Minnesota Voters Did Not Want Sen. Franken To Resign

 Senator Al Franken has said he will resign his senate seat in a few days (January 2nd). I am sorry to see him go. He was a reliable voice and vote for progressive causes, and personally, I am not convinced that he was guilty of the accusations leveled against him (too many have come from right-wing extremists, and could be just the right trying to muddy the waters to defend their own sex abuser -- Donald Trump and Roy Moore).

I also think the Democratic leaders who demanded Franken's resignation jumped the gun in an attempt to present the party as pure on this issue of sexual harassment and abuse. It's not pure -- no party is, because sexual harassment and abuse are pervasive in our patriarchal society. However, we should be sure of a person's guilt before tossing them under a bus.

I'm evidently not alone in this opinion. A recent poll showed that Minnesota voters also disliked how this went down. About 53% said they approved of the job Franken was doing. About 50% did not want him to resign. And 60%thought the Senate investigation should have been completed before his resignation was demanded.

Those numbers are from a new Public Policy Polling survey -- done on December 26th and 27th of a random sample of 671 Minnesota voters, with a margin of error of 3.8 points.

Franken Resigns (But Republican Offenders Carry On)

Yesterday, Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota) announced his intention to resign from the United States Senate. I still do not believe his "crimes" were as bad as those of Donald Trump, Roy Moore, or Blake Farenthold (all of which carry on). But while Republicans support the offenders in their party, Democrats in Congress had turned on Franken (just like they did on Conyers). I just hope the public recognizes the difference between the two parties. Republicans protect their sex offenders, while Democrats do not.

Here is the transcript of Senator Franken's resignation speech from MPR News:

A couple months ago I felt that we had entered an important moment in the history of this country. We were finally beginning to listen to women about the ways in which men's actions affect them. 

The moment was long overdue. 

I was excited for that conversation and hopeful that it would result in real change that made life better for women all across the country and in every part of our society. Then the conversation turned to me. 

Over the last few weeks, a number of women have come forward to talk about how they felt my actions had affected them. I was, I was shocked. I was upset.

But in responding to their claims I also wanted to be respectful of that broader conversation, because all women deserve to be heard and their experiences taken seriously. 

I think that was the right thing to do. I also think it gave some people the false impression that I was admitting to doing things that in fact I haven't done. 

Some of the allegations against me are simply not true. Others I remember very differently. 

I said at the outset that the ethics committee was the right venue for these allegations to be heard and investigated and evaluated on their merits. That I was prepared to cooperate fully and that I was confident in the outcome. 

You know an important part of the conversation we've been having last few months has been about how men abused their power and privilege to hurt women.

I am proud that during my time in the Senate I have used my power to be a champion of women and that I have earned a reputation as someone who respects the women I work alongside everyday. I know there's been a very different picture of me painted over the last few weeks, but I know who I really am. 

Serving in the United States Senate has been the great honor of my life. I know in my heart that nothing I have done as a senator — nothing — has brought dishonor on this institution, and I am confident that the ethics committee would agree.

Nevertheless, today I am announcing that in the coming weeks I will be resigning as a member of the United States Senate.

I of all people am aware that there is some irony in the fact that I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party. 

But this decision is not about me. It's about the people of Minnesota.

It has become clear that I can't both pursue the ethics committee process and at the same time remain an effective senator for them. Let me be clear: I may be resigning my seat but I am not giving up my voice. 

I will continue to stand up for the things I believe in as a citizen and has an activist. But Minnesotans deserve a senator who can focus with all her energy on addressing the challenges they face every day. 

There is a big part of me that will always regret having to walk away from this job with so much work left to be done. But I have faith that the work will continue because I have faith in the people who have helped me do it. 

I have faith in the dedicated, funny, selfless, brilliant young men and women on my staff. They have so much more to contribute to our country, and I hope that as disappointed as they may feel today, everyone who has worked for me knows how much I admire and respect them. 

I have faith in my colleagues, especially my senior Senator Amy Klobuchar. I would not have been able to do this job without her guidance and wisdom. And I have faith, or at least hope, that members of this Senate will find the political courage necessary to keep asking the tough questions, hold this administration accountable and stand up for the truth. 

