Mark Ritchie’s December 5 news conference (covered by The UpTake) had the following information:
– Aside from the packet of 133 ballots that went missing in one Minneapolis precinct, Phase One of the hand recount is done and over three million ballots have been counted. It’s expected that the packet will turn up soon. Ritchie says this part of the recount’s "99.99999%" done.
– The stack of challenged ballots — around six thousand or so — will not be that big a deal, as most of the challenges are frivolous (which is typical, as old-timers involved in previous recounts told Ritchie) and so will be quickly dealt with by the canvassing board. Working at a rate of two ballots a minute, which veterans of prior recounts have said is a good pace, the challenged ballots should be dealt with in three to four days.
– Ritchie and the state canvassing board is looking for guidance from the state Attorney General on how to handle the rejected absentee ballots (that is, whether the counties or the canvassing board should do it, with a view to having settled procedures for future recounts); sixty-odd of Minnesota’s eighty-seven counties are already, per Ritchie’s request earlier this week, scheduling reviews of these ballots and one county, Houston, has finished and faxed in their review of their rejected absentee ballots to the canvassing board.
– Cost of the recount: Three cents a ballot, or roughly $100,000. Cheap at the price for a functioning democracy. The biggest cost is in the time and labor, most of which is donated.
Related posts:
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
C’monnnnnnnnnnn Franken!
I shouldn’t be hyperventilating about this one little bitty race, but here I am, nearly incapacitated, whining like a puppy. Pathetic but true.
I have to rescue my comment from EPUland.
So do we know who’s ahead?
So where does the vote stand?
Still keeping my fingers crossed on Franken. If only for selfish reasons: selise & I need some humor in all the hearings we watch.
Whose past, Obama’s or Greenspan’s?
What jayt said!
pepsi please.
“Pepsi – No Coke!” *g*
Hi eCAHN. I guess we’re all supposed to calm down and make nice. It’s hard.
Voter suppression makes my blood boil in spite of the 20 degree temps here in OH.
Apologies and a BIG THANKS to you for this post, PW.
Hey, PW, I’ve been hearing snatches of conversation with Mark Ritchie on MPR of late. Wow, is this guy sharp. Trust-inspiring. Knows his game. No b.s.
So, what are chances he’ll run for guv….please….
We’re up from 9 degrees earlier this morning to a balmy 15 here in Indy….
*rolls eyes* Who even listens to her?
You too?! I was afraid I was the only one. He’s smart, dammit, and he’s darn worthy, and that’s the truth. Good on him for running and putting up with all this nonsense. I want so badly to see him stand up and eviscerate some repubble nitwit on live C-Span. I really really dooooooooooo!
Still laughing . . . .
Got EPU-ed on last thread, too.
Obama made a great point on MTP this morning when he said the problems of Big Auto are their obsolete business model, their refusal to recognize and adapt to the changing marketplace….and the outsized exec compensation packages the executives get compared to their counterparts at the competition are unfair [my paraphrase–and isn’t it nice to see someone calling bullshit on the blame the unions bullying we’ve seen up to now]
David Gregory introduced. ’nuff said.
Hey!!!!! It’s wonderful to see you. How ya doin’?
Damn, so excited I forgot all about reply. That was for Wobbs.
Lotza talk about Tim Walz, which might make personal sense for him, given his wee children and preference for living closer to home, and a great deal of sense for MN. He’s smart, savvy and is a voter magnet.
wOOt! You’re back!!!
hiya wobbs……..
If you are talking to me, I’m doing okay. I’m applying for PhD programs and am in application hell *g*. I’ve been thinking of you all.
You funny.
Hi wobbs!
Yeah, I’m talkin’ to you. *g*
I’m sort of back. I will be ‘more back’ (giggle, snort) towards the middle of January.
bom dia gente! glad to see you all and hope all is well with everyone
more back . . . is that a football position?
I read Franken’s Lying Liars book. It was much better than I expected. The writing was just as fun and breezy as you think, but he had a dozen Harvard research assistants to work on it, and it was packed with good, documented information. Think he’d make a great senator.
