Franken rests

[struggle4progress]

Source: Minnesota Independent

By Chris Steller 3/12/09 2:28 PM

“I’m honored to say the contestee, Al Franken, rests his case.” And with that from Franken attorney David Lillehaug at 2:15 p.m. Thursday, Minnesota’s Senate election contest trial, now in its 34th day, reached a major milestone. The endgame of rebuttals and closing statements is expected to last only a matter of days before the three-judge panel begins its deliberations ...

Read more: http://minnesotaindependent.com/28951/franken-rests

---

Missing Clay ballots end Senate trial testimony
Don Davis, Minn. State Capitol Bureau
Published Friday, March 13, 2009
ST. PAUL – Lori Johnson was a fitting final U.S. Senate trial witness because, like many other issues in the case, she left unanswered the main question attorneys asked. The Clay County auditor-treasurer could offer no reason why five ballots disappeared from Oakport Township, just north of Moorhead, after the November election. In a way, those five ballots represent the entire 7-week-old Senate trial, with both candidates looking for ballots they can count ... Rolls at the suburban precinct showed 1,074 voted, but just 1,069 ballots were counted. Johnson said that she and representatives of the two Senate campaigns have looked for them in her election room, and an Oakport official looked in a ballot counting machine to make sure they were not left there. Elections officials also recounted the precinct's ballots three times during a November statewide Senate recount, she added ... http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/politics/index.cfm?page=article_bureau&id=50247&legislative_tag=1

Coleman, Franken get final say today
Closing arguments are scheduled in Senate trial; then it's up to the judges
By Rachel E. Stassen-Berger
[e-mail]
Updated: 03/13/2009 12:16:03 AM CDT
... Today, attorneys for Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken will make their closing arguments in the seven-week trial. By the weekend, the outcome of November's Senate election will rest in the hands of the election lawsuit's three-judge panel ... The judges — Stearns County's Elizabeth Hayden, Pennington County's Kurt Marben and Hennepin County's Denise Reilly — still have several tasks ahead ... <list follows> ... Coleman rested his case last week. On Thursday, in between the final witnesses in Franken's case — two voters and the Clay county auditor — he made his brief rebuttal case ... During his weeklong case, Franken has presented meticulous evidence on the validity of about 300 to 400 ballots. Franken already has gained 47 votes during the trial, 35 of which came from voters Nauen represented. Nauen's work was funded by the Franken campaign ... http://www.twincities.com/ci_11901858?nclick_check=1

Coleman, Franken head to closing arguments
... In a conference call with reporters, Franken attorney Marc Elias said both sides will present closing arguments tomorrow and then the judges in the special court created to hear the case will begin deliberations. "After four and a half months we are now near the very end of what has been a thorough and complete and extensive process," Elias said ... http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2009/03/coleman-franken-head-to-closing-arguments.html

[EFerrari]

1. What a long fight. I'm so happy Al hung in there.

RE-ELECT SENATOR AL FRANKEN!

lol

[Up2Late]

2. Just tell me when it's over...

...and when Coleman finally takes his own advice (while he was leading in the count) and just throws in the towel.

[Optical.Catalyst]

3. Well let's get on with it

Put Coleman in the trash can and seat Al Franken as the next junior Senator from Minnesota.

This farce has gone on long enough.

[Rebellious Republican]

4. My prediction, Franken will be seated in a matter of days.......

Coleman is going to need every penny and will need to divert all available legal assets he has left to a real legal battle. He will not be able to afford to continue this charade and buffoonery. He has much bigger problems on the horizon, like keeping his ass out of jail, never mind holding on to his lost seat in the senate.

Beyond the Norm: Coleman's data leak disaster
Cringely unravels the ugly mess around ex-Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman's data spill and asks, Should this man be handling sharp implements?
http://weblog.infoworld.com/robertxcringely/archives/2009/03/beyond_the_norm.html

Coleman Campaign Leaks Contributor Credit Cards
by Libertarian Friend
Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 03:46:48 AM PDT
A long long time ago, when I guzzled the kool aid I made a contribution to Coleman's 2002 election campaign. "Forgive me for I have sinned."

Because of that contribution, I ended up on spam list after list as the Coleman campaign sold my name to every wacked out group possible.

To this day, I have been trying to get off Coleman's e mail list and they "refuse" to remove me from that list. I wonder if that is a violation of some law?

Today, I received an interesting e mail that Norm's Campaign, obviously "pre-occupied" with "other matters" released the names, addresses and credit card information to the world.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/3/11/63657/8465/765/707085

Karma, ain't it a bitch! :rofl:

[Hubert Flottz]

5. "Forgive me for I have sinned."

Forgive them for electing a man that helped Bush ruin our country...not hardly...not fucking EVER!

[Rebellious Republican]

6. My thoughts exactly Hubert! N/T

:fistbump:

[No Elephants]

7. I think the RNC has been footing the bill for Coleman. 59th vote is a BIG deal.

[Rebellious Republican]

9. Do you think the RNC will continue to foot the bill if criminal charges

are to be forth comming? Also, how many of the victims themselves are RNC members? Sounds like he might have his penis caught in the wringer, visualize that if you will.



:popcorn:

[No Elephants]

14. Well, I guess if Norm is in jail, he can't be in the Senate. Close call. The legal

bills for the two cases could run to at least a million, maybe two. Is a chance at the 59th seat worth it to the RNC? Probably, except for one thing. Blue Dogs. Word is they are going to form a coalition with Spector, Collins, etc. to leverage their clout. If that happens, the 59th vote might not be be as meaningful.

Overall, I still think the Pubs are likely to keep funding Norm, assuming I was correct about their funding him so far. I think the shot is worth a couple of million to them. Now, if it were ten million in legal fees, they might start to perspire.

Obviously, this is all guesswork on my part. I don't have a crystal ball.





Yet. However, I have put in a request and am expecting one soon.

[1776Forever]

8. Rachel Maddow played the Home Depot CEO tape again last night - Here is the transcript........

(Marcus is talking about defeating the union Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)bill)

BERNIE MARCUS, HOME DEPOT CO-FOUNDER: If a retailer has not gotten involved in this, if he has not spent money on this election, if he has not sent money to Norm Coleman and all these other guys, should be shot, should be thrown out of their (EXPLETIVE DELETED) jobs.

.............

Oh yeah Minnesota voter who voted for Coleman ~ You really could vote for Coleman after hearing this? Are you that blinded by wedge issues? I think if they did have a re-vote Coleman would go down in flames!

:crazy: :silly: :crazy:

[iscooterliberally]

10. I am glad

Al Franken is getting in. I sent him some money from Florida at the beginning of his campaign. I do miss the Oy Oy Oy show though!!

[TroglodyteScholar]

12. Welcome to DU, Scooter!

:hi:

[truthisfreedom]

11. Good luck, Al! I hope you're seated promptly!

I have no doubt you will be, but norm is so evil...

[Dinger]

13. I THink coleman IS Scared SHITLESS Of What Franken Will Find Out

when he gets in office. Even by repuke standards, normie fought this way beyond the pale. Something just ain't right with that boy!