MN-Senate; Norm Coleman to speak to media in St. Paul

[anokaflash]

Source: StarTribune

Norm Coleman to speak to media in St. Paul

By KEVIN DUCHSCHERE, Star Tribune

Last update: January 6, 2009 - 12:43 PM

Republican Norm Coleman, who received 225 fewer votes than DFLer Al Franken in the U.S. Senate recount, will speak to the media at 3 p.m. (Central) today in St. Paul.

It will be Coleman's first public appearance in Minnesota since the recount results were certified Monday by the state Canvassing Board.

Coleman's campaign didn't say what he will talk about, but it's expected that he will announce whether he will file a lawsuit challenging the results of the recount,.

Under state law, Coleman has seven days to file a challenge. If Coleman decides to contest the election, Franken can't be certified as the winner until the legal process runs its course. U.S. Senate officials say that Franken won't be seated as Congress convenes today.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/37148069.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DU

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Anything short of concession is political hara-kari, so I am leaning concession.

Live video and comment thread at theUptake. theUptake has been providing an invaluable first hand look at the entire recount process.

Flash
Centrisity

[tekisui]

1. I am thinking concession too,

although he is a son-of-a-bitch, so there is no telling.

[Turbineguy]

2. Here's a suggestion:

"It's now time for me to shut the fuck up."

Nice and concise.

[bluestateguy]

3. I'll look forward to his concession

nt

[geardaddy]

4. Nope.

He'll declare himself the winner. He's a slime.

[Mnpaul]

5. It over folks

Carlson says Coleman should consider dropping election fight
The former governor said of a court battle: "I don't think it's winnable." Coleman will speak to reporters this afternoon.

Former Republican Gov. Arne Carlson said today that Norm Coleman should consider bowing out of the U.S. Senate election dispute.

"I don't think it's winnable," said Carlson, who served from 1991-99.

He said a court fight by Coleman contesting a recount that favors Democrat Al Franken could hurt the Republican's image.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/37153744.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUT

[Bluzmann57]

6. "....Could hurt the Republican's image."

Too late. It's damaged almost beyond repair. So just give up Normie. Just say the two words you should have said a long time ago. "I quit."

[liberalhistorian]

16. That grave-dancing Bushbot is too arrogant

and egotistical to even consider conceding. I'd love nothing more than to hear him say those two little words in less than a half an hour, but I really doubt that'll happen. He'll just spout out more sour grapes-and-lemons nonsense about how he's the real winner and the people of Minnesota expect him to fight and deserve him as their senator and he can't let them down now, yaddayadda blahblah.

[struggle4progress]

7. GOP former guv joins Mondale in calling for Coleman to concede

... Former Gov. Arne Carlson, who attended the 1996 event during which Coleman switched parties to become a Republican, predicts Coleman will lose any lawsuit he files. Carlson, who supported Coleman’s ‘98 gubernatorial bid, also said that a protracted battle, after 62 days of recounting, would hurt Coleman’s public image. By contrast, he said, “There’s no disgrace in losing.” He joins former Vice President Walter Mondale in calling for Coleman to throw in the towel ... http://minnesotaindependent.com/22146/former-gop-gov-carlson-urges-coleman-to-concede-3-pm-presser-set

[opihimoimoi]

8. Unless he has eyes on Stealing the damn seat...he will concede to make himself

available for future campaigns..

Right now...he is looking like bitter lemons and sour grapes

[DrDan]

9. a concession? No way . . .

not going to happen. It will be tied up in the courts as long as possible.

[anokaflash]

10. Its a money thing

If he fights and loses, he has to pay Franken's legal tab for the challenge.

Even if Norm wins all outstanding issues Franken still comes out on top. Coleman is in a lose-lose and his only hope for political resurrection and a potential shot at Governor in 2 years when T-Paw opts out for a National run is to get out while the getting is good.

theUptake.org live blog is nor running. About a half hour away from the statement. No leaks yet.

Flash
Centrisity.com

[struggle4progress]

11. ... Coleman has scheduled a media availability Tuesday at 4 pm EST in St. Paul ...

Reid calls on Coleman to concede
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/reid-calls-on-coleman-to-concede-2009-01-06.html

The Uptake reports that Norm Coleman will be speaking at 4 pm ET today in Minnesota
Coleman To Speak Today: What Will He Do?
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/01/coleman_to_speak_today_what_will_he_do.php

Link to The Update video feed: http://theuptake.org/
Another copy is embedded at: http://minnesotaindependent.com/22146/former-gop-gov-carlson-urges-coleman-to-concede-3-pm-presser-set

Video went on circa 3:25 & shows set-up crew activity; currently I'm not getting sound

[struggle4progress]

14. Sound just came on for theuptake.org feed

Sounds like there are a number of people in the room, though the camera is only showing an empty podium

