Let's Have Our Senators Know That We Want Reid Thrown Out!

[Cal33]

It looks like Reid deliberately castrated the Filibuster Reform Bill.
He really seems to want a continuation of the type of senate
where the minority Republican Party can stop the majority
Democratic Party simply by having one of their senators say that he
intends to filibuster a bill he does not like. No debate was even
necessary. That statement alone sufficed to put a full stop to
that bill.

And the Republicans abused that type of filibuster to the tune
of over 400 times during Pres. Obama's first term. It's the largest
number of filibusters in any one presidential term in the history
of our nation!!! The Democrats' hands were tied. And there was
nothing they could do about the situation because of the abuse
of that type of filibuster. Then the Republicans had the audacity
to say that Obama accomplished very little in 4 years. The nerve
of these cynical hypocrites!

And Reid capitulated when he had the upper hand. Does he enjoy
leading a senate that gets little done? Maybe he doesn't like to
work too hard? Could he be a mole pretending to be a Democrat
when he is actually working for the Republicans? Either that or
he is a spineless wimp. In either case it would be insane for us to
have someone like him continue as our majority senate leader.

Let's have our senators know in no uncertain terms that we want
Reid thrown out of his position as majority leader, and have him
replaced with a genuine Democrat.

The whole situation is totally insane!

[samsingh]

1. i don't understand his motivation

[hooverville29]

3. One huge motive--Dems could lose Senate in 2014 with those vulnerable seats.

The filibuster and the 60-vote procedure might be an obstacle now, but after 2014, it could well be one of the key weapons to control what happens on Capitol Hill. Reid might not be the world's best Senate leader, but he's not entirely stupid. Bobby Jindal's warning to the Repubs should be a warning to all -- don't be the Stupid Party.

[Cal33]

4. With the filibuster fiasco as it is, the Dems. and Obama will continue to have their hands tied.

Not much can get done. Reid has made sure that not much will get done. As for 2014
and 2016, Dems. can win if they try hard. Why do you have such a pessimistic outlook?

[NorthCarolina]

5. It is far more likely that he did it to hamper Liberal Dems

from putting forth progressive legislation that would then only require 51 votes to pass. Would create an untenable situation for the conservative Dems (the ones that sided with Reid to neuter reform) to justify voting against legislation that no doubt would prove popular with their constituents back home. The "official line" though is "Hey, someday the GOP might be in control". In reality of course, that excuse is just as true now as it was for each of the past 2 years, wherein Reid consistently stood by the assertion that he would return the Senate to a 51 vote majority as the Constitution intended.

[brooklynite]

25. Um, right...

Because there are 51 liberal/progressives in the Senate, and legislation they pass doesn't have to be approved by the republican House?

[samsingh]

19. good point

[Cal33]

20. Really? I believe that the more the right-wing nut-jobs say during a talking filibuster - which

we now will not be having - the more Independents and moderate Republicans would see
how crazy the right-wingers really are. And many will leave the Nut-job Party.

And the Democrats' and Obama's hands will be just as much tied during his second term
as they were during his first.

This is frustrating as hell!

[Cal33]

11. Most likely they are all based on fear of what right-wingers will do in the future. He doesn't seem

to see what they are doing right now

[kooljerk666]

2. agree, he has sold out to many times...........

I actually kind of liked the guy but that should be his last failure.

[Cal33]

6. This is the impression his facial expression makes on me: It looks harmless enough, also spineless.

But a spineless person in a position of responsibility can do a great deal of
harm - which he has already done.

Are we going to let him continue, or are we going to put a stop to it?

[RBInMaine]

7. Please, be real. Don't waste your time with nonsensical notions.

[Cal33]

8. You haven't explained why you think this is a nonsensical notion.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

9. If it had passed, what would have happened once the republicans are in charge again?

[Cal33]

10. What you seem to be saying is that you'd prefer to have a ghost of a Democratic government

right now for sure, rather than having a Democratic-agenda-carried-out one right now, and
do our best and stand a good chance of winning again in 2012 and 2016. Of course, we
could lose in 2012 and 2016, but there is a chance of winning. It is a risk. But right now,
the Senate is ours. You'd prefer to lose the whole thing beginning right now. How much
more negative and pessimisic can anyone get?

[WhoWoodaKnew]

21. Actually, I was asking the question of how this will play out whenthe repub's are back in power (and

Filibuster reform is passed.

[ancianita]

12. If you don't have some genuine Democrat who wants his job, what then? I don't think there is one.

I'd prefer Elizabeth Warren, but she's too new. Who else is "genuine"?

[Sunlei]

13. I don't want to waste time on infighting. Some changes were made to the better, not enough at least

he gave them 36 hours and they got the agreement done. Let's move on to Americas business.

[Cal33]

14. If the Republicans can block any bill they wish just by saying "I'll filibuster it," then Obama's

next 4 years will be wasted. It wouldn't be possible for him to accomplish much of anything.
The next 4 years will be like the last 4. And what's more, the Republicans will be criticizing
Obama as a "do nothing president." These are sickos - but cunning sickos -we're dealing with.
They shouldn't be holding any positions of responsibility.

Reid caved in -- knowing full well the consequences that would follow his capitulation.
He deserves to be kicked out. Of the 53 Dem. senators, at least one decent person must be
among them!!!

[Sunlei]

16. these bagger Republicans always criticize the President, its all they do.

