Minnesota Senate Standoff Plays Into GOP's Hands (says the WSJ)

[question everything]

MARCH 17, 2009

Minnesota Senate Standoff Plays Into GOP's Hands
While Al Franken Has Edge Over Norm Coleman, Prolonged Court Battle Thwarts Democrats in Congress
By NAFTALI BENDAVID
WSJ

WASHINGTON -- Four months after Election Day, the fight over Minnesota's U.S. Senate seat drags on with no clear end in sight. And that may be working to the Republicans' advantage. Party leaders say they are digging in for a prolonged legal process, keeping Democrats from claiming a seat they think is theirs -- and hampering the majority party's ability to push through its agenda. The current phase of the lawsuit over the close election is entering its final stretch, as both sides made their final arguments Friday. Most significant rulings during the seven-week trial have gone in favor of Democrat Al Franken. As a result, his 225-vote lead out of 2.9 million ballots counted has apparently expanded -- though there is no official tally -- and few independent analysts think Republican Norm Coleman is likely to prevail in his re-election bid.

But Republicans can claim a kind of strategic victory by blocking the Democratic former comedian's path to the Senate, which requires 60 votes to pass controversial items. Democrats there currently have 58. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, asked Friday if he would encourage Mr. Coleman to pursue his case further in the courts if he loses the current round, responded: "I would, until we know who won." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid replied with a statement headlined, "Minnesota needs representation, not legal challenges."

(snip)


David Schultz, who teaches election law at Hamline University in St. Paul, said that if the GOP can't win the seat, its goal is to keep it open. "The Republicans' endgame strategy is to keep Al Franken out of office as long as possible," Mr. Schultz said. "Al Franken is No. 59." Supporters of Mr. Coleman dismiss this, saying their goal is victory, not delay. "We want to get this done as quickly as possible, but it is important to get this right," said Coleman attorney Ben Ginsberg. The standoff has created one of the few times in history when the Senate has lacked its full complement. This is due partly to a law, unique to Minnesota, saying the state can't certify a senator until legal challenges have ended.

The empty seat presents particular challenges for Mr. Reid, especially because two other Democratic Senate seats are also in a state of uncertainty despite Democrats' November triumph. Sen. Roland Burris of Illinois is under an ethics cloud, though efforts to remove him are faltering, while Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts is ill and has been absent during key votes. On the $787 billion stimulus bill, Democrats could have made fewer concessions if they had needed to attract just one Republican. Instead, they needed two (and got three). On a recent $410 billion spending bill, Mr. Reid, of Nevada, was one vote shy, forcing him to delay the vote and exposing the bill to more attacks. That single senator also could make a difference on coming bills, such as a proposal to allow workers to organize unions by signing cards and skirting secret-ballot elections.

The dragged-out case has also put a burden on the state's lone senator, Democrat Amy Klobuchar. Her state office has been juggling twice the caseload as a year ago, and calls to her Washington office have increased five-fold. "One day I had 17 different meetings, from college students to the CEO of Best Buy to a veterans group," Ms. Klobuchar said in an interview.

(snip)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123724778973648983.html (subscription)

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Klobuchar has been using Coleman's staff to help constituents, however, this arrangement may end on March 31st, I think.

[Thrill]

1. What a shock. The WSJ thinks something plays into the GOPs hands

I call BS.

If anything they look like whiners. And sore losers. And I certainly don't see how this helps them in Minnesota.

[question everything]

4. But the outcome, so far, confirms it

Minnesota has only one Senator and with Buris and Kennedy the Republicans can take advantage on the votes. (This is why I stuck my neck when I suggested that Kennedy step down because his vote is so uncertain, and when Ohio's Sherrod Brown had to come from his mother's wake to cast a vote).

[ccharles000]

2. fuck repubs

[Dinger]

3. What ccharles Said : )

:)