Democrats bring kale

"Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

~~  Martin Luther King Jr.


"I think it's important that we choose kindness and compassion."

~~  Melania Trump

____________________________

When I think about sexual harassment, I usually think of it as part of a broader spectrum of behaviors that can be stashed under one big umbrella labeled "Bullying."

Bullying is a big problem in America right now -- sex harassment is only one form of it -- there are many issues which need to be addressed.

It appears to me that the wave of bullying began in the early 1990s after the Soviet Union collapsed.  The Soviet Union had been Americans' "common enemy" since 1945; with the loss of our common enemy, we started attacking each other, instead, and it has become worse every year since.


I don't make this statement because I "like" it -- I do not like it.  I say it because that is what seems to be observable reality, not everywhere, fortunately, but in many places and situations.

No, greed is not "good."

No, being an asshole is not a compliment.

No, the purpose of going to work is not to attack people you work with.

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Today's New York Times printed an Al Franken story; Reader Comments were energetic....

Urbana, Illinois
kagni
~    I think he should be allowed to defend himself in the Ethics Committee, not be judged by a mob.


Massachusetts
tellmewhenitsover
~    Democrats bring kale to a gun fight.

News next week:  Roy Moore elected to Senate.

And this is what justice looks like?  Not to me.  Not only will Republicans get their bigoted senator from Alabama, but they got to take out one of their staunchest critics at the same time.  Don't worry.  Democrats, you can enjoy the view from the absolutist moral high ground and watch the world burn from there.

I hope idealism keeps us all warm in years to come when Social Security is gone and Medicaid a distant experiment of a bygone generation.  Democrats need lions, not sacrificial lambs.


Charleston, West Virginia
Didier
~    Senator Franken is paying the moral debt of Roy Moore.  One can only hope that the arc of history bends toward justice and Donald Trump and Roy Moore get what they so richly deserve.

NYC
Brad
~    Due process!  Due process!  Due process!

Chicago
Bruce
~   John Conyers resigned.

Al Franken resigned.

Roy Moore needs to resign.

Donald Trump needs to resign.

NYC
Susan
~    If Sen. Franken resigns I will never vote for a Democrat again.  These sanctimonious grand-standing politicians need to let the ethics committee do their job.


Wichita, Kansas
Edward
~    When Roy Moore and Donald Trump step down, there can be a discussion.  Otherwise, as the Republicans say, "Let the voters decide."


Philadelphia
Jared
~    How about Franken steps down when Republicans make Roy Moore drop out of the senate race?

Florida
ECWB
~    This is a case of the perfect being the enemy of the good.

Pennsylvnaia
Ann
~    Democrats seriously need to stop throwing their own under the bus as the Republicans staunchly defend their most egregious predators.  Franken should resign only if Donald J Trump is called upon by his party to resign and acts on that demand.

San Angeles
~    I fear we are making terrible mistakes in this process.

Seaside
Ricky
~    ...Franken on his worst day is 1,000 times better than any republicon.

New York
Talbot
~    I'll stay a liberal but I am no longer a Democrat.

I want no part of a group that would do something like this.  They do not speak for me.


Germany
Antje
~    Senator Gillibrand has just lost my vote.  I am so angry!

USA
UFCFAN
~    I don't get this.  Sen. Franken was sent to Congress by his constituents and unless he committed a crime that prevents him from fulfilling his duties, it should be his constituents that decide whether or not to have him continue to represent them, not his peers in Congress.

Stevensville, Maryland
Forrest Chisman
~    This is a shameful moment for the Democratic Party.  If any members of the lynch mob who drove out Franken ever run for President, they won't have my vote, and the DNC can stop sending me fundraising messages.  

I've been a lifelong Democrat and Democratic activist, but I no longer want to be associated with Gillibrand and others who lack common sense and common decency.


Florida
Nomad
~    We can now expect a flood of republicans to call for Trump and Blake Farenthold to resign, yes?

NYC
Incredulosity
~    Congratulations, Democratic Party.  You just got played by Roger Stone.  Trump's not going to resign, why should Franken?

Virginia
AR
~    The United States Senate:  Al Franken out this week, Roy Moore probably in next week.  World's greatest deliberative body?  Please.  The U.S. is going down the tubes in an awful hurry....

Psst
  overhere
~    I wish the Dems were as vocal on the allegations against trump, the Tax Fiasco, the Dream Act, dismantling of consumer protections, a lack of an infrastructure plan......

Charlotte
PaulB67
~    This is a one-sided witch hunt....The GOP is laughing.

Kansas City, Missouri
Bruce Rozenblit
~    I never was a big fan of Al Franken.  However, he just showed ten times more class and integrity in his resignation speech than Trump ever has.  I hope he runs for President against Trump.  At least Franken feels bad about what he has done.  Trump is proud of himself.


Redwood City
Sha
~    Such injustice, it's a sad day.



San Francisco, California
Petra Meyer
~    This is why Democrats lose so many elections that they should have won - Democratic politicians listen to the party elites and each other...

Europe
Stellan
~    I've read the accusations against Franken carefully and my conclusion is that to a lot of ambitious Democrats he was a little too popular and too effective a Senator.

I hope he runs for President regardless.

NYC
May MacGregor
~    I will never vote for Gillibrand and encourage people not to vote for this self righteous showboat!


Brooklyn
Stuart Freeman
~    Compare the way in which the Democrats have treated Franken's indiscretions with the manner in which Republicans have handled Roy Moore's (let alone Donald Trump's).  

Those who continue to maintain that there's no meaningful difference between our two main political parties are obviously not paying attention.


Chicago
Anglican
~    Franken is now free to run for President.  I'd vote for him.


Wyoming
Robert
~    So, in the Democratic view, all misdeeds should have the same consequences.  Shop lifting and murder deserve the same punishment.  Likewise juvenile pranks and child molestation.  

What world do these people live in?  

It seems to me that as long as they hold these views we are doomed to be governed by a party that will allow their representatives to do and say anything that will advance the agenda of the rich and ruthless.


Seattle
Mary
~    Something very disturbing about Senate Democrats rushing to turn on Senator Franken.  I'm quite upset about this.

Minnesota
AW
~    I think Gillibrand is a shill for the Republican Party.  She needs to resign or be voted out.

New York
Talbot
~    Where's the NYT critical analysis of all this?  Due process, let the voters decide, a stupid picture is not assault, etc.?

Instead we get a couple of "you go girl!" articles, with Gillibrand posing with Clinton and speculations about her running for president.

Why are the readers more analytical and skeptical than the supposedly objective reporters and editors at the NYT?

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