Franken urged to reverse his resignation

[demmiblue]

Source: Politico

At least four senators are urging Al Franken to reconsider resigning, including two who issued statements calling for the resignation two weeks ago and said they now feel remorse over what they feel was a rush to judgment.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who urged Franken not to step down to begin with — at least not before he went through an Ethics Committee investigation — said the Minnesota senator was railroaded by fellow Democrats.

“What they did to Al was atrocious, the Democrats,” said West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin in an interview for POLITICO’s Off Message podcast to post on Tuesday.

Franken's unusual timeline — in his departure announcement he said he’d go “in the coming weeks,” without setting a date — has fed the fleeting hopes that there’s still time to reverse course. However, Tina Smith, Minnesota's Democratic lieutenant governor, was named last week as his appointed successor.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/18/manchin-franken-senate-resign-300843

[janterry]

1. It will take more than 4

but 4 is a start.........

[James48]

2. I support Al Franken

He is a good guy.

[Alice11111]

88. #metoo

I wish his successor had not been named. Complications.

[Hortensis]

93. You don't think this is just a placating move?

After all, there was a tremendous wave of women's rights passion first, then when they went with that they were hit by a second huge wave from Franken's direction. Could this just be a verbal damage repair statement, sincere as far as it goes, because they should have supported an investigation, but not actually meant to bring him back?

I do, btw. Schumer and other leaders who had scheduled a proper investigation when these waves hit are not among those making this unlikely call.

Btw, if the Republicans end the individual mandate, the 70% of Americans who get their insurance through work will lose automatic coverage for preexisting conditions, lifetime unlimited coverage for existing conditions, and annual caps on how much they have to pay. In other words, back to the days of medical destitution and premature death.

[Alice11111]

97. I dunno, but it seems too late, unfortunately.

I suppose anything could happen. Franken was reluctant, and he was pushed into it. Now, though??

For me, I wish they would back up, turn the ship around, and the Senate gives him due process. At first, I thought his appointment would be a potential place holder, until he could get due process, when things settled down. Now, she, his teplacement, has given up her office.

[LiberalLovinLug]

111. "Complications" is exactly what the railroad crew wanted

They rushed to name his replacement in order to make it that much more difficult.

Democrats can be their worst enemy sometimes. They could have put up a unified front rallying around Al and having the courage that despite pressure to just give in and hand the Republicans what they wanted (which they do far too often), despite the first glance appearance of not respecting the woman accusers at first blush, they could have at the very least took the middle of the road approach by demanding an ethics review in the strongest language possible. And that that would determine if he stays. Their big plan of trying to make themselves look like the puritan party when it comes to sexual abuse could have been accomplished anyways as Republicans would not even demand an ethics review if put in the same place. So Democrats would already have been ahead in that game. There was absolutely no need to railroad Al.

So in the end...

We gained a Senator, from Alabama....through his opponents own actions
And we lost one of our most productive and popular Senators during the same time....through a top cadre of Democrats actions


Its a wash. And all they did was sow division in the party, when it could have been a rallying cry.

[Alice11111]

121. Yes. I weep. Deep pain.

It could have brought the party together. It could have shown the RW, their dirty tricks might backfire, and we won't eat our own at the first sign of a problem, initially stirred up by the RW, Hannity and Stone. The RW is still laughing.

Maybe, a big adult, Dem Senate apology will happen... we made a mistake, and we do need the Constitutional right of due process (at least it is analogous here).


If he goes, he goes, but pleeeze back up and not
Railroad him, again. Me thinks it won't happen. He couldn't accept it at first, as it was so unfair, sudden and bizarre, especially the final straw...putting his hand around a woman's waist for a photo op, but I think he finally did. So, the Gov appointed someone else now. Has anyone taken his replacement's old position?

[RealityChik]

134. You and me both!

I haven't had a decent night's sleep since it all happened! Keep waking up around 3am in the middle of the same dream--a public rant at Gillibrand for railroading our strongest, most genuine voice in the Senate. My brain gets so knotted up with disgust, I can't go back to sleep.

The only remedy? Stop feeding my passion for politics and dive into American history instead. It's the only way to avoid thinking about all the scoundrels in high places and concentrate on times when our leaders really did put country before party or self.

[Alice11111]

136. Yes. I'm trying to pull away too...but it feels like abandonment

of my country. I agree. It was a nightmare.
Just awful, but it feels like there is no where to turn.
I have called, written, etc. No one wants to hear.
Tense voices.

I support him 100pc if he insists on an investigation, come what may. I hope he insists, before he resigns.
Of course, it is still wrong. He should not have been forced into resignation without an investigation of the RW hit job

[RealityChik]

152. Ah...another 3am wake up...

As you can see, I'm not very good at practicing what I preach cuz I'm STILL waking up at 3am and unable to get back to sleep over the whole affair. This time I woke from a nightmare about shaming Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell...again, only in person. After waking, I spent an hour rehearsing in my mind what I would say to them if I ever had the chance in real time. Before I knew it, my brain was knotted into a twist and I knew I had to just get up and tell myself to get over it...again

Worst yet, it now feels like there is nothing we can do to persuade Senator Franken to return. That makes me feel sadder yet. I just want to have him be able to clear his good name before he resigns/retires. Who knows? Maybe he'll fill in as MN Lieutenant Governor so he can run for Governor when the time comes! I guess that's the best I can hope for now...

