Frustrated Democratic Senators Vent, but Re-Elect Reid to Be Their Leader

[Purveyor]

By JEREMY W. PETERS and ASHLEY PARKERNOV. 13, 2014

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats voted to retain Senator Harry Reid of Nevada and the other senior members of their leadership on Thursday, putting off for now the uncomfortable question of how to inject new energy into a party that many worry is failing to cultivate a new generation of leaders.

The voting was done by secret ballot, but it was not unanimous, reflecting a divide within the party as it prepares to be the minority party on Capitol Hill for the first time since 2006.

Concern about the need to elevate new faces and younger leaders was reflected in part in the decision Thursday to create a new but relatively small leadership role for Senator Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts. Ms. Warren, a folk hero of the left, will serve as an informal liaison to the party’s liberal base.

“We’re going to do things a little differently,” Mr. Reid vowed after the vote.

Senators who left the meeting, which stretched on for nearly four hours, described it as frank but cathartic, with plenty of soul-searching and introspection.

“When you have an election like this, common sense says we need to change things,” said Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, one of the handful of Democrats who did not vote for Mr. Reid. “The voice was very loud and unmistakable,” she added. “To me that means changing leadership, and it was just that simple.”

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/14/us/politics/harry-reid-senate-democrats.html?_r=0

[rtracey]

1. Attn Democratic Senators

Yes, you know who you are, you monitor this website, you can hear your party members....take this into your minds.....we are the people that voted.... some of us may have even voted for the GOP....why? you know.....so let me say this.....you have 2 years to get your shit together. I don't care how or who, but you need to grow a pair, and support our president....NEVER run from him again...we want ACA, everyone does, dont listen to FOX....they lie, you know they do. We want answers, we want a dem president in 2017, we want a dem senate and if possible a dem house.....GET OFF YOUR BUTTS AND WORK......Harry Reid, you got a fucking gift...use it NOW.

[RussBLib]

2. what?!

This is unbelievable. It would appear that Senate Democrats are just fine with how things have been going for them lately.

[geek tragedy]

3. Harry Reid is not the reason Senate Democrats lost in 2014.

Senate never has an independent policy agenda--its 'job' is to slow down what the House and President try to enact.

I don't get the Reid hate. He gutted the judicial filibuster. He won standoffs with McConnell.

But, he was never going to be able to save red state Democrats in an off-year.

[quadrature]

7. HR is no longer useful...

Harry Reid had one useful talent.

spend money to get Republicans
to nominate bad candidates,
or variations on that.

this cycle's examples ... -->
(US Senate)

North Carolina, H.R. spent money to help the
dumb Repub candidate in the primary, did not work.

Kansas, the switcherooo sorta worked in the courts,
but did not prevail on general election day

South Dakota, whatever that weirdness going on there was,
did not work on election day

Iowa, the Repubs still nominated their strongest candidate

[world wide wally]

4. No shit, Harry. I would say “We’re going to do things a little differently,” Now that you lost all

of your power. Just watch what McConnell does to your sacred filibuster.

[Old Nick]

5. Masochism

A textbook case.

[blkmusclmachine]

6. Reid has already signaled unconditional surrender for 2015-2016.

[aspirant]

8. hocus pocus

We have a magic trick going on with Warren but the key is to follow the money. Reid selected the purist liberal, Jon Tester, to handle the Dscc funds. I may have missed it but I haven't heard him advocating replacing the DNC chair with a 50 state strategist. How many judges are going to be confirmed in the lame duck congress? Let's see if Warren will remain an independent voice or just stand behind Reid at the podium as he presents our positions.

[Samantha]

9. Why do you refer to Tester as the purist liberal

He is a very conservative Democrat. He even argues for Keystone.

Sam