(Senator) Reid Will Try to Seat Franken

[sabra]

Source: Roll Call

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will attempt to seat Democrat Al Franken as the junior Senator from Minnesota on Tuesday, despite promised legal challenges from incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman (R) to the election outcome.

Read more: http://www.rollcall.com/news/31014-1.html

[onehandle]

1. Let The Al Franken Decade Begin!

Why not him?

[Dogmudgeon]

22. I'll drink to that!

But only in moderation.

Senator Franken (DFL-MN) says: Don't Drink and Drive. Laugh and Legislate, instead.

--p!

[rateyes]

2. Well, if Harry says he'll try to seat Franken, you can bet

that he'll cave in to a GOP threat of a filibuster, and Franken won't be seated.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

4. This can't be filibustered.

It won't be put to a vote on the floor, ergo filibuster isn't an option that can be pursued in this case.

[rateyes]

6. Yes, it can. No Senator is seated without a resolution calling for it.

And, anyone can call for a cloture vote on it.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

10. True, but I don't see that happening.

There might me a reckoning for certain Republican Senators if they went that route. I doubt they want to open that particular Pandora's box. They may make noise, but in the end they know that Coleman's had it.

[rateyes]

13. Gotcha. But, in the last two years it's been the Republicans

who follow through on what they say they're going to do, and Harry Reid caves like a Utah mine.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

19. Heh. The Republicans said the same thing about their own senate leadership...

...when they were in control. I find this entertaining to watch.

[No Elephants]

31. You mean, while the Pubs were locking Dems out of committee meetings and refusing them conference

rooms?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

36. Nope.

Think back about a decade earlier.

[No Elephants]

38. I'd rather you think about how Pubs treated Dems 2000-2006. A decade earlier was

a long time ago. Seems like forever, in fact,

[nodehopper]

27. didn't one of the Rep. senators specifically threaten that?

I am blanking on who it was but I feel like it was posted on here just the other day.

[No Elephants]

40. Maybe you mean Cornyn? Here's a link.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/02/mn.recount.cornyn/

[nodehopper]

42. oh right, that was it. thanks!

[No Elephants]

45. You're welcome.

[OregonBlue]

54. McConnell is threatening a filibuster and now Reid says he will NOT try to seat Franken tomorrow.

Reid: Coleman will "never ever serve"

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid offered the toughest language he has ever used in arguing that Norm Coleman’s career in the Senate is finished.

“Norm Coleman will never ever serve in the Senate,” Reid told Politico’s Manu Raju. “He lost the election. He can stall things, but he'll never serve in the Senate.”

Al Franken was declared the winner today by the state’s Canvassing Board in the closely-contested Minnesota Senate race, defeating Sen. Norm Coleman by 225 votes. Coleman’s campaign has said it is contesting the result, preventing Franken from receiving an election certificate until all the legal challenges are resolved.

Reid added that he will not be trying to seat Franken in the Senate on Tuesday. When asked if Franken would be sworn in tomorrow, Reid said: "No."

In his victory statement today, Franken said he was “ready to go to Washington and get to work just as soon as possible.” But a Franken campaign spokesman said he has not yet made plans to travel to Washington.

Senate Republican leadership has threatened to filibuster any attempt to seat Franken before his victory is officially certified.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17095.html

[Ian David]

29. I hope Harry Reid brushes his teeth before he goes home after licking so much Republican anus. n/t

[VP505]

37. Was it REALLY necessary

to leave us with THAT picture in our minds.;(

[Dennis Donovan]

3. Good - let Cornyn fillibuster until his face turns blue!

[mascarax]

50. Cornyn: Franken has no 'legal right' (Politico)

Ah, Big Bad John got his talking points and hit the phone.

<<“There are a lot of questions about double-counted ballots, about absentee ballots that likely favor Norm Coleman that were refused to be counted by the canvassing board,” Cornyn said. “I do not think Al Franken will have a legal right to claim that Senate seat until all the votes are properly counted.”>>

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17056.html

[Peace Patriot]

59. Har, har, har, har, har, har! A Puke wants...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: ...

...a Puke...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: ...

...a Puke wants...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: ...

