Cornyn Promises Continued Support For Coleman
While we're all waiting for a decision from the Minnesota Supreme Court about the state's ever-continuing disputed 2008 Senate race between Republican former Sen. Norm Coleman and Democratic comedian Al Franken, the national GOP is reiterating its continued support for Coleman if he appeals a much-expected defeat -- and that avenues exist to stop Al Franken from being certified as the winner.
"We'll do everything we can to support Norm as long as he has appellate remedies to pursue," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, in an interview with David Weigel.
Cornyn noted that if Franken wins the appeals, the Governor and state Secretary of State will be required to give him a certificate of election -- his golden ticket into the Senate. But, Cornyn said, Coleman could potentially appeal to the Supreme Court: "The justice that's responsible for that area -- I think it's Justice Alito -- could issue a stay in the issuance of the election certificate, and it could be referred to the entire court."
"I say all this as 'could,'" said Cornyn, "not as 'will or should.'"
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
I'm hopeful the delay is just the court being thorough. The election contest court took seemingly forever, but that didn't indicate a divided decision. They ruled unanimously for Franken on every point, and even every finding of fact went Franken's way, so it looks like they just wanted an opinion that would hold up on appeal. My guess is the supreme court is doing the same, with an eye to their opinion being appealed to the feds. So don't panic yet.
Or if you're hoping it's a good sign for Coleman, I wouldn't stake the security of my credit card number on it.
June 23, 2009 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Highly unlikely that SCOTUS would issue anything but the briefest stay possible...they'll take a few days to review briefs and deny cert
June 23, 2009 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd like to believe that. But I keep remembering that there are four members of SCOTUS who aren't merely conservative, they are highly partisan Republican ideologues. And one of them is the CJ -- remember that Roberts was essentially chosen for the court because of all the help he gave GWB during the Brooks Brothers riots in Florida 2000. Those four aren't enough to actually win the case for Coleman, but they are enough to grant cert. And with Alito in the driver's seat on the initial stay and review...
June 25, 2009 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those are some of my concerns, too.
Hopefully, the amount of additional money that will have to be spent on what will eventually be a losing cause will deter Cornyn and others from buying a few more months of a Franken-less Senate.
Then again - a snake is a snake is a snake.
June 26, 2009 1:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
"I say all this as 'could,'" said Cornyn, "not as 'will or should.'"
My, my. That's not terribly forceful, is it?
It's almost as if Big John's heart just isn't in it.
June 23, 2009 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Keep it up, John Boy. Every dollar tossed down Coleman's rat hole is another dollar that can't be spent defending other GOP Senate seats up for grabs in 2010...
June 23, 2009 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
From the Star Tribune:
National GOP spends nearly $1 million on Coleman fight
June 23, 2009 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, I wish I would stop hearing Franken referred to as "Democratic comedian." Al Franken was a political talk show host and that is where he built up his political base. Nobody refers to Kay Bailey Hutchinson as a news reporter or Sara Palin as a cheerleader. I would rather he just be referred to as the Senator from Minnesota under contention.
June 24, 2009 4:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I said the same in a previous comment today before noticing your comment, which said it better than I did.
Al Franken is the rightful United States Senator Elect (D-MN).
It's time for the MSM to treat him with the respect due the office and the man. I add "the man" because I believe that holding an elected title does not necessarily demand respect. I lived through the McCarthy era - and see budding McCarthy wannabes in office today.
But Al Franken has been nothing but a class act through this entire legalized crime of denying him his rightful seat in the chamber.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with the title "comedian."
So many of Presumed Senator Franken's future chamber mates are openly practicing clowns.
June 25, 2009 7:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
And Franken makes 60. Go for the public health care reform and make a truly new way to deliver health care with a public option. Heck, go all the way to single payer. With Coleman out, Franken in, do not compromise. Just tell the 40 GOP senators this is the way it is going to be.
June 24, 2009 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
What is the source of the GOP's spending on this fight? If it is coming in any part from contributions to the GOP from ordinary citizens (i.e., persons who have every right to assume that their contributions will be directed to supporting the GOP in future elections and/or with day-to-day operating expenses), it raises two (at least) questions: first, how does that square with campaign finance rules, regulations and laws; and, second, how does that square with the GOP's fight, not so long ago, to bar unions from spending contributions from rank-and-file members on partisan political causes (usually, but not always) supported by Democratic candidates or the Democratic Party? Regardless of how the answer to the former comes out, the answer to the latter is: "It doesn't but, hey -- we are talking, after all, about 'strict constructionist' purported 'conservatives' here, right?"
June 24, 2009 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cornyn "believes" that area is in Alito's jurisdiction?
Gosh - Is that just an educated guess or is it because Cornyn has had multiple discussions with Alito on the subject and knows exactly what Alito will do to help drag out this travesty of justice?
Oh - and maybe it's time to stop referring to Al Franken as "Comedian Al Franken" and treat him respectfully by his highest attained position - "Rightful United States Senator Franken (D-MN)."
June 25, 2009 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I could not agree more with your last point. Kleefeld deserves a rebuke for the use of a condescending, gratuitous slap.
June 25, 2009 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
The support Coleman doesn't need is the GOP encouraging him to continue the fight. As a matter of fact this has nothing to do with Coleman. It's only about not letting the potential 60th vote to be seated, clearcut, end of story.
June 26, 2009 12:54 AM | Reply | Permalink