Reid on MTP refuses to back off on calling Bush a LIAR! LOL!

[Stephanie]

I think I like this guy!

They showed an old quote where he said Bush was a liar WRT Yucca Mountain. Asked if he thought the statement was out of line, Reid said maybe, but he means it. Or words to that effect. Said it in the present tense.

*edit* If anyone on the Left Coast could grab the exact quote, I would appreciate it. It was early on in the interview, which starts half an hour into the show.

[catbert836]

1. Awesome!

And I thought he was a closet Republican!

[genius]

39. I'll be impressed when he has the courage to filibuster Gonzales

He voted for Goss and too much of the Bush agenda. He voted for the budget that funded Yucca. I guess when his neighbors complain about living in radioactive waste, he'll say Bush lied on that issue.

[high density]

41. A filibuster on Gonzales is never going to happen.

Gonzales is a cabinet appointment and he's gone in four years. The Democrats need to save filibuster for things that really matter, such as Supreme Court nominees.

If you expect the Democrats to filibuster the cabinet appointments, you're going to be very disappointed. It's just not going to happen.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

42. I keep trying to explain this concept to people...

...that historically the President has been given extremely wide lattitude with respect to Cabinet appointments, but quite a few people don't seem to understand the difference between Cabinet appointees and judicial nominees.

[lonestarnot]

2. Reid is Polite.

:-)

[BayCityProgressive]

3. well if he keeps

making statements like that he wont be a total loss.

[autorank]

4. I like him too. Nailed him on 'private accounts', really hard.

[Stephanie]

5. Stabbing Scalia in the back right now! Could accept him if he can

overcome his ethics problems! LOL!

Just called Clarence Thomas an embarrassment!

[AP]

9. Sweet.

[CBHagman]

12. Thank God somebody finally said that, and on TV, too.

I still can't get over the fact that both Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia had family working for Bush in 2000, and neither recused himself from the Bush v. Gore vote -- an open ethical violation, and that mendacious piece of human filth Michael Barone still bellowed that Gore was trying to "steal the election." Barone and Thomas and Scalia live in a moral cesspool.

[aquart]

15. Am I sorry I missed it?

[ooglymoogly]

23. flim flam russert will repeat again at 10pm and again at1:am on

msnbc eastern standard... didn't catch the first cast with reid but will watch tonight. cant wait to see russert get plugged.

[autorank]

20. That was terrific. I like his style and he will sell. Righteous outrage

...will flow from this guy when he needs it.

He handled Russert by ignoring him. Russert is a pathetic human being and needs to be lightly attended to, ignored, and then dismissed. Reid did it really well. He barely looked at Russert (can you blame him).

I have great hope for Reid. I'm glad he's the leader.

[Stephanie]

37. Says of Thomas, "he has been an embarrassment"! From transcript > > >

Could you support Antonin Scalia to be chief justice of the Supreme Court?

SEN. REID: If he can overcome the ethics problems that have arisen since he was selected as a justice of the Supreme Court. And those ethics problems--you've talked about them; every people talk--every reporter's talked about them in town--where he took trips that were probably not in keeping with the code of judicial ethics. So we have to get over this. I cannot dispute the fact, as I have said, that this is one smart guy. And I disagree with many of the results that he arrives at, but his reason for arriving at those results are very hard to dispute. So...

MR. RUSSERT: Why couldn't you accept Clarence Thomas?

SEN. REID: I think that he has been an embarrassment to the Supreme Court. I think that his opinions are poorly written. I don't--I just don't think that he's done a good job as a Supreme Court justice.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6646457/

[autorank]

43. Thanks for pointing that out. Ried Rocks!!! That's telling the TRUTH.

[tsuki]

6. Did Bush every apologize to McCain? He wouldn't even look at him.

[itzamirakul]

7. I don't know anything more about him...

than the fact that he refused to back down on calling Bush a liar. At least - at LAST - SOME Democratic leader has shown some moxie on air instead of cowering and saying, "I could have said it differently" or some other weak-minded apology. It will take time to find out where he stands on other policies and issues.

Also, I want to know if he is involved with the DLC. I want nothing to do with those guys who are responsible for selling us out, IMO.

BTW, I actively dislike Tim Russert. Why does that fathead, with a Republican-working wife always try to portray himself as being impartial or nonpartisan? He always tries to get Democrats to "admit they are wrong." He never seems to do that with his Republican buddies.

