Matt Lewis pointed it out. So does Michael Barone.
I agree with them. Because Saxby guarantees the Democrats can’t get to 60 in the Senate, Al Franken’s victory becomes rather meaningless to a group of people who don’t much like him anyway. The odds decrease daily that the United States Senate will sit Al Franken — especially considering he has never led during the recount despite his campaign’s statements to the contrary.
For Franken though, tempers are still flaring.
The tension was over challenged ballots with a Coleman worker coming up with a proposal.
“I’d be willing to a compromise in withdrawing our challenge if you withdraw your challenge,” said the Coleman worker.
The Franken camp held firm.
“We don’t do compromises. You just challenge the ballots you feel necessary, we’ll challenge the ballots [that we feel necessary] and we’ll take it to them,” responded the Franken worker.
It seems that no matter what, the Franken guys just aren’t going to give up. It also seems that Franken is demonstrating that he’s not exactly the kind of person one might want in an elected body where compromise is often the name of the game.
But, maybe they are seeing the writing on the wall.
Wednesday, the Franken campaign said they have changed their minds on 633 ballots and will no longer challenge them, but there are still more than 5,000 ballots that both campaigns are challenging.
While that was mighty kind of them, no one should be surprised that Franken will be a graceless ass to the very end. To hell with Minnesota, it’s not like he has any loyalty to the state anyway. It just happened to be convenient.
Mocking Franken
ggross56 Thursday, December 4th at 4:45PM EST (link)Fritz Knaak, Sen. Coleman’s lead recount attorney, mocked Franken’s campaign after Franken claimed that he led for the first time since the recount began. Check out Knaak’s quote if you need a good laugh.
Franken
Yil Thursday, December 4th at 4:55PM EST (link)Franken won’t make 60 so you’re right that the Senate won’t stick it’s neck way out there. On the other hand I think Franken’s chances are better than you might think. It’s hard following the twists and turns but he’s got some clear things on his side right now since the recount numbers being reported are meaningless since every ballot that changed state is probably in the disputed pile and thus excluded right now.
The local election official’s decision about ballots put this race within 50 votes or so according to Franken’s team. My assumption is most disputed ballots will be resolved the way the local officials saw things so that’s a better number to start with than the official recount numbers that exclude disputed ballots.
I also believe all the rejected absentee ballots are being reclassified right now (that’s a Franken win right there) so we should soon learn how may fall into the “5th” pile and what their chances for being counted are. I’ve got no idea what happens with the newly missing ballots though. I’m guessing the day-of results will be used in that district since they match the number of voters who signed in to vote. This will add +30ish(?) votes for Franken not reflected in the recount totals right now but only after some court battles if that’s the deciding factor.
Given all that it’s still a coin toss to me at the moment which seems to indicate Franken asking for a recount was a really good idea for him. It will be weeks before we find out who won.
Really good idea?
Cowboy Thursday, December 4th at 7:06PM EST (link)It wasn’t Franken’s idea for a recount as in this case it was manditory.
I doubt the man has had a really good idea in his life.
I don't know Cowboy....I am sure a few of those SNL skits of his were good...;^)...n/t
Attack Mode Thursday, December 4th at 7:10PM EST (link).
“Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper” Peter Griffin…Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
Steel-Belted Radial Right Winger
“I’ll create 5 million jobs from out of unicorn farts and pixie dust” Justatron paraphrasing Obamessiah…yes I love it that much.
Eye of the beholder?
Cowboy Thursday, December 4th at 7:26PM EST (link)I wouldn’t know as I cann’t stand to look at him long enough to watch one of his skits.
What's in a name?
leppard Thursday, December 4th at 5:57PM EST (link)What is up with guys named Al not accepting defeat?
Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty.
Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.
No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth!