Coleman’s lead over Franken now down to … two votes
posted at 8:31 pm on December 18, 2008 by Allahpundit
So says the AP; the Strib puts it at five. Either way, the distinguished gentleman from Saturday Night Live is within single digits of the Senate. Between this and the fait accompli of Caroline Kennedy’s appointment, we’re on the brink of a perfect ending to an utterly wretched year. Let’s get on with it. All we’re doing is delaying a court battle anyway.
Sen. Norm Coleman saw his lead over Al Franken in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race dwindle to just two votes Thursday. Meanwhile, a key court ruling put hundreds of improperly rejected ballots in play and promised the recount would drag into the new year…
Coleman’s lead eroded all day Thursday as the Canvassing Board considered a pile of challenges brought entirely by the Coleman campaign. The pile included a big chunk of withdrawn challenges, many of which went quickly to Franken’s column.
The “key court ruling” is the Minnesota Supreme Court’s decision to count 1,600 absentee ballots that had been rejected. Who knows? By the time this is done, Stuart Smalley might lead by four digits. Exit question: What will Franken’s lead be by the end of business tomorrow? There’s no doubt he’ll be ahead. All we’re talking is margin.
Blowback
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You got to hand it to Franken. The bastard’s going to pull this off.
Cicero43 on December 18, 2008 at 8:33 PM
Meh. I’ve always harbored a sneaking suspicion that a Senator Franken would be a net plus for conservatives anyway. He’s guaranteed to do stupid stuff, and we can work to make him the face of the Democrat Party.
Jim62sch on December 18, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Final headline I’m hoping for:
Franken Loses By 1 Vote
That’s my kind of comedy!
profitsbeard on December 18, 2008 at 8:36 PM
I am now prepared for the rapture.
I have failed to obtain one of those bumper stickers that inform other drivers that in the event of the rapture my car will no longer be under human control. My car will, in fact, become an unmanned heathen killing machine.
Watch out heathens!
I’ll have to look at the Bible again to see if Franken is specially mentioned, but no matter…the end is nigh!
Dorvillian on December 18, 2008 at 8:39 PM
Minnesotans deserve him. The country deserves him too.
We just had elections in California and every clown here got reelected. Today, the liberals in the senate and in the assembly voted to increase the income, gasoline, business and other taxes, without cutting hardly anything out of entitlements. Also, the bill contains the immediate release of 50,000 parolees, of all kinds of criminal records, including murder attempt, rape, etc.
These votes are unconstitutional, as they changed the term “taxes” to “fees” in order to go ahead with the voted. Constitutionally they need a 2/3rd majority to increase any taxes. For now the governor is holding off on signing this raping of our citizenry, but it might be just a negotiation candy for him. If he signs this I’ll be the first to help recall his big ass, just like I helped to recall Davis’.
Every citizenry deserves its ‘leaders’.
Entelechy on December 18, 2008 at 8:39 PM
Ain’t democracy grand?
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 8:39 PM
I can’t get excited about this not since I witnessed which way the Lizard People were leaning.
Dr Evil on December 18, 2008 at 8:40 PM
Barf.
Welcome to Minnesota, check your rationality at the door.
Bishop on December 18, 2008 at 8:41 PM
There’s plenty of ugly shit going down all across this formerly great nation.
Time to refresh that tree of liberty.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Are. You. Kidding.
Wait. No, it makes sense. He had dinner with the Goracle and Soros to fund the recount. Of course he’d come out on top.
I hate this place.
Mommypundit on December 18, 2008 at 8:41 PM
In a Mephistophelian way I wish they’d have the 60 votes in the Senate. Our country deserves the spectacle and the reality that would create. The citizenry would clearly see who’s farking them, visibly, in the open. No more covers.
