Reid to Graham: Take It Or Leave It

[babylonsister]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/reid-to-graham-on-climate-change-its-up-to-you.php?ref=fpb

Reid To Graham On Climate Change: 'It's Up To You'
Brian Beutler | April 30, 2010, 8:07AM

snip//

But if you look at it another way, the Democrats' calculus on this issue makes somewhat more sense.

Until he backed out last week, Graham guaranteed Democrats at least one GOP vote on climate/energy legislation--himself. This week, he told me, and the Washington Post that he hopes (or had hoped) to bring more Republicans aboard, but he named no names, and made no guarantees. "Maybe if business gets involved," he told the Post. Graham has never promised Reid he'd bring (or be able to bring) any Republicans into the fold, aside from himself.

That leaves Reid, at this point, with a fairly stark decision: Put immigration reform back on the shelf, and take a flyer from Graham, hoping he can sway enough Republicans to ultimately pass a climate/energy bill (a number of Democrats broadly oppose efforts to price greenhouse gas emissions). Or, dubious of Graham's powers of persuasion, he can move ahead on his own schedule--with climate in the lead, but immigration right behind it--and (perhaps) call Graham's bluff.

And it looks like he's chosen the latter.

"I don't know how my friend Lindsey Graham can say this kills energy {legislation}," Reid said last night in response to a question from TPMDC. "It's up to him."

While he was at it, Reid pointed out that all the focus on Graham lets the rest of the GOP caucus, which has abandoned both issues, off the hook. "There's 40 other Republicans," Reid said. "Why Lindsey Graham?"

[Cha]

1. KR

[greiner3]

2. "Why Lindsey Graham?"

He's about to be outed by his own party.

[ccharles000]

3. k/r

[11 Bravo]

4. "Why Lindsey Graham?" I don't know, "Why venereal warts?"; "Why anal cysts?"

(Oh, wait, I guess the last one was to keep Pigboy out of harm's way.)