Harry Reid says Mitch McConnell ‘Tried to Make Love to the Tea Party’

Posted for two reasons: a) to give credit to Harry Reid, who I often criticize for being to milquetoast, and b) so that I could make and post this graphic!

[Excerpt]

Harry Reid says Mitch McConnell ‘tried to make love to the tea party’

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) vowed Monday that Democrats would hold onto their Senate majority and mocked Mitch McConnell for failing to placate restive tea party critics. . .

Read more at: Washington Post

Filibuster Showdown Allegedly Coming

Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, from source, HuffPo

Harry Reid disappointed a lot of Democrats when he didn't enact filibuster reform, back when the Senate's session started. It was at least the second time that he let the window pass that I'm aware of. Republicans--of course--continued to filibuster everything anyway. Well, they threaten to filibuster,  which is all they need to do anymore.

What I, and a whole lot of other liberals wanted was the classic "talking filibuster," the Mr. Smith Goes to Washington kind. That way, there couldn't be any bitching about the filibuster having been eliminated, they would just have to work for it. Wouldn't that be nice? But no, Reid had some sort of gentleman's agreement with Mitch McChinless McConnell, who is clearly not a gentleman. But now, Reid is showing some backbone (or pretending to), and McConnell is squealing like a stuck turtle tortoise pig.

I hope they do something. I know it won't be the so-called "nuclear option." Reid is worried enough that the GOP will regain the majority (a hellish, impossible-to-believe-it's-possible possibility), that he'll make this "reform" limited. Just enough to get the President's confirmations through. But I'd be thrilled if he tacked on the talking filibuster for everything else. Majority or not.

[Excerpt]

Filibuster Reform: Senate Edges Closer To 'Nuclear Option' 

The Senate edged closer to a historic showdown over presidential appointments Monday night, with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) prepared to launch the so-called nuclear option after a rare all-senator meeting produced no compromise, but an agreement to keep talking.
"We had a very good conversation, that conversation is going to continue tonight," Reid said after the 3 1/2-hour meeting. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Will Harry Reid Use "The Nuclear Option" on Filibuster?

Image from source, TPM

I'm not Harry Reid's biggest fan. Oh, sure, I've voted for him. Three times. But that is only because he was always better than the alternative. He was staggeringly better than his last opponent, Sharron Angle. That she even got close in the election just proves how often Reid irritates Democrats. Fortunately enough of us saw that we couldn't let that happen, and voted for him again.

What he does is get our hopes up. It's no wonder he was a boxer, because he can really get you in his corner, pulling for him. Give 'em hell, Harry! And every once in a while he lands a punch. More often he pulls them, or doesn't swing at all. It's infuriating. So it was with filibuster reform. After the last Senate filibustered damn near everything in a fruitless quest to prevent a second Obama term, Reid threatened to change the rules. To maybe make Senators actual stand in the chambers, talking for hours on end, if they wanted to throw a wrench into the works. Or maybe just make the process more difficult. Reid even extended "day one" of Senate business to keep the option around for a while longer. Then he welched.

Now, he's dangling that carrot again. And I'm in his corner again. I don't have boundless faith that he'll do it. But I'm rooting for him. Dammit.

[Excerpt]

Reid Threatens Filibuster Reform With Nuclear Option 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) threatened in his most explicit terms yet to use the so-called nuclear option to weaken the filibuster if Republicans keep blocking judicial and other nominees from coming to a vote. . .

Read more at: Talking Points Memo

Filibuster (Not) Reform

He barely gave 'em heck. Image from source, TPM

I wanted to believe him. At the beginning of the 112th Congress in 2009, we were lead to believe that we might get filibuster reform. After a record number of GOP filibusters in the 111th, Democrats and liberals begged Congress to fix the filibuster; to make a Senator who wanted to block a bill actually get out there and speak. Harry Reid acted as though he might do something about it, but then he didn't. So, the 112th Congress became the most filibusterin'-est Congress in history. They blocked nearly everything, from their own ideas to uncontroversial appointments, their only goal being to thwart Democrats in general and President Obama in specific.

