Al Franken was railroaded.

[dutch508]

quickesst (3,461 posts) https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210021588


" It's my right as an entertainer."

Worse than a line out of a cheap B movie.This little jewel was the linchpin that sealed my belief that Al Franken was railroaded. I don't post a lot, but this has been nagging at me like a bad itch ever since I first read it. After following Franken's career as a comedian, and maintaining a general knowledge of his political career, it is my opinion that there is no way in hell that these words ever came from Al Franken's mouth. Just imagine if you will the alleged intern hastily exiting the room and Al Franken yelling after her, "It's my right as an entertainer. Franklin has been a sitting Senator since 2008, far removed from his days as a comedian and entertainer. It is my firm belief that had this episode actually occurred, and if he yelled anything at the alleged intern, absurd as it is, it would have increased her credibility tenfold if she had said he yelled "It's my right as a senator", which is still worse than a line out of a b movie that cost $10 more to make.
My belief is so strong that if Al Franken stood in front of me and confessed to uttering this statement, I would be looking for the red dot he knew was there from the laser scope attached to the rifle being held by a sniper with orders to shoot to kill if he did not confess to making this statement.
Some people say "move on, it's over and done", and even knowing there's not much I can do about it except write an email or letter, it won't be over and done for me until Franken's name has been cleared and his reputation made whole again.

We must always believe the women victims... unless the pervert is an important [D]...

kiri (216 posts)

159. Franken is a better Senator and a better person than Gillibrand.

I have replied to every Democratic solicitation:
I will make no contribution until Gillibrand resigns.
Franken is a better Senator and a better person than Gillibrand.

Star Member Bluepinky (446 posts)

2. Franken himself stated he never said it and never would.

Whoever stated he said it was lying.

But every single person who accused Trump or Moore must be believed...

Turbineguy (24,656 posts)

5. A republican rat****.

The politics of personal destruction and democrats walked right in to it, eyes wide closed.

7962 (10,084 posts)

68. But they're saying the same thing about Moore;

ive read it several places; "how come now that Moore lost we aren't hearing anything from these women anymore?"
Not to compare what Franken dod to Moore, just that the talk is similar

I dont think franken should've left over what was alleged. But look at whats happening to Matt Damon; he merely speaks the truth that grabbing someone on the butt and rape are two totally different things and he's being savaged by the internet. even a petition to remove him from some movie project. but he's RIGHT. Both shoplifting and murder are wrong but shouldn't be punished equally.
And thats what happened to franken.

Hestia (2,790 posts)

189. IMNSHO - there has been real talk of AF running as the Democratic nominee for President in 2020.

Heck, my DH & I have speculating about it for several months.

I think the DNC, DSCC, DHCC (or whichever acronyms, can't keep up) wanted to avoid a "Bernie" situation like 2016 and wanted to nip anyone in the bud if they haven't been properly vetted.

As always, YMMV

(Hello Fellow Arkie's  )

Yuletide Blessings to All.

Maybe we can get Hillary to run again!

quickesst (3,461 posts)

18. Here is my take on that point

It's my belief that he was correctly seen as a threat to republican power. They had to do something about him. Enter Rodger Stone and cohorts. Just the accusations against Franken set off a chain of events that would have not been easy for anyone to overcome.
Next, enter an opportunity. Gillibrand was first to jump on the republican bandwagon and call for his resignation which I believe was in the guise of doing the morally right thing. Goal achieved. She is now in the 2020 spotlight. Those that followed suit did so out of fear, cowardice, and willful ignorance. I believe they were afraid they would be seen in the same light as kellyanne Conway and her steadfast defense of Donald Trump no matter the evidence against him. We are now seeing the regrets some of these Democrats are having as witnessed by their admission that they jumped the gun too soon, but it's too little, too late. Al Franken loses, we lose, and the Republican Party wins with an opportunistic assist from part of the Democratic Party.

Star Member pangaia (15,361 posts)

54. It is ALL going to get even uglier because that is who and what republicans are.

Democrat pols better all wise up right now. Hell, they should all have wised up long before this..
If the best of us can be taken down, what does that say for the rest??

Now I am starting to wonder... eh never mind....

Star Member Alice11111 (5,346 posts)

64. Even worse, many Dems quit. As one person

told me, the Dems are not clever. She said, I have always voted Dem, but I do not want to be associated with them anymore...they just do too many stupid things to sink their own boat.

Unfortunately, it will give new life to a 3rd party candidate, and divide the party, again. Stupid,stupid...what were they thinking. The truth, most were not, just following the leaders off the cliff. I have told my blue Senators. I sort of got a 4th grade, but "everybody did it."

green917 (314 posts)

84. because he's a strong progressive

they did it to remove a strong liberal contender for president in 2020 because senator Sanders doing so well against a more moderate candidate in secretary Clinton scared them because the 3rd way, dlc leaders of the party are just as afraid of removing the gravy train of corporate sponsors as the republicans are. Senator Gillibrand, in my opinion, led the charge because she wants to run and she saw it as an opportunity to remove a potential challenger that has better name recognition and a better favorability rating without having to beat him in a primary. It was the worst sort of craven politics that many in this country are tired of. The worst part of the whole debacle is the fact that my vote (and the votes of millions of other Minnesotans) was nullified for political expediency. Not exactly the stuff of which combating voter apathy is made of.

