Al Franken to Resign

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

https://apnews.com/0cb35e74a6884d93b66fd82d2787b969?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP

 

12:05 p.m.

Minnesota Sen. Al Franken says he’ll resign in the coming weeks. He’s repeatedly apologized as several women accused him of sexually inappropriate behavior, and as his support from fellow Democrats evaporated.

The Minnesota lawmaker took to the Senate floor to say, “I may be resigning my seat, but I am not giving up my voice.” He says he’ll addressing issues as an activist.

Franken says he can’t go through a Senate Ethics Committee investigation and effectively represent his state at the same time.

In remarks that lasted 11 minutes, he said that, thanks to his family, “I’m going to be just fine.”

He says some charges against him are untrue and that he remembers other differently than his accusers do. But he says women “deserve to be heard and their experiences taken seriously.”

___

11:45 a.m.

Minnesota Sen. Al Franken is resigning amid multiple sexual misconduct allegations.

Once a rising star in the Democratic Party, Franken made the announcement in a speech Thursday on the Senate floor.

The two-term lawmaker has repeatedly apologized as several women stepped forward to accuse him of sexually inappropriate behavior, from groping to forcibly trying to kiss them.

But a fresh allegation on Wednesday unleashed a torrent of Democratic demands that Franken step aside. Female senators led the chorus.

Franken is an actor who appeared on “Saturday Night Live” and an author who narrowly won his Senate seat in 2008 after a prolonged vote count. He has been a fierce opponent of the Trump administration.

His political fall has been swift by congressional standards. The first allegation surfaced on Nov. 16.

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

2 minutes ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

https://apnews.com/0cb35e74a6884d93b66fd82d2787b969?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP

 

12:05 p.m.

Minnesota Sen. Al Franken says he’ll resign in the coming weeks. He’s repeatedly apologized as several women accused him of sexually inappropriate behavior, and as his support from fellow Democrats evaporated.

The Minnesota lawmaker took to the Senate floor to say, “I may be resigning my seat, but I am not giving up my voice.” He says he’ll addressing issues as an activist.

Franken says he can’t go through a Senate Ethics Committee investigation and effectively represent his state at the same time.

In remarks that lasted 11 minutes, he said that, thanks to his family, “I’m going to be just fine.”

He says some charges against him are untrue and that he remembers other differently than his accusers do. But he says women “deserve to be heard and their experiences taken seriously.”

___

11:45 a.m.

Minnesota Sen. Al Franken is resigning amid multiple sexual misconduct allegations.

Once a rising star in the Democratic Party, Franken made the announcement in a speech Thursday on the Senate floor.

The two-term lawmaker has repeatedly apologized as several women stepped forward to accuse him of sexually inappropriate behavior, from groping to forcibly trying to kiss them.

But a fresh allegation on Wednesday unleashed a torrent of Democratic demands that Franken step aside. Female senators led the chorus.

Franken is an actor who appeared on “Saturday Night Live” and an author who narrowly won his Senate seat in 2008 after a prolonged vote count. He has been a fierce opponent of the Trump administration.

His political fall has been swift by congressional standards. The first allegation surfaced on Nov. 16.

I like nothing about his politics but eyeing things from the middle of the road as I always do, I dont think the things he did many years ago, before he was elected are resignation worthy. 

 

It appears he touched a buttocks, squeezed a woman around the waste during a photo op, and gave some unwanted tongue during a kiss. Hardly anything one should be kicked out of the senate for, especially when you factor in their is nothing new or that happened while in office.

[bcking 3,157]

27 minutes ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

I like nothing about his politics but eyeing things from the middle of the road as I always do, I dont think the things he did many years ago, before he was elected are resignation worthy. 

 

It appears he touched a buttocks, squeezed a woman around the waste during a photo op, and gave some unwanted tongue during a kiss. Hardly anything one should be kicked out of the senate for, especially when you factor in their is nothing new or that happened while in office.

I appreciate your very reasonable approach to this. I'll gladly temporarily welcome you to the area. If you need some orientation just like me know.

 

I think his argument that he "acted inappropriately" is potentially reasonable. It doesn't excuse it in any way, but I think as more of these cases come up we are going to need to make distinctions between men who are acting inappropriately. Yes it is a fine line, but I think it is one worthy of at least trying to make. What he did is very different from some of the accusations surrounding Weinstein, Spacey, Moore etc... Saying he was aggressive with a kiss while they were rehearsing a kissing scene is not the same thing as fondling someone's genitals while they were asleep (Spacey) etc...

 

That being said I'm not surprised he has ultimately resigned. If the line is too fine and nuanced to decide on properly, I would say lets err on the side of women and truly "drain the swamp" of this sort of behavior. 