Entelechy on December 18, 2008 at 8:42 PM
This ain’t democracy it’s judicialocracy….
everything gets everything they ever want…
sven10077 on December 18, 2008 at 8:42 PM
The problem with that is the spectre of a Constitutional convention….
otherwise I’d agree.
sven10077 on December 18, 2008 at 8:43 PM
So I guess this means that Franken is good enough and smart enough, and go**amit all to fu**ing he11, people like him.
Bishop on December 18, 2008 at 8:43 PM
I am more afraid of the absentee ballots than the challenged ballots. People who can’t follow simple voting instructions are more likely to be Dems and it seems the Dems had a better absentee voting campaign.
KW64 on December 18, 2008 at 8:44 PM
Can’t wait ’till the movie comes out…
d1carter on December 18, 2008 at 8:44 PM
First it has to get very dark, before we can see the flicker of shining stars well.
Entelechy on December 18, 2008 at 8:45 PM
if I were a needy moron, I’d vote for Franken too… In a heartbeat.
timwashu on December 18, 2008 at 8:47 PM
I can’t believe the GOP lets dems just steal close elections like this. This is a disgrace.
Dollayo on December 18, 2008 at 8:47 PM
Wouldn’t it be funny if Franken goes ahead with the recounted ballots but then loses when the absentee ballots he fought to get counted get thrown in? That would be the perfect ending.
Mark1971 on December 18, 2008 at 8:48 PM
Someone help me understand. Wasn’t Coleman ahead by 300+ votes a short time ago? Someone explain. I’m serious.
toliver on December 18, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Sounds good, but the Dems will just spend the next four years blaming everything on Bush.
tballard on December 18, 2008 at 8:49 PM
My understanding is the challenged Franken votes are being counted first, then Coleman. So when that’s done, Coleman should have his lead back – at least in the challenged ballot count.
Kenrod on December 18, 2008 at 8:49 PM
How could anyone vote for Stuart Smaley? I guess he only needs to steal 3 more votes to steal this election. What a farce!
nazo311 on December 18, 2008 at 8:50 PM
That would be the perfect ending.
Mark1971 on December 18, 2008 at 8:48 PM
Not going to happen. The DFL dug-up Wellstone and propped him in a chair, he is now a ballot judge…and you know which side he will support.
Bishop on December 18, 2008 at 8:50 PM
I really can’t believe Al Franken might be a U.S. Senator. I’m shocked and saddened.
terryannonline on December 18, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Well, well what a surprise and with Princess Caroline prostate in offering for Al Sharpton the death of our country is all but assured, the end can not come fast enough!
Healing that kills
dmann on December 18, 2008 at 8:53 PM
WHY AREN’T PEOPLE IN POWER SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER OVER THIS AND WHY IS SOROS (I don’t wear a tin foil hat, I swear, but his fingerprints are on EVERYTHING) ALLOWED TO BUY US OUT?????????
I am screaming mad right now. this is an outrage.
Mommypundit on December 18, 2008 at 8:55 PM
This is the same state the doesn’t make muslims check out people who have bacon in their carts. Go the Hell, Minnesota. (Sorry, Ed).
SouthernGent on December 18, 2008 at 8:55 PM
Where is Pawlenty? He claims he can’t do anything about this, but can’t he make a big stink about the injustice being committed against Coleman?
jencab on December 18, 2008 at 8:58 PM
not worried: franken can’t serve: he is not a natural born earthling.
reliapundit on December 18, 2008 at 8:59 PM
I feel the suspence building!
canopfor on December 18, 2008 at 9:00 PM
I live in Washington State.
This smacks of our govenors race in 2004.
Nine separate discoveries of new ballots, all from King County and all nine discoveries went for the Democrat by 60%.
If you were to design a system to facilitate voter fraud you would:
1. Allow wide spread mail in balloting.
2. Don’t require proof of citizenship to register to vote so the illegal aliens can vote.
3. Don’t require a government issued ID when you vote (mail in balloting never does).
4. Allow early voting or else some people will not be able to vote twice or even three times.
5. Fail to secure ballots from printing through counting and on to destruction. (Otherwise you couldn’t have discoveries of new ballots.)
