The DUer haters are right, Reid is a wimp! He is a Bushbot. . .NOT!

[wndycty]

Democratic leader threatens GOP

January 17, 2005

WASHINGTON -- The Senate's Democratic leader said Sunday that Republicans ''would rue the day'' if they try to make it harder for Democrats to stall judicial nominees who could not get a vote last year.

But Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) said he hoped a new ''optimistic'' climate would take hold now that Nevada Sen. Harry Reid is the top Democrat, succeeding the defeated Tom Daschle of South Dakota, whom the GOP labeled an obstructionist.
-snip-

Reid compared Bush's talk of crisis in judicial nominations to the president's rhetoric on Social Security. ''He's trying to create crisis with judges and with Social Security. They don't exist,'' he said.
-snip-

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-sen17.html

[KittyWampus]

1. Wndy, There's A Concerted Effort To Trash Talk Democrats On DU

Some of it is from immature posters who can't phrase their emotional tirades in a more constructive manner.

And some of it is definately disruptors who imitate the first group.

That said, I kinda like Reid.

Do wish they'd say "he's creating a crisis where none exists like THEY DID IN IRAQ. :)

[wndycty]

2. You and I both. . .however

. . .I don't want my elected officials (who have to work with the other party) to be nearly as partisan and undiplomatic as I am.

[dogman]

5. The frame has been set.

The GOP labeled Daschle as obstructionist and defeated him. It's not right, it's not fair, but it is. They have us on the defensive and we have to break out but I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel until we get a new DNC chair to set strategy and coordinate this mess. Right now we are a Party in dissarray. Normally the Pres candidate leads and the Kerry/Edwards team dissappeared after the election. I sincerely hope the Party gets its act together soon. I did watch the repeat of MTP and felt it was not as bad as portrayed and not even as bad as the transcript appeared. It did seem as if Rahm was not prepared for Russert's gotcha game and hopefully he will be better prepared next time. He was hampered, as most Dems are, by the record. I would hope that what they learn from this is to devise a Dem vision and plan and stick with it as a group.

[lojasmo]

3. OOH big words....Check the voting record.

Or perhaps you don't care about civil liberties and all that garbage.

[KittyWampus]

4. Perhaps You Don't Care About Winning Elections In Red States

especially ones that exist in THE REAL WORLD.

[dsc]

6. I find it pretty hard to believe that one has to be pro life to win

elections in Nevada which is a pretty libertarian state. I happen to disagree with criticising his stand, but I don't think Nevada is a typical red state in that regard (it also was razor thin both times).

[wndycty]

7. Who won the NV in the presidential race?

Have you ever spent time in Las Vegas (off strip), they like their gambling, tits and booze, but they also like their guns, country music and war. NV being pro-life would not surprise me.

[dsc]

9. In both races

it was less than 50k votes. Nevada was one of the closest states both times (it got less attention due to being too small to change the real outcome either time but it was close). I find it immensely hard to belive that a state which sanctions prostitution is so pro life that a pro choicer can't win a state wide race.

[wndycty]

10. So we take that chance and lose one more seat. . .

. . .is that OK with you. Lipinski(D) in Illinois's 3rd CD is pro-life as was his father, if they go pro-choice there is a very good chance that district goes Republican. . .I'm not into taking chances with other people's local politics. Reid does what he needs to do to win and keep the seat blue. I don't like it but I don't want to see Dems bite our noses off to spite our collective faces.

[dsc]

11. I think most people's point wasn't that Reid should become

pro choice which would be lunacy but that given he is pro life a different person should be majority leader. I happen to disagree with that position but you are completely mischaracterising it. It should be noted though that Kucinich survived having changed his position as had Gore before him.

[lojasmo]

12. If our president ends up being a DINO I certainly don't

When was the last time a Democrat won in a slew of red states anyway?

Carter, who was certainly our most liberal president since Kennedy, if not including Kennedy.

[AP]

23. What do you think made Carter liberal?

Clinton won a slew of red states and was very competitive in a few he lost.

Clinton ran a national campaign.

[Kahuna]

15. "But but....we don't need any of the red states to win...."

isn't that what we heard during the primaries when we were shopping for an acceptable candidate? They never will learn that being a flaming liberal in today's climate will keep us in the majority. Gain control FIRST... THEN, set the agenda.

