Can we theorectically still get 60 Senators? If Franken wins the recount in MN,

[BrklynLiberal]

and Stevens gets dumped and Begich, the Dem wins the special election in AK, and Jim Martin, the Dem wins the runoff in GA...

[Lumpsum]

1. Palin won't appoint a dem in Stevens' place. nt

[billyoc]

3. Alaska doesn't do gubernatorial appointments since the Murkowski debacle.

It goes to an(almost) immediate special election. It's not like other states.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

4. Palin *cannot* appoint anyone. Governor power to appoint was eliminated...

after the corrupt Jan Murkowski appointed his corrupt daughter, Lisa.

Now special elections are held 60-90 after the vacancy.

Palin *could* conceivably run for that Senate seat. :puke::puke:

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. Does Palin appoint? According to DU'er "BlueAK", there has to be a

special election to fill the seat, if I'm not mistaken?

[maddowfan]

8. Palin Doesn't Know What "Appoint" Means.

Don't ask her. Just saying.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. You are right. Gov can no longer appoint a Senator.

[Tiggeroshii]

2. The likely scenario would be no..

But it's possible. I definitely will have my fingers crossed.

[Life Long Dem]

6. Last I heard we need 3.

Stevens said he won't resign, the repubs would have to dump him.

GA could get one.

[BrklynLiberal]

10. . This link explains the process of not seating a Senator.

It appears that they cannot refuse to seat him if he is duly elected...however, once he is seated they can toss him out..


http://books.google.com/books?id=YPCs9GJB70wC&pg=PA24&lpg=PA24&dq=How+does+senate+refuse+to+seat+a+senator%3F&source=web&ots=GQncoe7QNS&sig=IaxbHf7b-nhqjxD5mnzCeQkFaWo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result

[Eric J in MN]

7. Only if Ted Stevens loses the election, not if he wins and then resigns. NT

NT

[Life Long Dem]

12. That's where Sarah Palin comes in and tosses a coin.

And chooses herself or another republican.

[brazos121200]

9. It's barely possible, but don't hold your breath. If I'm wrong,

no one will be happier than I. As close as we will be, though, with 57 or 58, it will be much easier for Reid to weld together a 60 vote majority to cut off debate on specific issues. There actually ARE three or four repubs who will listen to reason from time to time.

[thesubstanceofdreams]

13. Stevens hasn't won yet, many absentee/early votes still to be counted in AK n/t