C-SPAN 2 Harry Reid speaking on the floor about the Nuclear Option!

[in_cog_ni_to]

NOW. :hi:

[Daphne08]

1. Yes, and he just said Karl Rove was in Congress telling

them, No Compromise.

What is Karl Rove doing? He has NOT been elected!!

[Benhurst]

2. And neither was George Walker Bush. NT

[jean]

5. Reid is taking advantage of Rove's arrogance through c-span - it's

Reid's own way of media blasting - Harry is telling us to get on the stick and raise hell about Rove being in OUR Congress strong-arming policy.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[Nickster]

4. Step back and take a deep breath.

Reid is playing a strategy. He knows that the Repukes won't take any kind of compromise, so he makes an offer so they can't peg us as being the obstructionists. It's a brilliant plan, puts the entire repercussions of pulling off the nuclear option onto them and not us. He didn't beg them for anything, he just threw out a big ole bear trap for Frist to step into. You have to think strategically, two or three steps ahead of your current action. What is the upcoming results from my current action?

[autorank]

6. Reid gets away with hammering them BECAUSE of a mild demeanor.

This guy has been around and he's a tough customer. You don't talk like a lunatic to the public at this point because that's what the republicans do. Go back and read Tom Sawyer. They always call each other "my friend" in the Senate.

Lay off Reid unless you know what his goal is because he's not going to just lay it out and please no nasty stuff about mormons.

[Itsthetruth]

9. Reid Is A Tough As A Wet Noodle

Ya. Reid was a real tough cookie on the Republican initiated Bankruptcy bill. Reid bragged about his role in getting that anti-worker, anti-consumer bill passed. The Republicans must love this weakling.

No one is suggesting that he talk and vote like a "lunatic". It would be nice if he played hard ball and talked and voted like an opponent of the Bush government instead of being a "Bush enabler".

And what about the Mormon's? The leaders of the LDS church are in agreement with the right-wing "Christian" fundamentalists on every political issue without exception. You need to read some material on the history and positions of the Mormon church and perhaps talk to progressives in Utah. They will tell you all about the political role and activity of LDS in Utah. It's not pretty. The LDS political leader in Congress is Senator Reid. A real "moral values" kind of guy with plenty of corporate funding.

[autorank]

11. REID DOUBTERS, READ THIS FROM kos

www.dailykos.com

"Reid just engaged Frist in a game of chicken, and Frist blinked first.

Reid has been extrememly effective in whipping up opposition to the Nuclear Option, garnering strong grass- and netroots support, editorial board support, and popular support (as the latest polls show scant appetitite for ending the filibuster).

But in order to avoid looking like obstructionists, Demcorats had to make efforts to "find a compromise", lest the chattering class get the vapors from such Democratic intransigence.

Had Frist accepted the offers for compromise, Bush would've gotten the majority of his judges through, and Democrats would've gotten -- who knows what. All published compromise offers didn't seem to give our side anything.

So Democrats would've faced a sea of criticism from our own side for snatching defeat out of the hands of victory. Frist and Co. would've finally gotten a procedural victory against Reid (who has run circles around them thus far). And all that good will Reid had built in the netroots over the past four months would've evaporated in one fell swoop.

It was one heck of a gamble, but the Senator from Nevada played his cards right."

Smart dude, playing Chess not checkers. Nailed em. He doesn't have to be right every time, he has to lead on the big issues. He did.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

12. It wasn't even that big of a gamble.

Anyone who pays half attention to what's going on knows the Frist has absolutely no choice but to go through with this if he wants to win the 2008 nomination. This is a sign to his whole party that he's a tough leader that won't wilt under pressure. It was never in doubt that Frist would never have taken the offer.

[autorank]

20. I agree with you, nevertheless, I like seeing Reid push Frist around.

I'd bet that the "institutional imperative" against abolishing this rule is just strong enough to stop Frist. If not, we'll see Reid and the Democrats in action bringing things to a halt. If that happens, you can be sure the Democrats will repeat again and again, but we tried to compromise. Screw Frist.

