Franken gains big in count of new Minn. ballots

[DogPoundPup]

Source: Chicago Examiner

Democrat Al Franken pushed his lead in Minnesota's Senate recount above 220 Saturday as state and campaign officials counted absentee ballots that weren't part of the original election tally.

Franken netted at least 175 votes more than Republican Norm Coleman in the review of the formerly sealed absentee ballots. There were more than 900 in the pile that were counted Saturday.

The count came on the day Coleman's term as senator officially expired. He entered this step trailing Democratic challenger Al Franken by 49 votes.

The ballots under consideration were among those rejected by poll workers but later found to be excluded in error. The campaigns later agreed they should be added to the recount.

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/a-1774658~Franken_gains_big_in_count_of_new_Minn__ballots.html

[nosmokes]

1. Yip!

[scarletwoman]

2. Just announced on the local news, count is done, Franken ahead by 220 votes.

Coleman already had filed a suit over approx 600 other ballots. The state election board doesn't certify the election for one week, and that's only if it doesn't go to the state Supreme Court, which it no doubt will.

sw

[wordpix]

45. What's the makeup of the MN Supreme Court? In Gore v. Bush, those supremes were wretched

[glinda]

59. INTELLIGENT.

DON'T WORRY.

[Poll_Blind]

3. K&R! (and crossing fingers)

PB

[Thor_MN]

4. Not fully official yet, but Franken by 225.

Given that Normie would need to win multiple challenges in order to affect the outcome, it's time for him to concede and allow Al to be seated as Minnesota's Junior senator. For the good off the state, it makes no sense to hold up seating the people's choice of senator, costing the state seniority but fruitless challenges.

[alfredo]

6. So, Norm could hold up Al for years if he refuses to concede, no matter

how bad he was beaten. Cornyn said he would prevent Al from being seated.

[dflprincess]

32. If Norm has any delusions about somehow having a future in Minnesota poltics he'd do just what you

suggest.

I don't know if the little weasel can bring himself to do that though. Wouldn't you just love to hear the coversation at the Coleman home tonight? I imagine Laurie must be getting pretty anxious to get back to California - I'm sure she never expected the part of "dutiful political wife" to drag on for so long this year. :evilgrin:

[truthisfreedom]

5. Amazing. I'm thrilled. Now let's get that obstructionist son of a bitch out of the way so we can

seat our duly-appointed Senator for the Great State of Minnesota!

[Mad_Dem_X]

7. F***in' A!

GO, AL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sultana]

8. Come on Franken

[jemsan]

10. I contributed more money to Al Franken's campaign than any other....

and I consider it money WELL spent! And I live in California!

[HopeHoops]

11. I contributed a very small amount - PA here.

[Sultana]

14. Fantastic!

I'm sure he appreciated your support. :)

[onehandle]

39. So did I. Worth every penny. Say it, falafel boy...

"Senator Al Franken."

[TuxedoKat]

65. Me too!

Except for Obama's, and I'm in in NY. Congratulations Sen. Franken!

[mt13]

66. i contributed too..

from Connecticut!

i love Al Franken and not just for his comedy. i think he is honest and an all-around good person.

[Hope And Change]

9. K & R!

:kick:

[NewJeffCT]

12. I look forward to Norm's concession speech tonight

I mean, he said when he was ahead that he wouldn't challenge the results if he were behind...

[Pab Sungenis]

Fine. That's more than all the ballots that Normy says were double counted

even if all of those went to Franken, which was not the case. Thus, even if he wins in court about those ballots, he can't win the election.

Seat Franken.

[RiverStone]

20. Lets hope then that Coleman will concede --- ASAP. He lost, fair and square. n/t

[Pab Sungenis]

23. He won't because of Law of the Universe #1

#1: Republicans have no shame.

[Graybeard]

13. That noise is Bill-O the Clown's head exploding.

Senator Franken. Senator Franken. Senator Franken.

Put that in your loofah! :rofl:

[Fluffdaddy]

15. I can't wait for Billy-O to say Senator Franken for the frist time

:nuke:

[Mnpaul]

26. Billo told us Franken would get a knock on the door

and his life would change


http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1013043mackris12.html
I don't think he thought the person at the door would be congratulating Franken for becoming our next Senator though.

[Gman]

30. I would pay HUGE BUCKS to see Ailes congratulate Franken

LOL!

[wordpix]

46. reportedly Murdoch isn't happy with Billo & Co. Murdoch's young wife is reportedly liberal

Maybe someone should send this transcript to Mr. and Mrs. Murdoch so they can see who they've hired in Billo the Clown.

[wordpix]

47. oh man, I never read the complaint against Billo the Clown until now. Geesh

What a friggin pig :puke:

[Bette Noir]

52. I hope Keith's back from vacation on Monday.

I can't wait to hear his take.

[LeftHander]

72. Coultergist is feeding on the smoldering scraps and dead bats...nt

[Joanne98]

16. YAY

[creeksneakers2]

17. HOOOORRRAAAAYYYY!!!!!

Al is going to be the best Senator ever!

[jmowreader]

53. Yes he will...

He's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggone it, 220 more than half the voters in Minnesota like him!

