law specifies a recount if a contest is within one half of one percent of the total vote.

[Dennim]

Coleman has conceded! It's over.

[sueinmn]

Not yet! He may have conceded only to procede to the next step. Seriously all the GOP need to be considered "enemies of the state". They are blocking justice, to prevent this country from moving forward and causing harm to its citizens. This really is no longer the game of politics. People's lives are being seriously destroyed and their should be something in our constitution to take these guys down and out of office!

[SailFree]

So combating election theft makes one an enemy of the state?

[JoeTheBlogger]

is this an april's fool joke? where did you get this?

[loax]

If Pawlenty does not do what is right, and in this case I mean declaring Franken the winner, his career is done!

[thaggas]

On the flipside, if Pawlenty drops Al Franken into the Senate, he'll never get another GOP vote ever again.

[Mavsreader]

Do republicans plan to win the presidency without independents? Good gravy, if repubs can't get behind a guy that's doing what is right for his state...ho­w does the GOP expect to draw people in? HInt:The base will be there. A fatally flawed organization--but of course carry on.

[sueinmn]

Law will require he sign the certification to seat Franken whether his pundits like it or not. Palenty hasnt a choice any longer.

[KrystynM]

Maybe he won't need them....

[Jeff1958]

Playing politics in determining a winner and seating a Senator is decidedly fascist or communist or something evi|, but it sure as he|| isn't American and it's not democratic (with a lower case d).

[nicole473]

just another symbol of everything that the repubs have wrought.

[Grunty1]

[decidedly fascist or communist or something evi|, ]

When you throw out random buzzwords like that, it makes your sound like a Rushpublican. Beware the dark side!

[master09]

If Pawlenty does'nt honor the majority vote of his citizen then this country is finish as a republic; the only thing left are groups of people that call themselves democrates, republicians and the joe the plumbers. It will also show that the republicians are hell bent on destroying this country.

[SailFree]

I do not think this was a majority vote of the citizens. It was election thievery as was the Al Gore attempt in 2000 in Florida. That was thwarted, but Democrats have become sneakier thieves since then.

[nicole473]

Have you been treated for your delusional thinking? If yes, I suggest that you demand a refund. Seriously.

[Grunty1]

[I do not think ]

Should have stopped right there. At least then your post would have been accurate.

[poco767c]

No taxation without representation. Minn needs to demand either a Senator or cessation of taxes.

[MrsGreebers]

Or 50% reduction in federal income taxes. Go for it! File the suit!

[hortonhearsawho2]

Wonder if coleman's g.rave will one day file an appeal...

[poco767c]

The estate of the late former senator Coleman.