Patterico's Pontifications

12/19/2008

Franken Ahead by 280 Votes

Filed under: 2008 Election,General,Scum — Patterico @ 8:26 pm



We knew yesterday that this was coming, but that doesn’t make the news any less depressing. The post cites a prediction by Nate Silver that sometime in January, Franken will win by 40-70 votes.

It’s bad enough to have another seat likely going to a Democrat, but it’s especially galling to see it likely going to someone as vile and unhinged as Franken.

63 Responses to “Franken Ahead by 280 Votes”

  1. We have seen this before. I think that John Fund (much as he makes me bilious) has a point: we need to change the voting laws, once and for all. If you can’t fill out a ballot properly, it gets tossed out. No matter what.

    Personally, I have no problem with eliminating absentee ballots, but I am in the minority on that one.

    Show ID at the door. No exceptions. You can’t buy a drink without ID, nor operate a motor vehicle.

    You would think that both sides would be very interested in eliminating voter fraud. But strangely, only one party seems to see the elimination of voter fraud as being the same as voter intimidation. Hmmm.

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  2. Will they now rename the DFL Party to the Democrat-Farmer-Labor-ACORN Party (DFLAP)?

    Another Drew (efe318)

  3. Don’t blame anyone but the criminals in charge of elections in Mn. They should all be indicted, tried, convicted and spend the rest of they life in prison. That is if the vote means anything to anyone today.

    Scrapiron (ce69ff)

  4. Eric Blair –

    Absentee ballots are important, and need to remain an option.
    What’s not important, and should be eliminated, is the idea that you can sign up to vote and then almost immediately fill out an absentee ballot.

    If the voting process is truly important to you, then you should be able to plan ahead. Otherwise, wait for the next election.

    You should be required to mail several times to the Registrar to prove who you are, and your driver’s license should show your name and address. Slowing down the paperwork process removes the ability for last minute multi-votes.

    The process should take a few months, and if you move around a lot, then get used to the idea of reporting to your local precinct to cast your vote.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  5. I agree completely, Apogee.

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  6. How many times must I say it. Give Minne-fuckin-sota away to the French-Canadians.

    Oh, Eric and Apogee, your ideas on voting are completely racist. Spot on, but racist nonetheless.

    JD (7f8e8c)

  7. We have seen this before. I think that John Fund (much as he makes me bilious) has a point: we need to change the voting laws, once and for all. If you can’t fill out a ballot properly, it gets tossed out. No matter what.

    Personally, I have no problem with eliminating absentee ballots, but I am in the minority on that one.

    Show ID at the door. No exceptions. You can’t buy a drink without ID, nor operate a motor vehicle.

    You would think that both sides would be very interested in eliminating voter fraud. But strangely, only one party seems to see the elimination of voter fraud as being the same as voter intimidation. Hmmm.

    Uh, you haven’t described voter fraud and you certainly haven’t described what’s happened in Minnesota!

    As for your and Apogee’s desire to make voting tougher, living in democracy really has you guys down, huh? Sorry, but the Constitution of the US and my state give the franchise to citizens. Didn’t we teach you guys anything in ’65 when we finally passed the Voting rights Act? We ALL get to vote.

    timb (d31369)

  8. Hmmm … as I understood it the is a technical bounce due to Coleman votes on which challenges were dropped aren’t counted yet, while the ones that Coleman release to Franken have been counted.

    Not to mention the flawed recount where counties are allowed to make up their own rules about what non-votes to count, in violation of the (7-2) 14th Amendment claim in Bush v Gore.

    This ain’t over at all.

    Oh, and I still say flip a coin.

    Kevin Murphy (0b2493)

  9. Flipping a ooin would be more honest and honorable than what the Dems are doing, yet again.

    JD (7f8e8c)

  10. If the voting process is truly important to you, then you should be able to plan ahead. Otherwise, wait for the next election.

    God knows there was enough notice for this one… If you didn’t know this election was coming, you are WAY too damn stupid to be voting…

    Scott Jacobs (90ff96)

  11. Flipping a ooin would be more honest and honorable than what the Dems are doing, yet again.

    Comment by JD — 12/19/2008 @ 10:01 pm

    What is it that they are doing? Counting all votes cast? Ahhhhh! Ghastly, those Dems are!

    truthnjustice (d99227)

  12. What is it that they are doing? Counting all votes cast? Ahhhhh! Ghastly, those Dems are!

    And even finding votes that they had misplaced!

