Harry Reid's Gambit

[Cha]

snip//

“This is the right thing to do,” Reid told one of his closest advisers. “If I don’t do this, I might as well just walk away.”

As some of his fellow Democratic senators remained on the fence, Reid called in a heavy hitter to close the deal: President Barack Obama, according to sources familiar with the matter. Obama personally called senators on Wednesday to back the move, and Reid ultimately won the vote on a slim margin, 52-48. Just three Democrats broke with Reid: the retiring Carl Levin of Michigan, the moderate Joe Manchin of West Virginia and the vulnerable Mark Pryor of Arkansas.

When the seismic moment finally came, shell-shocked senators in both parties couldn’t believe that Reid pulled the trigger — and were grasping to understand the far-reaching ramifications.

Asked how history would remember him after this move, Reid told POLITICO: “I don’t write history.”

But nobody disputed that the move was emblematic of Reid’s hard-ball style that has come to characterize his leadership in recent years — whether it was his passage of the health care law in 2009 on a straight party-line vote, his willingness to go over the fiscal cliff in 2012 or his refusal to bend to GOP demands during the 16-day government shutdown last month


Much More..
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/harry-reid-senate-fillibuster-100243.html

http://theobamadiary.com/2013/11/22/rise-and-shine-676/

I could only snip so much but the whole long article is worth the read.. not bad from "politico" imv

End snip//

"Asked about his changing views on the issue, Reid told reporters Thursday: “I have a right to change how I feel about things.”

Harry Reid

[immoderate]

1. “I don’t write history.”

That struck me as a very funny thing to say. It's also true. Harry is looking strong. Of course, the alternative is to let the Republicans demolish governance.

--imm

[Cha]

2. I know huh, Immoderate. Very true..

so how would he know. Didn't feel like guessing.

[Laelth]

3. Quite interesting.

I was unaware of the President's involvement.

-Laelth

[Cha]

6. Me too, Laelth.. but, I

saw PBO's remarks on it and he was quite happy in a subdued sort of way.

[Laelth]

9. He holds his cards very close to his chest.

I don't blame him for that. If I had to combat the "angry black man" stereotype all my life, I would probably do the same.

That said, I am not surprised to learn that the President was involved in this. He is the leader of the Party, and he has done a remarkable job of enforcing party unity. For that, I give him credit.

-Laelth

[Laelth]

4. Pay attention to this little excerpt:

Reid’s decision to sharply reverse course speaks to how the majority leader’s views have shifted to reflect his younger, more liberal caucus

The Democratic Party has become far more liberal in recent years than is readily acknowledged.

-Laelth

[Cha]

7. I know.. that was heartening!

[mountain grammy]

13. Music to my ears..

[Major Hogwash]

5. They have an obligation to the American people to conduct official federal business.

So, when the Rethuglicans blocked 45 executive nominees, people who are nominated to run the federal departments of government, it was obvious that the Rethuglicans were strangling the federal government, acting like a lynch mob.

The Rethuglicans were shutting down the government from within by using the filibuster, but they overreached.

[Cha]

8. they really are their own worst enemies with their collective

stupid greed.

[Major Hogwash]

10. This was the Rethuglican's plan all along.

Last edited Fri Dec 6, 2013, 02:28 PM - Edit history (1)

After I read that Ed Meese had convened a meeting of the heads of the current Rethuglican party in January of this year to discuss how they should shut down the federal government, I realized that we are in dire straits.

What Harry Reid did was to save the process that we have developed over the last 224 years to conduct the business of the federal government.
The business of the federal government is America.

So, as far as I am concerned, Harry Reid saved America.

[IrishAyes]

11. Harry Reid is a prince among men.

[Major Hogwash]

14. That is so true. After McConnell lied to Reid about not filibustering judges earlier this year. . .

. . Reid continued to try to work with him.
But, there is a limit to the amount of straw that a camel can carry, and when they blocked all 3 of the latest nominees that were appointed by the President of the United States to the DC Court, that was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Reid did all he could to keep from changing the rulez of the Senate.
He has been a Senator since 1987, for 26 years . . more than a quarter of a century.
But, enough is enough, indeed.

[Cha]

16. Our Harry finally got the votes..

bless their trepid hearts. Boom.

to Reid ..and PBO helped!

[malaise]

12. ReTHUG bullying is over

Democratic folks stood up to them big time since the shut down.

Go Cheney yourselves ReTHUGs and your baggers.

[Cha]

15. Perfect little graphic to illustrate your post, malaise..

[malaise]

17. School Yard THUGs are the same as

ReTHUGs, They're wimps after you stand up to them and all their daddy or sugar daddy's money cant help. Ask Rmoney, ask the fugging Kochroaches

[sheshe2]

18. Boom!

Harry goes Nuclear!

It's marvelous Cha, and he got all but three dems to vote for him. I love it that the "Big Guy" was brought in.

So proud of our party, together strong!

[Cha]

19. It was an interesting article, she.. found out things

I didn't know and it was a good light shining on Harry! From politico of all places~

Yeah, I liked the graphic, too.. Harry goes Nuclear right through the top of mitch's lyin' whinin' 'ead.

Harry, she~

[sheshe2]

20. A good day for us!

A confusing day for the GOP and Tbaggers.

[William769]

21. Kick & recommended.

[Cha]

22. Mahalo, William~

[Cha]

23. Kick!