Will Durbin (Reid's future replacement) be a better Senate leader?

[Unsane]

He seems more overtly partisan, and he has a closer relationship w/Obama. I'm curious to see if Reid steps down in '10 (or is defeated at the ballot box) and whether Durbin can do a better job.

I feel like Durbin would let the GOP filibuster; thus letting the GOP own their own obstruction. Reid seems to want to delay/kill anything unless it gets 60 votes in conference (instead of just letting it go to the floor). Ex. LET the GOP filibuster EFCA. How long can they keep it up? Are they going to shut down the federal government over it? It's a fight I'm willing to have.

[TeamJordan23]

1. why do u think it will be Durbin?

[Unsane]

4. He has the most seniority

[Captain Hilts]

2. NOT Durbin. nt

[Unsane]

19. why?

[FrenchieCat]

3. Personally, I like Dick Durbin a whole lot!

He certainly is a stronger personality than Reid.

[Hippo_Tron]

5. My problem with Reid is his inability to reign in Nelson et al

The GOP is only emboldened to challenge this because Reid can't herd the cats on our side. If we had 58 yea votes the GOP would not be so emboldened because they know that we can just buy off two of their guys with some pork money and that will be that. But when the number is down to 54 or 55 it's a different story.

[Jennicut]

6. Yes! Anyone would be better then Dishwater Rag Reid

though I prefer Barbara Boxer.

[mucifer]

7. When Obama first got his seat as the Jr senator from IL. He had a tiny tiny office.

He was buddies with Durbin the senior senator from IL. Durbin had a HUGE office because he had all the seniority and he gave a chunk of his office space for Senator Obama to use. Then several months later Durbin sent out an email requesting people to call and write Obama to get him to run for president.

[democrattotheend]

8. Being close to the president is a plus and a minus

On the one hand, it's good for the president to have someone he trusts as majority leader. On the other hand, a majority leader who is seen by some caucus members as too close to the president may have a harder time whipping votes among Senators who may be inclined to want to assert their independence, especially if Obama's approval rating doesn't stay at 65%.

[Still Sensible]

9. I like Durbin, but I'd rather it was Boxer. n/t

[rwheeler31]

10. What is the point of this group?

We used to get together and fight the Gop, now it is all dem bashing.

[Uzybone]

12. The GOP is out shouting us 100 to 1 in calls to congress

meanwhile we sit here wondering which democrats to take out. Its pathetic.

[backscatter712]

17. I keep hearing that, but I still have not heard any hard facts to confirm this.

It was originally on a Daily Kos diary, and its source was "word on the street" in DC - a source of rumor that should be taken with a dump truck of salt.

I'm guessing it's Rovian types exaggerating their numbers, or maybe part of it is Rovian boiler-room operations spam-calling the Senate switchboard to do the telephone equivalent of freeping a poll. Don't think that the Senate doesn't know about these kinds of tricks.

Meanwhile Gallup still shows more supporters than opposers of the stimulus bill - 52%-38%.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/114184/Public-Support-Stimulus-Package-Unchanged.aspx

I'm not saying don't call your Senators and Congresscritters. By all means, we should be keeping their phones ringing off the hook. Just don't believe everything you read on the Internet.

[Starlight]

18. ITA. No one in their right mind actually believe the average person supports tax cuts for the rich.

[jwirr]

11. Has Reid actually step out? Or are we just wishing?

[Occam Bandage]

13. Reid ain't goin' anywhere. nt

[napi21]

14. O think Durbin would be better, mostly because Reid is just so soft

spoken abd appears to be a wuss! Durbin is NOT! I'd like Durbin, Schumer, Weiden, or many of the female strong people. I understand that's just my prefrence, but I've always been a fighter and not a just lets all work together person. You can;t fight the strong arm Pubs with a garden hose!

[Bonobo]

15. Hell yes!!!!

[stillcool]

16. I'd be fine with Durbin...

[BlooInBloo]

20. Hard to see how he could be worse.