Al Franken resigns.

[¿spoom]

He was a misogynist buffoon in his SNL days, and when elected to the Senate, but Al Franken was a perfectly electable Senate candidate for the deep blue State of Minnesota. Though he treated women horribly in person, he praised them in principle, and this is all that mattered. I stopped listening halfway through his resignation announcement this morning, as he made digs at others and bragged how he defended women’s rights, ironically in a speech about resigning from the Senate because of mistreating women.
Al Franken resigns. Well-played, Democrats. You managed to make a ham sandwich from a cow pie, and I salute you! Fellow Democrats demanded he resign and did so for one reason, and one reason only; it was good politics with no downside. They get to claim moral high ground, their Democrat Governor gets to appoint a more electable liberal replacement, and the Senate Democrats will not lose a single vote because of it. They come out with a win/win, and can concentrate on demanding Republicans who WOULD lose a seat do the same, i.e. Alabama. If Al Franken were a Democrat Senator from WI, a recently almost neutral State with a Republican Governor to appoint his replacement, past history says Democrats would have defended him or remained silent in exchange for his promising not to run for re-election.

[Rams]

Al Franken resigns. Well-played, Democrats. You managed to make a ham sandwich from a cow pie, and I salute you! Fellow Democrats demanded he resign and did so for one reason, and one reason only; it was good politics with no downside. They get to claim moral high ground, their Democrat Governor gets to appoint a more electable liberal replacement, and the Senate Democrats will not lose a single vote because of it. They come out with a win/win, and can concentrate on demanding Republicans who WOULD lose a seat do the same, i.e. Alabama. If Al Franken were a Democrat Senator from WI, a recently almost neutral State with a Republican Governor to appoint his replacement, past history says Democrats would have defended him or remained silent in exchange for his promising not to run for re-election.

Can you say sacrificial lamb?   Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Franken fan in the least but, as you said, he'll be replaced by a Liberal Dem and the party loses nothing.   They will use this if Moore wins and demand he be tossed.   Pure politics, really has nothing to do with whether or not Franken did anything he's accused of.   

[Savago]

I don't get you guys... you complained about Al Franken, saying that democrats were hypocrites for asking Moore to give up.

Now you complain that Al Fraken has resigned.

Is there an end in complaining?

[Rams]

I don't get you guys... you complained about Al Franken, saying that democrats were hypocrites for asking Moore to give up.

Now you complain that Al Fraken has resigned.

Is there an end in complaining?

It is, what it is.   Who's complaining.   Didn't like Franken, doubt I'll like the person that replaces him.
The point is, the dems ganging up on him is pure politics and has little to do with whether or not he's guilty as charged.  

Edited: Ya know, it's not like the voters that put him in office didn't know who and what he was prior to the election.   He's a scape goat for the Dems so they can claim the high ground if Moore wins.
Personally, I'd have like to see the charges proven or disproved.   Yeah, I know it's hard to prove you didn't do something.   His absence won't make any difference in how things go.   Who ever gets this seat will no doubt vote with the Dem leadership.

[¿spoom]

I don't get you guys... you complained about Al Franken, saying that democrats were hypocrites for asking Moore to give up.

Now you complain that Al Fraken has resigned.

Is there an end in complaining?

Show me where am I complaining. I saluted the Democrats for playing and winning what easily could have been a losing hand. They never lost sight of the bottom line; blue checker count vs red checker count. My    point   in   small   words   is   that   they   won   this   round.

[Cracker Jack]

HE DIDN'T RESIGN! He said he plans to resign in a few weeks! That has served the purpose of making the public think he has resigned, like the above posters.

Reckon he might decide to change his mind after the current media furor has died down?

[Rams]

HE DIDN'T RESIGN! He said he plans to resign in a few weeks! That has served the purpose of making the public think he has resigned, like the above posters.

Reckon he might decide to change his mind after the current media furor has died down?

While that wouldn't surprise me, it really doesn't matter.   The numbers won't change and the Dems will still claim the high ground.    I'd rather see his accusers bring out all their evidence.   This way they don't have to.   It's all about Moore and if he wins.   They'll demand a censorship of him or demand he gets booted.   Gives Moore's opponent something to chew on also.

I'm waiting on Moore's accusers to produce some actual proof.   I don't get a vote in this but, in the big picture, it's going to make a difference.

[Jess from VA]

The delay in resignation is to give the Gov time to make his moves, and a smooth D transition.

That is all.

[Rams]

The delay in resignation is to give the Gov time to make his moves, and a smooth D transition.

That is all.

Jess,
I generally agree with you but, I don't trust the Dem leadership any farther than I could throw them.   When the dust settles, we'll see what actually happened, hopefully.

Rams

[Jess from VA]

Maybe old Al can get a job in ladies' underwear. 

