No Brownie Points For Kirsten Gillibrand

Progressives just can't let go of serial sexual harasser Al Franken, and Presidential aspirant Kirsten Gillibrand may pay the price.

Weirdly, Politico never mentions the blindingly obvious reason Franken was dumped - it was to establish some Dem credibility as they attacked Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of Alabama. Even Vox can face reality occasionally:

Booting Franken was good politics for Democrats

At the exact moment the Franken story broke, a Democrat in an Alabama Senate special election, Doug Jones, looked like he might win. The Republican candidate in the race, Roy Moore, was accused of sexually abusing, assaulting, or attempting to pick up teens when he was an adult. Moore was even banned from the local mall at one point. 

President Trump endorsed Moore, and Hill Republicans were reluctant to denounce him. It was the perfect moment for Democrats — particularly Gillibrand — to strike.

Franken, a beloved Democrat and popular media figure, was accused of behavior arguably less bad than Moore’s. (There’s not much worse than accusations of child molestation.) If Democrats booted Franken, it would draw a clear distinction between Democrats, who said it was bad that Moore preyed on teen girls, and Republicans, who wouldn’t denounce him.

At first glance, it looked like Democrats were taking a brave stance. They were turning on a popular figure in their own party and losing an effective media surrogate. But in reality, even if Franken stuck around, he’d never be the same. He’d been tainted by scandal and wouldn’t be a commanding liberal voice for the party on TV. If he resigned, he was sure to be replaced by a Democrat in Minnesota who’d vote exactly the same. The cost to the party would be minimal.

It worked. Franken left. Jones won.

For one faction, this was a big victory: Democrats picked up a Senate seat, got rid of a potentially damaging figure, and paid little for it. But for another, this was a case where politics trumped basic fairness. To them, Franken was a sacrificial lamb.

Comments

[MissMarple2]

James D.,

Making a law (similar to the one with the Klan) that you cannot wear face masks at ublic gatherings (or when entering a bank or other place which might be robbed) seems to me to be a solution.

[Extraneus]

I saw the coming lack of patriotism in young people over 20 years ago when I had a big 4th of July party and tried to lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. All the grown-ups stood up, hands on heart, and recited it. The really little kids tried to mimic us, which was cute. But all the in-between young people just sat there looking at us like we were nuts.

Unforgettably depressing.

[Captain Hate]

I have long attempted to describe the indescribable as saying before my children, I was experiencing life on the tip of the iceberg; afterwards, the entire thing was part of every single minute.

It took me a while to figure out what you were saying here. To Momto2's point, Angela Merkel is childless. And East German. And a disaster.

[MissMarple2]

Extraneus,

All of my grandkids know it. When they were in grade school they started every day with the pledge.

[Extraneus]

Yeah, I guess Indiana is probably more traditional than some other places.

[Neo]

Intersectional Reality Studies

Climate Denier

I deny there is a physical reality called climate. By definition, climate is a statistical abstraction.

So, it depends on if you accept a statistical abstraction as a “reality”.

[MissMarple2]

Nicolle Wallace won't air Trump immigration remarks live, "Because he's used immigration in blatantly political ways and in an abundance of caution, we've decided to monitor those remarks, fact-check them and bring you the important news from them." https://t.co/vAXnf0OBrw pic.twitter.com/kxtB8UxOWx

— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) November 1, 2018

Video at link. Nicole Wallace simply confirms she is no friend of ours.

[Extraneus]

House Democrats to Investigate ‘White Nationalism’

Incoming House Judiciary Committee chair Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) revealed plans Tuesday to launch an investigation into the rise of “white nationalism” in the United States when Democrats take over the House of Representatives next year.

In a letter to Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Nadler demands answers to questions the Democratic minority had submitted to the administration over the past two years but which, he says, the agencies had ignored. The questions include accusations Trump “issued false statements” about terrorism and that he intended to single out Muslims.

In addition, Nadler complains about “President Trump’s rhetoric” as a possible cause (footnotes omitted):

He calls himself a nationalist. He falsely claims that “foreigners” are the primary sources of domestic terror. He famously claimed that there were “some very fine people on both sides” of the riot in Charlottesville — where a neo-Nazi demonstration ended in the death of one counter-protestor and two officers of the Virginia state police.

(Trump’s comment about “both sides” referred to the underlying issue of the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee; the New York Times itself documented the presence of ordinary protesters at the event.)

[henry]

White Nationalist is anyone opposed to Nadler.

[henry]

Gee, let's be obvious:

The Wall Street Journal @WSJ
2m

A senior French civil servant, who is also president of the Franco-Korean Friendship Association, was detained on suspicion of spying for the North Korean government

[Captain Hate]

Max Boot retains water:

https://mobile.twitter.com/CNNTonight/status/1067278015682486273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1067278015682486273&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Facecomments.mu.nu%2F%3Fpost%3D378342

[Jane]

Nadler is a moron. Just like Obama, I'd refuse to answer.

[lyle]

I stand with James D on the shooting sentiment.

[henry]

Some jerk predicting my life will be improved by bringing "urban amenities" to rural areas.

Smug jerk cannot comprehend that his definition of "amenity" does not match mine.

