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planetc

(7,720 posts)
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 08:29 PM Dec 2017

Dear Sen. Franken: resign from the Democratuc Party, not the Senate.

Dear Sen Franken:

I have been considerably bothered by the recent flurry of gossip about you, and the request of your fellow Congressional Democrats that you resign. Here's a solution I think will satisfy everybody: Resign from the Democratic Party, register as an Independent, caucus with the Democrats, and continue to vote your conscience. The Congressional Democrats are apparently embarrassed by your presence among them. Remove yourself from their presence and continue to do your job. Sen. Sanders has been able to function well as an Independent, and you're funnier than he is (although he has a beautiful smile when confronted by a small bird perched on his podium, comedy is not his forte). The Democrats would no longer be embarrassed by you but could presumably count on your vote if needed.

While all this is going on, the Ethics Committee could complete an investigation into the allegations against you and reach a conclusion of some sort. I am among the people who think that if all the allegations are proved true, that would still not be grounds for your resignation. If the allegations fall apart upon closer scrutiny, as many of us expect them to do, then everybody's happy--the voters of Minnesota, who wanted you as their Senator, the other Democrats in the country who are happy with your performance as as a Senator, and even the Congressional Democrats, who could hardly argue with the results of a fair and impartial investigation of all your accusers who can be induced to give their names. We are by default believing everyone who makes accusations of sexual harassment, which is certainly better than automatically disbelieving them. The truth, no doubt, lies somewhere between those extremes. If you are cleared by an Ethics Investigation, perhaps Congressional Democrats would change their minds about your usefulness.

This is a time, I believe, for all good men and women not to panic. Retain your seat in the Senate, cooperate with the investigation of the allegations against you, and continue to be your usual competent self. Even Santa Ana winds eventually die down.

37 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Dear Sen. Franken: resign from the Democratuc Party, not the Senate. (Original Post) planetc Dec 2017 OP
That is a really good idea. carterbob251 Dec 2017 #1
NOTHING WRONG WITH HIM BEING AN INDEPENDENT JimBeard Dec 2017 #19
I agree, there is nothing wrong with Bernie being an Indy, either. JoeOtterbein Dec 2017 #29
YES!! That's genius. rainin Dec 2017 #2
IBTL PDittie Dec 2017 #3
It's been years since I have seen IBTL. n/t rzemanfl Dec 2017 #7
What's IBTL? planetc Dec 2017 #8
In before the lock. Rhiannon12866 Dec 2017 #9
Thank you, but I'm still not real clear. planetc Dec 2017 #13
I suspect this will end up being my last post.... carterbob251 Dec 2017 #16
Me too. JimBeard Dec 2017 #20
They need to be zentrum Dec 2017 #27
Yep carterbob251 Dec 2017 #34
Not me! Rhiannon12866 Dec 2017 #17
I cling to the cartoons as my tenuous link ... planetc Dec 2017 #35
I like this plan! Luciferous Dec 2017 #4
He surely knew he had this option Bibluca Dec 2017 #5
I'm not sure he considered this option seriously. planetc Dec 2017 #10
Great idea! I wish he would do it. n/t CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2017 #6
Can we stop bashing the Democratic Party on Democratic Underground? oberliner Dec 2017 #11
Franken was elected but the party demanded he resigned. LisaL Dec 2017 #12
What I'm suggesting is not throwing out a perfectly good Democrat already elected. planetc Dec 2017 #15
The Party seems to have forgotten us. TheCowsCameHome Dec 2017 #18
The Party is in a Time Out today mchill Dec 2017 #21
They have a strange way of showing it. We are supporting Democrats by doing what has been done for JimBeard Dec 2017 #25
That's the reason people come to this site IronLionZion Dec 2017 #33
Hey! Not a bad idea. cwydro Dec 2017 #14
It's been done before. But... Honeycombe8 Dec 2017 #22
Good idea. I suggested it already LiberalLovinLug Dec 2017 #23
I agree Pepsidog Dec 2017 #24
That's an excellent idea, planetc. nt Laffy Kat Dec 2017 #26
Yeah, run as an Independent. wisteria Dec 2017 #28
The more I read and watch today, Mr. Evil Dec 2017 #30
If I'm reading you correctly, you think Franken was ousted planetc Dec 2017 #37
Agreed. Snackshack Dec 2017 #31
I emailed him today and asked him to not resign blueinredohio Dec 2017 #32
I just heard on NPR that if you resign while under investigation for ethics, planetc Dec 2017 #36

planetc

(7,720 posts)
13. Thank you, but I'm still not real clear.
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 08:57 PM
Dec 2017

You mean you expect the thread to be locked? Okay, because it suggests there is life outside the Democratic Party? Or it might be deleted altogether? I think the only thing it suggests is that Democratic leadership can make a mistake. Well, we shall see, won't we?

 

carterbob251

(33 posts)
16. I suspect this will end up being my last post....
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 09:05 PM
Dec 2017

I was banned and all posts deleted (granted it wasn't many) for, heaven forbid, simply stating on another thread that entitlement programs need to be addressed as the cost structure is not sustainable. Mind you, I never said I didn't agree with them, want anybody kicked off, etc., etc. -- only stating the fact that something has to be done or that will happen. And I challenge anyone who doesn't believe that to be true. We can all see the projections on SSN, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. It's not pretty. Apparently, I was a right wing nazi for even bringing it up. As a party, we have to be able to acknowledge things that need to be addressed and, importantly, lead the effort to help solve them. Well, that's my opinion anyway.

zentrum

(9,865 posts)
27. They need to be
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 10:45 PM
Dec 2017

…addressed by raising taxes to progressive levels on the rich.