 

 

Edited December 7, 2017 by bcking

[Boiler 45,660]

 

PS NBF said he was looking at this from the middle, not the far left.

[Dashinka 24,592]

I was actually looking forward to Al staying.  The Senate has needed a replacement for Ted Kennedy for some time.

[Boiler 45,660]

4 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

I was actually looking forward to Al staying.  The Senate has needed a replacement for Ted Kennedy for some time.

To be fair Pelosi et al (pun intended) did their best.

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

2 hours ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

I like nothing about his politics but eyeing things from the middle of the road as I always do, I dont think the things he did many years ago, before he was elected are resignation worthy. 

 

It appears he touched a buttocks, squeezed a woman around the waste during a photo op, and gave some unwanted tongue during a kiss. Hardly anything one should be kicked out of the senate for, especially when you factor in their is nothing new or that happened while in office.

 

1 hour ago, bcking said:

I appreciate your very reasonable approach to this. I'll gladly temporarily welcome you to the area. If you need some orientation just like me know.

 

I think his argument that he "acted inappropriately" is potentially reasonable. It doesn't excuse it in any way, but I think as more of these cases come up we are going to need to make distinctions between men who are acting inappropriately. Yes it is a fine line, but I think it is one worthy of at least trying to make. What he did is very different from some of the accusations surrounding Weinstein, Spacey, Moore etc... Saying he was aggressive with a kiss while they were rehearsing a kissing scene is not the same thing as fondling someone's genitals while they were asleep (Spacey) etc...

 

That being said I'm not surprised he has ultimately resigned. If the line is too fine and nuanced to decide on properly, I would say lets err on the side of women and truly "drain the swamp" of this sort of behavior. 

 

 

3

I would love to hear the perspective of women who have been subjected to this type of behavior.   Men have run the show on this topic for long enough. 

Edited December 7, 2017 by Il Mango Dulce

[Dashinka 24,592]

2 minutes ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

 

I would love to hear the perspective of women who have been subject to this type of behavior.   Men have run the show on this topic for long enough. 

Isn’t that a bit of a discriminatory statement?

[Boiler 45,660]

Just now, Bill & Katya said:

Isn’t that a bit of a discriminatory statement?

A bit, and also very presumptive, first you would need to know how posters are currently self identifying.

[bcking 3,157]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/06/politics/al-franken-latest/index.html

 

"Asked about this today, press secretary Sarah Sanders said the "President addressed the comments back during the campaign."

"We feel strongly that the people of this country also addressed that when they elected Donald Trump to be President, and I addressed it several times from here and don’t have anything new to add," Sanders said."

 

Well technically the people of Minnesota didn't address it when they voted for Franken (because it wasn't known).

 

So really that just reflects poorly on the "people of this country" that voted for our current President. At least the people of Minnesota didn't know at the time of voting. The same can apply to the people of Alabama who decide on their vote soon. As well as people who have chosen to endorse someone only after sexual assault allegations come to light.

Edited December 7, 2017 by bcking

[Boiler 45,660]

If you want to talk about Trump they are plenty of threads to do so.

 

This is about Al.

[bcking 3,157]

Just now, Boiler said:

If you want to talk about Trump they are plenty of threads to do so.

 

This is about Al.

I was talking about Franken. I even linked to cnn's "Al Franken latest" page.

 

In his resignation speech he called out Trump, and the White House responded. This is a topic about his resignation. What he talked about in his speech is perfectly relevant. 

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

 

PS NBF said he was looking at this from the middle, not the far left.

But my point was appreciated, I can rest well tonight 

[Dashinka 24,592]

55 minutes ago, bcking said:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/06/politics/al-franken-latest/index.html

 

"Asked about this today, press secretary Sarah Sanders said the "President addressed the comments back during the campaign."

"We feel strongly that the people of this country also addressed that when they elected Donald Trump to be President, and I addressed it several times from here and don’t have anything new to add," Sanders said."

 

Well technically the people of Minnesota didn't address it when they voted for Franken (because it wasn't known).

 

So really that just reflects poorly on the "people of this country" that voted for our current President. At least the people of Minnesota didn't know at the time of voting. The same can apply to the people of Alabama who decide on their vote soon. As well as people who have chosen to endorse someone only after sexual assault allegations come to light.

Seems like the Dems are trying to set something up.  It is interesting that Franken only announced his intention to resign in a few weeks, I wonder if he will change his mind if Roy Moore wins in Alabama?

[Boiler 45,660]

3 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Seems like the Dems are trying to set something up.  It is interesting that Franken only announced his intention to resign in a few weeks, I wonder if he will change his mind if Roy Moore wins in Alabama?

Certainly not something he volunteered to do, no doubt some dirty dealings going on.

9 minutes ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

But my point was appreciated, I can rest well tonight 

Yup, must admit I had to sit down.