I have faith in the activists who organized to help me win my first campaign and who have kept on organizing to help fight for the people who needed us. Kids facing bullying. Seniors worried about the price of prescription drugs. Native Americans who have been overlooked for far too long. Working people who have been taken on the chin for a generation. Everyone in the middle class and everyone aspiring to join it. 

I have faith in the proud legacy of progressive advocacy that I have had the privilege to be a part of. I think I've probably repeated these words 10,000 times over the years: Paul Wellstone's famous quote, "The future belongs to those who are passionate and work hard." It's still true. It will always be true. 

And most of all I have faith in Minnesota. A big part of this job is going around the state and listening to what people need from Washington. But more often than not when I'm home I am blown away by how much Minnesota has to offer the entire country and the entire world. 

The people I've had the honor of representing are brilliant and creative and hard-working, and whoever holds this seat next will inherit the challenge I've enjoyed for the last eight and a half years: being as good as the people you serve.

This has been a tough few weeks for me, but I am a very, very lucky man. I have a beautiful healthy family that I love and that loves me very much. I'm going to be just fine. 

I'd just like to end with one last thing: I did not grow up wanting to be a politician. I came to this relatively late in life. 

I had to learn a lot on the fly. It wasn't easy and it wasn't always fun, and I'm not just talking about today. This is a hard thing to do with your life. There are a lot of long hours and late nights and hard lessons, and there is no guarantee that all your work and sacrifice will ever pay off. 

I won my first election by 312 votes. Could have easily gone the other way. And even when you win, progress is far from inevitable. 

Paul Wellstone spent his whole life working for mental health parity, and it didn't pass until six years after Paul died.

This year a lot of people who didn't grow up imagining that they'd ever get involved in politics have done just that. They've gone to their first protest march or made their first call to a member of Congress or maybe even taken the leap and put their names on a ballot for the first time. 

It can be such a rush to look around a room full people ready to fight alongside you, to feel that energy, to imagine that better things are possible. 

But you too will experience setbacks and defeats and disappointments. There will be days when you will wonder whether it's worth it.

What I want you to know is that even today, even on the worst day of my political life, I feel like it's all been worth it.

Politics, Paul Wellstone told us, is about the improvement of people's lives. I know that the work I've been able to do has improved people's lives. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

For a decade now, every time I would get tired or discouraged or frustrated, I would think about the people I was doing this for and it would get me back up on my feet. 

I know the same will be true for everyone who decides to pursue a politics that is about improving people's lives. And I hope you know that I will be fighting alongside you every step of the way.

Women From SNL Defend Al Franken

From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

Dozens of women who worked with Minnesota Sen. Al Franken on Saturday Night Live have signed their names in support of him saying that although they believe what he did toward a radio broadcaster was “stupid and foolish,” the women have never “experience any inappropriate behavior” from the senator.

Franken worked as a writer and was a featured cast member on SNL for nearly two decades.

Among the 36 women who are “offering solidarity in support of Franken,” are production assistants, writers, producers and original cast members, including Jane Curtin, who starred with Franken in the show’s early seasons. “We feel compelled to stand up for Al Franken, whom we have all had the pleasure of working with over the years on Saturday Night Live (SNL),” the women wrote in a statement issued Monday. “ ... In our experience, we know Al as a devoted and dedicated family man, a wonderful comedic performer, and an honorable public servant. That is why we are moved to quickly and directly affirm that after years of working with him, we would like to acknowledge that not one of us ever experienced any inappropriate behavior; and mention our sincere appreciation that he treated each of us with the utmost respect and regard.”

The women’s support follows recent allegations of misconduct by Franken.

Senator Al Franken Should NOT Resign His Seat

I'm sure you've heard by now about the accusations made against Senator Franken by right-wing broadcaster Leeann Tweeden. Franken (before being elected to the Senate) allowed a rather disgusting picture to be taken and is accused of forcing a kiss on Tweeden.

Perhaps the best commentary I've read about this comes from Ramona Grigg at Crooks and Liars -- and I agree with her. Here is part of what she has written:

Yes, I'll say it, and I hope it's not too late: Al Franken should not resign. He shouldn't be forced to resign, either by the Democrats who (rightly) can't abide double standards or the Republicans who would love to see a Democratic knock-down. I can agree that what he did to Leeann Tweeden was stupid, gross, and as close to sexual predation as it gets, and still want him to stay where he is. . . .