[Serk]

Maybe old Al can get a job in ladies' underwear. 

Or Luvs?

[scooperhsd]

Now if they could find a few more (I would not be surprised if there are plenty more - it's just how buried they are)....

[¿spoom]

HE DIDN'T RESIGN! He said he plans to resign in a few weeks! That has served the purpose of making the public think he has resigned, like the above posters.

Reckon he might decide to change his mind after the current media furor has died down?

I doubt there's anything nefarious in the mechanics of this. Everything was discussed and decided yesterday when he met with Schumer, and today was the day to tell the country what the results were. It also gave extra time for lots of Dems to suddenly join the feel good clamor that "Franken must go!!!" press ops to build their cred for Party Points come re-election time. Franken answered what everyone wanted to know, "Will you step down?" and told us, "Yes, I will". Good enough for me. Like Schumer, he's a buffoon, not a dummy, and it would make no sense to simply wander off with a box of his stuff from his office and no transition plan. For all we know, he didn't even know he was gone until he was told so yesterday. Heck, even today he really admitted to nothing, saying some accusations weren't true and the rest weren't told as he remembered them, but that he was resigning because he couldn't do his Congress duties and ethics defense at the same time. Make that buffoon and weasel. Anyway, parties aside, MN deserves the most organized transition and best representation as possible, not like some folks have left office, with computer keys and place settings like common thieves.
 Anybody else notice that in his resignation speech, Franken referred to his successor as "she" even though everybody is claiming they don't know for sure who it is. Obviously it'll be the Lt. Governor, who's a "she", but I'll practice my surprised face anyway.   

[Moonshot_1]

Can't stand Franken. Never could. I see his election to the Senate by the people of Minnesota as irresponsible and derelict. His reputation was well known. The people of Minnesota did this country a great disservice in electing him and sending him to Washington.

But they did send him. He was seated as a Senator from Minnesota. To force him out based on accusations, no matter how accurate, is wrong. It should and must take a criminal offense and be convicted of it (or admission of such) to be forced to resign. Or at least some form of due process. As much as I can't stand the guy this has gotten out of hand. It also seems to be an attempt to establish this as a precedent. One that any rational people would and should reject out of hand.

If the accusers want to be believed, they should, or should have, filed criminal complaints in a timely manner. The fact that this wasn't done is evidence that it wasn't particularly offensive at the time.

That said, an ethics investigation I believe would have uncovered plenty on Franken to eventually lead to a resignation. But the standard should require due process and that wasn't done for Franken or Conyers.

Meanwhile, we have those who are mired up to their necks in criminality being ignored. The previous administration to name a few.

 

[Serk]

Meanwhile, we have those who are mired up to their necks in criminality being ignored. The previous administration to name a few.

 

Committing acts of felonious treason is fine, as long as no one's feelings got hurt.

[The emperor has no clothes]

If the accusers want to be believed, they should, or should have, filed criminal complaints in a timely manner. The fact that this wasn't done is evidence that it wasn't particularly offensive at the time.


 

This kind of thinking just astounds me. If a women was raped and she didn't report because she was afraid her children would be in danger, or people would blame her, or whatever multitude of reasons they have for that. That means it wasn't particularly offensive ? There are statute of limitations laws for good reasons. That has no bearing on whether it was offensive or not. 

[Hacked Valk]

I don't get you guys... you complained about Al Franken, saying that democrats were hypocrites for asking Moore to give up.

Now you complain that Al Fraken has resigned.

Is there an end in complaining?

No.

[Pappy!]

So let's see....Moore's stuff supposedly happened around 40 years ago and we still haven't had any evidence but the Dems are taking the moral high ground.

I see that as pretty funny since Moore's Democratic opponent is pro abortion (killing of babies) even up to a day before birth.  Explain this moral high ground again for me? lol  

[Oldfishguy]

I live in Minnesota and I’ve never voted for Franken.

The state is moving towards a red state as every day passes.  In 2018 we will have both senators up for election and the governor as well.  One Democratic senator (Amy Klobuchar) is solid and will win re-election with ease.  The other senator incumbent (likely a Democratic woman) will be the appointed position (finishing the last two years of Franken’s term), this position is going to be up for grabs.  Along with the governors seat as the Democratic incumbent is not seeking re-election; with other elections as well.

Long story short, we are about to be inundated with political commercials and a wild ride in politics.  Admitidly, I find it interesting and entertaining.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I live in Minnesota and I’ve never voted for Franken.

The state is moving towards a blue state as every day passes.  In 2018 we will have both senators up for election and the governor as well.  One Democratic senator (Amy Klobuchar) is solid and will win re-election with ease.  The other senator incumbent (likely a Democratic woman) will be the appointed position (finishing the last two years of Franken’s term), this position is going to be up for grabs.  Along with the governors seat as the Democratic incumbent is not seeking re-election; with other elections as well.

