Senator Al Franken accused of unwanted kissing/groping

[rosemadderlake]

Jealousy?? No, lol! I am disgusted with her, though. Same way I detest the actions of women like Emma Sulkowicz (mattress girl), and the "poor me" celebrity women who were perfectly content to let decades elapse, and many other women get victimized, before they accused men like Harvey Weinstein. These kind of women give ALL women a bad name, IMO.

The real victims of actual sexual abuse and sexual power are being lost in all these frivolous claims. The famous women who kept quiet about HW's predation, to further their own careers, deserve a special place in hell, IMO.

RBBMs

Oh my goodness... It's pretty judgemental to say "a special place in hell".

Define further their own careers? A special place in hell?

And "these" kind of women? Would you give me an example of the "all women" you reference?

By my experience there isn't a woman I know who hasn't experienced harassment in the workforce. No blame.

Some might say Al Franken has good taste. I say Leeann Tweeden kept up her professionalism and is now speaking out for women. For women in impossibly difficult jobs across the board.

She, like me, like we, kept silent...

And "she" has some impetus along with Congresswoman Speiers addressing this issue in congress.

A powerful voice has emerged and I applaud her.

 

[Fairy1]

Jealousy?? No, lol! I am disgusted with her, though. Same way I detest the actions of women like Emma Sulkowicz (mattress girl), and the "poor me" celebrity women who were perfectly content to let decades elapse, and many other women get victimized, before they accused men like Harvey Weinstein. These kind of women give ALL women a bad name, IMO.

The real victims of actual sexual abuse and sexual power are being lost in all these frivolous claims. The famous women who kept quiet about HW's predation, to further their own careers, deserve a special place in hell, IMO.

These are not the women giving all women a bad name. And I do hope there is a special place in hell for those who deserve it.

 

[rsd1200]

BBM:

would that be be because they pay better? Or they get bigger tips? As far as I know, you can take the whole family, kids included (not that I would), and there is no touching or lewd comments toward staff allowed. I don’t understand how we can condemn Hooters employees for wearing the required attire to have a decent paying job.

My daughter worked at Cracker Barrell ... the pay was not good. I have never been to Hooters, so I really can’t critique them. I hear the food is very good, though.

It's according to which Cracker Barrel that you work for, same as the other restaurants. No server gets paid min wage ($3.50 an hour would probably be tops). I know a couple folks who worked at two different Cracker Barrels, and one had a better experience than the other. As far as Hooter's outfits, they are shorts and a tank top. Twin Peaks & Tilted Kilt outfits are a bit more revealing. All of the restaurants have their pros and cons. If a female has ever worn a two-piece swimsuit, they'd likely be more covered, in the unis, at any of the above restaurants. If a female is comfortable working in the uni, I see no problem.

 

[rsd1200]

I haven't read all the posts yet, but I have to jump in here and get a few things off my chest:


Leann didn't pose for that picture. Just because she voluntarily posed nude as a profession doesn't over ride the fact that she did not consent to that photograph being taken and couldn't because she was asleep. It wouldn't be okay to peep into her bathroom window just because she posed nude either. He didn't do it for a joke, he did it because she didn't want to have anything to do with him while she was awake.

Smashing his disgusting face into hers and shoving his tongue in her mouth is about as gross as it gets. And she didn't consent to that either. No one wants to be forced to share saliva with someone else. It is an assault on the person.

He is creepy and disgusting. His apology is meaningless. He is pandering to try to stay in the Senate. He had 11 years to apologize and didn't do it until his nasty behavior became public.

This is spot on. I have never been a fan of Al's comedy. I've never really found him to be funny at all. I do think that he is intelligent, and agree with some of his views, politically, however, what he did was wrong. He had to know it was wrong, too. If this were a daughter, or granddaughter, of mine, in that picture, I'd be livid.