[struggle4progress]

18. Sound reduced / mike placed at podium

[struggle4progress]

20. Looks like standing room only / maybe some seated on floor

[struggle4progress]

21. Lost feed / bet the crowd tripped over the cable

[struggle4progress]

22. "I'm instructing my legal team to file an election contest"

[struggle4progress]

27. "We'll take a couple of minutes to let the hall clear and then we'll take some questions regarding

the contest that has been served and filed"

[struggle4progress]

29. Lawyer Fritz Knaak & Tony Trimble: validity of unreviewed absentee ballots,

double votes in Minneapolis & other excess votes, 133 missing ballots in Minneapolis should not have been counted; inconsistent decisions by canvassing board; more votes in precinct than voters

this action in state court but federal issues exist; supreme court will appoint three judges; plan to use discovery process, leaving all options open in pleading, potentially could review the entire recount; normal civil trial; expect it to take month and half to two months

[geardaddy]

31. Great...

:puke:

[struggle4progress]

30. Event is over / feed still live

[struggle4progress]

32. Mike McIntee recapping

[struggle4progress]

33. Suit filed in Second District Court / Ramsey County

Court website: http://www.mncourts.gov/district/2/
suit doesn't seem to appear on court website yet

plaintiffs are Coleman & his communications director Sheehan as eligible voter

objects to canvassing board conclusion franken had most votes
incorrectly describes Coleman as current US Senator from MN
objects to official certificate
650 absentee ballots erroneously excluded

<on edit:>
ballots counted twice: duplicate issue, ballots found during recount, ballots lost but counted, rejected absentee ballots opened but counted despite alleged objections by Coleman campaign

[struggle4progress]

34. Franken will respond at 5 PM EST from DFL HQ

[struggle4progress]

36. theuptake.org feed plans to cut to Franken response when it begins

[struggle4progress]

38. Technical difficulties

[struggle4progress]

39. Franken response is up

Lawyer Marc Elias speaking

[struggle4progress]

40. Franken response ended

[truthisfreedom]

12. Interesting. If we had a betting pool, I'd lean toward lawsuit.

He's such a weasely bastard I doubt he has the heart to help out Minnesota in our time of crisis by doing the right thing.

[brentspeak]

13. My bet is that he concedes...but claim he was a victim of election robbery

He's going to portray himself as the victim to play up public sympathy and shore up his chances for the governorship in two years.

[gratuitous]

15. Put me down for a shiny nickel on lawsuit

The Empty Suit didn't get his nickname for nothing!

[mikelgb]

17. feed is up!

[mikelgb]

19. here we go

[DebbieCDC]

23. Gee, all of a sudden a repuke wants to count all the votes

He's filing a suit

[ogneopasno]

24. He can sod right off, because he knows all the votes were counted.

[Tempest]

25. Except for the votes his lawyers didn't want counted

Coleman has been a major league hypocrite when he talks about wanting all the votes counted.

[GinaMaria]

26. The repukes are in the fight of their lives right now

They will fight with whatever they have and do whatever it takes to gain political positions. Dem leadership needs to wake up and realize that just because they won the election doesn't mean the war is over. War is never over to the repukes no matter what or who they have to destroy to get ahead.

[Deja Q]

35. Quite. With Normie saying it was a waste of taxpayer money and holding things up, he is simply being

inexcusably petty.

He should have been for full recounts from the start.

If the situation were reversed, my opinion would not change and I'd be calling Franken a pathetic ass's butt instead of calling Coleman a pathetic ass's butt.

Norm: Save taxpayers the money you wanted to do from the start. If only you were hyping up counting all the votes from the start...

Norm, step down. Please. At least allow your exit to have a little dignity.

[geardaddy]

28. kick

n/t

[LittleWoman]

37. St Paul Pioneer Press says he is going to file suit

All Headlines
Coleman sues over Minnesota Senate recount result
By Jason Hoppin
[e-mail]
Updated: 01/06/2009 03:43:01 PM CST


Norm Coleman, backed by his supporters, at a press conference at the State Office building in St. Paul where he announced his legal plans to contest the senate election. (Ben Garvin)
Acknowledging that he is pushing Minnesota's 2008 U.S. Senate race into "uncharted waters," former Republican Sen. Norm Coleman said today he is filing a lawsuit over a recount that ended with DFL challenger Al Franken holding a 225-vote lead.

While the contest has not yet been filed in Ramsey County District Court, Coleman suggested it would focus on two issues — the alleged double-counting of duplicated ballots, and the handling of mistakenly rejected absentee ballots, a process the Coleman campaign has criticized.

"I really believe that the people of Minnesota want to make sure that we get this right, no matter what side of the aisle you're on," Coleman told supporters and reporters at a Capitol press conference this afternoon.

<http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_11387054?nclick_check=1>

The weasel strikes again!