FB pages.

How anybody can just dismiss 8 different women, from both sides of the aisle, some of whom told others at the time, is beyond me. The cult of personality on this is amazing.

Not a single accusation is credible, mainly because only two are not anonymous. As stated, Tweeden is an obvious hit job planned by the GOP. She's good friends with Don Jr., Hannity and connected to Roger Stone. Stone gave advanced warning to outlets about a story about to break on Frankenstein before actually did. Kinda like how Giuliani was talking about things to come before investigations were "renewed" on the Clinton investigation.
The next accuser is claiming Frankenstein grabbed a handful of flesh and squeezed during the grab and go photo photo-ops. Placing an arm around her back for a.photo, quickly, on might grab a chunk of flesh, especially if she is extra flesh to grab. Even then there's nothing wrong there. Just uptight women feeling squirrelly because a man touched you st all.
Another case, a woman is being congratulated at work, boss come in with high fives, except with younthehigh 5 misses and a boob is grazed..........now this man will be charged with sexual harrasmemt or even assault.....just because he grazed a boob or bumped a button even or twice




Another

the body politic?

If Stone was involved, anyone should automatically assume that something dishonest is going on. Stone's great talent over the DECADES is to create chaos and scandal that ultimately favors Republicans. He's an old pro, and my guess is that he's been handsomely rewarded and he continues to be rewarded.

let alone the Republicans is going to look at the Franken allegations in any other way than whoah ! I better not joke around or be physically near any woman.

The allegations are so stupid and they barely constitute harassment. They've cheapened it and made it a joke. Now no one will focus on real cases.

whereby the accused has the right to face his/her accusers, and be presented with all evidence of the "crimes" he/she supposedly committed? Heresay is totally admissible in your opinion, and no solid evidence need be presented?

Maybe Al is a snake in the grass, but he has the basic right to face his accusers. Period. No one should ever be convicted by the court of public opinion.

Who, 6 months after the alleged incident took place, tweeted, “I met Franken in DC in Jan. I thanked him for legitimizing comedians everywhere. Way to go, Senator!” Funny, too, how that tweet was just deleted in the last couple of days.

It's one thing to not want to come forward. It's a whole other thing to go out of your way to praise the person.

There's a lot about the Franken mess that stinks.

advance too. Sorry, this was a colossal mistake.

and forced him to do something he didn't want to do.

Isn't that bullying?

I fucking hate Facebook, so I am not a member. I want to know what the backlash against this woman is. Esp. as I am a female Franken voter in Minnesota. Moar pleeezzzz?

people were saying.

We just see a title page and can't get any further.

It's helpful to have some of it copied and pasted, though. Twitter's been alight too whenever I've looked at Gillibrand's account.

I did manage to get into your second link and read quite a few eyesful of replies. Woah.

Facebook's often a bit hit or miss in what non-members can see. Thanks for the OP anyway.

From what I'm hearing on the ground, Gillibrand and Harris are both now facing major blowback. Even some #me too women have gone on record saying this isn't helping their movement.

Not only that but dozens of women have written in support of Franken, including a group from SNL and a group of women staffers in his Senate office.

These allegations are so spurious (Franken accidentally touched the bare flesh of a woman's hip while in a group photo with her, she mentioned that because she'd gained weight, was self-conscious about that, and her shirt had ridden up a bit) that this whole thing has offended many in the base.

First of all, zero tolerance policies have a history of throwing common sense and any kind of discretion to the wind. Getting rid of Franken for the sake of these allegations is like an idiotic elementary school principle who expels a first-grade girl for bringing a plastic knife to spread peanut butter on a piece of bread. It's just stupid.

Next, when I see the knee-jerk reaction here, it makes me think of the old red scares and McCarthyism. Black lists. Congressional witch hunts. Only instead of communists, now the 'perps' are pretty much all men over 55.

Problem is, there are a lot of pretty good people over 55, and if we don't let them legitimately redeem themselves from dumb acts that happened way back when, justice will not be served. The criteria that should be applied is 1) how long ago did it happen?, 2) how serious was it? and 3) is the behavior stopped, or has it happened in the last five years?