 

[rosemadderlake]

It's according to which Cracker Barrel that you work for, same as the other restaurants. No server gets paid min wage ($3.50 an hour would probably be tops). I know a couple folks who worked at two different Cracker Barrels, and one had a better experience than the other. As far as Hooter's outfits, they are shorts and a tank top. Twin Peaks & Tilted Kilt outfits are a bit more revealing. All of the restaurants have their pros and cons. If a female has ever worn a two-piece swimsuit, they'd likely be more covered, in the unis, at any of the above restaurants. If a female is comfortable working in the uni, I see no problem.

I don't either. Ya know, I worked in a couple of great restaurants in my twenties, in the seventies. -High class, french maid outfits for waitresses, and me, with my gorgeous 30's & 40's gowns as a hostess... Good times!

Point is, those French costumes, and my retro 30s persona were just as hooters as anything... Just a different era! And I made a living and supported myself.

And another point, if a gal works at hooters because she can, kudos. Because it is so likely she is supporting her education, or her family.

I do not, would never judge a woman for choosing to sexualize herself. She is making money for the corporation. It happens in the board room and hooters. So many paths are different for women as we know, but respect cannot be bought. And on an USO tour what could be more important?

Respect is the issue.

 

[rosemadderlake]

Am I in the right topic here? I thought this was the Franken topic. I thought we had a Moore topic. So, why are all these Moore posts in here?

Yes you are right tman... Right on topic. Where does Interestingly enough Senator Franken who has brought forth a greater discussion fit in???

While I absolutely agree with you regarding the constitution and due process...

I do believe there is a constitutional discussion in that the constitution has been amended...

Where do women fit in?

 

[kaen]

All woman can lower their risk of sexual violence by not voluntarily engaging in risky and provocative behavior. That's a fact.

*Actually-- that applies to men, too. Don't engage in risky and provocative behavior, and you lower your risk of being involved in crime and victimization. Not hard to understand.

Taking what you wrote at face value and playing that forward into the real world, women should only dress in sack clothes around men who deplore sack clothes. Because otherwise women dressed in uniform and run into a man who thinks a uniform is sexy may be engaged in provocative behavior. A Catholic high school girl wearing her uniform near a man or men who are turned on by is being provocative. If a man likes women who have long hair pulled back in a braid, does every woman with a braid have to watch out? When a woman is dancing in a bar with her friends is she asking for it? If so, we need to move to a more segregated society because there is any way to dance then.... The whole idea that it is a woman's role to not dress provocatively or appear to be provocative harkens to the "she was asking for it" mentality that is so arcane and is BS.



When you write that it is not hard to understand, I reel because what you say is hard to understand. There is a much simpler way to tackle this issue. No means no. People can't anticipate other peoples fetishes, turn ons, or what they might see as tantalizing. Any person has the right to walk down the street, go to work or do whatever is within the law without people judging them or justifying when some idiot abuses or harasses them. People can talk about the high rate of abuse that occurs to prostitutes but I think it is important to note that even though they don't cut a sympathetic figure, if a prostitute says no, they should be listened to.

 

[Fairy1]

The only way women will ever not be victims of sexual violence is if they are men. IMO.

 

[tricia]

So, I started reading this thread and in about 5 minutes I had removed 17 points for breaking our TOS and I wasn't even close to being finished.

Here is the thing; If your post does not have to do with Al Franken's case then it has no business being on this thread.

I am closing this thread for tonight. It will re-open sometime tomorrow.

Tricia

 

[tricia]

We are going to give it a try again.

Remember, if your post is not directly discussing Al Franken then do not post. Go back and re-write it please.

This thread is on Al Franken. No one else. Not the President, not Fox News, Not anyone else or anything else other than Sen. Al Franken and the accusations against him.

Please do not start posting about other cases or topics. If you do I will lose my mind. Really. I will actually explode, self-exploding it's called. If you post off topic you will find bits of me everywhere so please do not post off topic.

 

[K_Z]

A collection of Al Franken articles from today:

Democrat Seth Moulton: Al Franken should resign 'from what I know'

Moulton joins top Democrats like Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., Rep. Kathleen Rice, D-N.Y., and Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, in censuring Franken for his inappropriate behavior.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/d...hould-resign-from-what-i-know/article/2642664

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., called on Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., to resign Tuesday following allegations of sexual misconduct from six different women.