. . .how could I, flaming liberal feminist, active #MeToo member, wish for Al Franken to go on working in the Senate? I confess I've been torn over this, asking myself why I should accept Franken's admission and apology and still go after Roy Moore or Donald Trump for their ugly sexual transgressions.

Well, yes, they're lowlife scum and don't deserve my defense--I agree--but I want the punishment to fit the crime. Franken has plenty to apologize for--gross, sexist stupidity is finding its day in court and, after so many decades of unfettered applications, it can't come too soon--and he has apologized. Twice so far, without the usual equivocations. He is as disgusted with himself as we are. Leeann Tweeden accepted his apology. She said she doesn't want him to resign, adding that he does good things for the people of Minnesota while still acknowledging it was wrong and these things shouldn't be ignored.

She's right. They shouldn't be ignored. Spreading sunshine all over the place encourages women--and sometimes men--to come out of the shadows and tell their stories. We are at a crossroads now and we have to get it right. Sexual predators, no matter who they are, need to be exposed. We should, of course, look to punishment, but who gets to decide what form and how much?

Did Al Franken do something worthy of expulsion? There's the dilemma. I want women like Leeann Tweeden to be able to come forward without consequence to tell their stories. I want the men who abused them to feel their pain, to get it, to show us they've learned from these revelations and will work to put a stop to a culture that has for too long equated power with the freedom to use sex as a right.

I believe Franken gets it. I want him to stay in the Senate because his work is important. Too important to set aside. He does good work there. He asks relevant, sometimes burning questions, does his homework, and works for the disenfranchised, the underdogs, the people hungering for attention to their condition. The loss would be painful.

I want him to work for us, against the Trump administration and the GOP majority, against any hateful agents who try to diminish or harm those of us without power. I want him where he can do the most good. I want him in the Senate.

Biden Is Favorite For 2020 (For Dems & General Public)

These charts were made from results of the newest Public Policy Polling survey -- done on March 27th and 28th of a random national sample of 677 registered voters, with a 3.8 point margin of error.

It shows that any of five different Democrats would beat Donald Trump if the election was held right now. The favorite though is Joe Biden -- who has a 14 point margin over Trump. The others are Bernie Sanders (11 point margin), Elizabeth Warren (5 point margin), Al Franken (5 point margin), and Cory Booker (3 point margin).

So, who is the favorite among Democrats? That would also be Joe Biden (see chart below). He has the highest favorable rating -- and the lowest unfavorable and unsure ratings. He has to be considered the favorite right now.

NOTE -- I wish they had included Caroline Kennedy in this survey. I think she would have scored right up there with Biden.

Franken Compares "Citizens United" To Money Laundering

Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota) took to the Senate floor to support the constitutional amendment that would overturn the Supreme Court Citizens United decision, and return control of campaign finance to Congress. Here is some of what he had to say (as reported by politicususa.com):

This is real, M. President: spending by outside groups more than tripled from the 2008 presidential election to the 2012 presidential election, when it topped a billion dollars – that’s billion with a “b.” What happened in the interim? Well Citizens United was decided in 2010 – the floodgates were opened.

And, worse still, the middle-class isn’t just being flooded; it’s being blindfolded, too – because these wealthy special interest groups often can spend the money anonymously, so voters have no idea who’s behind the endless attack ads that fill the airwaves. Here’s how it works: if you have millions of dollars that you want to spend, you can funnel it through back channels so that it ends up in the hands of a group – typically one with a generic and benign-sounding name – that uses the money to buy ads, often without disclosing the source of its funds.

This whole thing looks to me a lot like money laundering – except that it’s now perfectly legal. And, again, this is real: a study just came out which showed that, in the current election cycle alone, there’s already been over 150,000 ads run by groups that don’t have to disclose the source of their funding.

