NV-Sen: GOP poll shows Reid in trouble

Thank Heavens ... (0.00 / 0)

I would rather have a froth mouthed repuglican Nay sayer as a senator than a ball-less democrat anyday ...

At least with the former I KNOW and expect what their actions will be ...

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by: mindlessmissy @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 01:39:11 AM UTC

AGreed (0.00 / 0)

I am not trying to talk ideological purity but Harry Reid is the most spineless worthless person in congress, and having him as the democratic leader is choking the life out of us. If the dems wont replace him thae apparently the people of Nevada will.

Please continue this conversation if you want by finding me on twitter @Lord_Chadeous

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by: ChadCo @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 02:13:13 AM UTC

if you think having a GOPer senator from nevada is an improvement, you are deluded!. the reason reid is leader (0.00 / 0)

is because he represents the interests of most of the dems in the senate. if you dont like him, who do you think would be better?

you arent going to get a more progressive guy in the job, because too many of the senators are too moderate to support a real liberal.

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by: UplandPoet @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 12:56:49 PM UTC

Leahy or Feinstein (0.00 / 0)

It's not that I'd want someone more liberal, but I would like someone who shows a bit more leadership.

I've never really understood what the criteria are for picking a majority leader, but here are two senior Senators (on their third or later term) I'd consider:

Pat Leahy
Dianne Feinstein

Yes, Leahy is much more liberal than Feinstein, but I think they both have the temperament that would be needed for majority leader: my guess is they could provide decisive leadership without putting their own agendas ahead of that of the Democratic caucus.

That presents an interesting question: suppose you want to advance progressive causes in the Senate. Which would you support? The obvious answer is Leahy, but wait! Feinstein is sometimes a pain in the behind to progressives, but she's a serious Senator who takes her responsibilities seriously. As senior Senator from California, she's more of a maverick than anything. Notice that she's not a member of the moderate caucus set up by Bayh, Lincoln, and Carper; she's really far more liberal than that crowd. If she became Majority Leader, she's have to keep her maverick impulses in check, and work for the good of the caucus. And I think she could do that very effectively.

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by: SarahLawrence Scott @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 14:11:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

popularity, polictical campign contributions, as well as being of the same political stripe (0.00 / 0)

so you get reid, not leahy or feinstein. maybe max baucus....

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by: UplandPoet @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 15:31:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I want someone with a spine (4.00 / 1)

I would like to see one filibuster, that's all, one. Reid crumbles at the threat of a filibuster, and so the gop doesnt even need to try. You know that there are only so many senators who would continually support a filibuster, but they don't have to, they don't have to take any political risks or DO anything, just hint to reid that they will.

If Reid really represents the dems in the senate as a majority then we might as well enjoy our time in power while it lasts, which wont be long, because nobody wants a senator who is unwilling to do anything remotely risky. You want proof? Reid is getting his ass kicked in Nevada, because he is an impotent senator at best and the people of Nevada are tired of it.  

Please continue this conversation if you want by finding me on twitter @Lord_Chadeous

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by: ChadCo @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 19:09:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

ok, matt, oreo, doc, what is the percentage? (0.00 / 0)

if reid loses to a GOPer, who would likely be the next senate majority leader? will the positions move up, or will someone leap frog?

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by: UplandPoet @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 19:29:57 PM UTC

good question (0.00 / 0)

Leadership battles in Congress are difficult to figure out - but many times it's not just the next in line. Lets look at the choices:

   * Majority Leader and Conference Chairman: Harry Reid
   * Assistant Majority Leader (Majority Whip): Richard Durbin
   * Conference Vice Chairman: Charles Schumer
   * Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman: Bob Menendez
   * Conference Secretary: Patty Murray
   * Policy Committee Chairman: Byron Dorgan
   * Steering and Outreach Committee Chair: Debbie Stabenow
   * Committee Outreach Chair: Jeff Bingaman
   * Rural Outreach Chair: Blanche Lincoln
   * Chief Deputy Whip: Barbara Boxer
   * Deputy Whips: Tom Carper, Bill Nelson, and Russ Feingold

Durbin? Sure - he would certainly have Obama's support.
Schumer? Too abrasive?
Menendez - no
and the rest?
Committee Chairs? - Leahy? Kerry?

Assuming the Dems don't lose major seats, I would think the progressives in the Senate would try to get one of their own in there.

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by: Matt @ Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 02:57:35 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I doubt Durbin (0.00 / 0)

I can't see choosing a majority leader who had served with the President as the other Senator from his state. It's not even constitutional to have the President and Vice-President from the same state; while there's no constitutional barrier here, it would still raise eyebrows.  

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by: SarahLawrence Scott @ Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:42:45 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

raise eyebrows, you mean like appointing your brother to be AG? (4.00 / 1)

i have always wondered how JFK got away with that? i mean i think RFK did a fine job, but still.... it would be like if bill had appointed hillary to sec of state, instead of obama!

actually, i think durbin would be a great fit with obama, as they both are progressive moderates, key being moderates, but i guess obama doesnt get a vote....

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by: UplandPoet @ Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 10:07:16 AM UTC

does biden get a vote on party matters? (0.00 / 0)

i guess picking a new leader is actually constitutional and not party. i wonder if 50 democrats supported one candiate, would biden get to cast the tie breaker?

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by: UplandPoet @ Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 10:08:42 AM UTC

Majority leader is not a constitutional position (0.00 / 0)

Actually, majority leader is not a constitutional office, unlike Speaker of the House. Constitutionally, Biden presides over the Senate, and the "President pro tem" is his backup. The President pro tem is currently Robert Byrd.

The majority leader, on the other hand, is just chosen by the party caucus. The position didn't even exist until the 1920's. There's a good article on the history and role on the Senate site.

So unlike the Speaker of the House, where Republicans can vote for their own candidate and therefore the Democrats need near unanimity at the final vote, the Republicans don't get a vote on majority leader. 50 Democrats aren't needed; in this case, just 31 are. I don't know whether the party rules allow Biden to have a vote in that process, or to break a tie, but I kind of doubt it.  

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by: SarahLawrence Scott @ Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 12:29:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]