Report: House Dems Angry With Reid For Caving To Centrists And GOP

[jefferson_dem]

Report: House Dems Angry With Reid For Caving To Centrists And GOP

There’s a choice piece of news buried way at the end of Matt Bai’s big New York Times magazine piece on the White House’s dealings with Congress on health care.

To wit: House Dems are growing increasingly upset with Harry Reid for refusing to meaningfully challenge centrist Dem Senators and allegedly caving to threats of a GOP filibuster on issue after issue:

Some House Democrats I talked to … accuse Reid and his lieutenants of repeatedly placating Republicans to avoid a filibuster, rather than taking a stand on principle now and then. Why not force centrist Democrats to vote against their party and let Republicans filibuster the agenda on national television? What would the voters think then?

A lot of folks would love an answer to this question.

Apparently some of what’s driving this is Reid’s run for reelection. He has repeatedly shown he’s determined not to be painted by Republicans as too liberal. As a result, he has let Republicans frame the debate on key issues, even though they don’t even have candidate to run against him yet; one example was Reid’s decision to part ways with Obama on the closing of Guantanamo.

It’s another sign of the tensions inherent in running a caucus while simultaneously running for reelection. The question is whether any House Dems will go public and call out some of this stuff.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/senate-republicans/report-house-dems-angry-with-reid-for-caving-to-gop/

[Captain Hilts]

1. I so wish the majority leader were Clinton, Reed, or Whitehouse instead of Reid.

He's still on my shitlist for the "I don't work for him," the day after the inauguration.

[Better Believe It]

2. What happened to Rahm Emmanuel's "sharp elbows"? Obama should use them!

Sharp elbows to move Congress? It looks more like Rahm Emmanuel has a weak backbone.

President Obama is the leader of the Democratic Party, not Senator Reid or Congresswoman Pelosi.

So far President Obama has pretty much let Reid run the Senate and Pelosi run the House anyway they want and write their own legislation with little or no real intervention from the White House. And don't anyone claim the President isn't suppose to "interfere" with Congress. Bush did! Reagan did! FDR did! LBJ did! Every President has .... at least those that have led.

Finally after being missing in action, it appears that Obama is going to fight for Congress to adopt his healthcare plan with a meaningful "public option".

And it's about time for President Obama to act like the President of the United States and leader of the Democratic Party.

The Democrats won the election. The Republicans lost and their Senators represent states with less than 20% of the nations population. The Republicans represent a dwindling minority of bigots and religious nuts .... they have become the new version of the old southern "states rights" Democratic Party of the first half of the 20th Century. People didn't vote for bi-partisanship and collaboration with reactionary Republicans. They voted for change.

Too bad President Obama didn't present his own stimulus plan instead of letting three Republican Senators write it and gut tens of billions of dollars in public works programs out of it.

And it's also unfortunate that President Obama sat on the sidelines while the Senate voted down a real "cramdown" foreclosure relief proposal, voted down a cap on credit card interest rates and killed the Employee Free Choice Act.

Those are just a few examples of leadership failures.

Let's hope it's not too little, too late on healthcare.

[Captain Hilts]

3. According to the NYT Emmanuel is starting to work and work with Congress. Keep your fingers crossed

[Enrique]

13. Obama was very involved in the stimulus

he sent Rahm to Capitol Hill to scream and swear at people to do what they had to do to get it passed.

[Romulox]

19. The Obama admin uses a clumsy form of Good Cop/Bad Cop to get things done.

"And it's also unfortunate that President Obama sat on the sidelines while the Senate voted down a real "cramdown" foreclosure relief proposal, voted down a cap on credit card interest rates and killed the Employee Free Choice Act."

Just like the Bankruptcy of GM, Chrysler. Just like trillions to Wall Street (no business plan required!) Just like the bonuses to AIG execs. Just like the increase in war funding. Just like single payer being "off the table".

Obama really wanted to stand up for the American people in all these instances, but you see, his hands are tied! :rofl:

[quakerboy]

34. Why would Rahm use them here?

It does not at first glance appear that this is a priority. It looks to me that they are saving the sharp elbows for things higher on their priority list.

[karynnj]

28. Of that list, only Reed makes any sense

Clinton is not in the Senate and it was highly unlikely she would have nominated for Majority leader had she stayed - not to mention when she was in the Senate she was aligned with Reid against the progressives when there was a split. Whitehouse was just elected in 2006 - a very junior freshman. Even Reed would not likely have the support and seniority needed.

If Reid were out, I think the best choice is Durbin - who is second to Reid and was the very first Senator to endorse Obama. He has the experience of herding Democrats - which is not easy - and he is to the left of Clinton.

