Senator McCaskill's latest tweet:

[demmiblue]

Link to tweet

[gratuitous]

1. Democrats have indeed set a standard

Anonymous accusations are sufficient to force a Democratic Senator to resign. There is no concomitant standard for Republicans.

[DarthDem]

8. All The Accusations Weren't Anonymous

. . . and at least some were credible. It's not going to be an easy pattern to duplicate for any Goopers trying to do a manufactured hatchet job.

[lame54]

13. This is not the first...

This is far down the line

They are mastering their craft

[gratuitous]

14. The non-anonymous accusations

I didn't find either Lindsay Menz or Leanne Tweeden particularly credible. Menz's photo doesn't show what she claimed happened, and Tweeden appears to have played grab-ass and clutch-butt on the USO tour in Afghanistan, just as she accused Franken.

I am unaware of any other accusers who have identified themselves, and without more specifics, it's impossible to evaluate their credibility. There's a reason the jury selection process is called "voir dire."

[spooky3]

21. Stephanie Kemplin identified herself also.

She is a Republican and a Trump supporter.

[gratuitous]

26. Ah yes, she did

Another one whose photo didn't match the accusation, and whose accusation would have required that Franken either have an extra arm joint between his elbow and his wrist or Kemplin's active assistance.

[spooky3]

47. Or, that the photo must have been taken AFTER she allegedly turned away to escape his

grope (since she would not have turned from the photo position INTO a grope)--yet she is smiling and apparently relaxed.

[DarthDem]

23. There Were At Least Two Others . . .

. . . who identified themselves. There were almost certainly others who contacted Democrats behind the scenes.

I don't get the analogy to voir dire, sorry.

[gratuitous]

32. Voir dire literally translate to "to see, to say"

That is, in evaluating a witness' testimony, it's crucial to see and hear them to help establish their credibility. Random anonymous accusations don't provide that context.

[DarthDem]

36. I Know What It Means

I'm a trial lawyer and also happen to speak French. As I mentioned, all the allegations were not anonymous, hence I don't understand your point.

[gratuitous]

45. The named accusers don't seem credible to me

Leanne Tweeden complained about Franken grabbing her breasts, but the photo she produced doesn't show that. Other footage from that USO Tour show Tweeden grabbing other men by the buttocks and simulating sex acts with them on stage. I don't think her accusation and testimony of being traumatized is borne out by the available evidence. Tweeden also has the added disadvantage of being a Republican operative who consulted with Roger Stone before going public. Those circumstances augur against her credibility as an accuser.

The photos that Lindsay Menz and Stephanie Kemplin produced to support their accusations likewise doesn't show what they claim happened. I am willing to extend the benefit of the doubt to Menz, but if this was part of a pattern with Franken, there would be quite a few more women coming forward. Franken has posed for literally thousands of these photos over the years, and even a 1% grope rate would produce dozens more accusations. Because of this lack of other accusations, I'm inclined to believe that if Franken touched her buttocks, it was inadvertent.

Kemplin's account of what she claims happened to her is either physically impossible or accomplished with her active assistance. Try standing shoulder-to-shoulder with another person, wrap your arm around their back, and try to reach your hand around their arm and put your palm on their chest. The only way to do this is if the other person raises their arm and lets you reach under.

As an attorney, then, what sort of credibility do you generally ascribe to anonymous accusations and charges? Do you immediately and uncritically credit them even to your client's detriment? If so, you should probably disclose that to your client when you're hired. I know that I wouldn't want my attorney rolling over like that.

[DarthDem]

48. LOL

This isn't a court case. Your legal analogies fail. Sorry.

[gratuitous]

57. I was merely evaluating the credibility

Obviously you and I have different standards for doing that. Someone's unsupported word (and you don't even have to know who they are) is enough for you.

[flotsam]

63. No, it isn't a court case-it was a witch hunt or a smelling out

depending on your choice of metaphor but as a trial lawyer the thing that should concern you most is that it most certainly was not due process and that alone taints the outcome. It was indeed a lynching.

[hurple]

24. Actually

Not one was credible when examined honestly, according to the evidence provided.

Not. One.

