"Senator Al Franken Accused of Groping a Woman in 2006"

[_subgenius]

...(snip)...but Franken's accusations aren't even remotely as serious. ...(snip)...

difference is, there is actual and undeniable evidence on Franken, which makes your comparison a bit misapplied.

[_Xenophon]

Good thoughts both RI and EA, thanks for sharing.

Make no mistake, I am not pleased to have to bid good-bye to a strong senator that is able to get things done. We will have to see where some of this comes out in the wash though, time will tell.

It's nice to have one's cake and eat it too, but people who wanted his resignation might have to accept their are political downsides to it.

I hope no one thought this would be without downsides, although I suspect that the seat will not be lost there is no doubt that the senator to replace Franken probably won't be as strong, at least not early on. It takes time and energy to reach that level of influence. However, seeing as I identify more as a Democrat than any other party I'm happy to see them doing what I perceive to be the right thing, even if it makes winning harder. That probably makes me an idealistic fool, so be it.

I’m disappointed that Franken resigned. I think it lets the Senate off the hook from having to grapple with the issue of when these types of allegations disqualify someone from office.

Honestly, I don't think they will have grapple with these issues whether he stays or not. If I am Franken I'm not looking forward to having these details dredged through ethics investigations and am probably more than willing to take the hard pass on that. I also highly doubt that Congress can come up with some SOP on how to handle these kinds of things, partisan politics and circumstances vary far too widely.

You are more than likely correct RE: your Moore bet. Even if they had investigated Franken there was never a guarantee that they would do the same for Moore. Just look how hard McConnell has waffled already.

[_EAllusion]

difference is, there is actual and undeniable evidence on Franken, which makes your comparison a bit misapplied.

There's actual and undeniable evidence on Moore.

[_Kevin Graham]

difference is, there is actual and undeniable evidence on Franken, which makes your comparison a bit misapplied.

There's actual and undeniable evidence on Moore.

Noooooo, that was a liberal conspiracy. Try to keep up please.

[_Some Schmo]

Noooooo, that was a liberal conspiracy. Try to keep up please.

Not just any liberal conspiracy, but one that involves Republicans like Mitch McConnell and all the others that said he should step aside... until they decided that wasn't politically cool. Gotta follow Drumpf's lead.

[_MeDotOrg]

In some ways what is happening now is reminiscent of what happened to Bob Livingston. Livingston was lined up to be Speaker of the House after Newt Gingrich, he resigned (and called on Bill Clinton to resign) after it was made public that he had an affair. It's difficult for the pot to call the kettle black, you have to get your own house in order to maker the charges. On the whole I would say that currently the Democrats have been more forthright in acknowledging wrongdoing and accepting consequences. That is not to say they always have been.

Anyway, I think Al did the right thing in stepping down. His continued presence would just ignite a whataboutism response.

[Guest]

[_Xenophon]

I suppose he could, WD, but I think your conspiracy hat might be on just a bit too tight on this one. With so much pressure from the party, leaks about who the governor is going to select for interim senator and his very public resignation statement he would be an absolute idiot to try this (you might think him a fool but even this would be a stretch).

[Guest]

[_Res Ipsa]

I suspect the delay is motivated by the upcoming votes on the tax and government funding bills. No tinfoil needed.