[BayCityProgressive]

8. Russert is a piece of shit

And if Reid is coming out fighting on the issues, than he is already FAR FAR better than Daschle.

[itzamirakul]

16. Totally agree about Russert's...

feces mental and physical composition.

I don't get cable anymore. I refuse to pay for that rightwing news and lousy movies so I may be out of the loop when it comes to any possible progressive newscasters.

My ONLY peace of mind comes from listening to Air America Radio which I keep on from 6:00 AM through 11:00 PM. (Even though I think Al Franken and Mike Moran are lousy promoters of Progressive policies - at least they are liberals. I had hoped, in the beginning, that Franken was going to be our answer for Rush Limbaugh but he falls sadly far from the task.)

Can anyone name at least ONE leftist tv newscaster that has some resolve - some guts? Not someone like that Colmes guy who is truly puke-material. I mean is there ANYONE on ABC, CBS or NBC?

[ooglymoogly]

21. i so agree, flim flam russert

is a repuke propagandist with a room temp i.q. who tries to ambush democrats. i didn't see it but i am hoping reid stood his ground.
anybody have a link?

[Pepperbelly]

14. During the Prez election it was like this ...

Timmy to Kerry Surrogate: Why is Kerry so fucked up?

Timmy to Bush surrogate: How fucked up IS Kerry and why are his supporters immoral?

[charlie]

24. LOL

Too true. Heads, I win, tails, you lose.

[Pirate Smile]

34. LOL - so true! It seems like a joke but tragically, it isn't.

[Radical Activist]

10. I liked his line about the Constitution

and how the Senate has a mandated role of advice and consent for Supreme Court nominees. A nice little reminder that Bush and the GOP have no real respect for democracy.

[charlie]

11. Reid's always come off as mousey

and the Daschle-Reid duo was like watching a pair of Mr Rogers, Daschle and his mini-me.

But... I've also seen Harry get his last nerve snatched and blister Republican knuckleheads across the aisle. It was always a surprise to see how fierce and stubborn he could be.

Harry may well turn out to be a much tougher leader than Daschle.

[aquart]

18. Wow.

Now, I'm not daring to hope or anything, but...wow.

[blondeatlast]

13. This is greeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!

Democratic Spine. YES!

[Edgewater_Joe]

17. He Called Thomas Incompetent and Social Security Reform a Wall Street Scam

Or words to that effect.

Some good, hard, clean shots.

Not bad.

[blondeatlast]

25. Excellent. Now is NOT the time to hold back on reasonable

and assertive criticism.

I knew Reid was more than post people gave him credit for.

It isn't easy to be a Mormon AND a Democrat; I know a couple and they have a very tough time of it in their ward.

[Sugarbleus]

38. I'm ecstatic learning good stuff about Reid!!

Several days ago there was a discussion about him. The discussion was dismal in favor of Reid. I was disappointed...since Daschle wasn't the man for the job...who would be.

In any case, this positive news about Reid LIFTS MY SPIRITS and encourages me profoundly.

"Left Coast" here; can't wait to tune in to the show at my end.
Thanks for the heads up!

(Yes, a Mormon AND a Dem at the same time has to be a serious challenge)

Well go on with yourself Mr. Harry Reid. Woohoo :toast:

[Erika]

44. It also encourages me

Mr. Reid is a moderate democrat with the support of Mormons. He will show the moderate side while having conservative backing. He is an ideal choice.

It equates Michael Moore saying he thought he'd dress like a Republican.

[Nashyra]

26. That's it "Wall Street Scam"

That is how every Dem should refer to the * plan for the reform of SS. "A Wall Street Scam"

[LittleClarkie]

19. Alrighty then

He sounds like a keeper.

[crasmane]

22. Mr. Reid,

honesty is never out of line.

[ooglymoogly]

27. you need to repost and let everyone know flim flam russert will be on

again at 10:pm and again at 1:am eastern don't know the times in other time zones

[joanski01]

28. And then when Timmy thanked

Reid for coming on the show, Harry smiled and said "It was a breeze".

Harry's always been one of my favorites.

[eleny]

29. Couple more things

Reid evidently takes a position opposite of his Mormon Church. I forget which issue - maybe reversing Roe v Wade. Help me out here. Anyhow, Russert asked Reid how his church would feel about Reid's position and Reid shrugged his shoulders and suggested that Russert ask the church. Timmy was like the deer in the headlights.

