LEMON DROP | Should the Dems Bring Al Franken Back?

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The Don Lemon Show 7 min 5 speakers 1 chapter transcribed 1 month ago
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Don Lemon 0:00
What some call a political bomb went off in Washington recently. A political bomb that you rarely see in this age of gerontocracy, in this age of being governed by people who don't know when to retire, in this age of being governed by folks like Like Dianne Feinstein, I have to say, Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump for sure. In this age of being governed by the likes of Congressman John Larson, who delivered this speech on the House floor this week and then something happened. Watch.
Representative John Larson 0:30
Don't worry, no one on the Republican side in the House and Senate who control both the House and Senate is going to speak up. and challenge us.
Representative John Larson 1:01
But we need to protect Americans' privacy and their social security.
Don Lemon 1:13
Yes, in this age of lawmakers refusing to pass the torch when they clearly should, we got this news that it seems earth shattering, okay? Watch.
Senator Tina Smith 1:25
I wanted you to hear directly from me that I have decided not to run for reelection to the United States Senate. in 2026. I have loved my job as United States Senator. And also, after 20 years of hard and rewarding work in the public sector, I'm ready to spend more time with my family.
Don Lemon 1:45
You heard that right. Minnesota's Tina Smith announcing her intent not to seek reelection in 2026. That move sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party, through the media, through the state of Minnesota, and quite frankly, through the entire country. Already, a host of folks have either declared explicitly or they've suggested that they might want to fill that vacancy. Who are they? Okay, let's go over. Major players in the Democratic Party and Democratic politics. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Former Congressman and Joe Biden primary challenger, Dean Phillips. He's on the list. State Attorney General Keith Ellison is on the list. And, of course, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Don Lemon 2:30
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Vice President Kamala Harris' VP pick. Remember him? Now, I think all of them would be just fine replacements. They are good people. They are very talented lawmakers. But I think there's one name that should be included in the mix. Who's that? Al Franken, yes, that Al Franken, the former Senator Al Franken, the man who resigned in 2018 amid the Me Too movement. The man who, upon reflection, looks like a Democratic human sacrifice. A man tarred and feathered so that Democrats could look and feel morally superior to the party of Trump.
Al Franken 3:06
Do you remember that? Nevertheless, today I am announcing that in the coming weeks, I will be resigning as a member of the United States Senate. I of all people am aware that there is some irony in the fact that I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls' campaigns for the Senate With the full support of his party. So hear me out.
Don Lemon 3:47
In this so-called post-woke era, where voters are increasingly allergic to sanctimony, and everyone thinks that Democrats, I think they're humorless, that they're man-hating skulls, Democrats have an opportunity here. Think about it. And I repeat, think about it. If there's one thing America loves more than apple pie and McDonald's, it's a redemption art, especially when the initial fall from grace was driven by an overreaction to what now seems like something that's puritanical. Even Senator Kristen Gillibrand, who spearheaded the movement to get rid of Franklin, she is now admitting that it was controversial.
Senator Kristen Gillibrand 4:29
In terms of Senator Franken, This is a very hard issue for so many Democrats because the truth is we miss him and people loved him.
Don Lemon 4:39
And she's right. Senator Gillibrand is right. People loved Al Franken. They still do. They miss Al Franken. So to me, the answer is very clear. Bring him back. The Democrats need to prove that they're not a party of unforgiving, tut-tutting teacher's pets. Think about the game that we're playing here, folks. While Democrats engage in this circular firing squad, Republicans laugh and they elect people who are accused of sexual abuse, etc.,

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