[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.
JC<-The new selective memory candidate. No republican can ever talk about stealing anything not with all the crooks they put in jail just last year not to mention the biggest steal of the century when GW stole the 2000 election.
Oppps, I am wrong he didn't steal it he let the Supreme Court do his dirty work.
At least Al Gore was man enough not to fight against a stacked deck.
It amazes me now the shoe is supposedly on the other foot how now there is such an outcry.
What really is funny is that both parties agreed to settle this last week and let the recount go forward. BOTH PARTIES had to agree to this and now that the count doesn't go the way the republican wants it.
It's a crime against humanity.
Al Franken is an intelligent capable individual who will service the senate honorably. That is not an easy thing to do in government.
This is a sad event for democracy. This is a perfect example of a stolen election. This shows a 500 vote swing from the initial results – it's scary to see it swing that much. Granted, both candidates were trying to count the votes for them and not the votes for their opponent. But Franken had all the cards in his favor. Every single ruling from the Secretary of State, MN Supreme Court, and other parties were all in his favor. This is enough political corruption to make Blagojevich and Ted Stevens look like the Messiah.
Minnesota is one of the cleanest states for elections in the country. A recount relies on hand counts, rather than machine counts. So, ballots that were not counted by a machine might be counted in a hand count. The intent of the voter is most important in a recount, even though the voter's intent may not have been counted by a machine due to ambiguity. Get over it, GOP, you lost this one. Let's cut to the chase and swear Al Franken into office. Norm Coleman can get an early start on his lobbying career.
In this case, there could only be losers, no matter who won. Minnesota loses and the US losers because both candidates suck.
If you really believe Franken won this fair and square, you are so blind in your partisanship.
This was an outright theft. The counting method was used to favor Franken, and any method that did not favor him was tossed.
How do you go from being up hundreds of votes, then in a recount, you're down several hundred? Statistically, it's like the chance of being struck by lightning.
People, you gave the entire hen house to the DEMS, and this is what you should expect going forward.
I wonder how much taxpayer money Coleman will spend trying to hold what isn't his anymore? All the old strongholds of the GOP are comming down and not a moment to soon
The right-wing lunatic fringe is back!
But, as John Prine once said, "Your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore".
So, put away your fake patriotism and deal with another loss. Franken is the winner!
Congrats Al, you'll make a fine Senator!
Sore Losermen?
Way to go Al. Coleman really thought he was Mr big shot when he was in the Senate. Thank you Minnesota ( my home state ) for getting rid of Mr big shot.
Yelm Washington
Congrats to Mr. Franken!! I feel that this was a no brainer from the beginning. The Democratic Party had a huge yr. Franken has some celebrity......... Let's see, Democrats have a big yr. + Celebrity(noteriety)= Election. Please, please, please represent for your constituents.
Is that it? Have they finished? Did they count correctly and can we finally put this to rest?
What a Joke. How can you go from a 215-vote lead to going behind 225 votes? Just another Democratic Stealing the Election.
They should just call another election, i am sure they spent enough money doing this spectical they call a "re-count" with Democrats leading it. you know they have an agenda.
as for Franken, what a joke he is. go back to SNL or sit under a rock.
That sound is the sound of George Washington spinning over in his grave!
Dave "January 5th, 2009 4:20 pm ET said:
This is truly an all-time low for American politics. Franken is unapologetically anti-american and is not fit to be an American lawmaker. The people of Minnesota who voted for Franken should have all further voting rights taken away; they truly are oblivious to the danger that smug, smart alecky liberals such as Franken pose to this country.
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Dude, did you actually type smart alecky? LOL How old are you like 100?
Why is it that when the Republicans win, and the Dems object because of voter fraud, they tell us to grow up and get over it? Hmmmmmmmmm....... 2000? 2004?
All you regressives. Grow up and get over it.
Proof of how Franken is "unAmerican" please. And no, disagreeing with your opinions does not make one "unAmerican".
I want proof, not talk.
Dave January 5th, 2009 4:20 pm ET
This is truly an all-time low for American politics. Franken is unapologetically anti-american and is not fit to be an American lawmaker. The people of Minnesota who voted for Franken should have all further voting rights taken away; they truly are oblivious to the danger that smug, smart alecky liberals such as Franken pose to this country.
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That's the spirit, Dave. Make sure we take away rights from people whose choices differ from yours. Typical Republican mindset!
WOOHOO!
Congratulations goes out to Florida.......you are no longer the laughing stock of the American election system....Minnesota has taken over as the most idiotic group of voters in the nation.
How many vicous, sour, spoild-sport, hate-filled, sore-loser comments and false accusations will appear before CNN closes these comments?
Congrats to Al & to Minnesota.
Hopefully we can get some election reform going so that a count such as this will never drag on and on again. IRV & vote by mail should be a right for everybody!!
What's funny is there a republican who thought they could win an election. Go figure.
love how the radical right calls anyone who disagrees with them "anti-american" or not "real" american and of course the all the childish really nasty stuff, you show your lack of education and your wallowing in your lesser self, al's a smart guy, he has better intentions than coleman (who is under FBI investigation) and his head and heart are in the right place, he didn't steal anything, it was an AUTOMATIC mandated recount, handled in a professional matter, coleman is the one running to the courts to dispute what he ALREADY agreed to not al, you right wing radicals just HATE him (and THAT says much more about YOU) because he called you false god rush out for what he is, a fat loud lieing drug addict. be thankful that obama isn't vindictive, be thankful these people are going to work for the betterment of america and not just to enrich there own like your party DID
Having more ballots than actual voters is a glaring example of inconsistancies in the canvasing boards proceedures and decisions. Coleman has a good argument that duplicate ballots were not originally marked and thus counted twice in the recount.
We called it though...count, count and recount until Franken has the lead, then slam the door shut.
A Note to scratchchance.... Feel sorry for America, not just Minn. A Liberal Anti-American is going to be a Senator. Also – Matt is correct this is the End of America as we "thought" it was to be.