January 5th, 2009
04:35 PM ET
14 years ago
Minnesota canvassing board certifies Franken win
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/05/art.franken0105.gi.jpg caption="Democrat Al Franken moved one step closer Monday to claiming a seat in the Senate."]
(CNN) - The Minnesota State Canvassing Board certified the results of the recount of Republican Sen. Norm Coleman's fight to retain his seat against Democrat Al Franken. The results show Franken with a 225-vote lead.
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There was a lot of justifiable fuss about ACORN and their questionable voter registration tactics throughout the 2008 campaign. Ultimately, it seems as though Obama's win was inevitable and post-election analysis appears to indicate that ACORN's illegal activities didn't truly have any major impact on the outcome of the Presidential race.
However, the same cannot be said for many of the down-ticket races, and it is now more apparent than ever that Franken clearly benefitted from the thousands of illegal registrants gathered by ACORN and their ilk in Minnesota. His razor-thin victory is demonstrative of this fact, and for the board of elections to pick and choose which ballots should be counted is criminal.
Drawing comparisons to 2000 or 2004 is irresponsible and moronic. One has nothing to do with the other. When elections are "stolen," as this one clearly was, our whole country suffers. This is a stain on our American political process and no right-minded Democrat should be cheering about this win. It does nothing to change the balance of power in the Senate. Coleman will be back once the people of Minnesota realize what a mistake they made. I can't even imagine Al Franken attempting to deal with constituents and REAL problems. How can a guy who spent his "literary" and broadcast career (Air American) tearing apart people of one particular political philosophy build consensus in Washington?
Jack: Anybody who thinks their vote doesn't count??? If you don't like democracy at work-Show up and vote. If he does agood job; he gets re-elected- if not; out with another dumb wisecracker.
Jon in Calif.
Well, not long ago,Minnesotans voted pro wrestler Jerry Ventura as Governor, now Al Franken as Senator. I guess next it will Homer Simpson for president.
Again, the only thing different from 2000 (Florida) or 2004 (Ohio) is the party. Funny we didn't hear Republicans CRYING foul back then. Oh, wait, nothing funny about it. It's just sad. So sad. "Mommy, mommy, the big, bad vote counters wouldn't play with us this time!" Just go home and sulk for six years.
Why is Coleman crying like a baby, he can find work just like the other republican losers. Just put your foot in isle and prevent progress from taken place.
All you sore losers just zip it. You make fun of Minnesotans for voting for Franken? First off, there is a 70% chance that our 7th graders are smarter than your high school grads, so don't even go there. Especially if you are from the south.
Next, if Franken is such a clown, then why did he beat that smarmy crook? Let me explain it to you in simple terms you can understand...
your prejudice, hate, and hypocrisy has not infected Minnesotans yet, thank God. You morons that go on about how Regan is a hero, and he was a bad B actor. Why does Frankens past as a comedian matter so much to you??? Oh yeah, that's right, cause he isn't afraid to make fun of Limbaugh and O'reilley, your personal gods no matter how wrong they are.
Most decent people would be disturbed by the vitriolic rhetoric expressed by the people who have submitted many of the postings below.
However, I, for one, am delighted. This kind of bitter, ideological rage is one of the core reasons that the American public has turned its back on the Republican Party.
This election wasn't stolen any more than the presidential election of 2000 (and, frankly, I doubt that you would hear complaints that George Bush stole the presidency from the vast majority of the contributors below). The fact is...when elections are close...one must trust in the due process of election laws, review procedures, and the courts. Its messy – but its democracy.
Bottom line....complain away, angry Republicans. The more you do, the more you will be seen as political dinosaurs.
Because he's good enough, he's smart enough, and goshdarnit, people like him.
When's the next SNL audition? They all seem to springboard into greatness.
And predictably, the few left-over right-wing nuts are foaming at the mouth...
Get over it. And return to civility. Nobody takes you guys seriously with foaming mouths.
I find it interesting how many of the "commentators" here who are calling Franken's election a steal have such a very short memory! They forget about the fact that we had a PRESIDENTIAL election stolen only 8 years ago, and this event ultimately led to the deep trouble we are all in today! The fact is that the SYSTEM is deeply primitive and corrupt for a so-called world power, and it definitely needs to be changed. Our voting and electoral system is a JOKE.
All you conservatives need to get a life and get over the fact that your party sucks and is in the toilet. You Lost. Period.
Your party is nearly finished and all your heroes on Wall street let us down for the last time.
Get over it and go heal yourself.
Man up!
At least he's not a died in the wool politician like Coleman. I don't think it ever hurts to bring new blood to our political system. In fact, I think there should be term limits on all politicians including senators and congressmen. Why would anyone want one of these guys to be in office for more than 6 or 8 years? That just gives them the opportunity to become more self-serving.
Oh, boo-hoo-hoo!!! The GOP couldn't stel this election, and now they're crying.
As you RepubliKKKan morons told us Democrats in 2000, the election's now over – get over it!!!!!
Congratulations to Senator-Elect Al Franken!!!
What? The courts have no business getting involved in deciding an election and interfering with American politics. President Bush would never allow this sort...oh wait a sec
Coleman is whining abotu 650 votes. Franken leads by 225. That means the 650 votes must break down as follows for Coleman to win:
Coleman – 438
Franken – 212
Not gonna happen. I say let Coleman have them counted so he can eat crow.
Why won't they count the 655 or so rejected ballots in republican areas that Coleman wants counted? They counted rejected ballots in democratic areas. Seems a little fishy to me.
Now the Democrats just have to find a way to elect Zippy the Clown and they will have all the bases covered...
To JC: I hate to tell you this but the Republicans have been stealing elections for the past 12 years! Turnabout is fair play so get over yourself! And exactly what "facts" do you have to support your argument?
It's sad that so many U.S. citizens who claim to believe in freedom want to silence those whose politics they disagree with when things don't go their way. Do you have concrete evidence that the Minnesota senate race was "stolen" or is it just sour grapes? No one griping about Franken's apparent election would want to be hauled into court based on the kind of "evidence" being offered here. Too many so-called conservatives don't have a problem with big government as long as liberal oxes are being gored. I'm proud to be both an American and a liberal, and criticizing the government, liberal or conservative, hardly makes one anti-American. It's laughable that after eight years under the worst American president since Warren Harding that someone could claim liberals are "a danger" to the country. It's been an allegedly conservative administration that let a major city drown, launched a foolish pre-emptive war, mismanaged another war, greatly expanded the size of the federal government, and spent the nation from surplus to deficit.