Suppose Franken does resign. What happens next?

I'm disgusted at the spinelessness of almost the entire Dem Senate, who could hardly wait to get on the bandwagon. Et tu, Elizabeth? Bernie? Why? Do they seriously think the GOP can be shamed into rejecting Roy Moore or doing a damn thing about Trump? Once again, they've brought a plastic party spoon to a gunfight and are in the process of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I want to puke.

But - let's say Franken does decide he has no choice but to take one for the team. The governor of Minnesota, a Democrat, will appoint a replacement. Maybe a deal has already been made. There's been talk of Keith Ellison but I'm beginning to think it will be someone else, someone who could win the eventual statewide election. Ellison is very popular in the 5th District (Minneapolis), but out in the boonies maybe not so much (consider that MN also sent the execrable wingnut Michelle Bachmann to the House from an adjacent district). Ellison is black and he's a Muslim, which, unfortunately, could be disadvantageous characteristics for some people Up North, especially in Colin Peterson's district. And any man would have to be provably squeaky clean, now that the Dems have set themselves up on a very high horse. So if there are no available monks (some of whom have had their own problems), the obvious choice would be a woman.

And we do have some very good female politicians. I'm thinking Dayton could appoint Congresswoman Betty McCollum, who represents a safe Democratic district (St. Paul) and is well-regarded. If appointed she could likely keep holding the seat in an election. I'm guessing Rove crony Norm "The Weasel" Coleman, whom Franken very narrowly defeated in '08, could be the GOP candidate, so it would have to be someone who could kick his ass.

I'd get behind McCollum for sure - she would be very good, I think - but the whole business is nauseating. Sure, the Democrats, from their vantage point on their high horse, could give the GOP a whole ration of shit about supporting a child molester once they've forced out a guy who has been accused anonymously of butt-patting and the like, but because they have no shame they won't care.