And get this: things are only getting worse. Earlier this year, in a case called McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court was at it again, recklessly doing away with a law that prohibited people from giving more than $123,000, in the aggregate, directly to candidates in an election cycle. One-hundred-and-twenty-three-thousand-dollars. Who has that kind of money lying around to spend on elections? The super-rich, maybe. But the middle class sure doesn’t. The folks I meet with in Minnesota – who are trying to make ends meet, pay off their student loans, train for a new job, save some money to start a family – they sure don’t. And those are the folks who most need a voice here in Washington.

So the way I see it is this: there are two ways that we can go from here. On the one hand, we can continue to let Citizens United be the law of the land. We can perpetuate the fallacy that corporations have a constitutional right to flood our elections with undisclosed money; we can let deep-pocketed special interests buy influence and access – and then set the agenda for the rest of the country.

Or … Or, we can say, enough is enough. We can restore the law to what it was before Citizens United was decided – and, more to the point, we can restore a voice for millions upon millions of everyday Americans who want nothing more than to see their government represent them.

(Senator Al Franken's caricature above is by DonkeyHotey.)

Franken Looks Strong In Minnesota's Senate Race

Al Franken won his senate race by the slimmest of margins six years ago, but it looks like 2014 is not going to be a repeat of that election. Franken seems to have won Minnesota voters over -- with an approval rating of 56% positive to 35% negative ( a strong 21 point gap). And that strong approval rating has translated into a 9 point lead in his bid for re-election (51% to 43%).

These results are from a new KSTP-TV / SurveyUSA Poll -- done between August 8th and 21st of 600 likely Minnesota voters, and has a margin of error of 4.1 points.

Democracy For Sale

Franken In Good Shape For Re-Election

Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota) won his initial run for the Senate in 2008 by the slimmest of margins. It took a lengthy statewide recount of the ballots and a court fight that went all the way up to the Minnesota Supreme Court before Franken was finally declared the winner (with a 312 vote margin out of 2.89 million votes cast). He was not sworn in until July 7 of 2009 -- about 8 months after the election.

But the people of Minnesota seem to be pretty happy with his job performance, giving him a current approval rating of 51% (with 43% disapproving and 6% unsure). Considering how mad Americans are at Congress, those are some pretty good numbers (numbers that many other politicians in Washington would love to have). And right now, it looks like his re-election will be much easier than his 2008 election.

Five possible opponents have been identified as possible GOP nominees for Franken's senate seat, but all of them are double digits behind him right now. Those possible candidates all share a couple of problems -- they are not real well known, and they must overcome the damage the national Republican Party has done to itself. The first might be overcome with enough money and media coverage, but the second is going to be difficult -- especially in Minnesota, which is not known for being a very red state.

The numbers above are from the latest Public Policy Polling survey (conducted Between October 27th and 29th of 895 Minnesota voters, with a 3.3 point margin of error).

Franken Has Won Over Minnesota Voters

Back in 2008, there was no closer election than the Minnesota senate race between Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and his Democratic opponent All Franken. It was finally won by Al Franken -- but only by a few hundred votes out of several million votes cast. It took a recount and a court case, but Franken was finally declared the winner. This made the Republicans think that Franken could be targeted and unseated in 2014.

But it hasn't worked out that way. Franken has turned out to be a very good senator -- a progressive who has puts the best interests and the rights of ordinary citizens above the profits of Wall Street. And that seems to have played well in Minnesota. A new survey by Public Policy Polling (conducted between May 17th and 19th of 712 Minnesota voters -- with a 3.7 point margin of error) is showing it is going to be very difficult for the GOP to unseat Senator Franken.

The poll shows that 51% of voters approve of Franken's job performance, while only 42% disapprove. Compare that to his most well-known possible opponent, Michele Bachmann. Bachmann has an approval rating of only 34%, and her disapproval has reached a whopping 60%. Here are the poll numbers pitting Franken against his possible opponents:

Al Franken...............55%
Michele Bachmann...............38%

Al Franken...............54%
Jason Lewis...............37%

Al Franken...............51%
Mike McFadden...............36%

Al Franken...............52%
Julianne Ortman...............35%

Al Franken...............52%
Julie Rosen...............36%

Al Franken...............51%
Rich Stanek...............36%

Those are some great numbers, which I'm sure any politician would love to have. There's still more than a year until the 2014 election takes place, and a lot could happen between now and then, but it looks like the Republicans have a very difficult task ahead if they plan to defeat Senator Franken.