[uponit7771]

39. None were credible enough for him to lose his seat over this

[OliverQ]

54. The first, and worst accusation was likely the biggest political hit job.

Leeanane Tweeden is a close personal friend of the Trump family and Sean Hannity. She's on tape groping a man without his permission, yet she has the audacity to target Franken over a skit she agreed to, with Roger Stone knowing about the accusation ahead of time?

Sorry, I don't buy it. This was a successful Republican ploy to remove the Senator who got us a Special Counsel and who put Sessions in jeopardy. And now they can use this on tons of other Democrats without consequence.

[Blue_true]

64. Completely agree.

The nonsensical claim that Franken's resignation will allow Republican's to open hunting season on Democrat office holders is just what it is, emotional nonsense by some of the same people that buy into the parties are no different nonsense and that we need a third party because Democrats have sold out.

Franken being forced out shows clearly that our party walks the talk. I truly believe that will resonate with women and young people. We will never reach the zealots and InfoWars types, but in no way should we EVER try to reach out to that type.

[renate]

9. exactly

We'll do the GOP's dirty work for them.

[OnDoutside]

15. Absolutely. A ridiculously high standard by which Claire herself, will now be judged. Reason doesn't

appear to be required.

[earthside]

37. The 'Franken standard'

"If accused, you must be removed."

When Democrats give up due process, fairness, rule of law, an impartial hearing, equitable justice -- then they have nothing.

Who decided that expulsion is the only remedy? Apparently yesterday's Senate Democratic mob.

If the Franken accusations were found credible, a vote of censure by the Senate Democratic caucus might have been an appropriate penalty. Now, we'll never know.

And if you think the Trumpian Republicans won't agitate for accusations and then demand that the 'Franken standard' be applied to Democratic officeholders post haste, then you're living in a dream world.

[Kirk Lover]

2. It's really hard because not everybody is playing by the same rules.

[Fullduplexxx]

3. No claire what you did was find someone guilty with any kind of trial

[Wwcd]

5. Farenthold got an ethics hearing.

Repukes will spit in your face & walk away laughing at you.
Why don't you get it Ms Mcaskill?!!

[bdamomma]

4. hey claire

maybe a little tribalism will help us in this instance.

[Willie Pep]

12. Tribalism is why Republicans win and we lose.

We don't need to be as bad as the Republicans but at least have an ethics investigation instead of trial by media.

[Meowmee]

6. Is she for real

The whole democracy is at stake here. She’s thrown democracy out the window. No words for how stupid and arrogant these people are.

[Horizens]

7. Lower Standards

“Some of the allegations against me are simply not true. Others I remember very differently. I said at the outset that the Ethics Committee was the right venue for these allegations to be heard and investigated and evaluated on their merits that I was prepared to cooperate fully and that I was confident in the outcome.”

Senator Al Franken

The most important thing one possess is his/her name in good standing. He had every right to have an investigation and be heard. Not so with the new standards.

[scarletwoman]

10. Claire McCaskill can bugger off.

And stick her "higher standards" where the sun don't shine.

[Stuckinthebush]

11. I tend to agree with her

Not a popular opinion around here today but I will step out and say she is correct in my estimation.

[gratuitous]

18. Do you think she will call for Rand Paul's resignation?

If not, why not?

[Stuckinthebush]

22. We shall see

But in this instance regarding my party I agree with her

[gratuitous]

25. How long do you give McCaskill to uphold her new standard?

Will she call for Sen. Paul to resign this week, this month, or by the end of next year? How long will be too long? Or is the new standard only in effect for Democrats?

[Irish_Dem]

33. I agree, but yes not a popular opinion here today.

Edited to add:

I have been shocked and heart broken to see all the anger today.
And hope it will be channeled into fighting harder.
Obama warned us this week against complacency.

[bdamomma]

50. oh yes,

President Obama even had trump and Hitler in the same sentence.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/7/1722083/-Obama-warns-voters-about-the-dangers-of-becoming-complacent-cites-Hitler-s-rise-in-Germany

[Irish_Dem]

52. It was shocking to hear Obama say this, he chooses his words carefully.

I think things are even worse behind the scenes than we know.

