By: TaxPayer on 4/9/09
Truth is the situation would be the same if the roles were reversed. At this point I think it needs to be seen through to the end. When Mr Franken is seated is not a big concern to me as his vote is not going to make any difference in the outcome of what is before Congress, and his loyalties are to Washington and not to the citizens of Minnesota.

By: pookah on 4/9/09
His loyalties are to the Federal Reserve and the protection and preservation of our failure-based system. Same for Norm Coleman.

By: MNBear on 4/9/09
I cannot stand either choice. Norm is a less-than-bright lackey, and Franken is, let's be honest, a lousy comedian and a know-nothing politician.

That said, the paper is wrong. This needs to be seen through to the end. Why? Coleman is doing the right thing for the wrong reason. His rationale, obviously, is to claim victory. That's the wrong social reason (although, maybe, the right personal reason for him). The REAL issue is whether EVERY legitimate, lawful vote was counted. They weren't, and everyone knows it. Some were counted that shouldn't have been counted. Others were left out despite their legitimate need to be counted. Different counties are using different standards, and, not surprisingly, the DFL counties are including lots of ballots that should have been rejected while the Republican counties are excluding ones that probably should have been counted. This whole affair has exposed several deep, meaningful flaws in the Minnesota, and they have to be addressed. A court case is the only way to do that. So, Sen. Coleman should continue on.

By: zen on 4/9/09
MNBear I agree with your opinion. What troubles me and I voted for the lackey is that the ballots have been counted 4 times now. The Republican party in Minnesota has not once come out and supported your contention about the questionable legitimacy.
The latest 3 judge panel had one very conservative judge and another conservative judge and they didn't see it the way you see it. If Norm was going to win a larger recount pool this panel of judges was his chance.
I'm sorry but after the Minnesota Supreme court shoots the lackey down he should give up and save his few remaining bullets for another day.
ZEN

By: harleyboy on 4/9/09
The problem I have with this whole fiasco is that it shows we have inconsistencies in our ballot system. Anytime you have multiple people look at something you find something you do not like. We should not be looking at ballots for their "intent", either they voted (by filling in the oval) or they did not---very simple.

Let Norm & Al pony up the money and run a new election informing all voters IF they do not fill it out properly, it will be thrown out. We have electronic machines that can count the ballots and if the ballot is thrown out, give the voter the opportunity to do it "right".

This whole recount system is a joke. I question every ballot-was it counted, was it misplaced, hidden, counted multiple times, etc? Our whole process is suspect. It is like we will keep counting till we get the answer we want...both sides.

By: atlascollapsed on 4/9/09
At this point in time I'd probably agree to call it a day, but.... I didn't vote for Coleman because he was the best candidate, I voted for him because he was a better alternative. It's sad but rather than opting for a 3rd, 4th, or 10th party candidate I voted strictly to stop Franken from becoming a senator. I mean we've already lived throgh Jesse but Id take him in Washington over Franken. At least it would be real humor.

And Harley has the right idea. Strict guidelines for ballots. Whoever concocted "Voter intent" is the one to blame for this mess. I mean for christs sake we can put a man on the moon but cant have definitive rules for voting??? I'll admit it, I'm prejudiced. I absolutlely hate stupid people! They have a right to vote, they just shouldn't have the right to vote incorectly(possibly) and then go back and say it's too confusing. It's a freakin dot and you have a pencil!!!! If thats to difficult for anyone they should move to a different state with better welfare benefits.

Well so much for that idea.

By: gattaca on 4/9/09
I was really hoping that the recount showed enough votes for James Niemackl to win, but he was still about 1.2 million votes short. :(

That's actually who I voted for. I couldn't in good conscience vote for Coleman or Franken. It's like the South Park episode about having to choose between voting for a Turd Sandwich or a Giant Douche.

By: harleyboy on 4/9/09
gattaca-I like your last example.

By: O.Tool on 4/9/09
On the bright side, how often do we have an election where the irregular standards applied in different counties makes any kind of a difference? This election is a fluke, pure and simple.

Brighter side, the longer this drags on, the longer neither of these hacks is seated. Keep fightin', Normie!

By: MNBear on 4/10/09
This election is not a fluke. Every election has been run this way, but we've never noticed before because there was a clear winner. The rules are fine when there is a popular choice, but in a clear election, the rules are massively important to avoid the very fiasco we're seeing now. That's why the courts need to say, clearly, what the rules are - for all time. Until we have a written-in-stone set of rules without ambiguity or gray areas, this sort of thing will continue.

By: newhomer on 4/10/09
I voted for Mighty Mouse.

I wrote it on the ballot next to a squiggly picture of a long-eared horse w/ a long trunk.

Now each side says I voted for him.

Now someone has to determine that I'm not an idiot and that it clearly meant something.

God bless America.

By: sully on 4/12/09
I didn't vote for either of these idiots, but we aren't doing Minnesota any justice by not having a senator. I think if Mr. Coleman ran for what he said he ran for he would step aside and give us some representation and continue to fight for change in the legal and voting system.

By: RealityCheck on 4/12/09
Um, all good points, but wasn't anyone here listening, the night of the election when Norm Coleman, who was still ahead around the 10 o'clock news, was already telling Al Franken to concede? And Norm spent the next few days AFTERWARDS saying so into any microphone that was ON because in Norms words "it would save the tax payers of Minnesota a lot of money and manpower [if Al would just concede.]"

So...isn't this all a little too ironic???

Alanis Morissette anyone?