Multiplication by Zero

TPM

The Post's Shailagh Murray has apparently decided that it's so hard keeping track of all of Norm Coleman's lawyers nonsensical arguments about why he shouldn't have to leave the senate that the only reasonable answer is just to hold a whole new vote. Now, bear in mind, that's not me saying they're nonsensical. It's mainly the judges shooting him down right and left.

Here's Murray from an online chat today at WaPo.com (via Balloon-Juice) ...

Baltimore, Md.: Speaking of junior senators, do you see Al Franken being seated anytime before 2010?

Shailagh Murray: Perhaps, but it seems more and more likely that the Minnesota race will wind up as a re-vote. At this point it seems like the quickest way to resolve the situation.

For what it's worth, there is vanishingly little evidence that there will ever be a revote of this race because Franken was certified (*) the winner after the recount and Coleman's suit to overturn that result is going badly. Even if it went well, it would almost certainly lead to reopening the recount rather than having a revote.

Asked later what she was talking about, she continued ...

I don't have a revote "theory." I'm just wondering how long this is going to sit in the court system. If Coleman looks desperate, why not just hold another election and beat him handily? But there's a process in place here, and we can only assume both parties will abide by it.

So if [Coleman]'s really flailing so badly in his court case, why not just hold a new election?

(ed.note: * -- certification, in this context, has a particular meaning under Minnesota law. As the term is normally understood, the canvassing board certified Franken's election. But under Minnesota law, a certificate of election cannot be issued until all legal challenges have been exhausted. So, because Coleman still had the right to appeal the result, no certificate was issued.)

Happy Buddy Hollyday

VOA News

On February 3, 1959, a small plane crashed in a corn field in Iowa, killing three rock and roll stars - Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson, known as "The Big Bopper".

Statue of Buddy Holly in Lubbock, Texas

The 50th anniversary of that tragic event is being observed by rock fans around the world, but especially in Clear Lake, Iowa - the scene of their last performance, where a large concert is planned, and in Buddy Holly's hometown of Lubbock, Texas.

Charles Hardin Holley, known to his family and friends as Buddy, was only 22 years old when he died, but he had by that time created a guitar-driven rock and roll style that would live on among rock bands around the world.

In only a few years, the Lubbock native created hit songs that are still played today - classics like "That'll be the Day," inspired by a line John Wayne spoke in the western movie "The Searchers".

Holly rocked his fans with songs like "Peggy Sue" and "Maybe Baby" and then soothed them with ballads like "Everyday".

The song marked the first use in pop music of a celesta - an instrument mainly associated with classical music performances.

Fans say Holly's music still relevant

Holly's style and musical experimentation appealed to many up-and-coming musicians, especially in Britain, where he has many fans even among people born long after his death.

Phil and Caroline Jenkins

Among the British visitors to Lubbock for the 50th anniversary of Holly's death are Phil and Caroline Jenkins.

"The Beatles and the Rolling Stones - they all credit Buddy as being a major influence," Jenkins said. "It seems that you get more in England than you do here. He is bigger there than he is here. You know, he is bigger there than he is here. Lots of people here we talk to go, 'Who?' They don't know the name."

Jessica Camacho helps run the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, which is holding panel discussions and special events to commemorate Holly's death.

Jessica Camacho

Camacho is only 26 years old, but she says she recognizes the importance of Holly - not only to her hometown, but also to the world of music.

"I don't know how many younger people realize what kind of influence Buddy Holly had even on the music that they hear today that they love. I think his influence was far reaching," Camacho said.

Friend says Holly strove for recognition

There are still many people living here in Lubbock who knew Buddy Holly well. Among them is former musician and disc jockey Jack Neal, who was Buddy Holly's first musical partner on a local radio show. He sat in on jam sessions with Holly and a young rock singer from Memphis, Tennessee named Elvis Presley, just months before Elvis went on to become a legend himself.

Jack Neal

"I truly believe that if Buddy had still been living, he would have been as big as Elvis, if not bigger, because of the two different styles of people that they were," Neal said.

Neal knew Buddy Holly as a close friend as well as an artist, and he misses him still. He recalls one of his last conversations with him, not long before he died.

"He was in town and we were at one of the drive-ins and it was just before he left to go on that last tour and he said he wanted people to know Buddy Holly," Neal recalled. "He wanted them to know the name. He said the money was nice, but he wanted people to know the name. And so that was his goal and that is exactly what he did."

The fatal plane crash in Iowa was commemorated in 1973 by singer/songwriter Don McLean in his hit song, "American Pie," which spoke of "the day the music died." But most Buddy Holly fans say his music never died and that it lives on in the rock and roll he helped create.