For those calling for Harry Reid's head...

[brooklynite]

...for failing to achieve filibuster reform, could you explain hour the Majority Leader of your choice would have gotten holdouts like Levin and Baucus to change their minds?

[hepkat]

1. 55 dems and inds that caucus you need 51 votes

That's how.

Every article I've read talks about how he didn't really want to take it on to begin with. The 60 vote threshold was never challenged. I'm will to read more about it tho if you can show he felt and acted differently.

[KharmaTrain]

2. The 60 Votes Were Challenged Twice...

...first to allow debate and a bunch of rushpublicans voted to allow the bill to come to the floor. Now why would Reid move a bill to the floor that he didn't either support or hope would pass? The blame has and solely belongs on the rushpublican party that is more beholden to the big money the NRA and the gun lobby throws at them than the safety of the American people.

[hepkat]

6. this is not about gun votes its about filibuster reform

I don't know if the rules come in the form of bills.

[KharmaTrain]

8. Blame At Least 9 Democratic Senators...

Sadly there weren't even 40 Democratic votes for filibuster reform...far short of the 51 needed. Now...if the Democrats lose control of the Senate in '14...that 51 vote threshold will sure look different.

[winterpark]

11. That's why he should have gotten down and dirty and had outside groups threaten

those senators into voting for filibuster reform. I would've conspired, and blackmailed and used any and every dirty trick to force them into it.

[demwing]

3. Why?

What do any of us -- you included -- have to gain from yet another iteration of this game?

[TDale313]

4. Two of the holdouts on filibuster reform...

Were Feinstein and (somewhat shockingly) Boxer. Rumor at the time was there was a back room deal of some sort on not obstructing these gun safety votes. If there's any truth to this, it's seeming like a stupid deal at this point. They could have gotten filibuster reform if they'd wanted.

[winterpark]

12. You would think Dems would have learned their lesson after the last "gentlemen's agreement" sigh...

[Warren Stupidity]

5. Yeah holding leaders accountable sets a terrible precedent. NT.

[brooklynite]

7. Not disagreeing...

...but I'm not sure you wouldn't be here complaining about Majority Leader Whitehouse/Coons/Warren's failure as well. This isn't the House and you can't yank Chairman slots away in retribution for bad votes.

[hepkat]

9. The issue is that he did not try and we are suffering for it

It was just pathetic.

[graham4anything]

10. And also how the house would have then agreed to it. I like Harry Reid

In the end, this is firing up the base, and firing up women nationwide(in all states.)

The Democratic party is going to win bigtime in 2014.

Then a much better day will be at hand.

And the poison pen amendment would have made things worse than anything.

[Dawgs]

13. It would be different if he hasn't been a complete failure on so many other issues. n/t

[bigwillq]

14. Time for new leadership.

Harry Reid has got to go.

[Javaman]

15. +1 nt

[CanonRay]

16. It's all Kabuki Theater and Harry's the Director

Big show for the peasants, but in the end, Harry delivers for the NRA.