Coleman: I'm Going To Court
Norm Coleman has made it official: He is filing a lawsuit to challenge the election result in Minnesota, which he does not believe to be a valid count -- and he is making clear that for the sake of democracy, Al Franken should not be seated in the Senate.
Coleman went through the list of things his campaign says went wrong: For example, that absentee ballots for Al Franken were counted twice, and that there were no uniform standards in reviewing rejected absentee ballots.
"Until these issues are settled," Coleman said, "any attempt to seat a Senator who is not properly certified violates Senate precedent, and usurps the will of the people of Minnesota."
A reporter asked Coleman about the calls from Harry Reid for him to concede -- and was met by booing from the crowd of Coleman supporters. "This race will be determined by Minnesota voters, not Harry Reid," Coleman said with a smile, and to the applause of his backers.
Late Update: So how long will this take? Lead Coleman attorney Fritz Knaak told reporters, "I would not be surprised if this went a month and a half, two months out." On the bright side, Knaak said that Coleman would like for it go as quickly as possible.
Also from Knaak: "Technically, we could actually redo the entire recount. I'll let you know right now that's not in the plans."
Late Late Update: Here's the Coleman video:
I cannot believe he keeps lying about ballots being counted twice. He is such an ass.
January 6, 2009 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
He is such an ass
And a not very bright one, at that.
January 6, 2009 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Coleman is going to subject the people of Minnesota to a series of lawsuits because he just can't stand the idea of losing to Al Franken afte their bitter campaign. That is what this is about.
Al Franken is the winner and I think it is very apparent from comments from Senate Majority Leader reid that Coleman will never serve in the Senate....or at least in this session. If DEMS were to seat Coleman after a successful election contest I can only imagine the outrage that they would seat a GOPer who clearly lost over a DEM appointee from IL who was actually legally appointed.
January 6, 2009 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, he's doing it becasue he thinks there are no direct consequences to him and he lacks any scruples otherwise. This is why every douchbag supporting him needs to be publicly outed and virtually pelted with rotten tomatoes in the public square.
There needs to be accountability. In 6 years or so, people should be saying: "Isn't ______ supporting _____ one of those douchebags who supported Coleman's pathetic attempt at obstructionism in 2009?"
January 6, 2009 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Read 'Al Gore' for 'Norm Coleman' and pretend it's 2000. You'll get a warm, happy glow.
January 6, 2009 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not really the same situation. This recount was totally fair; the 2000 one was stopped prematurely. In both cases it was the Rethugs who were being dicks. So no, it doesn't make up for anything, but kudos to Franken for not putting up with the bullshit.
January 6, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
In both cases, the Democratic candidate was trying to get as many valid ballots counted as possible, and the Republican was trying to stop the counting.
Gore was trying to get the recount according to Florida state election law, and the Supreme Court overruled Florida law.
In Minnesota, the recount has been conducted according to Minnesota state law. Norm Coleman was not interested in counting every vote when he had a minuscule lead the day after the election. He told Franken that he should waive the legally mandated recount and concede.
When Franken declined to do that, Coleman went to court to keep the erroneously rejected absentee ballots from being counted (under the guise of asking for a uniform standard).
The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the valid absentee ballots had to be counted, with the standard that both sides had to agree on a ballot before it could be counted. Now, Coleman is claiming that there was no uniform standard.
I’m sure that Franken could put up an equal number of rejected absentee ballots that he thinks should be counted.
Now that all of the legal ballots have been counted in accordance with state law, Franken has a larger lead than Coleman did when he suggested that Franken concede. It’s time for Coleman to accept his own advice.
January 6, 2009 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
The thing is, 'uniform standard' is a canard to begin with, in my opinion. We certainly don't hold the elections themselves according to a standard as uniform as what Norm thinks necessary for a 'valid' recount.
