Al Franken's Resignation Speech
Why did Senator Al Franken choose today to make the announcement that he will be resigning from the U.S. Senate in the coming weeks? Was is the growing calls from his fellow Democrats in the Senate for him to resign?
In his speech he did not apologize and he made it clear that he feels his response to the allegations against him created a false narrative that he had admitted to those allegations against him. The talking heads on the various news channels analyzing his remarks afterward took pains to point out that he never acknowledged wrongdoing. They blew that, because he did admit that the photo taken of him groping or simulating the groping of Leeann Tweeden was wrong to have done.
He pointed out the irony of his resignation coming at a time when we have an admitted "p***y-grabber" in the Oval Office and an accused pedophile seeking election to the very Senate that Franken is leaving.
This is clearly an attempt for the Democrats to take the "moral high ground" away from a Republican Party that is more interested in partisanship in supporting the defrocked Alabama judge in spite of his utter unfitness to serve.
But is the timing part of a strategy to influence the election coming up next Tuesday? Is it an attempt to ramp up the pressure on Alabamans to stay home and not vote for Moore? It might be.
Mark Dayton, the current governor of Minnesota is a member of that state's Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party. They affiliate with the Democratic National Party and he will certainly appoint a Democrat to replace Senator Franken. Sources report that he will name Tina Smith, the state's Lieutenant Governor to the seat.
The senior senator from MN, Amy Klobuchar, is up for reelection in November of next year and her seat is considered very safe. Having to elect two senators at that moment in Minnesota is probably not going to change the equation of the state being represented by two Democrats in the U. S. Senate.
Personally, I would have preferred for Senator Franken to have delivered a different speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen, in this envelope (hold up the envelope) is my signed resignation from the United States Senate. I do not wish to take this step but in light of the allegations against me and the growing calls from my Democratic colleagues for me to take this step, it is something I will reluctantly do.
However, if allegations are sufficient to end someone's career in politics, then I should not be the only person stepping down. Our president's remarks in the Access Hollywood tape, and the many allegations against him are sufficient cause for us to call for him to resign. The multiple allegations made by adult women now, who were not yet adults when they claim Roy Moore engaged in sexual impropriety with them are also sufficient cause for him to abandon his campaign to become a member of this body.
Therefore, I will hold on to my letter of resignation and continue to fulfill my duties as a United States Senator until the moment when Donald Trump resigns his office, and when Roy Moore abandons his campaign. The moment they take the appropriate action, so will I."
In his speech he did not apologize and he made it clear that he feels his response to the allegations against him created a false narrative that he had admitted to those allegations against him. The talking heads on the various news channels analyzing his remarks afterward took pains to point out that he never acknowledged wrongdoing. They blew that, because he did admit that the photo taken of him groping or simulating the groping of Leeann Tweeden was wrong to have done.
He pointed out the irony of his resignation coming at a time when we have an admitted "p***y-grabber" in the Oval Office and an accused pedophile seeking election to the very Senate that Franken is leaving.
This is clearly an attempt for the Democrats to take the "moral high ground" away from a Republican Party that is more interested in partisanship in supporting the defrocked Alabama judge in spite of his utter unfitness to serve.
But is the timing part of a strategy to influence the election coming up next Tuesday? Is it an attempt to ramp up the pressure on Alabamans to stay home and not vote for Moore? It might be.
Mark Dayton, the current governor of Minnesota is a member of that state's Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party. They affiliate with the Democratic National Party and he will certainly appoint a Democrat to replace Senator Franken. Sources report that he will name Tina Smith, the state's Lieutenant Governor to the seat.
The senior senator from MN, Amy Klobuchar, is up for reelection in November of next year and her seat is considered very safe. Having to elect two senators at that moment in Minnesota is probably not going to change the equation of the state being represented by two Democrats in the U. S. Senate.
Personally, I would have preferred for Senator Franken to have delivered a different speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen, in this envelope (hold up the envelope) is my signed resignation from the United States Senate. I do not wish to take this step but in light of the allegations against me and the growing calls from my Democratic colleagues for me to take this step, it is something I will reluctantly do.
However, if allegations are sufficient to end someone's career in politics, then I should not be the only person stepping down. Our president's remarks in the Access Hollywood tape, and the many allegations against him are sufficient cause for us to call for him to resign. The multiple allegations made by adult women now, who were not yet adults when they claim Roy Moore engaged in sexual impropriety with them are also sufficient cause for him to abandon his campaign to become a member of this body.
Therefore, I will hold on to my letter of resignation and continue to fulfill my duties as a United States Senator until the moment when Donald Trump resigns his office, and when Roy Moore abandons his campaign. The moment they take the appropriate action, so will I."
posted by me at 9:29 AM
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