Al Franken rules out Senate run against Gillibrand, who led push to remove him

[SouthBayDem]

Source: The Guardian

Al Franken on Sunday ruled out mounting a primary challenge to Kirsten Gillibrand, the New York senator who four years ago led calls for his resignation as a senator from Minnesota over allegations of sexual misconduct.

In a statement to Politico, Franken said: “Yes, I miss the Senate but I’m not going to run against Kirsten Gillibrand.”

A writer, comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member, Franken was narrowly elected as a Democrat in Minnesota in 2008 and returned to Washington much more comfortably six years later.

He achieved national prominence, particularly as an acerbic critic of Republicans and Donald Trump. His last book before his resignation was titled Al Franken: Giant of the Senate.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/31/al-franken-rules-out-run-against-kirsten-gillibrand

[SoCalDavidS]

1. Probably Best He Doesn't Get Involved With Clusterfuck That Is Congress

[ColinC]

2. He would greatly benefit it

But not by removing Gillibrand. A run in neighboring Wisconsin, however, would be legit.

[MontanaMama]

3. My bet?

Al is trolling Gillibrand. Why? Who knows but if it makes Kirsten squirm… I’m good with it.

[Tomconroy]

5. Me too.

[brooklynite]

13. Why would it make Gillibrand squirm?

She's a popular Senator (whose been re-elected since the Franken issue occurred), and there isn't an issue he could run on that would differentiate him favorably.

[Akbar]

4. Al Franken

A statesman we don't deserve.

[Lemon Lyman]

6. Hmmm

I read on a gossip site that Al was looking at making a senate run, deciding among 3 states in which to run. Probably b.s. I have no idea.

[PatrickforB]

7. Franken was a great Senator. One of our best people.

I do hope he runs again.

As to Gillibrand, she was all geared up to run for Prez, and probably would have gone deep in the primary, but for her perfidy. Oh, I know, others piled on, but she led the charge. Sadly, Franken was twice the Senator she is. He actually cared about, and bent over backwards to help, his constituents.

[orleans]

8. +1 nt

[Roy Rolling]

9. Good Point

Her ambition for an office she never could win led to Democrats losing a great Senator needlessly.

It’s a lesson for us all.

Or as my mom would say, “don’t cut off your nose to spite your face”.

But seriously, as a kid, I had no idea what she meant until I was older. I was just terrified of cutting someone’s nose off so I knew whatever I was doing was bad. 🧐

[AllaN01Bear]

15. my late mom used to say that too also.

[BradAllison]

17. She had no shot

She's a generic Senator in a state where a traffic cone running as a Democrat could win. Her play to barely register 1% nationwide was to take out a senator who was doing fantastic work on the judiciary committee because no one knew who she was otherwise other than "Hillary's replacement". All off a Roger Stone ratfuck.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. He never said "never"

MAGA delusion is as high as the stock market. If the bubble ever bursts there are countless Democrats, and old time mainstream Republicans I would bet, who will be eager to take up the mantle again.

Question is, how do we deflate fascism and return to normal? If you read this, I urge you to make a note, think on it, and add it to your thoughts in the weeks and months ahead. To me it really is the only question. We cannot allow the stupid to replace democracy with fascism and biggots.

[NurseJackie]

11. I'm hopeful that he'll change his mind and that he's allowing himself some wiggle-room.

I'm no fan of Gillibrand and it would be interesting and satisfying if he "replaced" her... but I'm more interested in seeing GOP seats flipped. Every single GOP seat that's flipped gives us a 2-vote advantage.

Conversely, every Democrat who's replaced by a Republican... that gives us a 2-vote DIS-advantage. (People need to keep that in mind when wishing that Manchin should be replaced by a "real-Republican".)

Question is, how do we deflate fascism and return to normal?

With people like Al Franken who wield their verbal knife blade with such expert precision that his GOP "victims" don't immediately realize just how bad their wounds are.

Franken was railroaded. We need him.

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Valuable observations! Bookmarking.

But there's only one Al Franken. We need an Al Franken clone factory. Or Tutorial DVD Set for politicians.

[marble falls]

14. Better he take on a Republican.

[MichMan]

16. Move to WV and run against Manchin ?

[BradAllison]

18. Fuck that state

They deserve what ever corpulent toothless bumpkin they give 65% to next.

[brooklynite]

19. How much do you want to lose by in 2022?