Franken Exposes Health Care Lies

Far too many Democrats in Congress allow right-wing and corporate apologists to get away with telling outrageous lies. I don't know if it's because they don't know the real truth, or because they just don't have enough of a spine to call these people on their lies. Fortunately, there are a few Democrats who aren't afraid to point out these obvious lies.

One of these brave Democrats was elected to the Senate in the last election by the good people of Minnesota -- Al Franken. I thought he would make a good senator, and he proves that belief was justified with each day he spends in the Senate.

It is a well-known fact that around 62% of all bankruptcies in the United States are caused by medical bills, and 78% of those people had private health insurance (which still left them with enormous unpaid medical bills). It is a shameful situation, and one the private insurance companies would rather not talk about.

A couple of days ago, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on medical debt and bankruptcy. After several people testified how medical bills (unpaid by their insurance) had forced them into bankruptcy, right-wingers called a witness of their own.

That witness was Diana Furchtgott-Roth, a senior fellow at the right-wing Hudson Institute. She tried to tell the committee that moving toward a European-style single payer insurance system would actually increase the number of medical bankruptcies. This outrageous lie was too much for Sen. Franken, and he had the following exchange with Furchtgott-Roth:

FRANKEN: I think we disagree on whether health care reform, the health care reform that we’re talking about in Congress now should pass. You said that the way we’re going will increase bankruptcies. I want to ask you, how many medical bankruptcies because of medical crises were there last year in Switzerland?

FURCHTGOTT-ROTT: I don’t have that number in front of me, but I can find out and get back to you.

FRANKEN: I can tell you how many it was. It’s zero. Do you know how many medical bankruptcies there were last year in France?

FURCHTGOTT-ROTT: I don’t have that number, but I can get back to you if I like.

FRANKEN: Yeah, the number is zero. Do you know how many were in Germany?

FURCHTGOTT-ROTT: From the trend of your questions, I’m assuming the number is zero. But I don’t know the precise number and would have to get back to you.

FRANKEN: Well, you’re very good. Very fast. The point is, I think we need to go in that direction, not the opposite direction. Thank you.

Although he made quickly made his point that Furchtgott-Roth either didn't know what she was talking about or was telling an outright lie, Sen. Franken could have gone on listing many other countries. Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Canada and many other countries also have ZERO medical bankruptcies.

The fact that the United States has any medical bankruptcies at all should be a source of great embarrassment to all Americans. Thank you Senator Franken, for standing tall and exposing the right-wing lies.

And thank you Minnesota, for giving America Senator Al Franken.

Senate Approves "KBR Assault" Amendment

In 2005, Jamie Leigh Jones was an employee of KBR/Halliburton and was working for them in Iraq. One night, she was attacked and raped by several of her co-workers. When she tried to report it to the company, she was locked in a shipping container for several hours before a sympathetic security guard released her.

The company was at fault for failing to provide proper security safeguards for Ms. Jones, and again for locking her in a shipping container to try and prevent the story from getting out. She quit the company and filed suit against them in a federal court. Instead of admitting their wrongdoing, the company has been fighting for sever years to quash the court case.

The company claims that according to Ms. Jones employee contract, the case should have been referred to the company's arbitration process. If this had been a disagreement over pay or normal working conditions, they would have been right. But this was a case with extraordinary circumstances, and a federal appeals court has ruled that Ms. Jones has the right to take the case to the federal court.

Yesterday, the United States Senate entered the fray by passing an amendment by Sen. Al Franken to the pending defense spending bill. The amendment easily passed by a 68-30 vote. It would prohibit the Defense Department from contracting with companies that require matters like sexual assault to be submitted to arbitration.

Sen. Franken (pictured) claimed, "Companies are using fine print to deny women like Jamie Leigh Jones their day in court." I applaud Sen. Franken's actions. He's turning out to be every bit as good a senator as I thought he would be. It's about time someone stood up to companies like KBR/Halliburton and protected the rights of American citizens.

The amendment must still survive the Senate/House conference committee and then be approved by the full House and Senate. But the large margin of the Senate victory, along with the huge majority of Democrats in the House, makes me think the amendment will probably survive and become law.

