If the Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA) ever had any actual legitimacy, self-respect, or credibility as a professional organization — and I think they used to have all three — they have now, officially, thrown any last pretense of any of that down the drain, and have come out of the closet as hard-right, conspiracy theory-based, propagandist loons.
On the day that presumptive Senator-elect Al Franken (D) won a huge victory during former Senator Norm Coleman’s (R) election contest in Minnesota, the RNLA issued an hysterical email with the subject line: “Al Franken Loses Legal Battle, He Is Very Desperate.”
See below for the embarrassing email that the once-respectable-now-whack-job RNLA sent out via their equally looney-toons “media arm” partners at HumanEvents.com this past week, in hopes of raising funds to “Stop Al Franken From Stealing The Election”…
Note: There’s too much absurdest, moonbat, fringe, conspiracy-theory silliness in this fund-raising, Jedi Mind Trick missive to correct all of the nonsense here, point-by-point. But suffice it to say, by way of example, the “major setback in the courts” they refer to as a “major blow” for Al Franken in his “desperate…efforts to steal a seat in the United States Senate,” is actually the court’s decision to toss out thousands of ballots from consideration in the trial, which Coleman had originally wanted to be counted. The ruling narrowed Coleman’s pool of 11,000 previously rejected absentee ballots that he wanted counted (many of them, btw, he had objected to counting during the post-election hand-count) to just under 4,800. That suffices as “good news” for Coleman, and a “major setback” for Frankenfor the RNLA fantasists.
Moreover, the high-larious email below was also sent on the same day as the bi-partisan 3-judge panel presiding over Coleman’s election contest, further culled the ballots in consideration by another 2,000 or so, because they determined — against Coleman’s wishes — that, according to their ruling [PDF] only ballots that were “legally cast” could be considered for possible counting.
It’s also worth noting here that the RNLA is the outfit that Karl Rove was speaking to in 2006 when he famously declared, without a hint of irony, that “We are, in some parts of the country…beginning to look like we have elections like those run in countries where the guys in charge are, you know, colonels in mirrored sunglasses.” He went on to thank the RNLA for their “work on clean elections” in 2002 and 2004 and for “ensur[ing] that…the integrity of the ballot is protected, because it’s important to our democracy” before listing most of the states where the Bush Administration would soon purge their own Republican U.S. Attorneys for, among other things, failing to bring phony indictments against Democrats for “voter fraud.” (More excerpts here.)
While we offered the opportunity for MN’s Sec. of State Mark Ritchie to respond to the RNLA’s fund-raising letter, he wisely declined.
Here’s RNLA’s crazy letter, as sent on Friday by Human Events. Enjoy.
From: Human Events [mailto:HumanEvents@HumanEventsOnline.com] Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 2:08 PM
To: [redacted for privacy] Subject: Al Franken Loses Legal Battle, He Is Very Desperate
Below please find a special message from one of our advertisers, National Republican Lawyers Association. From time to time, we receive opportunities we believe you as a valued customer may want to know about. Please note that the following message does not necessarily reflect the editorial positions of Human Events.
Al Franken Loses Major Legal Battle.
He’s In Trouble, Worried, and Can’t Be Seated
You Can Help.
Dear Friend:
Al Franken would have you believe he is already the U.S. Senator from Minnesota.
But I have some good news. He has suffered a major setback in the courts and with your help he may never get seated.
And now, the vile liberal comedian is getting desperate in his race with Republican Senator Norm Coleman.
He is desperate thanks to the efforts of the Republican National Lawyers Association (the RNLA) and others.
We have been able to fight Al Franken’s efforts to steal a seat in the United States Senate.
Just this past Tuesday the Election Contest Court dealt Al Franken a major blow.
This special Minnesota court ruled in favor of Norm Coleman’s request to review almost 4800 Absentee ballots that Franken and his Democrat ally, Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, blocked from counting in the sham “recount”.
As you may know, Ritchie has been backed by far left billionaire George Soros and groups like ACORN.
Harry Reid still wants to seat Al Franken in the Senate now, before all votes have been counted in Minnesota.
Many Republican Senators have angrily denounced the efforts of Democrats to force Franken in the Senate before Minnesota’s finishes its election contest.
