MN-Sen: Pawlenty (R) threatens to drag out contest even longer

[cali]

by kos
Share this on Twitter - MN-Sen: Pawlenty (R) threatens to drag out contest even longer Tue Apr 14, 2009 at 10:08:03 AM PDT
When you've got 2012 ambitions, you can do things like "doing the right thing for your state". His party's base doesn't want Al Franken seated in the Senate, so Gov. Tim Pawlenty appears ready to do whatever he needs to do to make sure that doesn't happen.

For weeks, Pawlenty has said he would take direction from the courts, but is now suggesting that he could wait beyond the conclusion of state appeals if the case heads to federal court.

"I don't know whether would be required to be issued. I think it could be issued at that time," said Pawlenty. "I'm not saying I wouldn't issue the certificate. I'm just saying we should have all of the facts in front of us before we precommit to something like that." <...>

For his part, Pawlenty said the loser may decide against appealing in federal court. But if an appeal is filed, Pawlenty said he may wait to see how the courts handle Coleman's argument that there was not a uniform standard used to count the votes. That was the same arg

"I also would want to look at what the courts did with the case in terms of leaving issues for potential appeal, the strength of those issues, how directly and effectively they addressed them," said Pawlenty. "I'm not saying that I'm going to, or not going to, issue the certificate at that point. I just want to make sure I have all the facts in front of me before I made a decision like that."

"With all due respect to Gov. Pawlenty, it's not his job or his role to try to second-guess or Monday-morning quarterback the State Supreme Court," said Marc Elias, an attorney for Democrat Al Franken.
The MN Supreme Court has already ruled that state law is clear on the matter -- an election certificate cannot be issued until all appeals at the state level are exhausted. Once the Supreme Court rules for Franken, Pawlenty will be able to issue that election certificate. But if he doesn't, it may require yet another round of litigation to force Pawlenty to do his state's bidding, rather than that of his own national ambitions.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/4/14/718480/-MN-Sen:-Pawlenty-(R)-threatens-to-drag-out-contest-even-longer

[Snotcicles]

1. The longer he drags it out the more money I give his opponent. I live out of state,nt

[tabbycat31]

7. ditto

n/t

[Salviati]

2. I hope people have this in motion from the get go...

Within one buisness day of the Supreme Court's ruling, I expect Al to have his election certificate or for the litigation against T-Paw to be rolling. Enough with the delays!

[truebrit71]

3. ..and we know he'd do the very same thing if it were Franken contesting it right?

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight....:eyes:

[bdamomma]

4. Pawlenty is committing political suicide, he can kiss any

political ambitions away. Supporting Coleman? and we see where Coleman is right now.

[opihimoimoi]

5. Pawlenty is gonna be in plenty hot water should he choose to run for higher office.

[Odin2005]

6. Timmy the Tool can go to Hell.

He and Bachmann are embarrassments to my state.