The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney

24 June 2009

Counting All Votes Could Become Nightmare For Al Franken

AL'S DARKEST FEAR

Now, Counting Ballots Is 'Conservative'







At any time
over the next several days, Minnesota's Supreme Court is expected to rule in Democrat Al Franken's favor, potentially putting an end to a challenge by Norm Coleman over disputed ballot counts that suspiciously placed the former Air America host over the top.

Within moments of that decision, Democrats are expected to push to seat Franken in the US Senate, regardless of whether Coleman, the previous incumbent, presses on with his case.

From his time as a liberal talk host to the campaign and post-election shenanigans, Franken and sleaze have remained fellow-travellers. Stuart Smalley is the man who consistently finds himself rewarded for bad behavior, with no sign of accountability in the forecast.


That's why the push by Hubbard Broadcasting to examine ALL of the disputed ballots and subsequently count them provides much-needed daylight for the darkness that has consumed Minnesota's US Senate race. It gives Franken something to truly worry about for the first time in months.

From Hubbard's KSTP-TV:


With the Minnesota Supreme Court about to rule on the U.S. Senate race, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS is asking to examine more than 10,000 rejected absentee ballots.

Along with Hubbard Television stations in Duluth and Austin, the stations requested from election officials around the state access to the disputed ballots and the envelopes they were sent in on Monday.

In the letter, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS assured election officials that, "We fully respect the sanctity of the private ballot, and the importance of voter confidentiality in the electoral process."

As part of the project, we want to count the ballots and try to determine how different counties decide to reject absentee ballots.


Though this unofficial, independent analysis won't affect the outcome and if it occurs at all, the count would be well after the state's high court ruling. What it does offer voters, however, is a fresh reminder that a highly arbitrary process has potentially placed an election day loser in the US Senate.

Franken's apologists clearly aren't interested in a full accounting of the approximately 10,000 disputed ballots, they want their candidate quickly seated, with no questions asked. That's why the left's talking points focus on Hubbard's motivations, rather than the need for a complete account:


About 10,000 ballots were rejected and not counted for one reason or another during the statewide hand recount and election contest trial.

The request, filed under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) by TV stations KSTP, KSTC, WDIO, KSAX and KAAL, comes as an order is expected at any time in Coleman’s appeal of his election-contest defeat to the state Supreme Court.

It also comes only days after rightwing blogger Michael Brodkorb filed similar requests with several cities and counties. Brodkorb is soon to drop his blogging to assume the position of deputy chairman with the Republican Party of Minnesota.

Hubbard Broadcasting owner Stanley Hubbard is a major contributor to the Republican Party and its candidates, including Coleman. He used the airwaves for which he holds a license to editorialize in favor of the conduct of law enforcement agencies’ conduct during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Indications are he lent his 125-foot yacht for a “Coleman for Senate Donor Appreciation Cruise.”


How is counting all of the ballots suddenly "rightwing" (sic)?


One lesson that will be taken from the race, regardless of its final outcome, is that conservative activists can be more easily worn down than their liberal counterparts.

Most on the right abandoned this cause months ago, not because they were convinced Franken won the race, but as a result of lower court decisions and hardball tactics by the left. Many bloggers no longer cover developments in the case, though the state court decision will prove impossible to ignore.

That said, some remain in the fight, according to NewsMax:


Embattled former GOP Sen. Norm Coleman has at least one diehard advocate in his corner: Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who says he'd be happy to support a further Coleman appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

That assumes, of course, that the Minnesota Supreme Court rejects Coleman's current appeal of an earlier panel's ruling that declared Democrat Al Franken the winner by 312 votes out of about 3 million ballots cast.

"We'll do everything we can to support Norm as long as he has appellate remedies to purse," said Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

A ruling by the state's highest court could come any day now. Most legal experts expect the justices to announce their decision before the July 4 recess.

"I'm not suggesting Norm has this plan in mind," Cornyn hastened to add, "because frankly I think he's hopeful it turns out well at the state Supreme Court."


As it stands today, not many believe Norm Coleman will be able to reclaim his seat, or that Franken can be stopped. Conservatives can still learn from this potentially-failed effort, however: next time, toughen up and truly gear up for a long, ugly fight.