It's Official Now - Senator Al Franken

Well, it is official now. On Tuesday, comedian and radio host Al Franken was sworn in as the United States Senator from Minnesota. From now on, I'll be referring to him as Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota). I love the sound of that, and I think he'll make a great senator -- certainly much better than anyone Texas has sent to the Senate in at least a couple of decades.

He has been assigned to several Senate committees, including the Judiciary Committee (which meets tomorrow to begin consideration of Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court). Franken's chair on the committee certainly won't hurt Ms. Sotomayor's chances. Other committees that Franken is on include Health, Education, Labor & Pensions and Indian Affairs and Aging.

Republicans can do all the whining they want, but Senator Franken is going to be on Capitol Hill for at least another five and one half years. And he's no spineless blue-dog Democrat. He's a real liberal, and he's not the least bit ashamed of that.

Coleman Concedes - Franken Wins

It's finally over. After 8 months of contentious bickering, a recount and a court fight that went all the way to the Minnesota Supreme Court, Minnesota finally has two senators. On election night last November, Norm Coleman finished ahead by 206 votes out of more than 2.9 million votes cast. State law mandated a recount because of the closeness of the vote. After the recount, Al Franken led by 312 votes.

Coleman refused to concede, and contested the election all the way up to the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the Minnesota Supreme Court announced its decision. Their unanimous decision declared that Al Franken "received the highest number of votes legally cast"and he should be certified as Minnesota's new senator.

Coleman had threatened to appeal to federal courts if the Minnesota court ruled against him, but he's not going to do that. Finally bending to the will of the people of Minnesota, Coleman told reporters, "I just congratulated Al Franken on his victory. I told him it's the best job he'll ever have -- representing Minnesota in the United States Senate. The Supreme Court has spoken, I will respect its decision, and abide by its results."

Minnesota's governor and Secretary of State have now both signed the election certificate, and it will be delivered to the Senate today. Mr. Franken is expected to be sworn in after the Senate returns from its Fourth of July break.

Franken said, "We are so thrilled we can finally celebrate this victory and I'm so excited to finally be able to get to work for the people of Minnesota. We have a lot of work to do in Washington, but that's why I signed up for the job in the first place....I want the people of Minnesota to know that I'm ready to work for all of you, that I'm committed to being a voice for all Minnesotans in the U.S. Senate."

Senator Al Franken. Damn, but I like the sound of that!

Court Declares Franken The Winner

Yesterday, a three-judge panel in Minnesota declared Al Franken the winner in that state's U.S. Senate race. In a normal race that would be the end of it and Franken would be allowed to assume his senate seat, but this is anything but a normal situation.

In the three-way race last November, Coleman originally came out ahead by a few votes. But the margin was less than 1/2 of 1%, and a state law triggered an automatic recount. After the recount, Franken has taken a 225 vote lead. Coleman appealed the outcome to a three-judge panel, in the hopes of getting some disqualified absentee ballots counted and overturning the outcome. The court did allow another 400 absentee ballots to be counted, but that just increased Franken's lead to 312 votes.

That should be the end of it, but Coleman is now saying he is going to appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The Republican governor says he won't issue an election certificate until all court actions are completed. That could be a long time, since even if the Minnesota Supreme Court rules against him, Coleman could start working his way up the federal courts.

There is no chance of Franken's victory being overturned. To do so, there would have to be proof of some kind of election malfeasance, and that is unlikely considering the verdict of the three-judge panel. They wrote, "The overwhelming weight of the evidence indicates that the November 4, 2008, election was conducted fairly, impartially and accurately. There is no evidence of a systematic problem of disenfranchisement in the state's election system, including in its absentee-balloting procedures."

There is simply no proof of election malfeasance and Coleman knows it. He knows he has lost the election, but this is no longer about who won the election. Coleman is now just carrying water for the national party.

If Franken is seated in the Senate, that brings the Democrats very close to the 60 votes they need to keep the minority Republicans from filibustering or blocking Democratic or White House bills. The longer the Republicans can keep Franken from being seated, the better there chances are of obstructing senate actions.

The Republicans may be in the minority now, but that obviously hasn't stopped their dirty tricks and underhanded politics.

