Sen. Reid cracks me up. He compares Bush's plans to "Groundhog Day"

[ClarkUSA]

because we've heard the same crap year after year from Bush and is really laying into Bush. He called Bush's plans "not Social Security reform but more like Social Security roulette" and joked about this being from a "Senator from Las Vegas." He said Bush's plans are "immoral" and that Bush is only concerned with taking care of the wealthy and not all of "God's children."

[XanaDUer]

1. That was a great line.

...

[ncrainbowgrrl]

2. That made my night.

Groundhog Day!

[XanaDUer]

4. Mine too,

great line, and a very good rebuttal to Chimp Boy.

[FreedomAngel82]

40. And it's so true

[ClarkUSA]

10. Mine too. And I was feeling sick until Reid made me laugh.

Groundhog Day is one of my top ten films, too. Great framing.

This is how we beat down Bush's lies and Orwellian rhetoric.

Groundhog Day! Democrats should dress up like Groundhogs from now on whenever a Bushie GOP politician shows up to sell Bush's SS plans.

[Clark2008]

29. Just try to piratize Social Security...

Put 'em up, Bush... Put 'em up!

[ClarkUSA]

5. I was not a Reid fan but he has grown on me. Barbara Boxer said on AAR

that we "would be very pleasantly surprised by Senator Reid" when she was asked about him.

Let's start calling it Social Security Roulette.

[FreedomAngel82]

41. Boxer was on AAR?

When? If she says that about him I trust her. I saw him on "Meet the Press" and liked him. Sure, he has a smooth voice and stuff and could put you to sleep but if you listen to him talk he can slowly grow on you.

[Cha]

3. This is great..I'm glad they let him speak to

call bush on his LIES!

[gennifer6]

6. That was a great line........but we still are coming across wimpy...n/t

Reid and Pelosi sound so NICE.....

[Desert Liberal]

7. That's cuz we usually ARE nice! lol

[stevebreeze]

9. yeah I would like Durbin in instead of Reid.

much more forceful without coming off as a nutcase.

[LiviaOlivia]

13. Reid a nutcase??

How so?

[stevebreeze]

18. I was not in anyway referring to Reid when I used the word nutcase

In fact I was thinking of how far off base Newt Gingrich was.

[LiviaOlivia]

21. Ok good to hear

but your post doesn't read that way.

[stevebreeze]

24. sorry just poor witting on my part

[LiviaOlivia]

28. Did you read

this Dec. 22, 2004 on Harry Reid?

Harry Reid Is Not Boring--Slate

http://slate.msn.com/id/2111392

[ClarkUSA]

15. Reid does not sound like a nutcase to me...and he's perfect because

he looks like a cross between an accountant and a Sunday school teacher but his words are very down-to-earth.

Forceful only turns viewers off. We need someone out there that regular people can relate to, IMO. Dick Durbin is good on shows like MTP.

[gennifer6]

19. good point

too forceful would be a turnoff, and he is the "sit and have a beer with" kind of guy. I think he is tougher than he appears, but when dealing with someone like Bush I feel like we have to fight fire with fire......

[ClarkUSA]

23. Definitely. Fight fire with fire. Your beer buddy vs. our beer buddy

[gennifer6]

32. n/t

:toast:

[FreedomAngel82]

42. And hey I'm sure he's tough

because he used to be a boxer too so I'm sure he knows how to fight. We still have to becareful and use our words wiesly.

[gennifer6]

16. what he said doesn't sound wimpy, he just doesn't SOUND strong,

I would have liked to see Boxer and Kerry, even Boxer alongside Reid would have appeared a sturdier wall..

[Pirate Smile]

8. Birth Tax mention - Great. That needs to become one of the Dem's mantras.

[IronLionZion]

11. Yes, he's one of the good guys,

give him some time and he will surprise you. He knows which battles to pick and Social Security is definitely the one to fight hard on.

[Webster Green]

12. He nailed it with that line!

Same old tired-ass bullet-points.

Repuke zombies chant Zeig heil!

[Yellow Horse]

14. Hey... Mr. Average American would have a beer with him...

isn't that what it is all about these days?

[ClarkUSA]

20. Mrs. Average American would trust him to teach their kids Sunday School

and I bet he could.

He's a perfect "face" for the general public, the people who never normally pay attention to politics.

Relaxed yet tough. Funny yet serious, too. My parents would like him and I'll bet he reached alot of seniors tuning in tonight.

Strategy, strategy.

[SharonAnn]

25. Since he's Mormon, I doubt that he drinks beer.

[Yellow Horse]

27. Bush is a Born-Again, recovering alcoholic, but...

the "have a beer factor" supposedly influenced the election!

(that and a few million stolen votes!)

