Al Franken. Status: Still the best Senator in America

[Phokus]

Al Franken Gets Alleged KBR Rape Victim Her Day In Court

Jamie Leigh Jones claims she was raped by fellow Halliburton employees when she was working in Iraq in 2005.

Her allegations are not pretty -- she claims she was given a drink, after which she remembers nothing. In legal filings and Congressional testimony, Slate noted, she said she woke up to find "her body naked and severely bruised, with lacerations to her vagina and anus, blood running down her leg, her breast implants ruptured and her pectoral muscles torn‚ which would later require reconstructive surgery." Parts of the rape kit handed over ot KBR by the Army hospital have disappeared and she said that, after visiting the Army hospital, she was placed in a shipping container under armed guard for 24-hours.

Jones employment contract with Halliburton (now known as KBR) contained an arbitration clause that required "any and all personal injury claims' to be heard by an arbitrator. Jones eventually refused to arbitrate, wanting her lawsuit to be heard in court.

The Fifth Circuit eventually held that some of Jones' claims did indeed belong in court because the assault was not related to her employment. KBR had appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, but after initial briefing, KBR withdrew its appeal on March 11.

Why? Sen. Al Franken! Franken successfully advocated a prohibition that keeps contractors receiving federal defense funds from forcing employees to arbitration to resolve certain claims, including civil rights and harassment disputes.

KBR spokesperson Heather Browne told the Blog of the Legal Times that the withdrawal was in fact related to the Franken amendment. Though they said they believe "that the language of the amendment is broad and vague," they did not wish to run afoul of it.

Jones' attorney said they are now preparing for trial.

I'm proud of how Franken fights for justice for the little guy. I wish he were my senator.

The fact that Republicans voted against this amendment just goes to show you how much they care about rape victims getting their justice. They'd rather protect big business, especially contractors that suck the money out of the military budget.

Al Franken Gets Alleged KBR Rape Victim Her Day In Court

 

[BobW188]

I'll hold off on "best," but it's certainly a promising start.

 

[ImmortalTechnique]

he's done a fantastic job so far, but he's no Bernie Sanders or Russ Feingold

 

[Pommer]

he's done a fantastic job so far, but he's no Bernie Sanders or Russ Feingold

Bernie Sanders is a Socialist!

(There, the one instance [this week] where the "S" word has been used correctly.)

 

[Zoooma]

The fact that Republicans voted against this amendment just goes to show you how much they care about rape victims getting their justice. They'd rather protect big business

I know nothing about this case but . . .

I'd rather be a Republican supporting big business which CREATES JOBS than be a Democrat who bows down to attorneys who have helped drive up health care cost$ by filing frivolou$ lawsuit$. Dems also bow down to insurance companies who will have millions of new cu$tomer$ under Obamacare. Dems also support the likes of Acorn who practice fraud to get Democrats elected. Despicable.

 

[Phokus]

I know nothing about this case but . . .

I'd rather be a Republican supporting big business which CREATES JOBS than be a Democrat who bows down to attorneys who have helped drive up health care cost$ by filing frivolou$ lawsuit$. Dems also bow down to insurance companies who will have millions of new cu$tomer$ under Obamacare. Dems also support the likes of Acorn who practice fraud to get Democrats elected. Despicable.

1) healthcare lawsuits amount to about 1% of healthcare costs

2) republicans would rather have 30 million uninsured and 45,000 americans die each year (based on a peer reviewed harvard study) than pass the legislation, or even negotiate in good faith with democrats

3) A court found that the Acorn videos shown on fox news was doctored and no wrong doing was found

Republicans are literally antithetical to reality.

 

[Zoooma]

1) healthcare lawsuits amount to about 1% of healthcare costs

And Obama wants to save money, right? Tort reform would save money. Yet they're going to keep allowing that waste. Doesn't make sense.

2) republicans would rather have 30 million uninsured and 45,000 americans die each year . . . than pass the legislation, or even negotiate in good faith with democrats

Do you truly believe Republicans want people to die? That's sick thinking.
Republicans don't want that at all. Remember -- Republicans/Conservatives,
when it comes to giving to charity to help those in need,
give more than Democrats/liberals do. (Look it up if you don't believe it.)

