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DFW

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22. Our Party's image already WAS clean--as was Al Franken's

Tue Jul 31, 2018, 08:31 AM

Jul 2018

There were no actual transgressions on Al's part except for those which were made up by Republican dirty tricks strategists, who were probably as surprised as anyone at their own success. The reason Al didn't react sooner is because he never figured anyone would take the fake allegations seriously. If he made an error, it was assuming his Democratic colleagues were as smart as he was, and had his degree of integrity.

He only resigned when he saw how many of his Democratic colleagues had fallen for the scam, and Dayton designated his successor. He not only didn't have to do it, but SHOULDN'T have done it. To assess the damage properly, just count up the number of memorable actions and speeches made by his successor, Tina Smith. That didn't take long, did it?

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Al Franken [View all] babylonsister Jul 2018 OP

I still love Al. no_hypocrisy Jul 2018 #1

Me too DownriverDem Jul 2018 #96

Nixon came back? I'd love to see Al in Congress again too...n/t Upthevibe Jul 2018 #152

I miss him and I will never get over how he was treated BigmanPigman Jul 2018 #183

:CrossesFingers: demmiblue Jul 2018 #2

maybe he can try for governor of Minnesota NewJeffCT Jul 2018 #31

Just what I was thinking. True Blue American Jul 2018 #32

It's too late for that, since the election is this year and MineralMan Jul 2018 #56

+1 geardaddy Jul 2018 #112

I have trouble not being angry still at what happened to Franken. hlthe2b Jul 2018 #3

Agree 100% cubbies01 Jul 2018 #4

Yep. Inappropriate sexual behavior was wrongly lumped in as sexual assault. Funtatlaguy Jul 2018 #5

The party needed to keep the image clean, and had to do it. lindysalsagal Jul 2018 #7

because the corporate media wouldn't stop adding Al to every discussion about the real abuse rainy Jul 2018 #21

But also dems... B Stieg Jul 2018 #108

Corporatist media balances the beam with the speck. n/t MarcA Jul 2018 #173

Oh bullshit RandomAccess Jul 2018 #138

Not by succumbing to obvious railroading pandr32 Jul 2018 #161

That's a position that's easy for enemies to take advantage of. Beartracks Jul 2018 #181

Given the situation in which it happened, I still have trouble calling it Neema Jul 2018 #10

There are levels of wrongdoing in our society. Funtatlaguy Jul 2018 #13

Who fell for it? Kirsten Gillibrand. calimary Jul 2018 #154

There's no inappropriate behavior at a USO show LakeArenal Jul 2018 #145

It wasn't even that... lame54 Jul 2018 #170

my take ProfessorPlum Jul 2018 #192

Yep. The GOP played that one perfectly. Let the Dems shoot themselves in the foot. Neema Jul 2018 #11

Yep! She did and I will never forgive her for that. LittleGirl Jul 2018 #30

I agree with you LittleGirl HelenWheels Jul 2018 #165

she didn't "fall for it" .... i think she jumped into it willingly. trueblue2007 Jul 2018 #171

This ++++ ReformedGOPer Jul 2018 #24

I can not vote True Blue American Jul 2018 #33

Thirty-two Democratic senators called on Franken to resign oberliner Jul 2018 #42

Because she used it as a cynical political prop maybe? johnnyknj Jul 2018 #59

Because she led the effort. MineralMan Jul 2018 #60

i remember. and my two senators from illinois orleans Jul 2018 #83

The effort was led and coordinated by 6 female Democratic senators, including Kamala Harris oberliner Jul 2018 #84

Fortunately for them, none are running in my state. MineralMan Jul 2018 #100

She also went to Franken's office Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #101

It was a miscalculation on her part. MineralMan Jul 2018 #103

Franked decided to resign Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #109

My opinion in the matter is different from yours. MineralMan Jul 2018 #116

Post removed Post removed Jul 2018 #118

It is my opinion. What you think it is based on MineralMan Jul 2018 #120

As a truly great Senator once said Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #123

Use caution. That's my suggestion to you regarding MineralMan Jul 2018 #124

Maybe you should look in the mirror Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #128

.. MineralMan Jul 2018 #131

So you admit that you have no facts Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #132

.. MineralMan Jul 2018 #134

Still not posting any facts Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #137

.. MineralMan Jul 2018 #158

Thank you, MineralMan. kag Jul 2018 #177

Had Al stayed we wouldn't be voting for him in 2018. dflprincess Jul 2018 #193

Yes. All around the situation is a bad one. MineralMan Aug 2018 #197

She was the one leading the charge. She was the one that hit the talk shows. pazzyanne Jul 2018 #61

Gillibrand, McCaskill, Hassan, Hirono, Harris, Murray and Baldwin put out statements together oberliner Jul 2018 #75

My opinion, my vote. Thanks for playing. pazzyanne Jul 2018 #179

Asked and answered dozens of times BannonsLiver Jul 2018 #115

Not true. LakeArenal Jul 2018 #146

Do you also find it funny that there aren't continuing accusations against Roy Moore? mythology Jul 2018 #43

I'm still absolutely livid. I think I get angrier the worse things get in this country. Neema Jul 2018 #6