Which programs? Where?
So this morning you’re into sports positions, now that you’ve learned about lhp?
hehehe
How’s the tigers? I was up in Oregon for Thanksgiving and shared a pillow with my uncle’s 17 year old cat. total sweetheart
He will, “lord willing and the creek don’t rise.”
OMG. And you’re probably sending that lovely stuff straight to us, huh.
I don’t need winter just now. Let me get my honey squared away, and then it can come. Total knee replace due Tues. I’m his head coach, poor fella, since I’ve got 2 of my own perking along like 6
milltrillion dollars nearly a decade now.Now it’s his turn. It’s almost harder to be in the cheering section than it is to endure it 1st hand, groan. He’s prepping well with all the good exercises and all, so I’m sure it’ll all go well.
We get to hear sonny’s hautbois melt hearts in a nice gushy dose of Rachmaninoff tonight, if we can just trek out thru the bluster. That’ll help soothe the soul. ;->
P.E.A.C.E. to all dammit. *blush*
oh please, MSNBC, CNN, & WaPo all reporting on his team deep with “academic elites”
these are some lazy bastids
Mornin’ All. so good to see the future Herr Doktor Wobbs :D
Home run, baby!
palin talk *giggle*
but speaking of football….damn Alabama got whooped yesterday
I think it’s in between a half back and a full back *g*
well, harumph and same to u. Dragon. heh heh. *waves*
Don’t see much about Walz in the northern Upstate…maybe he needs to start some traveling hereabouts.
And at great personal sacrifice I attempted to watch Kurtz this morning ’cause I figure somebody’s gotta keep tabs on The Village’s chief um-not that pinched lip woman from the Post. And I’ve got a strong constitution, let me tell you. But this morning was too much fluffy feathers even for me.
Yeeeuch.
Ag-PhD for me.
They’re all fine but a little out of sync with the rescue I brought home Thursday.
uncle or the cat? both? Hi wobbs.
Have you read his, ahem, tome on rush? equally fine!!!
Comparative Literature or German..depends on the school(some German programs are interdisciplinary and will allow me to design my focus area – others won’t and I will apply under their Comparative Lit programs)
Brown
Washington Univ
Univ of Wisconsin
Univ of Oregon
My Gators sent me back to every play’s a heart attack mode.
The press is doing its usual slavish obeisance to their DC masters. Let’s enjoy for awhile the fact that the recipient is a D. However, it does no prez any good not to be criticized. Their egos are soooo big, the press should constantly be in the position of trying to knock them down. But that will never happen.
*blushes*
Just call me frau doktor professor wobbs (they do love their titles over there in Germany)
Are you sure it isn’t more back than even a full back?
What’s Mr Wobbs gonna do with you away at school? And you’ll be away from weebits.
Heh..I love those academic titles from Germany…heavy duty, those are.
LOL the cat!
Nope. And won’t. The less rush in my life the better.
I was thinkin’ that would be most back
careful, puppies. i tried “using” lhp’s position a few days ago and all heQque broke loose. no link. NO. u think i be crazy?!
can’t wait to see pics.
very happy for you and Gator Nation – love that Tebow kid (when he says God Bless You, he actually means it!) but good lord Ingram: shape of seasons to come – shades of Freshman Emmet Smith – aiyeee
I bet they did but good on them. Looks like y’all are definitely headed to the National Championship bowl
Now here’s something that could be fun to read. Rove is gonna name W haters in his forthcoming book. That’s a list I’d be proud to have my name on.
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/07/rove-haters/
S’truth. He’d be low man on the totem pole for committee assignments but a forkin’ hoot for audience appeal. Gotta drag out my copy of that book and do some selective reading.
I’ll really be in heart attack mode with Oklahoma. If everybody’s healthy that’s gonna be one hellava football game.
Wel Mr’s contract is up next year and depending on where I get into school, he will apply to other schools or take a few years off. Either way, the whole crew (Mr, weebits, puppybits) are coming with me *g*
Damn, what do we have to do to get our names on that list?
LOL and I love that they want you to address them with all their titles.
