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Alaska Republican Joe Miller is asking a federal judge to lift an order that blocked the state from certifying Lisa Murkowski as the winner of the state's U.S. Senate election. But, at the same time, Miller urges the judge to let him continue challenging the method that was used to count write-in ballots.
A federal judge had set a deadline of 9 am Monday, Alaska time, for filing legal papers to keep the lawsuit alive. "With the election results certified, and Alaska's full congressional delegation representing the interests of Alaska's citizens in Congress, it will not be necessary to dispose of this case in an extremely expedited manner," Miller's lawyers said in court documents filed shortly before the deadline.
They asked the judge to suspend the deadline for Miller to seek a recount or to challenge the manner in which the votes were tallied.
Miller originally went to federal court a week after the general election, claiming the state was improperly counting write-in votes for Murkowski. The federal lawsuit was on hold while Miller and elections officials battled in state court over the meaning of a provision of Alaska election law. It specifies that a write-in vote must be counted if the name of the candidate is written as it appears on the candidate's declaration to run.
Miller argued that the law requires voters to write a candidate's name precisely, with no abbreviations or misspellings. He challenged the state's interpretation of the law, which allowed votes to be counted despite minor misspellings.
Last week, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of the state, holding that the key to interpreting election law is preventing votes from being tossed out if a voter's intent can be determined. The court said the law doesn't require perfection in how a candidate's name is written.
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But Miller isn't entirely giving up. His attorneys asked U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline to keep alive his options?
Hey Joe, give it up. You're going "No Where Slowly". Sarah and you blew it. Alaskans don't want you two.
How many wise men where there?
Enjoy your New Year. Even the wise men didn't bring oil to the baby Jesus.
Beverly, Don't you think that Miller should do a write in campaign also? I think he should. He won the first by a resounding majority.
Murkowski, Murcowski,............everyone knows who we meant. Voter intent, when it's obvious, should always be recognized. What sort of idiot would want it any other way. No one else in Alaska has a similar name.
Hey Joe: Your bff Palin has even abandoned you now that you are considered a "loser". Give it up and crawl back under the rock you came from.
And for God's sake- buy a damned razor, y' dork.
Who decided that the "scruffy look" was cool, anyway?
Joe, the intention of voters in Alaska was obvious: You lost! Now, go have a nice cup of tea with Sister Sarah.
But, but, Sarah told me I would win. This should teach him not to believe what Silly Sarah says.
Seems the voters do not seem to trust Silly Sarah, or, any person that she may endorse. And with good reason, Silly Sarah is not as credible as, say, a snake oil salesman, you betcha.
Miller is just another "states rights" politician until he wants the feds to pull his chestnuts from the fire.
All of them have large egos and none of them have any moral flavor.
Not just Alaska, remember MN and the Al Franken fiasco. The states, ALL the states, need to get their poop in a group, decide how to hold elections, how to expedite dispute, and certify the election results within 30 days following the election (at the very latest).
None of this matters in the Miller-Murkowski case, BUT in the bigger picture, it does matter. Voter intent? What if someone wrote L, or Mur, or "the lady" on a ballot. The rules have to be clear.
In a strange sort of way, Joe Miller is actually doing us all a favor, though most fail to appreciate it, and regardless how his case turns out, it does nothing to seat him in the Senate, therefore, he must be arguing in order to MAKE A POINT.
As a Minnesotan, I can assure you there was no fiasco regarding the election of Al Franken. The vote totals automatically called for a recall and SOS Mark Ritchie did an excellent job of overseeing the recount.
What is a fiasco is our outgoing Governor stating that convicted felons probably voted for Franken and when asked for proof, saying he didn't have any but he also didn't have any proof it didn't happen!
I wonder what Joe Miller would be argueing if the shoe was on the other foot.
If he orchestrated a write-in campaign and his name was "Loebbringstein" (or something else with unusual spelling)...wouldn't he be fighting for all of the "misspellings" under the banner of "the will of the people" or "we the people"?
And if his opponent took it to the federal level, wouldn't he be crying "states' rights"?
Joe "Can I call you Joe" you my friend need to just take like a Man and sit down and shut up. Suck it up big boy you lost, so did the Army/Navy and they didn't file a lawsuit.
Give me an "L"
Give me an "O"
Give me an "S"
Give me an "E"
Give me an "R".
L-O-S-E-R! Now if we can only get through to 2012 without these idiots (Palin included) we should be okay. Historians will then look ruefully, shamefully at the 2008-2012 political cycle as the dumbs**t era. We'll let Doris Kearns Goodwin write one comic book about it. That's it!
Hi Dems and Death Panelers, It took two ordinary people, Beck and Palin to defeat your Bama. All they
used was the Tea Party and a Prayer.
Hi Death Panelers, Know why you lost the last election? You didn't get down on your knees and pray
with Beck and Palin.
The Defeat of Obama by the Tea Party and a Prayer
President Obama got the surprise of his life when the Republicans with the massive support of the Tea
Party and its allies defeated him and the Democrats. Let's hope they the Republicans don't forget this. A
significant contributing factor was Glen Beck's daily shows on the radio and television where he woke up
America with his references to the Founding Fathers and the Constitution and its revelance to the current
political situation. He awoken the desires and aspirations of the American people, pointing out them that
it was their ancestors who built America with their blood, sweat and tears. He evoked their concern with
the rampant idealogy of the Progressives who are undermining the fabric of American society which is so
intimately intertwined with the aspirations of future generations. He has pointed out that the Progressive
policies of the Obama govt and its allies are destroying American exceptionalism with its income
distribution and huge government spending which is sending the economy into a tailspin. He opened up
the eyes of the American people to the destruction of the moral fabric of American society by the
Progressives who are subtly employed in government and elsewhere in the public service. He has called
upon the people to stand shoulder to shoulder to silently call upon their Maker to make this country like it
use to be in an effort to unite them. And they have responded to his calls for unity when they appeared in
droves at the National Mall in Washington. Not since Martin Luther King, has America seen anything like
it. Glenn Beck a man who appeared virtually from nowhere galvanized millions of hard working American
Patriots , men, women and children, moms and dads, workers, rich and poor alike and all classes of people
from all walks of life, across this great American continent from cities down to the tiniest village responded
to his patriotic call. An ordinary man with an ordinary voice but with a strong message that resounded
from the hallowed halls of the Constitutional Congress of the Founding Fathers that enumerated the
greatness of the American people. He led them with their rallies and silent determination flying the
American Flag. He led them as his voice echoed into their homes and offices, He led them with past
memories of the greatness of their forefathers who represented the free market and a freedom that
shone as a beacon to the outside world where their brothers, sisters, fathers and grandfathers died in
foreign lands to free others from oppression. Glenn Beck , Sarah Palin and the American people defeated
President Obama and the Democrats with the tenets of American Exceptionalism and a prayer.
Hey Juven. You read about the death panel of one that the Arizona Governor Brewer created for herself. If treatment is too expensive and doesn't always cure, you can just go off and die. You don't want to rant about that? oh, come one. What would Glenny the Beck think if he heard you wouldn't get crazy about something so very un-American
The Great Patriot Glenn Beck, who was shooting dope while some of us were on the front lines of the cold war. That Glenn Beck, who now makes millions telling everyone to buy gold, at 1200 dollars an ounce, because the big bad inflation is coming. the great Glenn Beck who shed tears for america OVER THE ELECTION of Obama. I guess if you have man love for him you see him as the return of the savior. Personally, Jesus Christ, he is not. But you can believe and send him your money, if you choose.