6. Don’t secure equipment to print ballots (came in very handy in King County Washington in the 2004 govenor’s race).
7. Don’t have voters dip their fingers in purple ink when they vote so they can vote at multiple polling stations.
The Democrates close all of these opportunities to cheat when they run elections in foreign countries. They refuse to address any of these issues here.
They know how to run honest elections, they just are not interested in doing so at home.
The Rock on December 18, 2008 at 9:00 PM
What’s next, Homer Simpson for Supreme Court Justice?
I know it’s impossible, but I thought the same of Franken becoming a US Senator.
fogw on December 18, 2008 at 9:01 PM
They were doing Coleman challenges today, When they start doing Franken challenges again, expect to see Colemans numbers go up.
jims on December 18, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Thank you, that is exactly what I am talking about. SCREAM IT, LOUDLY. I mean, does this governor not understand the nature of this fight? I am not presuming to understand the demands of his job, but, I’d have my men ALL OVER THE FRAKING PLACE to make sure this did NOT occur.
Did NO vote materialize at ALL for Coleman? I mean, none whatsoever? Does anyone even believe this?
This is the same crap that went down on election day. People moving and voting from state to state…ACORN fraud…all down the memory hole. Makes me sick.
Mommypundit on December 18, 2008 at 9:04 PM
I looked at challenged ballots posted on the MPR website awhile back from 7 counties where all challenged ballots were shown. Each time, the difference in the number of challenges by one candidate was negated by the number of votes found (by reasonable counting criteria) within 3 votes, meaning that most of the challenges by both campaigns were frivolous.
If the Canvassing board reviewed a pile of challenges brought only by the Coleman campaign, most of them would be votes for Franken. But since Franken brought a nearly equal number of challenges, most of them (by the same criteria) should be Coleman votes, which should re-establish Coleman’s lead.
A good estimate of the final result would be to add remaining Franken challenges as Coleman votes, and remaining Coleman challenges as Franken votes. If there are more Franken-challenged ballots than Coleman-challenged ballots left, Coleman should still win, assuming that the absentee ballots don’t heavily favor Franken.
Steve Z on December 18, 2008 at 9:05 PM
“The citizenry would clearly see who’s farking them, visibly, in the open”
um, this is the same theory as “let duh1 win so we can get it back in ’12!”
IT.DOESN’T.WORK.
/wtg norm — you, the mn gop, and the natl. gop F’D UP — thx. fer nuthin’!
Buckaroo on December 18, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Reaching across the aisle, probably.
Congratulations, Minnesota. You’re about to have a Senator you can be proud of.
ddrintn on December 18, 2008 at 9:06 PM
Ann Coulter wrote on this travesty this week.
SouthernGent on December 18, 2008 at 9:06 PM
I kind of agree with the original sentiment. I want my idiotic fellow citizens who voted for Obama and Co. to get a good heaping bellyful.
ddrintn on December 18, 2008 at 9:07 PM
As a Californian, I want to thank Minnesotans for relieving us of our status as the most retarded state in the union.
Mark1971 on December 18, 2008 at 9:07 PM
Don’t blame me, I voted for Coleman.
bingsha on December 18, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Wait a tick,two votes!
Okay,I’m not that stupid!
Somebody check the voter registration forms
and see if their is a registration for a,
Al Franken and
Stuart Smalley!!
Ya Al,voting for yourself twice is a no no!!(Sarc!).
canopfor on December 18, 2008 at 9:08 PM
How utterly amazing. Democrats win as long as they disregard the law. Peachy. It won’t matter if it is believed Franken’s initiation into the Senate was illegitimate by all these after-the-fact rule changes and disregard for the law. The Senate used shenanigans when the parties were tied so as to make Democrats the majority (Jumping Jeffords).
But more than the legal shenanigans by Democrats to obtain power, most of the blame lies on Coleman. If he was a better senator for his state, he wouldn’t need to be in this Florida 2000 part deux.
