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pat_k

(14,194 posts)

37. Thanks for posting. Seems to me too few people "get" the magnitude of the wrong.

Fri Jun 5, 2026, 11:06 PM

Friday

It doesn't come up often, but I have encountered people now and again who categorize Al Franken's "fall" with the likes of Conyers or Swalwell. I take time to set those folks straight.

Then there are those who understand some sort of rush to judgment happened, but really don't understand the full scope of the wrong. For those folks, I describe some key findings from Mayer's article, but refer them to the entire article because it says SOOOO much about what is wrong with how "these things" play out.

When you pull apart the forces at work, it is a terrible commentary about how good people can be brought down by mob mentality incited by people with nefarious motives.

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Hallmarks of an orchestrated smear [View all] pat_k Friday OP

Deja vue all over again al bupp Friday #1

Take some old school Rove tactics... Blue Owl Friday #2

You nailed it. pat_k Friday #5

The GOP pays pros big money for this orangecrush Friday #3

Tragically, too many media outlets are delighted to jump into a mob as it forms... pat_k Friday #8

Journalism died in 2016 dave99 Friday #14

a certain someone onethatcares Yesterday #48

very few, if any, fighters left in media dave99 Yesterday #49

And we've got to treasure and promote each one!! pat_k Yesterday #57

Remember who owns the media outlets orangecrush Friday #17

yep. it's all about 'the baddies' stopdiggin Friday #4

Who said "nothing to do with Platner?" pat_k Friday #6

And it doesn't make it right when one is supporting an adjudicated rapist, a fraudster and a credibly alleged pedophile. MLWR Friday #11

they're treating him so unfairly .. ! stopdiggin Friday #12

I see the hallmarks of a smear. YMMV pat_k Friday #16

Maybe, I donʻt know but David Costello is better qualified regardless. mahina Friday #26

Good case. We'll know who the nominee ends up being soon enough. pat_k Friday #28

P.S. I know you meant Costello, but you might correct the title. pat_k Friday #29

Thank you mahina Friday #31

2 funny, you couldn't remember his name questionseverything Yesterday #51

Thatʻs a shame mahina Yesterday #53

I think Platner is a wolf in wolfʻs clothing and Mainers are being deceived. mahina Yesterday #55

Do you not understand how binary choices work? paleotn Friday #18

creepy Collins, asshat DoBW Friday #23

not at all what I said stopdiggin Friday #30

Irrelevant. Mills is out. There are two choices. Two. Period. paleotn Yesterday #54

Iʻm excited by David Costello mahina Friday #25

yep, we're prodded to not vote. ExtraGriz Friday #7

Classic counter-resistance stuff. Demonize, demoralize. pat_k Friday #15

Exactly how this works. paleotn Friday #19

I LOVE Jane Mayer ... she is an awesome writer! FakeNoose Friday #9

"The Memo" in 2006 sent her to the top of my list of journalists to track. pat_k Friday #33

The next things they will do... Don1 Friday #10

I fear you are probably right. pat_k Friday #36

People are taught to assume that where there's smoke there's fire. Or also... Beartracks Friday #13

We are pretty flawed creatures. pat_k Yesterday #56

Where's the oppo research on Collins? dlk Friday #20

Recommended! H2O Man Friday #21

Much appreciated! pat_k Yesterday #42

please tell me you are not comparing Franken and Platner Skittles Friday #22

I'm noting hallmarks of an orchestrated smear. No more. No less. pat_k Friday #40

alrighty then Skittles Yesterday #43

I do not know but more focus should be on David Costello mahina Friday #24

As I noted above, you make a good case. pat_k Friday #39

Thank you mahina Yesterday #41

"Cue the pitchforks and torches." JoseBalow Friday #27

I recently watched Young Frankenstein after perhaps 40 years. pat_k Friday #32

Thanks so much for the link! I always assumed it was even worse than what I had read -- but not that much worse. eppur_se_muova Friday #34

Thanks for posting. Seems to me too few people "get" the magnitude of the wrong. pat_k Friday #37

I was glad to see so many Dems admitting openly that they made a mistake. Sen. Gillibrand I particularly held a grudge eppur_se_muova Yesterday #44

Jane Mayer is a treasure! pat_k Yesterday #45

"Dark Money" is the one I started. Armed with new glasses, I'm going to go find it right now ! eppur_se_muova Yesterday #46

Here's a blast from the past pat_k Yesterday #47

Sudden Last Minute Things The Republican Ex GF Don1 Friday #35

I think there are people asking. But when mob mentality is triggered, thought falls by the wayside. pat_k Friday #38

Ask Hillary Clinton about last minute revelations. MineralMan Yesterday #50

Dirty little Collins rats DoBW Yesterday #52

While The Donald gets a pass on everthing? czarjak Yesterday #58