Feature

Franken, Coleman and recounts

What to do when elections result in a statistical tie

Nobody really won the Senate election in Minnesota, said Jason Richwine in National Review Online. "The election was a tie." So instead of depriving the state of a Senate seat while Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman slug it out, we should abolish recounts and stick with the first result. Or at least save time and money, and just flip a coin.

Deja vu, anybody? asked Horace Cooper in The Washington Times. The recount irregularities that changed a narrow Coleman victory to a narrow Franken one are strikingly similar to Florida's mess in Bush v. Gore. Double counting, absentee ballots from ineligible voters, "mysterious ghost ballots—all varying from precinct to precinct"—obscure the real winner, along with being "just plain unconstitutional."

That's rich, said Eric Kleefeld in Talking Points Memo. Coleman, and the people carrying water for him, are twisting themselves into knots to score him votes. Their latest P.R. tactic is trying to find people whose absentee ballots were rejected, "including ballots they themselves earlier objected to counting." So, tell me again, who's the one with the flexible standards?

Recommended

Regions around the world are adapting to climate change in real time
Flooded cemetery in Jakarta
In depth

Regions around the world are adapting to climate change in real time

Ukraine says Kahkovka dam destruction won't derail counteroffensive
Flooding in Kherson after dam failure
A wash

Ukraine says Kahkovka dam destruction won't derail counteroffensive

Why does India have so many train crashes?
Balasore train crash
Today's big question

Why does India have so many train crashes?

Iran claims to have built its first hypersonic missile
The Fattah missile unveiled by Iran.
Iranian Weaponry

Iran claims to have built its first hypersonic missile

Most Popular

Ban the Bible?
Holy Bible.
Briefing

Ban the Bible?

What is Mike Pence thinking?
Former Vice President Mike Pence on a motorcycle
Talking point

What is Mike Pence thinking?

CNN CEO Chris Licht steps down
Chris Licht
so long

CNN CEO Chris Licht steps down