It absolutely could have had a positive psychological impact on said election.

He could have fought for it to go through the ethics committee if there was no good reason to just resign. He sacrificed himself without bitterness

Alabama was all about getting out the vote. I don't think voters in Alabama gave the Franken situation much consideration at all, if any.

Franken was sacrificed solely for the benefit of Gillibrand's desire to make herself more visible and viable for the future.

Democratic GOTV measures. But they could have been influenced by the knowledge that Jones's party offered a clear contrast.

generally despicable human being, but that was evident without comparison to anything else.

I have a few in mind already, and some I know I will not support, unless one becomes our nominee, of course. Just saying.

the repug hit job on Al Franken but your view on it made me re-think it.

She didn't get to be a senator being stupid.

I'm saying that to say, anyone who believes those last two accusers against Sen. Franken — the "waist groping" claim, and the other accuser who actually expects us to believe Franken said "it's my right as an entertainer" as he seemed to be going in for a kiss — have to be stupid.

Gillibrand is not, so it seems, looking back at it, she was just waiting for another accuser to come forward so she could take to her soap box and stake her claim as the "no tolerance", principled fighter for women against sexual assault, and as the front runner for 2020.

Franken was the sacrificial for her ambitions.

It was too obvious though. Instead of amplifying her chances for 2020, her brazen gambit dashed them.

Concerning voters who turned out: Voters were energized for a better Alabama.
The effects for the Republicans were nil.

As far as the mob that cried for Frankens ouster, it was just that: a frothing mentality of which Gillibrand was just part of the mob.

accusations and give Democrats the benefit of the doubt, and expect to look creditable. I realize accusations against Moore, Trump, etc., were much more serious than Franken's, but it's the kind of the situation politics creates.

With that said, Franken did not deserve what he got, but he was caught in a political situation that left little alternative. I see why some people are just not interested in politics.

notice? Doug Jones won because of women...black women, who would have never voted for Moore. The same women who overwhelmingly voted for Hillary.

There is nothing good, fair, or positive about the betrayal, railroading, swift-boating done to Senator Franken. It was a loss for us. We lost our champion in the senate

but we will pay the price for their actions.

I can't believe so many democrats were willing to go along with this and now are willing to rationalize it.

by the difference between the parties on this issue could have been significant.

women abuser over a candidate who has dedicated her live to fighting for women's rights

but not an "overwhelming number."

http://www.cnn.com/election/results/exit-polls

and I have no idea why the Franken matter would bring them aboard, when obviously they don't care

Only certain privileged sections of societies can afford to skip due process

And for Moore too down in Alabama.

Al Franken being railroaded out of the Senate didn't give Dems much leverage, because you have thuglican sex offenders STILL in Congress and a fat, nasty, treasonous self-described pussy-grabber as president.

They basically voted for a good man who went after the KKK (and against a loudmouth racist asshole)

of at least a few Republicans.

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and if we mean zero tolerance we mean zero tolerance. And we hold GOP to that same standard with as much pressure on them as we put on Al Franken, which I do not think we have done.

What we have is preemptive unilateral disarmament, and summary execution without trial for our own very best

I wish both those scum bags would be indicted and prosecuted, but even for bottom feeders like them, we do follow the rule of law.

They could have taken a hard stance, demanded hearings, threatened consequences if wrongdoing is uncovered. Then the Jones/Moore election would have come and gone. Franken would have gotten his hearings and the consequences could have been based on actual evidence.

What happened was a travesty and it SHOULD NEVER BE SUGAR-COATED!!!

Democrats who rationalize this are making a BIG mistake. He was one of our strongest Senators. What was done to him was wrong and sends a dangerous message to all our current leaders and future leaders.

MESSAGE to all Democratic Senators: lay low, don't challenge Republicans too much. Is it any wonder than we complain about how our reps are weak? We sent a clear message to them all to keep their heads down.

doing it right is to have our leaders stay low and keep their heads down. Now that would be playing into the GOP's hands.

Still feeling burned about this.

Talked to DCCC type and he justified that Franken's loss is okay because well he was just an entertainer not a lifelong politician.

Those types, Gillibrand types, opportunists should be labeled and shunned.

A rising star and champion of women's rights, and a good trade is Doug Jones and a draft choice??? We got SCREWED!! And if women noted this positively they are either politically unaware or stupid.

what Democrats claim to be their belief that women should not be treated as sexual objects is not only the right thing to do, but also a winning strategy.
I like Al Franken but I don't like to see supposed Democrats attack our female Senators because they expressed their opinions. Those Senators would have personal knowledge of his interactions with women.
If Franken resigned because some Senators said he should, then either he has a guilty conscience or he doesn't think standing up for himself is worth the effort.

pussy grabber.

He requested a hearing by an ethics committee

But was 'sacrificed' instead.

Nothing to be happy about.

we must move on...those who are saying they won't vote for Gillibrand over an over again are doing the GOP's heavy lifting and endangering a New York seat (very stupid)... this is Democratic Underground and she is a Democrat. Oh and Teachout Zephyr could never win statewide...I doubt she can win a primary but if she somehow managed to, we would lose the seat.

...thought it would be expedient to do so. DC is a closed little club, and both sides like it that way.

"I don't think by any means that Al Franken is a sexual predator, however. He is more of a sacrificial lamb."

No, it's called a SCAPEGOAT.

then it's a shockingly poor bargain, and puts the morality of those running the Democratic Party into serious question.

Done to Franken. That's going to hurt.

I still wish he wouldn't resign.

he was loosey goosey with his hands; should have kept his hands to himself.

You must be untouchable, can't take a pic with a voter. BTW did all the anonymous claims come out?