Senate Democrats Stick With Reid as Their Leader

[Baclava]

Source: ABC

Senate Democrats have re-elected Harry Reid of Nevada as their leader for the new Congress that convenes in January.

But he will serve as the minority leader instead of majority leader, thanks to Republicans' success in the Nov. 4 elections.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California says Senate Democrats decided to stick with Reid during a lengthy closed meeting Thursday in the Capitol.

Reid has been the Senate majority leader for eight years. That title will now go to Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.


Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/senate-democrats-stick-reid-leader-26891028

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P U

[Indydem]

1. I read this as "Sick with Reid as Their Leader"

I would have preferred that headline.

[vkkv]

23. I agree, how disappointing.

We need a straight shooter to tell it like it is, not slick Reid with his calculated demeanor and arrogant manner.
Politically he is OK, I just don't like the guy.

[Baclava]

41. I was gonna say "stuck"

but yours is better

[lamp_shade]

2. GOOD!!

[Ken Burch]

38. Why? Reid will be useless as minority leader.

A minority leader is supposed to be a fiery critic who rallies and fires up the troops. Reid can't be that person.

It was time for new blood, and the Senate Dems chose anemia.

[heaven05]

3. of course

democrats stick with reid...........

[villager]

4. And the Democratic failures continue to pile up fast and furiously!

[Mass]

5. Because the best way to win is to keep the same people who led us to a crushing defeat!

[Mass]

6. So, Liz Warren will advise a Committee chaired by Schumer. Talk about mixed messages.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/224050-senate-dems-unveil-new-leadership-team

In a nod toward energizing the Democratic base, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) will fill a newly created position as a special liaison to liberal groups, serving as strategic policy adviser to the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.


...

Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), the third-ranking member of the Democratic leadership, will stay the chairman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) will continue serving as the committe's vice-chairwoman.

...

[Skidmore]

25. Schumer-- Senator Wall Street nt

[OnyxCollie]

8. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Fred Sanders]

9. It sends the correct message, the corporate media message of gloom and doom is given the finger.

Warren is given a greater voice, no need to panic as the enemy wishes.

[mahannah]

10. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) should be minority leader.

[longship]

16. Nope. A half termer?

I approve her as a member of leadership, but I can think of a few senior senators who would be pissed if she were minority leader after half a term.

Myself, I would like to see Dick Durbin in that role. Or Barbara Boxer.

[mahannah]

20. She's done more in a "half term" than any of those others.

[longship]

21. Durbin? Boxer?

Certainly you jest.

Durbin (D-IL): senator since 1997.
Boxer (D-CA): senator since 1993.

Warren (D-MA): senator since... Uhm! 2012.

I love Warren. But she has not done more in her half term. This especially since this congress has the record as the least productive congress in the history of all congress. No fault of Warren. But standing up and declaiming against the GOP when no legislation passes is not an accomplishment by any standard.

I don't blame Warren for that. But I see that her in a position in leadership may help things in the upcoming two years. If only the White House would get on board. I won't hold my breath. I am afraid that Barack Obama is proving to be a very weak president.

[mahannah]

28. I jest not. And Obama is not weak.

[1StrongBlackMan]

29. "Done More" = SAID the right things ...

which apparently is the new measure for Democratic action.

Senator Warren has submitted 11 Bills, none of which have become law; but see HAS gotten 3 simple resolutions approved (1 congratulating the Red Sox on winning the World Series, the other 2 related to the Boston Marathon attack).

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/browse?sponsor=412542

I am afraid that Barack Obama is proving to be a very weak president.

Define "weak president." http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/president-obama-no-bystander

[longship]

32. Get along with the GOP?

I really like Obama. But he is no FDR, who, in 1936, said that he welcomed GOP hatred.

Barack Obama has done some very good things. I support him nearly 100%. But damn! I really wish he would stand up against the GOP, which he clearly has not done. Instead, he wants to get along with them. That makes him politically weak, by definition. I wish it were not so, because he's one of the good guys.

And now that Congress is lost, he still wants to get along? When does he begin welcoming their hatred? He's had six years of it, the last two the least productive Congress in history.

FDR, JFK, or LBJ would never have stood for that. Apparently, BO will.

I call that weak. What would you call it?

[1StrongBlackMan]

34. True ...

President Obama is no FDR; nor does he have/has he had FDR's super-majorities; nor did FDR have an opposition party unwilling to do anything that might be read as enabling FDR success/accomplishment.

I keep hearing people say they wish President Obama would "stand up to/against the GOP", but no one seems to be able to say what that looks like or how it would lead to a different result ... IOWs, no one has been able to say what President Obama can do to make the GOP be less obstructionist, more cooperative or less crazy.

