Coleman seizes on newfound ballots

[DemWynner]

Source: Twin Cities

Smith, the top elections official in Anoka County, dropped a minor bombshell Thursday in the courtroom where a lawsuit over Minnesota's U.S. Senate race was being heard. She testified that the county has found — within the prior 24 hours — a dozen or more ballots that were never counted in the statewide recount that ended last month.

While the number is not enough to overcome Democrat Al Franken's 225-vote lead over former Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, it suggests there might be other uncounted ballots in other counties. Only a handful of elections officials have testified in the recount trial so far.

...

In another development Thursday, Lillehaug and Coleman attorney Joe Friedberg also clashed over Friedberg's attempt to enter a single ballot — cast for Franken, no less — into the record.

The absentee vote had been rejected for having a signature problem, but the voter submitted an affidavit saying the vote was indeed his. It effectively would have given the Democrat a 226-vote lead, but Friedberg said he intended to argue that all similar ballots should then be accepted.
...



Read more: http://www.twincities.com/ci_11640761?source=most_emailed

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This is dragging out and they are grasping at straws. I hope Frankin will be seated soon, but it looks like they will be dragging this out for a long time.
There is a poll on this page that asks who is going to win. It 67% say Coleman. I am not sure if this is a Conservative paper or not.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. I bet you he printed some more

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. No bet. n/t

[w4rma]

2. A bill is pending in the state legislature to seat Franken while Coleman does his thing. nt

[LaPera]

11. What's the make up of the MN legislature, as far as how many Democrats & Repukes?

Does anyone know?

[mac56]

15. There are enough Dems (or DFL'ers, as we call them here)

to pass it, and override the Repug governor's veto.

[dflprincess]

3. This opens a whole different issue from what's being looked at now

I wonder where these ballots came from as I thought they were suppose to balance out the number of ballots recounted with what was counted on election night. Remember there was that problem with missing ballots in Minneapolis? (Which is in Hennepin County so these "found" ballots aren't those.)

[ReadTomPaine]

5. It's going to come down to who wants it more, not who is in the right...

Just like the 2000 & 2004 election cycles. On that account, given the tepid support for Franken by the national party, I'd say Ole Stovebolt Norm has got a shot at this. The GOP hates Franken with a white hot passion. They will expend resources, break laws and twist arms to defeat him. Will the Democratic party to the same in support of Al? The track record isn't a good one.

[depakid]

25. That would be a pretty good bet

One thing the Republicans can't have is someone to give them a dose of their own medicine- call them out for who and what they are- and ridicule them.

Why? Because it works.

[ejpoeta]

6. where do they keep finding these ballots?

i mean. if anything people ought to be examining the process of collection and storage of ballots because they keep coming up with more ballots!!

[DemWynner]

10. You are right

I thought about that too. We have very strict procedures for everything where I work, why isn't there a procedure that everyone needs to follow that makes sure that this doesn't happen? I think people get too sloppy with electronic counting and don't ever think about hand recounting. There may be some malice, but I think it is laziness and just not caring enough most of the time.

[ejpoeta]

14. oh, i wasn't trying to imply malice. sorry if i made it sound that way.

it just seems we have a lot of issues with how we are handling our ballots. i think the laziness and sloppiness is a big problem. what are we, a third world country!!

[DemWynner]

22. You didn't imply malice

I just read it a lot in DU threads. I am kind of an optimist and just think people are lazy and sloppy, not that it okay. I know that some people think this stuff is done on purpose, but I don't think it happens that much.

Sorry I made you think you implied that, that is not what I meant. :hug:

[underpants]

28. In "the trunk of a car"?

that was the Coleman fake story right after the election

[kickysnana]

7. Anoka Co Bachman territory -- possible set up?

The purpose is to either nullify the election or drag it out and this "might" do it if the judges fall for it.

[mac56]

16. Normy and his lawyers continue to play Calvinball.

Change the rules till you get the outcome you want. And no, it's not a surprise at all that it's from Bachmann land.

[McCamy Taylor]

8. Corporate America is desperate. Olympia Snowe has already indicated she will vote w/ progressives.

On social issues anyway. They are cooked unless they can steal this election.

[Critters2]

9. Oh, for fuck's, somebody call this thing already! nt

[tomhayes]

12. I thought the standard was fair and open elections

Not *perfect* elections.

I wonder if *all* elections would have these inconsistencies if examined this closely? I bet they would.

[madmom]

13. They don't want Franken to be able to vote on the stimulus bill.

[Politicalboi]

17. More than likely it's been FReeped

They are also doing it to Judd against Palin. I guess since Steel fired all their asses they have nothing better to do.

[Lost4words]

18. newfound ballots, hot off the press.

I guess he had in the trunk of his car. Golly how did theswe get there? Coleman was heard to say.

[SoCalDem]

19. l Franken should have been on TV EVERY DAY..

By withdrawing to the background, and "waiting for the law", he left the open field to Coleman....I thinkColeman will weasel his way back in, and if he does, he will keep that seat until he dies..

[No Elephants]

24. Franken and Coleman had an agreement not to attack each other. Coleman broke it. Read

http://www.alfranken.com/content/splash_recountBrief

[liberal N proud]

20. How in the hell do ballots remain hidden/lost for 5 months?

:wtf:

Are they just letting his lawyers print more ballots to make the outcome work their way?


:wtf:

[mdmc]

21. Go MN

:toast:q

[No Elephants]

23. May justice prevail. Go Al. Help Al by

donating to support his recount efforts. https://secure.alfranken.com/page/contribute If not, at least read his version of latest events. http://www.alfranken.com/content/splash_recountBrief

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

26. I don't understand what's going on here. I've been reading that Coleman has taken

another job with some consulting firm, knowing fully well that he has lost!

[IndianaGreen]

27. They want to prevent another Democratic vote in US Senate

The agenda is to scuttle Obama's legislative program, just as they did Clinton in 1993. This Minnesota thing is just a small skirmish in a larger war.

[crossroads]

29. ENOUGH ALREADY! Franklin has the most votes!

[xxqqqzme]

30. It seems it would have been cheaper & faster to

hold another election. It is only 6 years until the next election.

[AlinPA]

31. As slow as it's been this year, it looks like months or a year.

[dysfunctional press]

32. one more example why harry reid is a useless p.o.s. as majority leader...

:shrug:

doesn't the senate itself have the power to declare a winner in the race?

[AlinPA]

34. I don't know, but MN should be pushing harder for a resolution.

[BlueIdaho]

33. Wake me up when they find Jimmy Hoffa...

I'm sure find a ballot in his pocket too. These republicans are pathetic little shits.

[TEXASYANKEE]

35. What I find interesting about this ....

There has been nary a peep about this in the national media. We had to hear about B-Rod for weeks and weeks. And then days and days of Daschle's and Geither's tax problems. But it's crickets chirping when it comes to this contest.