Prolonged Recount Means Pawlenty Plus Repub Legislature For Months

[progree]

If there is a prolonged recount with litigation (an election contest trial) as occured in the 2008-2009 infamous Al Frankin - Norm Coleman Senate recount, then there could be several months beginning when the legislature convenes in January where Pawlenty and the Republican-majority legislature (in both houses) will be legislating away.

They were discussing this on Nancy Nelson show yesterday afternoon (around 540p 11/3) and now it shows up in the Star Tribune this morning (11/4), "No decision in Minn. gov race means Dems lose":
http://www.startribune.com/local/106609198.html

"Democrats fear that Republicans newly in charge of both chambers will combine with Pawlenty to push through massive spending cuts and pursue long-held goals on things like gay marriage, photo ID for voters and expanded gambling." (also mentioned: legislative and congressional district line redrawing, and accepting $1 billion federal money tied to the health care law.)

"The 0.42% margin will trigger a recount unless the official canvass Nov. 23 pushes Dayton's lead past half a percentage point."

"County canvassing boards will review results and report to the state canvassing board on Nov. 23. If the margin after the board meets is less than half a percentage point, it would trigger an automatic recount at taxpayers' expense. If the margin exceeds that percentage, the losing candidate could request a recount but would have to pay for it."

=================================

Note that only 500 votes shifted in the Frankin-Coleman Senate recount. Whereas Emmer would have to overcome an 8,854 vote deficit in order to win. So its not likely that he will prevail in the end. But who knows how long they can gum up the works with litigation during which time Pawlenty would continue to govern, with a Republican legislature ...

Interestingly, I see the AM 950 ad saturation campaign by the Green Party and by Ken Pentel, and funded by who knows who -- taking a combined 12,330 votes -- worked: if only 1,680 of those votes would have otherwise gone to Dayton, then his margin would have been greater than 0.5%, thus avoiding the automatic recount).

[trotsky]

1. "who knows how long they can gum up the works with litigation"

And that is exactly what they will do. You thought they pulled out all the stops in Franken-Coleman, you ain't seen nothing yet. Because in this case, it's even MORE in their interest to drag it out as long as possible because with Pukelenty getting a "bonus" term, they can start right to work finishing the dismantling of this state.

[Bosso 63]

2. Pawlenty seems to think he will be President.

All he has to do is destroy the State first.

[glinda]

3. My money is on him to do just that as he will be the nominee and the American Public is too stupid

to know better.

[dflprincess]

7. If the MSM starts pushing him over other candidates then we'll know for sure

Timmy is the perfect patsy for corporate America. He just wants the title it doesn't matter to him if he's just taking orders from someone else. Like Bush, he can just sit back and enjoy the perks while someone else pulls the strings. He'll just have to show up and follow the script once in a while.

[DFLforever]

4. Pawlenty is saying he wants to be out by Jan 3

I'm hoping he's not eager for the GOPers games and frankly, I don't think
Minnesotans would go along with it.

[trotsky]

5. I can tell you one thing...

if the situation were reversed, and the DFLers had swept the legislature, and a sitting DFL governor was on their way out but got to stick around and work with that legislature, the Repukes in this state would be SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER.

[DFLforever]

6. You don't have to tell me!

I'd be able to hear their screams from the state capitol while raking leaves in my front yard in the Mac-Groveland area of St Paul.