Between dozens of counties and hundreds of precincts, I'm sure one could find many discrepancies in how elections are conducted, none of which would a be a substantive basis for challenging an election result. Even within the bounds of election law and the MNSC rulings that guided the recount, local election officials were implicitly afforded some discretion as to how the process was carried out. I sincerely doubt Norm is going to have much success building a legal case out of that.
January 6, 2009 6:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
the great thing about Coleman is that he is always a douche bag
January 6, 2009 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
An opportunistic, self-important, selfish, carpetbagging douchebag, to be precise.
January 6, 2009 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
You left out philandering.
January 6, 2009 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good point. Also forgot "ethically challenged" and "sleaze-ridden."
January 6, 2009 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, what does this mean, does the Minnesota Supreme Court rule on this suit right away, or not? Since Norm is such an ass, can he then sue in Federal court and get a quick answer or does this definitely mean months of now?
January 6, 2009 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Chief Justice Eric Magnuson (R) will apoint three judges to a special court to hear the election challenge.
January 6, 2009 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you.
January 6, 2009 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Time frame?
January 6, 2009 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nope. Supreme Courts rule on matters of law. If it was a matter of law, they'd have ruled on it in the first place. What they essentially said on Monday is "Norm, you have made lots of claims, but shown no facts to back those claims up. The place for you to gather and present facts is in an election challenge." It's now up to Coleman to gather any facts to back up his claims and present them in court. It will start in a lower court, then be appealed up. Coleman's problem is that he hasn't got any facts - just a lot of hand-waving, and it's not likely any court is going to be swayed by that. The only question now is how much time he's given to put up or shut up.
January 6, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Simply stated:
Lawyer modus operandi
4: Representing the GOP keep the clock running and collect your fees.
January 6, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
#4 Precisely. Coleman went into the Senate to do the administration's bidding. He sat in as chair of the Subcommittee on Investigations and made sure that no meaningful investigation of anything that might be tied to the White House, the GOP, or their cronies would ever take place. Nice work, Norm.
And now he's going to file frivolous lawsuits, not because there's any chance he could win them, but in order to stall for time and make sure that the Senate doesn't get to seat all of the Democrats who were elected or appointed before the Republicans get to wreak a little havoc and obstruct the hell out of anything that Obama tries to do. A team player to the end.
See you in jail, Norm, you slimy turd.
January 6, 2009 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent summation!
January 6, 2009 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Simpler:
When the facts are with you and the law is against you, pound on the facts.
When the law is with you and the facts are against you, pound on the law.
When the facts are against you and the law is against you, pound on the table.
The GOP has a full stable of table pounders available at a moment's notice.
January 6, 2009 10:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope that Coleman keeps racking up his Legal bills. That's less money he'll have for his Federal corruption defense.
January 6, 2009 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
i find it interesting that over the past 9 months, sen. harry reid has been quickly elevated to a status by which he is reviled by conservatives and republicans. it seems to me, that just last year (and before that) nobody cared about sen. reid.
January 6, 2009 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
He’s also reviled by liberals and Democrats.
I just cannot figure out who his constituency is.
January 6, 2009 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
When you do (figure out his constituency), please let us know. I've been trying to figure this out for two years at this point.
Keeping the Senate in pro forma session over the holidays has been a highlight so far.
(and I mean that sincerely. Who knows how many recess appointments we could have been saddled with at this point)
January 6, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
The big money in Nevada has to be the casinos. Big biz with a peculiar flavor of liberalism.
January 6, 2009 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
His campaign contributors, of course.
But excellent point.
January 6, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why don't the Democrats appear to understand that merely being right does not win the public over to you? You also have to actually present a your case to the public. It matters in the long run.
This business of ignoring the political battle in the public is where the Republicans excel and Democrats generally fail. They are doing it again.
January 7, 2009 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
So, bottom line this for me.
How long can he hold up Franken's seating?
January 6, 2009 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Till he can't pay his legal fees.
