John Thune: I don’t know what you meant when you said of Senator Franken, “I don’t know what his (Senator Franken’s) motive was for taking us on. . . “ I don’t think Senator Franken was trying to take you on John, but daddeeo certainly is, right here and now.
First, let me point to what I believe is the foolishness of your assertion. By suggesting that it is “us” who are being “taken on”, you are identifying yourself and “us” with the monstrous war profiteers who run HALIBURTON/KBR . These individuals are responsible for denying justice to the victim of a rape committed by their employees. The HALLIBURTON/KBR people are the ones who are being taken on, John, and for good reason. I don’t think you should have admitted that you have common cause with those who flagrantly commit human rights abuses. But you did, John, and now it’s a matter of public record.
Your imply that you and the “us” you refer to are OK with the egregious human rights abuses that HALLIBURTON/KBR is guilty of. If that is not what you meant, then I challenge you, John Thune, to make a public statement to that effect. Explain to the American people what you really meant.
Furthermore, you advise Senator Franken to “settle down and do kind of the serious work of legislating that’s important to Minnesota.” In what I believe to be a moment of profound stupidity, you, John Thune, have said that the human rights issue is not important to the citizens of Minnesota, and that they and their Senator should ignore matters of national or international importance. You forget John, that the Senate has committees that involve foreign relations, and that it is expected of every member of the Senate that he or she be aware of developments in the world at large and participate in them. Your suggestion to Senator Franken that he should “settle down” is patronizing, demeaning, highly offensive and insulting in the extreme. You dishonor yourself and you disgrace the Senate. You, John Thune, owe Senator Franken, his constituents, your constituents, the entire Senate and the American people, an apology.
John Cornyn: When you accuse Senator Franken of “trying to tap into the natural sympathy that we have for this victim of this rape, and use that as a justification to frankly misrepresent and embarrass his colleagues”, you’re talking psycho-talk, John. Why does the expression of sympathy embarrass you and your colleagues? Does the word sound too much like ‘empathy’? How does Senator Franken’s legislation constitute an embarrassment to you? How does it misrepresent you? Are you really against victims’ rights? Explain yourself, John. The American people have a right to know. By the way, “this victim” has a name: Jamie Lee Jones.
And here’s something else I think you should explain. In the video clip of Mark Sanford’s news conference, after his return from the Appalachian Trail, you are standing in the background behind his left shoulder. You seem to be highly amused by something. It’s as if you can barely restrain a burst of uncontrolled laughter. I’ve seen the clip several times, and there you are, holding back a big grin with all your might, while poor Mark is standing in front of the television cameras, pouring his heart out to the American people. Maybe one of the news shows will run the clip again, and you can see what I’m referring to.
In any case, the whole country saw you, and we have a right to be let in on the joke. What were you laughing at? What was funny about Mark Sanford’s confession?
John Thune and John Cornyn: It is daddeeo, not Senator Franken who is taking you on. daddeeo and the rest of the American people deserve an answer from both of you. There are many venues you could use. You might consider an appearance with Keith, Rachel, Ed, Chris, Oprah, Bill O’ the Clown, Humbug Hannity, Rush Limpbutt or even Jerry Springer. Pick one. Stand up like the men you pretend to be, and answer.