[ClarkUSA]

33. If people don't like you, they won't listen to you.

Yes, it's the comfort factor that we need from Democrats now. Reid has a great bedside manner for the ordinary American.

[ClarkUSA]

30. Even better. How trustworthy can someone get?

LOL. I was only agreeing with jennifer. I actually think he looks like a Sunday School teacher with attitude.

[welshTerrier2]

17. "only concerned with taking care of the wealthy"

there was a time when Democrats ruled the land ... they were good times when all Americans knew the republicans were the "fat cat" party ...

for too long now, Democrats have been afraid to fight the class war that rages whether they participate or not ...

is this an just an opening salvo for the Social Security battle or will this be the new "Democratic framework" for all issues ???

[ClarkUSA]

22. Nice that you could catch that - I say BOTH

It's back to the great days of true populism, not the lunchpail populism practiced every four years by aspiring politicians during the primaries.

GOP = Fat Cat Party

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

26. I was listening to Reid and I think he has that ability to connect

with people in the way that he speaks (not "Senate-ese" per se). I think was intentional. Just an observation. I thought Reid was great tonight. His response was substantive; he nailed it! Geez, I sound like a speech communications teacher. I left to come upstairs to the computer room before Nancy spoke.

[ClarkUSA]

31. I totally agree with you - and I never liked the guy much until recently

By the way, he always talks this way. He really is very effective. He looks so ordinary and you're not distracted by any yelling or fingerpointing, just his message.

Barbara Boxer was right. I have been very pleasantly surprised by Harry Reid.

[FreedomAngel82]

43. I hope Mr. Reid can help

put some fighting back into the dems along with Mr. Dean. Oh and I also like your little puppy picture welshTerrier2.

[moggie12]

34. Oh my God, a thread that is making me feel good.

I loved Reid's response -- and a lot of DUers did, too. I think I'm actually starting to feel a tiny little bit optimistic. Have to wait awhile and check again: Not used to the feeling.

[ClarkUSA]

35. LOL!

Democrats are starting to frame the issues better, aren't they? Reid is a perfect messenger to Norman Rockwell's America. Hell, he LOOKS like he belongs in a Norman Rockwell print!

[aaronbees]

36. As much as I enjoy firey rebuttals...

I thought Reid, in particular, poured the attack on Bush very well tonight: down-to-earth and full of common sense. Great inclusion of the birth tax theme, too; he definitely picked up on some Kerry themes quite nicely. Pelosi was okay, but just didn't seem as relaxed as Reid.

[ClarkUSA]

37. Transcript link

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6903161/

And that's why we so strongly disagree with the President's plan to privatize Social Security. Let me share with you why I believe the President's plan is so dangerous. There's a lot we can do to improve American's retirement security, but it's wrong to replace the guaranteed benefit that Americans have earned with a guaranteed benefit cut of forty percent or more. Make no mistake, that's exactly what President Bush is proposing.

The Bush plan would take our already record high $4.3 trillion national debt and put us another $2 trillion in the red. That's an immoral burden to place on the backs of the next generation.

But maybe most of all, the Bush plan isn't really Social Security reform.
It's more like Social Security roulette. Democrats are all for giving Americans more of a say and more choices when it comes to their retirement savings. But that doesn't mean taking Social Security's guarantee and gambling with it. And that's coming from a Senator who represents Las Vegas...

But really, these are questions that are about old-fashioned moral values that don't get talked about much in Washington, but matter so much to our country. Are we willing to do right by our parents and care for our children? Do we believe that big corporations with powerful lobbyists should get special favors and that the wealthiest should get special tax breaks? Or do we believe we are all God's children and that each of us should get a fair shot and each of us deserves a say in our future?

[moggie12]

38. Thanks for posting the transcript - I just love that last paragraph

God, true moral values, economic populism, fair play, and democratic participation all rolled up into one ball. I love it.

[ClarkUSA]

39. Unlike many Democrats, Harry Reid doesn't sound like he's pandering

when he talks about what you said,

"God, true moral values, economic populism, fair play, and democratic participation all rolled up into one ball."

He's perfectly convincing and likeable to the average Jane and Joe. Seniors can relate to him - heck, he's one of them (no rich guy patina or longwinded Senator-speak). Seniors are the ones that most likely sat through the whole darn thing, too.

And you're welcome!

[Dread Pirate KR Read]

44. After 5 years,.... are the DEMs finally getting it?

"I believe the President's plan is so dangerous..."
"That's an immoral burden..."
"Are we willing to do right..."
"Social Security roulette..."
"these are questions that are about old-fashioned moral values..."

"we believe we are all God's children..."

Davy Jones a'turnin in his grave with a smile,..Reid done good, imo. Dems are finally moving up the moral high ground! ArrR,..let's take the next hill!!