[Walt Starr]

14. Why the hell do you put down every last progressive?

I've noticed you have a history of decrying everything any progressive does or says.

Why is that?

[Itsthetruth]

18. You Are Calling Senator Reid A Progressive?

""Why the hell do you put down every last progressive?"
I've noticed you have a history of decrying everything any progressive does or says.

Why is that?"

The simple and true response to your question is .... I don't! In fact, I've had some very nice things to say about members of Congress who actually have sided with the American people on important issues.

However, why do you call Senator Reid who has sided with big business and against working people a progressive??? Now, that's really puzzling! Why is that? I think your use of the term "progressive" is a misuse and abuse of the term. I'm sure that members of Progressive Democrats of America and all true progressives both inside and outside of the Democratic Party do not consider Senator Reid to be a progressive on many issues of concern to labor, gay and women's rights advocates.


Look at Senator Reid's record and statements! You must consider the Bankruptcy Bill to be one of the most progressive pieces of pro-consumer legislation to come down the pike in decades!

Perhaps you need to read again how your great "progressive" leader in the United States Senate stabbed working people and consumers in the back on the Republican/corporate inspired class action and bankruptcy bills. Senator Reid, the "progressive", actually gloated and bragged about getting this notorious bit of anti-worker, anti-consumer legislation passed in the Senate!

House passes bankruptcy bill
Measure will deter borrowers from erasing debt
By Tom Curry
National affairs writer
MSNBC
April 14, 2005

Bipartisan accord

The political curiosity here is that both Reid and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay — who agree on very little else — were both enthusiastically taking credit for the bill Wednesday.

"We’ve done a good job this year. In spite of the so-called partisanship, we’ve moved two pieces of legislation that have been around for 15 years, class action (reform) and bankruptcy," Reid told reporters when asked whether partisan animosity was slowing the Senate's work. Alluding to the bankruptcy bill and other legislation, Reid said, "We’re moving along well."

So why are Reid and other congressional Democratic leaders such as New Democrat Coalition chief Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D- Calif. supporting it? In an interview Thursday off the House floor, Tauscher said, "Suffice it to say, I would much prefer a Democratic majority that would write a better bill. I would much prefer tighter restrictions on the credit card industry, I would much prefer many different things, but we are not in the majority."

She added the bill would benefit her constituents who "work hard, pay their bills, live within their means." They "don't appreciate having to pay higher costs for everything because there are Americans who abuse bankruptcy provisions that exist now that create loopholes. And they are absolutely forgiven for mounting up tens of thousands of dollars of debt so they can go off and do it again."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7494698 /

Is Congresswoman Tauscher also a great "progressive" Democratic leader we should admire?

[Walt Starr]

26. Loomk at the overall record

Reid has an incredibly Progressive record, as does Clinton, Lieberman, and a host of other Senators decried constantly in DU (including by me at times).

[FreedomAngel82]

21. I agree

I was a lil pissed when I heard about this on Malloy but I calmed down and remembered about Reid. He knows how to deal with the mafia and these people are way worse then any mafia in NV. I'm willing to wait it it out and see how it plays out. He's the calm, cool and collected one while they're all acting like mad-men/women on power. He offered a peace-like offering but they refused, or rather Karl Rove refused. Can he do that? I guess he's really the president eh? :eyes: Oh and I'm not going to say anything nasty about mormons. He can believe whatever he likes. :)

[Name removed]

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[Itsthetruth]

13. OK

Learn the political system, THEN comment."

Ok. So why did Senator Reid help get that bankruptcy bill passed? I want to learn how this political system works. I have a feeling that if I follow the money I will understand why Senator Reid and others voted in favor of corporate sponsored legislation. So, do you think I should follow the money in order to learn how the "political system" works?

