29.1.09
20.1.09
New President...i'm stoked
I woke up hung over...but still managed to be in a great mood all day!!!!
Obama's speech was short and concise but very powerful. It might give you goosebumps.
12.1.09
On a side Note: Help?
I am looking to throw a pretty awesome party: Whats that mean? I need contacts for a warehouse party. Know artists or events companies wirth some sweet Warehouse space? hook me up
Totally Expected News: Franken Got the Boot
"Al Franken’s trial balloon argument that he should soon be seated in the Senate – at least on a provisional basis -- isn’t going very far.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) and Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, a Democrat, reiterated that no election certificate will be handed out until the post-recount legal activity is complete. Both issued separate statements to that effect this afternoon.
“Minnesota law is very clear on when a certificate of election can be issued. Neither the governor nor I may sign a certificate of election in the U.S. Senate race until all election contests have reached a final determination,” said Ritchie. “Even if the governor issues a certificate of election prior to the conclusion of the contest phase, I will not sign it.”
Added Pawlenty: “I have a duty to follow state law and our statutes are clear on this issue. I am prohibited from issuing a certificate of election until the election contest in the courts has been resolved.”" -Politico
My Analysis:
So its clear, because Coleman has contested the election and even with his political future at stake Minnesota will only have 1 Senator for several weeks or months. Minnesotans won't be happy with 99 Senators. When Roland Burris gets sworn in later this week, we will be the only State without full representation. Klobuchar is a good Senator to handle the extra services. I see very little chance of Coleman actually winning the seat, so I say bring it on! The fallout on his political future is almost certain. Hes hammering the nails in his own coffin. If the court challenge is what it takes for Coleman to go away, then sure I'll be patient.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) and Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, a Democrat, reiterated that no election certificate will be handed out until the post-recount legal activity is complete. Both issued separate statements to that effect this afternoon.
“Minnesota law is very clear on when a certificate of election can be issued. Neither the governor nor I may sign a certificate of election in the U.S. Senate race until all election contests have reached a final determination,” said Ritchie. “Even if the governor issues a certificate of election prior to the conclusion of the contest phase, I will not sign it.”
Added Pawlenty: “I have a duty to follow state law and our statutes are clear on this issue. I am prohibited from issuing a certificate of election until the election contest in the courts has been resolved.”" -Politico
My Analysis:
So its clear, because Coleman has contested the election and even with his political future at stake Minnesota will only have 1 Senator for several weeks or months. Minnesotans won't be happy with 99 Senators. When Roland Burris gets sworn in later this week, we will be the only State without full representation. Klobuchar is a good Senator to handle the extra services. I see very little chance of Coleman actually winning the seat, so I say bring it on! The fallout on his political future is almost certain. Hes hammering the nails in his own coffin. If the court challenge is what it takes for Coleman to go away, then sure I'll be patient.
6.1.09
Coleman to Contest Election
After listening to the coverage on MPR
I see that Coleman has decided to contest the election. Although this is completely in his right (up to 7 days after canvas board certification) this doesn't seem to be a very good political move. His chances of overturning the decisions in his favor are pretty small and even if he gets both decisions in his favor, he wold have a large deficit to over come. having votes be in his favor 2 to 1. There is not much room to gain those votes. It will be very hard for him to win this election, and even harder for him to serve again without skepticism. It will be good to see what the lawsuit decisions to do the race, but frankly from what I have heard Minnesotans are sick of this race and want a quick conclusion to it. If Coleman decides to draw out the seating of Al Franken, it will most certainly be to the decrement of his political future.
News coference at 3 pm: I think that he might cocede
The prospects of Norm winning at this point are next to nothing. I think that there might be a chance he concedes setting up a political future. If he fights this out and still ends up the loser it might shoot down his political future. If he somehow fights and pulls an upset, his new term would be clouded in controversy. So if Norm wants to be a candidate again (ex. Gov 2010), hi best chances of a future are if he concedes today.
Also I stole this piece from the Power Liberal, I thought it was very relevant.
Also I stole this piece from the Power Liberal, I thought it was very relevant.
5.1.09
Coleman Locked Out of his Office
"About 20 Coleman staffers had showed up for work at the senator's Washington office today, but they were ordered to close the office around midday by Howard Gantman, staff director for the Senate Rules and Administration committee.
Gantman said that Coleman's staff could NOT carry on Senate business. The senator's term had officially expired on Saturday.
But the senator released a statement indicating that the seemingly clear order might be subject to debate:
Coleman has official been locked out of his office because of the Senate Rules. That's satisfying. I hope you all can enjoy this as much as me.
Franken Wins according to Canvas Board and SoS...But more to follow
"Al Franken was declared the winner over Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) in the Minnesota Senate race, but the Coleman campaign has announced it will be contesting the results in a post-election challenge." says Politico.
My analysis:
-Basically here is how it rolls out. Franken is 225 votes ahead after the recount. That is nearly a 1000 vote swing from election night projections. The recount looks to be transparent conducted by non-partisan county election officials a TRI-partisan canvas board that included 2 Republicans (appointed by Pawlenty) and 2 Independents and only 1 Democrat (SoS Mark Ritchie). There doesn't seem to be a lot of avenues for Coleman to sue. There is a current suit by the Coleman campaign over a contested 654 votes, which neither county auditors, the canvas board or the Franken campaign. In the MN Supreme Court decision earlier, it stated that all concerned parties must agree. The lack of a real decision by the court probably suggests that the suit won't get any real post-election differing results.
Even hypothetically, if Coleman gets the 654 votes included in the recount, and even further sues for the 133 votes that he claims were double counted, the problem is he would still have to net at least 225 votes. If both decisions are in his favor that only leaves 787 votes. Many didn't believe Franken would be up by such a large margin, but he is. This is statistically very difficult. Coleman would have to get 65% of the votes. That is very very dificult.
Chances are he wont get those decisions, and even if he does he would hve to get a very large margin of them. So at this point it looks like Franken is an almost certain winner.
Time to start cheering.
My analysis:
-Basically here is how it rolls out. Franken is 225 votes ahead after the recount. That is nearly a 1000 vote swing from election night projections. The recount looks to be transparent conducted by non-partisan county election officials a TRI-partisan canvas board that included 2 Republicans (appointed by Pawlenty) and 2 Independents and only 1 Democrat (SoS Mark Ritchie). There doesn't seem to be a lot of avenues for Coleman to sue. There is a current suit by the Coleman campaign over a contested 654 votes, which neither county auditors, the canvas board or the Franken campaign. In the MN Supreme Court decision earlier, it stated that all concerned parties must agree. The lack of a real decision by the court probably suggests that the suit won't get any real post-election differing results.
Even hypothetically, if Coleman gets the 654 votes included in the recount, and even further sues for the 133 votes that he claims were double counted, the problem is he would still have to net at least 225 votes. If both decisions are in his favor that only leaves 787 votes. Many didn't believe Franken would be up by such a large margin, but he is. This is statistically very difficult. Coleman would have to get 65% of the votes. That is very very dificult.
Chances are he wont get those decisions, and even if he does he would hve to get a very large margin of them. So at this point it looks like Franken is an almost certain winner.
Time to start cheering.
I Got a job - although its unpaid
Keith Ellison's Minneapolis Office offered me a job as an intern. I plan on taking it and learn more from the inside. I am totally excited. Keith is one of my heroes and I hop I can learn a lot from this job
Hiatus
I have been on hiatus.... Sorry....really, it would be nice to get some feedback on how you all would like to see my blog transformed...
The MORE feedback I get the better the blog gets
The MORE feedback I get the better the blog gets
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