When Does Franken Get Seated?

Looks like the New Republic took this issue on recently. I doubt that Coleman serious thinks he can pull this out but the Republicans want to keep the margin for a filibuster proof (in theory) Senate from narrowing any further so round and round we go. Maybe if they get it to the Supremes in DC, they can still get a Bush v. Gore type decision. All hell would break loose then. :)

Hey Al, What the Hell Took You So Long!? - The New Republic - 01 Apr 09

"Minnesota is one of the only states in which a certificate of election isn't issued until any and all legal challenges to that election are dealt with. (For instance, although Mary Landrieu's election victory in Louisiana's 1996 U.S. Senate race was challenged in the state courts by her opponent, Louisiana still gave her an election certificate--which is what allowed Senate Dems to seat her provisionally, until her opponents legal challenge was resolved.) So, even though Minnesota's state canvassing board certified that Franken led Coleman by 225 votes on January 5, Coleman's legal challenge prevented Franken, under Minnesota election law, from actually getting an election certificate.

And with Senate Democrats at that very moment refusing to seat Burris because they said he lacked a valid certificate, there was no way, according to a senior Senate Democratic aide, that they could realistically try to seat Franken, who also lacked one, without Republicans filibustering, and not illegitimately. Hence the delay while we waited for Coleman to exhaust his legal challenges."

When Does Franken Get Seated?

Looks like the New Republic took this issue on recently. I doubt that Coleman serious thinks he can pull this out but the Republicans want to keep the margin for a filibuster proof (in theory) Senate from narrowing any further so round and round we go. Maybe if they get it to the Supremes in DC, they can still get a Bush v. Gore type decision. All hell would break loose then. :)

Hey Al, What the Hell Took You So Long!? - The New Republic - 01 Apr 09

"Minnesota is one of the only states in which a certificate of election isn't issued until any and all legal challenges to that election are dealt with. (For instance, although Mary Landrieu's election victory in Louisiana's 1996 U.S. Senate race was challenged in the state courts by her opponent, Louisiana still gave her an election certificate--which is what allowed Senate Dems to seat her provisionally, until her opponents legal challenge was resolved.) So, even though Minnesota's state canvassing board certified that Franken led Coleman by 225 votes on January 5, Coleman's legal challenge prevented Franken, under Minnesota election law, from actually getting an election certificate.

And with Senate Democrats at that very moment refusing to seat Burris because they said he lacked a valid certificate, there was no way, according to a senior Senate Democratic aide, that they could realistically try to seat Franken, who also lacked one, without Republicans filibustering, and not illegitimately. Hence the delay while we waited for Coleman to exhaust his legal challenges."

'Anti-Socialist' Medicine Propagandists Get Boost via Richardson's Death

I had a feeling that the corpse wouldn't be cool before they started up with this song. Sounded to me like the medical people did their thing but the patient or her entourage delayed treatment until it was too late. Reports have it that the first ambulance sent was turned away. Even funnier is that the reforms Obama is pushing have nothing to do with a "single payer" system like that of Canada's. For good or ill. Literally.

Star's Death Fuels U.S. Health Care Debate - National Post - 06 Apr 09

"The news of Natasha Richardson's skiing death had barely sunk in last month when U.S. pundits seized on the tragedy as evidence of an imminent danger facing all Americans.

Citing the nearly four hours it took the British actress to get specialized attention after her head injury at a Quebec ski resort, conservative commentators asked bluntly if Canada's 'nationalized' health care had killed the Broadway star. And more to the point, could the 'Canadian style' system supposedly touted by President Barack Obama bring the same to the United States?"

Richardson Ambulance 'Turned Away' - MSN Movies UK - 19 Mar 09

"An ambulance dispatched to treat actress Natasha Richardson in the immediate aftermath of her fatal ski accident was turned away, it has been reported. Yves Coderre, director of operations at the emergency services company Ambulances Radisson, told Canadian newspaper The Globe And Mail paramedics responding to the incident were first told that they were not needed."

'Anti-Socialist' Medicine Propagandists Get Boost via Richardson's Death

I had a feeling that the corpse wouldn't be cool before they started up with this song. Sounded to me like the medical people did their thing but the patient or her entourage delayed treatment until it was too late. Reports have it that the first ambulance sent was turned away. Even funnier is that the reforms Obama is pushing have nothing to do with a "single payer" system like that of Canada's. For good or ill. Literally.

Star's Death Fuels U.S. Health Care Debate - National Post - 06 Apr 09

"The news of Natasha Richardson's skiing death had barely sunk in last month when U.S. pundits seized on the tragedy as evidence of an imminent danger facing all Americans.

Citing the nearly four hours it took the British actress to get specialized attention after her head injury at a Quebec ski resort, conservative commentators asked bluntly if Canada's 'nationalized' health care had killed the Broadway star. And more to the point, could the 'Canadian style' system supposedly touted by President Barack Obama bring the same to the United States?"

Richardson Ambulance 'Turned Away' - MSN Movies UK - 19 Mar 09

"An ambulance dispatched to treat actress Natasha Richardson in the immediate aftermath of her fatal ski accident was turned away, it has been reported. Yves Coderre, director of operations at the emergency services company Ambulances Radisson, told Canadian newspaper The Globe And Mail paramedics responding to the incident were first told that they were not needed."