[Kajsa]

18. That's the best news I've heard all day!

:)

[LaPera]

19. Franken will be the next US Senator from MN - Giving the Dems 59 votes in the senate.

(including Sanders & Lieberman)....No matter what democrat is given the senate seat in IL (it's the democrats seat to give to whom they can agree on).

[natrat]

21. nah ...reid will cut some back room deal to keep him out

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

22. Next up: Cornyn

:rofl:

[backscatter712]

29. Hopefully these latest counts will take some of the wind from Cornyn's sails.

With Franken getting more of a lead from the latest recounts (that Coleman suddenly pushed for), it'll be a lot harder to justify filibustering admission of a senator that is winning fair and square.

[The Wizard]

64. Cornyn needs to be targeted

by the DOJ for distributing kiddie porn.
Make him deny it.
Perhaps the Senator from Texas didn't get the memo (election results).
Hillbilly governance crashed on November 4, 2008.

[Piewhacket]

24. WOW! Go AL!

[opihimoimoi]

25. Come, we go light the Imu Fire, cook food for the LUAU

:wine: :whiskey: :beer: :toast:

[Doctor_J]

27. C'mon Norm. For the good of the Republic, concede gracefully

and soon. You must be running out of lawsuit money anyway.

[Lugnut]

28. Buh bye Normie.

Don't let the door hit you.

[pitchforksandtorches]

31. May Senator Al Franken be touched by the Flying Spaghetti Monster's

noodly appendage!

And may he share his pasta only with the Rethugs who cooperate.

[earcandle]

40. Great! I am friends with the spaghetti monster on myspace.

I even bought his book.  

[stlsaxman]

33. So, can we call this done? Please?

Awesome news!

[jkilvik]

34. Major kudos to theuptake.org for their live coverage of the recount.

http://theuptake.org/

[davefromqueens]

35. Franken Wins Franken Wins

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's 58 plus Lieberman which means the GOP is going to have a very hard time filibustering.

There are very vulnerable Republicans in 2010 who while they MIGHT want to filibuster, will NOT be able to do so politically.

All we need is 1 republican of 41. I think Olympia Snowe can be brought into the fold.

[liberalhistorian]

56. Wow, what a wonderful birthday gift!

I normally don't like my birthday that much, but if it ends this way with a Franken win, woo hoooo!!!!!!!!!

[leftrightwingnut]

36. Woohoo!

Senator Al Franken! Gosh darn it, people like him!

[Deep13]

37. .

:spray:

[Deep13]

38. Rush Limbaugh is a big, fat idiot.

Just sayin' is all.

[lonestarnot]

41. Woohoo!

:bounce:

[Botany]

42. we are the champions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sogKUx_q7ig

[Shardik]

43. Uh-O.

Sorry, Norm.

:)

[TheCowsCameHome]

44. Let's hope this holds up. It is good news indeed.

[davidpdx]

48. The Coleman campaign is whining all the ballots aren't being counted

Including 650 ballots, then complaining about the 133 so called double votes and the 110 adjusted ballots because of the error on election night reporting in one country (can't remember which one). They still think this isn't over.

[pnwmom]

50. Do you know what these 650 votes are and why Coleman but not Franken

wants them counted?

[dflprincess]

54. I think (but don't quote me) that these 650 are absentee ballots

that, as of now, were considered to be properly rejected (though Coleman is now claiming their rejection was improper). "Strangely", these ballots are all from areas that would tend to favor Coleman.

[davidpdx]

61. Yes, that is correct by my understanding as well

But if they were properly rejected, then Coleman has no standing in his arguement.

The SoS also comment that many ballots were rejected because they were late by one day, including many military ballots and that he wanted to address that in the next legislative session.

[Mnpaul]

69. Properly rejected twice by local officials

Coleman agreed to the rules. No changing them now.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

49. If Coleman were to reverse this in court, then what?

[Bette Noir]

51. All fingers and toes crossed.

Franken is a good man.

[sonias]

55. Senator Al Franken

:woohoo:



Sonia

[glinda]

60. AL! AL! AL! AL!

:fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :applause:

[sonias]

67. One for Al, and Al for All in MN!

I'm sure he will do his best in representing everyone. The Norm Coleman voters may not like it initially but Al is a smart man, he's going to do his best for all of MN.

:fistbump:


Sonia

[glinda]

71. Yes. I am glad to have him represent me!

[happygoluckytoyou]

57. Abnorman Coleman.... ready to enjoy the fruits of retirement ! ! !

[oldtime dfl_er]

58. w00t

Can I start breathing again? I've been holding my breath on this one since election day!!

[go west young man]

62. I think it might be time for George Galloway to have himself a beer!

It was great watching George hand Coleman his ass to eat. Now the chickens have come home to roost.

[Kolesar]

63. So, Minnesotans don't value having a senator who looks like one of the Monkees?

(That's Mickey Dolenz, kids.)

[AlbertCat]

70. Well, Norm can take the last train to Clarksville.

[ooglymoogly]

68. Yeah "excluded in error" Thats the ticket.

This is one of the most important amongst the myriad ways elections are stolen; Amazing how these "errors always redound to pugs or dino's.