So, this time, frankly, I figured we wouldn't get what we were asking for either. I thought we might get a little taste, but I guessed that Reid was so steeped in the traditions of the Senate, that he wouldn't go for the Mr. Smith Goes to Washington-style rule. And even though I turned out to be right, I'm still bummed out about it. The very idea of working on a "deal" with a cretin like Mitch McConnell is very distasteful. Particularly when you know he was anything--hell, everything--but cooperative with Democrats over the last, oh, forever. But it is what it is. Sadly.

[Excerpt]

Senate Approves Modest Changes To Filibuster Rule

In two votes Thursday evening, the Senate overwhelmingly approved changes to the rules of the chamber, including the rules governing the filibuster. The final votes were 78-16 and 86-9. The approval of the changes was a disappointing ending for reformers, who had sought to dramatically weaken the filibuster, which has come to be used in recent years by the Republican minority with a frequency unprecedented in Senate history. . .

Read more at: Talking Points Memo

"Modest" Filibuster Reform Deal Reached?

Give 'em. . .er. . .heck, Harry? Image from HuffPo.

When "filibuster reform" is discussed in the news or the blogosphere, it is usually characterized as, "ending the filibuster." That's not what has been proposed, by any authority I've seen, anyway. What rank-and-file Democrats have wanted is to make the filibuster more difficult. Not--as it has become--routine. We'd really like that if a Senator threatens a filibuster, he has to get down on the floor and filibuster. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington-style. Barring that, we just want it to be tougher to do, and impossible to do in secret.

I can't figure out why this is even a problem for Democrats, who are in the majority. Just do it. I know that they're all squishy about what might happen if they one day find themselves in the minority, but why? You're not getting rid of the thing, you're making it tougher. It should be tougher. It's ludicrous how it is being abused. Harry Reid is working on a "deal" with Mitch McConnell? What on earth for? Just do it. Reid is going to have to put on quite the performance if he caved on this one, in order to not have liberals asking for his head.

[Excerpt]

Filibuster Reform: Senators Reportedly Close To Deal On Modest Limits

Senators may be nearing an end to their partisan dispute over curbing unlimited delays called filibusters. Whatever the resolution, it probably won't require filibustering senators to debate on the Senate floor until exhaustion, like the actor Jimmy Stewart did in the movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. . ."

Read more at: Huffington Post

Bi-Partisan Filibuster Reform? Really?

Inspiring. Not. Image from source, TPM.

I hope by "bi-partisan" they mean that the Republicans simply feel like they get a place at the table. Because if it means more like "watered-down so as to not to piss off the GOP" I'm so not on board. The Mitch McChinless McConnell Senate has been ridiculously obstructionist for obstruction's sake. It hasn't even been about principles or ideology, it has been flat out, "we don't like the (black) dude in the White House." They don't deserve any undue deference.

[Excerpt]

Dems Entertain Bipartisan Talks For Filibuster Reform

Democrats are conferring with Republican senators about cutting a deal that would still change some of the Senate’s filibuster rules but avoid a showdown that would force Democrats to advance significant reforms on a majority-rules basis. . .

Read more at: Talking Points Memo

What Happens in Vegas: Sen. Harry Reid OK After Multi-Car Wreck

Image from 8NewsNow

Glad to hear the Senator is okay. Sounds like it could have been much worse. Hang in there, Harry!

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Sen. Reid in Good Condition Following Crash

. . .Initial reports had Reid being taken to the hospital by members of his security detail. The apparent chain-reaction crash happened about 1 p.m. north of Sahara Avenue and involved six cars, including two Las Vegas police vehicles, two civilian vehicle and two Capitol Police vehicles. . .

Read more at: 8NewsNow

Democrats Cave on Surtax for Super Rich?

Harry and Chuck, you're letting us down.
Image from source, TPM

Why? This is an issue that is only defended by super-arch-conservatives. Taxing the super rich polls in the 80-percentile. Why on earth would the Democrats cave on that? Aaarrrrrgggggh. Harry, Harry, Harry. You know we're going to keep voting for you, because the alternative is so much worse. And I guess that's your reason, right there. I just don't understand how anybody is threatened by John Boner Boehner or Sen. Mitch Talking Turtle McConnell.

