Senator Al Franken accused of sexual assault

[Cyberowl]

I'm surprised democrats would risk a senate seat just to take the high road. 2 months ago, Franken was considered a 2020 candidate, even.

This move won't impact the AL race; Republicans are gonna stick to their guns and support the pedophile, but maybe they are gambling for the long game.

[Dextroden]

Weren’t people like Nancy Pelosi defending Franken and Conyers not that long ago before pulling a complete 180? Let’s not pretend that any of these people give a fuk what they did or didn’t do. They’d be defending them still if they were worried about losing those seats. They are all hypocrites.

Thank you for being one of the people that understand politicians will be doubletalkers whenever someone does something on their side that they called the other out for.

[Edge-]

I get it but if it was my friend, I’d stand by them and give them the benefit of the doubt until there is more proof than just accusations. Look, I have no problem with them making a political move here. It is what it is. That’s all I’m saying. They saw an opportunity here and they took it.

My point is that their stance is consistent with their rhetoric and beliefs. You're trying to paint this as some partisan political move, and while I won't deny that there isn't a very likely political element to it, let's also recognize the "basic, decent human being" element as well.

This doesn't do them any favors, because they're losing pretty popular representatives and will now need to run elections and hope that they can hold onto them. Democrats didn't want to get rid of either, they'd have much rather kept them both in if it was possible. But they'd be hypocrites if they did.

Thank you for being one of the people that understand politicians will be doubletalkers whenever someone does something on their side that they called the other out for.

Except that Democrats specifically aren't doing this. They're getting rid of their own when credible allegations emerge. Republicans aren't.

[Arvei]

Yes, they initially defended them given their experience/knowledge of them, but as the number of credible claims mounted they quickly backed away and sided with the accusers.

That's how this works a lot of the time. If someone accuses your good friend of something awful without 100% concrete proof, you're going to side with your friend, most likely. But when a dozen people accuse them of doing something awful and have detailed accounts, then you're probably going to start questioning your support of your friend.

This is pretty normal, but you're still trying to spin it as a negative. That's silly.

I think in this case though, as seen here in this very thread, is that that "friend" to these Trump supporters is more like their cult leader.

Cult Leader: "You're all a bunch of idiots"

Roy Moore/Trump backers: *cheer*

Cult Leader: "Roy Moore did nothing wrong, vote for him"

Roy Moore/Trump backers: "Yes... master"

[Dextroden]

Something I never said. As your delusions grow, are you aware of it - or does shrilling for the GOP offer some kind of insanity condolence?

Just like you never said that about George Takei. Or said "It was a joke".

Okay Trump.

[cubby]

Thank you for being one of the people that understand politicians will be doubletalkers whenever someone does something on their side that they called the other out for.

Too bad actual facts point out that you're completely wrong. But hey, being wrong never stopped you before - why stop now, right?

Or did people not call for Franken's resignation? Did he not actually resign?

- - - Updated - - -

Just like you never said that about George Takei. Or said "It was a joke".

Okay Trump.

I didn't about Takei - and you continue to lie about what I said. Are you happy that all you have left in your argumentation sling is lies? I guess that's where GOP shrills inevitably end up. Grats on arriving there so quickly.

[Cyberowl]

Just like you never said that about George Takei. Or said "It was a joke".

Okay Trump.

Ya know, instead of this boring tip toeing, you could just condemn pedophiles and bash sexual assaulters at the same time!

If you were a citizen of AL, who would you vote for? Settle the discussion and move on.

[ohiostate124]

My point is that their stance is consistent with their rhetoric and beliefs. You're trying to paint this as some partisan political move, and while I won't deny that there isn't a very likely political element to it, let's also recognize the "basic, decent human being" element as well.

This doesn't do them any favors, because they're losing pretty popular representatives and will now need to run elections and hope that they can hold onto them. Democrats didn't want to get rid of either, they'd have much rather kept them both in if it was possible. But they'd be hypocrites if they did.



Except that Democrats specifically aren't doing this. They're getting rid of their own when credible allegations emerge. Republicans aren't.

I’m just saying that I think the Democrats weighed the risk vs reward of this decision and decided that it is worth it for 2018.

[cubby]

I get it but if it was my friend, I’d stand by them and give them the benefit of the doubt until there is more proof than just accusations. I have a problem with punishing people based solely on accusations left or right. Look, I have no problem with them making a political move here. It is what it is. That’s all I’m saying. They saw an opportunity here and they took it.

If you're talking about Franken's speech as a political move, I did find that refreshingly interesting. His words won't hit the hypocrisy that is the GOP now, but hopefully they will wake some other people up.

If I misunderstood your point, my bad.

[Edge-]

I’m just saying that I think the Democrats weighed the risk vs reward of this decision and decided that it is worth it for 2018.

