This is getting a little silly.
Letterman was widely known as a harasser, so this is rich. Wonât watch it now.
Beginning to feel kind of like Cultural Revolution purges and self-criticism sessions, anyway.
Perhaps our reps and Senators should not touch constituents in any wayâmuch like teachers are advised to avoid physical contact with students. I donât know how you defend yourself against accusations of a wandering hand during a photo-op. So just donât do them.
I wrote this response to another commenter on the Hive â which I think is applicable here:
"I agree with you â and while we end up purging our politicians and artists the fascists will continue to support those guilty of the most egregious assaults while cynically pointing fingers at the perversity of liberals. I do not begin to have an answer out of this mess â but somehow we must find a way to retain our integrity and obligation to support women (and men) who have truly been hurt, while still being able to see that the accused and their work may have value beyond their worst excesses â and that in some cases, the truth is unclear and that there remains the possibility of innocence or intentional wrong doing (ETA: and a spectrum of severity.) All I can offer is just an observation that we are living through really terrible times and we are seeing casualties that are truly tragic.
Sketchy information - about a lot of very sketchy behavior.
no doubt that Franken dwelled in the edgy, bawdy, tawdry, border on the obscene world of adult comedy - these people behave like they are living life in side of some weird amalgamation of a real life Mel Brooks movie / a Benny Hill burlesque act / a Lenny Bruce dialog - a grab here a wardrobe malfunction there - men flashing - women flashing - yeah - we are just the most amusing people in the world âŚwelcome to comedy show business . Franken had huge ability to behave like an ass - that is how he made a living - and many of those who also made a living in that arena would be easily similarly taken down for various over the line behavior - most of the USO tour issues sound like Franken stupidly behaved like he though he was dealing with just another raucous comedy jokester - and while she may not have displayed it - she certainly took offense⌠or upon reflection - took offense
There is an aroma of âset-upâ here - but Franken owns it - he did what he did
While I liked many of Frankenâs positions - his indiscretions may rightly or wrongly cost him his political career - and in keeping with the Trump & now general Republican approach of run you enemies into the ground and sledgehammer them directly on their wounds - that will be forces working behind the scenes to pursue the endless disparagement of Franken until the day he dies - as retribution fo having been an aggressive opponent.
Just wish that the media, the general population would pursue Trump with the same level of intolerance.
THIS is a tad bit silly considering what LETTERMAN has been accused of in the past. Câmon.
Stupid over-reaction and wholly unnecessary.
I guess apologizing doesnât get one very far these daysâŚ?
Tpm article written as if Franken forcibly kissed her while she slept. Can you possibly write a better sentence. Thank you.
" the edgy, bawdy, tawdry, border on the obscene world of adult comedy"âŚwhat imagery! Are we talking about SNLâŚor the first ring of Hell?
So Sen. Franken now becomes a non-person. Those of us on the left must heed this warning: leave yourself vulnerable to a right-wing witch hunt, and not only will Republicans ârun youâŚinto the ground and sledgehammer [you] directly on [your] wounds,â but lefties desperate to prove their toughness will grab a hammer and join in.
I think Franken should be made to wear a large scarlet âHâ for Harasser.
Will that make everyone happy.
This is getting ridiculous.
first ring of Hell? a non-person? not sure where you are going with this - my point is that there is an edgier vein of entertainment that is embraced as âgrown-upâ comedy / the routines that are done in night clubs - and the crowd of people who perform it can become comfortable in the rhythm and pace & edginess of this atmosphere - so while not exactly trying to excuse Sen. Frakenâs behavior - it is not crazy to say that it is understandable & believable when he says "I meant no harm and am sorry " - while there isnât any way to apply a metric to unwanted encounters of a sexual nature - it is simply absurd to draw any equivalence of any sort between Franken who behaved at worst rudely offensively and boorishly toward an adult woman (and yes - should be accountable) and the predatory pervert Roy Moore who brought a 14 year old child to his house - laid out a blanket on the living room floor - undressed to his underwear and and attempted to get her to fondle his genitals.
Ah - but the right wingâs noise machines will be ramped up to the shrillest level
Historically - the âmorallyâ wounded get left for dead - few manage a comeback of significance - and sometimes it is well deserved - John Edwards proved to be rather obtuse when it came to walking the walk - some get marginal chances at redemption & do well - some blow it again
The merciless persecution of Franken that I fear is way beyond any normal bashing - and way beyond additional disparagement that he will experience from those who previously were supporters - my hunch is that there will be this obsessive pursuit - similar to Trump still viscously attacking Hilary a year after the election is over - it is a psychopathic obsession - and it matches up with Trumpâs stated obsession with being able to inflict genuine harm on his opponents