[Alice11111]

153. I agree. I think he should insists on the investigation, even

if he resigns, which is obviously happening now.

Damn.
When I see G's face,I just think what she did to our best Democratic voice. I did get an email from her, and I spoke my mind in my reply. I hear she is overwhelmingly getting negative feedback for tossing Franken.

[nuxvomica]

3. Anyone know how can I get Senators' email addresses?

Specifically Gillibrand and Schumer. I don't want to use the forms because I have no record of the email except whatever I cut and paste. I will use them nonetheless if I can't find out before noon.

[2naSalit]

35. Directories...

Try here:

Senate:

https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

House:

http://www.house.gov/representatives/

[nuxvomica]

44. Thank you!

Still just the form but I can appreciate why they do that, what with the Russo-Right-Wing skullduggery that's been going on.

[disndat]

47. Thanks. I just did.

I told Franken of my heartbreak and urger him to reconsider.

[calimary]

81. Call one of their regional offices.

Look up their websites and go to the contact page. It’ll list the Washington DC offices and also several regional offices across their respective states. I called Kirsten Gillibrand’s NYC office and got right through.

It’s easier to reach an actual human at the regional office. With the DC offices, because of the sheer volume of calls, you’re far more likely to be funneled through to voicemail.

[Rabrrrrrr]

43. Not all senators offer email addresses, only the web forms

According to this: https://www.senate.gov/general/contacting.htm

So if you don't find an email for your senator, looks like web form is it. I share your annoyance about not being able to then keep a copy of the sent email.

[nuxvomica]

45. Thanks, Rabrrrrrr

I already sent them and cut and paste to a word doc so I can track that way.

[usaf-vet]

77. There is a FREE web based FAX system that allows you to fax

their Washington office.

[link:https://faxzero.com]

1. Nearly every Congress member has a fax number. Provided by the website.
2. You can attach a pre-written document (.DOC, .DOCX, PDF). I use the same one just changing the Senators name.
3. A cover sheet.
4. You will need to supply a good email address and phone number for yourself.
5. You will need to go to you email address and "confirm" that it is you sending the fax.
6. You will get a confirmation when it has been sent/received.
7. It is immediate.

Works great.

[Alice11111]

90. Find an old email from him. I don't have one anymore...checked

Or ask one of his colleagues, if u have an email.

Otherwise, u have to complete those forms online.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

4. Good for Manchin

He's been the one sane voice through all of this and hasn't hesitated to speak out.

It's a weird day when my conservacrat home state senator is making more sense than folks like Warren, harris, Brown and Sanders.

[DFW]

5. Washington is weird like that

Nearly fifty years ago, I came to the disconcerting realization that plenty of the people I disagreed with there were people I got along with far better than people I agreed with. It's difficult to reconcile that some people you prefer going out to dinner with are the same ones you fervently hope will soon be unemployed (I am specifically referring to Republican members of Congress or the executive branch), but that's Washington for you.

[4139]

7. Opposites attract, for a reason...

Someone that agrees with you 98% can become outraged over the remaining 2% which can be irritating

Someone that generally disagrees with you on most things know it and don’t get picky

[DFW]

15. There's this one guy

If I didn't know him personally, I'd probably contribute to a fund to have him locked up and spread out under a watered bamboo tree waiting for him to be slowly skewered. He is an absolute right wing nut case, has done more damage behind the scenes than anyone can imagine, helped Reagan get elected way back when, and has only gone rightward since then. The trouble is, he's a perfectly nice guy, smart (unfortunately) as can be, and politically the Prince of Darkness. Whack job insane (he considers me to be the same, of course). He also happens to be an incredibly nice guy ("I know when to leave my guns at the door" ), and it drives me nuts that I get along with him as well as I do. He's "shoot-on-sight" extreme right wing, and I still can't believe I'm friends with him.

But that's DC for you. My dad learned early. A lifelong Democrat, he became friends with a right wing whack job who arrived in DC in 1957, 7 years after my dad did. He knew he was green (he was from Chicago), and asked who he should see about learning the ropes in Washington. He was directed to my Dad, and they became lifelong friends, all the while disagreeing on EVERYTHING. His name was Bob Novak. An absolute jerk politically (though nowhere as extreme as my friend described above), but a nice guy.

But it's not always opposites that attract. I still remain friends with very sane political brothers like Jerry Nadler and Howard Dean. So, there are never any stereotypes that can be counted on in DC.

[luvtheGWN]

38. I remember reading several years ago from

a distinguished and highly recognized member of the press, that his experiences in Washington often confused him -- his personal views being liberal, he found Republicans much more fun to be around. Loved getting invitations to dinner from them, and found the Democrats by and large to be much too dour for his liking!

So, even though the GOP don't know how to govern, they at least know how to party........

[RandomAccess]

63. Yeah, because Democrats

take that shit seriously -- they know what goes on in Washington can HURT people. Republicans don't care, so are free to "party."

