As the Senate Turns…
EmailIn Minnesota, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports, "Al Franken won an impressive share Saturday of what may be the last ballots tallied in the U.S. Senate recount, boosting his unofficial lead over Sen. Norm Coleman to 225 votes heading into a Monday meeting where the state Canvassing Board will certify the final result of the race. At least two things, however, still stand in the way of Franken becoming Minnesota’s newest U.S. senator: the possibility of a ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court that more wrongly rejected absentee ballots should be counted, and a legal contest that Coleman attorneys all but promised should Franken prevail."
In Illinois, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told George Stephanopoulos this morning on "This Week" that Roland Burris will not be seated even provisionally as the junior senator from Illinois.
In New York, we learn that when she worked for New York City’s Education Department as chief executive of the Office of Strategic Partnerships (for $1 a year), Caroline Kennedy didn’t have to fill out the standard 32-page financial disclosure forms each year.
For less drama, meanwhile, check out this fantastic 2007 New Yorker profile (by the amazing Kate Boo) of the new senator from Colorado, Denver schools superintendent Michael Bennet.
- jpt
Rick Santorum Sweeps 3 States 
Pentagon to Open Additional Jobs to Women
Sounds like ACCORN and the voter fraud team struck again. Thanks Democrats for ruining American voter rights.
Posted by: dee dee doo | January 4, 2009, 11:01 am 11:01 am
dee dee doo….you are sooooo right!!
Just a sample of things to come.
Posted by: Midred | January 4, 2009, 11:13 am 11:13 am
THIS IS PICTURE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW AN ELECTION IS HIJACKED BY THE LEFT!!
Notice that Frankenstein # of votes almost coinsides with the amount Coleman had before all those doubious ballots appeared outta nowhere. When is the MSM going to do their job and investigate and poke holes into this fraud count? I wonder if Vegas has odds on MSM doing an investigative report on voter fraud in Minnesota? You looking for a job Jake?
Posted by: commrat72 | January 4, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am
commrat72 —- How dare the Liberal Major News Networks investigate Obama and the rest of the liberals. Imagine that Obama investigating himself concerning BLAGO and the News Networks did not question the outcome.
Posted by: dee dee doo | January 4, 2009, 11:40 am 11:40 am
Or… maybe it’s been a fair but hotly contested race by both sides.
Honestly people, I don’t think either side is claiming voter fraud. Lawyers from both sides are merely doing their best to get votes counted that would benefit their candidate and contest ones that would benefit the other candidate. That’s how the process works.
Posted by: robhon | January 4, 2009, 11:43 am 11:43 am
dee dee doo, You need to review the facts about Minnesota’s Senate election. The election officials have followed the law and hand counted all the legal votes (except the 133 that someone “lost” but were counted by the computer on election night). They have corrected the mistakes made in the confusion of the election rush and possibly some fraudulent activity. Both parties, Republican and Democrat, were allowed to observe all the counting, and to try to influence public opinion with their comments. However, the election officials have kept their focus and now have official results ready for certification. It seems at this time that Franken is the Senator-elect from Minnesota.
Posted by: Minnesota got it right | January 4, 2009, 11:43 am 11:43 am
Election stolen by Democrats? Do these God – fearing Republicans know that Minnesota has a Republican governor? Furthermore, the people who run elections are primarily volunteers and, in my experience, mostly retirees (and primarily Republicans!). Are these people really accusing them of “allowing the election to be stolen?” How very Christian of you.
Who would Jesus blame?
Posted by: Steve Martinetti | January 4, 2009, 11:46 am 11:46 am
Bush hijacked the presidency in Florida so what is the problem with a measley senate seat being contested in Minnesota? Republicans need to get over losing, you are no longer in power.
Posted by: Tom Tee | January 4, 2009, 11:47 am 11:47 am
Im saddened that watching “This Week” that the emphasis is on replacing Obama with a black, not the fine qualities of the current nominee. The US Senate needs to accept the appointment and move on the economy, not use this issue to postpone any action. Pitiful
Jim
Posted by: Jim | January 4, 2009, 11:49 am 11:49 am
Tom Tee and others…if Florida was thrown to Bush as Tom Tee suggests then why didn’t Bush support Katherine Harris’ political aspirations??
Posted by: James | January 4, 2009, 11:52 am 11:52 am
I know you conservatives would never hear it from your regular news sources but the ACORN fraud was an election season hoax. They get fraudulent registrations every year. They mark the suspect names but they’re still required by law to turn them in.