Weebork on December 18, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Being a former Minnesota resident and a frequent return guest, I can assure you all, they get what they deserve. It’s one whacked out P.C. enclave with a lot of liberal influence. Very strange for the midwest, and really too bad, it’s beautiful up there (until they speak).
Tim Zank on December 18, 2008 at 9:10 PM
This is the same state the doesn’t make muslims check out people who have bacon in their carts. Go the Hell, Minnesota. (Sorry, Ed).
That was a choice made by Target™, whose stores are located outside of Minnesota as well, it wasn’t a decision made by our state government.
Bishop on December 18, 2008 at 9:11 PM
My understanding is that it’s against MN law to include ballots in a recount that weren’t in the official tally. Where is the GOP all over this crap? Why even bother having it as a law if some bloody board can change their mind?
We looked away when Lautenberg took the NJ seat, in my state Dino didn’t press irregularities in 2004 and now we’ve got the law being ignored in MN so Stuart Smalley can smirk all over CSPAN. GET A SPINE, GOP!
Allah, you’re my favourtie Eeyore, btw. =)
linlithgow on December 18, 2008 at 9:11 PM
The Al Franken Never-Ending Political Story!
canopfor on December 18, 2008 at 9:12 PM
How to Steal an Election, 101…..
DL13 on December 18, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Qualified for higher office:
Obama, POTUS, fomer community organizer
Caroline, Senator, former mom with Kennedy name
Hillary, Secretary of State, former first lady
Franken, Senator, former comedian
Not Qualified for office:
Palin, VPOTUS, sitting governor
The Power of ‘D’
We’re farked.
fogw on December 18, 2008 at 9:13 PM
As a Californian, I want to thank Minnesotans for relieving us of our status as the most retarded state in the union.
Mark1971 on December 18, 2008 at 9:07 PM
Hold on now, have you forgotten Massachusetts? At least here in Minnesota we don’t continually elect people from one family AND we have conceal-carry.
So there. Besides, you have Hollywood and their assheadedness trumps just about everything else.
Bishop on December 18, 2008 at 9:14 PM
I don’t even want to imagine how a Sen. Franken would act on the Senate floor.
terryannonline on December 18, 2008 at 9:16 PM
If Stuart Smalley ends up winning, is it possible that the margin of victory and the way he won will end up marginalizing him? The GOP should have nothing to do with him. I would also hope that Democrats would realize what an idiot and liability he is (tax evader, fails to pay workers benefits, part of fraud scheme with Air America). Ideally, he will be relegated to the back benches of the Senate and fail to win re-election.
But…..let’s not give up hope. It ain’t over til it’s over.
Mallard T. Drake on December 18, 2008 at 9:17 PM
I don’t know why the Dems even let him run to begin with. Is there any doubt that any other Dem besides Franken would have won this Senate seat with a large margin? Why did they even take a chance?
terryannonline on December 18, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Democrats would realize what an idiot and liability he is (tax evader, fails to pay workers benefits, part of fraud scheme with Air America)
I actually chortled at this. The party of Dodd, Rangel and Reid making bones about Frankenstein’s shady financial dealings?
*chortle*
Bishop on December 18, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Minnesota??…….What in Hell is Wrong with you damn people?
try again later on December 18, 2008 at 9:20 PM
If Franken wins with his “outstanding” qualifications who are we to argue that Princess Caroline won’t be the best Presidential candidate in 2016. The future of our once great republic has been sealed, its all American idol and entitlement, learn to embrace the suck!
dmann on December 18, 2008 at 9:22 PM
I hope,theres a result before the next
election!
canopfor on December 18, 2008 at 9:24 PM
I would trade Caroline for Franken in the Senate any day. At least she won’t be cussing out fellow Senators.
terryannonline on December 18, 2008 at 9:25 PM
The fact that there is even a recount speaks volumes on how bad a campaign Coleman ran.
cadams on December 18, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Such good news! I still can’t believe it though.
mycowardice on December 18, 2008 at 9:27 PM
You’re joking right? Please tell me that was sarcasm!
terryannonline on December 18, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Doesn’t dare speak in public. The Republicans counting ballots would try to listen to him, and automatically fall asleep out of freaking boredom.
