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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