[bdamomma]

55. I sadly agree with you.

this is not good at all, Germany has already threw us over the boat. This is so bad, it's hard to stay optimistic but we will have rise to the occasion.

We really need to keep calling those senators up and say you threw out Senator Franken what about the p grabbler in the WH????

[Irish_Dem]

56. We have lost significant standing in the world. It is time to regroup and think about a strategy.

[bdamomma]

58. God forbid

if something happens and we need our allies they will turn a blind eye. We need to have this sick sick man committed and out of the WH. Another year of this we won't make it, and we will not recognize our own country.

We cannot let this go on. You notice when citizens start uniting there is nothing to stop us. This is going to take a lot of work and determination. Nice posting with you Irish Dem.

[Irish_Dem]

59. Allies may not help us if Trump gets us into trouble world wide.

Why should they risk life, limb and money to bail us out of trouble caused by Trump?

I think our country will be significantly changed.
Yes there is some very hard work ahead of us...

Nice talking to you too bdamomma.

[NurseJackie]

16. GOP "tribalism" means they will always have the advantage.

[Stuart G]

17. ...............4 words are enough............NOW, TRUMP MUST RESIGN..........

[bdamomma]

41. now if Senator Franken

was given no trial you think they could do the same thing to tRump, they seemed to throw that pesty "Innocent until proven guilty" stuff out.

[Stuart G]

43. exactly...over, and over and over, no trial, no sh*t, ...NOW, TRUMP MUST RESIGN..!!!!!!!!!

............this is simple and true............NOW, TRUMP MUST RESIGN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[spooky3]

19. Accusations should be INVESTIGATED, Sen. McCaskill.

If the investigation reveals wrongdoing, THEN appropriate consequences should follow.

[NCTraveler]

20. +1 K&R nt

[jrthin]

27. Enjoy that rarified air on that mountain top.

[hatrack]

51. Even less oxygen than I'd thought, apparently . . .

.

[guillaumeb]

28. Putin will be so happy that his strategy is working. eom

[LanternWaste]

53. We've reduced ourselves to blaming Putin for human failings. Nice work.

We've reduced ourselves to blaming Putin for human failings. A most clever rationalization, little fella!!!

[Vinca]

29. I'm glad Al wasn't accused of murder because he would have already gotten the chair.

[Guilded Lilly]

30. No, Senator. No. Vehement no.

[IADEMO2004]

31. The paper that endorsed Coleman over Franken in 2008

[eleny]

34. So due process means nothing? Meh to McCaskill's thoughts today.

[saidsimplesimon]

35. I disagree, Claire.

Consequences, yes, but, I think this logic is a bridge I can not cross. We are sending a message. Dems will eat their own for minor offenses while alt right thugs defend a morally corrupt, criminal in our WH. (after all, it is a roach and ant infested dump, per the rump)

[G_j]

38. Two words

Due Process

[califootman]

40. Credible accusations should trigger consequences?

How about:

Credible accusations should trigger full and fair investigations which will then lead to appropriate consequences?

[dflprincess]

42. Besides being mad as hell at what as been done to Franken

I also fear that these witch hunts are going to backfire on the #Metoo movement and we'll go back to when a women was never believed even when there were mounds of evidence.

[ffr]

44. Famous last words etched in America's gravestone.

Dems held themselves to an unattainable higher standard, even took Mueller down in the process. Shortly thereafter the U.S. was no more.

[flamingdem]

46. Yes, of course the GOP is looking into how to discredit Mueller now

And they can pay any amount

[Thrill]

49. She still hasnt said a peep about Trump?

She’s full of shit as always

[110liberal]

60. mckaskill

what do you expect it is from Claire McCaskill.

[demmiblue]

62. ...

[L. Coyote]

61. Franken trending #1, and this tweet is at the top:

Link to tweet

[flamingdem]

65. He's another march in liner

I'm tired of the excuses. The dems fucked this up

[ProfessorPlum]

66. oh FFS Ezra you naive clown

this "strategy" is like soldiers shooting themselves before a battle so that they can claim they didn't lose.