Exactly onlyadream Jul 2018 #8

Exactly. appal_jack Jul 2018 #20

Thirty-two Democratic senators called on Franken to resign oberliner Jul 2018 #44

Yep, all of them. onlyadream Jul 2018 #54

Oh please. You know the answer to your posts on this just as we all do. brush Jul 2018 #68

There were six female Democratic senators who coordinated the initial statements together oberliner Jul 2018 #88

Oh please again. Gillebrand was first out of the gate on this. brush Jul 2018 #95

Also, She went to Franken's office Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #121

Nice fiction, bro. Mine is fact though. Google it. brush Jul 2018 #144

Every GOP Senator defends Trump, so they are correct also? nt USALiberal Jul 2018 #188

+1 uponit7771 Jul 2018 #15

Amen. (nt) Paladin Jul 2018 #26

Can't blame Al for leaving the Senate The Wizard Jul 2018 #35

Exactly BigOleDummy Jul 2018 #40

Why the focus on KG? oberliner Jul 2018 #45

Have you read any of the posts on this thread? pazzyanne Jul 2018 #66

6 female senators call on fellow Democratic Senator Al Franken to resign oberliner Jul 2018 #89

It's her history in this debacle, pure and simple. pazzyanne Jul 2018 #91

Kamala Harris called on Franken to resign at the same time as Gillibrand oberliner Jul 2018 #94

She wasn't leading the charge. pazzyanne Jul 2018 #97

Plus She went to Franken's office Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #111

It was actually Schumer who met with Franken and told him to resign oberliner Jul 2018 #182

Cuz she keeps doubling down, tripling down on her self righteous decision LakeArenal Jul 2018 #180

Wow, that horse dead yet? LakeSuperiorView Jul 2018 #71

KG was one of six Democratic senators who coordinated the initial call for him to resign oberliner Jul 2018 #92

Don't confuse them with facts Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #114

"Gillibrand was the first woman in the Senate to call on Franken to quit, Demit Jul 2018 #148

Sounds strangely like a whataboutism. LakeSuperiorView Jul 2018 #155

This x 1000 Ferrets are Cool Jul 2018 #57

Yes ... spot on. That extends as well to the fear of being labeled socialists because we want KPN Jul 2018 #58

Same here kcr Jul 2018 #36

MSM and even here heaven05 Jul 2018 #41

this kind of shit will keep happening as long as the left/dems ignore talk radio and certainot Jul 2018 #51

+1! KPN Jul 2018 #65

Yes! 1000x's!!!!! Tumbulu Jul 2018 #80

Republicans run circles around us because of stuff like this IronLionZion Jul 2018 #63

IDK. Nobody has any kind of "right" to be a Senator Recursion Jul 2018 #164

First he didn't hold office "by right" but by the expressed democratic "viewpoint" of the voters. hlthe2b Jul 2018 #166

He had the "right" to be Senator by virtue of all those, including me, who voted for him. scarletwoman Jul 2018 #184

This dflprincess Jul 2018 #194

the best senator we had. i miss him. JI7 Jul 2018 #9

How so? Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #72

Find the links yourself. Just google his grilling of perjurer Sessions. brush Jul 2018 #98

OK That is one thing Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #99

Asking for others to provide links proves nothing when you can easily google... brush Jul 2018 #102

That's called moving the goalposts. Demit Jul 2018 #150

And don't forget disndat Jul 2018 #162

That's right. He knew how to cut to the quick with his questioning of lying repugs. brush Jul 2018 #167

There will be a job opening Soxfan58 Jul 2018 #12

Franken/Harris. That's the ticket. Funtatlaguy Jul 2018 #14

Yes Soxfan58 Jul 2018 #16

love Al miss Al steventh Jul 2018 #23

Didn't know that about Harris Funtatlaguy Jul 2018 #27

Oh, I made my feelings clear to Brown. True Blue American Jul 2018 #34

Harris: I believe the best thing for Senator Franken to do is step down. oberliner Jul 2018 #47

Keep trying. Still not working as you can tell from the REC count. nt USALiberal Jul 2018 #189

Every GOP Senator defends Trump, so they are correct also? nt SFnomad Jul 2018 #190

Or Franken/Warren -- I'd love to see either of those pairings. KPN Jul 2018 #67

Franken was railroaded without due process. NurseJackie Jul 2018 #17

Did someone put a gun to his head Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #81

Metaphorically, Yes ProfessorGAC Jul 2018 #135

Metaphorically??? Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #136

A gun? Oh, please. GMAFB! NurseJackie Jul 2018 #147

he should run again, we need him back scarytomcat Jul 2018 #18

When can we get him back, Governor of Minnesota at least? marble falls Jul 2018 #19

Our Party's image already WAS clean--as was Al Franken's DFW Jul 2018 #22

Well said! nt c-rational Jul 2018 #62

I miss him, too! nt Heartstrings Jul 2018 #25

Given what happened to Sen Franken Docreed2003 Jul 2018 #28

+1 dalton99a Jul 2018 #38

Yes! And, jimmy jordan. Cha Jul 2018 #48

Only Democrats fold like cheap card players RhodeIslandOne Jul 2018 #174

Al Franken - a casualty of friendly fire. TheCowsCameHome Jul 2018 #29

Like to think of it as jumping on a grenade to save his comrades bigbrother05 Jul 2018 #39

