Franken won't waive recount (MN)

[struggle4progress]

Source: Minn. State Capitol Bureau

Scott Wente
Published Thursday, November 06, 2008

ST. PAUL – Democrat Al Franken said this morning he will not waive a state recount in the U.S. Senate race, citing a narrowing margin between himself and Republican Sen. Norm Coleman as ballots are reviewed ...

State law mandates a recount when election results show the margin of victory within 0.5 percent, though a candidate can waive the state-paid recount ...

http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/politics/index.cfm?page=article_bureau&id=47240&legislative_tag=1

Read more: http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/politics/index.cfm?page=article_bureau&id=47240&legislative_tag=1

---

Coleman's lead just 337 votes in Minn. Senate race
The Associated Press
Published: November 6, 2008

... Republican Sen. Norm Coleman's lead over Democrat Al Franken stood at 337 votes Thursday afternoon. That's down from 438 votes Thursday morning and larger margins Wednesday.

With nearly 2.9 million ballots cast, the candidates are separated by about one hundredth of a percentage point ...

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/06/america/Minnesota-Senate.php

[hisownpetard]

1. DO NOT CONCEDE!!!!!

[peacetalksforall]

2. I always think of chutzpah as something light and fun that goes a little over

the line, but not offensively. What to you call something that IS offensive - as in Coleman asking Franken to stand down and concede even though it's law to take the recount based on the tiny margin?

[Dr.Phool]

9. Fuck Coleman!

Make Norm the Worm squirm.

He's wasting space in Paul Wellstone's seat.

[dodger501]

18. That's Norm the Weasel, sir

As he is "affectionately" known in MN

[mcg]

21. The word chutzpah is actually appropriate for that...

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/chutzpah

1. unmitigated effrontery or impudence; gall.
2. audacity; nerve.

...

1892, from Yiddish khutspe "impudence, gall" from Heb. hutspah. The classic definition is that given by Leo Rosten: "that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan."

....

(Yiddish) unbelievable gall; insolence; audacity

[aquart]

24. Asking for mercy for killing your parents because you're an orphan is LIGHT to you?

No, true chutzpah is so offensive it takes your breath away.

[peacetalksforall]

30. I never really looked it up. Don't yell. I like the idea of having a word that

describes crossing a line. I like the way I've heard it used and it certainly hasn't been used on serious stuff that you are putting in caps in a uptight way. I guess no one can use it unless the setting is severe. Thanks for my education (as I shrink away).

[143tbone]

3. Hang in there, Al. You know we don't like people who concede.

Some of us Democrats are tough sonsabitches.

[coffeenap]

4. I love Al, but it is time for him to call Brad and Randi to

apologize!

[amdezurik]

13. Did Randi ever aplogize to hillary?

I gave up listening to her before that so i have no idea.

[Devil_Fish]

5. Good for him.

None of the publicons would have won in a fair fight. Any that did cheated heavily.

Edited to add:

Can they even do a recount? or were they using paperless DRE's?

Would be real interesting if the law says you do a recount and Diebold says "sorry, thats not posible."

[Pab Sungenis]

11. Minnesota uses optical scanned paper ballots.

Not sure if a recount would be hand or rescan.

[trotsky]

12. Hand counts.

Meaning unreadable ballots would have a chance to get counted. As long as the judges can determine the voter's intent.

[aquart]

6. Well, my goodness, why should he?

But I still don't understand why ANY of the votes are close. I just don't.

[theblasmo]

8. Rural Vote

If you look at the stats on many of these close ones, it's the rural vote that's making the difference. Obama was winning Montana until the rural vote came in. They don't get anything but RW BS over the radio, so it's harder for them to make informed decisions.

[silverojo]

32. It's not "harder" for them--they're deliberately idiotic

Trust me, I live among that type, and it's not a pretty sight.

[Generator]

7. Go Al!

Make it the Al Franken decade AGAIN! (do you remember?)

[HERVEPA]

10. So vote for me, Al Franken (nt)

[zelta gaisma]

15. GOOD for HIM! I hope he makes them go over each and

every single one even if they have chads!!!Don't stop till the last one the repub's are hiding in the sofa cushions is counted!!!

[pleah]

14. Never give up, Al! n/t

[newtothegame]

16. Sweet n/t

[nyc 4 Biden]

17. Never Give Up AL!

[Phred42]

19. Al - DO NOT CONCEDE!

[aldo]

20. Don't concede until the last dog dies!!

nt

[geiger]

22. why would you think he would "waive" a recount. Now, THAT, would b a joke.

[Kalifornia.Kid]

23. Will Coleman WAIVE the recount when the uncounted ballots put Franken ahead?

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

25. An excellent decision by Senator Franken n/t

[bonnieS]

26. Please! All of you!

Read the post from this morning Thursday 11/6 5:421 AM: "Franken's Razor Thin MN Senate Race Counted on Flawed Opti-Scan Systems." Follow the link to Brad Blog. If Franken waived the recount he would be suicidal and anti-democracy! This is insanity--the officials have admitted the scanners do not work! And yes yes yes it is to be a hand recount!

If the entire MN election is not scrapped due to irregularities (see article above saying it might be scrapped due to irregularities by GOP operatives) then there is a 99.9 percent chance that Franken won since his exit polls were reported in the original NY Times website posting of what was going on nationwide as TWELVE points. They scrubbed that, but it is the truth.

If only Franken read DU , or more to the point, Brad Blog. Or followed what election officials in MN are doing.

[qb]

27. I wonder if MN will have its own Brooks Brothers riot

[mdmc]

28. :(

:mad:

[Doctor_J]

31. Hopefully if they do our MN brethren will use baseball bats to keep the

recount going until its completion.

[damntexdem]

29. He would be stupid to do so.

It's not just that counts can be off. They also could have been fudged, and this provides a chance to try to catch such a thing.

Besides, we all love to watch vote-counters judging hanging chads. ;-)

[donheld]

33. Nor should he.

[David__77]

34. I think Franken will win.

Sorry, but I think it's true the Democratic voters would tend to make errors on their ballots rendering them unreadable more than would Republican voters. Because there are more first time Democrats, etc. With "intent" determined, we can close tiny gap.

[Vidar]

35. Good for you, Al!

[defendandprotect]

36. good ..