Harry Reid has a serious problem on his hands. He is up for re-election in 2010 and he isn’t faring very well in the polls in his home state of Nevada. A recent Rasmussen poll (12/11/09) shows him trailing all three of the potential republican challengers for his seat next year. Interestingly, his “unfavorable” rating, compared to his competitors is a strikingly high 49%. What could cause so many people to look so unfavorably on the mild-mannered Senator Reid?
While I can’t speak for the voters of Nevada, I can speak for myself. And when I think of Harry Reid, when I activate my “stream of consciousness,” the following words just kind of jump out of me: milktoast, weenie, pussy, spineless, and pacifier. That’s my impression of Harry Reid. And I have a strong feeling that that’s also the impression he leaves with a lot of people, including progressives like me who saw him kissing (instead of kicking) the asses of people like Joe Lieberman, Ben Nelson and Rahm Emanuel this past week.
Let’s face it, folks. Harry Reid has a huge image problem, brought on largely by himself with some really bad advice thrown in by those in whom he confides. And if good ‘ol Harry doesn’t fix his problem fast, I predict that a year from now he’ll be cleaning out his desk and preparing to hand over his gavel to his successor. And I would truly hate to see that happen for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, I think that at his core, Harry Reid is truly a kind and compassionate man who puts his country first. He wants to help our young President succeed and he tries his damnedest to do a good job. But he’s just too nice. I also want to see him get reelected because even a wuss of a Democratic senator is better than any “compassionate coservative” Republican asshole who would replace him. Remember, Obama has a long list of agenda items and court appointments ahead of him.
So here’s what I’m going to do first thing Monday morning. I’m going to call Senator Reid’s office and suggest that he do two things. First, he needs to strip Joe Lieberman of his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. That alone will not only be doing what’s best for the country, it will be good for the Democratic party by making the Lincoln’s, the Landrieu’s and the Nelson’s think twice about bucking the majority leader. But it will also do a lot to promote a new image for Harry Reid as a tough, no nonsense leader. My second suggestion will be that Senator Reid introduce a change in the filibuster rule that requires 60 votes to end debate (known as “cloture”). After all, the Republicans are abusing it terribly. There have been more filibusters in this session of Congress than in any other Congress in U.S. history. And just like one would deal with a spoiled teenager who abused a privilege by taking it away, Harry Reid should take away the “privilege” that Republicans are abusing by trying to stall or kill every important piece of legislation that comes before them by using the filibuster. I would prefer that 51 votes be used to end debate, but could live with a compomise of 55 votes. That again would be doing what’s best for the country, for the party and especially for Harry Reid. It would overnight disempower the intransigent minority and it would get things moving. We would no longer have a “do nothing” Congress. And Harry Reid’s popularity in the polls, as a consequence of doing not only the right thing, but also the courageous thing would quickly rise. So if you feel like doing your part to help Senator Reid, why don’t you join me tomorrow? The phone number for his Washing office is (202) 224-3542. Give him a jingle and help him out.
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I believe that it would come back to haunt the Democratic Party.
Bush/Cheney used the justice department. They hired only neocon prosecutors, and targeted DEmocrats for investigations.
I think that the current President has too much integrity to play this way. Nevertheless, the precedent for such behavior has already been made by Bush/Cheney and also by RMN (using the IRS.)
an “image problem”.
His problem is that he’s Harry Reid.
Good riddance.
How about turning the other cheek once in a while?
He needs to go.
When he said “This war is lost.” he crossed from being a politician I disagree with into someone who has lost his responsibility to our troops in the field, IMO.
Can’t stand him.
But I like you. Have a great Christmas, if you celebrate it. Hopefully we can finally get together soon.