[Excerpt]


Dems Consider Dropping Demands As Republicans Risk A Shutdown

If it weren’t for the filibuster, Democrats would have the GOP neatly over a barrel. But Republicans believe they’ve regained the upper hand — and two developments suggest they’re right.
Senate Democrats are now considering dropping their demand that a payroll tax holiday for workers be offset by imposing a small surtax on millionaires, according to Democratic aides — resigning themselves to the fact that Republicans won’t lift their filibuster if the surtax stands. . .

Read more at: Talking Points Memo

Is a Government Shutdown on the Way?

My Senator, Harry Reid. He doesn't do
"tough guy" very well. Image from AOL

Last time there was a government shut down, it didn't go so well for Republicans or then Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. This time, a potential shutdown is still pretty much at the feet of the GOP if it happens, but they're scrambling like mad to paint it as the President's fault, or the Democrats' fault at least. I just wish they'd all get their shit together, realize that there's more than just politics at stake here (barely recovering economy, three or four wars going on). It isn't going to be pretty, and it wouldn't be particularly surprising to see everyone getting blowback on this one.

[Excerpt]

Government Funding Talks Devolve Into Widespread Recriminations



Negotiations over a resolution to keep the government funded until the fall have devolved into recriminations, with Senate Democrats arguing that House Republicans moved the goal posts, party operatives criticizing the White House's negotiating tactics, and GOP leadership calling congressional Democratic demands unreasonable. . .
 
Read more at: AOL

Sen. Harry Reid Wants to Outlaw Prostitution?

I don't know what's up with my Senators. John Ensign is inexplicably still running for re-election, even though he'll likely be primaried, possibly by Sharron Angle. And Harry Reid, who got re-elected by virtue of looking good next to Sharron Angle is now wading into "culture war" waters. I guess it's what all the cool Senators are doing these days, or something. But ending prostitution in Nevada? Really? That's miles off the radar screens of even the frothiest tea bagger. And where are those newly unemployed hookers going to get jobs? That's right, in the illegal sex trade. Bad idea, Harry.

[Excerpt]

Harry Reid gets chilly response for call to end prostitution in Nevada



Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, is calling for an end to legalized prostitution in his home state of Nevada. . .

Read more at: USA Today

Big Omnibus Spending Bill Dead

Image from MSNBC

All these billions and trillions are starting to make me dizzy. I have no idea if I should be for or again' them anymore. But it's big news apparently, and I guess the government could shut down if they don't figure it out. All I know is, I don't want to get stuck behind one of those damned Omnibuses if I'm on my way to work.

[Excerpt]

GOP Senate resistance kills giant spending bill




Democrats controlling the Senate abandoned on Thursday a huge catchall spending measure combining nearly $1.3 trillion worth of unfinished budget work, including another $158 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. . .

Read more at: MSNBC

House Passes "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal

Image from source, The Advocate

Or rather, they passed an "It's okay to repeal DADT if a whole bunch of people agree it's okay." Or something. For the second time. It's a great step, but meaningless unless Harry Reid manages to overcome a sure-to-be-tried filibuster. There is no reason--short of homophobia--to keep this always archaic and ridiculous law in place. The military is for repeal, for the most part. The American public is for repeal in large percentages. And there are already gay people in the military, just as there always have been. That won't stop John McCain and Mitch McConnell from claiming that "America" wants DADT to stay. 

[Excerpt]

House Approves DADT Repeal



The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday approved a stand-alone bill to repeal the 17-year-old law barring lesbian and gay service members from serving openly in the military by a vote of 250-175. . .
 
Read more at: The Advocate

Harry Reid to Conservatives: There's No Whining in the Senate!

The line today about why the Senate can't get anything done before the end of the year is that it would be disrespectful to Christians. You heard that right. Apparently December 15-24 and 26-31 are sacred, right along with Christmas and John Boner Boehner's holy day, New Year's Eve. The real reason of course is that if the lame duck Senate manages to pass anything on the agenda, it might have the side effect of making President Obama look good. And you know they can't have that.

Occasionally, they'll be blunt and upfront about that. But usually, they make up shit like the Christmas excuse. It's getting damned annoying hearing all the bloviation when we all know what they're up to. And I find my self once again feeling proud of my usually milque-toasty Senator, Harry Reid.

