General Discussion

Collimator

(2,102 posts)

93. It's not about defending innocence. . .

Wed Dec 6, 2017, 11:46 PM

Dec 2017

It's about defining the severity of guilt. If Franken is guilty of the actions his accusers allege, his behavior still does not fit a reasonable standard for charges of "assault", "harassment" or "abuse". Such non-criminal behaviors can be called out and the feelings of those who have been offended can be recognized and validated.

What other recompense is required? Are any of the Senator's accusers in need of therapy to deal with some form of trauma as a result of their interactions with him? Have their careers been negatively impacted?

Senator Franken has pledged to do better, to be more cognizant of his physical interactions with women in the public sphere, which-- for a politician-- is essentially his professional sphere. That should be enough to allow him to go about his job of serving his voters. Unfortunately, it is not enough for those seeking their pound of flesh.

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Just. Too. Damn. Disgusted. To. Bother. Arguing. [View all] Atticus Dec 2017 OP

Never doubt that some of us value and share your thoughts on the current clusterfuck. (nt) Paladin Dec 2017 #1

gillibrand does not appreciate due process or the right to a fair hearing seems to me. nt msongs Dec 2017 #2

Even though she says Proud Liberal Dem Dec 2017 #47

How's he going to get a fair hearing if he is railroaded before the investigation? ollie10 Dec 2017 #103

Short answer: Proud Liberal Dem Dec 2017 #113

I. Am. With. You. (n/t) PJMcK Dec 2017 #3

I am sick. LisaL Dec 2017 #4

AGREE 100%. beaglelover Dec 2017 #5

Your post is welcome with many of US. democratisphere Dec 2017 #6

Which is why you start a whole new thread... right? FBaggins Dec 2017 #7

i call bs questionseverything Dec 2017 #19

Now there's an internal monologue worthy of SNL FBaggins Dec 2017 #22

i pray he does not resign but questionseverything Dec 2017 #25

It makes perfect sense from a game theoretic perspective. Loki Liesmith Dec 2017 #28

Horrible reasoning. woolldog Dec 2017 #58

So how about explaining how it would KPN Dec 2017 #67

Or maybe he'll resign because he's fed up with all the BS dflprincess Dec 2017 #92

Bullshit leftynyc Dec 2017 #44

So he's not just falsely accused and put upon... he's stupid? FBaggins Dec 2017 #52

So ... how will you feel when he KPN Dec 2017 #70

I don't think there's much chance of that FBaggins Dec 2017 #89

You seem to have forgotten the shakiness of the first accuser's story, Tweeden,... brush Dec 2017 #110

One who is leftynyc Dec 2017 #100

I certainly wouldn't resign if I was innocent. Its just bullshit. 7962 Dec 2017 #123

"If he resigns". Well, if he doesn't KPN Dec 2017 #65

He's almost certainly resigning FBaggins Dec 2017 #83

It's not about defending innocence. . . Collimator Dec 2017 #93

I completely disagree. Neema Dec 2017 #96

This almost 70 yr old woman agrees with you. crazylikafox Dec 2017 #8

Think "ACORN". Think "Swiftboat". Everybody getting the picture? n/t Mister Ed Dec 2017 #9

Bingo wryter2000 Dec 2017 #32

Don't forget Shirley Sherrod. FuzzyRabbit Dec 2017 #36

This is also the REPUBLICAN PARTY trying to justify everyone aka Both Parties do it... yuiyoshida Dec 2017 #56

Exactly. n/t Mister Ed Dec 2017 #60

I don't see them getting tRump out? bdamomma Dec 2017 #73

So how long before Trump calls himself "a god" .... yuiyoshida Dec 2017 #75

His most sycophantic followers call him "God Emperor" Hong Kong Cavalier Dec 2017 #122

Exactly. KPN Dec 2017 #72

I completely agree with you. Pacifist Patriot Dec 2017 #10

I feel exactly the same way, and appreciate your post. MoonRiver Dec 2017 #11

Just for once, I'd like to see the Democrats FIGHT. hamsterjill Dec 2017 #12

Can you share the details RandomAccess Dec 2017 #13

Roger Stone is all I needed to see in that article Butterflylady Dec 2017 #49

Okay, but that's not an answer to my question RandomAccess Dec 2017 #51

I'm with you Bettie Dec 2017 #14

I Agree - A "Stone" Job Jimbo101 Dec 2017 #15

I agree alwaysinasnit Dec 2017 #16

This is called a circular firing squad. We're firing inward and Repugs firing outward. KY_EnviroGuy Dec 2017 #17

Please don't "go dark," Atticus. Not all of us find your post unwelcome. Glorfindel Dec 2017 #18

He wasnt accused of unwanted kissing Nevernose Dec 2017 #20

A lot of us agree with you kcr Dec 2017 #21

Agree completely with your OP. hadEnuf Dec 2017 #23

DO NOT RESIGN!!!! SJMULE Dec 2017 #24

Done! I called. rury Dec 2017 #71

WE ARE SO FUCKED. onecaliberal Dec 2017 #26

I am joining you in the dark... Moostache Dec 2017 #27

I agree with you completely. LakeArenal Dec 2017 #29

PLs stick around. We need people to combat the ridiculous naivete of some who fall... brush Dec 2017 #30