President Obama doesn't care about getting along with the GOP, despite the PR spin he has to put on his interaction, he cares about getting things done for the American people ... and he could get more done (via Executive Action), if Democrats would pretend to want to back him.

FDR, JFK, or LBJ would never have stood for that. Apparently, BO will.

Again, Different congress (both Democratic AND republican), different times ... all which circle back to what President Obama can do with respect to his interactions with congress.

[longship]

35. You are correct about today's congress being different.

But damn! I just wish President Obama would use that bully pulpit once in a while to call them out. That especially this last year when the media rhetoric was all doom and gloom for Democrats.

I would have been in front of the cameras calling out all the lies being spouted.

And what's with the narrative about nobody wanting him to campaign with him? Often spouted even here on DU, but more generally in the media. He made no response to that? Why not?

[1StrongBlackMan]

39. You haven't heard him using the Bully Pulpit? ...

Last edited Thu Nov 13, 2014, 09:58 PM - Edit history (1)

Here's a hint/the tell ... whenever the GOP and media whine about his "campaigning", as they have for the last year; He has used/is using the Bully Pulpit ... whenever DU responds to one of his speeches with the comment, "Pretty Speech"; He has used/is using the Bully Pulpit.

But make no mistake ... there is no magic in the Bully Pulpit, it is just a speech that signals the direction your team is going to go ... unfortunately for Democrats, too few are willing to go, as we must be on a constant mission to prove our independentness from/non-locksteppedness with this president.

And what's with the narrative about nobody wanting him to campaign with him? Often spouted even here on DU, but more generally in the media. He made no response to that? Why not?

It wasn't a narrative ... Grimes, Pryor and Udall, literally ran from President Obama the person, and the guy from Alaska and the woman from Louisiana, literally campaigned against his policies.

So why didn't he respond? What could he say ... "Vote for the folks that don't support me or my policies"?"

[longship]

42. You have a point, my friend.

One should never express an opinion that one is not willing to set aside for a better one.

Touché. I stand down. Gladly.

My regards.

[EEO]

11. Too bad it wasn't Reed (D-RI)

[Purveyor]

12. Fuck this shit! eom

[Old Nick]

13. You gotta be kidding me!

That phrase is way overused by sports announcers, but here it definitely applies.

[Baclava]

14. Tape it up, rub some dirt on it, take a Motrin - get back in there and give em hell Harry

like that

[angrychair]

15. sooooo....

Failure is success. Up is down. Peace is war. Welcome Democrats to what is called "being out in the cold"...with continued Party leadership of "more of the same".

Its work so well for us over the last several years. We have lost all of Congress, vast majority of Governorships, vast majority of state legislatures.

So they've made Warren a "special adviser" its not even a real position and has no actual power or influence. She isn't a chair- or vice-chairperson...those positions actually....again...stayed the same losing formula.

All people like me can hope for is either we....somehow...manage to win back at least some seats next time or if rethugs get huge gains...AGAIN (huge loses in 2 out of the last 4 mid-terms while rethugs have made gains in all of the last 4 at the state Level And 2 of the last 4 at. Federal level)...and/or win the WH too then maybe...MAYBE...we can finally decide on new leadership and move forward with a new team and try to repair the damage....if its not to late.

[fredamae]

17. The DSCC

just picked John Tester.......

[Kelvin Mace]

18. Titanic crew sticks with Smith as their captain

The solution to their problem is to find ocean with more icebergs and sail even faster.

[earthside]

19. Yeepie.

Hurray.

Oh, boy.

[vkkv]

22. That is unfortunate. Reid doesn't fit in with a 'new left' party that we obviously need.

A right-leaning Dem like Reid is the last thing we need to stimulate younger voters.

More mistakes by my party.

I'm disgusted.

[SoapBox]

24. How do you stick anything to a spineless jellyfish.

Good luck with that.

[Deadbeat Republicans]

26. Shit for courage.

[840high]

27. Too bad.

[vkkv]

30. McConnell's Election as Majority Leader Announced With Puff of Toxic Black Coal Smoke

- rising from the United States Capitol.

The New Yorker magazine

[Android3.14]

31. Of course they did. Hence the loss.

Bunch of putzes. Gonna be a long two years.

[blkmusclmachine]

33. Democrats cruising to another defeat in 2016. Willingly, it appears. The 1% has spoken.

All welcome President Ted Cruz, and Vice President Rick Santorum.

[Odin2005]

36. Proof positive that Corporate hacks have taken over the party.

[yurbud]

37. in fairness to Reid, look at the people he has to wrangle.

[LiberalElite]

40. Besides the roll over party it's

the masochistic party too.