Minnesota Court Tosses Faulty Coleman Evidence

The three-judge panel hearing Norm Coleman's election contest threw out the former senator's faulty photocopies of rejected absentee ballots, ordering him to resubmit originals only. The decision came after a Coleman witness nervously admitted under oath the photocopies differed from the originals by obstructing the legal reasons for rejection.

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Op-ed: Strip Governors of the Power to Appoint Senators

Let's strip governors of the power to fill empty Senate seats in all but limited circumstances, and let voters fill them. Ill. Gov. Blagojevich stands accused of trying to sell a Senate seat. In NY, Caroline Kennedy may be appointed for celebrity alone. Governors have appointed relatives and themselves. It's time to end this flawed process.

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Caroline Kennedy to seek Clinton's Senate seat

ALBANY, N.Y – A person close to the discussions says Caroline Kennedy will seek the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton.
Kennedy has told Democratic Gov. David Paterson she wants the job should Clinton be confirmed as secretary of state for President-elect Barack Obama.

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GOP Senators 'not acting as Americans' - Michigan governor

I thought dissent is the highest form of patriotism...
Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm expresses her feelings about the Republican Senators who opposed the Detroit bailout. Granholm explains, "They are not acting as Americans. They are acting with their parochial interests, and I think it is astonishing."



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Senate Dems 'insist' Blagojevich resign

From NBC’s Ken Strickland
In a letter being circulated for signatures among Senate Democrats, the members "insist" that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich resign from his post, "and under no circumstance make an appointment to fill the vacant Illinois Senate seat."

In light of his arrest, the letter, written by Democratic leaders, states: "Any appointment by you would raise serious questions."

While citing the Illinois legislature's authority to strip the governor of his appointment power by having a special election, the leadership feels his resignation would be the fastest way for a new senator to be chosen.

If Blagojevich refused to resign and appoints a new senator, the letter makes it explicitly clear that the Senate will have the final word on any appointment:

"Please understand that should you decide to ignore the request of the Senate Democratic Caucus and make an appointment, we would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority under Article I, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated."

At the end of the letter if reads, "We do not prejudge the outcome of the criminal charges against you... But for the good of the Senate and our nation, we implore you refrain from making an appointment to the Senate."

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Actress Fran Drescher wants Hillary's Senate seat

The star of "The Nanny" wants to go from playing nasally New Yawkers to succeeding Hillary Rodham Clinton in the U.S. Senate.
Publicist Jordan Brown delivered the straight line that Fran Drescher is serious about becoming the next junior senator from New York. Brown cited Drescher's experience as an actress, advocate for women's health and

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Obama and IL Gov. Blagojevich Clashed over Demand for Bribe

Obama and Blagojevich clashed over whether to appoint senior Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to replace him in the Senate. Obama’s advisers declined to give in to Blagojevich’s demands, prompting angry outbursts from the governor. In a conversation intercepted by federal agents, Blagojevich calls Obama a “motherf--ker” and says of Obama: “f—k him.”

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Rahm Emanuel may have ‘tipped’ off feds about Blagojevich

Marcy Wheeler catches local Chicago press reporting that Rahm Emanuel may have tipped off federal investigators that Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) was engaging in corrupt acts. Jack Conaty, a Chicago reporter for the local Fox affiliate, said on-air that Rahm Emanuel might have been responsible for causing federal investigators to act quickly to apprehend Blagojevich this morning:

CONATY: We did receive a tip this morning that perhaps all of this came together so quickly because the Governor may have reached out to Rahm Emanuel, the president-elect’s chief of staff, in attempting to leverage filling the Senate seat. And it may have been Rahm Emanuel who tipped the scale and made this move as quickly as it did.

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Feds: Ill. gov tried to 'auction' Obama's seat

CHICAGO - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich embarked on "political corruption crime spree" and tried to benefit from his ability to appoint President-elect Barack Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate, federal officials said Tuesday.
At a news conference in Chicago on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called it a sad day for the citizens of Illinois and alleged that the governor tried to "auction off" the Senate seat "to the highest bidder".
He said the alleged behavior "would make (Abe) Lincoln roll over in his grave".



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Facebook Page: Caroline Kennedy for the US Senate

A grassroots effort to let New York State Governor David Paterson know that we'd like to see Caroline Kennedy for the soon to be vacant U.S. Senate seat.

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RFK Jr: Caroline the "perfect choice" for NY Senate seat

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. withdrew his name this morning for consideration for the U.S. Senate seat in New York saying his cousin Caroline would be a perfect fit for the position.

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Caroline Kennedy for Potential Vacant U.S. Senate Seat in NY

In New York speculation is beginning on who would fill Hillary Clinton's Senate seat if it should become vacant. The name at the top of the list is Caroline Kennedy.

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Al Franken as Senator?

sounds good to me. I wonder how the people of Minnesota will feel...

MINNEAPOLIS - Comedian Al Franken said Wednesday he will run for U.S. Senate in 2008, confirming his long-suspected plans to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Norm Coleman.

Franken’s announcement came on the final day of his radio show on Air America. The former “Saturday Night Live” performer’s celebrity instantly makes him a heavyweight contender and brings national attention to the Minnesota race.

“Minnesotans have a right to be skeptical about whether I’m ready for this challenge, and to wonder how seriously I would take the responsibility that I’m asking you to give me,” Franken said in a video clip posted on his Web site.

“I want you to know: nothing means more to me than making government work better for the working families of this state, and over the next 20 months I look forward to proving to you that I take these issues seriously,” Franken said in a transcript of the clip.

Source: Al Franken jumps into Senate race - Politics - MSNBC.com

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