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In reply to the discussion: For those who trash the Democratic Brand... just leaving this here: [View all]wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)86. From Jane Mayer's Al Franken piece
On December 1, 2017, seven female Democratic senatorsGillibrand, Kamala Harris, Claire McCaskill, Mazie Hirono, Patty Murray, Maggie Hassan, and Catherine Cortez Mastomet with Chuck Schumer to tell him that most of them were on the verge of demanding Frankens resignation. At least one of them had already drafted such a statement, and the groups resolve hardened further when some of its members learned of an impending Politico story that contained a seventh allegation, by a former Senate staff member. The accuser, whose name is being withheld at her request, was known to some of the seven female senators. The woman said that, in 2006, when Franken was still a comedian, he had made her uneasy by looking as if he planned to kiss her. The senator she had worked for hadnt known of the allegation at the time, but vouched for her credibility.
(snip)
Soon after Gillibrand declared that Franken must resign, Senator Murray, who is in the Democratic leadership, made the same call, sending a signal to colleagues that the push was coming from the top. The Rhode Island senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a friend of Frankens, recalls being astonished that there had been no emergency meeting of the Democratic caucus. A reasonably organized group of our caucus decided to do this without giving their own colleagues a heads-up, he said. This was about demanding that a member of our own caucus resign from the Senate. It was a big deal. From that point on, he said, it was like a slow-rolling stampede through the day, waiting to see who would bolt next, with no meeting, no hearing, no process.
Franken asked to meet with Schumer, who suggested talking at his apartment in downtown D.C., in order to avoid the press. It was like a scene out of a movie, Franken recalled. Schumer sat on the edge of his bed while Franken and his wife, who had come to lend moral support, pleaded for more time. According to Franken, Schumer told him to quit by 5 p.m.; otherwise, he would instruct the entire Democratic caucus to demand Frankens resignation. Schumers spokesperson denied that Schumer had threatened to organize the rest of the caucus against Franken. But he confirmed that Schumer told Franken that he needed to announce his resignation by five oclock. Schumer also said that if Franken stayed he could be censured and stripped of committee assignments.
(snip)
Soon after Gillibrand declared that Franken must resign, Senator Murray, who is in the Democratic leadership, made the same call, sending a signal to colleagues that the push was coming from the top. The Rhode Island senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a friend of Frankens, recalls being astonished that there had been no emergency meeting of the Democratic caucus. A reasonably organized group of our caucus decided to do this without giving their own colleagues a heads-up, he said. This was about demanding that a member of our own caucus resign from the Senate. It was a big deal. From that point on, he said, it was like a slow-rolling stampede through the day, waiting to see who would bolt next, with no meeting, no hearing, no process.
Franken asked to meet with Schumer, who suggested talking at his apartment in downtown D.C., in order to avoid the press. It was like a scene out of a movie, Franken recalled. Schumer sat on the edge of his bed while Franken and his wife, who had come to lend moral support, pleaded for more time. According to Franken, Schumer told him to quit by 5 p.m.; otherwise, he would instruct the entire Democratic caucus to demand Frankens resignation. Schumers spokesperson denied that Schumer had threatened to organize the rest of the caucus against Franken. But he confirmed that Schumer told Franken that he needed to announce his resignation by five oclock. Schumer also said that if Franken stayed he could be censured and stripped of committee assignments.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/29/the-case-of-al-franken
The other Democratic senators ganged up on Franken and pushed him to resign. Schumer threatened to take away his committee assignments and censure him.
It's really not that hard for all the Democrats who matter to do the same thing to Manchin and get him to do what needs to be done.
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The difference is in trashing the Democratic Brand vs specific people within the Party
Budi
May 2021
#5
Do you do anything more than vote in elections and trash Democrats in between?
StarfishSaver
May 2021
#46
Looks like someone is keeping a little black book on some member here, eh? Weird is being nice.
George II
May 2021
#75
That's just bullshit. Except for tax cuts republicans got nothing done. At all.
GulfCoast66
May 2021
#36
I've gotten my posts deleted over Biden's actions on deportations and student loan forgivness
ansible
May 2021
#68
Four months? "So campaign platforms mean absolutely nothing as soon as a candidate takes office?"
betsuni
May 2021
#58
What results are you looking for? Remember, Biden has been President for just FOUR months!
George II
May 2021
#55
Considering what condition President Obama left America in and what Biden must now correct ...
Budi
May 2021
#7
The RWNJ media are desperate to get some "dirt" on Biden, by hook or by crook.
ShazzieB
May 2021
#12
Democrats are trashed as "centrists" "corporate Dems" same as Republicans, corrupt, but
betsuni
May 2021
#6
I went to the dentist Wednesday and they forgot to give me my little bag with a toothbrush...
George II
May 2021
#60
I wonder if anyone will advise Democrats to go to the hospital for a "complacency" removal.
betsuni
May 2021
#106
I think the thing to ask here, to everyone, EVERYONE, is... "What are YOU doing to play hardball?"
ck4829
May 2021
#51
What exactly do you think they should "do" to Manchin "short of pushing him out of office"?
StarfishSaver
May 2021
#79
I just love when Democrats come up with these kind of ridiculous "solutions"
StarfishSaver
May 2021
#90
You mean when they ended the recession, saved the economy, passed Obamacare, rescued auto industry
StarfishSaver
May 2021
#95
Anyone with half a brain could have predicted a teahadist backlash to Obama
wellst0nev0ter
May 2021
#110
There's a difference between calling out "those in the Democratic caucus who will sabotage
StarfishSaver
May 2021
#112
You said they should do what they did to Franken short of forcing him to resign
StarfishSaver
May 2021
#89
You keep taking about "getting them in line" but have offered no suggestions for doing that
StarfishSaver
May 2021
#116
One of the reasons I'm a Democrat is that we don't think "leading" means forcing everyo in ourbranks
StarfishSaver
May 2021
#122