28 September—Today is Brigitte Bardot’s 90^th birthday. Many happy, well-deserved returns to the beautiful animal rights activist.

⊞ ⊞ ⊞ ⊞ ⊞ ⊞ ⊞

Corollary to yesterday’s disquisition about political friends, here are the U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus members who couldn’t wait to crawl on the self-righteous bandwagon and call on their friend and colleague Al Franken to resign after he had been accused—only accused, mind you, no more—of improper behavior that he denied and was later found to have occurred. Their comments are included, with editorial emphasis where appropriate:

Charles Schumer (New York): “Senator Franken should resign. I consider Senator Franken a dear friend and greatly respect his accomplishments, but he has a higher obligation to his constituents and the Senate, and he should step down immediately.”

Kirsten Gillibrand (New York): “While Senator Franken is entitled to have the Ethics Committee conclude its review, I believe it would be better for our country if he sent a clear message that any kind of mistreatment of women in our society isn’t acceptable by stepping aside to let someone else serve.”

Mazie Hirono (Hawaii): “Today, I am calling on my colleague Al Franken to step aside. I’ve struggled with this decision because he’s been a good Senator and I consider him a friend. But that cannot excuse his behavior and his mistreatment of women.”

Claire McCaskill (Missouri): “Al Franken should resign.”

Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire): “It is clear that Al Franken has engaged in a pattern of egregious and unacceptable behavior toward women. He should resign.”

Patty Murray (Washington): “It’s time for us as elected representatives to hold ourselves to a higher standard, to set an example, and to live a set of values that is truly representative and worthy of the Congress, our democracy, and our great country.”

Kamala Harris (California): “Sexual harassment and misconduct should not be allowed by anyone and should not occur anywhere. I believe the best thing for Senator Franken to do is step down.”

Tammy Baldwin (Wisconsin): “I believe it is best for Senator Franken to resign.”

Bob Casey (Pennsylvania): “I agree with my colleagues who have stepped forward today and called on Senator Franken to resign. We can’t just believe women when it’s convenient.”

Heidi Heitkamp (North Dakota): “We must commit to zero tolerance—which is where I believe we as a country and Congress should be—and that means Senator Franken should step down.”

Joe Donnelly (Indiana): “Senator Franken’s conduct and behavior are unacceptable and he should resign.”

Debbie Stabenow (Michigan): “Sexual harassment is unacceptable. I believe Senator Franken should do the right thing and resign.”

Michael Bennet (Colorado): “Sexual harassment and misconduct are never acceptable. I understand Senator Franken will make an announcement tomorrow morning, and I’m confident he’ll do the right thing and step aside.”

Ed Markey (Massachusetts): “I join my colleagues in calling for Senator Franken to step aside and resign. Sexual harassment is unacceptable, completely inappropriate and cannot be tolerated.”

Maria Cantwell (Washington): “Senator Franken’s actions are disturbing, egregious, and demonstrate a pattern of serious misconduct and abuse. It is time for Senator Franken to resign from office.”

Dick Durbin (Illinois): “Senator Franken’s behavior was wrong. He has admitted to what he did. He should resign from the Senate.”

Patrick Leahy (Vermont): “He has to step aside. I hope as a nation that we are beginning to come to terms with the systemic problem of sexual harassment and assault, but we still have a long way to go.”

Martin Heinrich (New Mexico): “Senator Franken needs to step down and we all need to do more to make clear that sexual harassment and assault are unacceptable.”

Dianne Feinstein (California): “It’s clear the American people don’t look lightly on these kinds of actions, no matter who they’re committed by, and the number of complaints against Senator Franken is a concern. I think resignation is the right thing for him to do.”

Jeff Merkley (Oregon): “Senator Franken has said he will make an announcement tomorrow, and I hope that he will do the right thing. It is in the best interest of our country for him to step aside.”

Ron Wyden (Oregon): “I expect that Senator Franken will announce his resignation tomorrow. It is the right thing to do given this series of serious allegations.”

Tom Carper (Delaware): “Al Franken has been a friend to many in the Senate—Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike—but these allegations are deeply troubling, especially as the number has grown. I believe it’s time for him to resign.”

Tammy Duckworth (Illinois): “I am deeply disappointed by Senator Franken’s behavior. He must step aside.”

Tom Udall (New Mexico): “Senator Franken should send a strong message that sexual misconduct is unacceptable in any setting and step down.”

Sherrod Brown (Ohio): “I have listened to them. I have listened to my female colleagues, to women I work with and women in my life. And I agree the time has come for Senator Franken to step aside.”

Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts): “I think he should resign.”

Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island): “Given what we have learned in recent weeks, I expect Senator Franken to step aside.”

Gary Peters (Michigan): “I think the time has come for Senator Franken to step down.”

Christopher Murphy (Connecticut): “Senator Franken has denied some of these allegations and has the right to continue to seek a process through the Ethics Committee, but I believe the best course of action for him right now is to step down, as I expect he will do tomorrow.”

Cory Booker (New Jersey): “I think it’s time for him to step down.”

Jon Tester (Montana): “Elected officials must be held to a high standard, Al Franken is no exception. It’s time for him to step down.”

Jack Reed (Rhode Island): “I think Senator Franken should resign. The accumulating accusations and acknowledgment that inappropriate behavior took place cannot be countenanced. Sexual harassment must not be tolerated and this is part of a larger national discussion that is long overdue and must lead to fundamental change and lasting progress”

Bill Nelson (Florida): “Sexual harassment is never acceptable. I agree with a majority of the Democratic senators that Sen. Franken should step aside.”

Bernie Sanders (Vermont): “Sen. Franken has said that he will be making an announcement about his political future tomorrow. The right thing is for him to resign.”

Angus King (Maine): “For me, I think it’s time for my friend to resign.”

Where, you’re wondering, is Richie Blumenthal’s contribution to the lynching? Well, Connecticut’s senior senator tactically waited until after Al Franken had resigned to pontificate and grandstand: “Senator Franken made the right decision. The conversation about sexual harassment and assault must continue vigorously, and so should meaningful action against it. We must continue to listen to the incredibly courageous women and men across the nation who have come forward. Sexual harassment and assault needs to be stopped wherever and whenever it occurs—it continues to be far too prevalent in every sphere of American life.”

We can always trust Richie Blumenthal to do the opportunistic thing.

Shortly after the Democrat senators issued their self-serving, often hypocritical and pompous calls for Franken to resign, three regretted that he was in fact doing it and were critical of the pressure put on him. Typical typical typical.

On the other hand, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, bless him, who hadn’t called for Franken’s resignation, said in an interview: “What they did to Al was atrocious, the most hypocritical thing I’ve ever seen done to a human being—and then have enough guts to sit on the floor, watch him give his speech and go over and hug him? That’s hypocrisy at the highest level I’ve ever seen in my life. Made me sick.” Manchin made it clear that he wanted Franken to reverse his resignation and for senators who called on him to resign to reverse their positions and ask Franken to remain until an ethics investigation took place.

Another reason Joe Manchin will be missed . . .