...a PUKE wants all the votes...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :bounce:...

A PUKE WANTS ALL THE VOTES TO BE COUNTED!!!!! :bounce:

:rofl: I think I'm gonna die!

[dflprincess]

61. Sadly, under Minnesota law, Cornyn may be correct.

State law says that a certificate of election cannot be issued as long as there are legal challenges. It does not makeme happy to say that.

[Rhiannon12866]

62. However, according to precedent, the candidate who's ahead when the vote is certified

has always been declared the winner. *fingers crossed* :-)

[loyalkydem]

CNN has just confirmed

Frankin is the winner. In your face Colman

[BattyDem]

5. I'm a little confused.

I thought the Minnesota SC turned down Coleman and the state canvassing board will be declaring Franken the winner.

How could they NOT seat Franken? :shrug:

[sutz12]

8. Really. If the board certifies him, what else could be done?

I guess they could try to take it to the USSC. Lord knows that bunch of Repub apologists might try some snake oil. But I would think they would not want to get into state politics over an issue like this. One would hope anyway. After all, their decision in 2000 was to "stop the counting." The counting's done in this case.

[Idealism]

9. Legal challeneges and appeals

Very costly and time-consuming process, if drawn out to their entirety.

[No Elephants]

30. That's why we need to donate to Al or to the Democratic Party, or both.

[Idealism]

55. I think they have pro-Dem lawyers who will gladly defend him pro-bono

If not for anything but for Democrats and free publicity. Money won't change anything, Franken wins :)

[anokaflash]

20. Results Certified

I thought the Minnesota SC turned down Coleman and the state canvassing board will be declaring Franken the winner.

Today, the canvassing certified the results of the recount, they did NOT declare a winner. This certification is sent to the Governor for the issuance of a certificate of election. Under MN State law, a 7 day waiting period begins before this certificate can be issued. During this 7 day period, a candidate may challenge the certified results. Once a 'contest' or challenge is made, the Certificate of Election is withheld until all legal challenges are exhausted. At that point, the Governor issues the Certificate of election to be cosigned by the Sec of State. That certificate is then carried by the Senator Elect to be presented to the Senate for admittance

Technically, the GOP can argue Franken does not have proper electoral credentials to be seated, and technically, they would be correct. However, it would set an awkward precedent for future Senates.

I believe Sen Elect Franken's lead is insurmountable, and also that Coleman has all but run our of money. Unless he wants to committ political suicide, I suspect he will bow out by the end of the week.

Flash
http://Centrisity.com">Centrisity

[Tempest]

23. Coleman is taking it to court

It won't be over until the lawsuits are ruled on.

[Seedersandleechers]

7. Breaking News

MSNBC : Franken Certified. Yes!

[pacalo]

24. Wonderful!

Good news in several ways. After reading "Lies & the Lying Liars Who Tell Them" & being impressed with the research that Franken & his group of 14 college students put into the book, I couldn't be happier that he'll be part of the Senate.

I've despised Coleman ever since the Clinton impeachment. Since then he has proven himself to be even smarmier than my first impression of him.

Now if only Lindsay Graham could get his comeuppance.

[mascarax]

52. One of the "Lying Liar" research students is Franken's

spokesman. Actually, the guy who went with Al to Bob Jones University to check it out (funny chapter).

[pacalo]

63. That is good to know -- thank you! I'm going to look over that chapter again.

[EconomicLiberal]

11. Reid finally grows a sack?

Hallelujah!

[rateyes]

12. Don't believe it.

I've learned to believe that the exact opposite of what Harry says will happen, will happen. He almost always caves in.

That way, if he does keep his word, I'm pleasantly surprised. But, that doesn't happen very often.

[spotbird]

14. He only said he'd try

That doesn't mean much, even from Harry.

Yesterday, he was going to negotiate whether Coleman could stay on a little while longer.

[rateyes]

18. When Harry says he'll try, it means

he'll "negotiate," and usually ends up compromising.

[bluestateguy]

15. And Cornyn will threaten a fillibuster

and Reid will then say "Oh! I'm sorry. I'll back down! Just please stop being mean to me!"

