Posted on 02/10/2005 2:38:00 PM PST by Pharmboy
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Democrats demanded Thursday that President Bush order a halt to personal attacks on the party's leader, Sen. Harry Reid, and expressed regret they had failed to mount a stronger defense for his defeated predecessor. "This is a new Democratic party," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said at a news conference called to release a letter telling Bush to muzzle his "political operatives."
"...It says to the president, 'you will not intimidate us'," added Schumer, who likened the attacks on Reid to political knee-cappings.
The letter itself was written in milder terms. "We urge you to keep your word about being a uniter and publicly halt these counter-productive attacks so that we are able to work together in a bipartisan manner and debate issues on the merits," it says.
Bush and the White House have denied responsibility for the attacks.
But Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, ridiculed that assertion, as Reid did earlier in the week.
"This is the Abu Ghraib defense, that a few renegade soldiers are responsible for their own behavior and the commanders are not accountable," said Durbin, second in the leadership behind Reid. His remarks were a reference to claims by military officials that a few low-ranking enlisted personnel were responsible for the shocking conditions at a U.S.-run prison in Iraq.
The letter to Bush was signed by all the Senate's Democrats except Reid, as well as Sen. James Jeffords, an independent from Vermont.
Reid was named to succeed the defeated Tom Daschle as party leader in December and quickly was attacked as an obstructionist by both the Republican National Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee.
The RNC distributed a 13-page compilation of criticisms, dissecting Reid's voting record and accusing him of obstructing Bush's agenda over the years. One portion of the document notes that the Nevada lawmaker lives in a costly condominium when he is in Washington - a point that Democrats said has no bearing on policy disputes with the White House.
The attacks are reminiscent of the treatment Daschle received for many months while he was Senate Democratic leader. He lost a re-election campaign in South Dakota last fall, and although Durbin said he and others had defended Daschle from GOP criticism, "we should have done more."
Reid, who did not attend the news conference, said twice this week that Bush could not credibly claim he wasn't behind attacks that were circulated by a party apparatus under his control.
Ironically, Reid and his wife were dinner guests at the White House on Monday night. The senator said Bush had told him he was not behind the attacks.
In addition to sending the letter to Bush, Democrats sought to use the issue as a party-building tool for the 2006 elections.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, chaired by Schumer, sought signatures for an online petition asking Bush to renounce the attacks.
what part of the defintion of "loser" do these pukes not understand?
NO!!...then carry on.
Coming as it does on the heels of what they did to Condi and Estrada - they look like a bunch of bawling babies
I used to live on the upper east side of Manhattan...it was the '90s and Chuckie was running for reelection. I was walking down the stairs of the subway at 77th and Lexington on the way to work one morning.
I am a big guy (and a Jew who looks it) and as I get to the bottom of the stairs Chuckie comes towards me and extends his hand for a shake (figuring here's a guy who loves him). I am wearing big aviator sunglasses, and turn to him and slowly spit out "N-R-A!"
He backed up like he was punched in the chest. It was a great moment.
They're still in Hell's Kitchen, sweetie. The Westies have not gone away completely...
Given what Reid has said about the President, tell him to go F&^$ himself ....... never mind, I will email him myself.
Wow that's news to me.
I get your post.
Jeff Gannon.
Don't expect many other people here to get it.
I liked it!
Don't leave out that dunce Dick Durbin, Chicago mayor Dick Daleys tool in D.C. Durbin is the errand boy of the crooked pols that infest Chicago.
Ugly is okay if you are smart or if you are funny. Is there a three strike rule that can be applied to crappy "news" shows?
Interesting also that the AP saw fit to print a party statement as "breaking news".
These folks are on their last legs, and they won't go down easy.
I'm one that hopes for a rational Democratic party. My local Democrats are OK.
damn, and I thought my tale of the time I passed up on the opportunity to vomit an entire family-size can of ravioli on Jesse Jackson was good!
"Hey Chuck I your muzzle right here"
Let not your heart be troubled, Schumer....no one want to "intimidate" you. We're happy just to defeat you.
Great list.. thanks for posting it..BTTT
Let's see what is important to Dems in the Senate? Obviously something so important they send a letter demanding the President's attention to this matter:
North Korea and nuclear weapons?
Iran getting nuclear weapons and subjugating their citizens?
Elections and freedom from enslavement in the Middle East?
Possible brokered peace between Israel and Palestinians?
No what is important to liberal Dems are Harry Reid's feelings.
Glad their priorities are clearly shared by the American people.
Does anyone remember the 'pit yorkie' they sicked on Gingrich?
The democraps cant take what they dish out
Dang it man, I was gonna ask that! Took the words right out of my mouth!
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