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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHarry Reid, Senate Majority Leader since 2007.
How would you evaluate the job he has done?
The Democrats were blocked by the Republicans in the Senate from the first day that Barack Obama was sworn into office. Senator Reid chose not to go the partisan route and change the filibuster rule, believing he could find compromise with the Republicans. After the Republicans took over the House in the election of 2010, his hands were tied even tighter.
In hindsight, with the country in the dire condition of near-economic collapse, perhaps Reid would have been wise to change the rules and pass the legislation that needed to be passed. The Republicans have made his job very difficult.
AndyA
(16,993 posts)He's been very effective in the past, but he's failed to do his job since President Obama took office. When you consider this most recent period of time has been one of the most critical in our nation's history, Reid's failure has even more weight.
It should not have taken him long to determine that the Republicans were not going to work with the Democrats on anything. McConnell said the #1 goal was to make Obama a one term President. In short order, it was apparent how they intended to do that. Reid should have noticed and acted accordingly at that time, but he did not.
Now, over four years later, we still have Republicans blocking and filibustering and doing everything they can to create havoc. It's up to Reid as the Senate Leader to rein in the GOP, not to take them at their word after four years of being uncooperative.
We have important vacancies that haven't been filled for years and years because the Republicans won't allow it. This has an impact on all of the American people. Important legislation won't move.
Really, I'd rather see someone with a backbone in that position, because Reid seems to have misplaced his years ago.
monmouth3
(3,871 posts)Salviati
(6,009 posts)... or he is complicit in the obstruction. I'll let him choose which one best describes him, but at this point it seems like it's one or the other to me.