Reid Vs Obama - Reminds me of an article S. Blumenthal once wrote for TNR

[HardWorkingDem]

Years ago Blumenthal wrote an article for The New Republic that made the hypothesis that Democrats in Congress would rather be in the majority with a Republican president than that of a Democratic president. He pushed the idea that when both were in power, the Democratic president would always suck the attention and power away from Congress people.

This was back when the Dems controlled Congress during the Reagan years. It was an interesting piece and I think we are seeing some of this now with Reid and his behavior.

[AtomicKitten]

1. Reid has lost his damn mind: "Free Ted Stevens"

Oy!

Reid: Free Ted Stevens!
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/01/reid_no_jail_time_for_uncle_ted.php
By Matt Berman - January 7, 2009, 11:21AM

Former senator Ted Stevens (yes, now actually former) is keeping up the fight against his guilty verdict -- and now Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid has lent him a hand.

Reid told Politico that he believes Stevens shouldn't serve jail time.

>>> "My personal feeling, you guys, I don't know what good that ... He was a real war hero too, you know. He's been punished enough." <<<

Reid said he thinks Stevens was simply behind the curve of modern ethics standards in not disclosing the $250,000 in gifts he received from VECO CEO Bill Allen, saying of the famously internet-unsavvy Uncle Ted that "it's a different world we live in, and Stevens did not understand that."

Sentencing for Stevens had tentatively been scheduled for next month, but it's unlikely that he'll be sentenced any time soon. Last month, lawyers for Stevens asked for a new trial, claiming that the prosecution had presented false evidence and withheld information that could have helped the defense.

[leftstreet]

2. I swear Harry would rather be Minority Leader

You make an interesting point.

[babylonsister]

3. I think Reid is reflecting DU. We won, and no one can get over it, or

enjoy it.

[Demeter]

4. Certainly Can't Enjoy It While Reid and Pelosi Gum Up the Works

[opihimoimoi]

5. Reid should resign his post...let another lead the Senate...he has overstepped...shows arrogance,,,

[PurityOfEssence]

6. Harry carried water for the Obama team and they left him hanging out to dry

If he tries to regain some dignity by claiming some autonomy, it's after having been a good soldier and being sacrificed after a blunder.

Let's get serious: there's NO WAY he would have disputed an embattled Governor's appointment if it hadn't been something implicating Obama and his team. That's the ONLY reason he was the front man for this operation, and when it was obvious it would fail, he was caught. He stood his ground probably because the team was still being blockheaded and wanting to get its pissy little way and wanted him to stick with the plan. He was a dutiful water-carrier for this.

When I heard Obama on NPR today say that he was "going to stay out of this one", it was the same old ducking of controversy that's become his leitmotif. The phrasing of it made it sound like he never had anything to do with it in the first place and was going to continue to be above the fray. This is palpable crap to anyone with a shred of sense. Even if it was someone else--Rahm Emanuel being a prime candidate--sparking the pissing contest, this is HARDLY something that was just within the big Senate club from which he's just resigned.

It seems like Reid was trying to preserve some dignity by holding to the lie that it was HIS initiative and not theirs, salvaging some credibility by using this as a justification for not calling it off. If he snapped back at them, he was probably firing a warning shot, and a shot that should be heeded.

The Obama fanatics (ones who can conceive of no wrong or missteps) are doing themselves a disservice here by attacking Reid; he was a willing stooge and stood up to take the heat to exact the Administration-to-be's vengeance on Blagojevich, and after using him they tried to pin it on him.

For those missing the implication, I contend that it went like this: Obama and his team wanted revenge against Blagojevich (and to show that they're "above" dealing with such a thug) and got Reid to be the frontman. When the going got tough, Obama himself characterized it as something he didn't have anything to do with. Singed and pissed, Reid fired a serious shot across their bow after being sacrificed for a stupid grudge and left hanging in the wind. Where am I getting this wrong?

Reid was a willing functionary, and the extremists among the Obama zealots should actually be thankful for him being a team player and not rage when he doesn't want to be left taking all the blame as if he's some rogue nut. The guy stuck his neck out for Obama and he's getting shit for it; that's not the kind of thing you want to do to powerful politicians on a regular basis.

[BlueManDude]

7. Congressional Dems perpetually act like they are in the minority.