[calimary]

101. Sheesh! Sounds almost like Roger the Ratfucker!

[DFW]

108. Roger is Bernie Sanders compared to this guy

His name is Richard Viguerie. He's not hard to look up, but make sure you have not eaten two hours prior.

I'll be seeing Richard in 10 days. I wonder what he'll have to say this time. Richard fancies himself an ultimate "conservative." I last talked to him a year ago, and reminded him Trump was anything but a true conservative. Richard said, "I don't care if he's a communist! He won't be present for 99% of meetings and committees, so as long as he or his people PICK conservatives, I don't care what he is!"

[calimary]

137. OMG - Richard Viguerie?

Isn't he the guy who raised direct-mail shakedowns to a high art?

[DFW]

142. That's the one n/t

[calimary]

145. Oh man... he's a stinker from WAY back.

And an enabler of sooooooooo many bad guys because of his fundraising ability.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Viguerie

So does this mean, because we all know you, we're all one degree of separation from him? Or would that be two?

[DFW]

147. I know, I know!! I was prepared to kick him in his privates the second I met him.

Unfortunately for me, he turned out to be a perfectly personal, charming guy. It frustrated the hell out of me. But I remembered Wayne Morse, an anti-war Senator from Oregon from the Vietnam era and one of my heroes, and was devastated to find out he was an asshole. It works both ways. Welcome to Washington.

[Hav]

6. That was exactly my thought

It's strange that probably one of the most conservative Democrats has the most rational and fair approach to a very sensitive issue and who is someone who calls out the unfair and hypocritical actions of his colleagues. And he is right, of course.

[Alice11111]

92. W Va, who would have thunk it? Even some of the Repubs

were aghast.

[calimary]

99. I was surprised to see this, too.

I don’t ordinarily expect much from a senator like Joe Manchin. But I agree with him here.

Al Franken was a COMEDIAN when that photo was taken. Taken at the end of a freakin’ USO tour full of traveling minstrels, wise-crackers, and a pretty girl or two (or more) when everybody’s sleep-deprived, jet-lagged, and slap-happy forcryingoutloud. His subsequent record both as a radio talker and then an elected official has been STERLING on women’s issues. He’s been given NO due process here, something for which he readily volunteered right away. Isn’t our system of justice supposedly all about “innocent-til-proven-guilty”? He was flatly denied this, ganged up on, and railroaded outta there. (And of course his Senate knife-in-the-back colleagues all gathered ‘round to hug him after that. My, how “sweet”.)

And I’m sorry - but at THIS point in the #MeToo movement when women are finally empowered to come forward with much less fear (and can reveal their identities without fear) to put a human face on this crisis - there are things about the Al Franken accusations that don’t pass the smell test. Including those still-anonymous accusers of his. As I write this, it makes me think of the bold, courageous “Say Her Name!” campaign within the Black Lives Matter movement as it applies to female victims of police brutality.

Add the name Roger Stone in here, too. One need say no more on THAT score.

Plus, Stone’s likely collaborator here, a CON herself, works at a CONservative little AM station with a lousy signal and worse penetration in the market that I’d bet would damn near kill to get attention by now. I’d further suspect that little station, KABC-AM, is one of many in hate radio that’s in the pipeline with fiends like Roger Stone. He gets around, don’t forget. Probably has friends in these low places. And I’m sure they all know each other anyway. I bet they all converge at the GOP state and national conventions, fundraisers and parties, and that they guest on each other’s radio, TV, cable, and internet shows.

And one more thing, too: I’m afraid I have very little sympathy for the complaint “he grabbed my waist” - during a frickin’ PHOTO OP, IN PUBLIC, AT A COUNTY FAIR. For Pete’s Sake, there are women who had the very skin of their vagina touched. Their clothes removed from them. Shoved up against the wall and manhandled AFTER the assailant made sure everyone else had left the room and nobody’d see. Locked into some big-cheese’s office and raped. Walked in on while in various stages of undress. Deliberately fingered and fondled when it was NOT some stupid juvenile comedy bit, and later suffering further public degradation when the offender BRAGS about it to Howard Stern or Billy Bush and pals. Placing “he grabbed my waist” (during a photo op in the open at a county fair) in the same level or magnitude of offense just diminishes and cheapens the serious legitimate complaints of women who really were violated. Violated by ANYONE’S definition.

Sorry for the long rant. I’ve spent a lot of time processing this whole mess, awash in mixed feelings. I’ve come to conclude that I’m unable to disregard the rather overwhelming context here.

[BamaRefugee]

105. EXACTLY! And his "schtick" was a nebbish who was awkward around women, half the time...n/t

[Guilded Lilly]

8. Im STILL pissed about this bullshit. Hard to write about it civilly. Damage is done.

[harun]

50. When Dems I support financially have called lately I have said as much. They may be getting the

message in their fundraising, that they might want to consider fighting their enemy rather than crushing their own honorable members.

[Guilded Lilly]

75. Ive made my views known well to a handful that I support. Yup. Accountability.

[Alice11111]

122. Same here. I have been a fundraiser in the past.

[madaboutharry]

9. Sen. Gillibrand reminds me of a high school Queen Bee.

She may have a soft voice, but she can whip people up and intimidate them into following her. Many of the senators standing near her during her "Enough is Enough" news conference looked like meek little wannabees.

