GOP not playing "Minnesota nice" with Franken- Conason on how Repugs are trying to discredit recount

[jefferson_dem]

GOP not playing "Minnesota nice" with Franken
Republicans have flooded the airwaves with baseless propaganda to discredit the Coleman-Franken recount in advance.

By Joe Conason

Nov. 17, 2008 |

Rebuked and humiliated by American voters on Election Day, the right-wing noise machine continues to blare as loudly as ever, currently devoting special attention to the Minnesota Senate recount. From the Wall Street Journal editorial page to Fox News Channel, the message echoes the post-election strategy of incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman by discrediting the recount in advance. The National Republican Senatorial Committee issued a disgusting, McCarthy-style press release that sought to connect Mark Ritchie, the state official who will oversee the recount, with the Communist Party -- not exactly Minnesota nice.

Evidently Coleman and his allies fear that his notional lead of less than one-tenth of one percent will evaporate if all the votes are counted. The stakes are high, of course (although perhaps not quite as high as conventional wisdom insists). That is why the barrage of propaganda about the aftermath of the Minnesota race has intensified and expanded far beyond its borders.

Coleman's opponent Al Franken, the writer, comedian and former radio personality also happens to be a friend of mine. So readers should take that acknowledgment into account as they assess the facts and views presented here. Certainly I don't see any reason to stand by and let the likes of Sean Hannity bulldoze Franken and the voters of Minnesota when my perspective is no more slanted than theirs.

As soon as the initial election results came in, showing that the race would be close enough to trigger the automatic recount mandated by Minnesota law, Coleman began campaigning to stop that normal and fair process. He claimed to be concerned about the cost of the recount and publicly asked Franken to "let the healing begin" by waiving the recount and conceding the election.

The recount has yet to begin, but the ordinary post-election precinct canvassing has already reduced Coleman's putative lead from more than 700 votes on Election Night to 206 votes as of yesterday. It remains to be seen whether Coleman will follow his own advice should Franken take the lead when the canvass is complete -- or whether his worries about healing and expenses were pure smarm.

<SNIP>

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2008/11/17/franken/print.html

[PBS Poll-435]

1. Hand Recounts are prone to "mischief" - Marc Racicot - November 2000

[elocs]

3. As Stalin said:

"Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything."

Without adequate safeguards, that is or may be true.

[Festivito]

5. Watched mischief is preferable to unseeable mischief.

Nobody gets to see the programmer at his work. Many get to watch a hand recount.

[bleever]

13. Racicot was the face of "despicable".

I'm glad I haven't had to look at it recently.

[babylonsister]

2. I love Conason, Franken's hitting the Senate this week, and I'm

hoping we're almost at the end of the rethug hot air.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4474700

Isn't there some kind of suit pending for Coleman regarding contributions?

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Of course the repukes would know all the dirty tricks that can be pulled. They have used every one

of them in the past 8 years...and even before that..

[Dinger]

6. Not This Time pukes!

Not this fucking time.

[Dinger]

7. Be Careful On Small Planes Al

God forbid . . .

[camera obscura]

8. Franken can take it. You don't fuck with a guy who's spent eight years documenting Rove's tactics.

He knows all about what Gore did wrong in 2000 and it won't happen again.

[desktop]

9. It's as if they know if it is a legitimate recount, they will lose, ....Huh

Wonder why they would think that or maybe they know that. How could that be?

[w4rma]

15. That is exactly the situation. They know that a legitimate recount will result in a GOP loss.

So, they will whine and complain about fairly counting any votes. They will keep putting out lies and propaganda, because their philosophy and agenda are corrupt.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

16. Poorer-maintained optical scanners miss higher percentages of votes. First-time

viters are less likely to fill in the oval for their candidate completely.

And the Rs know in which precincts such conditions are more likely. They even saw to it that there is no statewide maintenance contract for the optical scanners.

IMO, this is why virtually NO Republican ever wants a recount, anywhere, anytime.

[MadMaddie]

10. The repugs are desperate....they have all but lost Alaska....

GA is still in the running for them to lose...

MN is all they have left. The more they attack Franken the more they will lose suppporters.....

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

11. Shitheel Norm will not steal this

Minnesota has a squeaky-clean recount mechanism and honest judges recommended by a commission, not party hacks. And a Democratic SoS to make damn sure that no Repuke tricks will have any effect.

[backscatter712]

12. I see four steps...

1. Recount takes place. Franken wins (at least the odds are in our favor if 538.com has its math right.)
2. Rethugs cry foul, start screeching like the Skeksis.
3. We tell them "You lost! Get over it!"
4. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Any questions?

[bleever]

14. One more step:

They cry foul, and all the votes and tallies are made part of the public record.

[PBS Poll-435]

18. On your number 4....

Can we repeat if necessary?

[cooolandrew]

17. Franken needs funds to counter the smear and volunteers. Let's help our guy out.