Al Franken Is Mounting a Comeback From #MeToo Exile

[babylonsister]

Al Franken Is Mounting a Comeback From #MeToo Exile
WHY NOT ME?
Nearly three years after sexual misconduct allegations got him pushed out of the Senate, Al Franken has quietly made his return to cable and radio airwaves.
Maxwell Tani, Media reporter
Published Nov. 17, 2020 4:48AM ET
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Photos Getty


If you’ve recently tuned in to CNN or MSNBC you may have noticed a familiar face has returned to political punditry: Al Franken.

Over the past several months, the former Minnesota senator—whose legislative career ended in 2018 over multiple allegations of sexual misconduct—has been quietly growing his media presence, becoming a more common sight on cable news, in op-ed pages, and on the radio.

Earlier this month, for example, the former Minnesota senator appeared three times in a single week on MSNBC, weighing in on the Senate confirmation hearings for now Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. At other times he’s joined host Joy Reid to react to news or, since Election Day, has appeared regularly on Brian Williams’ show to discuss Donald Trump’s current futile attempts to overturn Joe Biden’s electoral wins in several states via recounts, noting his own experience with a much narrower recount in 2008.

In September, he spoke with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour about political satire and Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and wrote an op-ed for the network’s website over the summer about how Biden could win the election. He wrote about Biden’s incoming administration for the Los Angeles Times, and launched a podcast/radio show on SiriusXM dedicated to covering the election, booking interviews with high-profile guests and personal friends like musician John Mayer, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, upstart 2020 Democratic candidate Andrew Yang, and comedians like Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Kimmel, and Chris Rock.

In a brief telephone interview several days after the election, Franken said his goal in returning to the public eye—despite his unceremonious exit from politics—is to raise awareness about the issues he felt passionately about as a legislator, including health care, climate change, right-wing media, and an increasingly conservative tilt in the judiciary system. He seemed more focused on the future than reflecting upon his past.

“I want to have my voice heard so I can keep fighting for the things that I care about and the people I care about,” Franken told The Daily Beast.

more...

https://www.thedailybeast.com/al-franken-is-mounting-a-comeback-from-metoo-exile?ref=home

[malaise]

1. Go Al

I never believed those lies

[a kennedy]

3. Me either damn it, AND HE WAS MY SENATOR.......

Still pissed at the whole thing.

[MoonRiver]

7. I'll never get over it, and I'm in Kansas

[calimary]

44. Neither will I. And I can't help but remember the reports about white supremacists

infiltrating and embedding within police departments.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/27/white-supremacists-militias-infiltrate-us-police-report

So you tell me. What would you expect would be the result of an infiltration of individuals with an “if you’re a hammer, everything looks like a nail” mentality in this particular regard?

You tell me.

I strongly suspect that this explains the lopsided statistics of mainly black men being targeted and outright exterminated by heavy-handed police officers? It just keeps happening over and over and over again. It’s never different. You never hear how a white suspect was manhandled or brutalized like the blacks taken into custody are. You never see or hear about white suspects being shot in the back or choked to deathwhile fleeing - after some pissant little “charge” - like they were stopped because they had a fucking tail light out, or they were selling single cigarettes on a public sidewalk, ie: an “offense” that a white offender might get a mere ticket for.

In both those cases, it didn’t mean a black person was given some slap-on-the-hand ticket and small fine. It meant DEATH for that black person.

[ananda]

31. Me neither. It was a Roger Stone hitjob.

And it was Democrats who went after Al,
particulary Kirsten Gillibrand, who is now
dead to me.

[DENVERPOPS]

45. Exactly

It wasn't as much a Republican hit job, as it was an unscrupulous Democrat hit job.

Kirsten Gillbrand is a ..............................

[disndat]

85. Sen Patrick Leahy later apologized

for joining the Gillibrand cabal.

[Warpy]

46. It certainly was, it had Stone's fingerprints all over it

Yes, there was a joke photo from one of his shows for the troops and it was a bad joke, but that's all it was.

I will never forgive people for jumping on that stupid bandwagon. I will never forgive Wasserman-Schutz for playing into the hands of a right wing mob seeking to rid themselves of someone who skewered them frequently and completely.

[SergeStorms]

59. Al certainly was a thorn in the GOP's side.

And yes, he was railroaded by Stone and some useful idiots who thought it would make them look better in the public eye. It was a damned shame, and Al deserves far better than he got from his Democratic "friends".