Strictly speaking, they are not "entitlements" They are benefits that we paid for, for all our working life.

There's lots of places to cut—such as in military waste. "Entitlement's" as you call them, are the backbone of the middle class—to talk about cutting them is deeply Republican Ryanesque thinking.



 

carterbob251

(33 posts)
34. Yep
Fri Dec 8, 2017, 06:51 AM
Dec 2017

I'm not offering an opinion on what what should be done. I'll leave that to the bean counters. But for our kids and grandkids something has to be done and the conversation should start now. If we do nothing now to raise revenue, improve efficiencies, remove waste, etc. eventually they will be cut.

Rhiannon12866

(203,041 posts)
17. Not me!
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 09:20 PM
Dec 2017

I just explained what it meant since I joined when we were DU.1.

BTW, I especially appreciate that you post the links for all the cartoons.

planetc

(7,720 posts)
35. I cling to the cartoons as my tenuous link ...
Fri Dec 8, 2017, 09:29 AM
Dec 2017

to sanity. And now we have at least two other toon linkers who fill in when I don't catch them early. We can accomplish such a lot when we work together!!

 

Bibluca

(63 posts)
5. He surely knew he had this option
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 08:41 PM
Dec 2017

But he didn't take it. Years from now, we'll find out the true reason why he didn't.

planetc

(7,720 posts)
10. I'm not sure he considered this option seriously.
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 08:53 PM
Dec 2017

The storm of Democratic disapprobation was sudden and loud and large. His feelings would be hurt, outraged, and generally negative. He hasn't had much time to consider other options than a) staying, or b) going. There are many ways to shampoo a cat. I personally see this as a workable option for him and the Democrats outside congress. And that's why I have just tucked this suggestion into an email to his office, where it will no doubt be read by a tired staffer two weeks from now. But I am very frustrated. If you have a bum, you should throw him out. Sen. Franken's not a bum. So don't treat him like one.

 

oberliner

(58,724 posts)
11. Can we stop bashing the Democratic Party on Democratic Underground?
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 08:55 PM
Dec 2017

This is a place where we support electing more Democrats - not encouraging people to leave the party.

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
12. Franken was elected but the party demanded he resigned.
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 08:56 PM
Dec 2017

Not sure why he should stay in the party.

planetc

(7,720 posts)
15. What I'm suggesting is not throwing out a perfectly good Democrat already elected.
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 09:00 PM
Dec 2017

and leaving the door open for him to rejoin the party in calmer times.

 

JimBeard

(293 posts)
25. They have a strange way of showing it. We are supporting Democrats by doing what has been done for
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 10:31 PM
Dec 2017

over a century, we discuss. FYI, women were at the lower rungs of the Democratic party for years. There are too many that think womens issues is the only part of the Democratic party.

If you know where to send this Democrat, please let me know and I will not bother you. BTW, it is the same on the Daily KOS.

IronLionZion

(45,269 posts)
33. That's the reason people come to this site
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 11:41 PM
Dec 2017

to bury Democrats deep underground.

We are the reason Obamacare had to include coverage for mental health.

It's so easy to get us to turn on each other

LiberalLovinLug

(14,154 posts)
23. Good idea. I suggested it already
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 10:23 PM
Dec 2017

Great minds think alike!

I think Franken would win as an independent in the same riding. Especially if Democrats at the very least, don't run against him.


If the Democrats are going to cut off their nose to save face, then we will rebuild Frankens nose as an Independent.

Mr. Evil

(2,749 posts)
30. The more I read and watch today,
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 11:02 PM
Dec 2017

the more I'm beginning to think the hit-job on Sen. Al Franken may be more than a typical republican operation. Some are speculating that the fact no republicans called for Franken to resign, with the exception of a recent statement by Mitch McConnell alluding to that possibility, and that 35 democratic senators all of a sudden had to have him go speaks to something different. There are some high-profile democrats eyeing a presidential run in 2020 and with Franken's rising stature after the way he handled Jeff Sessions some may feel he would be an impediment. These are people we've heard from in recent days and they are the type that will be corporate friendly and are looking at serious money for their campaigns. I'm beginning to think that maybe Al Franken doesn't want to end up like his mentor, Paul Wellstone. Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions but, This happened way too damn fast for my liking. Something is very wrong here.

planetc

(7,720 posts)
37. If I'm reading you correctly, you think Franken was ousted
Fri Dec 8, 2017, 09:44 AM
Dec 2017

by Ds because he's too good, too forthright, too popular? Because the Democratic leadership is trying to save a future presidential run for one of their own? Eww. (Oops, maybe I went too far there, but you went there first.) I insist that all mistakes can be corrected, and that we learn from them not to punch our own eyes.

As for corporate money, that's a systemic problem, for both parties. At the moment, you have to have $$ to run at all. This amounts to legalized bribery for the entire congress. We have to fix that.

Snackshack

(2,540 posts)
31. Agreed.
Thu Dec 7, 2017, 11:12 PM
Dec 2017

100%

Drop the “D” and go Independent Senator Franken. The Dems have had more then enough time to get some intestinal fortitude and learn how to stand up and push back against republicans. Yet they continue to let republicans push them around at will. The democrats should have been hammering at republicans for any number of hypocrisy’s during President Obama’s 2 terms...especially with the Supreme Court vacancy yet they have been and remain virtually silent. Enough already.

planetc

(7,720 posts)
36. I just heard on NPR that if you resign while under investigation for ethics,
Fri Dec 8, 2017, 09:36 AM
Dec 2017

the investigation dies. Franken never gets to have an official day in court if he resigns from the Senate. Another reason to stay in the Senate.

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