January 6, 2009 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I went looking for proof of double counting. I hadn't seen it the newspapers, on conservative blogs, so I even checked the Coleman campaign site. Nothing. Shouldn't it be easy to prove --- more votes counted than voters? More ballots wouldn't prove anything because they keep the spoiled ballots in order to account for them, so there should be more ballots than voters. The issue is the number of counted ballots.
January 6, 2009 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
538 explains all this, and there is no double counting. He is lying.
January 6, 2009 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hard to square the tone of Coleman's filing notice with the gracious and humble declaration of victory by Franken.
January 6, 2009 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
And Minnesota voters will not forget it either.
January 6, 2009 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Al has been gracious throughout this whole thing and he continues to be. He couldn't possibly make it easier for Coleman to make a graceful exit. Norm has blown his last chance at saving face and moving on to the next phase of his life without leaving a mountain of ill will as his legacy.
I know Al is going to conduct himself in a dignified manner and refrain from taking any shots at Coleman. And that's as it should be. But, Coleman is now begging for abuse and I plan to give him plenty.
January 6, 2009 9:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now wait a minute Norm my boy, is it not your party, the GOP, who readily complains about activist courts, yet in this particular case you are deciding to sue thus using our courst to settle the matter? Also is not also true that in the past, your party has readily complained about Tort reform and trial lawyers eroding the fabric of this nation? Then would it not be prudent to trust the election board and the many D and R appointed officials who have carried out their duty and certified the election with the winner being Mr Franken? Also would it not be a distraction for you and thus for the people of Minnesota going forward that while you file this lawasuit that there is also an ongoing investigation involving your wife and yourself by the FBI. Then why are you standing in the way of democracy and why are standing in the way of the peoples business? Are we not living in a time where we need all of our Congressman as well as the American people focused on turning our nation around?
January 6, 2009 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perfect. I hope the FBI nails his ass.
January 6, 2009 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Courts are "activist" only when they don't rule in favor of Republicans and their agendas.
January 6, 2009 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well that's just an unfair play on words. Everyone knows that does not invariably rule in accordance with the Republican agenda is the definition of "activist judge." Didn't you know that?
January 6, 2009 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Norm Coleman wants for people injured by medical malpractice to have a cap on the money they can receive for their pain-and-suffering.
But he's OK with lawsuits when he's the one filing them.
January 6, 2009 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reminds me of the hypocricy of the 2000 election. Bush was campaigning on states' rights until he decided to by-pass state law of FL and go directly to SCOTUS.
January 7, 2009 4:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Former Senator Coleman must put up a bond to cover the legal expenses of the election contest if he loses. As a person who can't come up with the money to remodel his kitchen or buy his own clothes, I doubt he has the cash to put up for a 6 figure bond. Who is putting up the money for the bond?
January 6, 2009 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I heard the RNC to keep a Democrat out of the Senate for as long as possible.
January 6, 2009 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
If this is true, now we all know who wants to disenfranchise the citizens of Minnesota by depriving them of representation in the Senate at a time when decisions will be made on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of infrastructure improvement and economic stimulus appropriations.
Thank the Repuglicans, again, for falling down infrastructure and pot-holed roads!
January 6, 2009 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's certainly a large part of the motivation that I see behind this, especially the motivation for the GOP to pick up Coleman's legal tab. They want to keep the Democrats as far away from that magic 60 votes, and for as long, as they possibly can.
January 6, 2009 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Norm Coleman, the day after Election Day, when he thought he had a 475-vote victory: "Yesterday the voters spoke. We prevailed... It's up to [Franken] whether such a step [the recount] is worth the tax dollars it will take to conduct." He also noted that he would "step back" if in Franken's position.
Now he is in Franken's position, and he's suing rather than "stepping back". Norm Coleman, hypocritical douchebag.
Gotta appreciate Coleman's chutzpah though. The only reason Franken hasn't been "properly certified" (as I understand it) is that Coleman's legal challenge prevents it. In other words, he's angry that the Senate might seat Franken without Coleman having said it's OK.