    Apogee (366e8b)

  13. Eric Blair:

    Two words that completely justify Absentee Ballots in their entirety:

    Deployed Military

    Evil Monk (4fbc7d)

  14. Everyone who’s wondering about the future of conservatism in America is wasting his or her time.

    The preemininent question in a post-Obama world is simply this: How many more elections will they steal?

    Of course conservatism needs to return to, by way of conspicuous example, its fiscally conservative roots.

    That doesn’t matter unless we stop them from stealing elections.

    Beldar (294770)

  15. I see this as a perfect example of people getting the government they deserve. Sad, yes, but not unexpected.

    Soronel Haetir (644722)

  16. May I recommend a book by that eternal optimist Hugh Hewitt: “If It’s Not Close, They Cant’ Cheat?” It shows the importance of such a thing as Get Out the Vote. Not that any of you would care about that.

    Brad S (b5b919)

  17. You really are tiresome, Brad S.

    Beldar – Long time, no see.

    JD (7f8e8c)

  18. BS lives up to his hallowed moniker, again.

    Dmac (e30284)

  19. Didn’t we teach you guys anything in ‘65 when we finally passed the Voting rights Act? We ALL get to vote.

    Including household pets, dead people, and felons, which make up about half of the Democrat constituency.

    Another Chris (1487d0)

  20. Didn’t we teach you guys anything in ‘65 when we finally passed the Voting rights Act? We ALL get to vote.

    Ugh, timmah. Who passed the Voting Rights Act? Wasn’t it the Dems that tried to filibuster it?

    Nevermind. You will just try to rewrite history.

    JD (7f8e8c)

  21. That doesn’t matter unless we stop them from stealing elections.

    They stole the election for Christine Gregoire. Every time a recount showed her losing they managed to “find” ballots they had mysteriously “misplaced” so they could conduct another recount. Fortunately they eventually found enough “misplaced” ballots to show her winning, so they stopped counting. Her opponent didn’t even bother to challenge any of the results, though it’s unclear whether that was caused by the standard (and foolish) Republican “above the fray” attitude or whether he figured the election was so corrupt that challenging it would be pointless.

    Bob Smith (281b12)

  22. The other issue in this thing is the fact that a third party candidate, Barkley, got over 15% of the vote. There was no majority. This should go to a runoff and the problem would be solved.

    MIke K (2cf494)

  23. Oops. Forgot the point. My point was that since doing what they did in WA held no repercussions at all, why shouldn’t the Democrats repeat it in MN? Simply having your candidate lose isn’t enough, until some Democrats, ACORN members, etc go to jail it won’t stop.

    Bob Smith (281b12)

  24. I continue to wonder if the US didn’t perhaps jump the shark — and enter into the realm of being the world’s largest Banana Republic — by placing Barack Obama in the White House. If so, such societies need their court jester, their emblematic buffoon, and Al Franken makes a perfect one.

    Mark (411533)

  25. This should go to a runoff and the problem would be solved.

    What ‘problem’? A democrat in the senate? I think as long as all ballots cast are counted then there isn’t really a problem, regardless of who wins.

    truthnjustice (c313be)

  26. “I continue to wonder if the US didn’t perhaps jump the shark — and enter into the realm of being the world’s largest Banana Republic — by placing Barack Obama in the White House.”

    So Mark, when are you going to Man Up and announce you’re leaving the country? At least Alec Baldwin paid lip service to the idea.

    Brad S (b5b919)

  27. think as long as all ballots cast are counted then there isn’t really a problem, regardless of who wins.

    Unless the guy wins because of “found” ballots.

    There comes a point where you say “ok, it’s been a over month, no more finding things in cars and offices”.

    Scott Jacobs (90ff96)

  28. Minnesota Conservatives: Keep your anger stoked! In 2010 we can get rid of ACORN BOY MARK RITCHIE – our joke of a Secretary of State. If Mary Kiffmeyer was still SOS, the fraudulent votes wouldn’t be counted, ACORN would be prosecuted, and Minnesota wouldn’t be the butt of nationwide jokes.

    mikecampbelly2k (ca260a)

  29. Hate to say it but Soronel Haetir is right: the fact that the results are this close reflects the stupidity of too many Minnesota voters. Maybe they do deserve to have someone who typifies the term “hateful leftist” representing them.

    Icy Texan (b7d162)

  30. On the one hand, I’m as appalled as you are at the prospect of Franken in the Senate. It is, or should be, a dignified institution occupied by serious men and women. Franken will debase it and make a fool of himself again and again.

