Franken Camp: Our Case Won't Take Nearly as Long as Coleman's Did
The Franken campaign just held a conference call to discuss the real milestone event today in the Senate trial: The Coleman campaign has rested their case, putting the ball in Franken's court.
Lead Franken lawyer Marc Elias said the Franken camp will conduct their case in a different manner from Coleman, who went for five weeks and mostly called local election officials.
"I think what you're likely to see out of us, starting tomorrow, is a case that will move more briskly," said Elias. "We'll move in a very targeted fashion towards bringing before the court evidence regarding the voters who we believe should have their votes counted."
For example, Elias said they'll be calling 15-20 voters tomorrow, compared to 21 total rejected voters that Coleman brought in, as well as bringing local officials to address individual ballots -- and to discuss how the system got it right, that the election officials at all levels did their jobs properly by and large, "and this is an election that the people of Minnesota can and should be proud of, and feel was conducted fairly."
Elias predicted Team Franken will go for two to three weeks, though he did caution that he can't say exactly how long it will go.
Elias also said they will be filing a motion later this week to dismiss some of Coleman's claims, though he did not go into further detail -- in other words, let's wait for the actual filing and courtroom arguments.
Elias was asked by a reporter about the latest rumblings from the Coleman campaign that suggest they'll be calling for a new election -- and he didn't seem to be buying it as a plausible scenario: "Well I don't have an opinion on what their strategy is because they -- they seem to simultaneously claim that they're going to win the recount and also suggest things such as you suggest."
Josh
Elana
Matt
Eric
Sounds like the adults are finally getting their face time with the justices.
March 2, 2009 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shouldn't Coleman call for a new election now - before he knows the decision of the courts if he wanted it to have any semblance of legitimacy?
Waiting until after the decision just shows he's a stark opportunist. If he wins, hey it might have been bad, but it's good enough and the People of Minnesota deserve a Senator now. If he loses - it was such a mess that we need another election.
March 2, 2009 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
"...if he wanted it to have any semblance of legitimacy?"
You can't be serious.
March 2, 2009 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
hello? This is the guy who switched parties and policies so he could get elected governor. Who was pro gay rights before he was against it. Who's taken cutrate rent and free suits and vacations from his "friends". Who's flipped and flopped more times than a beached carp, and whose ethics stink twice as bad.
A stark opportunist? That's Norman Quimby Coleman all over.
March 2, 2009 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
And, be it noted, FAILED to get elected Governor due to the interposition of James Jaros, a.k.a. Jesse Ventura . . . an unforeseen stumble to Norm's satanically insatiable ambition.
Four years later, an epic tragedy enabled Norm to win the Senate race. If Al Franken ever gets to the floor of the Senate, we will owe Al a massive amount of respect. In fact, we owe him that for getting this far!
March 2, 2009 9:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Though it would be far less entertaining, let's hope that Franken's team is less idiotic than Coleman's. Thus far their work appears to have consisted of shooting down a series of poor arguments, which is a lot easier than introducing something sound of their own while someone else is picking it apart. I also never underestimate the ability of a politician to attempt to get away with the same thing that he or she has just cried foul against in his or her opponent...
Either way, I'm searching the internet for an Eric Kleefeld action figure for my desk. Keep up the great work!
March 2, 2009 9:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jason,
I agree that an Eric Kleefeld action figure or statue for one's desk would be awesome! Maybe you want to check out this place http://www.headbobble.com/
We could all order custom Eric bobbleheads - he brings us more entertainment than a lot of MLB players, right?
March 2, 2009 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Their whole strategy is and always has been to count and re-vote and change law and anything else until they win. If, through any combination of factors the Coleman campaign pulls off a miracle victory, I'm certain that the Colemans will then hold that up as exactly the right combination to make things "legal" and "fair". Any scenario that has Coleman losing is obviously biased and hopelessly muddled.
March 2, 2009 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Relevant to very little, I can't wait for the author of "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot" to take his seat in the United States Senate, and start duking it out with the de facto head of the Republican Party. That's assuming the drug-addled obese sex-touring gasbag survives the experience of said author being seated, and doesn't get an aneurysm first. Not that I'd wish that on anyone, you understand. I'd actually prefer the comedy gold if he sticks around and stays right at his mic.
March 3, 2009 12:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
I still just think the fix is in and the judges are largely going to be in Coleman's pocket and give him a new election. I hope I'm wrong, but after Bush/Gore, I have no faith in judges doing the right thing over politics.
March 3, 2009 12:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
A revote is a total nonstarter. Not worth even discussing. Why? Its not provided for in law. Like it or not, the process thus far has followed the law point by point. Election, recount, contest. Motions made, motions granted, motions denied. There will be no solution that is not provided for by MN law. The panel has made it clear that they equal protection argument is also a nonstarter and that too will not gain traction. The panel will decide what votes which have not yet been counted should be counted. These will be votes where the voter made no recognized mistake but his or her vote did not get counted. This will include cases where the registration materials were mistakenly put inside the secrecy envelope, votes that were denied for reasons other than the 4 provided for by law, and votes whose votes were not counted soley because there was an error by an adminstrator. Voters who could have had their vote made legal if the clerk had noted an error but didn't will not be counted. Votes which were counted but which may not have actually met the legal tests will not be "uncounted" or reduced on a pro rata basis (again, no basis in law.) Voters whose ballots failed the 4 tests will not have their vote counted because some other similar voters had their votes counted. This is a contradiction but there is no remedy.
Perhaps 1,000 votes will be added to the legitimate vote count. The result of this will likely be to make a very small change to the current count (either a gain for Franken or a for Coleman) but not enough n any case to change the outcome. The tribunal will approve a winner, and that winner will very likely be Al Franken.
Coleman will appeal to the MN Supreme Court based on Equal Protection and other factors which will gain NO traction whatever and that Court will affirm the panel's decision and grant a certificate to Franken. Franken will then be seated. Coleman will then seek review by the USSC for which cert will likely be denied and if cert is granted it will crank along a bit before they steop away and say "No federal quetion here."
So, 85% chance Franken gets seated in March or April. Then the argument to the USSC will be a sideshow which will fizzle out.
The election has been conducted well by honest, diligent pulic services. It is imperfect, but better than the alternatives.
Everyone take a chill pill and let this play out in a dignified fashion. It won't take long.
March 3, 2009 2:04 AM | Reply | Permalink