Reid Seeking to Succeed Daschle as Leader

[goobergunch]

By Mark Preston
Roll Call Staff

Wednesday, Nov. 3; 08:46am

Senate Minority Whip Harry Reid (Nev.) will announce today he will run for Minority Leader to replace Sen. Tom Daschle (S.D.), who was defeated in his bid for a fourth term in an election that saw Republicans make significant gains in the chamber.

Daschle’s loss will shake up the Senate Democratic leadership structure, which has been largely unchanged since Reid was elected by colleagues to serve as Whip following his nail-biting 428-vote win in 1998. There is speculation Sen. Chris Dodd (Conn.) is also seriously considering seeking the top leadership post, a job he lost to Daschle by one vote following Congressional Republicans’ 1994 election sweep.

Reid made his decision to seek the senior Democratic position Wednesday morning after Daschle called to tell him that he was conceding the race to former Rep. John Thune (R-S.D.), the Nevadan’s senior aide said.

“Senator Reid will run for leader,” Reid’s chief of staff, Susan McCue, confirmed when reached in Nevada at 4:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.

more....http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1/breakingnews/7273-1.html (sorry, subscription-only)

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Dick Durbin!

He's from the mid-west on seems very sincere. He is the best face our party can have.

[The Sushi Bandit]

2. BOXER!!

[NVMojo]

3. Reid let Kerry down by not preparing him for election in Nevada

...oh, I could go on....I watched it.

[dolstein]

7. It's not Reid's fault that Kerry lost

Reid won his election huge, and his organization was pulling for Kerry. But Kerry is a tough sell in Nevada.

[Politicub]

10. Yeah - tough sell alright

Whoever made the decision to place the Yucca Mountain nuclear dump there made a good one. NV deserves it.

[EagleEye]

4. Reid is no better than Daschound

I met him once and told him my displeasure at the cave-in on Iraq. His response? "But they ran adds against Dachel when he opposed the war." Spineless.

I do understand, however, that there is no one better at the intricacies of Senate proceedure--for what that's worth.

[NVMojo]

6. Reid, Reid, the man connected to the mining industry in Nevada

it has suddenly occurred to me, if there was anyone who could have gotten Kerry in with the international mining execs here in Nevada who helped smear Kerry about royalty fees, well it was Reid. They pay him big bucks in support money. Gee, why didn't he do that for Kerry? Rove did it for Bush with the Repubs here in Elko County....I'm thinking Reid is not to be trusted and will be quite at home in his Republican Senate ...

[salin]

37. Ried pulled more power stunts and plays

than Daschle - he is a fighter. Seems unassuming, as was Daschle, but Ried then turns and fights. I'd back him over many.

[dolstein]

5. If Reid becomes minority leader, he'll lose in 6 years

It just doesn't make sense to nominate as leader someone who lives in a Republican state.

[TankLV]

41. This Nevada residentI totally and forcefully agrees.

We want a fighter, not someone basing his decisions on one eye over his shoulder at the repuke state he now represents.

[mitchtv]

44. New Rule: No leaders from Red States

I'm sure he's just fine, however we will need someone who is not afraid for their job.

[President Jesus]

8. Fuck that. We NEED a blue stater!

[lil-petunia]

11. no, we need new blood

Doesn't matter which state, red or blue. What matters is experience, intellect, an ability to communicate with and herd wild cats, and energy that is infectious to others in and out of office.

[liberalnurse]

17. I suggest.....

Feingold.

[judaspriestess]

35. Nevada Went Red

In 2000. Before that Nevada voted for Clinton.
Watching the news today, many democrats won seats around the state.

[TheZoo]

46. Nevada went red because of the north

Clark County (Las Vegas) and a few of the other counties went for Kerry; it wasn't until the northern counties (which won't have the nuke waste going over their streets) that are EXTREMELY conservative that the state went red :mad:

[kimm1]

9. maybe Dodd?

There was word out yesterday and this morning that maybe Chris Dodd would run. I don't think he has made any kind of statement yet but generally I think that would be good thing if he did.

[Lizzie Borden]

34. Dodd or Feingold would do a good job.

[jayfish]

12. Too Bad Charlie Rangle Is A House Member.

He would be a kick ass Sen. Minority Leader.

Jay

[pstokely]

13. who else is running?

?

[goobergunch]

14. According to the article

Dodd is seriously considering a run, and some want Hillary to run as well.

Dorgan and Durbin are looking at running for Democratic Whip.

