Althouse:
The Franken article, by Joan Walsh, is, “What Should Democrats Do About Al Franken?/With work, Franken can and should survive this story of his past bad behavior. But if there are more tales like this, he’s probably history.” Walsh obviously loves Franken, and she’s open about it. She “loved” his “hilarious” book and says it made her want him to run for President. She admits to having a “huge double standard”:
I believed Moore’s accusers right away—especially given all the detail in their accounts, and all the corroborating witnesses. I confess: I spent at least 30 minutes looking for proof that Franken didn’t do what he’s accused of.
That’s how the human mind works. Good to admit it!
I reached out to women who are close to Franken, and at least two say they don’t know enough to confirm or deny it, but they’re devastated. I don’t know him well enough to be devastated, but I’m enormously sad…. This… really hurts….
She does not want Franken to resign:
Franken has been an excellent senator; you can’t just trade him for a player to be named later. It’s one allegation, albeit an ugly one, and he’s apologized for it. If more come out, we can reexamine this question. But Republicans have persevered through much worse than this….
Franken has been an excellent senator, a committed feminist, a brilliant Trump foil, and the rare Democrat with a sense for the dramatic and the entertaining. We shouldn’t disown him just because Republicans want a scapegoat. We will have to, though, if these stories multiply, as they have with Trump and Moore. My fingers are crossed that they will not.
She’s just rooting for her side, openly and nicely.
Meanwhile, 8 minutes after the Walsh piece went up, The Nation gave us “It Is Time to Impeach the President” by John Nichols.