Franken Wins In Minnesota

It's been a long two months since election day, but it looks like the Minnesota senate race has finally been decided. State officials have told CNN that the State Election Board will meet today at 2:30pm, and they're going to declare Al Franken (Democrat) the winner.

On election night, Norm Coleman (Republican) finished first with a 215 vote margin out of several million votes cast. Because the finish was so close, state law demanded that a recount be done. After the recount was finished, Franken held the lead by 225 votes. Once the board announces the result today, all that's left is for the Secretary of State and Governor to certify the result. Then Franken can take his rightful place in the Senate.

Coleman has seven days to contest the result in court, and his campaign manager says he will do that. That probably won't change the outcome though. They would need to prove wrongdoing by the Elections Board, and that seems very unlikely. The Board has taken its time and scrupously performed its duty under the watchful eye of both campaigns.

The only question remaining is whether Franken will have to wait on the courts, or whether he can be seated in the Senate right away. Our idiot junior senator here in Texas, John "Box Turtle" Cornyn, is threatening to filibuster if Democrats try to seat Franken.

Cornyn better have some capable help, because I don't think old "Box Turtle" has the cajones to do it on his on!

Ballots Disappear In Minnesota

The recount of the results in the Minnesota is still going on a month after the official election day. The senate race between Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman had finished in nearly a dead heat. After counting several million votes, the two candidates were separated by only a couple of hundred votes. According to Minnesota law, that meant a recount must be done.

After several weeks of counting, 94.3% has been counted and only 138,000 votes remain to be counted. According to Marc Elias from the Franken campaign, Al Franken has taken the lead for the first time in the race - by a 22 vote margin.

Now the count moves to Wright County, which is a largely Republican area and could put Coleman back into the lead. After all the votes have been counted, the Canvassing Board must consider all the "challenged" ballots by both sides. Each side has challenged more than a thousand ballots.

But perhaps the most disturbing thing for the Franken campaign is some missing ballots. In the 1st precinct of the third ward in Minneapolis, a pracinct that heavily favored Franken, it looks like about 133 ballots are now missing. On election day, 2,028 votes were counted, but when the recount was done only 1896 were counted.

Minnesota elections director Cindy Reichert originally claimed that no ballots were missing. She said the ballots with write-ins had just been counted twice. However, a couple of different things show that to be unlikely.

First, if the write-ins were counted twice, then totals of write-ins for individual races should be an even number (2 X anything = even number). But that is not the case. Several races show an odd number of write-ins, and several even show only one write-in (an impossibility for a double count).

The double count scenario also doesn't account for the election day count of registered voters. There were:
1047 pre-registered voters signed in
932 voters registered on election day
50 absentee ballots were accepted for the precinct
That is a total of 2,029 votes on election day (only one off the 2,028 reported on election day, and 133 off the recount total of 1,896).

There are missing votes in this Franken precinct. Where are they? Can they be found? As close as this election is, that's possibly enough ballots to make a huge difference in the outcome.

It's looking more likely every day that this election will wind up in the courts.

Political Tidbits

Chris Matthews on MSNBC's Hardball yesterday had an interesting "big number" of the day. The number showed the ungodly cost of a presidential campaign these days. Matthews said the New York Times had figured up what it cost Hillary Clinton to get a delegate in the 2008 campaign. The figure was $109,823 per delegate, and that was for the losing campaign. Can you imagine what the number will be in four years? Maybe it's time for us to seriously consider public financing of national campaigns.

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Al Franken is now officially the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. He received over 60% of the first ballot votes at the Minnesota Democratic Convention. He told the convention, "I will not lose my spine." That's a promise I wish a few more Democrats would make.

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It looks like maybe Bob Barr will be siphoning off some Republican votes in the coming election. Former Texas congressman and future prison inmate, Tom DeLay, was asked if Barr would get a lot of Republican votes. He said yes. He went on to say his own wife had announced she would be voting for Barr, and he was still trying to talk her out of it. McCain still has a lot of convincing to do with his right-wing party's base.

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There are many who are clamoring for an Obama-Clinton ticket. President Jimmy Carter is not one of them. He told The Guardian newspaper in London that would be "the worst mistake that could be made". Carter said, "That would just accumulate the negative aspects of both candidates" and the accumulated vulnerabilities would overshadow the campaign.