We have no doubt that Franken and Reid will try to ignore the will of the people and the Courts.
That’s why our job is so important.The Republican National Lawyers Association — the RNLA — will keep fighting for Minnesota law to be respected and to keep Reid from seating Franken before the election is over.
You can help us in this critical cause — Donate now — Go Here Now.
Franken is so contemptuous of the legal process and voters in Minnesota, he has now gone to the Minnesota Supreme Court to ask that Minnesota law be ignored and he be seated in the Senate now.
Franken fears if the truth comes out and all the legal votes are only counted once — he will lose.
He knows the truth is not on his side.
He knows that the Republican National Lawyer’s Association is fighting him every step of the way. In fact, his allies in the Democratic Party in filed a frivolous complaint with the FEC to silence us.
The arrogance of Franken and his liberal friends is beyond belief.
Harry Reid is so desperate to seat Franken. Reid said: “”There’s not a question in anyone’s mind, an assertion by anyone, that there’s been any fraud or wrongdoing in this election.”
And he also claimed, without the election recount being completed, “Norm Coleman will never ever serve [again] in the Senate.”
But the truth — and votes — are against Reid and Franken.
Every newspaper in Minnesota has demanded the Election Contest be allowed to finish, which Franken does not want. Franken’s lawyer, Mark Elias, even said that the Senate should seat Franken now and would not have to remove him if Coleman WINS the contest.
Elias said the Senate can do whatever it wants. He said, “They can declare me the next senator for the state of Minnesota.” That is why it is critical to Franken he be seated now, so he cannot be removed for months and maybe forever.
The Republican National Lawyers Association is here to say “not so fast.”
The election is not finished until all legal ballots are counted. Even Democratic election officials have stated during the trial that votes have been “wrongly excluded” and it “is absolutely correct” that people have been disenfranchised.
We need to continue our fight. We need to advocate for a fair election in Minnesota until only the true winner of the Election Contest is seated.
Help us now — Go Here Now.
The RNLA is the leading Republican group fighting vote fraud in the United States. The Wall Street Journal has stated if it wasn’t for us in 2004, John Kerry likely would have won the presidency.
RNLA is the leader in fighting against ACORN’S fraudulent election activities and for open, fair and honest elections.
Fox News analyst Dick Morris has stated we are leading the fight for a fair election in Minnesota.
And Morris has noted what’s at stake. If Franken wins the Democrats get one vote closer to total control of the U.S. Senate and will be able to pass any radical legislation — including the Democrats massive spending plan that is currently masquerading as a “stimulus” bill.
Please help us continue our fight today — Go Here Now.
Sincerely,
Michael Thielen
Executive Director
RNLAP.S. On Election Night Coleman was up by 725 votes and was also winning after the canvassing. Now Franken claims a lead — but even Democratic election officials admitted at trial the recount was incomplete and not competently conducted. More than ever Harry Reid needs to short-circuit the Minnesota Election process and seat Franken now. With your help RNLA will remain vigilant to ensure it is the legal voters of Minnesota and not the corrupt or incompetent election officials that will determine who is the next Senator. Please help us today. Go Here Now.
UNSUBSCRIBE: >From time to time we find special opportunities we believe you as a valued customer may want to see. This email was sent to [redacted for privacy] because you are subscribed to Eagle Publishing’s Carefully Selected Offers from 3rd Parties email list. Click here to update your email preferences or unsubscribe. Please do not attempt to respond to this message as your reply will route to an unattended email box. If you have questions, please send them to CustomerService@HumanEventsOnline.com.
For actual facts on the Coleman/Franken U.S. Senate Election Contest in MN, please see The BRAD BLOG’s recent previous coverage here:
• Court Excludes ‘Huge Number’ of Ballots from Consideration
• Court Awards 24 More Votes to Franken
• God Wants Coleman, Says Coleman!
• The New ‘Ballot Universe’ as Week 2 Ends
• Week 2 Begins with Speculation
• ‘Slow Motion Comedy’ on Days 4 & 5
Check out this list of articles to see just how r’s use their idea of election integrity:
https://bradblog.com/?cat=2
I’ve been saying for years how liers, theives and criminals stay a step ahead of reality is by accusing the opposition of exactly what they are doing, its called PROJECTION. Once the waters are muddied, just let the propagandized media take over public perception. The above email…classic example!