[Walt Starr]

16. I'll spell it out for you

C-O-M-P-R-O-M-I-S-E

Every bit of political action, including the framing of the constitution, is possible only via compromise. Failure to compromise results in polarizing events which results in alienation.

We cannot win every battle and attempting to fight everything will result in nothing more than pissing in the wind. I would have loved it if they could've fought the bankruptcy bill, but there were not enough Democrats to do that, so we had to let it go.

So are you up for winning when we can or are you a wind-pisser?

[Itsthetruth]

19. Should Democrats Vote With Republicans All Of The Time?

"I would have loved it if they could've fought the bankruptcy bill, but there were not enough Democrats to do that, so we had to let it go."

That especially true when Democrats like Senator Reid were working hard to get the bill passed! Fight it hell. Reid and other Democrats led the fight to get it passed! Reid even took credit for passage of the bill!

When 18 Democratic Senators cross the line and vote with Republicans it's real hard to mount an effective opposition.

So do you think Democrats should vote with Republicans all the time since "there are not enough Democrats" to vote down a bill or presidential appointment?

[Walt Starr]

24. So long as you have a filibuster and 41 Senators

you can buck the president, otherwise you let the Democrats in more conservative areas vote along with the president and cut your losses.

[FreedomAngel82]

22. Question about this

If we win back the Senate in 2006 (and it's looking pretty good now so hopefully there will be a good chance) can the democrats change the bankruptcy bill?

[Walt Starr]

25. Yep

but would Bush sign it?

NO!

Gotta have both Congress and the White House to have a sweeping agenda. A sweeping agenda would be required to turn back a lot of the crap that's beenput in place.

[Itsthetruth]

27. You Only Need 80 Democrats In The Senate To Stop Republicans

All you need to do is elect about 80 Democrats to the United States Senate and around 350 to the House of Representatives and you'll be able to stop Republican sponsored legislation.

Get to work!

Based on recent votes you can expect that at least one third (frequently more) of Democrats will vote with Republicans in Congress.

[seemslikeadream]

7. Thanks in_cog_ni_to

:hi:

[Pithy Cherub]

10. This is political jujitsu by Reid and masterfully done thus far.

When McConnell whines about 41 senators controlling the debate. as it has been for a while (used to be 1/3), you landed a blow without using your fingers. Beautiful! :applause:


:hi: Thanks Incognito for postng this! Now watching! Pass the:popcorn:

[seemslikeadream]

15. It's Frist's lap dogs again!

McConnell Martinez Thune Coleman

[demgrrrll]

17. They are doing a wonderful job. The Republicans look like bullies

who refuse to compromise. Mitchy looks like he is scrambling and Reid and Schumer look like they are gliding through as smooth as satin. Nice day.

[FreedomAngel82]

23. Nice

That's the way to go. Stay cool and let them look like the power-hungry bullies they are. :) They already have low poll numbers and they're doing it to themselves.

[seemslikeadream]

28. MORE LAP DOGS TODAY

Coleman Martinez Thune Hutchison McConnell

[demgrrrll]

29. Well Bow Wow Wow Yippie Yo Yippie Yay. I hope someone posts

the time they will be on. Sounds like must see teevee.

[Roland99]

30. Sen. Murray (D-WA) speaking now on C-SPAN 2

BTW, Barack Obama is scheduled to speak this evening for the National Press Club



"The nuclear option is an assault on the American people."

"It is tyranny of the majority personified."


"Three nominees are so important they will throw away 200 years of (precedent?)"


" this is the most important issue facing us today (paraphrasing now...) but we have record high gas prices and millions living in poverty."


"have confirmed 205 nominees"

[Roland99]

31. Sen. Biden (D-DE) speaking now

"The framers sought to underscore independent nature of the Senate and its members"

"this system is now being tested in the extreme"



Listen on C-SPAN 2
http://www.cspan.org/watch/index.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2&ShowVidDays=30&ShowVidDesc=&ArchiveDays=30


"The founders did not give the appointment right to any one person or body"