There’s something to be said about being too eager to believe anything that fits with your preconceived notions, but learning from mistakes hasn’t exactly been on your collective radar lately.
Posted by: Tim B | January 4, 2009, 11:53 am 11:53 am
None of you outraged conservatives have posted one item of information to substantiate your accusations. Not one! This is as clear an example of outraged ignorance as I have seen. We’ve had enough of that during the long, horrible eight years we have just endured.
(But a lot of you seem to be unable to spell ….)
Posted by: Porter Rockwell | January 4, 2009, 11:54 am 11:54 am
“Election stolen by Democrats?”
Is that what you call a automatic recount in neo-con land? What did you call Bush’s brother giving the presidency to Bush?
Posted by: JR | January 4, 2009, 11:55 am 11:55 am
The Democrats wont seat Burriss? They just have no regard for the Constitution, do they?
Posted by: drjohn | January 4, 2009, 11:56 am 11:56 am
Article 1, Section 5 of the Constitution gives Congress the power to be “judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members.”
Posted by: Porter Rockwell | January 4, 2009, 11:59 am 11:59 am
Burris should be seated. Or give voters in Illinois like me a special election.
Posted by: Peace Train | January 4, 2009, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm
Our Dearest Greatest Leader has not worked wholeheartedly in the Senate for Illinois in the past 4 years, accomplishing exactly Zero accomplishments by himself, and IL seems doing just as badly as any other states. Mr. Durbin thinks they can afford to have just one Senator from Illinois for another 2 years.
Constitution? Our Smartest Leader is a self-claimed Constitution Law Professor; According to his interpretation, he does not need to respect the decision by a sitting Governor, required by the Illinois Constitution, to name a replacement of his seat due to his forfeit of his obligations promised to the good people of Illinois.
Whether you, Mr. PEBO, like it or not, Blago is still an elected Governor of your state. As a citizen, you need to obey the law.
Posted by: cat's cat | January 4, 2009, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
And the part about due process?
Werzzat?
Posted by: drjohn | January 4, 2009, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
@robhon: the people directly involved with the recount aren’t claiming fraud but the right’s media giants sure are. How many times have we heard some variation of “we disagree with those who say we should show compassion and understanding for the terrorists” from this administration? How many times were they challenged to produce a single person who has ever said that? Not once. They know it works so they use it, whether it’s on the internet or on national television.
Posted by: Tim B | January 4, 2009, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
Lol, you people spemnd to much time in the past. So Bush hijacked Florida, over and done, so Obama got elected, over and done, so Franken gets elected, over and done. Business as usual.
Politicians play political games, lawyers play their lawyer games and in the end we all get screwed but all you people think about is the past. Maybe you should all move into the present and worry about fixing the future.
Posted by: Mr Lee | January 4, 2009, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm
Why would caroliine have to fil out anything she is “special”
Posted by: rachel | January 4, 2009, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
If they don’t seat Burris, he should sue. As a resident of Illinois we should have a say in this but obviously Obama did not care about the people who put him in office in IL. How could he recommend Valerie Jarret w/ no political experience. Oh, I forgot that is how Obama got in. I wonder if he will sell his house back to Rezko now.
Posted by: Peace Train | January 4, 2009, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
I became a proud citisen of The United states years ago, and I am still very proud of that, please wake up US this is a good country, but I have to admit that I am at the present having a hard time understanding what is going on, let us unite and move forward, do we need another Tea party? I am 77 maybe that is my problem? Old age.
Posted by: Ken | January 4, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
throw some names around, sow some suspicion, keep disproven lies in play by repeating them, etc. The right put us in the ditch and they can’t even hold themselves back long enough for us to dig our way out.
And regarding Burris, how entirely predictable to see the champions of the Unitary Executive theory suddenly become concerned about the Constitution when it suits them. Refusing to seat Burriss is not only the prerogative of the Senate per the Constitution itself, it’s also the correct and ethical decision.
No wonder the right is having fits. America is center stage in a global crisis and Republicans are still playing small ball politics at every opportunity. Can there be any wonder why the country took away the keys?
Posted by: Tim B | January 4, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
First they complain about the automatic recount, then reject 1000s of legit ballots, then they cry fraud. What else is new? What do you expect?
