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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDear Sen. Franken: resign from the Democratuc Party, not the Senate.
Dear Sen Franken:
I have been considerably bothered by the recent flurry of gossip about you, and the request of your fellow Congressional Democrats that you resign. Here's a solution I think will satisfy everybody: Resign from the Democratic Party, register as an Independent, caucus with the Democrats, and continue to vote your conscience. The Congressional Democrats are apparently embarrassed by your presence among them. Remove yourself from their presence and continue to do your job. Sen. Sanders has been able to function well as an Independent, and you're funnier than he is (although he has a beautiful smile when confronted by a small bird perched on his podium, comedy is not his forte). The Democrats would no longer be embarrassed by you but could presumably count on your vote if needed.
While all this is going on, the Ethics Committee could complete an investigation into the allegations against you and reach a conclusion of some sort. I am among the people who think that if all the allegations are proved true, that would still not be grounds for your resignation. If the allegations fall apart upon closer scrutiny, as many of us expect them to do, then everybody's happy--the voters of Minnesota, who wanted you as their Senator, the other Democrats in the country who are happy with your performance as as a Senator, and even the Congressional Democrats, who could hardly argue with the results of a fair and impartial investigation of all your accusers who can be induced to give their names. We are by default believing everyone who makes accusations of sexual harassment, which is certainly better than automatically disbelieving them. The truth, no doubt, lies somewhere between those extremes. If you are cleared by an Ethics Investigation, perhaps Congressional Democrats would change their minds about your usefulness.
This is a time, I believe, for all good men and women not to panic. Retain your seat in the Senate, cooperate with the investigation of the allegations against you, and continue to be your usual competent self. Even Santa Ana winds eventually die down.
carterbob251
(33 posts)Of course, he would caucus with the Dem's. And I suspect raise more money.
JimBeard
(293 posts)He has plenty of time to get organized.
JoeOtterbein
(7,702 posts)rainin
(3,011 posts)One can dream.
Or the deletion.
rzemanfl
(29,565 posts)planetc
(7,814 posts)Rhiannon12866
(205,467 posts)Mods used to do that back on DU.2, these days it's mostly duplicates in LBN.
planetc
(7,814 posts)You mean you expect the thread to be locked? Okay, because it suggests there is life outside the Democratic Party? Or it might be deleted altogether? I think the only thing it suggests is that Democratic leadership can make a mistake. Well, we shall see, won't we?
carterbob251
(33 posts)I was banned and all posts deleted (granted it wasn't many) for, heaven forbid, simply stating on another thread that entitlement programs need to be addressed as the cost structure is not sustainable. Mind you, I never said I didn't agree with them, want anybody kicked off, etc., etc. -- only stating the fact that something has to be done or that will happen. And I challenge anyone who doesn't believe that to be true. We can all see the projections on SSN, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. It's not pretty. Apparently, I was a right wing nazi for even bringing it up. As a party, we have to be able to acknowledge things that need to be addressed and, importantly, lead the effort to help solve them. Well, that's my opinion anyway.
JimBeard
(293 posts)zentrum
(9,865 posts)
addressed by raising taxes to progressive levels on the rich.
Strictly speaking, they are not "entitlements" They are benefits that we paid for, for all our working life.
There's lots of places to cutsuch as in military waste. "Entitlement's" as you call them, are the backbone of the middle classto talk about cutting them is deeply Republican Ryanesque thinking.
I'm not offering an opinion on what what should be done. I'll leave that to the bean counters. But for our kids and grandkids something has to be done and the conversation should start now. If we do nothing now to raise revenue, improve efficiencies, remove waste, etc. eventually they will be cut.
Rhiannon12866
(205,467 posts)I just explained what it meant since I joined when we were DU.1.
BTW, I especially appreciate that you post the links for all the cartoons.
planetc
(7,814 posts)to sanity. And now we have at least two other toon linkers who fill in when I don't catch them early. We can accomplish such a lot when we work together!!
Luciferous
(6,081 posts)Bibluca
(63 posts)But he didn't take it. Years from now, we'll find out the true reason why he didn't.
planetc
(7,814 posts)The storm of Democratic disapprobation was sudden and loud and large. His feelings would be hurt, outraged, and generally negative. He hasn't had much time to consider other options than a) staying, or b) going. There are many ways to shampoo a cat. I personally see this as a workable option for him and the Democrats outside congress. And that's why I have just tucked this suggestion into an email to his office, where it will no doubt be read by a tired staffer two weeks from now. But I am very frustrated. If you have a bum, you should throw him out. Sen. Franken's not a bum. So don't treat him like one.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,629 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)This is a place where we support electing more Democrats - not encouraging people to leave the party.
LisaL
(44,973 posts)Not sure why he should stay in the party.
planetc
(7,814 posts)and leaving the door open for him to rejoin the party in calmer times.
TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)This cuts both ways.
mchill
(1,018 posts)JimBeard
(293 posts)over a century, we discuss. FYI, women were at the lower rungs of the Democratic party for years. There are too many that think womens issues is the only part of the Democratic party.
If you know where to send this Democrat, please let me know and I will not bother you. BTW, it is the same on the Daily KOS.
IronLionZion
(45,450 posts)to bury Democrats deep underground.
We are the reason Obamacare had to include coverage for mental health.
It's so easy to get us to turn on each other
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Sad weve come to this, but hes a good guy. We need him.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)I think it's hard to get re-elected for someone who changes parties.
LiberalLovinLug
(14,174 posts)Great minds think alike!
I think Franken would win as an independent in the same riding. Especially if Democrats at the very least, don't run against him.
If the Democrats are going to cut off their nose to save face, then we will rebuild Frankens nose as an Independent.
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,383 posts)wisteria
(19,581 posts)Mr. Evil
(2,845 posts)the more I'm beginning to think the hit-job on Sen. Al Franken may be more than a typical republican operation. Some are speculating that the fact no republicans called for Franken to resign, with the exception of a recent statement by Mitch McConnell alluding to that possibility, and that 35 democratic senators all of a sudden had to have him go speaks to something different. There are some high-profile democrats eyeing a presidential run in 2020 and with Franken's rising stature after the way he handled Jeff Sessions some may feel he would be an impediment. These are people we've heard from in recent days and they are the type that will be corporate friendly and are looking at serious money for their campaigns. I'm beginning to think that maybe Al Franken doesn't want to end up like his mentor, Paul Wellstone. Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions but, This happened way too damn fast for my liking. Something is very wrong here.
planetc
(7,814 posts)by Ds because he's too good, too forthright, too popular? Because the Democratic leadership is trying to save a future presidential run for one of their own? Eww. (Oops, maybe I went too far there, but you went there first.) I insist that all mistakes can be corrected, and that we learn from them not to punch our own eyes.
As for corporate money, that's a systemic problem, for both parties. At the moment, you have to have $$ to run at all. This amounts to legalized bribery for the entire congress. We have to fix that.
Snackshack
(2,541 posts)100%
Drop the D and go Independent Senator Franken. The Dems have had more then enough time to get some intestinal fortitude and learn how to stand up and push back against republicans. Yet they continue to let republicans push them around at will. The democrats should have been hammering at republicans for any number of hypocrisys during President Obamas 2 terms...especially with the Supreme Court vacancy yet they have been and remain virtually silent. Enough already.
blueinredohio
(6,797 posts)Make them go through with the ethics investigation
planetc
(7,814 posts)the investigation dies. Franken never gets to have an official day in court if he resigns from the Senate. Another reason to stay in the Senate.