[TwilightZone]

22. "Gain control FIRST... THEN, set the agenda."

That is it, exactly. It is also the history of politics, up to and including Bush. He ran as a moderate; he governs like a wacko.

You can't set the agenda if you don't win the race.

[sunnystarr]

25. It's not the message that loses ...

It's the political strategy of the campaign. The only reason we were beat is that Rove was far superior in his tactics. Far dirtier too. It's obviously not the candidate. The Repugs could have run a chimp (oh they did that!) and have him win using the same tactics.

I've seen Reid a few times now and love him more each time. He reminds me of Jimmy Stewart. He also has some balls ... unlike many of our Dem leaders and repreentatives. Maybe he gets it.

We need Dean as chair and need to replace Pelosi. All I've seen her do is buy into that values message crap and kiss GOP ass.

The Repugs have spent years building their machine. We have to catch up in hurry and need courageous leaders and good strategist instead of hacks that sell us out.

Most of all we need a clear message and for everyone to be on message. It's the strategy that sells it.

[eg101]

8. Who CARES about the minutaie of their faux conflicts?

These goons get together at the country club on weekends and work out their next pro-wrestling style "conflict".

Neither the democratic or republican leaders are concerned in the least with optimizing quality of life for most Americans. If they were, where is the universal healthcare, the tuition free college, the longterm unemployment, the tax-funded child care? Most countries in NW Europe have had all those for at least a decade or more. All our "leaders" are interested in is perpetuating the stage play while they fill their pockets. F*ck each and every one of them....

Also, here is a clue for you: There are 5 types of Democratic party activists:
1. Those who want in on the game: the wannabe careerists, with visions of fame and wealth. They play along with the game and support the big players, hoping for a chance to get in.

2. The earnest followers who "love their country." THey usually like American flags and crap like that.

3. The dilettantes. Studiously politically correct. Soccer housewives "doing their duty".

4. those obsessed with some politician,

5. The "bombthrowers" (metaphorically speaking, not literally speaking). They somehow got a glance backstage and saw the party going on....

[John_H]

18. People who have a more complete sense of history than you

The "faux conflict" discussed in this thread would be the single biggest change in the way our country is run since the direct election of senators. Cloture has been the decisive factor, for ill or good, in nearly every momentous decision--war, peace, civil rights, treaties, you name it--since it became a senate rule. It was designed allows the minority--in this case, us-- control over his party to turn america into a dictatorship. Sound familiar?

Eighth-grade nihilism may sound real good down at the campus starbucks, but this faux-conflict could change the political landscape of America forever. But maybe we can put you in with the majority of Desperate Housewives watching Americans who think it just doesn't matter.

[eg101]

19. I bet I have twice as many college credits as you

and a handful of degrees.

[w4rma]

13. Reid is awesome. I wholehartedly trust Reid. (nt)

[StClone]

14. I like Reid but would need time to label him awesome.

I watched his interview with Stephanopolis and he showed humble roots and a perspicacious understanding of the challenges we face.

[UTUSN]

16. Early on in the Shrub Dark Age, Somebody Called Him "Liar": It Was REID

In the first couple of years under the funk of Shrub, I was doing something else while C-SPAN or CNN ran on, and I heard somebody using the L-word about Shrub. I was SHOCKED, and ran to see who this brave soul was. It was REID, talking about the nookewler dump. I, too, would like national Dems to pimpslap Repukes, but have appreciated the horribly difficult situation they are in.

[wndycty]

17. But Reid does not pass certain peoples' litmus tests. . .

...so he is evil.

[welshTerrier2]

20. hypocrisy

doesn't referring to other DU'ers as "DUer haters" make you a "DUer hater" yourself ???

[wndycty]

21. If you want to call me hypocrite who am I to fight it. . .

. . .go right ahead.

[welshTerrier2]

26. i don't want to call you anything ...

i wrote what i wrote because i think your subject line was hyprocritical ... i did not say you were hypocritical ...

[moggie12]

24. I call 'em as I see 'em

And I think Reid is terrific. Right now, all I care about is that the Dems stop Bush from recklessly leading the country over a cliff. From a PR standpoint, Reid is just what we need: Principled, willing to stand up Bush and the Republicans, someone who "middle Americans" will listen to on TV because he seems moderate, thoughtful and, yes, not a "stereotypical liberal Democrat".