January 6, 2009 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
And here we might remind people of Leo Rosten's definition of "chutzpah" as murdering both parents and then seeking clemency on the grounds that you're an orphan.
January 6, 2009 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does anyone know if there is a way to move this through the courts on an expedited basis? Seems kinda important.
January 6, 2009 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
"The lawsuit challenging the outcome must be filed within a week after the state board declares the count over. Once a lawsuit is filed, there is a 20-day window for a special three-judge panel to hear the case. There is no deadline for the judges to rule. Appeals would add weeks or months." From the Star-Tribune.
It's up to the state judicial system to expedite as they desire.
January 6, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
...and in the update above, Coleman's attorney is saying it could be up to two months. But cheer up - Norm would like it to go as quickly as possible.
Oh, yeah, and the check is in the mail.
January 6, 2009 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
If the MN State system is running this show, I'd say there is a decent chance it WILL be expedited.
The MN Supremes were pretty definitive and quick in their most recent rulings handing Coleman his ass on the absentee ballot and double counting claims. I think they are ready for the people of Minnesota (including themselves) to be represented at the highest level in the U.S. Government.
Someone from the Democratic camp needs to be pushing the paperwork to resolution on this to keep the feetdraggin to a minimum.
January 6, 2009 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Time to wonder if Norman's not just pissing them off with his continued whining. Making judges angry is generally not regarded as a good career move, wouldn't you say?
January 6, 2009 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Big-name Republicans have been extraordinarily consistent with this line. When are mainstream democrats going to start pointing out in public that it is a lie?
January 6, 2009 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't hold your breath while you wait.
January 7, 2009 6:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Coleman is a much bigger asshole than I imagined.
I wonder if he is using the GOP funding for these legal challanges to make his house payment? He had to borrow and extra $400,000 for his home remodling remember and he is unemployed and not eligible for unemployment.
Maybe Marcus will send him a few new suits.
January 6, 2009 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
a few new suits
Straight to E-bay, tags still on...
January 6, 2009 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would be awfully surprised if Coleman is making any more than the most basic decisions in this challange. I also highly doubt he will spend a cent of his limited funds.
Face it, he's an unemployed former one term senator from MN, where is he going to get the funds to mount an extended lawsuit?
January 6, 2009 5:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's time for Governor Pawlenty to step up and appoint Al Franken to fill the temporarily vacant Senate seat.
Let at least one Minnesota Republican show some class.
January 6, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
As if. When you say "class" with respect to Timmah (see South Park) you're talking about the ones he skipped in high school.
January 6, 2009 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, it's really unlikely to happen. There don't seem to be term limits on the position of Minnesota Governor.
January 6, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
And so ends Coleman's electoral viability for the remainder of his life.
January 6, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not that he really had any, anyway. As Nate Silver points out:
"...in his career running for statewide office, Coleman has lost to a professional wrestler, beaten a dead guy, and then tied a comedian."
Norm really has nothing to lose here.
January 6, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
At least he beat the dead guy...
January 6, 2009 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sigh. The dead guy. There are bumper stickers out here that say
WWWD
What Would Wellstone Do
Really, it's something in my eyes. Those onions. Yeah, that's why it's all misty.
January 6, 2009 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
My my, how times change. Here's Norm during his November 5th victory speech:
"I recognize that because of my margin of victory, Mr. Franken has the right to pursue an official review of the election results," the Republican Senator said during his speech Tuesday evening. "It is up to him whether such a step is worth the tax dollars it will take to conduct."
If I were trailing, "I would step back," he added. "I just think the need for a healing process is so important [and] the possibility that any change magnitude is so remote."
So much for the "healing process". Douchebag.
PEACE
January 6, 2009 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Coleman is merely falling on his sword in order give Senate Republicans one less Democratic vote in their on going "filibuster is our governance plan strategy."