A Deal on Tax Cut Extensions and Unemployment?

Image from source, Huffington Post

So, finally this ridiculous argument is going to come to some sort of resolution. So, why am I still unhappy about it? Mostly because the arguments and rhetoric being used simply don't hold up to any kind of reason or logic. Somehow, Republicans voting against extending tax cuts to the middle class was sold as voting for them. Somehow, even though everyone knows that any extension of the tax cuts will lard billions or trillions onto the debt, they're doing it anyway. And not just for the middle class, but even millionaires and billionaires who certainly don't need it.

Mostly, I'm disenheartened that if Republicans are in charge--even if their numbers aren't overwhelming--they get what they want. And if Democrats are in charge--even if their numbers are overwhelming--Republicans still get what they want. Democrats are terrible at messaging. They're terrible at selling their own accomplishments. And they're terrible at punching holes in the tissue paper-thin arguments from the right.  I still believe that Democratic ideals and policies are best for the country. But will we ever get to see them implemented? Why on earth are Democrats scared of cartoon characters like John Boner Boehner and Mitch McConnell? And finally, how is it that the Obama/Pelosi/Reid triumvirate has been sold as this iron-fisted, policy steam train, rolling over Republicans? It just hasn't happened.

[Excerpt]

Tax Cut Deal: White House, GOP Leaders Close To Agreement



President Barack Obama announced "a framework for a bipartisan agreement" Monday night over the impending expiration of the Bush tax cuts. . .
 
Read more at: Huffington Posts

House Passes Middle Class Tax Cuts; Senate to Vote Saturday

Image from JackTimes

Earlier in the day, when news came down that extending the middle-class tax cuts passed the House, I couldn't resist taking a peek at a right-wing site to see what they were saying.  Mostly it was a bunch of snark that the vote was meaningless, since it will never pass the Senate.  Now, roll that around in your head a little bit: right-wingers are supporting Republicans voting against tax cuts. Only three House Republicans voted for them.  The Republicans in the House essentially voted for taxes to go up on every American.  Sure, it's all a ploy to try and make Democrats look bad, but still.

Developments in just the last hour may change the way that Republicans and conservatives look at the math, though. Harry Reid has scheduled two votes on Saturday: 1) A vote to extend tax cuts to people making $250,000 per year or less, and 2) A vote to extend tax cuts to people making more than a quarter million dollars.  How exactly are Republican Senators going to play that one? Vote no on both bills, and be held responsible for everyone's taxes going up? Vote yes on both bills, and watch a likely Democratic defeat of the bonuses for billionaires? Or will they pull some stalling tactic out of their asses, and just let the tax breaks expire for everybody?  Any way you slice it, the Repubicans' use of the party of no behavior probably won't work here. I don't say this often, but I'm proud of my Senator, Harry Reid right now.

[Excerpt]

Reid Says Senate Will Vote Saturday on Two Democratic Tax Plans



The U.S. Senate plans to vote Dec. 4 on two Democratic proposals to extend Bush-era income-tax cuts, Majority Leader Harry Reid said tonight. . .


Read more at: Bloomberg Businessweek

One More Try: Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Image from source, Raw Story

I'm not used to Democrats showing a backbone. Especially not my Senator, Harry Reid. Though he vanquished tea bagger candidate Sharron Angle this month, Harry hasn't been a storm trooper of the Democrat Imperial fleet (you only believe that if you listen to FOX "News" or talk radio). But kudos to the Majority Leader for at least putting forth an effort here.  I'm not confident that it will succeed, but I'm glad he's trying.

[Excerpt]

Dems make last-ditch attempt at passing ‘don’t ask’ repeal



Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to schedule a vote to end the Pentagon's ban on gays serving openly in the military before the start of the new Congress in January. . .
 
Read more at: Raw Story

How Harry Reid Beat Sharron Angle

Image from source, The Daily Beast

The post-mortems of the 2010 election are plentiful, and I don't intend to dwell on them much from here on out. And if I never have to do another post about Sharron Angle, that will be just fine with me.  I mean, unless she does something daffy, outlandish or otherwise manages to extend her 15 minutes of fame. And I can't imagine that, can you (sarcasm).  Anyway, the excerpted article below is by Steve Friess, a favorite writer of mine from Las Vegas. It offers some insight at the local level that you might appreciate.

