Senator Al Franken vs. Norm Coleman

Many people are calling for a special election of sorts to resolve this. I don't know how I feel about that, as presubably Dean Barkley (and any other third party candidate) would probably be left out of it.

Whoever wins will probably be the single most hated person in the state of MN.

I love our state.

At least Spring is finally here, kinda.

This is a patently absurd statement.

That would be absolutely ridiculous and the least legitimate result of all possible options.

This has almost finished its scenic trip through the courts, and despite it taking three times as long as it probably should have and full of shenanigans (mostly on Coleman's side it seemed to me, but probably both), it's the best way to resolve the election. It doesn't sound like Coleman has really had a prayer for a few months, anyway.

As I've said before: Franken is a deeply polarizing candidate. I'd say that virtually any other candidate would have defeated Coleman pretty decisively, but that's history at this point. We've got what we've got, and both parties are doing everything within their legal rights to try and win this. With the margin of victory so small, and with the number of questionable ballots so high, nobody really knows HOW this will end.

That's the main reason why many are pushing for a re-vote.

Count Floyd: Both sides are coming off as dirty in this election.

Thunderdome!

Thunderdome!

If the positions had been reversed, would you be calling Franken a pathological nut for not conceding?

I'm glad to hear that; I'd like to think that everyone would, regardless of party affiliation. For the record, I wasn't trying to 'call you out' on this.

Agreed entirely.

But there's no guarantee that some nobody would have won the seat. I mean, Michelle Bachmann was handily re-elected fer cryin' out loud. Some Minnesotans are pretty conservative.

[bigger than life]GORE WAS WRONG![/bigger than life]

Rourkefan, if Franken wins, the Dems have 59 votes in the Senate. That's why the Republicans are fighting this all the way. It's not some personal vendetta against Franken. I'm sure they don't like the guy, but it could be anyone and they would still not concede that seat.

Yes, it was a great day for democracy when Gore conceded.

I agree that they should resolve this thing already. I mean its almost like that incredibly bad and unforgettable Kevin Costner film from last year...What the Hell was it called?

Maybe the UN should drop by and see to things, Third World style? You guys are embarrassing yourselves.

Why? This is the process. The election was very close, there was a state mandated recount, and now Coleman is suing. This has actually been very orderly and followed the official process.

Your system in this case is based on preferences and not first past the post am I right?

Maybe there should be some clause in situations like this where first past the post could apply? No matter how close it was Id be pretty stunned if it was a deat heat.

I'm half kidding. I just don't get how someone's inability to accept defeat can tie up the democratic process and all these resources for so long. Coleman lost the count didn't he? What is he suing for? Fraud?

I have no idea what Coleman is arguing these days. It seems to change daily. Most legal analysts think he has absolutely no shot of winning his case, but it's within his right to sue, so let him sue.

It's a horrible waste of resources, but I guess it's within his rights.

And i figured you were kidding. I'm just venting because, within his rights or not, it's a just a fucking waste.

Coleman is suing because of possible ballot irregularities. There is probable cause that many ballots for Franken were double counted, amongst other things. It's up to him to prove his case (and I don't think that he can at this point), but the margin is so small that I can't blame him for trying.

If you don't think Franken is a VAST improvement over Coleman and classify him as "polarizing" I cast aspersions your way.

One is a bribe taking hack conservative nutjob who craves power and waited all of 2 seconds for Wellstone to be in the ground before saying how much of an improvement he was based on nothing more than the fact that he's in the pocket of any lobbyist who has got money to burn.

The reason it was a race was because of Franken. Take it from someone whose home state has guys like Jim Bunning, Mitch McConnell and Ed Whitfield in Washington: Franken >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Coleman and it's not even close.

But I'm not shocked; You put Kevin McHale in charge of the Twolves and that was only the SECOND worst decision made by that franchise in the last 10 years.

Franken is without question a vast improvement over Coleman. As far as I can tell, that's not the argument. The argument is that by nominating Franken as opposed to a somewhat less incendiary choice, what should have been a Dem landslide became a cutthroat debacle that's still not resolved. Franken's polarizing nature sent Republicans who might have otherwise considered a Dem candidate straight into the arms of Coleman and Barkley. Franken will do a better job than Coleman has been doing; getting him elected has been the problem.

