U.S. Senate: Burning Down the House

[seireikhaan]

Wow...

I'm not sure what surprises me more: that anybody would threaten their party with such a maneuver, or that Kentucky has a Democratic governor.

[Major Robert Dump]

Oh come on dude, not all democrats are liberal. I'd be willing to bet that Kentucky probably is like Oklahoma and is majority democrat registered voters, with conservative voting tendencies. If the guvnah wants to be re-elected he would stick with the wishes of his constituents.

I really think this guys threat is a bluff, and even if its not people are so damned paranoid.....didn't happen in new york city like the paranoids thought it would, eh? I think some Republicans wanted Caroline Kennedy to get the seat so they could have someone else to vilify, and be closer to a fillibuster-proof dem majority, that way everything that happens can be blamed soley on the dems.

It used to be about having a majority. Now its all about a fillibuster proof majoruty. It's really sad that federal level offices have degraded into this wrangling. I can't wait for Clancey-esq poisonings and call girl scandals to begin

[Xiahou]

Senator Bunning (R-KY) threatens to quit if GOP gives him a hard time. Since Kentucky has a Dem Governor, this would put the Dems into the 60-seat supermajority that nobody thought they would ever get.

My response: Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

If he does opt out and the Dems get their 60, we would finally see bipartisanship calls stop. The Dems are not afraid to KATN when they have power.

[Lemur]

It's official, Norm Coleman has asked for a do-over. I'm not convinced that Minnesota really needs two Senators. They seem to be managing with just one ...

For more than a month, Norm Coleman stressed flaws in Minnesota's election system. And on Monday, Coleman lawyer Jim Langdon wrote the three-judge panel to suggest the problems are so serious they may not be able to declare a winner.

"Some courts have held that when the number of illegal votes exceeds the margin between the candidates—and it cannot be determined for which candidate those illegal votes were cast—the most appropriate remedy is to set aside the election," Langdon wrote in a letter to the court.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

A "do-over?" Shades of the 3rd-grade playground....sounds about the right level.

[Kralizec]

Some courts have held that when the number of illegal votes exceeds the margin between the candidates—and it cannot be determined for which candidate those illegal votes were cast—the most appropriate remedy is to set aside the election," Langdon wrote in a letter to the court.

Actually I think that's reasonable, assuming that "illegal votes" includes ballots who weren't counted because of technicalities. What kind of mandate are we talking about when you win by a couple of votes whereas a butload of them were rejected?

[seireikhaan]

A "do-over?" Shades of the 3rd-grade playground....sounds about the right level.

Indeed...

I thought we had agreed upon "no takesy-backsies".

[Lemur]

I'm not sure when, but at some point this stopped being funny ...

Former Sen. Norm Coleman is still considering taking his election lawsuit to federal court if he’s unsuccessful in reversing Al Franken’s 225-vote lead in the Minnesota Senate recount. [...] “I’m not ruling out anything,” Coleman said. “I think Minnesotans deserve to know each and every vote was counted fairly — that there’s a uniform standard. If that can be done at a trial level, that’s great. If it takes an appellate level to do that, then, you know, we have to look at that. But I’m not looking forward. I’m looking at where we’re at today, and right now, today, we’re waiting.”

Coleman’s basic argument in the recount case is that a slew of absentee votes have not been counted and other ballots were double counted. Some of the court’s early rulings during the seven-week trial have led many legal experts to believe that Coleman’s chances of winning at the trial level are slim.

After the lunch with Coleman, Sen. John Cornyn, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said he would expect the court challenge to go on for a while — potentially years.

“I know it seems it’s gone on for a long time already, but this could go on for a long time,” Cornyn said. “Appeals take months, if not years, sometimes.”

[KukriKhan]

"... It’s pretty surreal,” he said. “Here we are in the end of March, moving into April, not done yet.”

Yeah. Are the good people of the State of Minnesota better served by delaying the seating of their 2nd Senator, in order to expose and fix their apparently disconnected electoral system? Or better served to seat someone now, so they're adequately represented, and fix their system later?

On the bright side: Minnesotans are saving half the $$$ they would have spent on Senatorial perq's for the second guy. :)

[Lemur]

Kukri, if this goes to the Supremes there's a fairly recent precedent ...

[Lemur]

It's good that our elected Senators are so mature and dignified.

Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) was on the receiving end of this one, after telling Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), "Oh, you are good."

"Well, your wife said the same thing," Sen. Grassley responded.

[seireikhaan]

It's good that our elected Senators are so mature and dignified.

Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) was on the receiving end of this one, after telling Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), "Oh, you are good."

"Well, your wife said the same thing," Sen. Grassley responded.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Franken stinks. I hope he misses a few months.

I'm an independent giving Obama a chance.... I still think it's actually a good thing that neither Coleman or Franken has the seat.

Neither one of them impress me. Both losers in my opinion.

[Lemur]

Looks like some financial shenanigans are emerging about Coleman. Not that this should hurt his plan for years-long litigation over the Senate seat; he can continue that from prison if need be.

