Sen. Harry Reid in his private tax payer funded "war room" working on his solutions for America's future and national security. In this photo he is taking a break to show his democrat senators the finer strokes needed to smear their opponents.
Posted on 05/20/2005 3:10:25 PM PDT by yoe
It's safe to say that Senator Tom Daschle was not the most popular figure in Republican circles. In fact, defeating the former Minority Leader will be celebrated for many years to come by the GOP faithful across the country.
Senator Daschle was the ringleader of an obstructionist Senate intent on blocking the President's agenda. But if Senator Daschle was a divisive figure at times, his replacement Harry Reid is setting a new standard for political nastiness.
Immediately after becoming Minority Leader, Senator Reid launched a "War Room" in his personal office to attack the Republican agenda at every turn. Most recently, the War Room decided to attack Senator Bill Frist, a man who has demonstrated nothing but the utmost honor and integrity as both a public servant and as Majority Leader.
It didn't take long before Senator Reid - and his War Room - were churning out political mudballs. The Associated Press recently reported: "In an institution that prides itself as a last bastion of civility, the Senate's new Democratic leader has on occasion turned to playground taunts and name-calling in his four-month tenure."
Senator Reid's vitriolic remarks have ranged from absurd to downright nasty. If there were any doubts that the Democrats have grown frustrated with their continued presence as the minority, Senator Reid has laid them to rest. Few have been safe from his bitter barbs.
Let's take a look some of Senator Reid's personal attacks:
In December, Senator Reid called Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas "an embarrassment."
In March, after Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan praised Bush's Social Security proposal, Reid called him ""one of the biggest political hacks we have in Washington."
A few weeks ago, Senator Reid even called President Bush a liar regarding his involvement in the judicial nominee issue.
A week ago last Friday, while our Commander in Chief President Bush was on foreign soil (while we are a country at war), he called the President of the United States "a loser"- to a civics class in his home state of Nevada!
This past week Senator Reid threw a low blow when speaking about one of President Bush's judicial nominees on the Senate floor.
Reid claimed, "Henry Saad would have been filibustered anyway. All you need to do is have a member go upstairs and look at his confidential report from the FBI, and I think we would all agree that there is a problem there."
Unfortunately, unless you are a member of the Judiciary Committee or a home state Senator you cannot view a confidential report from the FBI. That goes for Henry Saad as well, who can't defend himself against such an undefined allegation. Senator Reid knows that, which is why his action was denounced.
The Oregonian newspaper summed it up best stating, "Reid has perfected the art of the smear."
Shortly after Senator Reid became Minority Leader he claimed, "I always would rather dance than fight," Reid said last fall. "But I know how to fight."
This is no doubt about Senator Reid's willingness to throw a political punch. What should be of more concern to the American people is whether or not Senator Reid will continue the politics of obstructing the people's business in the United States Senate.
Sincerely,
Mark Stephens
Executive Director
National Republican Senatorial Committee
The Associated Press recently reported: "In an institution that prides itself as a last bastion of civility, the Senate's new Democratic leader has on occasion turned to playground taunts and name-calling in his four-month tenure."
Color me shocked the AP characterized Reid that way.
It would indeed be fun to askole Harry what his model is for his whiny sniveling management style---when has it ever worked before? Do they teach it at UU? Altho it's counter productive and pretty much disgusting it will be fun to watch the slow implosion that's gonna happen.
Tom Daschle was allowed to “change the rules” by threats and cajolery and the MSM covered his unConstitutional foray into the bowels of the Senate cheering him on. Harry Reid is now carrying the baton and doing the exact same thing however, the MSM is beginning to waver and the citizens of this great nation are beginning to see the ruse of unConstitutional behavior. John McCain of AZ has joined with Ted Kennedy to work out a “compromise” – that is already unConstitutional. Read the note in bold letters, pass it on and keep up the drum roll for the Senate to act according to the United States Constitution, that is the only legal option these Senators have. The "rules" Shabby Harry is screaming about are the Tom Daschle rules in Bush's first term, he doesn't want them changed - they were unConstitutional then and they are unConstitutional now!