Another setback for Coleman:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the...tion-cont.html

Look, there are enough reasons to dislike Coleman without resorting to an outright falsehood. Claiming that he waited 'all of 2 seconds for Wellstone to be in the ground' is flat out false. Coleman and the whole Rep party were incredibly quiet in the Wellstone death aftermath. That was the smartest thing that they could have done, and it paid off for them when the Dems

a.) fucked up the Wellstone funeral, and
b.) let Mondale come across as an arrogant douchebag in all of his press conferences and debates.

The final absentee ballots are being counted today (there are less than 400), so we'll see what happens to Franken's small lead. Regardless, both Franken and Coleman are preparing their expected appeals to the MN Supreme Court. We've got a long ways to go yet.

This is retarded.

Yesterday's count of the absentee ballots yielded a slight gain for Franken: he's now leading by 312. The Coleman team plans to appeal, as expected.

The patience demonstrated by the people of Minnesota is either remarkable or retarded.

This probably won't be settled until at least September (maybe later if the MN Supreme Court delays it). People in North Atlantic woukld have resorted to torches and pitchforks by Jan 15.

Do people care about having a Senator or is it a case of "the longer the both of them aren't in DC, the better?"

I have no idea but MN's other senator is getting real tired of doing double duty.

We hate them both, seriously.

Every time you repeat this it makes people in Minnesota look bad.

Oh, so I guess that it's impossible to detest the individual yet like/respect his politics/party affiliation? Give me a fucking break.

I'm sure the entire state really gives that much of a shit.

That's not what I'm saying. What I am saying is this equivalency between Coleman and Franken is absurd. It reminds me of the people who say they didn't vote this last Presidential election because "both candidates are the same". Coleman is a corrupt, Pro-War, Pro-Business, Pro-Bush, Anti-Union, Anti-Choice and Anti-Gay political opportunist beholden to lobbyists who has shown he'll trade sides at the drop of the hat based on what benefits him more. This isn't hyperbole but fact.

Franken may come off as a prick at times and his campaign got negative and dirty right along with Coleman's but to suggest Franken isn't a substantially better choice is crazy. You don't like him personally? Well, so what? A great swath in this country got us into this mess we're in now by voting a guy into the highest office in the land based on "I'd like to have a beer with him". I'd rather have an asshole in office who'll fight tooth and nail for what I believe in and for the good of the people rather than a nice guy who'll play ball with any and every special interest group that walks in his door looking for a handout.

You can dislike both people for different reasons. He isn't saying it doesn't matter. Besides, is the guy a judge? Does his opinion have any sway in this? No. So why the fuck are you so concerned?

If Barkely wasn't in the race, he wouldn't have split the vote so much. And as much as Coleman is being a bitch about it. He has the right to challenge. That's how it is.

And another thing, if it were reversed. Don't act you wouldn't be screaming at the top of lungs demanding that Franken fight every fucking step, decrying about disinfranchised voters. You can't have it both ways.

The recall and the court process has zero to do with this particular point of discussion between Judas and I.

I like Judas but I disagree with him. Equivocating two candidates on whether you like them or not is exactly the reason I watch my home state re-elect a senile baseball Hall of Famer to the Senate term after term. I disagree with his contention that this race is close because of Franken's personality. If anything it was this close because of Franken and his ability to raise an obscene amount of money.

Even though people should vote on what a candidate stands for. Personality unfortunatly pays a role.

Now as to why you state keeps relecting Bunning? Well, that's a whole other issue. But I hear the guy isn't going to run again (Or is he? He changes every week)

I don't know what you are on about Ed but, again, this has nothing to do with the recall or the court process. Do I wish this hadn't been a close race? Yes. Do I believe Franken should have been a no brainer? Yes. Should it be allowed to take it's course? Yes.

Again though..it's Minnesota, the state that has given us Kevin Mchale as the G.M of the T-Wolves, the Joe Smith contract fiasco and that fount of love and understanding Michelle Bachman. None of this should come as a surprise.

Then what's the issue exactly?

Jack Conway announced he's running for Bunning's seat today. The only way Bunning is not running is if they can talk him out of it and find somebody in the state Party who can win against either Conway or Dan Monganrido..the Dem frontrunner and favorite at this point.

Conway also looks exactly like Harvey Dent.

http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB...0108/304090010

You're right, he sort of does.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/minnesota_senate

It's over!!!

DAMMIT.