The former finance chief of a Texas company controlled by Nasser Kazeminy, a close friend of former Sen. Norm Coleman, said in a deposition last week that Kazeminy ordered $100,000 in fees be paid to a Minneapolis insurance agency where Coleman's wife was employed.

B.J. Thomas, who was chief financial officer of Deep Marine Technology Inc., said that $75,000 of that sum was paid to Hays Companies even though he saw no evidence of Deep Marine receiving any consulting services from Hays. [...]

Doug Kelley, Norm Coleman's attorney, said Wednesday that no matter how much money Deep Marine paid to Hays, "I can assure you that not a penny found its way to Laurie Coleman or Senator Norm Coleman. Period. End of story.''

Hays' attorney, Doug Peterson, said he hadn't seen the transcript of Thomas' deposition and couldn't comment. Hays hasn't disputed that it received $75,000 under a consulting contract with Deep Marine. But the company has previously insisted none of the money went to the Colemans.

[KukriKhan]

B.J. Thomas, who was chief financial officer of Deep Marine Technology Inc., said that $75,000 of that sum was paid to Hays Companies even though he saw no evidence of Deep Marine receiving any consulting services from Hays. [...]

Hooked On A Feelin' I guess that singing career didn't pan out after "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head".

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Looks like some financial shenanigans are emerging about Coleman. Not that this should hurt his plan for years-long litigation over the Senate seat; he can continue that from prison if need be.

I don't know for sure, Lemur, but you may have hit upon an excellent solution for Congress in general. Elect whichever thief you want, but then jail them before than can take office and avail themselves of immunity while in session. If we can incarcerate enough of them, maybe we can really limit the ongoing damage.

[Lemur]

Speaking of which, Rep. John Murtha (D) is refreshingly honest: "If I'm corrupt, it's because I take care of my district."

-edit-

Another update from the no-longer-funny debacle in Minnesota:

Texas Sen. John Cornyn is threatening “World War III” if Democrats try to seat Al Franken in the Senate before Norm Coleman can pursue his case through the federal courts.

Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, acknowledges that a federal challenge to November’s elections could take “years” to resolve. But he’s adamant that Coleman deserves that chance — even if it means Minnesota is short a senator for the duration. [...]

Cornyn believes that Minnesota can’t certify Franken the winner if Coleman seeks review from the U.S. Supreme Court or files a new federal case. And Ben Ginsberg, a Coleman attorney and a central player on the Republican side in the 2000 Florida recount, says it’s “an open question” whether a federal court challenge puts a pause on the certification process.

[Lemur]

For some reason I'm reminded of a true story: My wife and I were lost in Brooklyn, looking to meet up with some friends. We were also drunk out of our minds. Anyway, we had been walking for about two miles, which is a long way when you're drunk and it's boiling hot in August. My wife asks me, "What was that march in WWII where everybody died?"

"The Bataan Death March," I said.

"Yeah, that one. If they had just called it a fun march, maybe it wouldn't be so bad."

Since we were drunk, this struck us as hilarious. For the next half-hour we kept riffing on it. "Did you hear, man, we're on a death march!" "No, no, it's a fun march." "Oh, a fun march? Well that's okay then."

Anyway, the latest update from the Minnesota Fun March:

A three-judge state panel convened to review an election contest brought by former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman (R) in his race against entertainer Al Franken (D) has dealt the Republican a serious setback in its ruling this afternoon.

The panel will allow the consideration of only 400 wrongly rejected absentee ballots to be reviewed and possibly counted -- making it very difficult for Coleman to make up the 225-vote deficit he currently carries. (Here's the full ruling.)

"We feel pretty good about where we stand," said Marc Elias, a lawyer for Franken's campaign, on a conference call conducted moments ago. "This court has spoken clearly about the legal standards are" for the inclusion of ballots.

Ben Ginsberg, the lead attorney for Coleman, referred to the ruling as an "April Fools Day" judgment (one day early) and stated that the decision "gives us no choice but to appeal that order to Minnesota Supreme Court." Ginsberg offered no thought about whether or not an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court would be considered.

Ginsberg said it would be a "long shot" for Coleman to make up the necessary ground on Franken with just 400 ballots being included.

The ballots will be opened, sorted and potentially counted by the Minnesota Secretary of State on April 7. It remains unclear how many of the 400 votes will actually be counted. It's also unknown whether Coleman will appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court, which is within his rights.

-edit-

Oh, come on, you've got to be kidding: Another congressional race turns into an unexpected nail-biter. To quote that great poet Samuel L. Jackson, "I have had it with these snakes on this plane!"

The race in the 20th Congressional district between Republican Jim Tedisco and Democrat Scott Murphy is too close to call. With 100 percent precincts reporting, Murphy leads Tedisco by only 59 votes, 77,344 to 77,285. With nearly 6,000 absentee ballots that will essentially decide the race as of Monday, the election will not be decided at least until April 13.

[Lemur]

Well, that didn't take long:

National Republicans are warning prospective donors that Democrats are trying to “pull a Franken” and “steal” Tuesday's special election in upstate New York.

Republicans made the charges in a fundraising e-mail sent out early Wednesday morning after a too-close-to-call finish in the New York House race between Democrat Scott Murphy and Republican Jim Tedisco. [...]

