Harry Reid -- wait for it -- CAVED on Franken

[stevedeshazer]

Senate Democrats put off plans to seat Franken

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5045LF20090106

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid yielded to Republican threats and agreed on Monday not to immediately seat fellow Democrat Al Franken, whose razor-close victory in Minnesota faces legal challenges.

Senate Republicans had planned to disrupt the opening of the new Congress on Tuesday by blocking Franken's swearing-in.

And in another ugly fight, Senate Democrats vowed to block, at least for now, the seating of fellow party member Roland Burris whose appointment by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich carries a whiff of political scandal.

---

more @ link

[rocktivity]

1. I think it had more to do with fear of the Dems looking hypocritical

by seating Franken but not Burris, both of whom, technically, have won fair and square.

:headbang:
rocknation

[paulk]

26. stop making sense

the purpose of this thread is to bash Harry Reid...

[redstate_democrat]

29. With good reason

http://thehill.com/markos-moulitsas/reid-is-gops-best-friend-2008-12-16.html">Reid is GOP's Best Friend

Successful Republican obstructionism is sadly common in Reid’s Senate. An analysis by Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com found that use of the filibuster has skyrocketed in Reid’s Senate to 112 cloture votes between 2006 and 2008, twice the number between 2004 and 2006 — and two and a half times the average in the previous 18 years combined.

“Reid can threaten to block votes on certain of the opposition party’s legislation (or alternatively, present carrots to them for allowing a vote to proceed), and secondly, he can publicly shame them. Reid managed to do neither,” concluded Silver. “Republicans are filibustering more and more often because they can get away with it.”

Yet Reid’s acquiescence flows in one direction only. When Democratic activists pleaded that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) be stripped of a committee chairmanship after campaigning for John McCain and other Republicans in 2008, Reid refused in the name of “unity.” But “unity” was easily cast aside when Reid applauded Sen. Evan Bayh’s (D-Ind.) plan for a Blue Dog-style caucus in the Senate. Both moves are great news for Republicans — they keep their mole inside Democratic ranks, while Democrats fragment their majority.

A recent poll by independent pollster Research 2000 for Daily Kos found Reid surprisingly vulnerable in Nevada. Former GOP Rep. John Porter trailed the majority leader by just 46-40, and Reid sported a dismal 38 percent approval rating. Only 32 percent of all respondents, and just 44 percent of Democrats, wanted to see Reid reelected.

Reid is simply ineffective as a Democratic Leader. Republicans couldn't ask for a better "leader" for the opposition's party.

[paulk]

61. being majority or minority leader is a thankless job

where you get shit on from both sides of the aisle.

Ultimately, it's up to the other members of the caucus, and they must like what Reid is doing, since they voted him in.

Or maybe they just don't want the job.

[Elidor]

99. Oh, poor fucking Harry

Boo hoo.

[paulk]

101. now there's a deep and thoughtful post...

[warren pease]

33. Why not just seat them both and tell these cave-dwelling GOP madmen to...

... go fuck themselves twice in the most painful ways possible? Then swear them both in, seat them briefly, then take the afternoon off, have a tourist day at the Smithsonian or just walk the mall, and let these assholes rant and rave with only each other and a lone C-span camera for company.

What the fucking hell is it with these invertebrate idiots? Why is it so difficult to at least pretend to be an opposition party?

I'm pretty sure of the answer, but it's so awful I'd prefer to be completely wrong. I doubt it, though. Not after watching Reid and Pelosi grovel and smirk and cave while doing their level best to bury bills or resolutions that might actually help the peasantry, while making certain to meet or exceed anything the Bushies want, no matter how crazy or outrageous.

Whether it's getting supplemental appropriations bills through the house and senate, authorizing tens of billions more for the war department to squander on an illegal occupation and campaign of mass murder just so the war profiteering can continue right on its happy happy way.

Or emptying the treasury for the benefit of the Wall St. criminal class, this on direct orders from the Bushies who can find a way to wring blood out of a turnip as long as it can be converted into a stable currency. And their cronies benefit, too!

What a wonderful world it's become since the wingnuts finally got their coup, fronted by an imbecile so thick that he literally defies comparison except with victims of severe developmental disabilities. And the world got to experience a new and ultra-violent rogue state and sponsor of international terrorism, ruled by the greediest international criminal syndicate on earth, with eight solid years devoted to stealing everything they could get their filthy hands on from any country with some valuable natural resources.