Loved the comment on Justice Thomas. He was so quiet that I did a double take. He surely sent a strong message to Bush* about SCOTUS choices. I look forward to watching him on the floor during C-Span coverage.

After today's interview, I think he's going to be sought after for interviews. He's way more refreshing than Repubs and vitriolic wingnut church leaders. I'd like to see Reid and Dr. Willis interviewed on the same program. Two quiet voices of reason with spines of steel. And besides, they both make sense - how refreshing.

[Hippo_Tron]

30. STILL would've prefered Durbin...

But I'm warming up to the idea of Reid.

[salin]

31. Been saying for more than 2 years... Reid is a fighter

he was much more willing to publically slam the WH and get publicity for doing so than Daschle was. This surprises me not a whit.

Yes I know he does not agree with me on all the issues... but we need a fighter who knows how to get press and how to call the right on their ridiculousness.

[cal04]

32. Transcript of Reid with Russert

MR. RUSSERT: No private accounts?
SEN. REID: They are trying to destroy Social Security by giving this money to the fat cats on Wall Street, and I think it's wrong.

MR. RUSSERT: But, Senator, there are now 40 million people on Social Security. In the next 20 years, there's going to be 80 million. Life expectancy used to be 65 years old. It's approaching 80. If you have twice as many people on these programs for 15 years, you've got to restructure them in some way, shape, or form. What is your solution?

SEN. REID: Tim.

MR. RUSSERT: What is your alternative?
SEN. REID: Tim, all experts say that Social Security beneficiaries will receive every penny of their benefits that they're entitled to--100 percent of them--until the year 2055. After that, if we still do nothing, they'll draw 80 percent of their benefits. I want those beneficiaries after year 2055 to draw 100 percent of their benefits. But this does not require dismantling the program. For heaven's sakes, they're crying wolf a little too regularly here. There is not an emergency on Social Security. We can do this. The president should not try to jam this private accounts in an effort to destroy Social Security.

In the early--when Social Security came before the Congress, who opposed it? The Republicans. And they have a long memory. They've been trying to destroy Social Security for a long time and now they think they have an opening to do it.


http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6646457/

[grasswire]

35. my comeback to Russert would be this

"Tim, is your father accepting social security? If so, why did he claim it?"

[w4rma]

33. And this is why I said Reid would be a good leader and spokesperson. (nt)

[Stephanie]

36. Correct LIAR quote > > >

MR. RUSSERT: You're a former boxer. If you're punched, you'll punch back?

SEN. REID: Sure will.

MR. RUSSERT: When the president talked about Yucca Mountain and moving the nation's nuclear waste there, you were very, very, very strong in your words. You said, "President Bush is a liar. He betrayed Nevada and he betrayed the country."

Is that rhetoric appropriate?

SEN. REID: I don't know if that rhetoric is appropriate. That's how I feel, and that's how I felt. I think to take that issue, Tim, to take the most poisonous substance known to man, plutonium, and haul 70,000 tons of it across the highways and railways of this country, past schools and churches and people's businesses is wrong. It's something that is being forced upon this country by the utilities, and it's wrong. And we have to stop it. And people may not like what I said, but I said it, and I don't back off one bit.

[Leilani]

40. I'm glad Reid did well.....I haven't seen the show yet

& for all the naysayers who are on his back, give him a chance.

Some people here are ready to hang him...some were ready to hang him when his name was announced as Minority Leader.

[chefgirl]

45. I have to admit

While I wasn't ready to hang him when his name was announced, I was one of those who didn't hold out much hope of him being any different than Daschle.

After listening to him today, though, he has already impressed me more than Daschle ever did or ever could.
I think what I liked so much about Reid today was his way of speaking softly but carrying a big stick.
He didn't rant and rave (like I probably would have) so theres no way he could be called a 'wild eyed liberal', but he DID make his points about Bush being a liar and Clarence Thomas being an embarassment.

I also liked that he actually countered Tiny Tim's RW whoring for Social Security reform with facts.
a)There is not a Social Security emergency
b)Solvent till 2055
c)80% Solvent after that
d)private accounts are just a Wall St. scam

OK, I'm willing to give him a chance. He earned at least that today, IMO.

-chef-