Franken May Appeal To Senate, Courts

cBS ^ | December 1, 2008, 5:55 PM | Brian Montopoli

[Red Steel]

Minnesota Senate candidate Al Franken's campaign says it may appeal to the U.S. Senate or the courts because it believes that up to 1,000 absentee ballots were improperly disqualified in the state's recount of votes, The Hill reports.

"Wherever the numbers stand today…that number simply cannot be relevant if it does not include all the votes that were legally cast," Franken attorney Marc Elias said, according to the newspaper. "No recount can be considered accurate or complete until all the ballots cast by lawful voters are counted."

Franken trails Republican rival Norm Coleman by 282 votes with most of the vote counted, though his campaign claims the deficit has shrunk to 73 votes.

Here's more background from The Hill:

Minnesota's Board of Canvassers ruled last Wednesday that it would not revisit the improperly disqualified ballots.

Elias said that of the 12,000 disqualified absentee ballots in the race, "as many as 1,000″ ballots were improperly excluded, and should be counted. Elias said it would appeal to the Board of Canvassers, courts, or even the U.S. Senate to ensure those ballots be counted.

The U.S. Constitution allows each congressional chamber to be the "Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called the Board of Canvassers' decision to not count the absentee ballots "a cause for great concern," fueling speculation that the Senate would explore the legality of the Minnesota recount's results.

"If ultimately there is no remedy before the canvassing board or before the courts, then that is certainly an option," Elias said of appealing to the Senate.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Minnesota's Board of Canvassers ruled last Wednesday that it would not revisit the improperly disqualified ballots.

A great example of how media bias works. Who said they were "improperly" disqualified? The Franken campaign. But the news story calls them "improperly disqualified ballots", thus making the readers believe that the votes were known to be valid.

Who wouldn't want to count valid votes?

[plain talk]

Its over Franken. But I don’t want him to just be defeated. I want to see him grovel and concede defeat.

[stylin19a]

The U.S. Constitution allows each congressional chamber to be the "Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members

I wonder what that really means. Only Coleman is a "member"

[VeniVidiVici]

I honestly think that if the Democrat Senate overturns the state of Minnesota citizens’ choice for senator, then Lieberman would caucus with Republicans.

Who would willingly be associated with such a vile organization like the Democrat Party anyhow?

[Outlaw Woman]

what a dickhead

[Outlaw Woman]

call whine-1-1

Good One!!

[engrpat]

I don’t see what recourse the Senate might have.

Each branch of congress has the right to look into the election of its members and not seat anyone they don't want. In other words, yes, Reid and the rest of the democrats can say no to Coleman and he won't be seated.

[Askwhy5times]

Franken was a poor comedian, a bad radio commentator and a general blow hard. He would make a poor addition to the US Senate. I don't doubt he will use every dirty trick in the book to get there though.The Intellectual Redneck

[mowowie]

People from Minnesota are completely out of their minds and this is coming from a guy who lives just outside of Boston.

[mowowie]

I agree with eveything in your post.
I wonder how in the hell has he stayed relevent since the 70’s, Back when he sucked even then.
He is like an extreme case of Herepes.
Oh yea, Remind me never to move to Minnesota, That place is just....I don’t know, I can’t find the exact word to describe it.

[purplelobster]

After the recount is finalized poor Al Franken will end up like the unhiged Al Gore of the past 8 years - roaming the countryside with briefcase in hand containing nothing but a Powerpoint presentation and an uncontrollable rage.

[editor-surveyor]

Franken-Stain!

[reefdiver]

He is everthing you said. However,
He would make a fine rat senator, his over the top rants wd be classics.
But its too close. hope he's gone . will miss his smug, smartest guy in the room routine. In the US senate with 99 other clowns feeling the same way, it wd have been a tv show.
Who's smarter than a Minnesota voter? maybe a 5th grader

[Rockiette]

The real issue here is the fact that the votes are determined by the Minnesota Board of Elections, not the US Senate. Reid can, however, not allow Coleman to be sworn in. This is anarchy and should be dealt with by the Senate Republicans if Reid should take such steps. A walkout by all Republicans in the Senate might just wake up the American people to the communist takeover of our government. The Democrats are fomenting a revolution within our great Nation. How much farther can we allow this to continue,that is the real question. Time to stand up to the America destroyers in our government.

[Charles Martel]

I hope this f**ker loses by 1 vote.

Yep - and then realizes that he forgot to go to his polling place on Nov. 4th.

[Red Steel]

The real issue here is the fact that the votes are determined by the Minnesota Board of Elections, not the US Senate. Reid can, however, not allow Coleman to be sworn in. This is anarchy and should be dealt with by the Senate Republicans if Reid should take such steps. A walkout by all Republicans in the Senate might just wake up the American people to the communist takeover of our government.

About a week ago, Franken visited the Senate, Reid in particular. I wondered if this is what they spoke about.

[mimaw]

You got rid of one of them she’s the governor of Michigan.

[fortunecookie]

LOL, I like that. But then, he doesn’t just bring out his sense of rage for the holidays, he’s incensed all year round!