Wish I could say it was worth the wait.

TPM has been doing an awesome job with this story. I am hoping for a decision by Easter

Coleman Lawsuit- Franken Motion to Dismiss

Ever since the Minnesota Senate recount concluded- even before- the Coleman team has been trying every method at their disposal to discredit the system. They have even gone so far as to repeatedly challenge the decisions of the three-judge panel in place to rule on this case.

It is no longer any secret that the Coleman camp and all of the Republican talking heads are asking for a re-vote, for which there seems to be no provision in Minnesota law. Clearly, they have given up on the idea that they can actually win, so they plan to muddy the waters, change the focus and criticize the referees in order to delay, for as long as possible, the outcome of this proceeding.

Now this twist in the mix. In the hearing for dismissal of the Case Coleman's attorney says:

Langdon summed up his case, against dismissal: "We believe that we have presented competent, persuasive evidence so that on a preponderance of the evidence, this court can find that there are a material number of ballots that should not have been rejected -- and by material I mean a significantly larger number than 225."

I doubt it, but let's suppose that Langdon is exactly right. Let's suppose that there are in fact a significantly larger number than 225 ballots that need to be counted in this case:

Including the number of votes added to Frnaken's side during Coleman's case presentation there would need to b somewhere over 500 additional ballots (the evidence does not suggest this is the case). Also, each and every one of those votes would need to go to Coleman in order to overcome Franken's lead.

So even if Langdon is absolutely correct that they have proved what he says they have (a big if), they have not proven what they needed to prove- namely, that engaging in any activity to count ballots would have a reasonable chance to change the outcome of the election.

I doubt the court will dismiss they case. Afterall, why start making sense now? Still I think the argument is a good one. I am surprised also and disappointed that Franken's team chose to start they case before presenting the motion to dismiss. The fact that they already began a defense might suggest that they feel points were made that need to be defended against, thus working against their argument to dismiss.

Local media (namely, the Minneapolis Startribune) has been terrible in their reporting of this case, often substituting opinion for facts and engage the loony fringe who like to comment in the comment threads.

I find "Talking Points Memo" much more informative.

The big question that remains for me is whether I will have paid my taxes befor eour new Senator takes his seat in Washington.

This will solve the problem of unruly teens loitering in the Mall.

I love the idea.

Entertainer? GOP Leader, still a Big Fat Idiot!!!

So now the leaders of the GOP are fawning over Limbaugh and apologizing for calling him an entertainer. But wait, didn't fatso himself broad;ly proclaim himself as an entertainer n order to avoid using such things as facts in his daily remarks? Didn't he himself deny being a GOP leader at a time when it suited him to do so and in order to make outrageous and uunsubstanciated claims against Clinton and other political leaders?

Well, at least he is consistent. And Al Franken is still right about this guy.