Harry Reid is the new Minorty Leader

[Thrill]

I think this is yet another mistake. Although he won re-election easy I remember when he barely one re-election once. Should of went for a safer guy. Durbin would of been my pick

[ludwigb]

1. Anybody have any video of him?

If he isn't charasmatic and telegenic, then we should consider a grass-roots movement to get the Senate Dems to reconsider.

[welshTerrier2]

2. here's a link ...

i was also hoping for Durbin ...

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/04/reid.senate.ap/index.html

[OrwellwasRight]

3. Durbin is likely to be the new whip

Harry is not bad; more liberal and more outspoken than Daschle, but I agree that Dodd should have stayed in and fought for it. There should have been more discussion and choice before narrowing the filed to one candidate. Leadership by default rarely works for the best, IMHO.

[bigwillq]

5. I think Dodd wants to be Gov. of CT

He has young children and I heard he wants to stay closer to home although I don't know how being reelected helps that cause.

[KharmaTrain]

8. I'd Love My Senior Senator Durbin As Well

Harry's a good soldier, but not a leader. I've watched him on the Senate floor, and while not as milqutoasty as Daschele became, he still can easily get steamrolled by Frist.

If I was looking for the best liberal leader...and I think the Whip MUST be a true liberal...like a Durbin or Mikulski or Schummer...people who will keep our interests in the debate all all junctures. Dodd had too much baggage and is a great pit bull for our side but not a leader.

Maybe Harry will surprise us, but I'm not encouraged by this move. Now what the hell is going on at the DNC...anyone see McAuliffe's walking papers yet?

[OrwellwasRight]

14. "anyone see McAuliffe's walking papers yet?"

I've been wishing that for years...

[LibDemAlways]

4. My repuke sister-in-law who

lives in Nevada likes Harry Reid. Appeals to repukes. Yep. Just what we need - not.

[OrwellwasRight]

10. He's not ideal, but not that bad

He is the one who often led the Dem ooposition against certain Repub bills when Daschle refused to.

I agree with you. I'd rather have a more progressive leader out there, but think of all the real capitulators it could have been Feinstein (rolled over on the War and on Healthy Forests) or Byron Dorgan (rolled over on the Medicare bill), etc.

And Dorgan is going to be challenging Durbin for the whip position.

Best case scenario: We need a Leader and a Whip from seriously Blue states (Durbin fits perfectly) so that they aren't afraid to agressively oppose the certain nonsense that will soon be flowing through the Senate:

Scalia-like judicial nominees
Privatization of Social Security
Restrictions on Consumers' Rights to Hold Doctors and Corporations Accountable for Negligence

The list goes on....

[Bread and Circus]

6. So what, another no-name Dem Clown to get beat up on MTP?

Big whoopty do.

[AmerDem]

7. wow, are we a party with strength or what?

first we have Pelosi now Reid. Is it any wonder we have the lowest democratic representation since 1928? I guess the leaders of our party wont be satisfied until there is nothing left.

We need a huge shake up and we need it now!

[blurp]

9. Wasn't he a libertarian at one time?

[OrwellwasRight]

12. Here's a bio, didn't see anything about libertarian, but

maybe you can find more

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000146

[Thrill]

11. I really don't like this move

he looks like a wimp on TV and he talks slow and doesn't speak with authority. This guy is a weak guy to be the leader. I can't stand this move.

I wonder what brilliant idea they have for DNC chair.

Durbin and Dodd should be the Leader and Whip.

[Politicub]

13. I know little about Reid

Is he a good choice?

[Thrill]

15. NO

not when you have guys like Durbin and Dodd.

[OrwellwasRight]

16. He seems to be respected by Dems in Congress, but

wishy-wahsy on abortion (ratings between 50-100 percent depending on year from NARAL).

Also:
great on animal rights (100 percent many times)
100% from Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
good on environment (80% and up in general)
71 from a Right-wing anti-immigration group :-(
lots of 100%s from unions
86 from PIRG recently

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0561103

[Politicub]

17. He sounds OK

I hope he's not lackluster. I guess we'll be finding out pretty soon!

I can see why many like Durbin. He is great. I heard him on the radio this morning and he was memorable from the judicial fillibuster.

[UTUSN]

18. He's a Firecracker, Called Shrub a LIAR a Couple of Yrs Ago

Now, DASCHLE was excoriated here for trying to get along, walking a tightrope. REID is confrontational. What are we going to do. I like REID, but are we going to go up-or-down in FLAMES? O.K., fine. Count me in.

[pstokely]

19. in what ways is he better the than Daschle?

in what ways is he worse than Daschle?

[OrwellwasRight]

21. Better on the environment

-doesn't have to suck up to the agro-industrial interests demanding corporate subsidies for ethanol

-BUT not as much name recognition

-more popular in his home state, so doesn't always have to play "republican-lite" like Daschle

-BUT, still basically in a Red state, so he must suck up on some things (abortion, casino interests, not sure what else)

-not as much national name recognition

-BUT known as an outspoken leader in Congress, respected by peers

[pstokely]

20. well

he's not up for re-election until 2010