Here's another thing that bothers me about Franken's assassination: the pattern

[ProfessorPlum]

it's important to be careful with allegations of sexual assault and impropriety - people's lives and reputations can be ruined by them. Both accused and accusers.

When faced with an accusation against a public figure, we have to weigh it against what we consider their character, and what we might expect them to do based on what we know of them. Each additional accusation weighs towards someone's character, that they could behave this way, that there is a pattern here, that the stories are credible, similar, backed up by the evidence of past conversations or written matter. Often the other women in a serial offender's life will confirm that things get creepy with them.

We see this happen with people like Bill Cosby. the accusations are credible, numerous, similar, and involve two people alone, with one of them using his privileged status to prey on the other.


And this is where the "pattern" that Franken's accusers describe run against the rocks of the obvious bullshit they are pedaling. Nearly every accusation is about something that happened in broad daylight, in front of multiple witnesses, and often while being photographed. The one that wasn't was someone thought Al was going to kiss her, but then he didn't.

Are there people who can claim that Franken cornered them somewhere alone and threatened their careers or offered them rewards for sexual favors? Did he flash them? And what do his colleagues say? Instead of stories coming out about how creepy Franken is, we get letters from hundreds of his associates vouching for him.


It just doesn't add up. The pattern is all wrong. There may not even be a pattern there, if most of the accusers are KGB agents or whatever (which hasn't been ruled out).

[msongs]

1. repubs suckered dems into getting rid of acorn. repubs know n easy mark nt

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. FWIW, my wife had an aunt

that always put her hands on relatives/acquaintances that came near her - good naturedly tickling, squeezing an arm or patting someone's back, gently poking or hugging them. It was her nature, nothing suggestive or sexual, just her way of being friendly or showing affection, I guess. Odd, I always thought, but it seemed harmless.

Some people are made up that way. I suppose today that would be considered inappropriate behavior.

[Amaryllis]

3. It is a ripe climate for set up. What happens the next time a Dem congressman is set up?

What will they do then? And will this inspire Rs to deal with the R predators in office?
(rhetorical question).

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. Yes, this climate IS ripe for setting up more than just Al.

They wont do it right away, but I fully expect it to continue.

[Carey1]

7. Al Franken

The picture of Al Franken is a hoax. This picture was taken with a photographer and others present and when she was fully clothed. It was probably a skit to entertain the soldiers. She was aware what happens on those tours and should have not gone and be a participant. Now she is claiming to be victimized. If a man were standing over me and touching my breast, I would be screaming so loud my screams would be heard miles away. This was a political hit job by Fox News, Roger Stone, Hannity and Fox contributor designed to have Franken removed from office because he was a threat to them and that he was a powerful senator who called them out for who they were
When you think Republicans can't sink any lower, they do

[Ferrets are Cool]

9. Welcome to DU

[Bengus81]

12. Here's a pic from the tour that Tweeden posted to her OWN My Space page.......

Ok for guys to play like a finger is their COCK--so much it's on her PERSONAL page and these two guys just "being silly" Franken does a stupid joking pic and she has a melt down--and probably had to tweet Trump Jr another hundred times like she's already done.

[Thor_MN]

5. A pattern that I noticed is that many of the loudest screams here for his head

had screen names with East Coast states in them. Tin foil hat arena, I now, but it was creepily accurate.

[mythology]

6. Jimmy Savile molested multiple people in public

Including one on live tv.

Plenty of people are molested on public transit.

Some people have less capacity for being behaved in public than others.

[Denzil_DC]

8. Hmm. Where have I seen that before?

Oh yeah, you tried that comparison a few days ago: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=9903677

So if we're on the rinse and repeat cycle, I'll save myself some bother and repeat what I said then:

Savile was widely known to be a serial sexual danger to young women and others over a long period among the BBC hierarchy and a number of his colleagues - all shamefully covered up.

To date, there is no evidence that Franken had a reputation as a serial groper during his time at SNL nor on USO tours - with SNL, quite the contrary. In the current climate, if there was evidence of such a reputation, I'd guess we'd have heard of it as "corroboration" of the pattern you seem so eager to see.

It's interesting that your mind went immediately to such an extreme comparison.

[JimBeard]

10. Defending Roy Moore because Franking was screwed over isn't right but then I really don't

give a fuck anymore. The Democrats are going to lose votes. I remember going through this year of the woman bullshit before. Who was that Geraldine person again? That really went over well didn't it?

When the oxygen mask drops, put it on yourself first so you can take care of your infant. Common sense.

[Bengus81]

13. Laugh my ass off next week when he's elected.........

These asshats walked right into the trap and actually did the GOP work FOR THEM. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!

[DoubleAgentOrange]

11. The Oligarchs did it

They couldn't Wellstone him, because it would have been too obvious.

So they gave him the same treatment that Alberta's corporate elites gave to socialist Premier John Brownlee and that Rove and co gave to Julian Assange: manufactured allegations to turn progressives and feminists against him.

We now know that Brownlee never raped anyone (even though the fallout from the allegations against him in the 1930s precipitated Alberta's turning into a right-wing bastion) and the right-wing coalition that was in power in Sweden at the time of the allegations against Assange had Karl Rove on its payroll.

People may see Assange as a sellout now, but it was Dumbya and MicroDick that started the geopolitical witch hunt against him.

[Sugar Smack]

14. I think Kevin Spacey was a test-run for Al Franken. Courtesy of Roger Stone.

I could be wrong, of course. Democrats in Showbiz- Spacey and Franken.

Spacey was one of the most respected actors in Hollywood until he was outed as a pedophile. Given the historical universal view of Dems (We loudly condemn pedoplhilia and all sexual assault) the next target could be a dem politician almost universally respected, beloved and necessary for the sanity of the gov. (He's funny & smart & ffs, people LOVE him.) Someone who has done well in both industries- comedy & politics.

Kevin Spacey's accusers have merit, from what I've read. The "dominoes fell" at a rapid speed & because the public had little reason to doubt it. Names were named and the case was built against him.

From what I remember, Stone's tweet showed up one day after the Kevin Spacey story broke. It was the timing of Stone's "Franken's time in a barrel" tweet that gave me pause. Everyone in Kevin Spacey's periphery hadn't dumped him yet (although the signs were obviously there).

The media made sure everyone was out for blood before continuing on to a powerful, principled man. The GOP doesn't see people as people. They see tools. If the first tools (accusers) don't do the job, send in some more. Pay them if you have to. Everyone needs money. Backup tools can be bought. The timing and the pattern of all of it- the entire mess- is so shifty. Especially the "showbiz" aspect. Not to mention Franken's 4 anonymous accusers. This is all speculation, of course.

It was the same speed (direction?) at which the "public dominoes" fell for Franken as it was for Spacey. They are two completely different situations/ circumstances.
Someone shined the spotlight on and amplified the most embarrassing detail in a really good man's life. They had a LOT of help and "WE" kicked a man who represents us out of things.

Than you for listening, Professor.