Kamala Harris called on Franken to resign, as did Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, and Bernie Sanders oberliner Jul 2018 #50

Ok, ok. We get the idea from your many posts. You have it in for Harris. brush Jul 2018 #153

When are we ever going to learn that eating our own is a huge minus -- for us and KPN Jul 2018 #74

I'm still stunned Harker Jul 2018 #37

Come back Al!! zentrum Jul 2018 #46

i hope he runs again samnsara Jul 2018 #49

I am still angry and very sad about what happened to Al. pazzyanne Jul 2018 #52

One of our strongest voices.. silenced by our own. mountain grammy Jul 2018 #53

I saw him interviewed yesterday on WCCO. MineralMan Jul 2018 #55

Well said! KPN Jul 2018 #77

Thank you. MineralMan Jul 2018 #106

The irony of the anti-Gillibrand rants in these threads is always entertaining... brooklynite Jul 2018 #64

If 2016 was any indication... yallerdawg Jul 2018 #69

The irony is that she is not a senator that I vote for. pazzyanne Jul 2018 #73

But nobody venting at her here will claim she doesn't deserve to be re-elected to the Senate... brooklynite Jul 2018 #76

I think my post explains my position. She is not my senator, Al was! pazzyanne Jul 2018 #79

No, we won't. It is not our decision who the people of New York MineralMan Jul 2018 #122

Wrong! She put self-interest over principle first, and any partisan advantage she may KPN Jul 2018 #82

So, you're saying that an unprincipled person like this SHOULD or SHOULD NOT be re-elected? brooklynite Jul 2018 #110

I'm saying I won't vote for her in a primary if she does run in 2020 -- and, as I'm in a deeply KPN Jul 2018 #129

Ahhh...you do realize most of the posters here critical of Gillebrand... brush Jul 2018 #86

One does not have to be a constituent to have an opinion on who should get elected... brooklynite Jul 2018 #107

OK, mine is she was a big reason we lost a strong Dem senator... brush Jul 2018 #117

I could care less what you think about the 2020 Presidential Election... brooklynite Jul 2018 #125

I just told you. It's about keeping our Dem numbers in the Senate. brush Jul 2018 #142

The thing is that she isn't a Senator from my state. MineralMan Jul 2018 #113

So, you won't be voting for Klobuchar this Fall? brooklynite Jul 2018 #149

I will be voting for her. She will be the Democrat on the ballot. MineralMan Jul 2018 #157

Why Kirsten gets a lot of heat cubbies01 Jul 2018 #70

Provide proof please Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #78

Give me a break cubbies01 Jul 2018 #140

Thanks for admitting you don't have any proof Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #143

I did no such thing cubbies01 Jul 2018 #159

+100! KPN Jul 2018 #87

Al and his family were very firm that he was not going to run for President wishstar Jul 2018 #93

Don't confuse them with facts. Trumpocalypse Jul 2018 #104

She had just introduced an anti-sexual harrassment bill in Congress oberliner Jul 2018 #126

Poetic justice that Gillibrand's presidential dreams are cooked. BannonsLiver Jul 2018 #130

She miscalculated, to her detriment. MineralMan Jul 2018 #133

100% cubbies01 Jul 2018 #141

Yes. It's a valid question of her judgment. Demit Jul 2018 #156

What I found especially craven about Gillibrand sacrificing Al to her ambitions dflprincess Jul 2018 #195

Yeah, I wish Al was still there, too. PatrickforO Jul 2018 #85

He should still be there karin_sj Jul 2018 #90

Meanwhile Gym Jordan is still in office SHRED Jul 2018 #105

He is a good man, and a great human being. Nitram Jul 2018 #119

This message was self-deleted by its author BannonsLiver Jul 2018 #127

President janterry Jul 2018 #139

What Gillibrand did to Sen. Franken reminds me of... drbtg1 Jul 2018 #151

She led the charge, but so many (too many) followed RVN VET71 Jul 2018 #185

Yes, Sanders and Warren were eventually among those calling for his resignation SFnomad Jul 2018 #187

Others followed Lieberman too, just like Gillibrand, but I don't see the others... drbtg1 Aug 2018 #196

Come back Al! workinclasszero Jul 2018 #160

Whelp cubbies01 Jul 2018 #163

Post removed Post removed Jul 2018 #168

Senator Al was one of the best things to happen in America librechik Jul 2018 #169

he should not have resigned. barbtries Jul 2018 #172

Post removed Post removed Jul 2018 #175

He should run again. Let the voters decide if they think his comedy photo on the plane Vinca Jul 2018 #176

We miss him, too. The Senate needs him. Maybe he can run again. May have to get a new leader in the Honeycombe8 Jul 2018 #178

Don't call it a comeback! Marcuse Jul 2018 #186

And, we're missing this guy because ROGER F*ING STONE decided we had to be rid of him? ProfessorPlum Jul 2018 #191