WTF? Reid: Trump 'not as bad as I thought he would be'

[NWCorona]

Get ready for the normalization of trump. This is why we need dynamic change on the left. We don't fight for shit. We just take it.

"Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid says Donald Trump is "not as bad as I thought he would be."

The Nevada Democrat specifically mentioned the president-elect's decision not to pursue charges against Hillary Clinton, Trump's Democratic opponent in the presidential election, and his relaxed position on undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.
"I have to say this — he's not as bad as I thought he would be," he said in an interview with NPR Thursday.

"Obviously he didn't believe in all of the stuff he said — which is a step in the right direction."

Reid said he does not hate Trump and hopes he does well as president.

"You know, it's not as if Donald Trump and I have been enemies our whole lives — he's done fundraisers for me. When I was elected last time he sent me a letter saying 'you're awesome' — a handwritten note. ... It's not as if I have hate in my soul for Donald Trump," he said.

"I hope, beyond all, that he does well. It's important to the stability of this great nation we have. And I'm hopeful — I keep using that word, but that's what it is — hopeful that he will lessen his rhetoric and work toward a safer, more productive America."

Reid was a vocal critic of Trump during the campaign, at one point calling him a "human leech" who would bleed the country while sitting at his golf resort "laughing at the money he has made."

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/309465-dem-leader-trump-not-as-bad-as-i-thought-he-would-be#

[mac56]

1. Here's the key quote:

"Obviously he didn't believe in all of the stuff he said — "

[NWCorona]

2. That very well could be. I'm cognizant to the fact that it is politics after all

But I'm wondering if Reid is seeing the same people being appointed to Trump's administration that I am.

[Hortensis]

15. Of course he's seeing what we do and far more.

This isn't tennis. In his game the ball is mostly played off court.

It seems to be Democratic Senator WhiteHouse's turn to do some jamming. I liked him a lot last night when he called Trump's ERA candidate an operative of and loyal only to the fossil fuel industry, part of a theme where we're seeing the Koch brothers and their operatives infiltrating the Trump administration. In this case, goodbye clean air and clean water if they have their way.

"He won it, and they're going to run it." "They're" means Charles Koch, of course.

[raging moderate]

3. Maybe not, but he believed in all the stuff he did.

Look at what a person has done when you are figuring out what that person may do in the future.

[TwilightZone]

19. Agreed.

Trump had already been backing off some of his more ridiculous promises by election day.

The thing is...Trump may not be as bad as he said he was going to be, but his cabinet is going to be worse.

[Txbluedog]

4. Is Reid under consideration for a cabinet position?

[DURHAM D]

5. President Obama is modeling proper behavior for Trump and

Harry is playing with him hoping to piss off Trump voters.

[mac56]

6. THIS

[Schema Thing]

11. eh? Neither Obama nor Reid have any reason or desire to "piss off Trump voters".

[Maeve]

32. Reid trying to piss off Trumpeteers I believe, however

I read an article saying that treating Donald nice in person is one of the best ways to manipulate him. You have to feed his ego or it will turn on you like a cornered badger. Remember how he praised Obama after meeting with him? How he backed off the idea that Obamacare was a 'total disaster'?

Here's the article; check it out:
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/11/how_to_manipulate_donald_trump.html

[NWCorona]

34. I don't know. I'm not sure Trump supporters are smart enough to understand that level of trolling.

[get the red out]

7. Baffling

Maybe Harry Reid just needs some time off to refocus.

[3catwoman3]

8. No. He is...

...waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay worse!

[Bettie]

9. This is the way it will go

A precious few will fight, but in futility as the rest of them line up behind Twittler nodding as he destroys our country.

[arthritisR_US]

10. The orange shitgibbon's personnel picks say otherwise, Mr Reid.

His choices indicate he is dead serious about his campaign threats. Like the OP said normalizing his behaviour is throwing in the towel, with respect to reality. Bending over time and again is a primary reason our voters are so wish washy in their voting habits. We have to start standing and fighting for what we believe in.

[still_one]

12. Gee Harry, have you seen his appointments? You are doing another bullshit jon stewart.

Health and human services Tom Price - wants to repeal ACA, Medicaid, and Medicare..
AG Jeff Sessions - a racist, bigot and antiSemite
Dept of Labor Andrew Puzder - against minimum wage, overtime pay and unions
EPA Pruitt - Is against the EPA. This is a classic choice by the way
National Security Advisor Michael Flynn - President Obama fired him from the DIA because he compromised intelligence, and is a Islamophobic bigot. Through his Tweets he has perpetuated antiSemetic remarks, and falsehoods, along with his son.

I could go on, but it really is time for Reid to go

[Amishman]

26. His cabinet picks are just awful

It's frightening when one of the 'better' picks is a recently retired Marine General known as Mad Dog as Secretary of Defense

I seriously think he is leading with the most objectionable options to try and wear down resistance

[still_one]

27. It sure is. Hard to believe this is really happening

[Proud Liberal Dem]

13. Reid is retiring

I'd be a lot more worried about his comments- which seem more like damning with faint praise- if he were continuing on in the Senate as ML.

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

14. Jon Ralston's column on Reid today

https://www.ralstonreports.com/blog/goodbye-harry

Ralston doesn't exactly give Reid glowing praise, and even notes personality similarities between Reid and Trump. Make of that what you will.

[msongs]

16. congress does those things, NOT trump. sheesh nt

[sarcasmo]

17. Idiot.

[SamKnause]

18. I hope the Trump administration fails at every level !!!!

I have seen zero policies that will benefit the 99%.

[LittleBlue]

20. Think of how long we had this man in a leadership position

And think about what just happened in 2016. Yeah... no reflection, no backbone, nothing.

B-b-but Trump might not be so bad Sickening

[Maru Kitteh]

21. Harry Reid saying "Trump's okay - he had fundraisers for me!" weakens Tweetler

I read the headline and thought you meant Joy Ann Reid for a second. Then all hope would indeed be lost.

But Harry Reid? Different story.

He's on his way out the door so I find his parting shot, reminding Trumpkins that Tweetler actually held fund raisers for Harry Reid, that Tweetler sent Reid hand-written notes declaring him to be AWESOME - I find that very amusing.

Harry Reid saying "Trump isn't that bad - he had fundraisers for me!" is about the worst thing Reid could do to damage Trump's reputation right now.

[FiveGoodMen]

22. Harry Reid never took a position that he didn't quickly back away from

It's his signature move.

[MFM008]

23. Harry a maggot is still a maggot

it grows into a maggot laying fly.
There is no "not as bad".

[alarimer]

24. No, Harry, he's worse.

Just look at who he has nominated. For every cabinet post, he has nominated someone who wants to eliminate that agency, doesn't even believe in the mission of that agency, or who know nothing about it. It is a right-winger's dream cabinet if that dream is to destroy the government.

[superpatriotman]

25. Bye, Harry

I will hate him just as the wrong wing hates President Obama.

[gordianot]

28. Trump is being manipulated he desperately wants validation.

An endorsement from Reid is as good as a poison Apple. Only problem others will figure out Trump's fatal flaw. Trump's supporters want Trump the anarchist.

[Fast Walker 52]

29. was this before or after all these horribly regressive cabinet picks?

[NWCorona]

33. That is a very good question!

[lpbk2713]

30. Unfuggenbelievable.

Apparently Harry will be the last one to find out about Trump's appointees.

[kentuck]

31. That can be the epitaph on your tombstone, Harry...

Sort of like, "I didn't know it was loaded???"