The fat lady hasn’t sung in Minnesota

In “MInnesota Senate Recount, Update XVI,” John Hinderaker presents a lucid exposition of the issues still at play in Al Franken’s 225-vote victory over Norm Coleman in Minnesota’s Senate election. First came the canvas, won by Senator Coleman. Then came the mandatory recount, won by Franken. Now comes the election contest, which Senator Coleman’s team has vowed to file today. The filing of an election contest prevents state authorities from issuing a certificate of election in favor of Franken.

I offer a Reader’s Digest-style condensed version of the issues in the New York Post column “No one’s laughing amid all these doubts.” Bottom line:

The issues raised by the Coleman campaign are legitimate. Resolving them has been expressly reserved by the board and the state Supreme Court for the election contest – the final stage of Minnesota’s election process. They do not constitute the complaints of a sore loser.

Nov. 5 wasn’t long ago. It was the day when Al Franken demanded that every vote be counted (once). But it’s already ancient history in Minnesota.

Today’s Star Tribune carries a fair editorial on the election contest. John McCormack’s “Can Coleman win?” is also illuminating.

Among the several issues remaining to be determined is who will appoint the three-judge panel that is to rule on the election contest. Minnesota law provides that it is the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. However, Chief Justice Eric Magnuson served on the Board of Canvassers whose handiwork will be at issue in the contest. Chief Justice Magnuson has recused himself so far from Supreme Court proceedings involving the Board of Canvassers.

To comment on this post, go here.

Notice: All comments are subject to moderation. Our comments are intended to be a forum for civil discourse bearing on the subject under discussion. Commenters who stray beyond the bounds of civility or employ what we deem gratuitous vulgarity in a comment — including, but not limited to, “s***,” “f***,” “a*******,” or one of their many variants — will be banned without further notice in the sole discretion of the site moderator.

Responses