Republicans DID want to negotiate. If you were paying attention, other than one 7-hour meeting, you'd've seen that Obama's call for transparency was ignored. Democrats negotiated behind closed doors. True? True. Who'd they make deals with? We don't know -- it was behind closed doors.

3) A court found that the Acorn videos shown on fox news was doctored and no wrong doing was found

What was the judge's name who declared this? No wait, nevermind, you don't have to look it up because it's false. No vids were doctored to turn non-fiction into fantasy. But listen, those vids on Acorn are the tip of the iceberg and I didn't even have that in mind when I commented earlier. Acorn's done everything in their power to elect Obama and that meant registering cartoon characters and little girls to vote. They are a "The Ends Justify The Means" kind of organization who wants social justice. Acting unlawfully is okay so long as it has a progressive outcome that is "good" for America and those in poverty. In fact, YOU should probably be forced to turn over more of what you have and make so that those below you can rise up to your level. Equality for all no matter how. Many Dems support that idea and that's wrong.

 

[kermit]

I know nothing about this case but . . .

I'd rather be a Republican supporting big business which CREATES JOBS than be a Democrat who bows down to attorneys who have helped drive up health care cost$ by filing frivolou$ lawsuit$. Dems also bow down to insurance companies who will have millions of new cu$tomer$ under Obamacare. Dems also support the likes of Acorn who practice fraud to get Democrats elected. Despicable.

Almost nothing in your post is factually true...< staff edit > < staff edit >

 

[Phokus]

And Obama wants to save money, right? Tort reform would save money. Yet they're going to keep allowing that waste. Doesn't make sense.



Do you truly believe Republicans want people to die? That's sick thinking.
Republicans don't want that at all. Remember -- Republicans/Conservatives,
when it comes to giving to charity to help those in need,
give more than Democrats/liberals do. (Look it up if you don't believe it.)

Republicans DID want to negotiate. If you were paying attention, other than one 7-hour meeting, you'd've seen that Obama's call for transparency was ignored. Democrats negotiated behind closed doors. True? True. Who'd they make deals with? We don't know -- it was behind closed doors.



What was the judge's name who declared this? No wait, nevermind, you don't have to look it up because it's false. No vids were doctored to turn non-fiction into fantasy. But listen, those vids on Acorn are the tip of the iceberg and I didn't even have that in mind when I commented earlier. Acorn's done everything in their power to elect Obama and that meant registering cartoon characters and little girls to vote. They are a "The Ends Justify The Means" kind of organization who wants social justice. Acting unlawfully is okay so long as it has a progressive outcome that is "good" for America and those in poverty. In fact, YOU should probably be forced to turn over more of what you have and make so that those below you can rise up to your level. Equality for all no matter how. Many Dems support that idea and that's wrong.

Do you even pay attention to the news or do you just gobble up whatever glenn beck spews at you and take that as truth? Ok so a court didn't find them not guilty... that's because the evidence was so flimsy and doctored that law enforcement and the district attorney couldn't even use it to move forward with a case!

While the video by James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles seemed to show three ACORN workers advising a prostitute how to hide ill-gotten gains, the unedited version was not as clear, according to a law enforcement source.

"They edited the tape to meet their agenda," said the source.

"On Sept. 15, 2009, my office began an investigation into possible criminality on the part of three ACORN employees," Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes said in a one-paragraph statement issued Monday afternoon.

"That investigation is now concluded and no criminality has been found."

B'klyn ACORN cleared over giving illegal advice on how to hide money from prostitution


In terms of healthcare lawsuits, my point was that the cost is so negligible compared to the rest of the healthcare costs that you can't really complain about it when it's just a little crumb to the whole pie.

No, i don't think republican want people to 'die', but i do believe they put greed before people's lives.

 

[kermit]

And Obama wants to save money, right? Tort reform would save money. Yet they're going to keep allowing that waste. Doesn't make sense.

Tort reform is in the bill, but don't let facts get in the way of your rhetoric.

 

[GodGunsAndGlory]

Nina Gershon is a activist judge, you can't say defunding ACORN is a bill of attainder because TAX PAYER money isn't THEIR PROPERTY.

Then Charles Hynes is actually connected to ACORN: Working Families » WFP Announces NYC Endorsements

 

[rambot]

Glad to see a thread on Al Franken turned, so quickly into a health care debate. Kudos for addressing the topic!

