April 23, 2009 11:19 AM

Norm Coleman: Let's Not Rush Things

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Election 2008
(CBS/AP)
Former Senator Norm Coleman, who is appealing his loss to Democrat Al Franken in the Minnesota Senate race to the Minnesota Supreme Court, yesterday asked the court not to take up his appeal too quickly.

Coleman wants the case "argued no sooner than mid-May," reports the Star Tribune – two weeks later than Franken would like to see the court take up the case.

As the Trib notes, Coleman's team says it wants the case argued "as expeditiously as possible," but add that their lawyers "must be given enough time to fully develop and consider the issues on appeal."

Franken was declared the winner of the extraordinarily close election following a recount, and the appeal is the latest volley in a protracted court battle over which ballots should and should not be counted.

National Republicans, who benefit from keeping Franken's vote out of the Senate, have called for donations to help Coleman continue his legal fight.

Back in November, Coleman called for Franken to drop out of the race after initial Election Day results showed Coleman with a slight lead over his rival.

Add a Comment See all 55 Comments
by abbe91 April 24, 2009 9:55 AM EDT
"(...) There are a number of Democrats who are privately very concerned that this is continuing now well into a month.
Al Gore, at this rate, is going to become -- will be remembered as the Tonya Harding of American presidential history, unwilling to accept the results after we've had a count, a recount, and a selected hand recount in overwhelmingly Democratic areas.
The American people are saying through the surveys: It's time to bring it to a conclusion.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), KENTUCKY
December 4, 2000"

I guess it makes Coleman the Tonya Harding of the Senate History.
Reply to this comment
by bytheway59 April 24, 2009 8:17 AM EDT
To all you demo- gogs who think the Republicans are sore losers, consider this: It was you dems who were screaming bloody murder about disenfranchised voters in Florida during the Gore -Bush election back in 2000.
Now that nearly 6000 voters have been disenfranchised
by not having their ballots counted in the Coleman Franken face-off, I don't hear a peep out of you. To top it off, those 6000 uncounted ballots are mostly absentee ballots from our military overseas which historically favor the Republicans. It doesn't take a rock scientist to figure out why Franken and the rest of the demo-gogs don't want them counted.
Posted by jackbrandon7 at 12:58 PM : Apr 23, 2009


Yes, but in the 2000 presidential race, Gore had half a million more votes, nation wide, than bush.
Reply to this comment
by elz523 April 23, 2009 6:25 PM EDT
To all you demo- gogs who think the Republicans are sore losers, consider this: It was you dems who were screaming bloody murder about disenfranchised voters in Florida during the Gore -Bush election back in 2000.
Now that nearly 6000 voters have been disenfranchised
by not having their ballots counted in the Coleman Franken face-off, I don't hear a peep out of you. To top it off, those 6000 uncounted ballots are mostly absentee ballots from our military overseas which historically favor the Republicans. It doesn't take a rock scientist to figure out why Franken and the rest of the demo-gogs don't want them counted.
Posted by jackbrandon7 at 12:58 PM : Apr 23, 2009

The difference between a Republican and a Democrat? Gore stepped out gracefully even though he could have went on and on like this sore loser Coleman.
Reply to this comment
by ddhsdca_usa April 23, 2009 6:23 PM EDT
Coleman's team says it wants the case argued "as expeditiously as possible," but add that their lawyers "must be given enough time to fully develop and consider the issues on appeal."

---------

Um, shouldn't these "issues" being appealed have ALREADY been developed? Meaning, before filing a court brief you are supposed to have your argument developed. I guess that doesn't apply to the obstructionists in the Republican Party.
Reply to this comment
by aworldview April 23, 2009 6:05 PM EDT
Franken won fair and square, even GOP leaning pundits think Coleman should give it up. The sooner the Minnesota Supreme Court decides the better. This is just more obstruction by the party of NO.
Reply to this comment
by ge556 April 23, 2009 5:34 PM EDT
Whats wrong with Minnesota?? If they want a senator why not have a run off election? and settle this mess,its become embarassing for Minnesota.
Posted by sirmarion-2009 at 12:57 PM : Apr 23, 2009

Well, how about a little thing called the rule of law? You don't just change the rules when things get messy.
Reply to this comment
by mommie101 April 23, 2009 4:15 PM EDT
I am convinced that the republicans are mentally ill.
Reply to this comment
by boatdocster April 23, 2009 4:15 PM EDT
Let's see, on election day Norm asks Al to drop out when Norm was just slightly ahead, and within the requirements for a hand recount.

Hand recount has been done twice - they are probably more accurate then a electronic voting machine (except perhaps Florida with their hanging chads), which have been shown all to easy to corrupt with a program on a thumb drive.

Both counts now have Franken ahead. This has been presented to two courts in Minnesota and both have supported the recount totals.

Why do people like Coleman only want to follow the rules when the rules are in their favor? This election happened last October - that's plenty of time for his lawyers to develop their case.

A new election is not an option - that basically would open the door for any candidate to call for a second election when they don't win the first.

Norm should follow his advice - you are behind, two courts have ruled the counts valid - DROP OUT BUDDY!!!
Reply to this comment
by jackbrandon7 April 23, 2009 3:58 PM EDT
To all you demo- gogs who think the Republicans are sore losers, consider this: It was you dems who were screaming bloody murder about disenfranchised voters in Florida during the Gore -Bush election back in 2000.
Now that nearly 6000 voters have been disenfranchised
by not having their ballots counted in the Coleman Franken face-off, I don't hear a peep out of you. To top it off, those 6000 uncounted ballots are mostly absentee ballots from our military overseas which historically favor the Republicans. It doesn't take a rock scientist to figure out why Franken and the rest of the demo-gogs don't want them counted.
Reply to this comment
by jxknowles April 23, 2009 3:54 PM EDT
Here we go again. The GOP and conservatives wasting valuable taxpayer money and tying up the courts with frivolous lawsuits. Senator Franken's first task, when he gets to Washington D..C,. should be preventing this abuse of the court system by losers like Coleman and Cronym.

It's good to see the GOP flushing their own dollars down the toilet while Independents and Democrats are collaborating en masse to wipe out more GOP seats in the Senate and House.
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