In Reid's war room, the battle rages on

[MelissaB]

In Reid's war room, the battle rages on

By Benjamin Grove <[e-mail]>
Sun Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- At 12:50 p.m. on Oct. 28, Fox News reported that top White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby had resigned, facing indictment.

On the third floor of the U.S. Capitol, inside Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's communications "war room," eyes darted over a bank of seven flat-screen televisions.

...snip
The war room raised eyebrows even before its official launch Jan. 4.

Traditionally, Senate offices have press secretaries and Senate leaders have had small communications teams. But a war room manned by a staff of 12, housed inside the Capitol, was unusual.

...snip

Seven people work inside the war room. Five other communications team members work in nearby offices. They perform a wide variety of tasks, from speech writing and press-conference planning to peddling the Democratic message to Hispanic media, and monitoring the cyberscape of influential political Web logs, or blogs.

More: http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2005/nov/06/519618583.html

This is a great article, and I had trouble picking only a few paragraphs to pull. It's a great read. :)

[applegrove]

1. Thanks for posting - I look forward to reading. n/t

[Cha]

2. That's us!

"and monitoring the cyberscape of influential political Web logs, or blogs."

[mzmolly]

4. Yep indeedy. I imagine WE/DU is actually effecting change.

:toast:

[MelissaB]

5. I immediately thought of the "Shut it down" post

by Walt Starr

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2202281

[mzmolly]

3. Very impressive! I love your presentation too Melissa!

Recommended!!

I am so glad they are attempting not only to fight back quickly, but to have a "unified" message. I think this should expand beyond the Senate alone.

Wouldn't it be great to work in such a "war room?!" Wow!! Hats off to em' they are doing a great job!

[FreedomAngel82]

7. I remember hearing about the "war room"

earlier this year and some people asked Reid about it (press). They thought it would be a political type room but he told how it's about how to handle the media. I was so impressed. The thing I like about Reid is he's cool, calm, soft spoken, collected and doesn't take any B.S.

[MelissaB]

8. That would be a dream job!

Thanks for the compliment, and for noticing. :hi:

[FreedomAngel82]

6. I think Reid is the best Senate leader

I didn't get to know Daschle but from Frist praising him he wouldn't have been quite so effective as Reid. I've been impressed with Reid since I saw him on "Meet the Press" last December talking about defending Social Security. I also remember earlier this year around January or early February the republicans printed this whole big booklet of "how to get Reid" and he came out and told the press about it right away and I don't think they ever used it after that. I highly believe that Karl Rove has met his match with Reid. If in 2007 we're able to take back the House and Senate and impeach Bush and all his administration and install Pelosi she should have Reid as her VP. Think of that team!

[electropop]

9. Give 'em Hell Harry!

You've got a good thing running now to monitor the media and create solid responses and tactics. Now the other half of the job: meet daily (telecon) with lots of top Dems: Pelosi, Dean, and everybody willing to attend from the House, Senate, and (microscopic) liberal media. Distribute a brief talking points memo every morning. This is the only way the word will get out. Love the memes: "Culture of Corruption" (yours I believe) and "Cover-Up Congress" (Pelosi?).