[AlCzervik]

15. I'm sticking with Feingold.

[saigon68]

19. Russ kicked ASS last night

His challenger was a fool and a Bush Bot who got his ASS SMOKED by the "People"

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/WI/S/01/index.html

[sandnsea]

20. Yes Feingold

Is there any negatives about Feingold? That's who I want, somebody who knows how to win in a swing state without compromising Democratic principles.

[DELUSIONAL]

16. No red stater -- are they "real" democrats???

I doubt it.

[judaspriestess]

36. Harry is a real democrat

hey which brings a happy thought. Here comes Yucca mountain. Harry can't stop that.
Hilarious, sorry I just can't believe these retards here in Nevada going for Bush. Or anywhere for that matter.

[kimm1]

18. whoever it is had better have the "loyal oppostion" thing down

That's the one thing I'm not sure about Dodd. He's been a great senator for CT, a nice blue state, but I don't know if he'd have cajones to stand up to the pressure that Bush et al place on Congress. I don't know if he would be able to actually represent the half of the country that finds Bush appalling.

[LisaM]

21. It's GOT to be somebody from a blue state

we need someone who can depend on his or her own electorate, yet is low key enough not to divide the country. Hillary would be the total wrong choice (plus she is a relative Senate newcomer) - I think Biden, Dodd, or even Feingold.

[LiberalFighter]

22. Biden... Absolutey NOT

[BootinUp]

23. Another non safe seat for minority leader?

We need a strong partisan leading our representatives and senators.

[Cocoa]

24. Dodd is one of the most corporate-beholden dems

his type should be the LAST kind of dem we should have in our leadership. I'd put him in with Schumer, Clinton and Lieberman in the group of dems that are simply too wrapped up in huge financial corporations to do us any good.

Reid is great, as are Durbin and Feingold.

[David__77]

25. NO! This is simply not acceptable.

We need to be very strategic about this. They need to listen to Democratic activists on this one. This guy was almost knocked off last time. We can't have our leader compromised by having to constantly do electoral jockeying.

What about Schumer?

What about Wyden?

What about Bingaman?

My point is that I'd prefer many others to Reid.

[Democat]

26. What about Tom Harkin?

We need an ass kicker, no more ass kissers!

[seasat]

27. How about Patrick Leahy.

He voted against the Iraq war, is very well spoken, from a solid blue state, and can aways get a good FU from Cheney. ;)

[Emboldened Chimp]

28. Dorgan or Levin.

[telex54]

29. Good.

With Reid they can't label him as a NE liberal.

[Renew Deal]

30. Daschle wasn't from the Northeast.

Just saying

[telex54]

31. True.

You got me there. But Dodd is. I just don't think that would help us.

[BayCityProgressive]

32. Feingold would be exllent

We already have Pelosi leading the house and Boxer is form Cali too so I dont think that would work. I DONT WANT REID. he is a good guy BUT he is in too much a swing state! HAVE THE DEMS LEARNED NOTHING????? We need someone who can speak out!

[erpowers]

45. I agree

Feingold would be great for the job in that he has shown that he is willing to stand up to Bush and the Republican.

[lastliberalintexas]

33. AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Was it Einstein who said "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result"? If he gets it, it only proves our "leadership" hasn't learned a damn thing from the last 4 years.


Nothing against Reid personally, mind you.

[maddogesq]

38. Homer says Carl Levin. Why?

Long time in the Senate.

Wins elections in Michigan without any real challenge.

Feared...and respected, by the other side.

Bring on the man that really looks like a colonial politican with those glasses. :)

[The Magistrate]

39. Nothing Against Sen. Ried, Sir

But the Senate leader must come from one of our states: Illinois, New York, something that can be counted on....

"Americans looked into the abyss, and fifty-one percent said: 'Hmmm...I wonder what's down there....'"

[AlFrankenFan]

40. Good for Senator Reid!

He's a good man. I'm just so sad Daschle wasn't able to retain his seat.

[are_we_united_yet]

42. Jeez!

For a moment I thought they were talking about Ralph Reed.

:scared:

[Obviousman]

43. It's time to flex out muscle

Hey guys, I've been watching this website for over a year now. It's a sad time to start posting, but I'm feeling more energized than usual. We can't let another red-state senator become leader of party. Personally, I'm for Dick Durbin. Lets use the power of this site and create an echo chamber to pick a dem with a backbone to lead this party.
http://durbin.senate.gov/sitepages/contact.htm
I know it's hard right now, but things are in a huge state of flux. Let's try and reshape the Democratic Party as much as possible before the DLC or DNC do for it us

[FlashHarry]

47. Sy Hersh says it's gotta be Chris Dodd.

Called him a "rockstar" in today's online chat at WaPo.