    On the other, it will make the Democrats look like idiots. They’ll have to “distance” themselves from him again and again. Franken will become a lightning rod, and this will help the GOP.

    Considering both I’d rather have Coleman in the Senate.

    Tom the Redhunter (b0294b)

  31. What is it with Minnesota? A wrestler for governor and a comic for senator. Weird.

    jwarner (0a2a75)

  32. That would be “a joke” for senator.

    Icy Texan (b7d162)

  33. Unless the guy wins because of “found” ballots.

    Well, one could wonder how these ballots were ‘lost’ in the first place, especially if they were Franken votes. Sounds to me like somebody didn’t want them to be ‘found’ at all. Are we talking conspiracy?

    truthnjustice (d99227)

  34. Then again, there are other jokes ^^^ around.

    Icy Texan (b7d162)

  35. Or POS ^^^^

    truthnjustice (d99227)

  36. Now, did I use bad language around you? or spout a totally baseless conspiracy theory?

    I didn’t think so.

    Icy Texan (b7d162)

  37. IT, you know better than to feed the trolls.

    Another Drew (4dc1ef)

  38. The truth hurts, AD.

    truthnjustice (d99227)

  39. Can Coleman still challenge same day registations from election day at this point? In the Gregoire election I seem to recall they determined after the fact that fraudulent votes more than made up the margin of victory. Same day registtation is just asking for trouble, particularly with an active ACORN operation in the state.

    daleyrocks (5d22c0)

  40. The Democratic Tax Cheat Congressional caucus will need to find a larger meeting room.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  41. […] Troofer Governor Jesse Ventura, and now, evidently  Stuart Smalley. I know, criticism of this nature coming from a New Orleanian is […]

    What is it with Minnesota? : Pursuing Holiness (e6211d)

  42. Sounds to me like somebody didn’t want them to be ‘found’ at all. Are we talking conspiracy?

    Considering that it’s Franken supporters that keep “finding” them, I find it odd that somehoe the Coleman people were hiding them.

    Conspiracy? Possibly. Not the kind you’re thinking though. More like the kind Indiana saw during the Dem primaries…

    Scott Jacobs (90ff96)

  43. I have to agree with Tom the Redhunter. If anyone can bring down the Democrats in the Senate in 2010, despite the media’s selective reporting, it’s Al Franken.

    DWPittelli (7c499f)

  44. Of course it is, Scott. Why on earth would the democrats be up to anything good, and the GOP be responsible for anything sinister. Once again the universal good vs. evil debate has been placed in the ‘proper’ perspective.

    truthnjustice (d99227)

  45. So Mark, when are you going to Man Up and announce you’re leaving the country?

    As soon as you Man Up and present yourself in front of an audience of like – minded Republicans, and proceed to place your cranial cavity up your nether regions.

    Sound good?

    Dmac (e30284)

  46. “Personally, I have no problem with eliminating absentee ballots, but I am in the minority on that one.”

    A very popular opinion in times of war, I’m sure.

    “If you can’t fill out a ballot properly, it gets tossed out. No matter what. ”

    I was at a polling station where they brought machines out to cars for people who were old or couldn’t walk. Should that go on too? Or should they be disenfranchised as well?

    imdw (a60516)

  47. I thought I was lightly smacking the troll.

    Icy Texan (b7d162)

  48. Public Service Announcement – Please Don’t Feed the Troll.

    Dmac (e30284)

  49. Well, we could be originalists and restrict the franchise to property owners;
    plus, tax-payers?

    Another Drew (4dc1ef)

  50. Good old Dmac. Yeah, if you can’t beat ’em, ignore ’em.

    truthnjustice (d99227)

  51. That’s his take. I prefer to continue beating you.

    Icy Texan (b7d162)

  52. Hey, imdw:

    I don’t think your criticisms are wrong. What I want to do is reduce all the nonsensical voter fraud going on. I am happy to find compromises.

    How about this: absolutely NO registration in the last week before the election? And a requirement to show ID at the polling place?

    And felony charges with heavy sentences toward anyone participating in ANY form of voter fraud (which would mean putting lots of people in ACORN in prison).

    On the other hand, if the frauds and cheaters knocked it off, none of that would be necessary.

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  53. “Well, we could be originalists and restrict the franchise to property owners;
    plus, tax-payers?”