[LakeArenal]

64. How can Gillibrand be the only one dead to you?

There were 13 others I believe that signed.
I won’t forgive any of them that don’t publicly make amends.

No matter how high their personal aspirations raise them.

[58Sunliner]

86. I think only one has not apologized. Not that it matters much.

[LakeArenal]

88. It matters much to me. It probably means a lot to Franni

Publicly apologized.... Not so much.

I’d like to know who you think have apologized publicly as I can find not one

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&hl=en-us&nfpr=1&q=what+Senators+have+publicly+apologized+for+railroading+Franken&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjmvMPuuYztAhUlT98KHasFDhoQBSgAegQIARAC&biw=320&bih=454

[58Sunliner]

93. It was an interview that Franken did @ 4-5 months ago-sorry don't have a link.

And I can't find it online. I believe it was Harris. I will never forgive any of them.

[LakeArenal]

95. Hmmm that would be something I would like to hear.

[Dem4Life1102]

89. Because some need only one person to focus on

and ignore the 37 others including Harris, Sanders and Warren.

That's not to say that Franken didn't get a bad deal. It just happened to be at the height of the Me Too movement and it was zero tolerance for any allegation.

[LakeArenal]

90. Plenty of us remember.

All they needed was the ethics investigation that Al requested.

[Dem4Life1102]

91. The problem with an ethnics investigation

is that it doesn’t determine guilt or innocence, just whether congressional rules has been violated.

[LakeArenal]

92. Problem or not, he requested it.

Few days later some called for the alleged victims to have their say on court. But not Al.

[Eyeball_Kid]

2. Maybe we'll be addressing him as Senator Franken once again. n/t

[jimfields33]

6. Possibly if Amy goes into the Biden administration

If she doesn’t, I don’t think he’ll ever be in the senate again. As sad as it is, I don’t think he’d run against Amy in the next primary and Senator Smith is up in 2026.

[Iggo]

13. Klobuchar. (n/t)

[disndat]

84. That looks imminent to me.

Klobuchar and Franken looks radiantly happy on TV lately. Biden's winning will shortly
bring forth many such miracles.

[Dem4Life1102]

9. I like Governor Franken better.

[DownriverDem]

43. Maybe

The 2 current Senators are Democratic women. If Amy Klobuchar joins the Biden cabinet there would be an opening.

[True Blue American]

4. Yeah!

I am on his Email list. He starts it by thanking those who still read his emails.

I would love to have him back in the Senate. I disagreed with Sherrod whole heartedly on that made up complaint. And made it plain.

[TBA]

5. Love his podcast. Great guests.

[eissa]

8. Good, he should have never been tossed under the bus

over flimsy allegations made by anonymous or paid sources. Nothing turned me off the #MeToo movement more than Franken's ridiculous ouster, and this is from someone who suffered sexual assault as a child. If there is one thing a survivor hates more than those who commit such crimes, it's those who report false ones.

[dalton99a]

10. Kick

[pazzyanne]

11. Tears! nt

[Iggo]

12. Good. (n/t)

[betsuni]

14. I love him.

[obamanut2012]

15. Good -- he shouldn't have resigned

Just like I'm glad Northam didn't in VA.

[UCmeNdc]

16. We need Al to fight for us!

[lindysalsagal]

17. We need him. That was comedy and it often becomes raunchy.

Grow up a little if you're going to be a comedian.

[Wellstone ruled]

18. Plus a Photo Shop hit job.

Roger Stone had this Slime Job in the can so to speak in 2006.

Knowing Al and his Family on a personal level,just knew this was a Hit Job.

Franken was the Reason the DFL Party was rebuilt from the ground up. You do not think the Minnesota GOP would stand for that do you. Mercury Media was always lucking in the background.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

25. That entire tour was raunch grab-ass for the troops. Singling out those few incidents was ridiculous

[joshcryer]

33. That shit was a hit job from the get go.

Using our own desire for equality against us.

And we fell for it.

[Baltimike]

63. this. nt

[Scalded Nun]

19. RW hit job, and Dems fall for it every time

[dchill]

24. Yes, they do.

[Happy Hoosier]

21. He should NOT have resigned.

We need him back.

