We are shattered now

[Turn CO Blue]

19. Democrats forgave Ted Kennedy, the Lion of the Senate, for many things.

(Ted was a flawed man but we all forgave him for so many things, such as fracturing the party by primarying a sitting Dem President, and some flaws that included allegations of misconduct with women and some other legal matters) But good dog, where would we be without having Ted Kennedy in the Senate for his long tenure? If he'd been run out after some of those accusations or never gotten into office?

Democrats forgave Bill Clinton for many things, as he was/is a flawed and at the time, overly-sexual, possibly even aggressive, man sitting in the Oval Office. I don't condone the actions, but instead state the obvious - people are complicated and are neither purely saintly nor purely evil.

I would have been more than willing to allow Al Franken to learn from any mistakes, to be censured, to repent and to learn enough about this issue to later become a champion for women in our cause against sexual harassment and assault.

But thanks, Perez and leadership, thanks.

Ain't it grand that we now have the moral highground, supposedly, or so I'm told -- but hey, nevermind that we are losing in every other way.

IMO, we just look like we bowed to a reactionary movement to go 180 degrees in the opposite direction into draconian banishment -- this from a party that supposedly values due process, education, insight, nuance and abhors absolutes.

Voters have extremely short memories. They can't remember past two days, much less into next year to reward us at the ballot box for our grandstanding castigation of Al Franken.

And hey, we will now have TWO seats to defend for Senator in MN in 2018.