The Democrats would ignore him and continue counting Franken ballots.
Jim62sch on December 18, 2008 at 9:29 PM
And to think that so many of these idiots look down on those of us who are from south of the Mason-Dixon line…
ddrintn on December 18, 2008 at 9:32 PM
You’re joking right? Please tell me that was sarcasm!
terryannonline on December 18, 2008 at 9:28 PM
MC has a man-crush on Sean Hannity which has clouded his thinking.
He also whines about Michelle Malkin and Rush Limbaugh.
Bishop on December 18, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Yeah, I clicked on his/her website and it was all about Sean Hannity. Why make a site about Hannity?
terryannonline on December 18, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Oh yeah, the 17th amendment was a swell idea.
Kid from Brooklyn on December 18, 2008 at 9:34 PM
And to think that so many of these idiots look down on those of us who are from south of the Mason-Dixon line…
ddrintn on December 18, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Eh, there are some of us up here who feel bad because we have considered moving south from this beautiful state to escape the taxes and the PC bullshiite.
That being said, the south has its own “idiots” with a less than stellar opinion of us northerners, so there is bias aplenty to go around.
Bishop on December 18, 2008 at 9:36 PM
Why make a site about Hannity?
terryannonline on December 18, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Like I said, man-crush. What else could it be when every other thread is about Hannity, especially considering the wide range of topics available to opine about.
Bishop on December 18, 2008 at 9:38 PM
I am livid at MN RINO Gov Pawlenty regarding this entire fiasco. No: He has no say over the vote-counting. However, as with any executive, he has a bully pulpit, which he noticeably declined to use at the outset of this obviously tough battle. Rather, he passively and weakly asserted how he was “confident” that the recount procedure would be fair and well-administered. Right, Guv. It’s almost as though Pawlenty WANTED to see Coleman ousted. My conclusion: Strike Pawlenty from any future lists of potential Republican running-mates or Cabinet appointments. He is the very personification of Queensbury. He is a RINO. Parting shot: Can you imagine how badly McCain would have been beaten had he chosen Pawlenty over Palin as his running-mate?
sanantonian on December 18, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Yeah, but people up there are supposed to “know better”. Or so goes the CW.
ddrintn on December 18, 2008 at 9:41 PM
Not a joke. I really like Al, and really miss his AAR show.
Anyways, don’t get distracted with Sean Hannity. I think the real loser in all this will be Bill O’Reilly (if Al wins).
mycowardice on December 18, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Al Franken is crude, mean-spirited, and a partisan hack. It’s like Keith Olbermann just got elected to the Senate. What exactly do like about Al Franken?
terryannonline on December 18, 2008 at 9:45 PM
That bunch of crooks will just keep country votes until Franken wins. That entire state is a sick joke.
rplat on December 18, 2008 at 9:46 PM
I’m sure all of those in the crosshairs are shaking in their shoes. I get tickled at those who in one breath say that right-of-center commentators are idiots to whom no one listens, while in the next breath saying that these commentators need to be silenced (in so many words).
ddrintn on December 18, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Ya know this site is going down the hill when folks defend Al Franken, yep lets put #2 in the #2 conservative blog.
All hail death and destruction
dmann on December 18, 2008 at 9:47 PM
You mjst’ve been one of the 5 or 6 in the audience, not counting Al’s relatives.
ddrintn on December 18, 2008 at 9:47 PM
I attribute a lot of this to the high turnout of the clueless Obama voters. People who never voted before came out for the Golden Child, and decided to check off a straight Democratic ticket. They could care less who the candidate was, just as long as he/she had a “D” beside the name.
