General Discussion

pat_k

(14,171 posts) Fri Jun 5, 2026, 06:04 PM Yesterday

Hallmarks of an orchestrated smear [View all]

I just re-read Jane Mayer's The Case of Al Franken.

Start with a drip drip, then pile on everything you can possibly dig up without looking past the surface. Release in rapid succession so there's no time for individual reports to be scrutinized. Cue outrage at "nothing terrible in isolation, but look at the number of them!"

The goal is to incite a mob mentality. Cue the pitchforks and torches.

It sure looks like some entity is orchestrating the smear of Platner following the same playbook.

Perhaps Jane will do an investigation of "The Case of Graham Platner." I'd sure like to hear more background on each and every report. I suspect it comes down to the same thing. A whole lot of smoke with no actual fire.

New Yorker
The Case of Al Franken
Jane Mayer
July 22, 2019

https://web.archive.org/web/20190829044419/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/29/the-case-of-al-franken

58 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Hallmarks of an orchestrated smear [View all] pat_k Yesterday OP

Deja vue all over again al bupp Yesterday #1

Take some old school Rove tactics... Blue Owl Yesterday #2

You nailed it. pat_k Yesterday #5

The GOP pays pros big money for this orangecrush Yesterday #3

Tragically, too many media outlets are delighted to jump into a mob as it forms... pat_k Yesterday #8

Journalism died in 2016 dave99 Yesterday #14

a certain someone onethatcares 12 hrs ago #48

very few, if any, fighters left in media dave99 11 hrs ago #49

And we've got to treasure and promote each one!! pat_k 7 hrs ago #57

Remember who owns the media outlets orangecrush Yesterday #17

yep. it's all about 'the baddies' stopdiggin Yesterday #4

Who said "nothing to do with Platner?" pat_k Yesterday #6

And it doesn't make it right when one is supporting an adjudicated rapist, a fraudster and a credibly alleged pedophile. MLWR Yesterday #11

they're treating him so unfairly .. ! stopdiggin Yesterday #12

I see the hallmarks of a smear. YMMV pat_k Yesterday #16

Maybe, I donʻt know but David Costello is better qualified regardless. mahina 23 hrs ago #26

Good case. We'll know who the nominee ends up being soon enough. pat_k 23 hrs ago #28

P.S. I know you meant Costello, but you might correct the title. pat_k 23 hrs ago #29

Thank you mahina 23 hrs ago #31

2 funny, you couldn't remember his name questionseverything 9 hrs ago #51

Thatʻs a shame mahina 9 hrs ago #53

I think Platner is a wolf in wolfʻs clothing and Mainers are being deceived. mahina 9 hrs ago #55

Do you not understand how binary choices work? paleotn Yesterday #18

creepy Collins, asshat DoBW 23 hrs ago #23

not at all what I said stopdiggin 23 hrs ago #30

Irrelevant. Mills is out. There are two choices. Two. Period. paleotn 9 hrs ago #54

Iʻm excited by David Costello mahina 23 hrs ago #25

yep, we're prodded to not vote. ExtraGriz Yesterday #7

Classic counter-resistance stuff. Demonize, demoralize. pat_k Yesterday #15

Exactly how this works. paleotn Yesterday #19

I LOVE Jane Mayer ... she is an awesome writer! FakeNoose Yesterday #9

"The Memo" in 2006 sent her to the top of my list of journalists to track. pat_k 22 hrs ago #33

The next things they will do... Don1 Yesterday #10

I fear you are probably right. pat_k 22 hrs ago #36

People are taught to assume that where there's smoke there's fire. Or also... Beartracks Yesterday #13

We are pretty flawed creatures. pat_k 8 hrs ago #56

Where's the oppo research on Collins? dlk Yesterday #20

Recommended! H2O Man Yesterday #21

Much appreciated! pat_k 20 hrs ago #42

please tell me you are not comparing Franken and Platner Skittles 23 hrs ago #22

I'm noting hallmarks of an orchestrated smear. No more. No less. pat_k 21 hrs ago #40

alrighty then Skittles 20 hrs ago #43

I do not know but more focus should be on David Costello mahina 23 hrs ago #24

As I noted above, you make a good case. pat_k 21 hrs ago #39

Thank you mahina 20 hrs ago #41

"Cue the pitchforks and torches." JoseBalow 23 hrs ago #27

I recently watched Young Frankenstein after perhaps 40 years. pat_k 23 hrs ago #32

Thanks so much for the link! I always assumed it was even worse than what I had read -- but not that much worse. eppur_se_muova 22 hrs ago #34

Thanks for posting. Seems to me too few people "get" the magnitude of the wrong. pat_k 21 hrs ago #37

I was glad to see so many Dems admitting openly that they made a mistake. Sen. Gillibrand I particularly held a grudge eppur_se_muova 19 hrs ago #44

Jane Mayer is a treasure! pat_k 19 hrs ago #45

"Dark Money" is the one I started. Armed with new glasses, I'm going to go find it right now ! eppur_se_muova 19 hrs ago #46

Here's a blast from the past pat_k 18 hrs ago #47

Sudden Last Minute Things The Republican Ex GF Don1 22 hrs ago #35

I think there are people asking. But when mob mentality is triggered, thought falls by the wayside. pat_k 21 hrs ago #38

Ask Hillary Clinton about last minute revelations. MineralMan 9 hrs ago #50

Dirty little Collins rats DoBW 9 hrs ago #52

While The Donald gets a pass on everthing? czarjak 5 hrs ago #58