Franken probably did a couple of creepy things way back when, but based on evidence presented and an objective observation of his behavior in the Senate, to label him a sexual predator, and force him to resign is absurd. To my mind this was a despicable act that had much more to do with Gillibrand's political ambition (she kneecapped Franken to get him out of the way for her 2020 presidential bid because she perceived him as a potential opponent), and nothing to do with any values or vision she might or might not have.

started to snowball with MeToo that the potential was there for it to be a double-edged sword. I frankly think the false equivalence is harming rather than helping the cause of women being taken seriously.

Did you see this thread?
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029953599
and read the linked article:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/by-deserting-franken-democrats-show-they-dont-understand_us_5a2aa209e4b022ec613b8146
Sums it up beautifully.

Exactly!

Bill Maher characterized the Dems perfectly as a party with weak knees who cave in to imagined harm and eat their own people more readily than attacking Republicans.

The piling on of Senators against Franken was nothing short of disgusting. I held back a couple of days waiting to see if they knew something that the media had not yet reported. But it became apparent that didn't known anymore about Franken's situation than the media reported! And the media reported nothing -- repeat, nothing -- that reaches the level of resignation or censure or even a wrist slapping.

So I'm through with the Democratic Party. Let me explain that: I will vote for anyone, or anything, that can unseat a Republican -- or prevent another Republican from gaining office. I despise the GOP and it's army of hypocrites and greedy psychopaths. So I will be voting for Democratic candidates. In other words, when Elizabeth Warren wins the 2020 Democratic nomination, I'll vote for her -- but I won't give her campaign a dime. And if/when the DNC calls my house asking for money, I will attempt a calm explanation of why I do not want to be bothered by them again.

as it was all SO unnecessary. I keep hoping something really good will come out of this... just don't see it right now.

After I unloaded my anger about the Dems treatment of Franken I stopped and asked the caller what he thought about the issue. He said this was the first time he had made calls for donations and he also felt the Dems had betrayed Al. I apologised for going off on him and we had a nice discussion. I did not give a donation.

I like your first sentence.

I've been actively posting on Kamala Harris and Gillibrand's page. For the thousands of comments in support of Al Franken, I've seen maybe two in support of the Senator's positions.

And I'm furious seeing the movement devolve into a patriarchal and political weapon.

But, like black lives matter, movements like this get exploited. But your message is pure. The reality of decades of microagression against women will prove much more powerful than this one egregious instance of exploitation. I have three daughters and two grand daughters, and I hate the idea they should have to face what so many women have.

Maybe I'm a part of it, because I do enjoy unearned white and unearned male privilege. I hope not, because I'd rather be part of the solution.

The problem is, this railroading of Franken just is not part of any solution I can think of. Now, if the investigation shows he has done something horrible, then fine, force him to resign. I just don't think that will happen - he's too good a human being.

Anyway, best to you. I'm happy women are standing up. Don't stop - for the sake, especially of my grand daughters, don't stop.

Why the F did you do this to Al Franken?

Sherrod Brown's wife says people who post are usually mad about a decision. The supporters don't post much. Ok, but 99.9% is pretty skewed toward not liking this move.

Ike Cantos We need to have not only smart people in the Senate but also wise people. You are neither!
5 · 8 hrs
Remove
Pennee Atkinson
Pennee Atkinson You BULLIED Al Franken out of the senate!
11 · 7 hrs
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Bob Reaves
Bob Reaves I agree with you on most issues and have supported your efforts since you were elected. However, I strongly feel the approach taken by you and the others towards Franken was wrong on so many levels. Due process, which he himself requested and welcome...See More
7 · 7 hrs
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Steven Kreiss
Steven Kreiss What about Trump and mo ore?
3 · 7 hrs
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Pamela Hollar
Pamela Hollar You have Presidential ambitions so you decided to knock one of your potential opponents out of the race early, namely Senator Al Franken? How's THAT working out for you so far. Not getting my vote!

'courageous' Senators. I think she just ruined her presidential bid. It is too bad she got carried away by personal ambition and chose this despicable way to rid herself of a potential opponent.