I think as time passes Gillibrand is going to feel voter backlash. Democrats hold grudges.

[Pachamama]

12. This is who Gillibrand reminds me of......

Tracy Flick for President....

[Merlot]

91. Yes, Tracy Flick was annoying, but she won.

Love that movie!

[PragmaticLiberal]

22. Speaking of Sen. Gillibrand, Trump's attack came at the perfect time.

It made her a sympathetic figure and took the heat off, at least temporarily.

[democratisphere]

25. Not in my mind. She is part of the problem and certainly not the solution.

[disndat]

41. Agree, 100%

Gillibrand has done a lot of damage with her sharp elbows.

[karynnj]

59. I disagree - She has made harrasment on issue for years and it IS an important issue

You can disagree whether Franken was ambushed mostly by his past as a comdien in an era where much of the humor seemed to be more appropriate for 13 year old boys than adults. It was a reason I have found lots of stand up comedy to be not funny and disgusting. The fact is thought - that was accepted by the majority of people in our culture.

I think that photograph - even though no groping was involved at all - was a powerful image for the right to argue that we would selectly protect Democrats, Franken and yes, they brought back Clinton. The accusations that powerful people in entertainment and media were immediately punished (ignoring that most accustations against them were not new - just newly published and, given most involved settlements, they almost certainly were investigated), but in government - nothing happened.

I would have prefered if they immediately could have had an investigation - as Franken asked for. However, before that happened, more complaints came out. The scary thing about the "photo" accusations is that there was no proof and ANY politician takes thousands of those photos. (That become prize possetions of the people with the politician, but likely a rather boring chore for the politician who poses with them .. and then hundreds of other people.) In addition to an investigation, one thing that might have occured based on it is some new standard of what is NOT acceptable.

I am not even sure that we on DU could agree to an objective standard. Obviously, going forward, there should be zero tolerance of any sexually harrasing behaviour in the office and in any official function AND it likely should be spelled out what is not acceptable. The question is what about things that happened in the past. Certainly Ray Moore's behavior was unaccptable. What should have happened if those accounts came out ONLY after he won - even with all his others obvious flaws?

My guess is that what happened with Franken is that unfortunately for him became a distraction. His support in his state fell - meaning he might become extremely vulnerable in 2020 when he ran again -- and ineffective while he continued to deal with repeated stories dropping.

[brush]

64. Funny, no accusers since he was forced out. IMO repugs racked up a successful hit job aided by...

an ambitious, over-zealous Dem.

[karynnj]

65. I would agree that accusations were politically motivated, but do not blame Gillibrand

[brush]

67. Ahhhhh...she led the charge.

[PatSeg]

86. And we CAN blame her

for charging in without adequate investigation of the allegations. She should have known better, as trigger-happy responses only undermine very real allegations of sexual assault and harassment. She did not serve the victims, she trivialized an important issue and destroyed a career in the process.

[Guilded Lilly]

73. The whole deal smacks bigtime.

[questionseverything]

83. what happened to franken was a hit job...kg provided the distraction

as we should of been fighting for net neutrality or defeating the monstrous tax cut we have had to spend time and energy defending one of our most effective senators from our own party over an accused "squeeze"

btw we call that a hug in Illinois

hopefully franken changes his mind and stays thru the investigation...I really want every woman that has accused him ,under oath and let them all, including franken take lie detectors

kg has put us in the position of defending a senate seat in 2018 when we were safe there until 2020

[Bengus81]

110. Yup...seen any accusations SINCE he was thrown under the bus???

Let Franken announce he's not resigning and you'll have a new accusation by 8am the next day. I'm sure it will be as horrible as this Franken "groping" incident.........

[Alice11111]

124. Big distraction from the Tax & Much-More-Cut that will

Cost millions of people their quality of life for many, their lives.

Did we win something here or help anyone?
Did the Repubs say, now, we have to take the upper road, like the Dems...throw out our most effective leaders without even an investigation.


Nope, the RW is

[R B Garr]

100. Wrong about the image. That is exactly the kind of

shenanigans that happens during that USO show. It’s what that show is made for, and Tweeden engaged in it herself. If the issue REALLY is how women are treated, then Tweeden and Gillibrand would be united together to fight that show and bring it to an end. But they aren’t doing that. They won’t do that because that would be a losing and unpopular position.

That picture is just a gotcha on Franken so that others can jump on the bandwagon and spread doubt about him. It was not a picture taken surreptitiously to demean women. By allowing the “both sides do it” talk, it fails to address the absurd setup that has allowed Franken to be victimized by these inane lies. He never got a chance to fight back, so it’s not a surprise that people fell for the scam.

Let’s see Gillibrand campaign for an end to the USO show and address that environment instead of forcing out Senators who were elected all on their own — without her help (she needed the Clintons' to win her seat, hmm... )

[karynnj]

107. You are right about the USO and the raunchy humor BUT that rauchy humor and the way it degrades

women is disgusting. I agree that Franken became the victim years after the picture was taken. The problem is that for many years, many very popular comdiens engaged in juvenile, highly sexist humor. Nothing done by Fraken then was outside the norm for late night comedy.

