From the Associated Press:

The Alaska Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a lower court decision in the disputed U.S. Senate race, saying the state correctly counted write-in votes for Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

It is now up to Republican Joe Miller to decide if the election is finally over.

The court said in its ruling that it found “no remaining issues raised by Miller that prevent this election from being certified.”

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From The Brownsville Herald:

U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz conceded late Monday to Congressman-elect Blake Farenthold.

Noting that the recount of more than 106,000 votes had been completed in the district, Ortiz said: “Therefore, with great respect and admiration in the Democratic process, I congratulate my opponent, Mr. R. Blake Farenthold, in his election to the 27th Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives.”

Cameron County, the last county in the district that includes San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Kenedy, and Willacy counties, concluded its recount Monday, although the results were not available at press time.

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What we’re witnessing in the south Texas (TX-27 – Corpus Christi and Brownsville) Congressional recount that followed the race is a dramatic interpretation of the old Rocky and Bullwinkle magic act.

With 28-year just defeated Democrat incumbent Solomon Ortiz portraying Bullwinkle the Moose, and Republican Congressman-elect Blake Farenthold reprising Rocky the Squirrel.

Farenthold: “And now…”

Ortiz: “Hey Rocky, watch me pull a ballot out of my hat.”

Farenthold: “Again?”

On November 2, Farenthold beat Ortiz by 799 votes.  A tight race to be sure, but one that could be described as outside the margin of ACORN.  I mean error.

The fairly Leftist Corpus Christi Caller Times even said in a November 6 editorial “Honor the vote, which went for Farenthold.”

But Ortiz did not – and has not –acquiesced.  He demanded a recount.  And that’s when the “Out of Thin Air” show began.  Ortiz, Inc. keeps finding new bags containing new ballots – many with his name on them.

Ortiz, Inc. first found in Robstown – the epicenter of Ortiz, Inc. support – a bag with seven whole ballots in it.  All of them (shocking) cast for Ortiz.

*Poof*

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Since Bush v. Gore was decided in 2000, recounts have received far more attention; it’s almost like they’ve become a routine part of a campaign.  Each year, candidates, state parties, and election lawyers across the country prepare for these post-election challenges that may never come.

In 2008, we saw the impact that a recount can have.  In Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman won on election night.  On election night Coleman led comedian Al Franken by over 700 votes.  A canvass ensued, and Franken chipped away at Coleman’s lead, leaving Coleman ahead only 215 votes.  With a margin that narrow a recount ensured.  Over the course of the recount Franken managed to find enough votes to come out ahead by 225.  (Some news stories even reveal that the election may have been decided by the votes of convicted felons who were not eligible to participate in the election.)

This delivered Al Franken to the United States Senate, and delivered President Obama and Harry Reid a critical vote for their liberal agenda.

The Democrats learned a lot from this.  So much so, that this election cycle they want to be even better prepared.

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Hands down, the ’00s were the worst political decade at least since the 1990s.

Reason.tv celebrates the (lack of) personalities, the scandals, and the screw-ups that made us all want to forget the first 10 years of the 21st century.

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