American people are wise enough to know President Obama is not a do nothing president. They can no longer filibuster anonymously, that is a positive. If the other senators want another leader, it's up to them. I would have liked to see a talking filibuster but then think about that, days and days of crazy talk. Lets not let the republicans do the same thing they did to Obamas first term congress, drag business out, create infighting, media demonise democratic senators. untill they can get more republicans in the seats.

[Cal33]

17. It would be great to have "days and days of crazy talk" from right-wing filibusterers. Just

imagine! Their craziness would be on full display! The whole country would be seeing and
hearing how crazy these right-wing nut-jobs and their way of thinking and reasoning really
are. They'd be losing more and more of their moderate Republicans, and Independents will
no longer have any doubts about voting against them as well.

The Republican leaders know this. That's why they want to avoid any talking filibusters.
They know they sound crazy to other people, even though they think they are right and
it's the other people who are crazy. But they, too, can count, and they can figure out
that they would only be driving more of the moderate Republicans and Independents to the
other side, == and the other side already has more people than they do. It would be
sealing their own fate!

[phleshdef]

15. I don't want Reid thrown out. So no.

Harry Reid knows how to count. He understands Senate math. Its a skill that many DUers have yet to even try to learn.

On top of that, I may not approve of Reid's position on every issue. He does have a few right leaning tendencies on a few things that bugs me. But he has been a quiet warrior for many progressive endeavors and he has worked some real political maneuvering to get a lot of good shit done. Harry Reid is way tougher than anyone ever wants to give him credit for. He isn't loud about it. He just gets it done. He knows how to play the damn game and he makes real progress because of it.

The kind of majority leader you likely want would say and try a lot of things that would make you happy. But in this political climate, that same majority leader wouldn't get nearly as many good things saw through as Harry Reid has. People like to get online and run their mouths about this stuff, but they really don't understand how the Senate works and can't accept political realities.

[onenote]

18. yep. Many DUers don't seem to understand what the Majority Leader's job is

Not all, but some.

The Majority Leader can't force members of the caucus to take a particular substantive action. He can set the agenda, decide on procedural strategy, etc., but in the end it comes down to what is doable. The broad filibuster reform many wanted wasn't doable because it didn't have the support necessary to make it happen. Moreover, among those not supporting the reform were some of the most senior members of the Democratic caucus, and the Majority Leader -- ANY majority leader -- is going to pay particular attention to the views of the most senior members.

[DFW]

22. No less a progressive than Howard Dean told me the same thing years ago.

About 4 years ago, I asked Howard if there was any way the Senate Democrats would want him replaced, and he laid out to me pretty much what you said. They want as majority leader someone who know the ins and outs and how to get things done, and the majority leader's effectiveness doesn't always depend on his or her individual politics.

[Buzz Clik]

27. +1

[LiberalFighter]

23. How do you propose he can be thrown out now? Elections are over.

Until there is another election the only action that can be taken now is for citizens to be activists by calling THEIR representatives and senators. By motivating other voters to take the same action within their own districts.

We don't get to decide directly who replaces Reid. There are 100 Senators and we only get to vote for 2 of them when it is time.

[Cal33]

24. Can't he be replaced as senate majority leader, if enough Democratic senators are for it? I know

he will remain a senator until his 6-year term is over, and if someone else is voted in
his place.

[LiberalFighter]

28. How do you propose that enough Democratic Senators will do that?

There are only about 3 ways for that to happen. He dies, he resigns, he is removed from office for removable offenses.

It is a waste of time spending energy on this. Better to get more Senators to support an issue. When enough of them do it or he gets pressure from the President then his hand is likely to be forced.

It is also important that he is not weakened by serious in-fighting. Otherwise, the Republicans will attack him like a vulture. If he is weakened any strength that he has or could increase is reduced. The other Democratic Senators need to do their job both at home and in the Senate without sacrificing because they might be beholden to the wrong groups.

To help the other Democratic Senators do their job right they need to know that more and more of their constituents are intelligent to understand the issues. If too many of the constituents are clueless and easy to sway then elected officials will go that way even if it is wrong. So all of us need to make sure those we know understand the issues better so WE help our Senators.

For the most part voters think it is over when the election is over. It's not! They still need to be activists at every level possible.

[Cal33]

29. I think there are enough people dissatisfied with Reid's frequent cave-ins. They could be

motivated to write their senators en masse to replace Reid with a progressive majority leader.

[LiberalFighter]

32. That won't happen unless one of the 3 reasons I mentioned.

Show me the last time a Majority Leader was voted out during a Session of Congress? And if you can find one what was the reason.

It is pointless to waste time on this effort when it is better to focus more on your own Senators. The key is make sure they know you are paying attention to what they are doing.

[Buzz Clik]

26. I support Reid's decision.

Keep him.

[Cal33]

30. Yeah! Keep him and let's enjoy another 400+ Republican filibusters for the coming 4 years!

It's amazing how these Republicans can lose the elections, become the minority,
and still dictate to the Democratic senate majority what can and what cannot be
done.

[Buzz Clik]

31. Good point. We will always have the majority in the Senate, so get rid of the filibuster.

[Cal33]

33. Let's get Reid replaced by a Progressive first, and then work to get rid of the filibuster.

[Buzz Clik]

34. We can replace Reid with a full blown socialist, but let's keep the filibuster.

The filibuster saved our butts many, many times during the bad days of Reagan and Bush.

[Cal33]

35. You're right. But let's keep the filibuster the way it started out -- a talking filibuster.

[Sunlei]

36. on google looks like 99% of the reid hate campaign comes from republican media websites.

why is that nutters?