Not only that, but this brazen attempt at political pandering isn't going to help women much at all, as several women in Al Franken's Senate office have said. Franken is NOT part of the 'me too' problem. He is a good guy who did some ill-advised things 20 years ago.

And, if I have anything whatever to do with it, he will not be crucified on a cross of Gillibrand's political ambition.

Outstanding. Deserves its own thread and a graphic. Well said!

pandering" states really well why many of us are not happy with her. Many of us despise that kind of cravenness she showed. It's ugly.

did not look hypocritical for attacking Roy Moore. I do not think Gillibrand;s political aspirations were the main reason for this.

repercussions. Same goes for all 33, including my two senators, with whom I very rarely disagree. There was no need to act with such speed and lack of consideration of the consequences.

What she did was horrible. She should be calling on Trump to resign every day. Why the hell isn't she?

And she should let us know if she wants due process removed from the Constitution. I think she does.

Then she can go after Trump.

to play right into the GOP games of false equivalencies. Who does she think she is trying to stuff a Senator elected by the citizens of his state? This is one of the stupidest things I have ever seen in politics. Absolutely outrageous.

Is scolding everyone for being upset with Gillibrand. Pissed me off.

ReTweeting that “anger at Gillibrand coordinated by GOP” and makes me furious how out of touch she is. They don’t realize how we feel about What they did.

Someone please inform her about the percentage against the Franken railroading.

I am angry. Gillibrand was wrong. And it fucking pissed me off more when Walsh said President Gillibrand. No just no. For me, it's not simply here's a woman, support her. Gillibrand went after Franken because of her 2020 aspirations. And who knows if he was going to run. But I'd vote Franken before Gillibrand in a heartbeat. You attack your own without the process playing out, you deserve the backlash.

I have read Gillibrand has aspirations to be president. The last time I watched Al Franken take on the GOP I thought to myself, He would make a good president. Well, I think Gillibrand had ulterior motives for dissing Al Franken!!

She's an old school leftie who just wants to play nice, and protect the people in charge. It's people like her who have helped get us into this mess by encouraging compliance with the party line.

No more of that.

The only way to redeem themselves at all is use the same standards for Trump. Choosing to be judge and jury for Franken and not for Trump has made them look weak and susceptible to the manipulations of the GOP, not the holders of high moral ground.

It will obviously get them nowhere to demand Trump's resignation, but they should be on the record for it, same as they got on that record for Franken's resignation.

It has not made them look weak, it has highlighted that they are weak.

when I do that, but couldn't with this.

Last edited Sun Dec 10, 2017, 07:54 AM - Edit history (1)

Right click on the image you want to grab.
Save it to your desktop.
Go to your imgur.com account and import the pic you've saved.
After the import, right click on the image and select 'copy image location'.

In your DU post, click control 'v' , which will paste the imgur url into your post.


Advanced skills--
If the image is too large or needs to be cropped, upload it to this site and play with the settings to get it right.
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Al was ready to go to ethics committee. Tweedan wasn't. Wonder why. Both would be put under oath and more than likely Tweedan would be proven a liar. They found twitter feeds between her and Donnie Jr. regarding this setup. It was set up by Donnie Jr. and Tweedan.

Al should not resign. Bring HER before the ethics committee, put her under oath and expose her for who she truly is! Anyone seen her Facebook page?

I am a woman. I have been through this all my life. And I can smell a fake setup. If this crap regarding Franken were real I'd back Gillibrand. But I fear women are going to take this too far. If it's REAL harassment then yeah, but if it's small petty nothings, women like Gillibrand are doing women a disservice!

... he'll play nice with them.

Not going to happen.

Did the Senate have hearings on Franken? Call for Trump's resignation.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

n/t

those comments on gillibrand's fb are absolutely scathing!
good.
she deserves every one of them imo

from other states just as upset with this as we are.

