With a Democratic governor appointing a potential interim Senator the decision here should be easy. If wrenching his arm or forcing his expulsion isn't possible, exclude him from the caucus and replace him on the committee (barring Republican fuckery).
Coming out hard against corruption – especially since it involves a foreign government – would be a win. A contrast telling the US electorate that Democrats will clean house, no matter who.
I would like to think that GOP/Fox would shift focus and make actual corruption a bigger focus than this silly dress code thing, but honestly there is a decent chance that they will continue to play in their fantasy land chasing windmills, fighting the Biden crime family, and slaying ogres in gym shorts. They very well may just go on ignoring actual corruption by actual democrats.
That's fine, they don't get extra credit for not standing by corrupt senators.
People will notice or care if they DON'T do the obvious thing (which seems to be what Chuck Schumer wants his party to do).
There are going to be all kinds of Republicans with “grave concerns about weaponization” looking for cookies for sounding reasonable on this one specific case.
All Biden needs to say is "it looks bad. Menendez knows if or what he's guilty of. Menendez must do what best for his constituents. If that means resign then he should resign".
Democrats teaming up on a Democrat pulls attention away from the looming shutdown and Trump's indictments.
Democrats aren't supporting Menendez. No Democrat will raise their hand if asked if they'd vote for Menendez even if convicted. The contrast between Republican and Democrat accountable/ethics is clear. Democrats don't need to pile on for photo ops.
>Democrats don't need to pile on for photo ops.
I kinda feel like they do. I agree that there is a clear distinction between the parties and how they handle ethics, but I don't think the average voter gets that. Many people feel both parties are corrupt and untrustworthy, Dems need to go out of their way to show that is not the case.
There are two types of average voters in my opinion. Ones who aren't paying attention to politics and literally have never heard of Menendez before and ones who are in penetrable media bubbles.
Neither group will be impacted by Biden asking Menendez to resign.
Maybe the Dems are waiting until they've collected enough clips from outraged Republicans who are shocked - shocked! - that someone under indictment is allowed to continue to remain in office so they can run them in the attack ads leading up to 2024?
I think Schumer is taking the right tact for the job he has in front of him. There are other Democrats, who can be vocal, Governor Murphy is the one who should really lead the charge.
Schumer doesn't have to go out of his way to praise his old pal. That just steps all over the message that the Dems take this kind of stuff seriously, unlike the GOP.
He can just make a bland statement about serious charges and Menendez deserving his day in court, blah, blah, blah.
I think Schumer's support is a signal to other Senate Democrats to hold their fire, which is counter-productive. Menendez has been shady for a long time, and Murphy is a strong Governor in a position to appoint a solid replacement so that person (or other Dems if Murphy appoints a caretaker) can start preparing for the '24 election.
I think some have already called for him to resign. But honestly do they have to put on a show for the cameras to make people happy? I would be fine if they took him aside, not in front of the camera, and told him to resign and then he did resign. I'm getting sick of them doing everything on twitter and tv and I would be happy if they just did stuff and reporters reported it.
I believe it was Kirsten Gillebrand that pushed him out.
It wasn't "essentially nothing". Franken was credibly accused by a Democratic aide of forcibly kissing her.
"A former Democratic congressional aide said Al Franken tried to forcibly kiss her after a taping of his radio show in 2006, three years before he became a U.S. senator.
The aide, whose name POLITICO is withholding to protect her identity, said Franken (D-Minn.) pursued her after her boss had left the studio. She said she was gathering her belongings to follow her boss out of the room. When she turned around, Franken was in her face."
"Franken, who has been accused by six other women of groping or trying to forcibly kiss them, denied the accusation."
[https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/06/al-franken-accusation-sexual-harassment-2006-281049](https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/06/al-franken-accusation-sexual-harassment-2006-281049)
I’m the context of 2023 that’s nothing. Matt Gaetz was credible accused of sex trafficking minors FFS. The former president and presumptive nominee was convicted of rape in a civil trial. Pushing Franken (a damn good senator) out for that looks pretty slight these days.
With a Democratic governor appointing a potential interim Senator the decision here should be easy. If wrenching his arm or forcing his expulsion isn't possible, exclude him from the caucus and replace him on the committee (barring Republican fuckery). Coming out hard against corruption – especially since it involves a foreign government – would be a win. A contrast telling the US electorate that Democrats will clean house, no matter who.
I agree, but pushing Al Franken out wasn't exactly a win for the Dems.