[samsingh]

22. i hope so

[Mme. Defarge]

23. Should NEVER have resigned!!!

[OverBurn]

62. Right, Franken is a good dude. The Repukes never resign no matter what they do.

[RussBLib]

26. he is young enough to be active for many years

I hope he gets back into the Senate, or at least the House. I'd sure vote for him again, if I could.

[PatrickforO]

27. Al's demise was a Karl Rove railroad deal.

I'm glad he is back.

[Dem4Life1102]

78. Actually it was Roger Stone

[barbtries]

28. He has a podcast too.

I recommend it.
I begged him not to resign as did many. pretty sure he regrets it now.
this is why i cannot forgive whats-her-face. i'm getting her confused with the woman trump had institute the baby stealing operation.

ETA link

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChK2Q2QyQlygpwSp8AE24TQ

[FreepFryer]

29. Go Al! (Nt)

[VA_Jill]

30. I am still

pissed at Sen. Gillibrand over this, and I can't support her for anything. She was responsible in large part, leading the charge against him and pushing him under the bus. I hope to see Al back in politics, either as MN governor, or maybe senator again. Gillibrand can go fry ice as far as I'm concerned.

[LAS14]

32. Glad to hear it!!! nt

[KS Toronado]

34. Maybe Biden could put Franken in charge of fixing "right-wing media"

Surely there's some common sense rules/laws which could stop the brainwashing of low-information voters.
With the possibility of even turning them into Democrats.

[mountain grammy]

35. Still following Al. Listen to his podcast weekly.

He talked to Senator Jon Testor a few weeks ago. Testor apologized to Al for being one of the senators who called for his resignation.. A huge blot on Democratic senators. Al's a good and decent man and never should have resigned.

[dsc]

60. He was on Sirius XM but not any longer

I will have to track his pod cast down

[mountain grammy]

61. yes, I was listening on Sirius..

now you can find it on his website...

https://alfranken.com/listen

[OnDoutside]

77. He ACTUALLY had a great one this week.....

That was great from Tester, hopefully we will hear from more of the 38.

[mountain grammy]

87. Agree.

[ailsagirl]

36. That's great-- glad to hear it!

I've missed him

[BigmanPigman]

37. The world is a better place with Al in it.

I think he was set up by Roger Stone.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

38. Al Franken is the reason I'm here.

I was a low info voter until I read "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot..." No turning away after that.

When I had him sign my copy at a Barnes and Noble event in 1994, he was seated next to his young son. They lived then in our neighborhood on the Upper West Side. Watching him succeed in his goals through his pain of loss, first of Paul Wellstone and later his comedy partner Tom Davis, showed his humanity and what makes a great Democrat. So proud of him for returning to the arena. Thanks Al for caring .

[FakeNoose]

41. Yes! All of his books are worth reading

Enjoyable, informative and laugh-out-loud funny.

[BobTheSubgenius]

39. GOOD!

He is far too educated, intelligent and dedicated for his voice to not be heard. He also has a unique way of getting his point across - barbed, but not attacking.

I was so bummed when he left the Senate.

[mvd]

40. K&R

Always thought he got a raw deal. I hated losing him from politics.

[Evolve Dammit]

42. Good luck Al. It's the wrestler in him. A fighter, with keen intellect and great sense of humor.

[DFW]

47. Al does want to get back into public life, maybe public office

He said so in so many words last time I saw him (last January), BUT....Franni does not NOT want him in the Senate where he would be in the same chamber with so many people who willingly tossed him under the bus. She carries far more of a grudge than he does, and her word carries a LOT of weight with Al. They really are a devoted couple. Figure ANY move Al makes, it will be done after Franni has given her blessing.

I find it encouraging that Jon Tester made a public apology to Al for being duped into calling for his resignation. I know eight of the 33 who did had made private apologies, but this is the first I have heard of a public one. I hope others will follow. But unless a majority of the ones still there own up publicly, don't look for Al to return to the Senate unless begged by the governor, and Klobuchar takes a position with the Biden Administration. As a sitting U.S. Senator, and senior Senator from her state, I don't know why she would unless offered a position she thought would be a stimulating challenge, like Attorney General or Secretary of State. I guess we'll find out soon enough who Biden's picks are for those positions. I sincerely hope that his pick for Attorney General strikes deep penetrating fear into the hearts of those Republicans whose offenses have been the most heinous of the past four years--and then goes of to justify those fears.

