Shirley Graham was astonished to learn that a lawyer from Norm Coleman’s campaign on Tuesday blocked her absentee ballot from being added to the U.S. Senate recount.
“I’m an election judge,” said Graham, of Duluth. “I expected to be the last person whose ballot wouldn’t be counted.”
Coleman’s camp, which rejected 59 of the 60 ballots set aside Tuesday in St. Louis County, objected to Graham’s ballot on the grounds that the date next to her signature did not match the date next to the signature of her witness, Jack Armstrong.
Shocking that the Coleman campaign would be hyper aggressive in throwing out ballots in heavily DFL St. Louis County. I bet their not so particular down in Dakota County. This just proves that Norm Coleman isn’t interested in seeing every vote count, he’s only interested in seeing every Norm Coleman vote count. Nate Silver has a good take on Coleman’s shenanigans:
…the Coleman campaign is getting away with blocking ballots for asinine reasons. In the case cited above, for instance, the ballot was rejected because the date provided by the voucher did not match the date the date provided by the voter. Not only is there no requirement that the dates of the signatures match — there is no requirement that the signatures are dated, period (see the applicable statutes for yourself here and here).
But, there is hope that Coleman’s tactics may backfire. Turns out Graham voted for Coleman.
I don’t get it, because the dates not matching is not one of the four legally valid reasons for rejecting a ballot?
We have moved from the ridiculous to the absurd. A Republican voter has just been disenfranchised by GOP maneuvers and other Republicans only interested in getting an opportunist RINO re-elected. It would be funny if it wasn’t such blatant “win at any cost” Republicanism.
This does point out that we really need to look at changing the absentee ballot process so that every legal vote is counted. I had no idea this was as sloppy as this election proves. To have this many voters disenfranchised by clerical error is criminal. Even if a correct system elects candidates I don’t vote for, we need to know the true will of the people.
Coleman is such a shameless asswhole. I’m sure 59 out of 60 ballots should be thrown out for having a date on them, when that’s not even a disqualifier! God I can’t wait until he loses and he can feel like shit.
Coleman lacks the self awareness necessary to feel regret, I’m fairly certain. I do agree with your sentiment regarding his impending loss, though.
We’ll feel good this time about the win, but I feel in 2014, the GOP will have a field day taking on Franken… Reid better hook him up with good committee assignments or allow him some legislation success.
On some blog, I read that some GOP memo leaked saying what they planned on targetting for the 2010 elections. Pelosi, Reid, Taxes, Spending, and then apparently Al Franken is in either as a maybe, as in maybe if he wins.
That’s the problem, he needs to be given lots of good air time about success and such (Klobuchar has done that well already) but at the same time, he can be used then nationally as someone to rally against by the GOP.
Reid declared Franken the winner — it’s over. Of course, he declared the U.S.A. the loser in Iraq too…
Tom a.
Please provide a quote and citation. I’ll wait. Most likely, forever.
This morning I started a list of buzzwords and sayings that are right wingnut favorites when they talk about Al Franken and the re-count. My hope is to plant it wherever these folks go to comment, (spew), to help raise the acerbity of their posts when that most entertaining quality of their commentary slips. Also, if anyone sees a word or phrase that would likely trigger the Stribs filters in their comment forms, let me know. Many of the RW Trolls who need my help the most are found there! Some excellent friends at work helped me today, but I would also appreciate it if some of you folks who are so gifted in the use of the language of Milton and Shakespeare would feel free to add to it. However… PLEASE, NO REFERENCES TO JEWS OR JUDAISM. Thanks!
Acorn, Fraud, Joke, Clown, Comedian, Not Funny, Foul Mouthed, Tax Evader, Workman’s Compensation Evader, Pornographer, Rape Jokes, Alcoholic/Addicted Wife, Fat, Tax and Spend, Radical, Liberal, Elitist, Leftist, Stealing, Robbing, Rigged Canvass Board, Blatant, Double Counted, Ballots in Trunk, Too Stupid to Vote, Favoritism, The-Fix-is In, Fixed, Angry Al, Re-vote, Count All the Votes Twice, Cheating, Nazis, Socialists/Socialism, Fargo, Improved St. Paul, Xcel Energy Center, Circus, Carpet Bagger, Wackos, Handwriting Experts, Voter Intent, Senior Citizen Election Judges, Communists/Commies, “Franken: Just Go Away”, Idiot, Pinhead, Fool, Embarrassment, Inconsistencies, Flawed, Soros, Libtard, Biased Main Stream Media, Stewart/Stuart Smally, The Wrestler, The Body, Haahvaahd, Reality, Kool Aid, Equal Protection, Forida, Laughingstock, Finagle, Bong, Mom and Dad’s Basement, Cahoots, 6-12-18-24, Rigging/Rigged, Illegal Immigrants, Canadian Health Care System, France, “Take a (insert name of person you are insulting here) and Wipe My Franken”, Dumbocrat, “Gosh Darnit, People Don’t Like Me”, Moonbat, Marxist, Loon, Loony Left, Liberloon, Lazy Liberal, Demoncrat, Democ Rat, Femminazi, Male Femminazi, Un-Patriotic, Global Warming Moron, Lefty Liars, Poverty Pimp, Conspirocrat, Parasite, Dirtball, Scrub, Democratia, “He’s Dead, Get Over It”, Get Over It, Get a Job, Wellstoned, Minnesnorta, Un-employed, “Work: Try It!” Thieving, All Clinton’s Fault, Stupid Glasses, Dick Face, Liar, Dishonest, Fibber, Counterfeit, Sex Education for Kindergarteners, Sexist, Un-sexy, Outrageous vs/ Out of Control, SNL Washout, Failed Radio Show Host, Eejot, Fiasco, Pinko, Asinine, “Magna Cum HUH?” Mockery, Travesty, “No Chad Left Behind”, “Follow the Rules” Re-Vote, (oops, did I count that twice?)…
-TVB
Update-
Store Boughten Ritchie, Clueless, “Al’s Gotta Go”, Ship of Fools, Count Until You Win, Fairness Doctrine, MN Supreme Dork, “Voting For Dummies”, New York/Hollywood Money, Left Coast, Fruits, Nut Cakes, Sham, Just Flip a Coin, L*Brulls, Atrocious Individual…
Also, the dark magic word at the Strib filter may be Bong… Remember SCOTUS and “Bongs For Jesus?”(Thanks taconite 12)
TVB
Update-
Frankleberry, Frankenfarter, “ What’s wrong with Minnesota?” Handouts, Whiners, Wimps, Jealous of Success, Pacifist Pig, Smutty Articles, Tree Hugger, Park the Bus/(Time to) Park the Bus, Handouts, Unions, Secret Ballots, Anti-Christian, Raising Money to Buy the Election, No Experience, Only 42%, “Libs Should Move to Urope”, “Anti-Americin”,
-TVB
TVP,
LOLOLS,
Thank you for listing the right wing debate toolbox.
Clearly, they win 100% of all arguments because of these 100% accurate words.
“That’s just the way Amerucan politics has always been, and that’s why Ameruca is a great country. I love Ameruca. B.A.H.”
Maybe I am mis-reading this, but to me, ire should be directed at the Minn Supremes, whose decision set up this fiasco. Bless Justice Page for making mincemeat out of the majority’s folly. So thanks folks, you have now virtually guaranteed that no matter what the decision of the Canvassing Board, this issue will be back before you. Nicely done.