I do not know if it is Congress's responsibility to change what is acceptable in comedy. I doubt that how Franken is treated will change what SNL and standup comics do. Only if people did not laugh or walked out when they thought a skit was inappropriate will things change. For most people, even if they think something questionable, worry that if they pushed the people they were with to leave, that they would be seen as "humorless" or rigid etc.

[cannabis_flower]

76. I was watching

Law and order yesterday and thinking to myself that the blonde prosecutor looked like Kirsten Gillibrand.

[Renew Deal]

98. 2 things

Most voters agree with her and most voters in Minnesota think Franken should resign.

[calimary]

103. Indeed?

I’d like to hear more about that. Yours is the first such comment I’ve seen. It’s really the voters in Minnesota who have the most say-so here.

[Renew Deal]

109. Here is one poll

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/22/al-franken-senate-resign-poll-257554

[scarletwoman]

120. No where at that link does it specify Minnesota voters. nt

[calimary]

143. Thanks. I did go look at it.

I read it over a couple of times just to make sure. This looks like a nationwide poll, and it was conducted November 16-19, issued on Nov. 22. Nothing indicated this was a poll specifically of Minnesota voters.

Interestingly enough, 50% said Franken should resign, compared to 22% who said he shouldn't. And considerably more than 50% - 66% to be exact - said the case should go to the ethics committee.

I'd love to see a poll taken on this from just last week. One a lot more recent than a month ago.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. At the very least he should re-offer in the 2018 special election. I think he'd win. . . nt

[still_one]

14. No. Either he rescinds his resignation and serves through 2020, unless the ethics investigation

makes it unworkable, or he steps away.

Participating in the special election would be too risky

[LisaL]

37. That wouldn't be a good idea at all.

Obviously he isn't going to do it.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

39. I don't understand why you think winning is not a good idea. We need him. . . nt

[LisaL]

40. There is no point of him resigning just so he can run in a special election.

[karynnj]

61. I doubt it -- if the woman placed in that job is seen as doing a good competent job

Last edited Mon Dec 18, 2017, 03:27 PM - Edit history (1)

He has always had a far lower approval rating than Klobuchar - even as Franken was more of a left wing favorite because of who he is. She has an agreement with Dayton, who appointed her, that she will run for reelection. I think a bruising primary where Franken challenged this woman - assuming she is as competent and capable as people have said would harm the Democrats.

I suspect that he might wait until 2020 - especially if she then opts not to run again. Then, it will have been about 2 and a half years since this mess and what he does in those two and a half years will matter. As he obviously did not plan for what he will do after leaving office, it might take a period of time to assess what options exist and which allow him to do things important to him.

It will be interesting to see what he will do. He could return to entertainment/media, but he has spent the last decade emphasizing his intelligent serious side - not to say that good humor does not require intelligence and he might not want to return to what he did and who he was a decade ago. He also might have some trouble with moving into a media pundit position as networks might be skittish with hiring him because of these accusations. My bet is he might actually work and write a book on all kinds of harassment in government office. The fact that his staffers, present and past, have strongly defended him suggests that some might support him on something like this. It could help define what the "rules" should be and be the best way to clear his own name. (If so, oddly enough - he might end up working outside government on the issue that Gillibrand will likely head in the Senate.)

[LakeArenal]

70. Thanks for planning out the rest of his career for him

And for us. How about your speculation that “Gillibrand will likely run the Senate”.

However, most of us on this thread say Bah Hum Bug. Maybe we’d rather speculate that Franken will likely run the Senate..

Al Franken don’t resign.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

78. If you actually read karynnj's post: she DID NOT write that. Your quote is FALSE.

You wrote:

And for us. How about your speculation that “Gillibrand will likely run the Senate”.

karynnj did not write that. She writes carefully.

Pay her the respect she deserves. Read. Carefully. That means "with care", "not carelessly".

She actually wrote "the issue that Gillibrand will likely head in the Senate" That is completely different from becoming Senate Majority Leader.

Then you slam her with a made up excerpt. You didn't get the basics right so we have to disregard the rest of your post too.

[karynnj]

87. I made no speculation on future leadership of the Democratic caucus

I spoke of leading on an issue -- and issue on which she has already led for years. Even before any of this harrasment issue started, Franken was not a Senator who was part of the Senate leadership, nor is Gillibrand. Not all Senators even try to becaome the majority/minority leader. Here is a link to our leadership - https://www.democrats.senate.gov// (Both Patty Murray and Amy Klobichar are more likely to be the first female Democratic Majority Leader than Gillibrand.)

I suspect that, even though he did not resign as of a specific point, it will be be very difficult for Franken to walk his resignation back especially as his successor was named. Note that he even praised her selection.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

71. Could be. Your post is thoughtful, makes good points & has good ideas. Worth a read. . . nt

[karynnj]

84. Thanks

[Alice11111]

125. Important info, so this woman is a serious contender

to run against him, if Sen Franken runs again.