January 6, 2009 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just heard on NPR that one of the major mistakes made in passing Clinton's health care plan was to delay it too long. Clinton ran on the issue, but then didn't present a bill to Congress for a year after taking office. That gave the public time to forget the issue and health care reform opponents to organize against the bill.
It seems very likely that the same dynamic is at work here. The Republicans want to kill Obama's health care reform, their power to do so will center around the filibuster, and the more they can weaken the Democratic strength to defeat a filibuster, the more likely they can stop health care reform.
That gives a lot of motivation to Republican money men to fund Coleman's delaying tactics. Time is their friend. Public attention is fickle, and the power of money is not.
Health care is not the only likely issue, of course.
January 7, 2009 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
More Norm quotes from his victory speech:
"Minnesota is known across the country as the home of clean, efficient and fair elections... I have great confidence in the Minnesota system; I have confidence whether I would have won or lost. I have run a lot of races; I have never questioned the way in which our election system works..."
"I am hopeful that as we go through any recounted certifications that may occur we proceed in a Minnesota manner: a respectful review, with a hope of early resolution."
Bears repeating: Douchebag.
January 6, 2009 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
A super duper, industrial strength, Guiness Book of Records sized douchebag...
January 6, 2009 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Franken should have used these quotes in his presser yesterday.
January 6, 2009 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
The comment sections of the Star Tribune articles are filled with screaming mindless vituperation by the wingnut constituency. It's a strange combination of disturbing and hilarious, leavened with a touch of pathetic.
"Former Senator Norman Coleman" - that's just never going to get old.
January 6, 2009 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Dems must be getting home from work because the trend of the comments I read were almost all against the former Senator Coleman.
January 6, 2009 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
What happened to the "good of Minnesota" that Coleman invoked when he demanded that Franken drop out and not have the lawfully mandated recount? Now suddenly lawsuits are good for Minnesota? The Republicans are a party of four year old children. Selfish, bigoted, ignorant, tantrum throwing, children.
January 6, 2009 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish a reporter had asked Coleman how his "every vote should count" idea could coexist with his "let's count half the absentee ballots, and only the ones from Republican counties" one.
January 6, 2009 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I am hopeful that as we go through any recounted certifications that may occur we proceed in a Minnesota manner: a respectful review, with a hope of early resolution."
It's been resolved! You lost! Now go away so you can spend more time with your lawyers, (you're going to need to).
January 6, 2009 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting how only a few weeks ago Coleman was saying if it were him, he would step down. For "there is too much at stake" now to leave the seat open. Truly incredible lying and hypocrisy. Insults our intelligence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZppOhCSRyFw
Remember this for the next Golden Dukes Chutzpa nominations.
January 6, 2009 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Margaret. My thoughts exactly!
January 6, 2009 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hopefully, some bold journalist (maybe at TPMer?) will confront him on this. Can't have it both ways Norm.
January 6, 2009 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
This may take a long time -- and maybe not. Let's see the Franken answer. This drama could well be over in a few days if the issues raisable at trial, win or lose, are insufficient to reverse the outcome. We can assume the court will be reluctant to engage in uncounting votes without strong evidence. Moreover, Coleman will need to have the facts, the law, and fairness on his side.
January 6, 2009 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
All Coleman has are issues that are ***risible*** at trial.
January 6, 2009 9:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stick a fork in it Coleman.
January 6, 2009 7:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tough being defeated.
From Coleman's official website: "Office of Norm Coleman is Closed."
http://coleman.senate.gov/public/
If you call his office number (202-224-5641) there's a recording: "The office of Norm Coleman is closed today . . . "
The website and telephone message don't event refer to Coleman as "Senator." I wonder if the Sergeant at Arms has changed the locks and removed the "Sen. Coleman" nameplate from the door of his office yet. I presume all his staffers are no longer employed.
January 7, 2009 8:43 AM | Reply | Permalink