SammyWinstonJack (40,127 posts)

15. That sounds like something tRump would say and probably has.

Star Member tavernier (4,772 posts)

100. Definitely.

Dumbest damn thing they could have done. I was waiting for weeks for the other shoe to drop, certain that there was some brilliant strategy coming, something that would make us say, “Oooh, now I get why they did that!” But it never came, and then I really felt like a fool for trusting that they wouldn’t actually do something that stupid.

I have to wonder if Al wasn’t thinking the same thing, and then in the end, just threw up his hands and said “F this shit.”
Sacrificing him accomplished absolutely nothing. It was like pulling out a front tooth that wasn’t decayed, just so we could walk around proudly with... a big gap??

Just stupid.

mythology (7,690 posts)

48. I don't understand how you can be so certain

You don't know Al Franken. You know a public persona.

Also you are wrong about when he said it. He is accused of saying that in 2006, two years before he ran for Senate when he was still on the radio.

When you say even if he admitted it, you wouldn't believe it and you get basic facts wrong, it's obvious that you aren't even trying to look at this objectively. You've created a narrative for yourself, divorced from the actual claims, and use that to justify feeling like Franken is being railroaded.

 

quickesst (3,461 posts)

58. I'll give you your due...

.... when you can prove to me that this particular accuser even exists. How can you be so sure that the three accusers who have made their names public and are known Trump supporters and Republicans are telling the truth? You got one photo with hover hands which is pretty much on a par with tweeden grabbing the ass of the musician on stage. Looks like I'm not the who has a problem with objectivity.

it gets worse if you can believe it...

[Maverick1987]

I just ran through that thread over at DU a little while ago.  Thier hypocrisy is on full display in that one.

[SVPete]

[DumbAss Tanker]

Yeah, he's a strong Prog, alright...which means he has done exactly nothing of consequence, randomly runs his mouth without ever saying anything memorable, and simply opposes anything a Republican wants by voting as his Party orders, no thought required (<Which is right up his alley).  He could actually be replaced by a mannequin, with his vote button connected to Chuck the Schmuck's desk, and nobody would know the difference.

[DLR Pyro]

The train has left the station

[Old n Grumpy]

Al Franken was railroaded.

He should have been corn holed.

[Ralph Wiggum]

He should have been corn holed.

Look up the scene from the early 80's movie "Trading Places".  Either he or Franken's writing partner Tom Davis (I think that's his name) were "raped" by a gorilla in the flick.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Good thing he wasn't lynched, 'cause that would be cultural appropriation.

 

[sneakypete1]

they did it to remove a strong liberal contender for president in 2020 because senator Sanders doing so well against a more moderate candidate in secretary Clinton

Bubbette! is "moderate"???? Compared to who,Pol Pot?

That's some scary stuff,right there! These people have some serious reality problems.

[Skul]

Bubbette! is "moderate"???? Compared to who,Pol Pot?

That's some scary stuff,right there! These people have some serious reality problems.

She's more akin to lil fat Kimmy in NORK..

An afterthought.
Is "railroaded" tougher than "swiftboated"??

[FiddyBeowulf]

Look up the scene from the early 80's movie "Trading Places".  Either he or Franken's writing partner Tom Davis (I think that's his name) were "raped" by a gorilla in the flick.

Neither were. It was Paul Gleason.
Al and Tom played stoned/drunk baggage handlers on the train.

[Zathras]

She's more akin to lil fat Kimmy in NORK..

They share the same taste in pantsuits for sure.

[USA4ME]

Franken is a big fat liar. I couldn't care less if the rapist was railroaded, he just needs to spend the rest of his miserable life being reminded that he claimed to be an advocate and all the while he was using his Congressional position to molest others.

.

[Tess Anderson]

I think it just dawned on the dummies that he was really going to resign.

Response to Lint Head (Reply #42)Sun Dec 24, 2017, 01:37 PM
Star Member Alice11111 (5,368 posts)
45. It makes me weep that the Senate threw out our best

Senator for such BS.

 

don't worry Alice, here's the replacement:




PP, hard left, DFL. MM will fall in love with Tina

[67 Rover]

Today the Senate has pinched hard and rid itself of the disgraced Al Franken.

Can I get a Halilullah!!! 

[DLR Pyro]

Star Member Alice11111 (5,368 posts)
45. It makes me weep that the Senate threw out our best

That's the best you got?

[BlueStateSaint]

That's the best you got?

Whatever happened to self-immolation?

[DLR Pyro]

Former Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., is considering running for the recently vacated U.S. Senate seat held by Al Franken.

“I’ve had people contact me and urge me to run for that Senate seat,” Bachmann said recently on televangelist Jim Bakker's television show. “And the only reason I would run is for the ability to take these principles into the United States Senate and to be able to advocate for these principles.”

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/02/michele-bachmann-says-shes-considering-running-for-al-frankens-senate-seat.html

seems like this is something the DUmmies can get behind.  I mean, what better way to make amends for the crimes that franken has committed against women than to have a woman replace him...

[freedumb2003b]

Star Member pangaia (15,361 posts)

54. It is ALL going to get even uglier because that is who and what republicans are.

Democrat pols better all wise up right now. Hell, they should all have wised up long before this..
If the best of us can be taken down, what does that say for the rest??

Now I am starting to wonder... eh never mind....

If al frankengroper is you BEST, then Republicans have nothing to fear.

[DefiantSix]

Whatever happened to self-immolation?

The nurses don't allow matches on the ward, where the inmates could get to them.

More's the pity...