[Democrats_win]

16. While the Republicans play games, Americans lose jobs. Heck of a job GOP!

[saracat]

17. Yeah but he refuse to seat Burris. So what? Big whup.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

21. Hell, I'd refuse to seat Burris.

Gimme a guarantee that he hasn't paid for the position, why don't ya? Tell me why Blago hasn't appointed an independent commission to handle the appointment? Fuck the crooked mofo.

[saracat]

25. Burris is NOT crooked. That is the irony in all this.He is an amazing choice

no matter "who" made it.And as Blago has not been convicted or even formally indited for anything, there is NO justification for not seating him. You are wrong to smear the reputation of Burris for no reason.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

26. Hasn't been "indited" eh?

Wel in dat kase I guess I iz rong.

Blago had it within his power to do the appointment in a way that wouldn't cause controversy. He instead chose to do it in a way that would. I have no opinion one way or the other on Burris, but for fuck's sake when the governor himself has been "indited" on charges stemming from the selling of a senate seat, if he really gave a flying fuck about the appointment (outside of enriching himself) he'd have appointed a commission handle it. 'Tain't rocket science.

[saracat]

32. Blago hasn't been "indited". A "Complaint" has been filed.

There hasn't been enough evidence for a Grand Jury to "indit".That is why Fitz wants more time.I have no doubt that Blago is doing this to cause controversy but so what? He isn't obligated to make "nice" to those who would remove him from office no matter how much of a pig he may be.

As for your having no "opinion on Burris", it sure sounded like you did in your earlier post. You called him "crooked".

I find it ironic that Blago took the high road by nominating a candidate who appears to be above repraoch and is letting Reid and Co look like the partisan hacks they are by opposing him.

If reid really "gave a flying fuck" about the Senate and the people of Illinois, he would seat Burris instead of allowing this to come to a constitutional crisis.
Odd, you don't think reid should compromise, only Burris, who I presume you think should step down.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, Burris is the former Attorney general of Illinois and he know his rights, and he is going to fight for them. He isn't going to allow Harry to violate his rights in his grudge match with Blago.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

35. I said Blago was dirty, not Burris.

If reid really "gave a flying fuck" about the Senate and the people of Illinois, he would seat Burris instead of allowing this to come to a constitutional crisis.
Odd, you don't think reid should compromise, only Burris, who I presume you think should step down.

No, I think Blago ought to have recused himself from this process. I thought that was clear. I have nothing against Burris, but I wouldn't seat him because the process has been tainted beyond repair.

[saracat]

41. Well it didn't read that way, but mistakes can be made.

"Hell, I'd refuse to seat Burris.
Gimme a guarantee that he hasn't paid for the position, why don't ya? Tell me why Blago hasn't appointed an independent commission to handle the appointment? Fuck the crooked mofo."

"He hasn't paid for the position"? Sure sounds like you are referring to Burris!

[depakid]

48. Anyone who persues the death penalty when they have reason to believe the person may be innocent

-for purposes of self-aggrandizement in order to further his career, is crooked to the bone.

While state attorney general in 1992, Burris aggressively sought the death penalty for Rolando Cruz, who twice was convicted of raping and murdering a 10-year-old girl in the Chicago suburb of Naperville. The crime took place in 1983.

But by 1992, another man had confessed to the crime, and Burris' own deputy attorney general was pleading with Burris to drop the case, then on appeal before the Illinois Supreme Court.

Burris refused. He was running for governor.

That deputy has a lot to say about the case:

Deputy attorney general Mary Brigid Kenney agreed and eventually resigned rather than continue to prosecute Cruz.

Once Burris assigned Kenney to the case in 1991, she became convinced that Cruz was innocent, a victim of what she believed was prosecutorial misconduct. She sent Burris a memo reporting that the jury convicted Cruz without knowing that Brian Dugan, a repeat sex offender and murderer, had confessed to the crime. Burris never met with Kenney to discuss a new trial for Cruz, Kenney told ProPublica.

"This is something the attorney general should have been concerned about," Kenney, now an assistant public guardian in Cook County, said in an interview. "I knew the prosecutor's job was not merely to secure conviction but to ensure justice was done."

