Should Harry Reid Retire in 2016?
Harry Reid is synonomous with the successes and the failures of the Obama administration, but perhaps more credit can be given to the incumbant senator for the failures as his antiquated, gentlemenly style dragged all items on the Democratic down to the pits of death after Scott Brown was elected in 2009. These failures were exacerbated by the Republican wave (or more correctly put, the Democratic drought) in 2010 when the GOP swept into power across the nation with magnificent consequence, gerrymandering the absolute crap out of almost every state in the union. Republicans have effectively secured the house till 2022 and have made it harder to redraw the map as state districts were redrawn just as harshly.
But Republican ambition hasn't been the only issue that's afflicted Redi's reptutation for goody-two-shoes. His quiet demeanor and ever forgiving personage didn't even bat an eyelash at the speaker of the house, John Boehner, telling the Senate Majority Leader to quote, "Go f*ck yourself!" In fact, the most outraged that Reid has ever appeared to the opposition party was just recently when he said, "Republicans are addicted to Koch."
Reid has a reputation outside of the senate for being quirky and telling some racy jokes here and there (sometimes just racist), but he's never been one to make a wave. As senate majority leader, many stand by his actions and his inactions as he stalls controversial votes and blocks some more extreme legislation from the house. But in this day and age, most of us are clamoring for a different kind of leader. Someone who both challenges Republicans dramatically, politically, and cleverly, but also is willing to stand their ground. Someone who will keep Democrats in line and rallies the troops behind legislation like universal background checks when five Democratic senators, two of whom just lost reelection anyway (Mark Begich, Mark Pryor; Heidi Heitkamp from North Dakota is up for Reelection in 2018; Max Baucus retired this year), voted against the measure.
Reid is also getting older and Nevada is getting more Hispanic. We still lack a Latina in the high chamber and there is one woman who could fill his spot even though she just lost her bid in the most recent Republican drizzle/2014 midterm. The one woman that Reid championed for Lieutenant Governor this last year: Lucy Flores.
It isn't a question of whether we should endorse Flores though. The democratic nominee should be the most qualified, bonfide Nevadan. But Flores is a good start in looking for someone to replace Reid. The real question is, do we as Democrats want to replace him? Or do we think that he deserves his spot in the senate? Does he deserve to remain the majority leader if he is still around when Democrats retrieve the majority?
Your ball!
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each session. He's also tough as nails, notwithstanding that soft, high voice. He used to be a boxer.
The Senate Democratic caucus would lose a vital cog if they lost Harry.
You never, EVER trade out seniority if you can help it.
