Just Because Norm’s Appeal Reeks Doesn’t Mean It’s Wrong

(Guest post from Joe Loveland)
Defending an extension of the ceaseless Minnesota Senate recount is about as popular as defending an extension of the sitcom Cavemen.
But count me in. I support Senator Coleman’s appeal questioning whether absentee ballots were judged by varying standards in the counties.
By the way, this is not to say [...]

Political Gymnastics

Senator Norm Coleman, in possession of a narrow electoral lead the day after Election Day, November 6, 2008:
“I would step back (from challenging election results). I just think the need for the healing process is so important.”
Former Senator Norm Coleman’s attorney, facing a narrow deficit after a recount, January 5, 2008: [...]

A Fresh Start for Al

A keen observation from Captain Obvious: Al Franken has an image problem.
During the campaign voters heard and read the recovering comedian using naughty words, brainstorming jokes about rape, and occasionally stretching the truth in relentless criticism of his opponent. And there is residual damage. Lots of it.
Well, New Years is [...]

Circumstantial Journalism

When a Republican CEO from another state alleges that a Minnesota Republican Senator has received $75,000 in laundered money from a supporter, that allegation is newsworthy. But when the alleged event happens to have occurred in the same time period when the Senator was investing in his home, that strikes me as [...]

The Importance of The Right Messenger

Most of the public relations around the U.S. Senate recount has come in the form of dueling flack attacks. The Franken campaign has been at least as over-the-top as the Coleman campaign, including its gratuitous mention in today’s recount briefing of the Kazeminy-Coleman FBI investigation. (Holy kitchen sink strategy, what does Kazeminy have [...]

You Be the Judge…

Kudos to the Star Tribune for giving us regular folks a peek at what a ballot challenge looks like. They have scanned all 2,633 challenged ballots and presented them in an easy-to-use, “You Make the Call” format. I reviewed 42 ballots and gave 18 to each Franken and Coleman and put six others [...]

Spinning, Out of Control

A few weeks ago, Senator Norm Coleman called for an end to attack ads, after benefiting from them for months. Yesterday, Senator Coleman called for an end to frivolous ballot challenges, after piling them up for days.

‘…in the spirit of the holidays, and to give respect to this process that it deserves, we ask [...]

Thanksgiving

A Coleman vote? A Coleman crossout? Nervous doodling while agonizing over a vexing Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner vote? Hebrew script for “the New York Jew?” A cerebrovascular event?
Only the State Canvassing Board knows for sure. Talk about your “ruminations and fulminations on communications.”
As bad as your [...]

Might As Well Jump

To survive the Republican primaries, Senator John McCain morphed from a moderate to a conservative. He adopted the central pillars of the Bush era – tax cuts for the wealthy, socially conservative Supreme Court justices and a long-term commitment to the Iraq War. As if that weren’t enough, McCain moved further to the right [...]

Deep-Sixing Deep Marine’s Accusations

If the accusation of Deep Marine Technology CEO Paul McKim that money was funneled from a supporter of Senator Norm Coleman to the Senator is false, Coleman might consider saying something like this:
“I am a public figure, so I understand people will take potshots at me and my family. I don’t like it, but [...]