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peaches2003

(1,979 posts)
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 08:21 PM Apr 2012

What is with Harry Reid

Harry Reid has been a total turnoff for getting support for Dems in the Senate, but his speech today proves what an idiot he is when it comes to communicating with voters. "Junk mail is good for Seniors because it is their only way of communicating and feeling like they are part of the real world???" Is he out of his mind? He was trying to defend the USPS (which I have no problems with at all), but does he have to alienate a huge voting block making such a stupid statement.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts)
1. Judging from my mother-in-law, he's right
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 08:24 PM
Apr 2012

I don't *like* that he's right - but I suspect he is.

And seniors vote.

livetohike

(22,058 posts)
2. My Mom.....this is true for her. She reads every single piece of mail she gets
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 08:27 PM
Apr 2012

Almost all of it is junk. My Dad passed away in 2004 and she lives alone, doesn't drive. All of her friends have died or moved away.

Iris

(15,623 posts)
11. My father-in-law was the same way when he still lived alone.
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 10:36 PM
Apr 2012

Now he lives in assisted living and never remembers to check his mail. But, still, this sounds like a typical experience for some elderly people.

peaches2003

(1,979 posts)
3. Most seniors have full active lives and hate junk mail
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 08:30 PM
Apr 2012

I think I'm fairly typical of a senior and I am too busy to look at junk mail and resent the time it takes to throw it in recycling, as are all my friends. Yes, there are the very elderly infirmed or bedridden, but the large majority of retirees and seniors do not need all the crappy junk mail to be part of the real world. It was just an idiotic statement, IMHO.

 

YOHABLO

(7,358 posts)
4. I Don't Understand His Tactics.
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 08:33 PM
Apr 2012

This is not about "junk mail" it's about ending postal unions and privatizing an institution that has provided us with good service for a century. I really wish we had someone else as the Majority leader in the Senate .. a person with a backbone.

Canuckistanian

(42,290 posts)
5. Harry needs to be put out to pasture
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 08:42 PM
Apr 2012

He was largely ineffectual during the Bush years and even less active during the Obama presidency.

When was the last time you ever heard a quote from the leader of the Democratic Senate in these times of unprecedented GOP obstructionism?

New blood is what's needed.

 

MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts)
8. Reid's been forceful in protecting Social Security
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 09:34 PM
Apr 2012

against savage attacks by both parties. We need someone to defend that important program.

Canuckistanian

(42,290 posts)
9. Well, that's good
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 10:12 PM
Apr 2012

But Obama would veto anything that would cut SS.

And anyways, SS used to be the "untouchable third rail" of politics. Defending it just seems to be natural.

What else has Reid done lately?

 

MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts)
10. Rep. Conyers: Obama Demanded Social Security Cuts--Not GOP
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 10:34 PM
Apr 2012
Rep. Conyers: Obama Demanded Social Security Cuts--Not GOP

"We then offered an additional $650 billion in cuts to entitlement programs -- Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security." - President Obama 2/22/2011

Reid said "No - Not gonna happen"

Tx4obama

(36,974 posts)
6. When my grandmother was still alive she enjoyed the junk mail that came each day, and
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 08:44 PM
Apr 2012

on the days that no mail at all came she'd glance out the window from time to time waiting to see if the mailman was late.

For the older folks that are home-bound - little things like junk mail can help to fill their day.

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