Long story short, we are about to be inundated with political commercials and a wild ride in politics.  Admitidly, I find it interesting and entertaining.

I really like your Senator Amy Klobuchar. She seems very level headed. I think her future in politics is bright. 

[Jess from VA]

Can't stand Franken. Never could. I see his election to the Senate by the people of Minnesota as irresponsible and derelict. His reputation was well known. The people of Minnesota did this country a great disservice in electing him and sending him to Washington.

But they did send him. He was seated as a Senator from Minnesota. To force him out based on accusations, no matter how accurate, is wrong. It should and must take a criminal offense and be convicted of it (or admission of such) to be forced to resign. Or at least some form of due process. As much as I can't stand the guy this has gotten out of hand. It also seems to be an attempt to establish this as a precedent. One that any rational people would and should reject out of hand.

If the accusers want to be believed, they should, or should have, filed criminal complaints in a timely manner. The fact that this wasn't done is evidence that it wasn't particularly offensive at the time.

That said, an ethics investigation I believe would have uncovered plenty on Franken to eventually lead to a resignation. But the standard should require due process and that wasn't done for Franken or Conyers.

Meanwhile, we have those who are mired up to their necks in criminality being ignored. The previous administration to name a few.

Moonshot, I take your point about a bad precedent of possible forced resignation based on untimely allegations, and without any real due process.  But I don't think he was forced.  If his party wanted him to stay, I think he would have.  Really, I was quite surprised to see him quit.  Though there's always the possibility that he knows there's more out there, and maybe something quite nasty that could be made to stick.  I do think the Dems see him as a sacrificial lamb, to assist them in trying to get others to quit with no or little due process as well (others on the other side of the isle).

But this is certainly not an isolated incident.  Historically plenty of pols and all kinds of men have stepped down from positions of power and authority based mostly on allegations.  Of course, when they do, it fairly well substantiates the allegations in the minds of the public.  Though some must have certainly quit because they did not want to put themselves and family (kids) through the meat grinder and months of terrible press and/or hearings, even if entirely (or mostly) innocent.  

[baldo]

I don't get you guys... you complained about Al Franken, saying that democrats were hypocrites for asking Moore to give up.

Now you complain that Al Fraken has resigned.

Is there an end in complaining?

No, there is no end to it.....the spin continues.

[Wizzard]

I never could stand Al from the first time I saw him on TV. Also could not believe MN voted him and Jesse in. They had no qualifications for the job.

[MarkT]

I never could stand Al from the first time I saw him on TV. Also could not believe MN voted him and Jesse in. They had no qualifications for the job.

+1. That pretty much fits the worst and 2nd worst POTUS's we've had in recent history as well.  I mean peanut farmer and community organizer...  Certainly under qualified.  While our current hero-in-charge isn't very presidential either.  The lessor of evils I'm thinkin.  Ya gotta wonder what's up with our country - both parties ran as their choice, far from the best potential candidates in the field.  Then there's the Terminator won in the land of fruits and nuts. Maybe the job isn't that hard as long as you have good advisors. "Just sayin".

[¿spoom]

I never could stand Al from the first time I saw him on TV. Also could not believe MN voted him and Jesse in. They had no qualifications for the job.

+1. That pretty much fits the worst and 2nd worst POTUS's we've had in recent history as well.  I mean peanut farmer and community organizer...  Certainly under qualified.  While our current hero-in-charge isn't very presidential either.  The lessor of evils I'm thinkin.  Ya gotta wonder what's up with our country - both parties ran as their choice, far from the best potential candidates in the field.  Then there's the Terminator won in the land of fruits and nuts. Maybe the job isn't that hard as long as you have good advisors. "Just sayin".

Personally, Carter was as qualified as most past Presidents, he just wasn't any good at it. One could claim Trump's less qualified than Obama was, but it all depends on one's vantage point. To me, the country is one giant business, Obama never had a balance sheet to deal with, and Trump at least knows how business works. Germany is a power because they understand business. China is a power because they know business is war. Obama knew businesses could be mugged. If only a background in politics make one qualified, Washington would have been unqualified.

[Ramie]

Franken was never a serious Senator.  He moved back to Minnesota so the local Democrats had someone they could run against a incumbent senator.  He won by around 380 votes and there were law suits brought about Voter fraud but all that got shoved under the rug.
I don't believe he has ever had any legislation passed, he's basically been a vote for the progressives, a loudmouth and a bully.  I'm not surprised they would force him to resign, if the progressives ever lost the female vote here they die on the vine.  If he didn't resign he would loose his reelection.