Senate recount trial: Now it's up to the judges

[kpete]

Source: Star Tribune


They haven't said when they'll rule, but don't hold your breath for a conclusion.

By PAT DOYLE and, KEVIN DUCHSCHERE

Last update: March 14, 2009 - 7:32 AM

After seven long weeks, Minnesota's U.S. Senate election trial came down to a debate Friday between following the rules and a notion of common sense.

Now the choice is up to the judges, whose decision will be critical -- if not final -- in eventually naming Minnesota's new U.S. senator.

During closing arguments, Republican Norm Coleman and his lawyers urged the judges to bend their rules, which have hampered his case, and rely more on "common sense" in deciding which disputed ballots deserve to be counted.

But lawyers for DFLer Al Franken said Coleman failed to meet requirements to prove that election problems deprived him of enough valid ballots to have tipped the balance.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/41209822.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUF

[MrPerson]

1. He's good enough, He's smart enough.....

[Quiz Master]

12. And he's still damn funny...

Though I guess he has to be so mostly in private now.

For those who wish to remember him in another life...there's this.

[Jefferson23]

2. Hang in there Al, you'll be Senator Franken soon!

[NBachers]

3. So Coleman's not for "strict constructionist" judges?

Legislating from the Bench! It's unconscionable, I tellya

[SoFlaJet]

4. If you got an hour to listen to this

while doing chores or whatever-it's the Franken team's closing argument-makes one feel a bit more confident about where this case has been and better yet, where it is headed.

http://theuptake.org/

[wroberts189]

11. thx for the link nt

[DallasNE]

5. "Common Sense" Is A Subjective Standard

That is why we have a law. To establish a single "common sense" set of rules. What Coleman's attornies are asking is that the law be set aside and that Coleman's lawyers be allowed to write the new common sense rules. That is not going to happen so this is obviously some kind of PR stunt on Coleman's behalf. Coleman's problem is that when he was initially ahead he had one set of common sense rules and now that he is behind he has turned 180 degrees. You can't have it both way Norm. Get over it. You lost, fair and square.

[peacetalksforall]

7. Both ways and 180's is his history. He went to the mike and indicated that he was going to vote

against what Cheney-Bush wanted and then would deliver his vote for Cheney-Bush.

He's da 180 man, mon.

(I guess that was the best case that Ginzburg could come up with - common sense - from a rabid Republican who did his best to destroy Clinton.)

[JohnWxy]

6. SOP. If republicans don't succeed in rigging an election they get a judge to over-rule the voters.

The only thing is, do they have an appropriately Fascist judge (like Scalia) to sabotage a democratic election?

I'm just glad they're not sending out hit-men to take out Franken.

I'm sure Democracy will lose. Maybe the Senate can refuse to seat the Fascist Party candidate as he clearly wasn't elected by the people of his state.

Republicans, what won't they do to kill off democracy in AMerica?

[AlinPA]

8. Are the judges appointed or voted to their position in MN?

[kickysnana]

9. Appointed, these one Dem, one Pub and one Ventura. n/t

[AlinPA]

13. Thank you!

[4lbs]

10. Hey Coleman, here's some "common sense" for you: Franken got more votes. You Lose.

n/t