 

[GWRULES2004]

Al Franken Gets Alleged KBR Rape Victim Her Day In Court



I'm proud of how Franken fights for justice for the little guy. I wish he were my senator.

The fact that Republicans voted against this amendment just goes to show you how much they care about rape victims getting their justice. They'd rather protect big business, especially contractors that suck the money out of the military budget.

Al Franken Gets Alleged KBR Rape Victim Her Day In Court

He is an idiot. When did he propose this Amendment? When did the incident occur? Congress cannot pass ex-facto laws. The law was not in effect when the incident occurred. He is not the best Senator. He is one of the dumbest for politicizing this issue when there was nothing that could be done about it.

 

[katautumn]

1) healthcare lawsuits amount to about 1% of healthcare costs

Which, in the grand scheme of things, costs doctors a lot of money in malpractice insurance and litigation fees every year. A cost which is passed on to us, the patients.

2) republicans would rather have 30 million uninsured and 45,000 americans die each year (based on a peer reviewed harvard study) than pass the legislation, or even negotiate in good faith with democrats

The Harvard study has been proven a joke a few times now. 45,000 Americans don't die every year because they are uninsured. Nobody dies because they are uninsured. They may die because they refuse to go to the doctor assuming they can't afford it or because they were too busy (or lazy) to enroll in the government programs at their disposal. Yeah, that's right - many people who qualify for government assistance don't even bother to sign up for it until they have a medical crisis. And, while deaths are sad, 45,000 is something like .001% of the entire population.

Oh, and the 30 million uninsured Americans? A substantial chunk out of that number includes illegal immigrants, people who are on Medicaid or S-CHIP who respond to the Census that they are "uninsured" when, technically, they are insured, young adults who are single and childless who typically won't obtain a policy on their own volition because they assume they don't need it, or fall into some other category and are not insured for one reason or another. Even if those numbers were 100% accurate and those 30 million people were uninsured because they couldn't afford a policy and government assistance was not available to them that still leaves approximately 90% of the US population covered by some form of insurance. It could be estimated that the percentage is larger if you aren't counting illegals and people on welfare programs that think they're uninsured.

3) A court found that the Acorn videos shown on fox news was doctored and no wrong doing was found

Only ACORN has been found involved in shady practices.

Republicans are literally antithetical to reality.

This coming from the party of:

1. If we just talk to the terrorists they'll play nice?
2. If we outlaw all guns then crime will magically go away?
3. We can't offend anyone, so let's sanitize everything to make it as PC as possible?
4. It's a real shame those artists have to work real jobs just to get insurance?
5. If we make everyone buy insurance then our health care system will be fixed?
6. The Constitution is an outdated document. We should adopt the UN Charter instead?

I could reel off examples of the lack of common sense and Peter Pan idealism espoused by the left all night long.

 

[EdwinWillers]

Al Franken - hack comedian on Saturday Night Live - hack comedian in congress. His antics are worth a couple of laughs nevertheless.

 

[Phokus]

Which, in the grand scheme of things, costs doctors a lot of money in malpractice insurance and litigation fees every year. A cost which is passed on to us, the patients.



The Harvard study has been proven a joke a few times now. 45,000 Americans don't die every year because they are uninsured. Nobody dies because they are uninsured. They may die because they refuse to go to the doctor assuming they can't afford it or because they were too busy (or lazy) to enroll in the government programs at their disposal. Yeah, that's right - many people who qualify for government assistance don't even bother to sign up for it until they have a medical crisis. And, while deaths are sad, 45,000 is something like .001% of the entire population.

Oh, and the 30 million uninsured Americans? A substantial chunk out of that number includes illegal immigrants, people who are on Medicaid or S-CHIP who respond to the Census that they are "uninsured" when, technically, they are insured, young adults who are single and childless who typically won't obtain a policy on their own volition because they assume they don't need it, or fall into some other category and are not insured for one reason or another. Even if those numbers were 100% accurate and those 30 million people were uninsured because they couldn't afford a policy and government assistance was not available to them that still leaves approximately 90% of the US population covered by some form of insurance. It could be estimated that the percentage is larger if you aren't counting illegals and people on welfare programs that think they're uninsured.



