Kloppenburg Campaign Denies Recount Would be Frivolous

[highplainsdem]

Source: WTAQ.com

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - JoAnne Kloppenburg’s campaign disputes the notion that it would be frivolous for them to seek a statewide recount of the State Supreme Court ballots.

Monday, incumbent Justice David Prosser and his advisors said a recount would be unnecessary and too expensive for taxpayers. Prosser’s attorney James Troupis said they would take any steps to, “prevent this frivolous matter from going forward.”

-snip-

Campaign manager Melissa Mulliken said Prosser’s people would have a “hard case to make” that it would be frivolous to ask for a recount. She said the state law clearly expects recounts when the margin is within one-half-of-one-percent, like it is here. That’s the threshold in which taxpayers would pay for the recount instead of the candidate who requested it.

-snip-

Read more: http://wtaq.com/news/articles/2011/apr/19/kloppenburg-campaign-denies-recount-would-be-frivo/

[ananda]

1. So...

When does the recount start?

Will it be transparent and fair?

[xchrom]

2. Good. Nt

[LisaL]

3. She should request a recount ASAP, or the deadline will pass.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

15. Let's Encourage Her - here's her email address

[e-mail]

[SpiralHawk]

4. What's 'frivolous' is a Republicon US Senator prancing around in diapers for illicit sex

Asking for a recount, as in this case, is just plain old American democracy.

Let's keep our terms, um, straight, you Republicon Newspeak word distorters, you. Stop pretending you do not know frivolous when you see it. Free Clue: it will be wearing Republicon diapers.

[valerief]

6. Bwahahaha! You got that right!

:rofl:

[rbixby]

5. I guess the republican take is

'nothing to see here, move right along......even suggesting that there might be something wrong with this election means the terrorists have already won!'

[slackmaster]

7. Would her campaign be obligated to compensate the state for the cost of the recount, if she loses?

TIA for anyone who can answer that.

[highplainsdem]

10. No.

[slackmaster]

12. So if a recount were to go against her, she'd be open to some negative accusations

Maybe she should offer to pay, in the event it doesn't go her way.

[buddysmellgood]

13. No, that's not how the law works. It's in all our interest to see

that the election was fair. We all will pay.

[slackmaster]

14. I'm talking about politics, not the law

As in "Kloppenburg vindictively wasted $X of the taxpayers' money on a frivolous recount in 2011 after she lost an election. Now she wants your vote..."

[buddysmellgood]

16. You're buying into the rapublican framing.

[slackmaster]

20. So, do you sincerely believe she would win a recount or not?

Honest answer, please.

[buddysmellgood]

23. I think the only way to find out if there has been fraud is to recount by hand.

I don't know if she will win or not. I think it is unlikely. I think elections are important and we can afford to make sure the count is accurate no matter who wins.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

17. That's how they'll spin it - but WI thugs SUPPORTED statewide recount after Bush lost 2000 election

"With or without voter fraud, there's a slim enough margin that a recount could result in a change in the final margin." -Scott Walker, 11/12/2000

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x921577
http://uppitywis.org/blogarticle/when-bush-lost-wi-similar-margin-jklos-loss-walker-rest-gop-supp

[Demit]

19. now you're buying into having to be defensive against future Republican spin.

That's just where most of our Dems in Congress already are, thanks.

Somebody apparently posed this stupid question to the campaign manager, in order for it to be framed as a denial. Too bad she played right into it. What she should've done was fire back, "Why would you term it frivolous? Was Dino Rossi frivolous when he demanded a recount? Was Norm Coleman?" Republicans drag recounts out for 9 months if it suits them. I don't recall any reporter asking Norm Coleman if he was being frivolous.

[slackmaster]

21. That position would make more sense to me than setting one's self up to be hung out to dry

How about you, Demit - Do you believe she would have any real chance of winning a recount, or not?

[LanternWaste]

25. I imagine many people may believe it's about the ensuring the legitimacy of the process

I imagine many people may believe it's about the ensuring the legitimacy of the process rather than any one particular victor, regardless of preemptive political spins.

[Demit]

28. I don't know. But there were irregularities. And a recount could uncover worse.

At least it would shine a light on the questionable doings of maybe not-so-honest people. Let them know they're being watched.

At the very least, it shouldn't just be Republicans who demand their recounts, and Democrats who back away from them.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

22. Who's beng defensive?

Not I, and not the campaign manager. You might see it that way but it doesn't mean it is true.

[Doremus]

34. Exactly. Thank you. nt

[Broderick]

8. Let the recount begin!

[bhikkhu]

9. What's expensive is fraudulent elections

and thinking an election was fraudulent but never quite knowing for sure costs the whole country a lot more than money.

[slackmaster]

11. Every election in recent years has resulted in some people making accusations of fraud

My memory is imperfect, but I don't remember that always being the case.

[flamingdem]

18. Rec

[EFerrari]

24. Kick

[FiveGoodMen]

26. There's a slanted headline!

[senseandsensibility]

27. Any news on this?

I would imagine that she is being asked about this locally by many, many journalists. Isn't the deadline tomorrow?

[highplainsdem]

29. Yes, today's the deadline. But there's no news yet. I just checked Google News and her own site

again.

Her site is still asking for donations she'll need for the recount, though, and I hope that's a positive sign. I'd be very worried if that had changed.

[senseandsensibility]

30. Thanks for the update.

I'm sure you'll post as soon as you know anything. Just curious... why do you think she's letting this hang out there for so long right until the last minute?

[eowyn_of_rohan]

31. To drive them crazy?

To give her team more time? Because it is going to be a difficult announcement to make to her base? I wonder, too. And I hope it is either 1 or 2.

[senseandsensibility]

32. LOL

Hoping for one or two as well.

[highplainsdem]

33. Just checked Google News and her site and Facebook and Twitter pages again. Still no update. But

I'm still hoping that the fact her site continues to ask for donations means she is going to ask for the recount. Only about 4-1/2 hours left...

[mojowork_n]

35. YES, there will be a recount

Just googled it:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/afternoon-fix-kloppenburg-calls-for-recount-in-wisconsin/2011/04/20/AFNFttDE_blog.html