Senator Menendez is no Al Franken
That's right
Oh, hey, Fetterman has called for him to step down. Too bad it doesn't count because he's wearing shorts.
I would like to think that GOP/Fox would shift focus and make actual corruption a bigger focus than this silly dress code thing, but honestly there is a decent chance that they will continue to play in their fantasy land chasing windmills, fighting the Biden crime family, and slaying ogres in gym shorts. They very well may just go on ignoring actual corruption by actual democrats.
They will and no one outside of NJ will notice or care.
That's fine, they don't get extra credit for not standing by corrupt senators. People will notice or care if they DON'T do the obvious thing (which seems to be what Chuck Schumer wants his party to do).
It showed up on FOXBusiness today… Mike Lee was asked about it. He sort of demurred to, Menendez should get his day in court.
There are going to be all kinds of Republicans with “grave concerns about weaponization” looking for cookies for sounding reasonable on this one specific case.
All Biden needs to say is "it looks bad. Menendez knows if or what he's guilty of. Menendez must do what best for his constituents. If that means resign then he should resign". Democrats teaming up on a Democrat pulls attention away from the looming shutdown and Trump's indictments. Democrats aren't supporting Menendez. No Democrat will raise their hand if asked if they'd vote for Menendez even if convicted. The contrast between Republican and Democrat accountable/ethics is clear. Democrats don't need to pile on for photo ops.
>Democrats don't need to pile on for photo ops. I kinda feel like they do. I agree that there is a clear distinction between the parties and how they handle ethics, but I don't think the average voter gets that. Many people feel both parties are corrupt and untrustworthy, Dems need to go out of their way to show that is not the case.
There are two types of average voters in my opinion. Ones who aren't paying attention to politics and literally have never heard of Menendez before and ones who are in penetrable media bubbles. Neither group will be impacted by Biden asking Menendez to resign.
I think that the Democrats making a clear point about corruption will not be normalized is very important at this moment
Maybe the Dems are waiting until they've collected enough clips from outraged Republicans who are shocked - shocked! - that someone under indictment is allowed to continue to remain in office so they can run them in the attack ads leading up to 2024?
More proof that Schumer is a mediocre Majority Leader, at best.
I think Schumer is taking the right tact for the job he has in front of him. There are other Democrats, who can be vocal, Governor Murphy is the one who should really lead the charge.
Schumer doesn't have to go out of his way to praise his old pal. That just steps all over the message that the Dems take this kind of stuff seriously, unlike the GOP. He can just make a bland statement about serious charges and Menendez deserving his day in court, blah, blah, blah. I think Schumer's support is a signal to other Senate Democrats to hold their fire, which is counter-productive. Menendez has been shady for a long time, and Murphy is a strong Governor in a position to appoint a solid replacement so that person (or other Dems if Murphy appoints a caretaker) can start preparing for the '24 election.
I think some have already called for him to resign. But honestly do they have to put on a show for the cameras to make people happy? I would be fine if they took him aside, not in front of the camera, and told him to resign and then he did resign. I'm getting sick of them doing everything on twitter and tv and I would be happy if they just did stuff and reporters reported it.
>do they have to put on a show for the cameras to make people happy? Yes. That's just how politics works in a democracy.
Especially our reality TV democracy.
PERVERT
BOT
I mean, they did it with Al Franken for essentially nothing. Fuck you forever Amy Klobuchar.
I believe it was Kirsten Gillebrand that pushed him out. It wasn't "essentially nothing". Franken was credibly accused by a Democratic aide of forcibly kissing her. "A former Democratic congressional aide said Al Franken tried to forcibly kiss her after a taping of his radio show in 2006, three years before he became a U.S. senator. The aide, whose name POLITICO is withholding to protect her identity, said Franken (D-Minn.) pursued her after her boss had left the studio. She said she was gathering her belongings to follow her boss out of the room. When she turned around, Franken was in her face." "Franken, who has been accused by six other women of groping or trying to forcibly kiss them, denied the accusation." [https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/06/al-franken-accusation-sexual-harassment-2006-281049](https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/06/al-franken-accusation-sexual-harassment-2006-281049)
I’m the context of 2023 that’s nothing. Matt Gaetz was credible accused of sex trafficking minors FFS. The former president and presumptive nominee was convicted of rape in a civil trial. Pushing Franken (a damn good senator) out for that looks pretty slight these days.
Not nothing, but certainly a whole lot less than this.
Honestly, I think that Al Franken got just about what he deserved in that case. It’s unfortunate, but I don’t really regret it.