Ancient 1, you are so right. But it is all about money. The GOP is bankrupt on so many levels I can barely begin to count them. Intellectually: the smart ideologues aren’t there anymore; ethically, well look at this letter; and financially.
I loves Brad’s comment: “There’s too much absurdest, moonbat, fringe, conspiracy-theory silliness in this fund-raising, Jedi Mind Trick missive to correct all of the nonsense here, point-by-point.”
I watched the Stimulus Package rhetoric from the GOP, and I was astounded at the illogic of their argument. My favorite was “make work does not make jobs?” Huh? Huge areas and tens of thousands of people in the Northeast have not had power for weeks because the infrastructure fell down in ice and wind storms. No wonder Obama has a favorable rating of over 60%.
The GOP is fighting for its life. The lies they used so well for 20 years are worn out, and the Franken-Coleman battle is their last stand.
Yup 72Dawg, but I would say the past 40+ years of both parties bussiness as usual is making their last stand. Hoping O does the right thing, still. But, it ain’t gonna get done in 100 days, that’s alot of every kind of pollution to clean up! 🙂
Hey Brad/99, where are my comments going?
[ed note: It’s the spam filter gland acting up again. It has moods. Plus it seems to object to rapid strings of comments from one source, too many typos and, honestly, I think has nightmares about IP ranges, floating anxiety. I thought it was just us, but it seems to be happening at other blogs with this software. So we just need to be patient, I guess. –99]
I was just pointing out to 72Dawg that it’s really both parties for at least 40+ years.
Ancient – Are they not appearing? If they are, I don’t know why, but will try to look into it…
[ed note: This random comment eating by the spam filter seems to be happening at lots of WordPress sites. So it might not even be your fault for once… 😛 –99]
Republicans Lose Many Major Elections, They Are Very Desperate.
Having gotten used to being the thugs in charge, the Giant Obstruction Party grows more insane and divorced from reality every day. They now tell lies continuously even when they know that their approval rating is at an all time low. They appear to be on a course of total self destruction.
Keep up the good work you lying fascist elitists.
Why did republicans vote against the largest middle class tax cuts in history?
Why did republicans vote against providing improved benefits for U.S. military families?
Why did republicans vote against public school construction?
Why did republicans vote against public education funding to keep teachers from being laid off?
Why do republicans hate public education?
Do all republican children attend private schools?
Why do republicans hate the families of our troops serving this country?
Why do republicans hate this country and its citizens now that there is a Democratic President?
These questions should be asked of every republican candidate in 2010 and 2012 elections.
Where were these hysterical Republicans when the Supreme Court was busy stopping the vote-count in 2000..in Florida…then that same Supreme Court who is not supposed to over-rule (unprecedented!) the Florida Supreme Court…did..and handed Bush the election…(still think that Scalia should be impeached for that!)..only to find out some months later..(after it didn’t matter any more) that Al Gore actually won in Florida and was the real President…Yes… I am still bitter
Well no gatekeepin going on here. 🙂 Thanks yuz. Spam filter eh?
Where were they? In fact, the RNLA was leading the fight to NOT count all of those legal ballots in the state of FL.
But things changed, I guess. Now they want to count all ballots in MN, even those that were illegally cast!
Okay, taking bets me or the filter? 🙂
A VALENTINE’S DAY-INSPIRED POEM
With teeth gnashing,
the wounded GOP animal falls.
Aerial huntress Sarah Palin
fired the fatal shot.
Sickly sweet head in the clouds,
her appeals inspired by Cupid.
Nonetheless she’s revealed to all,
the shameless GOP’s also damned stupid.
– Tom
Hey Brad, exactly right!
An right on TomR!
SillyGit and Chabuka too!
OT
Whooa, looks like V-day has many meanings in this world: 🙁
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Los-Angeles-Vagina-Monolo-by-Meryl-Ann-Butler-090215-342.html
I doubt all the rest behave the same:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7891132.stm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcBV-cXVWFw
What’s going on in the endless battle by Coleman is as much about delaying Franken’s ascent to the Senate as anything else. They will fight as long as possible to deny the Democrats a crucial vote that the Democrats will need to defeat a filibuster for as long as possible. This fund-raising letter is all about providing the life-blood they need to appeal this until the cows come home.
