# Can Al Franken change his mind and stay? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 17, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738 "2017-12-17T22:56:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/1 "2017-12-17T22:56:26Z")
I’m not a fan of his ultra liberal leanings. I do recognize he’s done a good job as Senator. He’s built a solid reputation for working hard. Yeah he screwed up. Dumb, stupid and idiotic thing to do. The Dems sacrificed Al in order to position themselves to challenge Roy Moore’s anticipated seating in Congress. Hey! We kicked out one of our own for touching women! Giving them the moral high ground to challenge Moore. Good strategy, until it became completely unnecessary. D’oh, Roy lost. Can Al still say, I’m not leaving? I’d prefer letting the voters decide in the next election. Whether Al comes back. Let him finish his term. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/2 "2017-12-17T23:13:01Z")
Larry “wide stance” Craig decided not to resign after he said he would and just didn’t run for re-election. So I don’t think his comments are binding. He just looks like a jerk if he does it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/3 "2017-12-17T23:19:25Z")
Good Op Ed about the political maneuvering to sacrifice Al. I haven’t been able to find out if Al officially resigned? He gave that speech saying he would resign. There’s plenty of men in Congress that did a heck of a lot worse than Al and his butt grabbing. He needs to stick around and finish his term. Imho Then face the voters for reelection . It’s up to them to decide if he should be forgiven. > **[NYT Op-Ed: Maybe Franken Shouldn't Have Resigned](https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2017/12/15/nyt-oped-franken-shouldnt-have-resigned-n2422853?amp=true)** > [@](#): > > But this Franken push was done, so the Left could redirect their attacks on Moore and eventually the president. That’s their grand prize. Donald Trump has been accused of sexual misconduct. It’s hard to direct an attack campaign when some in your ranks have misbehaved. Conyers facilitated the Franken extraction. So, while all of these things are rather apolitical and in the realm of what’s reasonable and just, I think it’s incredibly naïve to think that Democrats are doing this because they had a come to Jesus moment on sexual harassment/assault. For the Left, it’s not about the victims, the truth, or the cause of justice; it’s all about maintaining a narrative. This was all done so that Democrats could have a clean slate from which they could attack the Trump White House. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/4 "2017-12-17T23:45:10Z")
Sometimes the right thing is also politically advantageous. Whatever the motives, doing the right thing is better than not doing so, and pushing out abusers is the right thing to do. So the Democrats do deserve credit for doing the right thing, even if they did so for political advantageous reasons. That’s part of politics, anyway – pressuring people to do the right thing, even if they don’t do it because they’re good people. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2017, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/5 "2017-12-17T23:52:22Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m not a fan of his ultra liberal leanings. I do recognize he’s done a good job as Senator. He’s built a solid reputation for working hard. > > Yeah he screwed up. Dumb, stupid and idiotic thing to do. > > The Dems sacrificed Al in order to position themselves to challenge Roy Moore’s anticipated seating in Congress. Hey! We kicked out one of our own for touching women! Giving them the moral high ground to challenge Moore. > > Good strategy, until it became completely unnecessary. D’oh, Roy lost. > > Can Al still say, I’m not leaving? > > I’d prefer letting the voters decide in the next election. Whether Al comes back. > > Let him finish his term. You guys never did too much talkin anyway. Don’t think twice, it’s allright. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/6 "2017-12-18T00:15:45Z")
I’m not sure what you’re talking about. I hate to see anybody railroaded for a political strategy. It’s well known that plenty of the other men in Congress have indiscretions in their past. I guess Al makes a good scapegoat. He’s about as far left of me as Mars. But, what his newly pious Dem colleagues did to him is just wrong. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/7 "2017-12-18T00:26:08Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m not sure what you’re talking about. > > I hate to see anybody railroaded for a political strategy. It’s well known that plenty of the other men in Congress have indiscretions in their past. > > I guess Al makes a good scapegoat. > > He’s about as far left of me as Mars. But, what his newly pious Dem colleagues did to him is just wrong. Having standards that include “no groping” is right, not wrong. It’s pretty damn reasonable to draw a line for very high office that means gropers don’t get to be included. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/8 "2017-12-18T00:35:13Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m not sure what you’re talking about. > > I hate to see anybody railroaded for a political strategy. **It’s well known that plenty of the other men in Congress have indiscretions in their past.** > > I guess Al makes a good scapegoat. > > He’s about as far left of me as Mars. But, what his newly pious Dem colleagues did to him is just wrong. **Ace** Are you arguing that because other men have done it, it’s acceptable if more men do it? I don’t agree with that view point. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/9 "2017-12-18T00:39:11Z")
