Dayton picks Lt. Gov. Smith for Franken seat

[brooklynite]

Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton on Wednesday appointed Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to the U.S. Senate, where she’ll replace Sen. Al Franken following his planned resignation following a sexual harassment scandal.

“First and foremost, I want to appoint the person who I believe will best represent the people of Minnesota in the United States Senate,” Dayton said at a Capitol news conference, with Smith standing at his side. He said Smith “will be a senator of whom all Minnesotans can be proud.”

Smith accepted the appointment, thanking Dayton and calling it a “great honor.”

“Though I never anticipated this moment, I am resolved to do everything I can to move Minnesota forward,” Smith said. “I will be a fierce advocate in the U.S. Senate for equity and fairness.”

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/sources-lt-gov-tina-smith-to-be-named-senator-to-replace-al-franken-on-wednesday/463904203/#1

[groundloop]

1. "following a sexual harassment scandal" - more accurately: "SETUP"

Damn this makes me sick.

[Taraman]

2. Me too!

Total travesty. Franken's a good man. Still hoping he doesn't give in.

[geardaddy]

3. I hope she decides to run in 2018

Otherwise it's just a backfill.

[lunasun]

4. I missed Franken's resignation somehow . Any links?

[Bengus81]

9. No way he's resigning before mid January IMO..........

[oberliner]

6. Good choice

She seems solid.

[California_Republic]

11. Agreed! Ill miss Al, but that is a solid pick!

Wiki

[ebbie15644]

7. #FrankenShouldStay

[Bengus81]

8. Harassment?? Yeah,here's Franken "harassing" the last accuser.....

Who's arm is around who??

[brooklynite]

10. UPDATE: Tina Smith will run for re-election to Senate in 2018

Link to tweet

[Bengus81]

15. There's some name recognition for you........

That Senate seat in 11 months....uhhh bye bye. Oh and Trump will STILL be setting his fat ass in the Oval Office destroying America one day at a time.

[brooklynite]

16. Okay, we'll count you out and do the hard work ourselves.

7 years as Lt. Governor...

Campaign Manager of a successful Governor's campaign...

4 years of Chief of Staff for the Democratic Mayor of Minneapolis...

VP of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota...

[Bengus81]

18. So?? Can she raise $25-50 MILLION in the next 6-8 months?

Her Republican challenger will be able to courtesy of two guys who between them are worth about $60 BILLION and next year have stated they'll spend about a BILLION $$$$$.

[brooklynite]

20. Between DSCC and Al Franken and supporters like me, she'll have the funds she needs.

[dflprincess]

32. She's only been Lt. Governor since 2015

(elected in 2014). Dayton had a different Lt. Governor in his first term. I believe Smith was Dayton's chief of staff his first term; she was an advisor on his first campaign, not the manager.

She ran Ted Mondale's unsuccessful campaign for governor in 1998 and if Ted Mondale is her kind of Democrat, then she's really not my type (I've always thought Ted would be a Republican if his father wasn't Walter.) She was also heavily involved in getting the Vikings a new stadium which isn't popular with a lot of people in the state.

We needed a fighter like Wellstone or Franken it sounds like we're going to get another Klobuchar who always takes the path of least resistance.

The article in the Star Tribune is pretty good
http://www.startribune.com/tina-smith-a-political-insider-steps-onto-the-national-stage/463986193/#1

[Scruffy1]

40. I'm hoping someone will throw their hat in the ring who can win.

The dome deal has been a disaster for us and I am no fan of any one who pushed it.

[padah513]

17. Come on man...

We won Alabama last night. If we GOTV we win period! A little faith can move a mountain!

[rsong71]

25. Amen!

No time for pessimism. This is the time for vision and action. Hard working Alabama democrats did it. The voters did it. Focus on what works and make it happen again and again.

[Botany]

12. This makes me sad

Al's take down was a right wing hit job. I hope Al sues the hell out of
Ms. Tweeden.

[brooklynite]

14. I certainly don't remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way..."

"...“but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann,” is not a strong basis for a lawsuit.

[Bengus81]

19. Neither is a lame joking pic. She certainly APPROVED of these kind of pics from these guys...

These two on the tour just "being silly".

[brooklynite]

21. How would those be relevant to a civil suit?

[Bengus81]

23. Civil suit?? ROFLMAO!! Seen any OTHER accusers in a WEEK?

Nope,nor will you because the Franken HIT JOB is over. There won't be anything from anybody at this point. Republicans got what they wanted and will get more next Nov.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

[brooklynite]

24. I was responding to a post that said Franken should sue.

[GaryCnf]

13. Those of us who remember her as Chief of Staff for R.T. Ryback

when he was trying to get rid of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Investigative Division are far from impressed.

[LakeArenal]

22. In Al's statement....

He said (paraphrasing) the Gov. will pick a good replacement, no matter who "she " is. At the time, I remarked, why would he say she, not who it is or pick a good replacement. (period) Why the she?

So to me, sorry, I want to believe better, but it still smells like set up to me..

I want to get out of my Franken funk, but my anger stage is lasting way too long...

[brooklynite]

28. I fully expect that Franken consulted with Dayton when he decided to step down.

[LakeArenal]

30. I expect Franken realized the railroad was on...

[Dawson Leery]

26. She must be our nominee in the Fall.

We CANNOT afford to have any seat open.

[dflprincess]

33. I would prefer someone with more progressive credentials

we don't need another wishy washy establishment Democrat like Klobuchar. We need someone who isn't afraid to stand up and speak out, it wasn't Amy who went after Jeff Sessions.

[Dawson Leery]

34. Klobuchar has a 67% approval rating.

[dflprincess]

38. That's because she avoids taking a stand on anything more controversial

than whether or not puppies are cute (she agrees that they are).

Her office should win awards for how adept it is at producing the "non response response".

[Owl]

36. Totally agree.

[StevieM]

37. I have much bigger problems with Klobuchar than whether or not she is "establishment."

She is the co-author of Blunt/Klobuchar, a bill that requires countries receiving foreign aid to open their nations to American adoption. That is so immoral IMO.

[Lokilooney]

27. Anyone wonder about the timing?

It could just be a coincidence that the announcement came right after an interesting night...

[brooklynite]

29. Or, it could be that Dayton said he would do this on Wednesday at the beginning of the week.

[Lokilooney]

31. Yes, and my timing statement still stands.

Although it was widely speculated that he would appoint the Lt. Governor I was wonder if he was waiting until after a much followed senate race and if the outcome could have affected his choice. I suppose it could just be a matter of timing the news cycle which on second thought makes more sense.

[brooklynite]

35. A Senator I know described this pick as the candidate we wanted.