"From what I know, he should resign," Moulton told MSNBC, giving the same response regarding Rep. Ruben Kihuen, D-Nev., who faces accusations from a female staffer who quit his 2016 campaign after he repeatedly made unwanted sexual advances toward her.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/d...hould-resign-from-what-i-know/article/2642664

Al Franken has got to go

Now that John Conyers is stepping down, it’s time for Al Franken to go.

In the nearly three weeks since Franken was first accused of sexual harassment, he’s been able to keep his head down while more famous and powerful men fall to sexual assault and rape claims. He’s also benefited from the left’s defense — much, sadly, offered by women — that Franken’s offenses aren’t so bad: Sure, he’s piggish, but at least he votes in our interests. At least he isn’t a rapist or a child molester.

https://nypost.com/2017/12/05/al-franken-has-got-to-go/

 

[K_Z]

Outline of what happens with the Senate Ethics Panel inquiry.

Senate ethics panel opens inquiry into Al Franken. Here’s what happens next.

http://www.twincities.com/2017/12/0...uiry-into-al-franken-heres-what-happens-next/

 

[Deleted member 117884]

I didn't see this coming:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/gillibrand-calls-franken-resign-article-1.3680917

Gillibrand, other Democratic Senators call on Franken to resign amid new sexual assault allegation

 

[epiphany]

The chairman of the DNC, too:

Tom Perez‏Verified account
@TomPerez
3m3 minutes ago

Sen. Al Franken should step down. Everyone must share the responsibility of building a culture of trust and respect for women in every industry and workplace, and that includes our party.

https://twitter.com/TomPerez

 

[Gardenista]

I didn't see this coming:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/gillibrand-calls-franken-resign-article-1.3680917

Gillibrand, other Democratic Senators call on Franken to resign amid new sexual assault allegation

I did--they had their backs against the wall after Conyers. That the majority of them waited says it all.

 

[Gardenista]

Hilarious. This was all scripted and timed--these politicians think people are stupid

WASHINGTON (AP) - Faced with multiple calls to resign, Democratic Sen. Al Franken's office says he will have an announcement on Thursday.

https://twitter.com/ZekeJMiller/status/938462611125030913

 

[K_Z]

Wow, a lot sure has changed since May 30, 2017, when AF announced:

Al Franken will seek third term in 2020

If anyone doubted Al Franken loves his job and wants to keep it for a long time, Minnesota’s junior U.S. senator announced in a Pioneer Press interview last week that he plans to seek a third term in 2020.

He also makes his intentions perfectly clear in his new memoir, facetiously titled, “Al Franken, Giant of the Senate.”

http://www.twincities.com/2017/05/30/al-franken-will-seek-third-term-in-2020/

Of course, it's widely expected that this "announcement" Thursday is not that he isn't running "again", but that he's resigning now.

In MN, the governor (D- Mark Dayton, who has cancer and isn't running again), will name a replacement to finish AF's term, which ends in 2020. The 2 names floated have been 2 democratic representatives, Betty McCollum (who would check the box for a female replacement, and appease those who are howling to replace all male politicians with women), or Keith Ellison, which would further raise his profile as an african american, muslim, and democratic party rising star.

Make some popcorn, this will be something to watch. There's going to be a lot of shuffling of roles and positions in MN when AF makes his announcement.

And yes, I agree with the poster above that this almost certain resignation tomorrow was delayed/ dragged out, hoping for a different result from the Conyers scandal, so AF could stay. Politicians aren't employees like Matt Lauer, who can simply be fired-- there is a different process to get rid of them.

It does bother me greatly that these emerging "stories"/ accusations against AF cannot be verified in any way, but we must "accept" them as the particular version of "truth" that the accuser espouses. We are not socially allowed to question the veracity of the accusers, which is profoundly, morally, and ethically wrong, IMO. The woman today who said he "came at her to kiss her and she ducked" ids a great example. There is no lawsuit there, and no criminal behavior. It's her "word" against his. And ever so convenient that she has been SO bothered by this that today, a mere TEN years later, when it's politically expedient for some agenda, that she comes out of the woodwork to make this accusation. This is just wrong, IMO, no matter what political party or ideology you "identify" with. He wasn't even a Senator in 2006! He's not being accused of doing ANYTHING while he was in office.