I’m saying it’s wrong to single one guy out for punishment. Kick out all of them or find a less extreme form of punishment for the one person that got caught. Congress has been a cesspool of drinking and inappropriate behavior for as long as I can remember. This happened back when I was a kid in junior high. He kept his seat and got reelected. [https://www.google.com/amp/www.nydailynews.com/amp/news/crime/congressman-stripper-article-1.288090](https://www.google.com/amp/www.nydailynews.com/amp/news/crime/congressman-stripper-article-1.288090) ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/10 "2017-12-18T00:50:35Z")
The rules of our society have changed. What worked in the past will not work now. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/11 "2017-12-18T01:03:10Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > The rules of our society have changed. What worked in the past will not work now. And you and I are doing things today, that our social mores tell us are fine and acceptable. But your children will call you out for it in twenty years and expect you to apologize. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/12 "2017-12-18T01:04:10Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m saying it’s wrong to single one guy out for punishment. > > Kick out all of them or find a less extreme form of punishment for the one person that got caught. > > Congress has been a cesspool of drinking and inappropriate behavior for as long as I can remember. > > This happened back when I was a kid in junior high. He kept his seat and got reelected. > [https://www.google.com/amp/www.nydailynews.com/amp/news/crime/congressman-stripper-article-1.288090](https://www.google.com/amp/www.nydailynews.com/amp/news/crime/congressman-stripper-article-1.288090) Kick them all out sounds good to me. That’s what’s happening right now, as far as I can tell – secrets are being revealed, and perpetrators are being forced out. This is a good thing, even if it’s happening gradually rather than slowly. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/13 "2017-12-18T01:12:41Z")
The problem comes, though, if it’s only the perpetrators from one party who get forced out. That’s an even worse situation than all of them staying in. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/14 "2017-12-18T01:13:20Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m saying it’s wrong to single one guy out for punishment. > > Kick out all of them or find a less extreme form of punishment for the one person that got caught. Do you apply this same criteria to speeding tickets, bribery, and murder? Or just for things where you can tell women to lighten up? ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/15 "2017-12-18T01:14:36Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Kick them all out sounds good to me. That’s what’s happening right now, as far as I can tell – secrets are being revealed, and perpetrators are being forced out. This is a good thing, even if it’s happening gradually rather than slowly. But perpetrators of what? I worry that what was once viewed a being a cad is now a fire-able offense. I’m not talking sexual assult, but lesser issues. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/16 "2017-12-18T01:22:54Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > And you and I are doing things today, that our social mores tell us are fine and acceptable. But your children will call you out for it in twenty years and expect you to apologize. Social mores never said it was okay to grab a woman’s ass without permission. Social mores said you could get away with it if you were powerful. If I’m engaging in predatory behavior today because I can get away with it today, I goddamned well hope my kids call me out for it in the future. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/17 "2017-12-18T01:23:29Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m saying it’s wrong to single one guy out for punishment. > > Kick out all of them or find a less extreme form of punishment for the one person that got caught. Which Democrat with similar accusations is not getting kicked out? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/18 "2017-12-18T01:25:40Z")
The Op Ed I linked makes a very valid point. Al is the Dem’s sacrifice. So they can claim the moral high ground. It bothers me because there’s far worse people in Congress that are getting away with what they’ve done. The sordid details are safely buried. I guess there always has to be one sacrificial lamb. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/19 "2017-12-18T01:27:15Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Social mores never said it was okay to grab a woman’s ass without permission. Social mores said you could get away with it if you were powerful. > > If I’m engaging in predatory behavior today because I can get away with it today, I goddamned well hope my kids call me out for it in the future. Social mores did say that a comedian could act like they were grabbing someones breasts when they were sleeping. And the good people of Minnesota did know they were electing a comedian from SNL. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738/20 "2017-12-18T01:33:06Z")
I expected Al to get a sanction of some kind. I never expected them to force him to resign. That’s pretty extreme punishment for what he did. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-al-franken-change-his-mind-and-stay/804738.md?page=2)