Only ACORN has been found involved in shady practices.



This coming from the party of:

1. If we just talk to the terrorists they'll play nice?
2. If we outlaw all guns then crime will magically go away?
3. We can't offend anyone, so let's sanitize everything to make it as PC as possible?
4. It's a real shame those artists have to work real jobs just to get insurance?
5. If we make everyone buy insurance then our health care system will be fixed?
6. The Constitution is an outdated document. We should adopt the UN Charter instead?

I could reel off examples of the lack of common sense and Peter Pan idealism espoused by the left all night long.

Hi, this is reality knocking. Anyone home? No?

B&#39;klyn ACORN cleared over giving illegal advice on how to hide money from prostitution

While the video by James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles seemed to show three ACORN workers advising a prostitute how to hide ill-gotten gains, the unedited version was not as clear, according to a law enforcement source.

"They edited the tape to meet their agenda," said the source.

"On Sept. 15, 2009, my office began an investigation into possible criminality on the part of three ACORN employees," Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes said in a one-paragraph statement issued Monday afternoon.

"That investigation is now concluded and no criminality has been found."

Doctored videos? Naughty naughty, conservative movement.

 

[Zoooma]

Tort reform is in the bill, but don't let facts get in the way of your rhetoric.

What pages? Can you please point it out?

 

[Zoooma]

Do you even pay attention to the news or do you just gobble up whatever glenn beck spews at you and take that as truth?

Do you make such assumptions about all who think differently than you, that they all watch Glenn Beck? Making assumptions like that does not reflect well on those who you fall in line with.

Ok so a court didn't find them not guilty... that's because the evidence was so flimsy and doctored that law enforcement and the district attorney couldn't even use it to move forward with a case!

Here we go again -- can you please provide proof that the video shown on Fox was doctored? That'll be nice of you if you can provide that.

In terms of healthcare lawsuits, my point was that the cost is so negligible compared to the rest of the healthcare costs that you can't really complain about it when it's just a little crumb to the whole pie.

So little crumbs don't matter? If stopping frivolous lawsuits through tort reform can help bring down cost, wouldn't that be something to do? It would be a positive, right? Might be small but still a positive. Why treat it like it's nothing?

No, i don't think republican want people to 'die', but i do believe they put greed before people's lives.

That is just so sick. I'm sorry but my neighbor is a Republican who is a surgeon. He's made enough money to buy you. Yet he still lives in the same modest home he did when he was in medical school. He doesn't own a vacation home and he spends much of his free time volunteering in clinics around the world to give people free medical care where the government doesn't provide anything. Did I mention he's a Republican? Yeah. He's not a freak or completely unique, there are more like him everywhere across America.

Yes, there are greedy Republicans, but not all are. Your generalization is disgusting and wrong and again you do your cause no good in making such statements.

 

[katautumn]

Hi, this is reality knocking. Anyone home? No?

B'klyn ACORN cleared over giving illegal advice on how to hide money from prostitution



Doctored videos? Naughty naughty, conservative movement.

That isn't their only legal problem. There have been allegations of voter registration fraud, illegal tax evasion advice given, and some questionable donations made to Democratic politicians. By the way, were the videos ever proven to be "doctored", or was that merely the claim made by ACORN spokespeople? I know they were not formally charged, but was it ever proven that the videos were fake?

 

[Zoooma]

That isn't their only legal problem. There have been allegations of voter registration fraud, illegal tax evasion advice given, and some questionable donations made to Democratic politicians. By the way, were the videos ever proven to be "doctored", or was that merely the claim made by ACORN spokespeople? I know they were not formally charged, but was it ever proven that the videos were fake?

That is all so true and there's that question again!

Yes, Acorn has probably done some good work but that doesn't wipe the slate of their illegal and unscrupulous activity. Does it? No. Absolutely not.

And, Phokus, please provide proof that the videos were doctored. Is it the word of Acorn CEO Bertha Lewis you believe? That can't seriously be the case, can it? You don't truly believe that a liberal organization can do no wrong, do you?

P.S. I know this is something different but you claim Republicans are greedy but you don't say that Democrats are. Do you believe that's a trait they just don't possess? Have you heard of former Louisiana Representative William Jefferson?