This is even more reason that he should fight it out now. I also think most people don't understand what he did and did not do. He should make a stand for his reputation. It could only improve things. However, without Dem leadership support, he is in a bad place.

Sad days.

[spooky3]

144. This poll from April 2017 showed that they had approval ratings only 4 percentage points apart.

http://www.twincities.com/2017/04/11/despite-trumps-near-win-in-minnesota-democratic-pols-still-popular-in-the-state/

[dsc]

11. The ones who privately have gone to him without using their names

have all the moral fiber of a chocolate eclair. I have way more respect for both Manchin and Gillibrand (despite my feeling she is in the wrong here) than I ever could have for them. At least both of them are owning their positions publicly.

[Casprings]

13. Franklin should go

What he did is not worse then Moore. I think Moore should go to Prison. However he has muliple women accusers who are disconnected. Serving in the Senate is not a right.

[Denzil_DC]

16. When you're calling for somebody to "go,"

it helps your credibility if you can get their name right.

[trusty elf]

19. "Franklin" should go?

Senator Franken shouldn't have been railroaded to resign before the ethics committee's investigation.

It's outrageous.

[lostnfound]

23. The people having the representation they voted for is generally a right

This isn’t about Al Franken, it’s about the people of Minnesota

[Bernardo de La Paz]

28. Yes, which is why he should re-offer for 2018 or announce now for 2020.

I think the voters can see past the smokescreen. Franken seems to have committed wrongful actions but, being realistic, they pale in comparison to the traumatic career-damaging acts of the Weinsteins, Cosbys, tRumps, and Hasterts.

He has already paid a personal price, paid attention, and been made an example of.

Enough is enough.

Plus the USA needs smart Senators who hold the rich and powerful to account and cut through their lies.

[BeyondGeography]

24. No

Our founding fathers have lifetime tenure for a reason.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

30. After all, Ben is on the C-note for that and many reasons.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

26. Who is Franklin?

Should we care about your opinion if you don't care to get right the single most important word in the whole thread?

[A-Schwarzenegger]

27. Ben?

[pazzyanne]

32. Judge much when facts are not know?

As a survivor of sexual abuse I can say that what Al Franken is accused of does not come close to what I experienced. Have you read the information about the women who have done the accusing? 4 of the eight accusers remain anonymous and supposedly all of these supposed incidents happened in very public places, some during photo ops. The remaining 4 are 1) Leeann Tweeden and involved USO hi jinx of which she was also a perpetrator, 2) Lindsey Menz was posing for a photo op with her husband present, 3)Stephanie Kemplen - also posing for a USO photo with others present, and 4)Tina Dupuy - a photo op at an inaugural ball with hundreds of people present. Meanwhile 36 female SNL co-workers wrote a letter of support for Franken. And finally Franken was not give the opportunity to have due process via the senate ethics committee nor has one of the eight women filed a law suit against him. As a Minnesota voter I have had my vote taken away from me by a group of DEMOCRATIC senators and I resent that!

[StevieM]

80. Great post. And welcome to DU!! (eom)

[Alice11111]

129. Strong woman, speaks well.

Welcome.

[harun]

51. I support due-process. Group accusations are not due process.

[LakeArenal]

57. Yes. Benjamin Franklin did have many accusers...

He was quite a lady chaser I have heard.

PS Serving in the Senate is not a right. It is an elected office. Those who get to vote should decide who they want representing them. It's not the decision of a self-righteous lynch mob. Including those who don't even know the name of the man they are lynching.

[nini]

117. lol

[Alice11111]

127. No. RW hit job and no support from his side.

Understatement.

[SovereignsofIndustry]

17. Zero Tolerance is a Republican platform

There's no moral position achieved in chastising Al Franken, Garrison Keillor or your favorite Joe for seeking to connect emotionally with their fellow humans.
The only thing that's been achieved so far is knowing where the prudish high ground exists.
It would be nice for the "inquisition" to examine the moral intelligence that our friends can bring to conversation now that we've seen the diversity of the problem.

[druidity33]

113. Well Phrased! I concur! So true! Exclamation!

Truly could not agree more wrt Zero tolerance. Republican platform or no, suspending a child for bringing a butter knife to school, or ibuprofen/otc painkillers, etc... is absurdity. Case by case people. Why can't folks just THINK? And be reasonable? Damn. Grumble. Moving on....

K&R

[Alice11111]

130. He was wrongly accused. RW hit job.

I saw a cartoon, it showed him saying, "they don't like me."

People who worked with him and knew him well, women, through the years to the present, hundreds, stood up for him.

I just wonder why his colleagues didn't like him?

[Pacifist Patriot]

18. Being named as his appointed successor is meaningless.

Until such time as there is an actual vacancy.

[ebbie15644]

20. I totally agree he should reverse his decision

[barbtries]

21. i hope he does too.

the railroading of Al Franken broke my democratic soul. He called for an ethics investigation right from the start. that's what should happen. he is one of the best.

[marble falls]

29. Franken is a real leader, we need him in the Senate.

[disndat]

33. Franken was Unique

He had the insight and intelligence to speak out and say, "the emperor has no clothes." Maybe that was why he was railroaded.
He probably stepped on too many toes among his colleagues and was seen as a threat.