I agree with your statements. intheozone Dec 2017 #31

DON'T RESIGN! This is unfair! I say that as a feminist who hates harassers. But THIS is unfair and Honeycombe8 Dec 2017 #33

I totally get how you feel. Right now, I don't know how much more of this shit I can take. smirkymonkey Dec 2017 #34

Im really sickened by this. If he did this, he AllyCat Dec 2017 #35

I agree Worried senior Dec 2017 #37

So jl_theprofessor Dec 2017 #38

Get lost leftynyc Dec 2017 #48

Brava!! ChubbyStar Dec 2017 #66

moore is a pedophile ............ stonecutter357 Dec 2017 #50

Isn't there a bit more corroboration of those allegations vs. the Franken ones? Proud Liberal Dem Dec 2017 #79

No need to go dark. I think you are expressing the prevaling sentiment. Amaryllis Dec 2017 #39

I agree 100% leftynyc Dec 2017 #40

I feel the same way, and I'm a woman.. I just sent him an email asking him NOT TO RESIGN secondwind Dec 2017 #41

So did I. n/t rainin Dec 2017 #43

So did I. CozyMystery Dec 2017 #102

It is very reasonable that Franken could be innocent and still resign. rainin Dec 2017 #42

This is a visceral pain for me. Al just cant quit rainy Dec 2017 #45

Move over, Atticus, Ill sit by you!... Guilded Lilly Dec 2017 #46

Answer them back!!!! Call, tweet, facebook-lots of people are. We need a roar. This is bullshit. 58Sunliner Dec 2017 #53

We stay Break time Dec 2017 #54

+1,000 PatrickforO Dec 2017 #55

Exactly, those same dems give the republicans a pass. I never hear them opining for any rainy Dec 2017 #84

No argument from me. GallopingGhost Dec 2017 #57

I'm going to listen to some music. That always seems to help jalan48 Dec 2017 #59

Agree. mountain grammy Dec 2017 #61

Welcome XRubicon Dec 2017 #62

I'm with you. Totally disgusted with this whole situation.. rainlillie Dec 2017 #63

I e-mailed Franken and asked him not to resign chaking53 Dec 2017 #64

I am absolutely livid. sinkingfeeling Dec 2017 #68

Senator Franken moonseller66 Dec 2017 #69

I feel the same. cwydro Dec 2017 #74

So many of us feel this way flamingdem Dec 2017 #76

I know. cwydro Dec 2017 #77

I agree with you. nancy1942 Dec 2017 #78

All of us except the trolls are with you. WinstonSmith4740 Dec 2017 #80

For some reason, we're unable to see a nakedly orchestrated political assassination for what it is. MrModerate Dec 2017 #81

This is all about Gillebrand For President 2020 ollie10 Dec 2017 #105

Bad call then. I'm a reasonably generous Democratic donor . . . MrModerate Dec 2017 #107

I think we need to take names ollie10 Dec 2017 #109

K&rR nt ProudProgressiveNow Dec 2017 #82

I'm so depressed lately. All this is really harming my health. OliverQ Dec 2017 #85

AGREED pamdb Dec 2017 #86

Totally agree! denvine Dec 2017 #87

If he is basically forced to resign I am done moda253 Dec 2017 #88

Your sentiment is shared by many dalton99a Dec 2017 #90

Why are Dems always loading the guns for the Repubs? Lifelong Protester Dec 2017 #91

Ya know what I like abut posts like this? I can click on the number of recs and see . . . . Stinky The Clown Dec 2017 #94

Agree 100% Heartstrings Dec 2017 #95

Your voice is welcome, and I share your outrage. Kimchijeon Dec 2017 #97

unwelcome? no barbtries Dec 2017 #98

I, too softfls Dec 2017 #99

It is welcome to me lillypaddle Dec 2017 #101

The anonymous accusers may not even be women for all we know.... ollie10 Dec 2017 #104

I heard one of the Senators say that she took the allegations seriously because of "numerocity." betsuni Dec 2017 #106

Im with you Atticus... Pachamama Dec 2017 #108

Does Senator Gillibrand et al realize she's severing our base? YOHABLO Dec 2017 #111

I'm done with THEM. Period full stop! usaf-vet Dec 2017 #114

Couldn't be madder zentrum Dec 2017 #112

I feel the same way you do. BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2017 #115

Atticus saidsimplesimon Dec 2017 #116

I fully expect all the DU accounts that have been calling for Franken to resign Thor_MN Dec 2017 #117

226 recommends, seems pretty welcome to me. Nt lostnfound Dec 2017 #118

It is certainly very frustrated Jan Levinson Dec 2017 #119

K & R SunSeeker Dec 2017 #120

We are fucked. Thoroughly. VOX Dec 2017 #121

I am sick to my stomach... orbitalman Dec 2017 #124