Possibly. But also, again, they're remaining consistent with their rhetoric and are acting like decent human beings. You can ascribe purely political motivations to it, but the reality is that they're doing the right thing, one way or another, that's absolutely not purely in their best interest, losing popular reps, and remaining consistent.

I don't take the purely cynical view on this that you do.

[Draco-Onis]

I’m just saying that I think the Democrats weighed the risk vs reward of this decision and decided that it is worth it for 2018.

And republicans did the same and thought backing a homophobic racist pedophile was worth it for 2018 not sure what that says about their base.

[downnola]

I’m just saying that I think the Democrats weighed the risk vs reward of this decision and decided that it is worth it for 2018.

The cynicism never ends. Yes, obviously this was a strategic move. It's called doing the right thing even when your political opponent won't. Politics doesn't work if neither side has a shred of integrity. At least one of our parties is acting like they fucking care about their credibility.

[mvaliz]

Interesting how his whole resignation speech was whataboutism. Not going to defend Roy Moore here. Too much weird shit going on with him but this was a strategic move by the Dems.

It wasn't Whataboutism. "Whataboutism" would be Franken attempting to 'defend' (or rather... distract from) his alegations and retaining his seat by calling out Dumbass Dump and Pedophile Moore's allegations, and hereby avoiding any responsibilty unto himself.

Via Franken's resigning, this has now changed from "Whataboutism" to "Displaying the flagrant hypocricy on the other side." because Franken has taken actual responsibility for his actions, unlike Dump and the Pedophile. His peers also took responsibility and took ACTION against Fraken asking him to resign. This is something the GoP is not doing with Dumbass Fuckwit and the Pedophile.

Is it a strategic move? Oh Hellz yeah, I'm not denying that at all! ;P However, it is shockingly possible to do the Strategic move AND the morally correct move at the same time! ^_^

[Dextroden]

Ya know, instead of this boring tip toeing, you could just condemn pedophiles and bash sexual assaulters at the same time!

If you were a citizen of AL, who would you vote for? Settle the discussion and move on.

Doug Jones. I look forward to your head exploding because I'm not shocked or disgusted by a hypocritical christian politician acts like one but I wouldn't vote for him.

I mean. You guys still can't handle that I voted for Gary Johnson.

[ohiostate124]

And republicans did the same and thought backing a homophobic racist pedophile was worth it for 2018 not sure what that says about their base.

I wouldn’t vote for him and you can say what you want about Trump not condemning him but I think there are a lot of people on the right that don’t want Moore in the Senate. I don’t think there is anything anyone could say to get him to step aside. Even if Trump publicly condemned him, I still think the people of Alabama would vote him in. Whether they just don’t care about the accusations or don’t believe them, I don’t know.

[Kujako]

I wouldn’t vote for him and you can say what you want about Trump not condemning him but I think there are a lot of people on the right that don’t want Moore in the Senate. I don’t think there is anything anyone could say to get him to step aside. Even if Trump publicly condemned him, I still think the people of Alabama would vote him in. Whether they just don’t care about the accusations or don’t believe them, I don’t know.

Nope, Trump publicly supports him and turned on the funding spigot from the Republican party.

[Draco-Onis]

I wouldn’t vote for him and you can say what you want about Trump not condemning him but I think there are a lot of people on the right that don’t want Moore in the Senate. I don’t think there is anything anyone could say to get him to step aside. Even if Trump publicly condemned him, I still think the people of Alabama would vote him in. Whether they just don’t care about the accusations or don’t believe them, I don’t know.

Trump has openly endorsed him and the GOP is funding him also despite their initial outrage now they have no plans to unseat him. So the right is welcoming a racist homophobic pedophile who is allegedly a rapist and a sexual assaulter with open arms.

[Dextroden]

I wouldn’t vote for him and you can say what you want about Trump not condemning him but I think there are a lot of people on the right that don’t want Moore in the Senate. I don’t think there is anything anyone could say to get him to step aside. Even if Trump publicly condemned him, I still think the people of Alabama would vote him in. Whether they just don’t care about the accusations or don’t believe them, I don’t know.

There is that. Plus, Democrat onlookers have had a fun time judging the entirety of Alabama as pedophiles themselves. So, who do you pick? The person currently being investigated for pedophilia who is your only option for a Republican vote? Or go with the people who swear they want better for you while judging you as scum because one guy refuses to stop running?

[Cyberowl]

Doug Jones. I look forward to your head exploding because I'm not shocked or disgusted by a hypocritical christian politician acts like one but I wouldn't vote for him.

I mean. You guys still can't handle that I voted for Gary Johnson.

My head exploding? I just advised you to disarm this boring and unnecessary stupid discussion so it could end.

[Dextroden]

My head exploding? I just advised you to disarm this boring and unnecessary stupid discussion so it could end.

I did. I picked Doug Jones.

Now, scamper off. I thought we were done.