NEW Senate Leadership Roster

[kpete]

New Senate Leadership Roster
November 14, 2006
New Senate Leadership Roster

Senator Harry Reid's office just released this roster of the new management team of the Senate:

Robert C. Byrd, President Pro Temp
Harry Reid, Majority Leader

Dick Durbin, Assistant Majority Leader

Barbara Boxer, Chief Deputy Whip

Thomas R. Carper, Deputy Whip

Bill Nelson, Deputy Whip

Russell D. Feingold, Deputy Whip

Charles E. Schumer, Vice Chair of the Conference

Patty Murray, Secretary of the Conference

Charles E. Schumer, Chairman of Campaign Committee

Byron L. Dorgan, Chairman of Policy Committee

Debbie Stabenow, Chair of Steering and Outreach Committee

Jeff Bingaman, Chairman of Committee Outreach

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Vice Chair of Committee Outreach

Blanche L. Lincoln, Chair of Rural Outreach

OTHER APPOINTMENTS FOR THE 110th CONGRESS

In other news concerning the 110th Congress, Reid also announced today that Nancy Erickson, current Democratic Representative to the Sergeant at Arms, will serve as Secretary of the Senate, and former Chief of the U. S. Capitol Police, Terrance Gainer, will serve as Sergeant at Arms.

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001771.php

[derby378]

1. Missing from the list: Joe Lieberman...

But I have to admit I'm a little nervous about Schumer heading up the Campaign Committee. He almost threw DSCC support behind Lieberman's independent bid.

[rodeodance]

4. This is not the Committee chairperson list.

[texpatriot2004]

2. Thanks for this post nm

[Sapphocrat]

3. I'm not wild about Byrd having...

...the tiebreaker vote on any potential social issues, and Alito-Surrender-Monkey Bingaman has a lot to make up for, but I'm glad to see my Babs at least got Chief Deputy whip.

[SoCalDem]

7. At his age, I do not see him serving that much longer

A democratic governor will probably appoint a young person to replace him if and when he retires/has to leave for health reasons.

He's past 90, and very frail. I really wish they had an upper age limit (even though he's on our side)..

There's just something creepy about having people that old still making laws for us all.

I know people change, but his formative years were guided by people who hailed from TWO centuries ago..:scared:

[sabbat hunter]

11. not quite 90

he will be 89 in about a week. and i dont know how frail he is. He definately isnt as spry as he once was (like 30 years ago when he was senate majority leader), he still gets around and give pretty amazing speeches in front of the senate.

he was also a major opponent of US involvement in iraq.

he still writes books, his last one coming out in 2005.

[Sapphocrat]

14. I've forgiven him for being a Dixiecrat...

...since he acknowledged and apologized for it -- so, yes, people can change -- but I can never forgive him for supporting the Federal Marriage Amendment (which reminds me: that's why I can't stand Ben Nelson, either). And then there's his support of DADT... and last I heard, he was still anti-affirmative action... and...

I view Byrd as I do Murtha: a great guy to have in your corner when you need a strong voice against the war, but the first to throw me and my kind under the wheels of the bus... and then back over us a few times just to make sure.

So he's kinda "on our side" -- but he's not at all on my side. :(

[SoCalDem]

15. Exactly.. These "realllly old" dudes have old ideas

They were ADULTS during the 30's & 40's and just look at how ideas have changed since then.

They cannot help being who/what they are..

And just as you would not want to have your Garndma making all your important decisions for you, it makes sense to help these old folks retire with dignity :evilgrin:

[Idioteque]

18. He doesn't support the FMA

He voted to invoke cloture, which takes 60 votes. However he said he would have opposed the amendment itself, which would have taken 67 votes. The Democrats were stupid to filibuster it. If they had brought it to a vote, Byrd would have voted NO, just as Chuck Hagel and John Warner would.

[Sapphocrat]

19. I didn't say he voted for it...

...but I wasn't ready for cloture when it happened, especially as we ended up only squeaking by on killing the abominable thing. And a congresscritter can say whatever he wants, but until that vote goes down in the roll call, words are meaningless. Finally, Byrd joining Nelson and that... (DINO is too mild a word) Zell Miller to team with the Talibublicans doesn't improve my opinion, either.

Look, Byrd is a social conservative, which means he essentially opposes everything I represent. That's the real problem -- and the real point.

[Idioteque]

10. What tie-breaker vote?

The President pro-tempore is the longest serving member of the majority party. It's ceremonial. He doesn't get a tie breaking vote. He is, however, 4th in line for the presidency.

[Sapphocrat]

13. Sorry, I brain-farted.

OTOH, 4th in line to throne is much worse than what my senior moment was making me think. :scared:

[nickinSTL]

5. "Democrats are so divided."

From the posts in response to the leadership list in the OP's link:

Democrats are so divided. There are men and women, people from the North, South, East and West, Jews and Christians on that list. The honeymoon is over.

:wtf:

We're divided because we don't have all southern white Christian men in power?

[Lex]

6. The concept of diversity kind of escapes them, eh?

nt

[Clark2008]

9. Surely that was meant to be sarcasm.

[nickinSTL]

16. you mean on my part, or those I was quoting?

Because I think they were serious.

Obviously (or at least I hope it's obvious), I don't think we're divided because we don't have all white Christian southern men in leadership.

I think we're that much stronger for including diverse views and backgrounds.

[ddbaj]

8. FUCKING BEAUTIFUL!!

Just imagine that list full of puggies... makes you glad we got those 51 votes.

[Hippo_Tron]

12. I think the DSCC is supposed to get a new chair every cycle

So when does Schummer get replaced?

[bigwillq]

17. Sounds good to me!

:bounce: