Franken-Coleman Senate race goes to trial

[jefferson_dem]

Source: Star Tribune

Franken-Coleman Senate race goes to trial
By KEVIN DUCHSCEHERE, Star Tribune

January 26, 2009

Today, the Great Minnesota Recount gets turned over to a new cast of characters.

In place of the state Canvassing Board, a three-judge panel will begin what could be a weeks- or months-long trial to decide who won Minnesota's U.S. Senate race.

The judges -- from St. Cloud, Minneapolis and Thief River Falls -- are largely unknown outside their community's legal circles.

One made a controversial ruling in a cop-killing case. Another hangs her kindergarten diploma in her office. The third has "the patience of Job," according to a colleague, which might not be a bad qualification in the weeks ahead.

The three now will hear testimony and inspect evidence on the recount, which ended three weeks ago when the Canvassing Board certified results showing DFLer Al Franken with a 225-vote lead over Republican Norm Coleman.

The judges already have shown each side their capacity for firm action. On Thursday, they rejected Franken's motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The next day, they swept aside Coleman's request to have inspectors fan out across the state in search of problem ballots.


Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/38303479.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUs

[annabanana]

1. Interesting article...

Most of the comments thus far seem to think that Coleman's chances are slim to none.. and one stipulates that this is primarily a stalling tactic to keep a Democratic vote out of the Senate for as long into Obama's first 100 days as possible....

[No Elephants]

2. I want to know only 1 thing: Who appointed these judges, a Dem or a Pub?

[DallasNE]

3. Read The Article

One was appointed by Ventura, one by a Rep and one by a Dem that has a husband Judge appointed by a Rep.

[No Elephants]

11. Thanks. Not great news, but thanks.

[The Wizard]

4. Coleman's Hail Mary

His political career is a wreck because he chose to be a venal shit bag and swim in Republican slime.
He can take his mouth full of Chiclets and sell real estate in a swamp. Norm Coleman needs to shuffle off the stage with his head down.

[Vinca]

5. Norm Coleman should be ashamed of himself. nt

[Demeter]

6. Good Grief! A New Election Would Be Cheaper and Faster

This is not serving the public, Coleman!

[sazemisery]

7. Self-serving bastards don't care about the public.

:mad:

[Bake]

12. But it would also open the door to new dirty tricks.

Let this one play out - Franken won it fair and square.

Bake

[footinmouth]

8. You can watch

You can watch today's proceedings here:

http://theuptake.org/

[peacetalksforall]

9. The opening remarks should be interesting. I would say both candidates are being given

a maximum opportunity to fight. I guess the thing to keep in mind to fight propaganda from the right is that the first recount was automatic BY LAW. The margin was within numbers written in the law that dicatated a recount. Neither one had to ask. This was when Coleman suggested Franken drop out - he has backtracked since then on whether that was right of him to ask/suggest. But, he then proceeded to request recount after recount of well coordinated recounts. I hope the opening remarks are understandable.

Hope we get AL.

[footinmouth]

10. Coleman has changed his position so many times

It just depends on whether he's ahead in the count or behind. He's gone from "don't count ANY of the absentee ballots" to "count ALL of the absentee ballots". I hope this fact is not lost on the court.

I'm looking forward to watching this online. I watched most of the recount proceedings.

[gkhouston]

15. Coleman has shifted position so many times, he's either got a bladder problem

or is inventing a new dance step for Dancing With the Stars.

One of the judges is from Thief River Falls. What a delicious place name. Sometimes the jokes just write themselves.

[brooklynite]

13. Trial is underway...

[brooklynite]

14. Who is "Mr Shehan"?

mentioned as a co-plaintiff with Colement

[gratuitous]

16. This could take weeks or months?

Grand. The only way this could take that long is if the panel re-adjudicates every issue the state Canvassing Board has already ruled on. I hope the Minnesota legislature is taking note of this. State law that prevents even provisional seating of a candidate-cum-elected official until all challenges are resolved serves no one except obstructionists.

If anyone knows, I'd appreciate any information on the finality of the three-judge panel's rulings. Is there an appeal to the state court of appeals and state supreme court available? Or is the panel's decision final? Because this is a highly cock-eyed way to run a state, held hostage to sore losers who can't accept defeat.

[Pryderi]

17. WHAT A SORE-LOSERMAN!