[Alice11111]

128. !!!

[ariadne0614]

31. Here is another relevant quote from the article,

in case you didn’t read the whole thing:
“I and many other people — and specifically feminists — feel that it’s not too late, that he should not resign, and that the rush to sweep him out was ill-conceived, and we think that he has been supportive of women and women’s issues,” said Emily Jane Goodman, a retired New York state Supreme Court judge who’s helped start a Feminists for Franken group on Facebook. “Although we do deplore any kind of gender-based misconduct, we think at the same time he is entitled to a fair hearing.”

[pazzyanne]

34. What you said!!!

I agree totally.

[dalton99a]

55. +1

[LakeArenal]

58. The gender based misconduct....

Talking about Franken or Gillibrand's lynch mob? I see a group of politicians damning another because of spurious claims as some serious misconduct.

[LisaL]

36. There some very "brave" anonymous Senators that want Franken to reconsider, but wouldn't want

their names public.
About as impressive as anonymous accusations against Franken.

[heaven05]

42. I hope he does

come back to help defeat the white male fascism, racism, sexism that intends to abrogate power and turn us into butt kissing slaves like Omarosa, then discarded like garbage.....

[Honeycombe8]

46. So...Manchin is not "reversing" himself. He was against it then & now. ??? nt

[PoliticAverse]

126. Yes he's always said that Franken shouldn't resign. n/t

[Alice11111]

132. Amazing, a man of courage.

Take him out, quickly.

[mn9driver]

48. Frankens railroading is going to have repercussions extending out for a long time.

Minnesota has a lot of energetic and informed liberals. They are the reason Franken was elected and re-elected. The Minnesota GOP cannot stand him. He quite literally makes them foam at the mouth.

It will be very difficult to keep this seat from going Republican next year. The overall electorate in Minnesota is very evenly split these days. Tina Smith is a good person but she has never actually run for office before and does not have a practiced public persona. I wish her the best of luck against the professional attack dogs the GOP will run against her.

If Franken remains in his seat, he is up in 2020. If he chooses to run again, he will win.

[Owl]

49. I hope he does reverse his resignation!

Last edited Mon Dec 18, 2017, 06:22 PM - Edit history (1)

We need Al!

[BlueIdaho]

52. I really like Al...

But it’s up to his electorate. The voices he should listen to are the voices of voters in his home state. If they want him back in DC - then he should go.

[LakeArenal]

60. You should be 100% correct...

But that's not the case. A group of non-MN residents have made the decision for them and Al. That's why we need to demand they rescind their demand for resignation.


I CONTINUE TO STAND WITH AL... Al Franken is still on my short list for President in 2020.

Run for Governor of MN Al, if we, the people, can't get you back in the Senate.

[BlueIdaho]

79. I am a supporter of Senator Franken as well...

No doubt that for a variety of reasons (none of them good in my mind) he lost his rights to due process and that is a crying shame.

I hope his career is not finished. He is thoughtful, compassionate, and wicked smart. Hell, if pussy grabber Trump can get elected, I don’t see any reason why Al should be elected as President.

[ret5hd]

53. Now that would really piss of about 5 people on this board!!!

[ffr]

54. Hell yeah!

Best news going right now.

[dalton99a]

56. What happened to Franken was unfair, unnecessary, and stupid.

[3catwoman3]

62. I find it interesting that there have been no...

...further claims against Senator Franken since his announcement that he would resign. I think he was railroaded by both sides of the aisle. Someone set him up, and his colleagues fell for it, IMO.

The term "swiftboated" can now be replaced with "Frankened."

[lunamagica]

66. K&R.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

68. Al Franken is a great senator and we have very few of his stature now serving, don't resign!!!

[BigDemVoter]

69. Joe Manchin would be the LAST Senator I would expect help from on this. . . .

Whoa. . . That's a shock.

[Kimchijeon]

72. Please please please Al!

We need ya ❤

[Lifelong Protester]

74. Don't resign, Al!

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

82. A friend who is a senate staffer told me

They haven't experienced this much hostility from their Democrat constituents since the Iraq War Resolution. Christmas functions are expected to be "uncomfortable".

[Demit]

94. Glad to hear it.

This will show them that we're paying attention. It was a major misstep, what they did. They ALL read the tea leaves wrong. I wonder if Gillebrand is their golden girl now.

[eissa]

89. For those of you who support Franken

Text ResistBot (50409 and type "Resist" in the message) and ask your Senators to have Franken stay. I just sent my Senators a message urging them to have Al rescind his resignation. I conveyed how upset I was that the party threw him under the bus based on flimsy accusations, without having an ethics hearing as he requested, denying the people of Minnesota a voice in the matter, and placing a seat that was safe until at least 2020 up for grabs next year. I know it's a longshot, but what the hell.

[Raine]

149. THANKS for the info!

[tblue37]

95. From the article (emphasis added):

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who issued a statement calling for Franken's resignation, has since told him privately that he regrets doing so, according to two people familiar with the conversation. Leahy declined to comment.

[janterry]

102. Well, Leahy is my guy

I guess I need to get on the phone!