Oh... and gawd bless Amerika v2.0, leading the emerging fourth world in torture, slavery and ignorance. Yup... We're Number One all right.


wp

[malaise]

47. This post deserves its own thread

:yourock:

[Pastiche423]

98. And tons of recommends!

[stevedeshazer]

58. What warren pease said.

:)

[Blue_Tires]

73. +1

[ColesCountyDem]

83. Testify, Brother Warren Pease!

It's the most hysterically funny post I've ever read here that I also completely agree with!

:thumbsup: :+ :P

[Toasterlad]

87. Dude! WHAT ABOUT THE POWDER??? You Don't Get It!

The powder MUST REMAIN DRY!!!

[Doctor_J]

88. Because Reid is a gutless loser who I wouldn't let run a Wireless Service stand at the mall

[Arkana]

94. We're no longer an opposition party.

[Zavulon]

97. I wish replies could be recommended so that

I could recommend yours. I don't use this word very often, but...AWESOME.

[varelse]

100. Don't hold back

tell us how you REALLY feel.

:P

P.S. :applause:

[Renew Deal]

65. Is Franken's election over?

Has the election been certified and the certificate sent to the senate? Last night I eard (on KO or DU) that the election certificate hasn't been sent to the Senate.

[MrSlayer]

2. Did you expect anything other than that?

Seriously?

[tblue]

6. Can we please seat a new Senate Majority Leader??????

[MrSlayer]

9. I would get behind that in a second.

I have this sinking feeling that despite our majorities and gains that these fools will always capitulate to the Pukes and their threats. No guts at all.

[ShortnFiery]

25. I think SOME of our "illustrious" Democratic Leaders are "willfully spineless" ...

It's all "a waltz" that gives us unwashed masses some hope that the USA consists of TWO Political Parties vice ONE Right-Wing Duopoly. :(

[MrSlayer]

32. Yes.

That's exactly what we have here.

[Le Taz Hot]

42. That's exactly it.

It's all a big dog-and-pony show to make us plebes think we actually have a voice in electing "our" representatives.

[John Q. Citizen]

53. I think Ried and the Repos share the same policy goals. It's not that he's weak, it's that he

wants the outcomes he keeps getting.

[stevedeshazer]

23. No.

Seriously.

[tularetom]

3. Good news is Harry will cave on Burris too and Burris will be seated

Burris may be the worst senatorial nominee ever sent to Washington but he was legally appointed. Harry opened his big mouth and now he'll have to wuss out yet again.

[stevedeshazer]

10. Ya but, where's the justice in that?

I agree Burris should be seated, but it's an appointment. Burris is right, it was legal.

But the Franken thing isn't really comparable in my mind.

Al Franken won what has to be one of the most-scrutinized elections ever, and the recount seems squeaky clean.

Weird.

[JimDandy]

102. My thoughts exactly.

And if I heard correctly, Franken was even certified by MN!

[ColesCountyDem]

37. What makes Burris 'the worst senatorial nominee ever sent to Washington'?

Inquiring minds would like to know.

:shrug:

[tularetom]

40. I shouldn't post after my bedtime

What I meant to say was "Even if Burris WERE the worst Senatorial appointee ever, he was appointed legally and must be seated". I have no idea where he stands on the list of Senatorial appointees.

[ColesCountyDem]

76. No blood, no foul.

:hi:

[DainBramaged]

4. Harry 'gutless' Reid, never found a fight he didn't run from

So tired of his bullshit lack of real leadership. The Pukes would have seated the identical Puke candidate with a fucking marching band and naked women throwing rose petals.

[Libertyfirst]

56. You are too right!! n/t

[LynneSin]

82. HE DIDN'T RUN FROM A FIGHT THAT DOESN'T EXIST!!

Geez!!


He can't seat him - he's not been certified by the Governor of Minnesota.

They have a law in that state that has to be played out completely. Reid's hands are tied.

[sandnsea]

5. They should have let them

When the right is about to act like idiots, we really need to start letting them. That is what America is sick of.

[rockymountaindem]

7. He deserves to lose in 2010

There, I said it.

[depakid]

14. Agreed

It'd be preferable for the Dems to find a face saving way out for Harry- but if it comes down to it, you're right. The Dems would be a much stronger party without him.

btw: Eeven the Republicans had no problem seating Mary Landrieu on a provisional basis in 1997 under similar contested circumstances.

How's THAT for pathetic.

[StreetKnowledge]

28. 100% Agreed.

Harry is a wuss. We got a highly intelligent fistfighter in Pelosi. Now let's get somebody with some balls for the Senate.