“Democrats have almost succeeded in stealing the election in Minnesota and seating Al Franken,” wrote Guy Harrison, the National Republican Congressional Committee's executive director. “We cannot allow them to manipulate electoral results to seat another tax-troubled liberal.”

The e-mail indicates Republicans are gearing up for a legal fight over the election results, and suggests the party will pursue a more aggressive legal battle than in Minnesota.

Wouldn't it be cool if we could have years-long legal battles over every seat in congress? This is developing into a trend ....

[drone]

How about a little retro Senatorial action:

Justice Department seeks to throw out ex-Sen Ted Stevens' (R-AK) conviction.

The Justice Department this morning asked a federal judge to toss out the conviction of former senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) on corruption charges.

The move comes as the judge was preparing to conduct hearings to probe allegations of prosecutorial misconduct by the team that tried one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress last year. The request, made in a court filing, caps the controversial prosecution of Stevens, who requested an early trial to clear his name but was convicted just days before he lost a reelection bid.

So the GOP-controlled Justice Department broke rules to convict Stevens, a high ranking Republican? Something weird going on here, maybe this was done to help Palin's chances?

Sort of a shame, from a comedy standpoint Stevens would be hilarious as a top dog minority Senator trying to mooch as much from the stimulus packages while bashing the administration at the same time.

[Major Robert Dump]

Bonuses to congressional aides is big business. I love the way Pelosi says they deserve the bonuses because they are making such a huge sacrifice to work in Washington.....oh the self sacrifice, oh the toll of public service.....oh the 4 day weekends and free lunches and tax deductable stays in luxury hotels.....

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123854799133476409.html

[Lemur]

Latest weird Senate news: Because the Bush administration justice department bungled the Ted Stevens prosecution, Alaskan Republicans are demanding that the Dem who won his seat step down. No, really.

Gov. Sarah Palin and the head of the Alaska Republican Party said Thursday that Sen. Mark Begich should give his Senate seat up to a special election now that prosecutors have abandoned their case against Ted Stevens.

"Alaskans deserve to have a fair election not tainted by some announcement that one of the candidates was convicted fairly of seven felonies, when in fact it wasn't a fair conviction," Palin said in a Thursday interview with the Daily News. [...]

The chairman of the state Republican Party, Randy Ruedrich, said that the only reason Begich won his race was because "a few thousand Alaskans thought that Senator Stevens was guilty of seven felonies."

He added that he thought Begich should step down "so Alaskans may have the chance to vote for a senator without the improper influence of the corrupt Department of Justice."

[Askthepizzaguy]

Our government shames and appalls me.

[Major Robert Dump]

LOLZ, a bungled investigation does not mean Stevens was innocent. Now if this guy who holds the seat submits to a special election, he's gonna have to spend loads of money to campaign a second time. Unless they can prove he was deeply involved in the bad investigation, then really what's done is done.

anyway, can't mention Stevens ever without posting this link, too, of some the best 2 minutes in the history of congressional speeches. If only all of our Commerce Chairs were as on the ball as he, well we wouldn't be in this financial crisis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f99PcP0aFNE


And the remix, Begich could make it his special election campaign song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtOoQFa5ug8

[Xiahou]

I don't think much of Stevens, but there's little doubt that he was treated very unfairly. Springing a case against him in the runup to an election and railroading it towards conviction played no small part in his re-election loss, Im sure. And after the election is over? The case falls apart. That's definitely pretty messed up.

I don't know that the newly elected Senator should have to step down over it though- that's up to him, I guess. I would support Stevens taking any and all legal recourse against those who railroaded him though.

LOLZ, a bungled investigation does not mean Stevens was innocent.

No, but we're entitled to fair trials, and he clearly didn't get one.

[seireikhaan]

Good lord...

[Lemur]

I, for one, am glad that the Bush 43 administration decided to hire loads of its top Justice people from Regent University. Who needs competence when you have true believers filling out the top ranks?

I'm tempted to speculate on whether or not 43's administration deliberately ham-handed the prosecution of Stevens, but I seriously doubt it. When your top picks are born-agains from a Tier 4 law school, the results speak for themselves. Monica Goodling, white courtesy telephone, please.

[KukriKhan]

Naw. Ya don't get a do-over. Alaskans have spoken.

US SENATOR
Total
Number of Precincts 438
Precincts Reporting 438 100.0 %
Times Counted 322453/495731 65.0 %
Total Votes 317723

Begich, Mark DEM 151767 47.77%
Bird, Bob AI 13197 4.15%
Gianoutsos, Ted NA 1385 0.44%
Haase, Fredrick D. LIB 2483 0.78%
Stevens, Ted REP 147814 46.52%
Write-in Votes 1077 0.34%

Begich ftw. Full stop. Try again in 6 years.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Stevens is likely guilty. However, the prosecution violated his rights in order to convict him and so his case is rightly thrown out.

I can understand some of the calls for a revote in Alaska - Specter was illegally prosecuted during the campaign.

But the result is the result, and I won't be calling for a revote. If the GOP wants to win, let them run clean candidates.

CR