All Hail Harry Reid!

[babylonsister]

Credit where due...

http://prospect.org/article/all-hail-harry-reid

All Hail Harry Reid!
Harold Meyerson
July 16, 2013


For once, the U.S. Senate had a good day.

The United States Senate and the nation it so imperfectly represents both had a good day today, thanks to something that’s been in short order around here lately: A Democrat who knows how to play hardball.

By threatening Republicans with ending their right to filibuster presidential executive-brand nominees, Majority Leader Harry Reid ensured that President Obama’s appointments to departments and agencies that Republicans don’t much like would nonetheless be approved. It’s important to note that the Republicans’ real objections have been less to the individual nominees and more to the bodies they were supposed to lead: The Department of Labor, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Workers, consumers and the environment rate a big “Feh” from Republicans, but unable to muster the votes to put their respective bureaus out of business, the GOP has used their power to filibuster to cripple them.

Harry Reid ended that practice today. Way to go, Harry.

Reid’s not the only accomplished hardball player among congressional Democrats, of course. During her four years as Speaker, and even now as House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi has shown she can persuade virtually every member of her caucus to vote the party’s position. In the president’s first term, she pushed through Obamacare when many thought that impossible.

Nancy and Harry are tough cookies. To the best of my knowledge, that’s a term no one has applied to the Democrat in the White House.

[kestrel91316]

1. Not to worry. I'm sure he'll go back to disappointing Dems and placating the RW soon.

[geek tragedy]

2. Reid gets blamed for the sins of the Democratic caucus.

Reid is only as good as his 50th or 51st vote. If only 48 other Senators were willing to back him up on the nuclear option, he would have not done as well here, and would have been blamed.

[Kelvin Mace]

3. Too little, way too late

and I think he'll cave as soon as the GOP bark at him.

[Fearless]

4. Hopefully these nominees prove to be anti-corporation.

[House of Roberts]

5. After the cloture vote for Cordray

Bernie Sanders gave one hell of a speech.

[Historic NY]

6. K&R.

[babylonsister]

7. Thanks for this! I hope you or someone posted it on its own.

He's right, as usual.

[Cha]

19. thanks for that, House of Roberts!

[rhett o rick]

8. I am sorry I cant give Sen Reid credit for making one more compromise with the Republicans.

Did he get a handshake on this deal? Like he did twice before and was "surprised" that the Republicans didnt honor the handshake?

He hasnt shown that he is a "tough cookie". A tough cookie would have done this years ago. I hope the Republicans honor their promise this time.

[SharonAnn]

14. THough it's tempting to use "a big stick", it's usually better to work out an agreement. Harder

for sure, but better.

Temptation to use force is real and we have to always question it. Step back and see if another way is possible.

It's been totally frustrating the way the GOP has obstructed, but going "nuclear" should really be a totally last resort because you can blow up the world that way.

[rhett o rick]

15. I agree compromise is best. But Harry has been badly burned twice by Republicans of all people.

You cant negotiate with terrorists and republicans. And going "nuclear" is an over dramatization of a simple rule change. Rules are not carved in stone.

[dmosh42]

9. Have the rules changed? Another victory for the GOP! Small deal with no future.

[UCmeNdc]

10. Nothing much gained here.........

What about getting President Obama's judicial appointments approved?

[rtracey]

11. I agree with you

The majority of this thread basically blasted Harry Reid, for nothing. He did do one thing...he got the appointments passed, and after 700 days for one, that is an accomplishment, but to some here, its EVERYTHING or bust....well too bad, life is not cut and dry like that...live with it.

[Paladin]

12. You're WAY too easily satisfied.

This small victory of Reid's just points up what he could have accomplished against the Republicans if he'd consistently exhibited some guts. Let him maintain this latest burst of intestinal fortitude through a couple of additional battles with Turtle Man, and I'll be impressed; like many other Democrats, I'm sick to death of Reid squandering opportunities.

[rhett o rick]

18. Sen Reid has fidldled and farted around this for years. He twice made "handshake" deals with

McConnell and then acted shocked when McConnell reneged. How can he be shocked? And that took years. And he still cant get the judicial appointments thru. Sorry but cant give Sen Reid any credit.

[Bobbie Jo]

13. Yep, agreed.

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

16. The US Senate neutered McConnell.

It was a thing of beauty.

[Rowdyboy]

20. They cut his nuts off at the base. And hardly anyone here is celebrating...

It truly was a thing of beauty....

[Xyzse]

17. I'll give him some credit

I still say don't get rid of the filibuster, just make sure they can't just threaten to do it but actually have to do it.
The way they are doing it is so convenient and cowardly.

If they actually have to stand up and talk about it and do an actual filibuster I don't think they would do it as much since some of the things they object to, if they can't do it anonymously they wouldn't do it.