[Le Taz Hot]

45. I"m sorry, did I read this right?

"We got a highly intelligent fistfighter in Pelosi." Nancy Pelosi has been every bit as complacent as Reid and also needs to go. Neither one of them are leaders. Both are slaves to the corporatists.

[backscatter712]

66. Not that Pelosi's all that great, but she's an improvement over Reid.

Granted, her stand on impeachment was a disaster, and she has plenty of her own capitulations on things like FISA and the Military Commissions Act.

At the same time, good legislation that stalls in the Senate because the Republicans throw a hissy fit, tends to cruise through the House. The auto-bailout bill from December sailed through the House pretty quickly, then got filibustered in the Senate.

Maybe this is because the Democrats hold a stronger majority in the House, and because the Rethugs can't filibuster in the House, but to Pelosi's credit, she is capable of more than Reid.

Of course, that's like saying influenza is an improvement over ebola...

[Hawkowl]

8. We need to fund a Lamont type opponent

We need to find a primary opponent to Hairy Reid. He has very weak poll numbers in Nevada and a progressive would have a very good chance in knocking him out in 2 years. Regardless I'm sending money to whomever his primary opponent is.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

11. How's that powder, Harry?

Keeping it dry are you, you gutless eunuch.

[Greyhound]

12. Wow, what a shock...

:eyes:
It would really be nice to have someone from The People's side in charge of something.

Maybe 2010...

[Proud Liberal Dem]

60. We need to keep keeping our powder dry

Just until the 2010 elections and then everybody will REALLY get down to business. We mean it this time! :eyes:

[Triana]

13. What is the point of blocking Franken from being seated?

He WON and the vote was certified.

[SoCalDem]

17. Pawlenty refused to sign the document he needs to be seated

and said he would not sign it until ALL legal channels for Normie had been exhausted:grr:..

Reid should tell Chinless Mitch to go pound sand, and seat both Burris AND Franken.. The Burris issue is the fault of Fitz & the IL legislature..It;s not even Blago;'s "fault".. He just did what he was "supposed to do"..everyone else is not doing their duty

[AndyTiedye]

19. So What Will It Take, a Year for this to Go Up to the Supreme Court?

And who knows how the Supreme Court will rule? They might award the election to Coleman just because they can.

[krispos42]

20. Check your PM n/t

[saracat]

15. Is Reid even a Democrat? He doesn't want to seat either Burris or Franken?

WTF is wrong with him? It isn't as though nothing else in the world is going on. We need to seat these two Democratic Senators and begin governing. This is just crap. On one hand he caves to the GOP , on the other he engages in a grudge match. He sickens me.

[LynneSin]

84. Reid can't seat Franken - Minnesota law says Franken still isn't the senator yet

He needs the govenor and SOS of Minnesota to sign off on this.

And it was a spokesperson for Reid who made that comment.

[LibDemAlways]

16. Is there any battle Harry Reid is willing to fight? Where

the hell are his principles, and how did he ever get into a position of leadership in the first place? His picture should be next to the word "wuss" in the dictionary.

[ShortnFiery]

24. He's got his iddle gander up about the Burris nomination. Of all THINGS?!?

:crazy:

[Marr]

30. Right- won't fight to seat a Dem, but *will* fight to stop one.

It makes perfect sense. He's not a wuss-- he's just not on your side.

[nosmokes]

18. how many bouts did ol 'no heart' Harry forfeit when he was a boxer?

Because he's certainly forgotten how to fight in the Senate.

[Warpy]

21. Somebody needs to tell him that he's in the majority these days

and that he really doesn't need to run shrieking every time one of his former bullies leers at him.

The Senate needs to get him out of that position. The last thing a majority needs is a total wuss in charge.

[ShortnFiery]

22. Unbelievable!

Should Harry Reid be deposed as Majority Leader?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/3/15434/9504

1) He caved in on the Iraq funding supplemental.

2) He caved into the Bush administration on FISA.

3) He caved into the Bush administration over the Southwick nomination.

4) Reid caved into the Bush administration on the environment.

5) #2 and #4 show the beginning of a troubling pattern of behavior for Senator Reid. Instead of listening to progressive senators like Senator Dodd and Senator Wyden, he is beginning to show a pattern of contempt for the progressive wing of the party. This is the same sort of contempt that other Senators such as Lieberman and Feinstein have as well.

[Marr]

27. Reid is not on your side.

He and the rest of the Democratic establishment want to enable the Republicans as much as possible. That way, they can advance their real constituents' agenda (wealth), and blame it on those bad Republicans.

