SENATE MINORITY LEADER: Reid set to assume leadership post

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON -- By virtue of being the first resident of then-dusty Henderson to graduate from law school, 24-year-old Harry Reid was appointed city attorney in 1964.

snip....

For one, Reid will be leading an undermanned caucus of 44 Democrats and an independent against a newly re-elected Republican president and a GOP Senate majority that expects to flex its muscles to push its agenda after increasing its strength by four seats.


more....

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Nov-14-Sun-...

[NVMojo]

1. this quote I did like...

Reid fielded a courtesy call from President Bush the day after the elections. According to aides, Reid told Bush, "I am going to work with you every chance I can, but I also am going to tell you when you are wrong."

snip....

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. If he gets it...

He better grow a pair and display them regularly, while jumping up and down on his desk.

[NVMojo]

3. yeah, but this is a guy who did an all day filibuster speech on

mining in his home town of Searchlight to stall the Repugs.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. That was then...

This is now. Now is what I am concerning myself with.

[blueknight]

5. another dnc

disaster in the waiting

[Jehanatu]

6. Oh God...

We need someone like Ted Kennedy or my own Jack Reed who has some balls and won't crap himself every time he sees Bill Frist flexing his Senate Majority muscles. We need to wipe that stupid smirk off of Dumbya's face, and work on getting ground back in the senate during 2006. If we lose even more seats, then we're in some deep shit.

[newyawker99]

15. Hi Jehanatu!!

Welcome to DU!!

[buff2]

7. We're doomed

Another spineless bu$h ass kisser. Just what we really need.

[mazzarro]

8. He was Daschle's deputy, more or less, and now the leader

Same strategy, different person - and we expect the reThugs to be stopped?
Oh heck, we're screwed!

[FlashHarry]

9. We need Chris Dodd or John Kerry as leader.

We need Churchill, not Chamberlain. Ugh.

[nolabels]

10. Now do you believe that most of these DNC / DLC types are

given support by virtue of what they will not do.

The Senate is just a cordial instrument used to screw people that don't have money. To me it doesn't sound much different from the early Rome.

Most all ideas bubble up from the grass roots

[meganmonkey]

11. Sounds like the repukes like him

Some Republicans say they will be able to work with Reid, more so than with Daschle, who they came to distrust.

"I think that Harry Reid is going to lead the Democrats in a way that is more conducive for (Republicans) to get our ideas done," said Sen. George Allen, R-Va., chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
~snip~

Too bad Zell Miller can't be the the new dem leader

I admit I don't know much about Reid, except that he's a mormon. Anybody (progressive) have anything good to say about him?

[berni_mccoy]

12. Ok, that's it, I'm outta here

I was waiting to see what happened with the party after the election. It's clear to me with this choice of leadership that they are no longer interested in maintaining their principles:

Civil liberties
Freedom of choice
Trust in the people over corporations
Equal rights
Exhaust Diplomacy, War last-resort

Everytime the democrats get a good president in, they are destroyed on some ridiculous single event: JFK was assasinated, Carter was removed on the Iran hostage situation (arranged by the repukes), Clinton was destroyed by an affair with a Rove plant, etc.

And where are the democrats when their candidate needs defending? NO WHERE! The democrats have never defended their president in the time of need, unlike the repukes who surround a consistent failure. That's what's wrong with this party. Who defended Clinton? Everyone ran away from him, INCLUDING Gore. Who defended Al Gore (and the majority of America for that matter) for challenging the election when only a SINGLE SENATOR was needed? Who defended Kerry against these ridiculous SBV attacks? NO ONE!!! This party is inline with the goals of the administration: divide the population into those who have and those who have nothing. Take away the rights of the people. Let the federal government rule over the states and local governments. Get buy-in using Christianity.

I've heard others say it here on the forum and I believe it's true. It's time for a new party. For now, I'm going to go independent until I find a party that meets the core principles that I as a democrat of the past, used to believe in.

[Leilani]

13. Why not give him a chance?

He had the votesfor the job, which means he's trusted by the Dem Senators.

He's in a tough position as Leader...he just doesn't have the votes, so don't expect him to perform miracles.

[Nashyra]

14. I've met Reid

He's scrappy and he knows where the skeletons are buried. He's been in the Senate a long time and he has a quiet resolve that should be given a chance. He is my Senior Senator and though I would have liked to see a "louder" voice I'm willing to give him a chance.

As for looking for a new party, whew we talk about Repukes eating their young, we don't see it often enough but we at DU are sure ready with the sharp knives, can we stop attacking each other long enough to attack the GOP. I've started writing a letter to every single name I hear as a potential 2008 candidate and have asked them to think very hard about putting their hat in the ring so as not to have another debacle like 2004 primaries. We can go through that again and survive, we need to know who the top FEW candidates are and make it known that we do not want a crushing primary, you know the repukes will have their candidate in the new veep that will replace cheney. Remember when there were those that advocated Clinton Step down and let Gore take over before the 2000 election, remember that talk. The repukes were scared to death that they would do that.

[Democat]

17. Trusted by the Dem Senators?

Like Daschle?

[JohnKleeb]

22. because that would be the right thing to do and many dont want to

I dont know. He has his work cut out for him though, I think he'll be a good leader though.

[joanski01]

16. I've been watching the Senate

proceedings for quite a number of years now. I personally don't see anything wrong with Harry Reid. He's been a very good whip, and I think he deserved the job.

Remember that Chris Dodd supported Joe Lieberman for President. Harry Reid is better than Evan Bayh or Ben Nelson. Bill Nelson and Bob Graham supported Porter Goss. One of my very favorites, who got the whip position, is Dick Durbin.

[mitchtv]

18. New Rule: no leadership from Red states

TD made concessions to save his own job. Reid will use his power to stop Yucca Mt. then watch. Dodd, tho from a blue state,has been a sellout war cheerleader from day 1.

[joanski01]

19. Why did Nevada vote bush*

when they know he is sending all that nuclear waste there????

[mitchtv]

20. it was close. I think the guardian used the word

DUMB

[judaspriestess]

23. cause the people here are just as righteous(roll eyes)

in a a state that promotes prostitution and gambling, lol.
These people here are also blinded by the holy light that resonates from Bush.

[Nashyra]

24. Watch what you7 say about Nevadans

There are some of us who have worked very hard for the Dems for the last 4 years. We did better than expected here in Douglas county and you have to remember that our unemployment rate is lower than nationwide. We have a repuke govenor that is well liked by both parties. Harry Reid is liked by both parties also.

[JohnKleeb]

21. Good luck to him

He's not as bad as he's being portrayed, he seems like he could be a persuasive guy, he can filibuster well and he is the one who swayed Jeffords to join the democratic voting caucus, criticize if you like but just wait and see what happens first.