Kenney was not alone in her beliefs. Prior to Cruz's 1985 trial, the lead detective in the case resigned in protest over prosecutors' handling of the case, according to news reports at the time.

http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/01/burris_wanted_death_penalty_fo.php

With any luck, this losers career will now be over once and for all.

[w4rma]

56. Burris is *not* an amazing choice. Far from it. Any amazing choice would have turned Blago down.(nt)

[No Elephants]

33. Both Obama and a number of Senators have said that Burris is a good man and has done nothing wrong.

[creeksneakers2]

44. He accepted a tainted appointment

That's enough to show me he's unethical.

[No Elephants]

47. You don't trust Blago to appoint a Senator. Why would you trust him to appoint a

commission that is truly independent? Obama and various Dem Senators have said Burris is a fine man who has done nothing wrong. This is kabuki theater. At worst, they should seat Burris provisionally while they investigate. They are way out of the limits set by the Supreme Court in the Adam Clayton Powell case.

[Ian David]

28. Do. Or do not. There is no try. Harry fucking Reid. Geesh. "Try." Give me a break. n/t

[No Elephants]

34. LOL, I'll try.

[azurnoir]

39. OK there Master IanDB1 LOL n/t

[glitch]

53. That was my first thought. But this is rollcall's wording, what do you expect? nt

[BlueStater]

43. Reid should mind his own fucking business.

You can bet that craven worm being involved in this is nothing but bad news for Franken.

[dflprincess]

60. Gee, that's just what Coleman said.

Though Norman also mentioned today that "Harry Reid will not decided this election; it will be decided by the people of Minnesota." Which caused me to say :wtf: because I thought the recount had already showed what the people decided.

[creeksneakers2]

46. This won't look good

Seating Franken will look like an abuse of power if its done before Minnesota declares him the winner. I fear the precedent the GOP might use down the road. There's lots that could go wrong too. If a Senator is seated before he's officially won and the final winner is the other guy, what can they do about all the votes that took place with an illegitimate Senator?

I'm not so sure court cases will drag out for a long time. Two of Norm's cases don't allege enough of a vote difference to outweigh Franken's margin. So if those cases are all that's left they'll be quickly thrown out of court. Norm still has over 600 absentee ballots he wants counted, but I think the Minnesota Supreme Court already said no to him once on that one. The US Supreme Court is very deferential to states' decisions on election. In Bush V. Gore the court even found that the Florida Legislature could give Florida's electors to the losing candidate if they chose to.

I don't see how waiting for 30 days on this would be the end of the world. I won't blame Senator Reid if that's the path he chooses.

[No Elephants]

49. Yes, but, in Gore v. Bush, the court's deference resulted in a Pub getting the office. Who

knows how much the Minnesota Supremes will defer when it comes to putting a Dem in office. Before I could say that, I'd have to ask which party the Governor who appointed each of them belonged to.

As far as the SCOTUS, Scalia elaborated on that decision. I think his exact words may have been, "Get over it."

[AndyTiedye]

57. It Won't be 30 Days

It will go all the way to the Supreme Court, which might very well hand the election to Coleman just because he's a Republican.

[Kurska]

51. You know if it's not to hard

[struggle4progress]

58. Link to pdf of Riddick's Senate Procedure "Credentials and Oath of Office"

http://www.riddick.gpoaccess.gov/UserData/SenateProcedures/Credentials%20and%20Oath%20of%20Office.pdf#xml=http://www.riddick.gpoaccess.gov/PdfHighlighter.aspx?DocId=41&Index=D%3a%5cWebSites%5cUseIndex%5cSenateProcedures%5c&HitCount=50&hits=1+f+51+5a+95+be+c9+10b+164+165+17c+214+2cf+46a+4b7+508+5c6+5dd+612+636+b2e+ba4+bb6+c9a+ce9+d35+d6d+e75+e9d+ec0+ffb+1051+10eb+136a+138d+13a6+13ae+13ed+1434+144a+145a+1546+16b6+16be+16c6+16fc+195f+1964+19ca+19e0+

via http://www.gpoaccess.gov/riddick/index.html

[gauguin57]

64. Can't wait to see Senator Al taking the oath!