Remember FISA, where Reid had to really bend over backwards to "lose" to the Republicans? He had to overtly support their bill over the Democratic one? He prefers to have political cover.

[ShortnFiery]

31. But is there any hope that the good people of Nevada will kick his a** out of the Senate?

Probably not. :(

[mikehiggins]

35. Las Vegas is in a lot of trouble

unless Reid gets some bail-out money for the casinos it may be possible to field a progressive candidate against him. Love to see it.

[ShortnFiery]

44. Oh yes. I grieve for all of us ... but Harry Reid is NOT a leader ... perhaps by design? eom

[StreetKnowledge]

34. Reid, Retire, you two-bit $*#!@*

You suck. Seriously. Franken won, just that Pawlenty is trying to shore up his chances to run for President by screwing Franken to help the ballsucking slimebags at the GOP leadership.

Burris, as much as he's chosen by a worthless, crooked dirtbag who is so stupid that he's the only one who doesn't know he's going to be impeached, but he was still legally chosen. He'll only be there three years, then he can retire and let the people decide, if not before.

Seat them, and to hell with the GOP idiots. Grow a spine, you wuss.

[PVnRT]

36. Chickenshit

Of course, he left himself an opening on Blaggo's pick, but because Dipshit McConnell wants to fight Franken, he rolls over.

[Orsino]

38. I don't have a problem with a brief delay until the election results are certified.

Brief.

[donco6]

39. Franken was already certified.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2009/01/franken-certifi.html

[Orsino]

48. Well, fuck.

I don't see why they're not seating him, then.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

49. It's because Pawlenty won't sign his hall pass.

For real. Pawlenty is holding it up because Coleman will probably sue - sore loser and election ignorer that he is.

[Orsino]

67. Ah. Certified, but not 100%, all-the-way certified. n/t

[LynneSin]

51. You think republican governor Tim Pawlenty is gonna sign off on that

it's not official

[donco6]

41. GASP! No way!

:eyes:

[Ioo]

43. Shocker - Ried Caved? Are you kidding?!?!?!?

[madrchsod]

46. yup... he caved...and burris won` be either because-

the supreme court of illinois has to force the illinois sectary of state,jessie white,to certify blago`s pick. with out that burris can not be seated in the us senate

impeachment of blago starts tomorrow.

[LynneSin]

50. He can't seat him - the MN governor has to sign the certificate and he hasn't

Coleman has a week to challenge the results and if that fails then Pawlenty has no choice but to sign the certificate

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

69. Coleman already has gone to court. It is now in the hands of the courts.

[Myrina]

52. How's that powder Harry?

Still dry?
Thought so.

Wanker.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

54. Reid is more of a sham than a "chickenshit"

He's a B-grade actor... His feigned, agonized justification over his decision to go ahead with the bailout in Oct harkened back to the 2004 election when he proudly, triumphantly announced on TV that his entire state of Nevada had a paper trail... It was a lie, and he knew it.

Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller (REPUB) announced in December 2003 that the state would be purchasing Sequoia E-Voting machines with printers, to verify votes for the 2004 election. Funny thing- though they had an entire year to do it, they were "unable" to get the printers in time for the Las Vegas (Clark Co.) area where about 70% of the state population resided (with the highest % of registered Dem voters). Bush won the state by 2% and there was no paper trail ONLY for that the area.

"Some voters in Clark County may still see older electronic machines without the printout option because the state did not have enough time or the correct technology to swap all of Clark County's current voting machines to the new models, according to Secretary of State Dean Heller."http://lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2004/oct/19/517688396.html

Reid is a charlatan.

[Kitty Herder]

55. I'm shocked, I tell you. Just shocked.

Who would have thought that Harry Reid could be so spineless? :sarcasm: <---(for the snark-impaired)

[underpants]

57. Coleman has a week to file suit and must pay for anything else done

Reid is right about this

[bdamomma]

59. I think I will be making a phone call this is total BS

between Burris and Franken and Reid is kissing up to the repigs, this is going to be a circus.

sickening, Harry Reid has no spine.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

62. Of course he did. Are you surprised? You shouldn't be...

[ananda]

63. Is ANYONE here surprised?????

Reid must go now!

[bobd0]

64. I'm changing party affiliation to Independent until further notice. nt

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

68. Franken has not been certified by the Gov and SOS of Minnesota, which is The Law of the state.

I am one of the first to criticize Reid but there is legal standing here.

