Category: Norm Coleman

by Dave Mindeman

The 3 judges overseeing the US Senate election contest are some tough cookies. Frankly, their ruling took Coleman and pummeled him like a punching bag.

The Judges came out swinging:

Contestants' counsel argued that the Court should presume a voter is registered without evidence to the contrary, that a witness with a Minnesota address is properly registered, that a voter with an absentee ballot completed an absentee ballot application, and that the voter's signature is genuine. However, when the counties or a party places an absentee ballot in issue and that ballot has been carefully reviewed but continues to lack legally sufficiency, the Court can make no such presumption.

Ouch...a left jab to the head.

"Furthur, Contestants' presumptions are not reasonable in light of the small number of absentee ballots at issue in this election contest and the fact that these absentee ballots have already been carefully reviewed as many as three times by state and local election officials.

Oomph...a right cross to the jaw.

An unregistered voter may not cast a ballot even if the voter's failure to register to vote is the result of election official errors or omissions regarding registration.

Ooooo...a direct blow to the breadbasket.

The court isn't buying the arguments. The universe of absentee ballots yet to be counted has been narrowed to 400.

And 50% of them come from St. Louis, Ramsey, and Hennepin counties.

Coleman is teetering.



We may be on the verge of a technical knockout.

Category: GOP Politics

by Dave Mindeman

Today's hyperbolic political statements can certainly breach any political "levee" as it were, but it would be nice if you could rely on at least a few of the numbers bandied about to be at least close to accurate.

Now, I realize that Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem probably has to shout pretty long and hard to get any attention at the Capitol... after all his caucus is often somewhat irrelevant in a veto proof DFL Senate majority. But, when Michael Brodkorb has to admit that you have exceeded the outrageous, then maybe its time to reign it in.

Senjem, according to the Political Animal (Pioneer Press) blog has on 3 different occasions rendered the cost of a special session to be $500,000 per day. Wow. Thats $3.5 million each and every week. Certainly gets your attention doesn't it?

As pointed out by Rachel Stassen-Berger, Sen. Senjem has used that same figure in statements on January 9 -- March 2nd -- and March 27th. So, you would think that the Senator must have found that number in some statistical analysis somewhere....or in a legislative report, maybe? He couldn't be making it up...could he?

Ah...yes he could.

Michael Brodkorb, Communications Director for the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus, said after last Friday's press availability that the minority leader was mistaken. According to legislative researchers, the per day cost of special session is closer to $40,000 a day, if per diem, mileage and staff costs are included, he said. Brodkorb quite adamantly said he hadn't heard Senjem use the $500,000 figure before last Friday.

Gosh.. $40,000 vs. $500,000....hmmm...ballpark?

When Michael Brodkorb is the voice of reason??...boy, then you have a real problem.

Category: Society

by Dave Mindeman

mnpACT! is pleased to announce that on April 17th, the mnpACT! speaker series will begin again. And we are excited to have, as our guest, former Tribune columnist....

NICK COLEMAN

Mr. Coleman will be talking about a variety of topics and it is sure to be a very entertaining evening.

Mark your calendars:

April 17th, 2009 (7pm)

At: Open Circle Church
2400 Highland Dr
Burnsville, MN

For Questions or Information call Roxanne at (952) 891-1862