I stand with Al

[PatrickforO]

96. Good.

Let the investigation provide the due process that is Franken's (and anyone else's) right.

THEN, based on those results ask him to resign if appropriate.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

104. Only 4?

[zentrum]

106. Plse stay Al!

[DFW]

112. Well, for once, I wish I were a Senator

Then that would make at least 5.

[YOHABLO]

114. The Democratic hierarchy really did not think this move out very well.

It's going to have some serious consequences. Disgruntled Minnesotans might stay home from the polls when Tina Smith initially runs for the seat.

[RealityChik]

119. Oh yes they did!

It was a cold and calculated decision. They needed a scapegoat, a sacrificial lamb to show sanctimonious "purity", since they all fully believed that Roy Moore would be the next Alabama senator. To the Gillibrand death squad, it didn't matter if they were burning one of the most effective and talented Senators ever to grace the halls of Congress. If no one had come forward for Chuck Schumer, he'd have also been sacrificed at the altar of Gillibrand's of Zero Tolerance!

Well, don't get me started. I'm on my knees praying that Al Franken will come back. Any Dem that doesn't have the guts to make a public apology to him is dead to me, including my own Senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. I'll donate to Manchin's and Leahy's campaigns before I will ever give my own Senators another penny. As of this moment, they are an embarrassment to me as an American.

[Marie Marie]

115. Yes! Oh please, oh please.

[McCamy Taylor]

116. So basically Dem Senators were afraid that hearings

About Franken would distract from their attempts to keep the focus on Trump and this is why they urged him to resign. Senate GOP are always threatening to hold hearings and Dems keep caving.

[Alice11111]

133. ...maybe they should have focused on the tax bill...

as it will damage millions of lives...

[stuffmatters]

118. Finally ONE Dem Senators has the nerve to say it out loud; Al was railroaded

by his own Party. What a shitshow these Dem Senators created, what an insult to every woman who really has suffered the lifelong trauma of sexual abuse

I called my senators before when this obscenity happened, I'll do another round.

Not only did they conspire in darkness to remove the most popular, trusted Democrat from office without allowing due process of an investigation; now it appears they have created another difficult Senate contest in Minn, which is nolonger post Franken a shoo in Dem seat. Especially after the Minn voters got cheated of their duly elected Senator by Democratic Senators AND the DNC, I expect a significant percentage of retaliation/stay home, disgusted voters.

[Alice11111]

131. Yeah, " insult to women who suffered..." Well stated

Glenn Close called it out today too. If anyone defends him, get the rope and find a tree, fast, before due process can get a break.

[RayStar]

135. Stay

I want Sen. Franken to stay.

[ucrdem]

138. Voters took care of Moore, and Franken and Conyers should have been

left to their voters, not to an appointed senator from another state. The Franken hatchet job was completely undemocratic and self-defeating so yes, a do-over is a great idea.

p.s. I realize that KG was eventually elected but she was originally appointed to that seat by NY governor David Patterson:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/23/gillibrand.profile/

[orangecrush]

139. PLEASE let this happen!

[stonecutter357]

140. K&R

[Rhiannon12866]

141. From Daily KOS: Al Franken Urged To Reverse His Resignation And Go Through With Ethics Investigation

A number of Democrats are feeling remorseful over what is now being considered a rush to judgement in dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct against Senator Al Franken. Franken has been asked to reconsider his resignation, even though his successor, Minnesota Lt. Governor Tina Smith has been named. Politico:

The feeling that Franken should reconsider has gained some steam outside of the Senate, too, among Democratic donors and others, including a former Republican governor of Minnesota, Arne Carlson.

“I and many other people — and specifically feminists — feel that it’s not too late, that he should not resign, and that the rush to sweep him out was ill-conceived, and we think that he has been supportive of women and women’s issues,” said Emily Jane Goodman, a retired New York state Supreme Court judge who’s helped start a Feminists for Franken group on Facebook. “Although we do deplore any kind of gender-based misconduct, we think at the same time he is entitled to a fair hearing.”

The group directly counters Gillibrand’s statement that there should be no gradations made in assessing problematic sexual conduct: “We believe it is crucial to make distinctions and to respond proportionally,” the group’s mission statement reads.


https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/18/1725504/-Al-Franken-Is-Being-Urged-To-Reverse-His-Resignation-And-Go-Through-With-Ethics-Investigation

[WyLoochka]

146. Stay put in the Senate, Al

Was ticked off last week when Governor Dayton rushed out the Tina Smith appointment while so many were telling anyone and everyone to have Franken stay. Proceed with the investigation - with testimony under oath from all parties.

Senator Franken stay in your Senate seat

[Raine]

148. Franken needs to unresign, he was railroaded! nt

[Tatiana]

150. So, have we heard of any additional accusations lately?

Oh no????

Yeah, I guess there isn't a point. They got what they wanted.

Al Franken will resign, but he shouldn't and Gillibrand as well as all the other Senators who followed behind her deserve to be visited by more than a bit of karma for causing us to loose such a great Senator.

[GatoGordo]

151. He announced Jan 2.

Tina Smith will be sworn in the next day.