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Pawlenty might deny Franken's certificate?
A blog item in the local independent newspaper City Pages hints that Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) might deny a certificate to Franken:
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2009/04/coleman_appeal.php
IANAL but this is not OK. The earlier court ruling, and state law, say "all state challenges". If Pawlenty thinks he can over-rule judges, Franken can sue him and he is liable to criminal penalties as well. That will look really good, to throw a (state) constitutional crisis on top of the budget showdown. Minnesota's legislature must adjourn by mid-May; which is about when things will get hot. I can see it now:
- April 23rd: Coleman files appeal at nearly last moment.
- April 24th: Franken's attorneys file rebuttal.
- April 30: Arguments before court. Things look bad for Coleman as Ginsberg is held in comtempt for his 3rd attempt to bring in an argument not previously heard: that Coleman is in fact a "Lizard people" and should have gotten that write-in vote.
- May 1, 3:30 PM: MN court says "Coleman appeal denied, Franken lawfully elected"
- May 1, 3:45 PM: MN's Secretary of State Mark Ritchie (D) immediately sends an election certificate to Gov. Pawlenty. Pawlenty sits on it.
- May 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8: Coleman "still contemplating" Federal court challenge. Pawlenty still stalling.
- May 15: Franken's attorney reminds Pawlenty that he has 15 days to issue the certificate of election, expiring tomorrow.
- May 16: Pawlenty still "studying the decision"
- May 17: Franken & Ritchie announce they will file suit against Pawlenty to force issuance of certificate.
- May 18: Coleman files Federal appeal in Minneapolis district court.
- May 18: Pawlenty refuses to sign, citing Coleman's appeal.
- May 18: Mandated date for state legislature's adjournment. "Legislature may not meet in regular session after the first Monday following the third Saturday in May of any year"
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Is the MN supreme court allowed to deny Coleman's appeal?
April 15, 2009 7:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, "Rule against" might be a better phrase. I'm assuming they will hear it on a speedy and sane basis, ruling against Coleman and ordering issuance of the certificate of election.
"Dismissed with prejudice" is the initial court's ruling, not quite "terminate with extreme prejudice".
Oh, and somebody ought to repossess those teeth.
April 15, 2009 8:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Relax.
Coleman will drag this out to the federal court level no matter what the state courts decide. It is mandated and supported by the GOP to delay that ugly # 59.
Sit back and enjoy the fray instead of letting it eat your guts up.
Let The Rude One[ http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html ] ease the pain this frying pan faced jerk has blessed us with (scroll down to Lee’s post on 3/9/09) “Photos That Make the Rude Pundit Want to Snort Lutefisk”.
April 15, 2009 11:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is like Gollum at the end of the Lord of the Rings. The Republicans are so focused on the prize, they will fall of the cliff into the primordial soup never to have power again. This whole thing is getting really irritating for nayone who has grasped the slightest concept of democracy. Everyone knows who won and this minority is holding the duly-elected Senator from the State of Minnesota hostage. No one actually believes Coleman can prevail, so it's purely a delaying tactic depriving their state of two voices in the Senate. Deplorable, self-centered, arrogant, grandstanding.
This is how this country's grand experiment may end, with Republicans so convinced they deserve power, they would destroy the nation rather then have any other party in charge.
April 16, 2009 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, they did this before in the 90's when they went on the fishing expedition against President Clinton.
Personally I believe that attempted coup, started by Newt Gingrich, changed the way politics is played in America. Why is Gingrich still on my teevee???
April 16, 2009 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gingrich is on your TV because you are watching the wrong channels, which include any network or cable news program, exception being broadcasts of Obama speeches or press conferences.
April 16, 2009 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Acorn could be behind the fraudulent election of Franken too. Let's hope Norm ties this up in court forever rather than the Soros boys pulling their coup d'etats.
May 6, 2009 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink