Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Dec 7, 2017

Political Racket /Dirty Tricks:

It looks like AL FRANKEN is toast.
The MN Democratic Senator is expected to resign from office today, just one day after many of his Democratic colleagues turned decisively against him over allegations of groping and other sexual misconduct. More than 30 Democratic senators called for Franken to step down after a new woman came forward to allege that he had forcibly tried to kiss her.
Leading the charge against Franken was NY Sen. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, who said on Facebook, "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." (Pacelli)

Wasted away again in Margaritaville:

Maybe we should try this punishment in America!
In a new poll by the Taipai Times, the majority of Taiwanese interviewed said that public caning is a justifiable punishment for repeat drunk drivers. One person said, "We should strip them bare and flog them in public, men and women alike."
A petition that made the rounds garnered over 27 thousand signatures for corporal punishment for repeated DUIs. "Fines don't stop these people, they've got lots of money... broadcast it live on television, that would stop them," said one man who took the poll.
Of course, human rights advocates are fighting the petition, saying it would be a violation of human rights. (Myers)

Grace notes from Vinny Marino:

TAYLOR SWIFT is still waiting for that dollar. She's on the cover of Timemagazine this week as one of the "Silence Breakers" named as Person of the Year. Time says she's part of that list because of the countersuit she filed against former Denver radio DJ DAVID MUELLER for sexual assault and battery. He sued Taylor for $3-million dollars because he claimed she got him fired after she complained that David allegedly grabbed her butt during a meet-and-greet photo in 2013. She won her suit and only asked David to pay her a symbolic $1-dollar. He still hasn't paid up and Taylor said (quote), "I think that act of defiance is symbolic in itself." She went on to say (quote), "The brave women and men who have come forward this year have all moved the needle in terms of letting people know that this abuse of power shouldn't be tolerated." (Marino)