Recount image: AP

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12 Comments:

  • "Conservatives can still learn from this potentially-failed effort, however: next time, toughen up and truly gear up for a long, ugly fight."

    Will they learn? I'm not so sure they will. The Republican party in many instances seem to hold to the status quo even after stinging losses. I'm not convinced that this won't be the case in Minnesota. Only time will tell, but with so many RINOs in leadership positions, I just am not optimistic. It's going to take a true conservative revolution IMHO to turn the Republican party back into an effective body.

    By Blogger Carl, at 24 June, 2009 17:52  

  • Jesus Christ, let it go.

    Coleman's is as dead as vaudeville.

    He'll be Seantor when Sanford is President.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 25 June, 2009 09:02  

  • Funny how counting all the ballots in Florida wasn't "rightwing" in 2000.

    Funny how one respondent here says to let it go when the left STILL can't let go of the 2000 elections.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 25 June, 2009 12:40  

  • Hey, Al succeeded in getting a write-in vote for "Frankenstein" counted as one for him. I think he is set up for well-deserved mockery even if he does get seated in the Senate.

    By Blogger Chromium, at 25 June, 2009 13:06  

  • Well Douchebags

    89% to 90% of the nation wish Bush never won that election and we all know you filthy, filthy animals stole it.

    America HATES YOU

    CONSERVARTISM IS DEAD
    REAGAN IS DEAD

    THANK JESUS CONSERVATISM IS DEAD

    By Anonymous RushOxyDealer, at 25 June, 2009 14:51  

  • "89% to 90% of the nation wish Bush never won that election"

    Sorry, the vote wasn't 90%-10%. Did you forget that?

    Also, even though Bush's terms will probably be seen as a failure (overall), any sane Democrat could have beaten him. Instead, the Demos nominated Gore (ugh) and then Kerry (double-ugh).

    Just like my votes, most people who voted for Bush did so because the alternative was worse.

    Third time's a charm though, as the completely empty-suited (even farther) left Obama got in. That was amazing. Then again, when you have 90% of the media hiding things and 80+% of Obama voters not even knowing about Ayers, et al... you can pull the wool over a lot of people's eyes. A lot.

    Heck, a majority of Obama voters when asked, answered that McCain dropped out of a prior race because of plagiarism charges. (It was actually Biden.) When the media does not inform, even Chicago-thug socialists can get elected. Scary.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 25 June, 2009 16:29  

  • And R.O.D. just goes to show the classlessness and disingenuous of their claims. That is IF he/she truly means it. Such a post is so outrageous and brainless as to imply the possibility of someone pulling our legs.

    By Blogger Carl, at 25 June, 2009 17:01  

  • R.O.D., thank you for reinforcing the fact most liberals have the IQ of bicycle seat, and wouldn't know truth if it ripped off their tiny genitals with its teeth.

    Go smoke another bowl and leave the interaction here to those of us who have a clue, you Godless pinhead.

    By Anonymous Scooter Van Neuter, at 25 June, 2009 21:01  

  • ... then came the Rigged electronic voting machines with no permanent record ... sold by republican owned companies with connections.

    By Anonymous The Anonymous One, at 26 June, 2009 16:05  

  • The Greedy Old Perverts (gop)
    Destroyed American business economy medical system justice system foreign policy military etc. starting with RayGun policies then Robbed the American People blind.

    If it were not for LIBERALISM...
    HALF 1/2 the gop wound STARVE !

    By Anonymous The Anonymous One, at 26 June, 2009 16:16  

  • Hey Scooter, you mindless ditto-head

    Jesus loves me

    Jesus was a socialist

    Jesus rejects conservatism

    You're godless, capitalism is not a god

    You will rot in hell for centuries

    you filthy, ditto-head pig

    You immoral
    Anti-American
    conservative terrorist

    JESUS REJECTS THE FREE MARKET

    Your god is money
    Yor gd is wall Street
    Your god is the insurance industry

    you dirty, murderous, terrorist, Reagna worshipping, piece of human excrement

    By Anonymous JesusHatesCONS, at 30 June, 2009 11:07  

  • Funny how all of the laws of Physics as well as the true facts of life all reflect conservative values.

    By Anonymous dr_donn, at 05 July, 2009 17:46  

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