I recall in 1974 a lot of my fellow workers in downtown L.A. (mostly minorities by the way) were saying they were going to vote a straight Democratic ticket because of the Watergate scandal. We all know the result of that election year. The same has happened again.
Joe Pyne on December 18, 2008 at 9:47 PM
This stinks. Something is amiss…..
sheebe on December 18, 2008 at 9:47 PM
I have been off grid, out of state, living in a van down by the river. I finally get on-line and this is the good news I get from HA. / I am losing hope. /
infidel on December 18, 2008 at 9:49 PM
infidel…..looks like its time to pickle the load, hug the ground and try to make it to Switzerland.
dmann on December 18, 2008 at 9:52 PM
bummer for now, but drive on for 2010.
rob verdi on December 18, 2008 at 9:55 PM
Un frikken believable.
I get so tired of being part of a party so dumb it can’t stop this crap, that sometimes I just want to quit.
petefrt on December 18, 2008 at 9:56 PM
…………. you can say that again!
Elections matter people…………. anyone hear from the
Ever notice when a Democrat wins and a Republican challenges, the MSM always tells the Republican to be graceful and just go away……? But never the Democrats,
Fools……………… all.
Seven Percent Solution on December 18, 2008 at 9:56 PM
That’s alright. I chortled a little too after I read what I had typed.
Mallard T. Drake on December 18, 2008 at 9:58 PM
2 votes? Is that all he needs? Well, I’ve got at least 5 in my attic alone. Where do I send them?
Fred 2 on December 18, 2008 at 10:00 PM
The fix is in. And we all saw it coming.
SoulGlo on December 18, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Franken managed to corrupt Minnesota already, probably one of the least corruptable states in the Union.
Bastard.
Mr. Joe on December 18, 2008 at 10:09 PM
erm….
“no”
sven10077 on December 18, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Speaking only for myself and with a vested interest in what kind of civilization we pass on to our offspring, there comes a time when rational folks ponder and ultimately commit seemingly irrational acts. History usually finds these events to have been justified and without malice……”let loose the dogs of war”
dmann on December 18, 2008 at 10:15 PM
What the hell is wrong with you Minnesotans? You learned nothing from the wrestler governor?
Unbelievable.
FireBlogger on December 18, 2008 at 10:24 PM
You would think that, but as an unfortunate resident of a state which has been leading the economic downturn (Michigan), the idiots here decided that “Hopeychangefulness” meant more Democrats in power.
Nugai on December 18, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Senate seats:
Illinois = Highest bidder
New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island = Hereditary lineage
Minnesota = Biggest Schlamiel
MB4 on December 18, 2008 at 10:27 PM
2 votes? mmmm hmmm. sure
johnnyU on December 18, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Forget kicking Minnesota out of the Union. Just nuke the damn place.
Percy_Peabody on December 18, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Poor Ed Comrade Smalley is enflaming passions against the Gophers….
sven10077 on December 18, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Weirdest day! I went in for a tumor biopsy. I’m waiting in the recovery room. Doctor comes in. He says, “I have some bad news…The biopsy went great but we found a strange mass. When we unraveled it we found….3 votes for Al Franken but the worst news is that unfortunately it’s malignant and we may find more.”
ronsfi on December 18, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Relax, people- the sudden change in the vote count came because Coleman voluntarily withdrew more challenges; the challenged votes aren’t included in the running totals.
Franken has more challenges, the vast majority of which will be denied and go to Coleman. The only wild card is the absentee ballots, and how many were excluded by mistake.
Hollowpoint on December 18, 2008 at 10:44 PM
I thought he was a decent host (although he kept on interrupting his guests, which I hated). He brought on good guests, and had some funny segments or approaches to his radio show. For example everytime Christy Harvey would come one he would sing a little song for her. I miss Al. And yes I know you would love nothing more to send him back the AAR way.
Maybe if you guys had been nicer to him he would have stayed on at AAR. Be careful what you wish for :)
mycowardice on December 18, 2008 at 10:49 PM
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