[Thrill]

4. So they feel like most Democrats in the country. He's a terrible leader

Did I mention Dawn Johnson still hasn't been confirmed? What a wimp

[Better Believe It]

5. What points do you dispute, if any, in my comments?

I'm listening.

[Thrill]

8. No one should have to force the Senate

The people have given Reid a solid majority in the Senate. Strong Majority leaders would shine in this position.

[Better Believe It]

9. Sorry. But that's what strong Presidents do with a "weak" majority leader

That's politics 101.

[quantass]

6. I dont follow Congress goingons too much but even I know Reid sux!

Get this man outta office please

[Better Believe It]

7. We all know that. But, the White House can and should lean on him

They can make sure he isn't the Democratic candidate for Senator should he not play ball and they can hurt him in so many other ways.

It's called hardball. That's what Republicans do.

[Jennicut]

33. Yes, and Cheney used to sit in on Repub caucus meetings.

How lovely was that?
Reid is incompetent, no President should have to "lean" on him or be allowed to. Separation of powers anyone?

He needs to be replaced. Simple as that. I hope he loses his reelection.

[salguine]

10. SO WHY DON'T THEY REPLACE HIS ASS!?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

11. Because they're House Members and not Senators?

:shrug: But Democratic senators should grow a fucking spine and replace his ass. The problem is that a lot of them are right wingers not "centrists".

[ShortnFiery]

12. Why can't the Senate have the pleasure of Majority Leader Barbara Boxer (D-CA)?

:-)

[Enrique]

14. because she hasn't run for the position

[Pushed To The Left]

32. I'd love that!! I don't think she would do much caving. n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

15. Why (other than seniority) did Senate Democrats choose HIM for Minority/Majority Leader?

Or was "seniority" the ONLY reason????

I used to think (hope?) that maybe he was playing a little "rope-a-dope" or had some kind of grand (but hidden) strategy for dealing with the GOP but if he is, at this point, I just can't see it. We clearly need somebody stronger and much less "timid" leading our party in the Senate if this is how it's going to be. I mean, it's not like we don't have any other potentially better candidates for the position in the Senate, right? Why do Democrats in the Senate (seem to) tolerate him? :shrug:

[dsc]

25. It isn't senority

if it were the leader would be Byrd, who is President Pro Tempore which is chosen by senority. Reid is actually not all that senior, he was elected in the mid to late 1980's. He has less senority than Leahy, Lautenburg, Kennedy, Kerry, and several others.

[Triana]

16. WTF took them so long? We've been wanting to rip Reid's ninny head off for MONTHS...

...at least.

[Enrique]

17. years, actually

and then Daschle before that. And if Reid goes, we will rip the new leader's head off.

It doesn't matter that the leader is doing what Obama is asking him to do, we'll rip the senate leader and then post fan pictures of Obama.

[Triana]

18. Well - Reid was a Ninny when bu$hit was there...he's no opposition party leader

neither was Daschle. If the opposition party (now the party that is in power) would put some EFFECTIVE leaders in that position, something might get done. There is NO excuse for Reid to be so spineless especially now.

[Enrique]

20. plenty of reason to cave

Obama tells you to cave so that his legislation gets passed, that's pressure that it would be difficult for any leader to resist.

[Egnever]

21. I am growing increasingly affraid I am going to have to vote for a republican against Reid

I just dont think I can take another term of this man as Majority leader.

[Canuckistanian]

22. He's worried about "being painted as too liberal"?

News Flash, Harry:

They're going to call you "too liberal" anyways!!

[Jakes Progress]

24. The appeasers like Reid

are double damned. First for being so without principal. Second for being so dirt clod stupid as to think that the republicans won't attack him as being a "librul" no matter what he does.

Morally bankrupt and blindingly obtuse. What a set of qualifiers for a position of leadership.

[Abq_Sarah]

30. I'm sure he's worried about his numbers in Nevada

Latest polling shows people aren't happy. He's probably trying to appease the folks back home.

[quakerboy]

36. no doubt. He could start impeachement of Obama

and they would still dig up some study showing he is the most liberal senator in the senate.


So, if he were to bite it this election, who would we replace him with? I'm sure it would be another purplish centrist. Do they ever learn?

[donco6]

23. As I've been saying for months - Reid is WORTHLESS! n/t

[Fire1]

27. Many have been saying it for months. Total wimp.

[mascarax]

26. "too liberal" - Harry Reid?!

He *really* needs to be replaced. What does it take?
I'd love to see Barbara Boxer in that position.

What can we do?

[chill_wind]

29. Good. That makes a lot of us. K & R.

[SpartanDem]

31. Overall Harry is good Dem

but you need someone from deep blue seat who can take strong positions in that role. Not someone from purple state who has to worry about being seen as too liberal.

[dreamnightwind]

35. Harry CaveMan

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the senate.

K & R!

I like Boxer, she'd be some real change.