It's profoundly wrong, IMO, that anyone can make these kind of accusations that can't be verified or proven, with the goal of embarrassing and taking down a celebrity or politician. It's deeply, deeply wrong, and goes against everything our country, and our justice system, stands for, IMO.

AF is going to leave the Senate. That is probably the only verifiable "truth" in this whole sordid mess involving a bawdy comedian turned politician.

 

[TMAN2014]

Wow, a lot sure has changed since May 30, 2017, when AF announced:



http://www.twincities.com/2017/05/30/al-franken-will-seek-third-term-in-2020/

Of course, it's widely expected that this "announcement" Thursday is not that he isn't running "again", but that he's resigning now.

In MN, the governor (D- Mark Dayton, who has cancer and isn't running again), will name a replacement to finish AF's term, which ends in 2020. The 2 names floated have been 2 democratic representatives, Betty McCollum (who would check the box for a female replacement, and appease those who are howling to replace all male politicians with women), or Keith Ellison, which would further raise his profile as an african american, muslim, and democratic party rising star.

Make some popcorn, this will be something to watch. There's going to be a lot of shuffling of roles and positions in MN when AF makes his announcement.

And yes, I agree with the poster above that this almost certain resignation tomorrow was delayed/ dragged out, hoping for a different result from the Conyers scandal, so AF could stay. Politicians aren't employees like Matt Lauer, who can simply be fired-- there is a different process to get rid of them.

It does bother me greatly that these emerging "stories"/ accusations against AF cannot be verified in any way, but we must "accept" them as the particular version of "truth" that the accuser espouses. We are not socially allowed to question the veracity of the accusers, which is profoundly, morally, and ethically wrong, IMO. The woman today who said he "came at her to kiss her and she ducked" ids a great example. There is no lawsuit there, and no criminal behavior. It's her "word" against his. And ever so convenient that she has been SO bothered by this that today, a mere TEN years later, when it's politically expedient for some agenda, that she comes out of the woodwork to make this accusation. This is just wrong, IMO, no matter what political party or ideology you "identify" with. He wasn't even a Senator in 2006! He's not being accused of doing ANYTHING while he was in office.

It's profoundly wrong, IMO, that anyone can make these kind of accusations that can't be verified or proven, with the goal of embarrassing and taking down a celebrity or politician. It's deeply, deeply wrong, and goes against everything our country, and our justice system, stands for, IMO.

AF is going to leave the Senate. That is probably the only verifiable "truth" in this whole sordid mess involving a bawdy comedian turned politician.

As much as I despise Franken, I believe the accused should have due process. There is evidence in the photo with the first woman, so we have facts, but there has to be evidence in these other cases and situations. I don't think you should automatically agree with the accuser all of the time. That's dangerous. Even your worst opponent should receive due process.

 

[Deleted member 117884]

As much as I despise Franken, I believe the accused should have due process. There is evidence in the photo with the first woman, so we have facts, but there has to be evidence in these other cases and situations. I don't think you should automatically agree with the accuser all of the time. That's dangerous. Even your worst opponent should receive due process.

I agree (except I do like Franken). I think we're missing a chunk of information in this story. Either there are more accusations threatening to be disclosed that we don't know about yet, or Franken is being used as an example of what politicians who are accused should be doing (as opposed to those who are not admitting, apologizing, and resigning), or he's being used to make up for the Conyers case....or something.

Just feels like something is missing from this particular story. Due process is just one thing missing (not only in this case, but in others as well).

JustMyOpinion at the moment, still developing.

 

[Deleted member 117884]

Well, just to keep it interesting....

"Franken denies that he’s decided to resign tomorrow"

“'No final decision has been made and the Senator is still talking with his family,'” said a tweet on his official Senate Twitter account."

https://nypost.com/2017/12/06/al-franken-expected-to-resign-amid-sex-harassment-claims/