But he talks about flying cars...

https://ideas.4brad.com/flying-cars-robocars-and-more-will-rewrite-rural-landscape-good-and-ill?fbclid=IwAR29QE4RAXFvdKM-8xFuHKWjy8BCqm3JMJLM-2PFp2Nd01AgoPZQ8AHBPBE

[henry]

LOL:

CNBC Now @CNBCnow
1m

BREAKING: GM shares hit session low after President Trump tweets that "we are now looking at cutting all GM subsidies including for electric cars" after company announced 14K+ job cuts and plant closures.

https://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/1067495633903370240

[Extraneus]

I am pleased to report that the new Brave browser is out, which is based on Chromium open source and thus supports Chrome extensions.

This is the project lead by Brendan Eich, who invented JavaScript, founded Firefox, and was forced out of his job as the CEO of Mozilla due to his support for the CA marriage Proposition 8. It's a unique take on browser privacy, because it allows you to opt into ads and be paid for doing so. (Some sort of rewards, I'm really not sure of the details.)

http://brave.com

[James D.]

Nicole Wallace simply confirms she is no friend of ours.

I don't think we needed any confirmation of that.

[Narciso79]

Oh I had Norma Desmond's number, long ago, I don't get MSNBC it's like the holding tank for the brain slug.

[Old Lurker]

Why are we giving money to GM in the first place?

Can I have some?

[henry]

Why are we giving money to GM in the first place?

It's headed by the risk taking feminist pioneer du jour (a quick replacement of the one crashing and burning FB).

Oh, and the climate graft is humongous there:

Another factor played a role in the GM cuts: the electrified and autonomous vehicles many experts believe will dominate tomorrow's transportation industry. Under Barra, the automaker has invested heavily in this brave new world, even though it remains an unanswered question how soon battery and self-driving vehicles will actually yield a profit.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/27/gm-breaks-from-tradition-with-new-untested-path-under-ceo-mary-barra.html?__source=iosappshare%7Cph.telegra.Telegraph.Share

[MissMarple2]

Old Lurker,

I think that was some dumb ass thing W did about 10 years ago, and which Obama leftalone because he wanted union support.

My former brother-in-law worked for a subsidiary of GM, Allison's, and the waste and benefits were staggering. he also got to retire when he was 50 with a full pension.

[MissMarple2]

https://dailycaller.com/2018/11/27/trump-general-motors-message/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=atdailycaller&utm_medium=Social

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

Little Johnny goes to his dad and asks, "What is politics?" Dad says, "Well son, let me try to explain it this way. I'm the breadwinner of the family, so let's call me Capitalism. Mommy is the administrator of the money, so we'll call her the Government. We're here to take care of your needs, so we'll call you The People. The nanny, well, consider her The Working Class. Your baby brother, we'll call him The Future. Now go think about this and see if it makes sense." So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said. Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying and runs to his room only to find that his diapers are very soiled. So the little boy goes to his parents' room. Mom is sound asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room. Finding the door locked, he looks through the peephole and sees his father in bed with the nanny. He gives up and goes back to bed. The next morning, the little boy says to his father, "Dad, I think I understand what politics is now." "Good son, tell me in your own words then what politics are." The little boy replies, "Well, while Capitalism is screwing the Working Class, the Government is sound asleep, the People are being ignored and the Future is in deep shit."

[MissMarple2]

Stephanie,

LOL! Very good!

[MissMarple2]

I went over and looked at PJ Media's live blog.

Ours is better!

[matt - deplore me if you must]

One of the GM plants being shut down makes the Volt and the Cruze.

Sedans simply are not selling these days. SUV's and pickups are where the money is and consumer tastes lie. Obama's 50MPG goal is going up in smoke.

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

Gnu

[Jane]

Active shooter at Walter Reed

[Jane]

"Why are we giving money to GM in the first place?"

Obama bailed them out. And declared he was buying a volt.

[Account Deleted]

"BREAKING: GM shares hit session low after President Trump tweets that "we are now looking at cutting all GM subsidies including for electric cars" after company announced 14K+ job cuts and plant closures."

¿Cómo te gusto ahora, perra?

would anyone be surprised if the carrier cancellation by the Communist Chinese is a head fake with the GM plant closings being a dagger feint toward America's back?

[Account Deleted]

Representative Nad-something or other reminds me of that alien of MIB mounted on Johnny Knoxville's shoulder.

Sissy hole. Enjoy the stonewall.

[Account Deleted]

How long before Barra Perra gets into a PR war she caint win?

Lean into those punches, Strong Woman. Make like Sandberg and lead with yo chinny chin chin. That's right. Just like THAT!

[Jane]

Here’s The List: The Top 10 Crimes Committed by the Corrupt and
Conflicted Mueller Investigative and Legal Team!

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/11/heres-the-list-the-top-10-crimes-committed-by-the-corrupt-and-conflicted-mueller-investigative-and-legal-team/

--------

[Account Deleted]

Feel like gettin Nad-lered?

[Account Deleted]

From the article Jane posted re the Mueller Top 10- comment section:

"NONEYA itsatax • 2 hours ago [hush]​[hide comment]
This falls in "Lying Ryan's" lap . His inaction to not take action is the main reason the house was lost . And this BS continues to this day . Ryan is a total disgrace to congress and the oath he took .