Posted by: Dough | January 4, 2009, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
I just donot understand how Mr Franken can be seated as a United States Senator after He JOKED about RAPE on the radio. What in God’s name is going on with America
Posted by: Jalee | January 4, 2009, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm
Caroline would fill the Senate seat and do a fine job. Didn’t they say the same things about Hillary when she first ran?
Posted by: Kate | January 4, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
“do we need another Tea party?”
Yes we DO: we need a great big SHOE party, where those ill-served by this bad joke on “democracy” — government by and for mobsters, celebrities, and the miscellaneous rich — throw shoes until the Capitol, along with the talkative tin-horn tyrants who play there, is completely submerged in shoes.
Posted by: Belle Starr | January 4, 2009, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
That New Yorker link rocked..!!! It was illuminating in so many ways – but especially in exemplifying the real effort in personal time and commitment that is required to manifest any idea into reality. It’s all about the footwork. Words are cheap – change takes muscle and time. Thanks for pointing me to that humanizing and heartful look into the work ahead of us all. A moment of thoughtful connection amidst the haranging posturing and blame-slinging I normally run into on the ‘net.
Posted by: Tam | January 4, 2009, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
Bill Richardson just withdrew as Secretary of Commerce. Obama and his team are a joke.
Posted by: Peace Train | January 4, 2009, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
That Kate Boo article was excellent–thanks for the link.
Posted by: Danny | January 4, 2009, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
“Bill Richardson just withdrew as Secretary of Commerce.”
Who’s next? Hope it’s Tom Daschle.
Posted by: Belle Starr | January 4, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
Speaking of Harry Reid, Senate Democrats and Constitutional qualifications, seems there are more immediate issues than Burris, namely BHO himself (WHY NO MEDIA COVERAGE OF THIS?) –
MESSAGE TO EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS:
When counting the electoral votes, either Congress finds by 1/8/09 that Obama — not being an Article II “natural born citizen” (father Kenyan/British, not American, citizen) — fails to qualify as President whereupon Biden becomes the full fledged President under 3 USC 19 (free to pick his own VP such as Hillary) or thereafter defers to the Supreme Court to enjoin Obama’s inauguration with Biden becoming only Acting President under the 20th Amendment until a new President is duly determined.
The preferable choice, at least for the Democrats, would seem obvious.
Posted by: Ted | January 4, 2009, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
jpt writes:
“when she worked for New York City’s Education Department as chief executive of the Office of Strategic Partnerships (for $1 a year), Caroline Kennedy didn’t have to fill out the standard 32-page financial disclosure forms each year.”
WHY?
Posted by: Belle Starr | January 4, 2009, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
Because the Kennedys’ are, (say with a lisp) “SPECIAL” thats why!!
Posted by: commrat72 | January 4, 2009, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
Why does the media refer to Hilliary as Hillary Rodam Clinton but to Caroline as just Caroline Kennedy and not use her married name. I think all politicians should be required to use their legal names.
Posted by: Tom Warner | January 4, 2009, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
Ted—haha, not this again. the supreme court has thrown out the suit without even hearing the merits. don’t lose sleep— the President-Elect will be sworn in on January 20th.
Posted by: Paul Wall | January 4, 2009, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
Tom Warner—”I think all politicians should be required to use their legal names.” fortunately what you think does not matter. whay do you think you have the right to tell people (specifically women) which names they can use?
Posted by: Paul Wall | January 4, 2009, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
Is anyone old enough to recall the man called the “TEFLON DON?” Does this concept,for those that recall, apply to anyone being discussed here? No, not talking about the gov of IL. Perhaps some will see the greater issue and what it means for the citizens of this country.
Posted by: Travler | January 4, 2009, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
The difference is Franken tells you jokes, while Coleman “IS” the joke.
Posted by: Admirla j | January 4, 2009, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
Burris should be seated. He is qualified and the Senate needs to get to the task of turning this nation around.
Posted by: Lori | January 4, 2009, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm
GO AL GO!!!
WOO HOO SENATOR FRANKEN!!!
FRANKEN FOR PRESIDENT!!!
FRANKEN ’16!!!
Posted by: Democrats 4 Ever | January 5, 2009, 4:30 am 4:30 am
al franken is one of the worst, if not the worst, and i vote for the latter,….persons ever to be seated for a senate seat….he probably has no idea wnat the rules of parlimantary than a two year old….you people in minnesota have some very comical ideas of your politicians…a wrestler, an idiot, wow……what a place to stay forever in the snow,,,,
Posted by: jer mynor | January 5, 2009, 8:04 pm 8:04 pm