U.S. Senate contest: Coleman prepares supporters for long battle

[footinmouth]

Source: The Minnesota Independent

The end is near in the U.S. Senate contest. Or maybe it’s not. Roll Call reports today (subscription only) that Norm Coleman scheduled a pep rally for this afternoon with supporters in Washington to reassure them that he’s still on strong legal ground despite numerous indications that he will lose the ongoing contest in state court. The former senator was reportedly joined by attorney Ben Ginsberg. Roll Call reporter David Drucker got his hands on a memo from the Coleman camp laying out their rationale for continuing the fight:

*** snip ***

Even if Coleman appeals the Minnesota Supreme Court’s ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court–which he is entitled to do–it’s doubtful the highest court in the land would hear his case. That’s because, with the exception of Bush v. Gore and a 1972 case brought by a defeated Indiana Senate candidate named Roudebush, the Supremes don’t like to muck around with electoral recounts, and Coleman’s case doesn’t appear to raise any compelling constitutional issues. So, in other words, once the Minnesota Supreme Court rules in Franken’s favor, as almost everyone expects it will, the game will be up and Mr. Franken will go to Washington.

Read more: http://minnesotaindependent.com/30959/us-senate-contest-coleman-bunkers-down

---

Please see the entire article at the link to see where this goes from here.

[Uben]

1. Wow, that was fast.........

......N....O.....T....!

[xchrom]

2. this turned into denying dems another seat in the senate

and that was a long time ago.

it isn't about coleman -- he's just the go-to boy.

[BlueJazz]

3. We all know how Coleman works.

[AlinPA]

4. My opinion is that the SCOTUS won't want to pass up a chance to seat a republican

senator, especially now with the R's being only at 41. It would be a minimum 5-4 or 6-3 vote there.

[roguevalley]

12. in my opinion the SCOTUS won't touch this pile of festering plutonium with a ten

foot pole.

[AlinPA]

13. They do have the votes to rule in favor of Coleman, so it looks easy to me.

[dflprincess]

5. A rally with his supporters in Washington. Nice.

Note that he did not hold his rally in Minnesota.

[Election_Correction]

6. Of Courrse Not

They would all have to fly back to Minnesota to attend.

[JI7]

7. i read "long" as "losing"

when i read the subject line.

[libodem]

8. I guess after the time and trouble it took to kill Paul Wellstone

and his family, the GOP must have figured they deserved a lifetime appointment, for the Republicans in Minnesota Give it up already Norm, ya big stoopid fuck.

[radfringe]

9. barring a SCOTUS ruling in his favor

Coleman's political career is over.

If he conceded the race weeks ago, he could have positioned himself as a stepping aside for the good of the state, the country... He would then become the NOPer version of Gore, gaining sympathy and more support. Yeah, somewhat like a martyr

He could have run for head of the RNC, and would have probably won based on his martyrdom.

However - it's more and more obvious everyday that Coleman's persistance is more Politics trump people. He's not doing this for the good of the people of Minnesota, he's doing for the good of the NOPer party.

Once again, the NOPers are showing short-sightedness.

[kpete]

10. U.S. Senate contest: Coleman prepares supporters for long battle

Source: Minnesota Independent

U.S. Senate contest: Coleman prepares supporters for long battle
By Paul Demko 4/2/09 4:29 PM

...............

Among the talking-points memorandum’s main arguments is that Tuesday’s decision — along with previous rulings by the three-judge panel — disenfranchises thousands of Minnesota voters, leaving Coleman no choice but to pursue his challenge to the state Supreme Court, regardless of the additional rulings that are expected in the coming days from the same panel.

“We intend to pursue appropriate appeals if necessary to ensure that Minnesota voters are enfranchised and given full protection of their rights,” reads the memo.


But while Coleman appears ready to bunker down — an attitude undoubtedly applauded by the Republican leadership — The New Republic’s Jason Zengerle argues that the interminable electoral dispute is nearly over. He sees little chance that Coleman’s legal machinations will be successful:


Even if Coleman appeals the Minnesota Supreme Court’s ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court–which he is entitled to do–it’s doubtful the highest court in the land would hear his case. That’s because, with the exception of Bush v. Gore and a 1972 case brought by a defeated Indiana Senate candidate named Roudebush, the Supremes don’t like to muck around with electoral recounts, and Coleman’s case doesn’t appear to raise any compelling constitutional issues. So, in other words, once the Minnesota Supreme Court rules in Franken’s favor, as almost everyone expects it will, the game will be up and Mr. Franken will go to Washington.

Read more: http://minnesotaindependent.com/30959/us-senate-contest-coleman-bunkers-down

[NashVegas]

11. How's That Texas Lawsuit Coming Along?

http://minnesotaindependent.com/15554/breaking-texas-lawsuit-alleging-that-coleman-received-tainted-75000-is-re-instated

The Texas lawsuit alleging that Sen. Norm Coleman fraudulently received $75,000 from longtime political patron Nasser Kazeminy has been re-instated, according to attorney Casey Wallace, who is representing plaintiff Paul McKim in the case. The lawsuit had been “unsuited,” in the parlance of Texas courts, as the two sides pursued a settlement.

“We entered into serious settlement negotiations,” says Wallace. “Those broke down today.”

The lawsuit alleges that Kazeminy steered $75,000 through a Texas firm he controls to Coleman through a job his wife, Laurie Coleman, held with a Minnesota insurance firm. If Coleman received such a gift and failed to report it, the repercussions could extend beyond his reelection prospects. Earlier this week, Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens was convicted of seven felony counts after failing to report gifts from friends on federal disclosure forms.