Thus, it makes no difference whether it is true or not just so long as it hits all the necessary buttons to trigger the slobbering, knee-jerk, Pavlovian response they want; more money. The hicks and yahoos they’re mailing this well-designed rant to don’t have a clue anyway. They’re all set up and ready by the constant propaganda they listen to daily from the reicht-wing echo chamber (megadittos, Rush; you’re a great American, Shawn).
I’ll state up front that I have nothing but memory to go on, no links to the appropriate video or anything but I’m going to pass this on for what it’s worth:
While watching some pundit interview one of the usual political analysts (while I skimmed my regular blogs) the question was posed (to the effect) ‘Why, with nothing to offer except more ‘trickle down’ would Republicans, many of them in States that need job stimulus, vote against this (stimulus) bill? The response was ‘These guys are scared that in two years someone even farther right than they are will challenge them for selling out their base with a ‘yes’ vote and put their re-election in jeopardy.’
That struck me as a deeply frightening concept, if true. The Republican base is now down to the 26% of the most Conservative, reactionary percent of the political spectrum including the fundamentalist religious fringe voters. I always assumed they were afraid someone more moderate from the right would be their most feared challenger.
The thought (if correct) that the current crop of Republicans are the more liberal public face of their base and they’re running from even more conservative challengers and voters is astonishing to me. Just what kind of deluded monsters are we dealing with?
Maybe it’s because it’s so late, the weight of that exchange (not verbatim but correct in flavor and tone) just hit me a short while ago and I still don’t have a handle on it is clouding my thoughts but I’m getting goose bumps just thinking that 1 in 4 voters are that … insane.
A letter like the one above makes perfect sense if the people writing it or the audience it’s meant for is insane to the point of being entirely delusional. You can’t deal with people that delusional (I’ve know a few clinically not-sane people) you just have to marginalize them and move on. 2010 is the real battle for the sole of America.
2010 is the real battle for the sole of America.
That typo is also a seriously irresistible pun.
It’s not entirely inaccurate to call it a victory for Coleman. The pool of 11,000 was all of the rejected absentee ballots in the state. The court reduced that to the 4,800 that Coleman had specified as contesting earlier in the process. The problem is that those 4,800 were cherry-picked from Coleman-friendly regions. This is from the Minneapolis StarTribune:
In legal pleadings, Coleman has cited roughly 5,000 ballots rejected by local elections officials. Many are from Republican-leaning suburbs in Hennepin and Ramsey counties … More than 80 percent of the remaining 2,900 rejected absentee ballots challenged by Coleman come from counties he won in November. Of those, nearly 1,100 are from counties he won by more than 10 percent. The biggest single number is from Carver County, which Coleman carried by 25.8 percentage points — his largest margin in the state.
In Senate recount, suddenly geography is crucial
If counting these absentee ballots puts Coleman ahead, Franken will be compelled to go through the rest of the state to find similarly rejected absentee ballots from regions that were more favorable to him. That challenge would need to be pursued in a separate lawsuit, since this is Coleman’s suit that’s no being processed.
That said, the math still doesn’t work well for Coleman, so it’s likely that even his cherry-picked regions won’t make up the gap for him.
Another thought comes to mind; the deep well of Republican Dollars is turning up a dry hole. They need some of the “little people’s” dwindling supply to keep the army of lawyers working for Coleman.
LottaKatz said “deluded monsters.”
Exactly, and I am just as terrified as you are. Keep spreading the word.
’99 … 2010 is the real battle for the sole of America.
That typo is also a seriously irresistible pun’
Did I mention that I can’t seem to type and spell correctly at the same time? 😉
As Maddening as the delay in seating Franken (I presume) is I think that this is a good thing. I hope this happens across the board in 2010. Seeing Congress hampered in their duties because there are elections in contest might just motivate then to get rid of the Help America Vote Act and mandate something simple and effective like paper and pencils and immediate precinct-level counts.
my goodness, there certainly are a lot of “now”s in that fundraising letter.