[Excerpt]

How Harry Pulled It Off


As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took his victory lap on Wednesday before a state and a nation that had anticipated his humiliating demise, the reasons for his triumph became so obvious that it’s a wonder the outcome was ever in doubt.


Yes, he ran a magnificent, vicious, and effective campaign, one to be studied by political masterminds for generations. But rival Sharron Angle also ran an epically terrible campaign, one that comes with a sidesplitting blooper reel for the DVD. . .

Read more at: The Daily Beast

The Best Post I've Seen on Sharron Angle's Loss

Image from source, Joe.My.God.

I'm a Las Vegas, Nevada blogger. And I'm thrilled that Sharron Angle lost her bid for Senate. So thrilled, that it almost negates the losses of the night. But I simply can't top the post by one of my favorite bloggers, Joe.My.God. on the announcement of the prime tea bagger's loss. Only a slight demerit for his unusually photogenic shot of her for the post (pictured at left).

[Excerpt]

NEVADA: Nutjob Anti-Gay Teabagger Racist Sharron Angle LOSES To Harry Reid



I am touching ALL of the Flying Spaghetti Monster's noodly appendages in joy as the networks have just declared Sen. Harry Reid as the winner in Nevada's freakazoid Senate race. Never before (I don't think) have I loathed a political candidate so fiercely with every gay fiber of my being as I do Sharron Angle. . .
 
Read more at: Joe. My. God.

Las Vegas City Life Endorses Harry Reid

Image from source, Las Vegas City Life

It's difficult to imagine that there are still "undecided" voters in Nevada regarding the Senate race between incumbant Majority Leader Harry Reid, and tea party favorite, Sharron Angle.  As anyone who follows politics knows, the race is one of the most heated in the country.  Reid has been demonized by the right-wing talk shows and FOX "News" for years now, and regardless of his performance, would have been anyway by virtue of his job title.  He's hardly the demon they portray him to be, and his relative unpopularity is not uniform.  Conservatives dislike Reid because they think he's an extremist liberal (Marxist, Maoist, Statist, etc., etc.). Liberals are down on him because they don't think he's progressive enough.

Sharron Angle on the other hand is very clearly an extremist, though she's watered down her position statements since she won the Republican endorsement.  Support for Angle is split, consisting of the 20-25% of the population who thought George W. Bush did a heckuva job (tea baggers, in other words), and people who simply hate Reid, and would vote for any opponent. 

If there truly are any undecideds left out there, they could do themselves a favor by reading Las Vegas City Life's endorsement of Reid. It's an honest look at his accomplishments, as well as his flaws. But it's also a scathing rebuke of Angle, that also has the virtue of being true. 

[Excerpt]

Regardless of the name-calling, it's clear which senator will (continue to) support Nevada in office

There's simply no contest.  In the race for United States Senate pitting Democratic incumbent Harry Reid against Republican former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, the choice is unmistakably clear:  Harry Reid deserves to be re-elected. . .


Sharron Angle has demonstrated she's unfit to serve in the Senate in myriad ways, but none so devastating as this: Her manifest indifference to human suffering. That flaw alone is disqualifying. . .

Read more at: Las Vegas City Life

Anti-Sharron Angle Ad Takes on Abortion Issue

Abortion is not usually an issue Democrats run on. Republicans do, of course. But while many Democrats stand for a woman's right to choose, it isn't often that it takes on a prominent place in election strategy.  In Nevada, you're not likely to find Harry Reid himself running on the issue. I'm not even sure what Reid's stance is on the issue.  But when you have a wackadoodle like Sharron Angle running for Senate, and she's on the record saying that rape and incest victims should be forced to carry their attacker's baby to term, well. . .

This ad is from one of those PACs with a patriotic name--Patriot Majority PAC--something I usually leery of. But this ad is effective, and better than that, it is true.  No whitewash, parsing of language, out-of-context quotes, or misrepresentation.  This is what Angle believes, and I've got to think that most Nevadans don't support her on this.