Coleman has filed lawsuits and until those lawsuits are resolved, Al cannot be certified. This includes the case going all the way up to the Supreme Court.

[LynneSin]

70. Yeah people will miss this little important fact

Reid is suppose to illegal sit a senator who has not been signed off on by the Governor of that state.

I swear we find things to bitch about Reid just to amuse ourselves even if they aren't real. Reid did the one thing he could do - he locked out Coleman's office.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

79. I don't know if the OP read the whole article but it seems that the writer of the article is trying

to stir up trouble. He left this factoid to the very end of his two page article.

snip.....

In the Minnesota battle, Republicans said the declaration of Franken as the winner did not end the contest.

"The race in Minnesota is not over," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said. "Under Minnesota law, an election certificate does not issue until litigation has been concluded. And it's my understanding that a lawsuit will be filed ... contesting certain aspects of the accounting."

[prolesunited]

72. Stop making sense. It's more fun to disparage Reid

for every slight, whether real or imagined.

[joeunderdog]

75. He should just make like John Kerry and turtle.

That way, he can lose and people will call him "smart" for it.

[Taverner]

71. Where are spines when you need them?

[LynneSin]

81. You do realize that there is nothing Harry Reid can do about this

Why are we blaming him? He did what he could do which was shut down Coleman's office & website.

Minnesota law says that this needs to go thru the courts system before it will be certified by the governor and secretary of state. Oh and that's a republican governor so you better believe that he'll be helping Coleman out.

[Dukkha]

74. I'm sorry, did we lose an election last November?

no suprise Reid-R collaborates with the enemy once again. Doormats have more dignity than this.

[badgerpup]

77. Just called my senior senator on this...

Dateline: Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 (so you know what and when and who...)

and asked (courteously and in a lot more words)
" :wtf: is the holdup? The Dems need somebody with balls and backbone; can't you please just SEAT the guy already?"

The very nice gentleman on the phone said that Senator-elect Franken isn't in Washington at the moment- probably letting all the hullabaloo with Burris play out before he goes and TAKES his seat.

He (phone guy...and he's worked there for quite a while and seems to know what's going on) seemed to feel that the Dems (Harry Reid notwithstanding or even standing ) weren't going to contest Al Franken's election.

That's the news from Montana, at least...:shrug:

[LynneSin]

80. Are you even familiar with the laws of Minnesota. I'm guessing your senior senator from MT is

There isn't anything we can do - it's the law in Minnesota and btw, it was a 'spokesperson' from Harry Reid's office that said we were going to seat him. Reid did all he could - he shut down Coleman's office & website. Probably deactivated his parking badge too.

BUT WE CAN'T GO ABOUT THE LAWS OF MINNESOTA and since the governor is a Republican and must sign off on this - we have to wait for the courts.

[Chulanowa]

78. Brings an image to mind...

[DCKit]

85. While they're waiting for the challenge...

why not begin an investigation into election fraud?

[Enrique]

86. seating a senator who hasn't been certified isn't worth fighting for

why is it so important he be seated immediately?

[Doctor_J]

89. He was certified

[Enrique]

92. nope

Reid can fight to seat Franken now, but why is it so important that it's worth going against Minnesota law? Franken will be senator, but only after Coleman delays it for a while.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/04/franken-to-be-declared-se_n_155159.html

(...)

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie was careful to note Monday that the board was simply signing off on the numbers found by the recount: Franken, with 1,212,431 votes, and Coleman, with 1,212,206 votes.

"We're not doing anything today that declares winners or losers or anything to that effect," Ritchie said.

(...)

Minnesota law doesn't allow the issuance of a final election certificate until legal challenges are settled, meaning the state will be represented only by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, when Congress convenes on Tuesday. Coleman's term expired Saturday.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

95. By the election board but not by the Gov and SOS of Minnesota. Coleman has filed

a lawsuit and By Minnesota Law, until the lawsuit is resolved (even to the Supremes), Franken cannot be certified.

[Doctor_J]

90. I am sticking with my prediction that Franken will never be seated

The corrupt Repukes are already saying the election is a fraud. Pretty soon they will start calling Coleman the winner, and we don't have anyone on our side who will contest it.

Get your pitchforks and rope ready, people. It's coming.

[Enrique]

93. the court will decide it

I predict Franken will win the lawsuit.

[Octafish]

91. So Easy a Cave Man Can Do It

Cave you very much, Senator.

[acmavm]

96. And? You're not surprised, are you?