Thank you!!!

but we all needed him.
it certainly wasn't just mn who appreciated him
and i'm still so mad about what those other senators (including both of mine!) did to him, and to the party, and to all of us.

champion he is, and what a loss this would be. Watching him question people in judiciary committee hearings...he is critical in the Russia probe, among so many other things. And he is just a good human being, beyond the politics, which actually is probably why he is such a good senator. You Minnesotans are far from alone in this! I am hoping that if we all keep on our senators to walk this back, and keep encouraging Franken to hang in there, just maybe we can turn this around.

Fellow Minnesotan. Pissed that my Senator got screwed over. Amazed at all the support he is getting across the country.

entire country badly needs him, not just MN.

This whole thing was poorly handled. He has done great work.

Looks like this has really backfired on her and she probably thought it was a good move if she decides to run for president.

I printed out this comment:

Hey Kristin, what happened to all the comments about Al Franken? You want to pretend the fury and anger you've awakened for stabbing our most courageous Senator in the back doesn't exist? You're just making the tsunami of Democratic voices against you even more outraged. Put them back up; read every one of them. Know this is why your political career is going into a tailspin that it will never recover from.

When I tried to post it, I got this:



Kristin, or her staff, are trying to hide the truth. I've apparently had my posting privileges revoked. Keep the pressure up on her, and the rest of the Neville Chamberlain Democrats.

She has lost all respect.

How Trump-esque.

You should post this as it's own OP so everyone knows what they are doing.

Silencing our voice seems more like a Republican tactic.

Didn’t see anything that looked like comments were deleted. I must be missing something?

Anyway, I’m disgusted with her and Schumer—my two Senators whom I gladly voted for—and the rest for believing Tweeden unquestioningly, without considering her suspicious ties and her own behavior. I’m disgusted that they took extreme actions based on anonymous accusations. Im disgusted they apparently had no idea of Tweeden’s corrupt repuke buddies. I’m disgusted that they gave the repukes the gift they dreamed of—lynching Al Franken.

So am I!

The time is long past when it has become obvious that the drive to oust Al Franken from the Senate was premature, and very conceivably manipulated to silence one of our most eloquent voices. Franken has not yet submitted his resignation. There is time to save the honor and integrity of those Democrats who rushed to gang up on Al Franken. If you wish to establish yourself as a potential leader, do the hard thing for once: Admit that Franken was NOT given a chance to defend himself against a coordinated scheme of which you yourself could very well be the next target, and ask him to stay at the very least until the results of the ethics committee inquiry are in. In this case being the hero means admitting a mistake. This is quite apart from the fact that Al Franken is quite probably the Democrat in the Senate that enjoys THE most respect among party voters nationally. Consider also, please, what that will translate out to in contributions to our candidates in next year's vital mid-term cycle.. So far, I see us at a few million in the hole if Al Franken leaves.

I'll check to see if it's still there in a few hours.

If Dems want to get their message out, they need to work together. Call joint press conferences, and repeat the same talking points. Go on TV and repeat the same talking points.


Just get out there and use the same talking points! It's simple. It's the way the GOP got us to talk about 'death panels'. Or 'birth certificates'. Or 'socialist Obama'.
We need to start doing this.

They're not keeping up with it tonight but it was deleted earlier

Seems to me she's running for president and is a party of one. Like Bernie.

Last edited Sun Dec 10, 2017, 02:28 AM - Edit history (1)

Seriously asking because I would not doubt it.

She made a power play and it backfired. Throwing a beloved Senator under the bus was a pretty crappy strategy. And people are making their feelings heard.

I emailed Wyden and harris.What feels like ethical to these weak politicians feels like power to republicans and it is. I left message after message on any blog I could find.

Shared it to my FB page. Unfortunately my two Republican Senators probably are celebrating.

Last edited Tue Dec 12, 2017, 09:34 AM - Edit history (1)

….hurt what this movement is trying to accomplish by trivializing the meaning of harassment.

The ethics investigation would have helped the Dems and helped women.

Beyond furious at them and their action will have no effect whatsoever on Repugs who are laughing their heads off.

They did more to hurt women than help them.

I unsubscribe and in thee reason box I add, Wrong choice on Sen. Franken!

Do not bother me as you don't represent my values!