How/why did Harry Reid get the gig?

[gateley]

I'm not as "off with his head" as some are, but I've always wondered. Wouldn't they want a kick-ass person in that position? Does the phrase "kick ass" come to mind when you picture Harry?

[Sebastian Doyle]

1. But but but.... HE WAS A BOXER BACK IN 1914, DAMN IT !11!!11!

That's how tough he is. :crazy:

Yeah right..... I'll bet he took a dive then, too.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Same reason they elected the wimp Dashle. And it was Daschle and Reid

who encouraged Obama to run for Prez.

[kenfrequed]

3. He was absurdly polite

To the blue dogs and conservadems while still supposedly being liberal. That and his picture is next to the definition of milquetoast in the dictionary.

[gateley]

5. No kidding -- he's like a genteel Southern Belle. nt

[AzDar]

4. I don't know how he secured the position, or how he's retained it; he's been completely

ineffective. I only recently found out that he was the inspiration for the corrupt state senator in "Casino"...

:wow:

[gateley]

6. I didn't know that - now I'm going to get Casino and keep him in

mind while I watch it.

But that must be it -- and I KNOW it's always the answer so I don't know why I was questioning it --it's the money and connections. Always.

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. He was elected by the other Democratic senators....

...like any other majority leader.

[AzDar]

9. Yeeesssss. Thanks for that. I was questioning his merits rather than the actual mechanisms...

edited for: too much sarcasm... (is there *really* such a thing?)

[Davis_X_Machina]

15. That is his merit....

...he's acceptable to the majority of his peers in the caucus. No snark. I would prefer a Sherrod Brown or a Pat Leahy, but they just don't have the votes.

[gateley]

10. I should have been more clear -- why did they think he would

be good in that position? I'm just curious if I'm reading him wrong, mis-judging him, whatever. I've felt, whenever I've seen him, that we need somebody stronger.

[AlinPA]

8. Just an idea, but I think it had a lot to do with how willing he was to be involved in

the day-to-day scheduling of legislation and administrative activities, how well they (the Democratic caucus) thought he got along with the staffs of senators and his willingness to put up with a lot of detailed crap. As far as leadership, he certainly does not project any, but maybe he has a way of keeping most of the people aimed somewhat in the same direction on the administrative work associated with legislation. To answer your second question: No, he does not seem like a "kick ass" guy but is very deferential to the republicans who do not reciprocate any respect.

[gateley]

12. You may well be right, but jeez, what were they thinking? I think

a lot of others would have been willing to put up with the detailed crap in order to be the Leader. :shrug:

Biden (and others, but I'm most familiar with him) gets along with Republicans just fine, but wouldn't lay down like Reid has done, IMO. So we need someone in the LBJ, Biden, ??? mold.

It will be interesting to see what, if anything, comes of this.

[AlinPA]

14. After I wrote that about his being deferential to republicans, I think now that I may

have understated it. While most of the senators of both parties make a phony show of being congenial or polite, he is congenial to a fault and the republicans respond to him in the most repugnant way. You think he would toughen up and fight back, but it just seems to be his meek and deferential personality that would be meritorious anywhere but the US Senate where hatefulness and viciousness wins.

[Individualist]

11. Reid was elected because he's a DLC member

[gateley]

13. Sigh. You're probably right. nt