Will Coleman concede? "Hell no," says RNC head

[brooklynite]

Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

If the state Supreme Court doesn't declare Norm Coleman the winner of Minnesota's vacant U.S. Senate seat, he'll take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court, according to the head of the national Republican Party.

If the court, which hears arguments in the case on June 1, rules in favor of Al Franken, "then it's going to the federal courts," said Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Asked over the weekend if Coleman should concede to Franken if the Democrat is declared the winner, Steele replied, "no, hell no. Whatever the outcome, it's going to get bumped to the next level. This does not end until there's a final ruling that speaks to whether or not those votes that have not been counted should be counted. And Norm Coleman will not, will not jump out of this race before that."

Although many of Coleman's powerful GOP allies in the Senate have strongly hinted that his fight would go on in the federal courts, Steele's comments are the strongest suggestion to date that such a fight is considered inevitable.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/44725302.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DU

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Maybe Steele feels he needs to reassert his macho (again) after giggling too much at the WHCD and chiding Republicans for their religious bigotry?

[diane in sf]

1. Sorest loserman ever

[No Elephants]

35. On this issue, my vote for loserman may have to go to Reid, who should have seated Franken long ago.

[MrModerate]

2. I'd like to get Franken in his seat, but . . .

This is shredding the 'Licans' already tattered credibility a little more each day. In total, this hurts them more than it hurts us. And unless Coleman and Co. think the Supremes are going to willingly jump in the cesspool like they did in December 2000, it's exquisitely pointless.

Go Norm, go!

[blueclown]

3. And hopefully the US SCOTUS promptly rejects their petition.

Eat shit, Steele.

[AlinPA]

9. No way. The republicans control the US SC. They'll take the case and seat Coleman.

[The Hope Mobile]

18. Considering its a lot of the same folks, you have a point.

This is all they have to hang onto anymore. This seat is extremely important to them. I have no idea HOW they could drum up the votes to seat Coleman but I bet Coleman's lawyers already have that figured out and I bet some of SCOTUS already knows the plan. Hate to be so cynical but I wouldn't put anything past these guys anymore. Hopefully Roberts has more scruples than that but I wouldn't count on it.

[MrModerate]

25. Supremes have long memories and are more protective of their legacy . . .

Than other government functionaries. I think the that Thomas, Scalia and (who?) realize that they will always be footnoted with Bush's unjustified accession to the presidency. They'll be shy (well, not Scalia). Whatever else he is, Roberts is a pro. Alito is a dick, but I still think 6-3, maybe 5-4 for Franken is the worst it'd get.

[Mudoria]

30. I agree... I don't think the SC, most of them anyway, want to hear this case at all

I have a feeling they'll reject the appeal outright and not let themselves get caught in the middle of another election nightmare that's could turn into another black mark on their "legacy".

[The Hope Mobile]

33. I sure hope you're right

but, again, I wouldn't be surprised by much anymore.

[No Elephants]

36. I would not count on Roberts for anything, unless I were a PNACer.

[The Hope Mobile]

39. Thats what aaaaaaaaaaahm talkinbout! nt

[HopeHoops]

4. WHAA WHAA WHAA! I want my Senate seat - MOMMY!

Maybe he can get Palin and Miss California to cheerlead for him at the USSC - "WE hate gays and hate abortion. You're in robes so SEEE-LECT COLE-MAN!"

[damntexdem]

5. Of course not -- that would take class, or at least the semblance of it.

That's something that Coleman lacks; and for that matter, that most GOPs have lost if they ever had it.

[high density]

6. I hope Dems are taking notes

We need to do the same thing to the Repukes every time there is a close race.

[JaneFordA]

7. I just wish...

Al Gore had done this back in '00 and held up the process for MONTHS and MONTHS.

[stlsaxman]

11. Uh, check your history... it DID go to the SCOTUS and wham- he lost.

Al Gore did EVERYTHING he possibly could.

[Jackpine Radical]

17. That is right. The SC subverted the electoral process

and violated the will of the people. At the time, remember that all kinds of Dems were coming out of the woodwork trying to talk Al into playing nice & giving it up.

Be knew the Republicans were ruthless and dirty back in those days, but we as yet had no concept of HOW ruthless and dirty.

[harry_pothead]

23. No we shouldn't.

If the GOP jumped off a bridge into a pool of flaming lava, should we do it to?

There's a reason that we have the presidency and congress and they don't.

[AndyTiedye]

26. Wouldn't Work for Us! It Only Works for Repiglickins Because They Own the Courts

The Supreme Court is EVEN MORE stacked in their favor than it was for Bush v. Gore.
Anything close gets awarded to the Republickins. Democrats need a landslide to win.

[ecstatic]

28. They own the courts AND the media

The MSM would have been screaming for a concession if it was Franken that was behind in votes.

[MrModerate]

27. More importantly, whack them mercilessly for their crass . . .

Expensive, divisive, and disrespectful behavior in 2010. Keep the "Republicans are whiny shitheads" meme going.

[AlinPA]

8. It is looking more and more like a 5-4 or 6-3 vote that will seat Coleman. No way

the US SC will walk away from the chance to seat Coleman.

[Cha]

19. How can they seat coleman

when Franken got more votes?

[AlinPA]

21. Easy. By stating that the votes were not properly counted and declaring him winner.

Since they have the majority in SCOTUS, he can't lose.

[No Elephants]

37. Same way they seated Bush when Gore had more votes.

[KamaAina]

22. The Extreme Court can't seat the whiny douche

the Senate (like the House) is the sole judge of the qualifications of its own members.

The Felonious Five (Release 2.0) could, however, set the stage for a nasty constitutional turf battle between the legislative and judicial branches.

[AlinPA]

29. The SC would rule in favor of Coleman, 5-4 or 6-3. No problem for R's in that

case.

[KamaAina]

32. True, but that alone would not be enough to seat Fmr. Sen. Whiny Douche.

What it would do is put the Roberts Court squarely up against Article I, Section 5, of the Constitution, which, remember, is back in force after having been suspended for the past eight years:

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members,...

In the words of their dearly departed leader, "Bring. It. On!"

[AlinPA]

41. Hmmm.

[bemildred]

10. Always good to see the Republicans in favor of votes being counted. nt

[dflprincess]

24. Strange that Normie didn't feel that way on November 5

when he told Franken to stop the state mandated recount.

[The Hope Mobile]

34. Exactly. Its the height of hypocrisy.

If for that reason alone.

[DebbieCDC]

12. Who will last longer -- Coleman or Steele?

Sheesh, what a couple of douches

[and-justice-for-all]

13. Ok, SO...but he still LOST! nt

[Mind_your_head]

14. Fine example of when 'tenacity runs amok' eom

[MGKrebs]

15. This SHOULD wreck the Repub party in MN for a long time.

But we still have to run good candidates. It would be a shame to waste this gift.

[Demeter]

16. How About Putting Cheney's Special Squad to Good Use, For Once?

In this case, I could make an exception.

[GinaMaria]

20. where is the pressure on Coleman to do the right thing? n/t

[David__77]

31. Coleman is done for as a MN candidate now though.

He won't be seated, and he's damaged goods now. This should help consolidate the MN DFL as majority.

[No Elephants]

38. Coleman does not care. He's been working for a think tank or something for months. This is

the RNC's fight, to keep Democrats from getting 60 votes.

[UP_4012]

40. Seems pretty clear to me...

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Come on already! HE FUCKING LOST, and HE LOST FAIR AND SQUARE! And as for this "Hell NO!" bullshit, all I can say is someone is fond of stroking their ego.