Daschle's replacement as minority leader is anti-abortion/no gun control?

[VivaKerry]

Did I just hear that little clip on CNN, I think, that the guy they want to replace daschle as minority leader (Reid? Reed? Great... some I guy no one knows) is against abortion rights and opposes gun control.

Forgive my paranoia, but I think us getting our butts kicked in this election was the GOAL of the dems!!

I think we, the people, are getting bulldozed across the board -- all parties.... all of it.

They seem to be in cahuts... every last politician in this country!!!

Oh, except kucinich... our pure k-man.

[sadman]

1. so that's our choice?

Say and do what we think is right for the country OR start leaning right so we can actually win elections?

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. Not your choice

It is the choice of the Democrats in the Senate. They have to work with this person everyday. Want a say in the matter? Run for the Senate.

[sadman]

17. I didn't mean we get to choose who they pick...

I meant, as Democrats, is that the choice we're all going to have to make, in general?

[pnutchuck]

2. Angela Davis for President!!!!!!

[MrUnderhill]

3. NARAL gave him a 29%

To be "fair", most of the issues were ones with overwhelming support in his state (an often nationally), he may not vote against us in a "Roe v. Wade" showdown.

http://www.issues2000.org/Social/Harry_Reid_Abortion.htm


Also, Daschle had a similar record on abortion (NARAL gave him a 50%).


He wasn't as far off on Gun control, but hardly a 100% liberal record there either.


http://www.issues2000.org/Domestic/Harry_Reid_Gun_Control.htm

[VivaKerry]

5. I don't care about his voting record, per se.

This is the guy who will ALLOW the rethuglians to make rules concerning how the senate work is conducted!!!!!!

It's called a paved road, no stop signs, no check points, no stop lights... kind of like Hitler's Audubon highway!!!!

And gee, what about the charisma factor??? the dem minority leader speaks TO THE PEOPLE to get their support or opposition to policies and bills. This guy looked like a corpse!!!

John Edwards might have been a nice choice.... oh, but he might actually FIGHT for something.

No, this role as dem minority leader IS our gatekeeper.

We are fucked!

[freedom_to_read]

7. except Edwards is a senator no longer

the lame duck session is his last, he didn't run for re-election.

[MrUnderhill]

8. I'll agree on at least one point.

Picking a Senator that isn't in a "safe" liberal state creates dangers for us - though not as much as wat Daschle gave us.

Daschle was always torn between the more moderate leanings he needed to win election in a conservative state like SD, and more liberal positions that NEED to be taken by the party's standard-bearer. Every time a Bush appointee needed filibustering, Daschle ahd to be front-and-center... but it hurt him "at home".

Reid likely takes many of these positions because they fit his electorate. Which, while not as right wing as SD, is not a liberal state. We had better win in '08, because six years of "obstruction" could cost him his seat as well.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[cali]

9. Reid wouldn't be my choice

but he is pretty canny regarding the arcane rules of the Senate. In the past, he has fought against the rethug machine, I expect him to do so in the future. Honestly, he's not as bad as some folks think.

[VivaKerry]

13. Thank you. I hope you are right...er, I mean, left....

:-)

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. You might've noticed he was campaigning for himself.

As he just won re-election handily in Nevada. So you'll forgive him for being sort of busy.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

10. He's pro-life yet he filibustered Estrada

He's a good man and will be a good leader of the Senate Dems.
Calm down everyone.

[Teaser]

12. Gun control is over as an issue.

We lost that battle. It'll be a local issue from now on.
And frankly, watching my national government become more and more fascistic, well I can't say I ain't somewhat glad about this.

[VivaKerry]

14. Good point. No gun control may be what saves this country.

n/t

[sadman]

18. why?

Who says we lost it? It took everything they had to let the AWB expire...now is the time to push for something new, when they're tired and complacent. Why give up on this issue? What's next? Reproduction rights? Minority rights?

[Atlant]

16. We're just trying to draw the clearest distinction possible...

We're just trying to draw the clearest distinction possible between
Republican and Republican-Lite (formerly known as "Democrats").

Well, at least he'll help the Greens grow their party.

Atlant

[Nashyra]

19. Reid is a good guy

He's smart, he's canny and people tend to underestimate him, remember the Estrada block. He is my senior senator from Nevada so before we start circling the wagons and shooting at each other let us see how he works.

[Atlant]

20. Oh sure; let's give him several election cycles to prove...

> ...so before we start circling the wagons and shooting at each
> other let us see how he works.

Oh sure; let's give him several election cycles to prove that he's no
more effective (or hardly more effective) than Daschle; what have we
got to lose, ehh?

Atlant