That an EXCELLENT point, yoe. And if you've made it before to me in a ping, I've somehow missed it and apologize.
How I wish I'd seen that because that is exactly what I would have said the several times I called Lindsey Graham's office.
I'll call Monday morning. Thank you for stating it so simply and well. And keep spamming the threads with that information IN BOLD on all the pertinent threads.
Dingy Harry. 'Nuff said.
You'll be happy to know that a wonderful letter to the editor just appeared in our local newspaper which pointed out exactly what you posted.
Color me shocked the AP characterized Reid that way.
Me too. However, it's a perfect description of Creepy Harry's behavior. He's all the more creepy because he whines his vicious little diatribes while hiding behind that Casper Milquetoast persona.
The "politics" you refer to is mindless hatred devoid of any alternative or recognizable agenda.
He and they are going headfirst into the sewer.
He and his party are bankrupt.
This hardly deserves cheery and animated expository.
This provides a disincentive to debate--meaning it's easier to obstruct now by just walking out and removing quorum, rather than requiring the minority to continue to debate any points of contention. This is hardly what the Founding Fathers intended.
Harry is like manna from heaven, he is over-the-top vicious and will continue to make these verbal blunders.
Also, Harry has some local dirt that is going to be dredged up pretty soon.
"The Constitution says the Senate makes its own rules, and does not say that the Senate must consider a nominee. By refusing to vote on the nominee, we are rejecting the nominee. This is Constitutional."
There we are. He said, she said. Both sides need more to prove their contentions. Why is the super-majority unconstitutional?
Nominations and treaties are two powers named in the part of the Constitution that gives power to the President. Senate consideration of Nominations impacts the power of the president to appoint the officers that he chooses to nominate. While the Senate is free to make rules that affect only it, it cannot make rules that diminish the power of another branch. The Senate has a DUTY to advice and consent, confirm or reject, each nominee; just as surely as it has a DUTY to render judgement in an impeachment trial. It cannot conduct the trial, and then refuse to vote. It cannot consider a nominee, and then refuse to vote.
In contrast, the power of each House to make its own rules clearly applies to matters PURELY internal to its workings. The language in the Constitution is, "shall be the Judge of Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own members ... may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a member."
RULE VI
QUORUM - ABSENT SENATORS MAY BE SENT FOR
Only if a case is brought to it. And at a glance, it is as likely as not the Supreme Court would find the matter non-justiciable. That's a fancy term for "we won't get into it because it is outside of the power of the court."
As a practical matter, this WILL be settled politically. But there are good arguments to get it into court, and if it got into court, it is on principle (i.e., if SCOTUS applied the Constitution), a slam dunk winner for the GOP.
The Senate made this mess. It is best if they clean it up themselves. If it is to go to court, the best plaintiff is the President. He's the one who is being denied his rightful power of choosing government officers, buth judicial and executive. If the Senate doesn't like his choices, they can vote to reject them -- the people deserve that feedback from their Senators.
What makes the argument tough to conceptualize is that it is easy to equate absence of decision (not voting) with rejection. The problem is, the president would have the officers of his choosing if the Senate would vote. Rejection by not voting is NOT the ssame thing as voting and letting the chips fall where they may.
The DEMs are perpetrating minority rule over the president's choices.
"Harry has some local dirt that is going to be dredged up pretty soon."
Cool.
Could it be what Rush has talked about, with some {{{very close to Reid}}} having dealt in business and legal matters that do come before the Senate - all to their great benefit?
Can you imagine the whining and moaning from him when it hits the fan? He will claim he is being punished for daring to stand up to the Bush-and-GOP power grab; that this is where true corruption lies - not in his "hiding in plain sight" dealings.
Get out your cryin' towels, folks.
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