Reid May Ask Hillary To Succeed Him As Dem Maj/Min Leader-Steve Clemons

[kpete]

August 03, 2006

Harry Reid May Ask Senator Clinton to Preempt Presidential Ambitions to Succeed Him as Senate Majority/Minority Leader

Some high level Democratic Party political insiders have shared with TWN details of a potential shift in vectors for several of the major political stars in that party.

First of all, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, whom most give high marks for the manner in which he has stewarded the Dems in the Senate despite the absence of a clear Democratic Party chief, has sent private signals to Senator Hillary Clinton and other stalwarts of the party that he "would like to" step down from his post in early 2009. Reid has not stated definitively that he will -- but he apparently prefers "whipping" the Party from behind and the side rather than serving as commander-in-chief on the Senate floor.

What Reid is offering Senator Hillary Clinton is his total, robust support to succeed him as Senate Majority Leader if she elects not to pursue the Democratic nomination for President.

more at:
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001578.php

[stepnw1f]

1. Nah... Time for Real Change

I don't want the same ole same ole.

[mmonk]

2. Great.

More green lights to authoritarian government and war.

[DistressedAmerican]

3. PUKING!

DINO hands power to DINO. News at 11!

This party is fucked at its core.

[liberalnurse]

9. Senator Clinton will get the vote 100%.....

You know why??????????? If you look t all the Senate Races this election....when she comes in to support them at a fundraiser...that's an easy $1 million at the minimum for their campaign. Additionally, the rooms are packed.

They will not ignore the favor and she will easily get the vote in the Democratic Senate..

[sallyseven]

13. May I suggest that you have no idea what a

democrat is. Republicans go lock step behind the most stupid individual in the world. (AKA dictatorship) Democrats have minds of their own. (AKA free people) Which do you want??? If your so astute why are you not in a government position?

[DistressedAmerican]

16. She supports the war. She supports the patriot act. She supports

a flag burning ammendment. She is no democrat. She is a Bush shill.

She is my Senator and I have written here on no less than twenty occassions suggestion this vote or that on critical issues. EVERYTIME she has done the opposite. If that is representing me as a progressive or a democrat, I'm a monkey's uncle.

Do not tell me the person that got my Senate vote then sold every other vote she made to Bush is a real democrat. She is far from it.

Do democrats voite in lock step with the republican administration (worst one ever to boot)? Of course they don't.

As to my being in politics, if my husband had been president I'm sure I would. That's about all it takes as qualification these days, membership in a powerful political family. Sheesh.

[Greeby]

4. No thanks

When it comes to deciding Dem leadership in the 110th Congress, I want someone who actually LEADS

[Pirate Smile]

5. Instead of running for President, she should go for Majority Leader.

Reid is talking about 2009.

I know many people have been hoping she would give up the Presidential aspirations and just become a great Senator.

Sounds OK to me.

[kpete]

6. Pirate Smile

I agree with you.

I thought this was a "good" plan

[Johnyawl]

7. Obviously the first 3 posters missed the most important point here

What Reid is offering Senator Hillary Clinton is his total, robust support to succeed him as Senate Majority Leader if she elects not to pursue the Democratic nomination for President.

Harry Reid obviously doesn't want her running for the nomination. hmmmm Does he think she can't win? Does he feel we have a better candidate in the wings?

So IF the Dems take control of the Senate, than Hillary has to make a real tough decision: Does she take a run at the nomination, clearly her long term goal,(but not a sure thing), OR does she take Reids offer,(a sure thing) and become the first woman Senate Majority Leader, and one of the 3 most powerful people in the country.

[Virginia Dare]

10. Exactly...

it's the proverbial carrot on a stick. Hilary's got money and power, and face it, the Dems NEED her.

[flyarm]

8. i'LL BET the dems are looking at the internal pollings..

and it doesn't look good for Hillary!!

so they are sending her a signal of the carrot ..
this would be so much better for the dems..honestly...

thats just my humble opinion..

fly

[karynnj]

11. This is a weird article

One would think if Reid wanted to suggest this to Hillary - it could be done very quietly and privately. In addition to accuracy, the question should be why is this story being put out. Also, what can be made of the comments on NE Republians being sounded out on Warner. Although McCain leads polls, Pataki and Romney are Republicans who may run. (Romney is really from Utah but he pretends to be from MA). It is strange that the media, the DLC, and the powers in the netroot community have all pushed Warner for months - with almost no interest showing in the polls. (Gore seems the only one significantly moving.)

If Reid let this out, this and the prominence of the Nevada conference seem to be Reid trying to position himself as King maker. It bothers me that Reid has this much power. No one who doesn't live in Nevada ever voted for him. That he has used it do weaken the Alito filibuster and to move the party to the right bothers me. It also bothers me that Reid has unilaterally chosen spokesmen for each issue - never giving anyone much to his left his blessing to lead anything. If you look at 2004, the vast majority of Democrats voted for Presidential candidates to his left. (even Edwards was a bit to his left - only Lieberman to his right.)

The rudeness Reid showed to Kerry and Feingold because he was against their Iraq legislation was astonishing. Senator Warner showed far more respect, especially to Senator Kerry. As around half of the country supported a plan like K/F (or a faster exit), this was telling. The fact that Reid has almost never choosen Kerry as a spokesman on anything is shameful. Kerry is a solid Democrat who was very easily chosen as the party's nominee and he deserves respect for nearly winning the Presidency.

[mtnsnake]

12. Reid makes a smart choice, since Hillary is progressive & would make a

fine representative of the Democratic Party on the Senate floor. Smart guy, that Harry Reid.

[JackNewtown]

14. Why not just make Jomentum min/maj leader?

If we are going to go this route, why not get the real McCoy?

[patcox2]

15. Worst thing that could happen to the dems.

Would completely destroy the credibility of any congressional effort to investigate and prosecute the Bush admin for its crimes, leading to a republican backlash and huge losses in 2008.

[patcox2]

17. This actually sounds like republican propaganda.

The republicans only hope is to scare the voters: "Vote for me or Hillary will be majority leader."

[WI_DEM]

18. Good! Maybe it will be enough to make her not run in '08

[SaveElmer]

19. She would be an excellent leader...better to have a progressive...

From a blue state than a leader from a red....

Reid is doing a good job, but like Daschle, he has to constantly look over his shoulder...

Hillary would not have that problem...

However, I would rather see her in the White House!

[Pirate Smile]

20. kick