    Original to what, the 14th amendment, sec 2? Or the 24th?

    imdw (eb523c)

  54. I prefer to continue beating you.

    Icy, don’t you know it’s cruel to be mean to defenseless animals? Now stop poking that stick in it’s cage, it’s becoming gruesome at this point. Just ask PETA, they’ll tell you all about it.

    Dmac (e30284)

  55. PETA: “People for the Ethical Treatment of…”

    Jeez, what should the “A” stand for, in this context?

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  56. I only pay attention to PETA when they have cute young girls take their clothes off for “the cause”.

    Icy Texan (b7d162)

  57. Seriously, Icy, I knew a woman who was in PETA and protested a beauty pageant (they used animal fur trimmed outfits as part of the “competition”) by showing up dressed in strips of meat.

    I didn’t know if that was deeply creepy or hot. Probably both.

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  58. To timb:

    Yeah, we ALL get to vote, and some of us get to vote twice, three times even. Hell, I know people voting who are dead.

    As an aside: Why is showing ID and actually vetting out voters racist?

    Libs always bitch about how we need more transparency for the big evil corporations, but when it comes time for that in voting, oh no, can’t have that.

    eeevilconservative (fb7665)

  59. Vile and unhinged describes many Democrats. There was that wife of a Democrat office holder, for example, who said that a Congressman who was active duty military overseas was “working for George Bush” and not the people of his district. There are nuts on the right, but most of worst people actually in office are Democrats. Rangle, Jefferson, Pelosi and soon Franken? The most ethical congress ever, isn’t.

    tyree (04e8e0)

  60. Comment by imdw — 12/20/2008 @ 1:38 pm
    Well, originally, only male property owners had the franchise; in light of the subsequent Amendments to the Constitution, that would be extended to females (race is not a question here), though I think that as to the matter of property taxes, only property owners should have the franchise on any question that would raise their rates.
    If something is of such general concern, then pay for it out of the General Fund, and tax accordingly – the Sales Tax, for instance, and let all voters have a say on such a wide-spread tax.
    Plus, we have excused so many from the Income Tax roles, we have a case of the many, imposing a tax on the few – not exactly a fair representation of the concept of taxation with representation.

    But, back to the topic at hand: Voter Fraud.
    Many of the “reforms” that have been instituted recently, only contribute to the possibility of voter fraud and the stealing of elections.
    Same Day Registration = Fraud.
    Early Voting = Fraud
    Easy Absentee Voting = Fraud
    No ID to vote = Fraud
    As we have made it “easier” to vote (including the dropping of the age of majority to 18 from 21) we have seen a marked decline in the quality of the process, and of the body politic.
    Perhaps we should be making it more difficult to vote, so that voters will have more motivation in the completion of their civic responsibilities.
    It might help to make Election Day a National Holiday – close everything down. On Thursday coming, virtually all businesses will be closed, and we’ll survive. If we can survive 12/25, we could survive closing most everything down on Election Day too.
    The system needs to be improved before it becomes entirely meaningless!

    Another Drew (0403d0)

  61. AD, I like what you propose. It’s interesting to see how proposals like yours are portrayed as anti-democratic.

    The way that fraud has going on, they might indeed be anti-Democratic.

    Eric Blair (e906af)

  62. but when it comes time for that in voting, oh no, can’t have that.

    But when it comes to card check …

    JD (7f8e8c)

  63. “Well, originally, only male property owners had the franchise; in light of the subsequent Amendments to the Constitution, that would be extended to females (race is not a question here), though I think that as to the matter of property taxes, only property owners should have the franchise on any question that would raise their rates.”

    That seems silly. How far should it go? Should only workers vote on whether they lose a holiday? only drivers vote for new roads? Only non-drivers vote for new mass transit?

    But yes, originally there were a lot of problems, but now the constitution says:

    “The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.”

    Seems better to just have universal franchise. Only took us a few decades to realize that. Some haven’t yet.”Well, originally, only male property owners had the franchise; in light of the subsequent Amendments to the Constitution, that would be extended to females (race is not a question here), though I think that as to the matter of property taxes, only property owners should have the franchise on any question that would raise their rates.”

    That seems silly. How far should it go? Should only workers vote on whether they lose a holiday? only drivers vote for new roads? Only non-drivers vote for new mass transit?

    But yes, originally there were a lot of problems, but now the constitution says:

    “The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.”

    Seems better to just have universal franchise. Only took us a few decades to realize the wisdom of putting ideas like that in our constitution. Some haven’t yet.

    imdw (946260)


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