Awwwwwwriiiiiiight!
there ya go! when in doubt, obfuscate obfuscate obfuscate huzzah!
boyoyoy. i didn’ know she was into that stuff.
whut wuz da queshun? *g*
“show how unreceiving they were” — can anyone tell me if ‘unreceiving’ is actually a word or are we seeing, AGAIN, another example of ‘why every Rethug should be issued a Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary”? Honestly..I don’t think that is even a word.
I’ll be watching just to see some great football. Of course my Trojans are playing in the Rose bowl, so I have no huge complaints except…Penn state?
Maybe we could get Jane or Christy to start up a petition.
I hope he gets to finish writing it at the big house
Frau doktor professsor von Wobblybits.
So tell me about this ‘rescue’ you brought home
Just found this on Wackypedia:
Person who intercepts: Take Back
How many volumes?
I’ve been beaten into submission by their bad language. I didn’t even notice that construct. Sheesh.
Now that would be a hoot.
They’d better typeset that sucker in at least 8pt or it’s gonna run into the 1000s of pages.
The Sooners are going to be healthy! But it is just a game. OU is going to kick some SEC butt just get used to it. *g*
awww. yer not gonna buy that trash are ya?
At one point in my distant past, my date emerged from the drug store to announce the Aeneas was not the last of the Trojans.
I’ve watched the Trojans play many a game in LA.
Mahattan white pages is my mental picture.
go to a book signing and correct his spelling.
this big house
Good point. Will borrow it from the library.
Dodd and Sessions [aka Shelby-Lite] on Face talking car czars this a.m. Whole lotta blather going on.
I still say Obama cut thru the detritus and nailed the problem. Now how to solve? I’d rather trust his reasoning than the Senators. JMHO.
That’s a fabulous print.
Now Obama is talking about “rosy scenarios.” If I had a nickel for every time a client referred to my economic forecast using the phrase …. (Has to do with my first name.)
Like I said to that other guy earlier this mornin’, don’t get all puffy chested before the two have met on the field. *g*
Or the Max one here in CO
glue the pages together
Super
the problem right now is that no one is buying cars…from anyone. The Japanese and Germans are doing as bad as the Big Three. The economy needs to be stabilized; people need to have the feeling that their jobs are not going to be ripped out from under them or that the whole thing is going to crash. Then they will spend money again. in the meantime, however, US manufacturers have to get their heads out of their rearends in terms of what American consumers want. Who the hell have they been having in their focus groups? Huuh?
Why doesn’t it surprise me that the missing ballots are from a highly Democratic precinct?? Surprise, surprise, the Coleman and his party may not only lose this election, their illegal tactics might actually be disclosed to Minnesota and the nation.
Good one! *g*
write error 404 file not found on the 1st page.
Manhattan KS?
lol okay, he wins creativity points
Tsk. Tsk. I would never deface a library book, even one authored by Karl Rove. *g*
I watched them at the Rose Bowl yesterday. beautiful day, uneventful game
Yes, and one with hoards of icky students who stand in line for hours without giving up, and who act all smart-alecky. Franken’s base.
Must be. I’ve remembered it for many decades. *g*
bwaaahaaahaaa ! . . .
because there’s no such thing as too much schadenfreude
see ya at the Dollar Store Karl !
so just slip an extra page in, loose and unassuming-like, asking the reader if they found this book without a proper cover and, if so…..
Oooh. Obama is using my building on fire analogy. I forgive him all his other sins, since great minds think alike.
better than cartoons: tom freidman on face the nation with bob scheiffer talking about the need to replace auto industry execs because of their failure and incompetence.
hilarious.
I saw one in the library last week – cover looked good (and yes I *do* judge a book by its cover)(and the reviews on the back). I *never* read the inner dust flap – always gives away too much of the book.
So – I was reading the reviews….one by Karl Rove, one by Sean Hannity, one by Robert Novak. Rut-roh.
Ralph Reed has written a book.
sweet!!!!
Ooops, almost got lost in the shuffle.
