since 2006. Never forget,ABC Radio Station in LA was a willing agent in this.

against him.

they should have too.

to their advantage, and unfortunately, some on our side took the bait.

Al Franken was one of our most effective voices, who was never afraid to ask to the tough questions, with a comedian's wit, going back to the Bush days (before he was senator) when he wrote all those books.

Stone and Tweeden (Hannity buddy) should be investigated for concocting the entire hit on Franken.

a notion that crossed my mind more than once when it was happening. Clearly there must have been something we don't know about that hastened his resignation. Stopping the dirty tricks quickly certainly fits that scenario.

Who would be able to see it for what it was and sacrifice himself to stop the circus.

... as if we needed any more! This couldn't happen to a more deserving fella.

But consider the terrible judgement of Senators involved, at the least, to political opportunists eyeing 2020 at the height.

but they sure seemed to enjoy being up there in the locomotive's cab.

The little engine that did....

Thank you.

Come back, Al!

We need you to do this:

Last edited Fri Jan 25, 2019, 02:02 PM - Edit history (1)

And that influences my opinion of their qualifications to be president. Every one of them. I'll support our nominee of course, but I will wait until the primaries are over if one of his Senate detractors appears to have the nomination in the bag.

I will support the Democratic nominee, but I can’t overlook the railroading of Senator Franken. He’s one of our best.

Go, Al Franken, we in Minnesota love you. I hope you come back and fight for us!!!

I miss my senator.

He brought to the Senate a unique blend of devotion, insight, intelligence, wit, and effectiveness. We have other great Senators (Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren) who tower above the turdscape of the Republican majority, but Franken is in a class of his own. I hope he remains in public service.

We need him back! Come back, Al!

But I sure am glad someone else did!!

Thanks, TC!

Not Gillibrand, not Harris, not Warren.

Cory Booker also demanded Franken step down.

I think we should not use that as a litmus test.

We all have our "litmus test." For me, this is it.

All too political savy to fall for Repuke bait.
So political opportunism must be the case.

Tho I will say Booker and Baldwin my personal biggest disappointments.

And Sanders is not even a Democrat. I don't know why many here still adore him and are constantly disappointed by him.

Link to tweet

is not an argument. Do better.

Link to tweet

If our democracy is saved, I'll always give you a good part of the credit.

recusal. Senator Leahy in one of his written questions asked the question even more precisely than Franken did. As his was written - and the response written - it never got the cable media coverage of the video of Franken asking his question.

Many Democrats raised questions on how his campaign work impacted his impartiality. ALL of them - even if they did not speak of recusal - created the basis for him doing so. The problem for Sessions was NOT an answer to Franken, but the truth of his situation. Sessions agreed with ethics experts that he had to recuse himself. Not doing so could have led to extreme legal problems himself - especially as Trump's comments showed he expected Sessions to shut things down.

They don’t like it when you point out the facts.

NEVER FORGET. Love ya Al.

Not likely he could have gotten any legislation passed in a republican controlled Senate with a republican president.

Because it always seemed strange to me. I understand he was under intense pressure. But I thought at the time there’s only two things that make sense, one, there are even more women out there to accuse him, or two, he deliberately took himself out of the line of fire and accusation and focused attention because he knew how bad things were probably going to get. In other words he sacrificed himself.

As time went on I began leaning toward the second possibility more and more. Franklin could have rode it out, or rode it out longer, but he took himself out of play. He knew.

I believe he will make a political comeback

he no longer had the confidence of the Senate Democratic leader, which meant he had no choice but to resign, if he wanted his state represented.

He was forced out by people who had their eye on running for the Presidency, when the public started calling for Franken to run. The Republicans arranged for the first, and biggest, allegation by an active Republican, announcing the matter on Fox.

That's how it happened that one of the most effective and honorable Senators was forced out. He could have insisted on staying, interfering with the Senate process, and leaving his state w/o decent representation (he would have been kicked off his committees, and he would have not been able to collaborate or discuss issues or bills with other Senators). So he had to leave.

He will not make a national political comeback. His national political career was killed. He still has a state political career, if he wants, IMO. Governor or whatever.

But I am not sure you go far enough.

When anyone loses the confidence of their coalition, it is best to resign. Fair or not, that is what happened to Franken. It can happen at any level: county, state, federal.

This was a big win for the repiggies.

An all "white boy" ticket that will prove that white boys can be progressive, too.

He was pretty disgusted with the way it all went down, and does not look forward to working with former colleagues that treated him like they did. I know he would be welcomed on the national scene, and plenty of Minnesotans would love to see their most eloquent voice raised again. But there is some serious bitterness to overcome, and it has only been a year. I do not blame him one bit. Who is to say they wouldn't do it again if it became expedient in their eyes? There are many of lesser character loudly tooting their own horns on the platform he left them. The fact that I strongly support many of their positions does not "make it alright," and it is not enough for me to make me support them in the primaries. The Republicans will nominate someone thoroughly disgusting, whether it is Trump or someone else, so I will be behind our nominee 100%. I just would prefer it be someone I can support without reservation, although during the election campaign, I will of course have no reservations.

It was what the Republicans had manipulated. Mission accomplished. IMO.

Al was felled by a direct hit from an experimental weapon.

I doubt even the Republicans expected it to have the success it did.

What is the name of this group? Now I see it is Player.

Hearts to Al Franken!

To your health! And to your, too, Tommy_Carcetti!
I am grateful for Al's brilliant service to our country and hope he enjoys the rest of his life, whether or not he ever enters politics again.

We lost a powerhouse and now I know why.