[Wicked Blue]

48. Does he also do "Support for NPR comes from..." spots?

I'd almost swear it was Franken. He has a distinctive "smile" in his voice.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

49. Go Al!! You were railroaded by a predatory right wing press

Combined with a misused social change movement.

We never believed you did any of that garbage!

[NurseJackie]

50. We need his voice... now more than ever.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

55. Yes! He is brilliant.

[Polybius]

51. Al needs to get back in the Senate

He was the greatest Judiciary member in modern times.

[BootinUp]

52. Al's voice is most welcome. Nt

[Joinfortmill]

53. I love this guy. So sorry he resigned.

[dinger130]

54. I've missed him so much...........

come back!!!!!!!!

[healthnut7]

56. I sure miss him. He was great!!

[Hekate]

57. Go get 'em, Al

[Mopar151]

58. White House Press Secretary!!!!!

Not usually a full term job. Would go a LONG way to repairing confidence in the news business, and in the office of the President. Plus he can deftly gut the alt.right "correspondents" when it becomes necessary.

[mushroomhunter]

66. interesting idea

would love to see him again in a high profile position. We need his humor and quick wit - might do a lot to tone down the hate-filled rhetoric.

[karin_sj]

65. Welcome back, Al

The vast majority of us will welcome you back with open arms! Think of all the good he could have done if he hadn't been forced out.

[soldierant]

67. For just about all of those nearly-three-years

every time I heard or saw a comment that someone missed him, I've been directing them to his email list and his podcasts (either or both can be found at alfranken dot com).

How can you not love am email that starts out, "Dear person who still opens my emails,"?

[AdamGG]

68. Al's confirmation hearing questions of Sessions, DeVos, Gorsuch was better than any other Senator's

I would love it if he came back to the Senate. He's a huge asset to the party and was taken out by completely unsubstantiated nonsense.

[marble falls]

69. About freaking time!

[Mr. Evil]

70. I think Kirsten Gillibrand saw Sen. Franken as an obstacle.

She knew she was going to run for the 2020 nomination and probably felt that Sen. Franken was going to also. She knew she didn't stand a chance against him and jumped at the opportunity to throw him to the wolves. She was also the most vociferous in calling for him to resign. Whatever credibility she may have had is gone for good. Fuck her!

I sincerely hop Al makes it back to the Senate. We need him. The country needs him. And I would gleefully watch as he proudly reappeared in the Senate Chamber with all those dupes that turned their backs on him. I'm willing to bet he'd get a standing ovation.

And by the way, why haven't we heard anything from Gillibrand regarding the very credible rape and sexual assault allegations against Trump?

[Dem4Life1102]

79. Must be why she also tried to

stab Warren, Sanders, Booker and Harris in the back too.

Oh right, she didn’t. But all of them called for Franken to resign on the same day. Since they were all thinking about running for President too, did they also want to take him out?

And by the way, why haven't we heard anything from Gillibrand regarding the very credible rape and sexual assault allegations against Trump?

Actually yes: https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2017/1213/Senator-Gillibrand-takes-on-leadership-role-in-fight-against-sexual-assault

[helpisontheway]

81. I can't stand her ass because of this reason. Jealous

and it cost us a very good senator. I mean completely turned their back on him. 🤬 Now he probably can’t run for higher office because of that bullshit. That is why I did not give Gillibrand the time of day when she was running.

[ancianita]

71. It's possible that Biden might name Klobuchar Sec of Agriculture & Gov Walz would appoint Franken.

She was his Senate mentor. That might be in the works. Pure speculation on my part.

[bringthePaine]

72. cuz he's good enough, he's smart enough and, doggone it, people like him!

[mahina]

73. His podcast is outstanding, always. I've learned so much. It's great to hear him weekly

As well as see him start to return from that shameful injustice.

I do love both of my Senators very much but I called Mazie’s office and told them at their office that what did she did was terrible and wrong and that I was ashamed for her that she went along with it.

It was a terrible waste and stupid on top of all of it. God damn it. Still mad.

[bluestateboomer]

74. It can't come too soon for me.

I miss his voice in the Senate.

[Sugarcoated]

75. Yay!!!

[OnDoutside]

76. #Justice4Al ! Great news, he's been sorely missed.

[The Blue Flower]

80. He's passionate about serving the public

I'm so glad he's on the way back.

[onetexan]

82. Oh heck yes!!! Welcome back Senator Franken!!!

I'm hoping Biden will appoint him to a position

[krakfiend]

83. that would be awesome