FRANKEN REPLACEMENT NAMED – AT 11:21 A.M. ET:   The governor of Minnesota has named a replacement for Senator Al Franken, who has announced that he's resigning in light of accusations of sexual misconduct.  From The Hill: 

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) on Wednesday named Lt. Gov. Tina Smith (D) to fill Sen. Al Franken’s (D-Minn.) soon-to-be vacated Senate seat.

Smith said she intends to run in November 2018 to complete the remaining two years of Franken’s term. 

“It is up to Minnesotans to decide who they want to complete Senator Franken’s term. I will run in that election, and I will do my best to earn Minnesotans support. And I believe the way to do that is to be the best senator I can be,” Smith said.

Franken announced his resignation last week in the wake of accusations that he groped and kissed women without their consent. He did not, however, set a date for his departure from the Senate, saying only that he would leave “in the coming weeks.” 

Smith on Wednesday said she’s spoken with Franken and his staff, and expects he will officially step down some time in early January.

She said Franken “has been a champion” for Minnesota, adding that “he will continue to work” for the state and country. 

In his speech, Franken noted the "irony" that he is resigning while President Trump, who has been accused of sexual misconduct, remains in office.

When asked for her opinion about the recent calls from some Democratic senators for Trump to resign in the face of sexual misconduct allegations, Smith dodged the question, saying she’s “not going to get into… what’s going on in Washington right now.” 

COMMENT:  One liberal Democrat replacing another.  I do hope the Republican Party of Minnesota will take a few moments out of its valuable time to find a reputable person to run against Smith next year, so we don't have a repeat of Alabama.  Is that too much to ask?

December 13, 2017