Yesterday our Illustrious Senior Editor (ISEman) DLH sent a perceptive observation about the Democrat political scene, posted this morning. His perceptiveness was confirmed by dominant “mainstream” reporting later this morning. The political convenience of the Democrats picking on Franklin should not be lost in the discussion as it often is in the mainstream media but nor should the key differences as regards any comparison of the culpability of Franken and Roy Moore.
Frankiln has admitted at the very least to boorish behavior and his history is recent and the evidence corroborated by photographs, timelines and directly by people other than the accuser. Among the Washington establishment, given his background, there is probably no serious doubt the initial accusations are not true (allowing for attempts to pile on in pursuit of #metoo and any attendant celebrity). Roy Moore denies the accusations and none of the listed definitive aspects about Franken apply. They are fundamentally different cases.
Now back to the convenience of throwing Franken under the bus. The Democrats choosing now to sacrifice or at least preen about Franken are exercises in costless damage control as regards what they see as their base – liberal women. The recent sex scandals overwhelmingly relate to Democrats and the party apparat is a bit embarrassed (we don’t know why as they soldiered on with Bill Clinton, even offering Lewinskies in full comradery). Franken’s is a currently safe Democrat seat. The Democrat Governor of Minnesota Dayton, will appoint his replacement.
Alabama is a current safe Republican seat ONLY if Moore wins. Obviously if Moore drops out prior to the election the Democrat will win. If Moore loses as a result of the attack campaign against him the Democrats have the seat until the regular term expires, a leg up on that campaign and a claim to big mo into the 2018 mid terms where they desperately want at least one of the houses of congress.
Only if Moore wins is the pertinence of the Republican governor come into play. If you are a Republican and are undecided about Moore’s guilt, you want the process to take its course and not affect the election for Republicans. Elections should be about furtherance of the party platform and Moore professes support for that as he professes innocence of the accusations against him. That should be enough to vote for him.
Also ask your Democrat antagonists, or anyone wanting Moore out — would Democrats not circle their wagons around Franken if he were not so expendable? Consider purple states or any state with a Republican governor and a Democrat Senator if that senator was involved in any sort of scandal would they be so inclined to throw that senator out. How about Claire McCaskill — will her scandals be allowed to rise to the level to push her out so that a Republican governor can appoint her replacement? We think not. Similar situations pertain in Nevada, Indiana, West Virginia, Ohio, Florida, Massachusetts and any state which has a Democrat Senator but a Republican governor to “keep” Democrats dishonest.
Related reading:
Democratic Senator Franken to address calls to resign
If Franken leaves, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, a Democrat, would appoint someone to take his place, meaning the party would not risk losing the seat for now. Republicans hold a 52-48 majority in the Senate.
Democrats turn on Franken to get to Moore
WASHINGTON — By calling on one of their own to resign Wednesday, Senate Democrats tried to seize the moral high ground on sexual misconduct.
The push to oust Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. comes before an Alabama special election next week in which President Donald Trump is supporting Roy Moore, a candidate dogged by multiple accusations of sexual misconduct with teenagers decades ago.
The Democratic dam burst on Wednesday afternoon when Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, R-N.Y., publicly urged Franken to resign his seat over a series of groping and unwanted kissing allegations. Gillibrand, whose call was echoed by more than two dozen Democratic colleagues within a few hours, said there should be no tolerance for sexual misconduct.
. . .
It was clear by late Wednesday that Democrats felt sacrificing Franken will allow them to claim moral superiority over Republicans in a way that they couldn’t if he remains in office.
“Before you get into the race in Alabama, I hope that members of both political parties will be guided by sound principles, even when it’s painful,” said Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the number-two Democrat in the Senate. “And this is painful. Al Franken’s my friend.”
Personally I think Franken will resist calls to resign.