About 8 weeks ago an elderly couple brought their 5 yo male, jet black, long haired, almost Angora in to be euthanized because he had severely bitten the husband. They had gotten Chester as a kitten. My vet was their vet. When they got him the husband was 90, repeat 90. You know that when kittens play they bite and have to be discouraged from the habit. These folks did not stop it and the old gentleman was bitten so bad he had to go to the ER. The guy’s now 95. Their solution was euthanasia. My vet refused and took custody. I heard about it and went in Thursday afternoon and brought him home. Declawed in front. Handsome devil, big as my biggest, Ptah. Has a feather boa tail. Lots of growling on his part and curiosity on the other tigers’ part. No real confrontations yet but a couple close ones yesterday. Just takes patience. I’ve renamed him Feurae, compliments of DWBartoo. Very affectionate so at least he doesn’t have a problem with me.
Now seriously. Who’s going to buy Karl Rove’s book? Dems? Only those who are students of abnormal psychology. Reps? Why would they spend money on a tome by the very person who was at least partially responsible for leading their party down the proverbial primrose path? Okay, their country, too, but do Reps really care about that? Dunno.
Yes, I was just thinking the same thing, Barbara – and with the economy the way it is, I can’t imagine a publisher taking a chance on a book by Rove.
Wobbly ! so glad to see you. Was worried about you.
MTP is half hour later on my cable, so still doing Obama interview. Make sure to read my 102. You & Hugh are on your own now for critizing Obama. (Jest kiddin.)
If someone tried to declaw me, I’d bite too.
You’re a good person Dragon. Good luck with your brood.
Some folks suggest keeping a new kitty in another room and letting them all get used to eachother under the door between for a day or so, before allowing them to harden attytoods on the fly. ymmv
I’ll read it as a humor book. There’s very few that I will read, but that’s one & Rummy’s is another.
So PW what are the odds that there will be a run off election between Franken and Coleman….. if this is a tie?
mebbe some repubbles would, thinking it was a “how-to” manual of wickeditty.
Wonder what it is going to be titled. I’d reccommend “The enemies of Truthiness”
Ingram’s a redshirt Junior. He’s making noises about playing against the Sooners, thinking he’s now at about 85% back from blowing out his ACL in the preseason.
The Gainesville paper tells us this morning that Harvin became a de facto assistant coach last night, spending the game watching Julio Jones. By the fourth quarter, he was telling the defensive backs what patterns he would run based on the offensive alignment. That’s real teamwork! He says he’ll be ready for the Championship game.
Tebow says he can’t wait to take on one of those lousy Big 12 defenses!
Imagine the Gators next year if Tebow, Harvin and Ingram are all back and healthy.
You have more intestinal fortitude than I. That’s fer darn sure.
damn…euthanasia, the final solution. some folks really do not need to have pets. glad your vet refused and took him. he sounds beautiful and i’m sure he appreciates the affection he feels from you
particularly sweet aint it ?
it will be a total dud as anything they would want him to write about – he can’t write about as it would diminish the whole Genius Architect thingy
and I know these (goopers) are to be some desperate muthas in the next few years, but publishing this book will serve only to further diminish his rep and he’ll wind up with the honorific Disgraced Political Operative Karl Rove
((SD & Feurae))
great story. thanks.
Is Obama’s hair already starting to turn gray, or is that just the lighting?
I’ve found that just delays the inevitable. I usually let them out of the carrier in the middle of the living room and play referee. Guess I’ve just been lucky.
I’m hoping for ‘remainder table’ status for this.
I want to figure out how they think they tick. Know thy enemy thing.
LOL. glad to know he’s wising up. *g*
sorry for the scare, twain. i’ll be here off and on until mid january
Time to go fix breakfast for brother G. He’s going home today after more than a month here with me. Here’s hoping!!
The Enemy Within. (?)
Within The Enemy.
With, In the Enemy.
Enemaicks 101. Part the First.
Jane’s upstairs with a new post…
yeah. before the campaign started. i think.
