Lawyers in Senate trial work to narrow case

[struggle4progress]

Judges and lawyers met for less than 20 minutes Monday
BY Patrick Condon, Associated Press Writer
PUBLISHED: 02/16/2009

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Senate trial kicked off its fourth week Monday with talk of progress from both sides, but major disputes still hanging over how many rejected absentee ballots should get counted.

Republican Norm Coleman says there's still up to 3,500 rejected absentee ballots that should be counted, while Democrat Al Franken says it should be more like 700 to 1,000. Coleman would benefit from a higher number because it gives him more ground from which to make up Franken's 225-vote lead.

A ruling late Friday from the trial's three-judge panel trimmed by 12 categories the types of rejected ballots that could still be counted, striking more than 1,000 ballots from Coleman's wish list. Lawyers for both candidates expressed hope this would "streamline" the trial, in the words of Coleman's attorney Ben Ginsberg.

But Ginsberg also said Monday that Coleman would ask the judges to reconsider portions of the recent ruling ...

http://www.mndaily.com/2009/02/15/lawyers-senate-trial-work-narrow-case

[rpannier]

1. The Year is 2513

The judges in the Coleman-Franken case (circa 2009) have announced another 25 ballots that will be excluded from the count. Norman Coleman XXXVII expressed his disappointment at the ruling, while Al Franken XXX, through his lawyer, said he wished to thank the jusdges and hoped to posthumously seat his great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great...grandfather soon as the former US Senator from Minnesota

[ohtransplant]

2. Just when you thought normie couldn't get more desperate...

he tops himself.

The judges need to take control of this process quickly and not let normie run down another blind alley. They must know how many ballots are in the categories they mentioned in their decision. I know they don't want to be overturned on appeal but there has to be a limit.

edit:sp

[crimsonblue]

3. Dear God... Mn needs to get its voting together, FFS!

Christ, what if this had happened in the Presidential voting between Obama and McCain. Or what if it happens in the future, a la Bush v. Gore? Christ, fucking seat a senator already!

[rpannier]

5. Gotta count every vote

Well...Got to say 'Count all the votes' when they're losing/they've lost and hope to drag it out

[crimsonblue]

6. They already counted every vote. Twice.

99% of the rejected ballots are properly rejected, because it apparently takes a college degree in common sense to fill out a ballot.

[rpannier]

7. Yes, but they're losing so you have to count every vote

They'll tell you how awful it is that people are being disenfranchised...

[crimsonblue]

8. but don't forget when Coleman was leading..

it was inexcusable that Franken wanted to do a preliminary recount, as required by state law.

[rpannier]

9. Ummm...

We're now in the post-partisan age.
The first recount was in the partisanship is okay era.

We have to move on. Stop living in the past. Stop bringing up all those negative things that occurred.

I think I have now hit on all the republikkan talking points.

[FiveGoodMen]

4. "ask the judges to reconsider"

I'd like to see someone try that in a typical conviction.

"Your honor, I was found guilty, but just reconsider..."

It would take an awful long time to convict anyone.