emptywheel

You've convinced me you're smarter than the sum total of US Senate Democrats & their political advisers combined. And that also undermines my confidence in Dems in Congress.

“I announce today that I am leaving the Democratic Party to join the Republican Party. They accept me for who I am.” -@SenFranken if he was smart.

Resignation set a clear precedent without dragging the victims through a legislative carnival. In a healthy democracy, Al would have resigned already.

Option 1 presents a fascinating scenario where Rs vote not to remove and Ds do, where Rs are trying to maintain a permission structure for Farenthold and Moore.

on 2) so Democrats can run for an open seat in a trending rightward state rather than have a Governor-appointed replacement run as an incumbent?

Clever!

Yes, it’s a completely wrong move. He has nothing to lose by staying.

That's genius, @emptywheel! Though @SenFranken won't have the balls to do it.

Promising idea, but I bet no vote would ever happen. We wouldn't see hypocritcal or illuminating or heroic "no's" or "aye's" because it would never come to the floor. The resulting clown show of Franken going on MSNBC night after night to demand his own ouster might be useful.

Exactly. If the Senate wants to go on record, then go on record. Vote Franken out, tell the US citizens what is acceptable and what is unacceptable behavior. Then apply that standard across the board.

That would make sense.

I would concur with THAT.