When Dr Schroeder told me the guy was 95 I’m thinking why would a 90yo get an animal with an average lifespan of 15 years. The declawing really pissed me off. Just to protect their f’ing furniture. You ought to see my furniture. Then again…
mornin’ Jim,
where did I get that Ingram was a freshman ?!?!? normally follow NCAA Football closely – was a little distracted this season :D
bonus: found out just this morning all 3 Gator Heismann’s have gone to minister’s kids
I’m waitin’ for DWBartoo to poke his head in here sometime. Can’t wait to tell him.
I thought the same thing when I read the story. Was not thinking about teh kitty, that is for sure.
Won’t have to wait long I’m thinkin’.
i like your way. i never tried the other. it was just someone’s suggestion. i always wondered…. thanks.
((((barbara))))
Excellent, especially with your discerning eye. (no snark)
According to Ritchie a coin toss would be more likely than a runoff in an exact tie.
I doubt any book by Rove would be truthful about the way he thinks. I think a good title would be “Evil Incarnate.”
Book Publisher X who has just laid off staff and is weighing a book deal….hmmmmmm. Plouffe? Or Rove? Which will I buy…..
And wouldn’t it be dishy if they had the same release date? Eat shit, Rove…you fed enough to us for years.
i’ve only witnessed a real cat fight once – and i’m sure if i hadn’t intervened there would have been a dead cat. never seen anything like it before or since.
Off to a late breakfast (french toast, etc) and chores. Got a lot of reading to catch up on.
Really nice to see you here again Wobbs.
Be good to yourselves, and all other living things.
Namaste
Had one in my front yard a week ago while I was feeding squirrels. Couple of the outdoor cats in the neighborhood. It is indeed frightening. I broke it up muy pronto. Just put my foot into the middle and shouted real loud. Chucks took a hit or two. Cats normally don’t kill each other but the wounds can become infected and they die from that.
the one i saw was in my house – maternal aggression. my doc sent me to the er to have a hand surgeon look at the damage done. did some weird cleaning of puncture wounds and everything healed wo problem or even a scar. the cat that bit me (the mom) was my lily cat, the one who is sick now. before and since she has always been miss mellow. unknown kid once picked her up by her back legs and she just hung there and purred. but she would have killed at least one cat that day for sure.
Thanks PW
digg
Hello Teddy! I’m late as usual, but per The UpTake, Coleman is currently up by around 97 votes. Maybe. Franken sez he’s up by four. (Yes, four.) Strib has Coleman up by 192, but that doesn’t take into account the challenged ballots or the rejected absentee ballots.
The problem is that the official count is all but meaningless until the challenges are dealt with and the rejected absentee ballots are reviewed and any improperly-rejected ballots accepted into the count. That won’t be done for at least another week.
Probably got C’s in all their non-”Comm Studies” courses in college. Or cheated.
Note that CNN is cutting their “Science Reporting” Team. Shuck’s science is all just “Theory” anyways. Why’s that different from OPINION or Speculation? ;-(
And I suspect that they wet their pants when Obama said that he intended to open the White House to kids who would be exposed to invited presentations by Top Scientists, Artists, Musicians, etc. I hope that they make this something like “Live From Lincoln Center”, and air the lectures on PBS or NPR!
The MSNBC story IS the WaPo0 story. MSNBC has agreements with them and presnet the stories as printed in the Po0
Read the linky about Dinkytown at the bottom of Phoenixwoman’s post! Sounds as if there is someone or a group intent on disenfranchising UMinn students. This is the SECOND Time that the disqualification of student voters occurred because they couldn’t produce ITEMIZED utility payments (dormies tend to pay rent that incorporates their utility bills into their payments).
Students were first challenged at a student coop in 2006 in the same precinct. After a Court Order these students were allowed to vote provisionally and have their votes counted after the Coop Manager provided itemized utility bills for each student. Now in 2008 someone in the same precinct is turning away on-campus residents in the dorms. Likely some students in the dorms thought the issue was resolved…but were again turned away…some as late as the poll closing time. They were not allowed to cast provisional ballots. And then a batch of ballots “separated out” (WHY and by WHOM?) is misplaced in this SAME precinct?
Somethings Stinky in Dinky!