'Miracle' needed to win back Senate

[seriousstan]

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid raised a few eyebrows yesterday on the Senate floor when he said it would take a "miracle" for Democrats to win enough races next year to take back the Senate.
"I would like to think a miracle would happen and we would pick up five seats this time," he said during a floor debate over the filibusters of President Bush's judicial nominees. "I guess miracles never cease."
Republicans were delighted by what they called an "admission" from the highest-ranking elected Democrat in the country.
"After listening to Senator Reid's political spin about judicial nominees for the last several weeks, it is good to hear him come back to reality -- if even for a brief moment," said Brian Nick, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. "Senator Reid can do the math: A Democratic Party, plus no ideas, plus obstruction, plus over-the-top partisan rhetoric equals continued minority."
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20050429-124430-4013r.htm

[MontageOfFreedom]

1. Sounds like someone is asking for a war...

To stuff back those idealistic lies of Bill Frist, down the GOP's throughts. Corruption and the karma that follows it cuts both ways......

The democratic senate will go through a ironclad wall of changes as everything heats up over the top.

[femme.democratique]

2. Asshole, he said "miracle" because of the voting machines!

God I hate republicans.

[PATRICK]

12. But he said the wrong word

he did not mention the voting machines- a constant fatal error. he did not use the word justice. Instead he used a word the religious right thinks they have sole propriety of and therefore is bowing to their supremacy.

May I comment that was a double, triple and by omission, completely stupid and destructive choice of words from almost every conceivable angle? You would have to dig so deep to find a "redeeming" feature or ploy in that statement that there is practically nothing for the spin machine to do except reprint it.

Congratulations, but they spun it anyway.

What we need apparently are more competent politicians and more dedicated fighters. At least ONE of those things!

[Teaser]

16. Oh Please.

What we need apparently are more competent politicians and more dedicated fighters. At least ONE of those things!


Are you claiming Harry Reid is not a fighter? Jesus Fucking Christ it's just about all he's been doing for the last few months.

So many DUers. So little political knowledge.

[PATRICK]

18. Travis

never said "it will be a miracle if we get out of the Alamo alive." Fighting means not acknowledging hopelessness, at least in that way.

The tone of condescending despair one would think should be anathema to political posturing, at least purely as a skill. I have no doubt Harry is fighting sincerely and fighting well. If you think walking into this spin job is a shining example we're doomed, privately speaking purely as a non-professional of course.

It is small potatoes though. We all know this is a grim situation trying to make headway with the current crop. They have spent decades, shall we just say, not winning this political struggle? Small wonder stuff like this keeps surfacing.

[Massachusetts]

3. Reid is correct

It will take a MIRACLE to EDUCATE the lame brain americans who have supported little georgie.

[fasttense]

4. But it wont take a miracle to take back the presidency or the house.

Brush is going to go down in flames. Just see what happens in 2007.

[NewJeffCT]

22. we've been saying that for 18 months now on DU

At least the 18 months I've been here - "just wait until November..."

[Stand and Fight]

24. I agree.

Nothing has materialized yet. I've lurked here for a while and that's been said time and time again. The scandals keep coming in and they don't touch Bush. It's worst than teflon. It's miraculous that he's still in office.

[NewJeffCT]

26. No, not miraculous

1) Republicans control the House & Senate, so they decide who and what gets investigated. A stain on a blue dress is worth years and $77 million. An attack on America that killed 3,000 people is worth only $15 million and a very strict deadline.

2) Republicans also control most of the federal judiciary, so any radical decisions coming out of the House & Senate are more likely to get consideration.

3) Republican allies in the corporate media control most of the content of the mainstream news that people get on a daily & nightly basis.

4) Radical Republican activists like Scaife, Olin, Bradley, the Waltons, the Coors family, etc. have donated billions to radical causes and think tanks in order to get their message out.

[BadNews]

41. Only a serious grass roots effort stands a chance.

We cannot rely on the national media to get our side of the story published. If we do not all work hard by trying to educate those around us of the dangers of this Regime, Repugs will win in '06. I would not be surprised to see them expand their leads in both houses of congress. We cannot expect anything short of a new war, a terrorist attack, or another recession to get the attention of the general public. All of these are possible but we cannot count on them.

We also are fighting an up hill battle because while people root for the underdog, they like to be on the winning team. If it looks like the Republicans will extend their numbers in congress, (and be sure that is how it will be reported) there is a very good chance that people will vote for the repugs.

The leadership of this party has got to find a way to educate the masses or the country is toast.

[NewHampshireDem]

5. Thanks for the link to the Wash Times!

You saved me a trip over to FR.

I mean, for chrissake ... he didn't say it would take a miracle, he said it would be a miracle. Anyone but the lamest among us understands the difference.

[PATRICK]

13. The verbal choice difference is

insignificant here compared to the clarity of the noun blunder nationwide. Not serious, just sadly consistent.

Bury me at Wounded Foot.

[CWebster]

6. What it takes

is a clear, principled populist stand that appeals to and reflects the citizenry first and foremost without being compromised by corporate monopolization of the government.

Since so many Democrats bow to the same masters their role as opposition is weakened and inconsistant.

[bemildred]

9. Yes, miracle my ass.

It's going to be interesting to see if Dean really
funds contests in all those "safe" seats.

[DanCa]

7. Typical Hellspawn

Satan loves using your own words against you.

[rodeodance]

8. rather a jolt to my sensibilites at the moment--but there is some

truth to it. We will see.

[DanCa]

10. ah sorry

my dopamine hasn't been regulated yet :)

[renaissanceguy]

11. Then I guess we should expect a 'miracle.'

I keep hearing so many cases of traditional Repugs being unhappy with their party.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.21272015

[okieinpain]

25. well if we did get the senate back, then we should all say it was

a miracle from god, and see what the repugs do about that one.

[BadNews]

42. BUT... Are they unhappy enough to vote Dem or at least stay home? n/t

[gratuitous]

14. If Gawd wanted you over that obstacle

"He'd've miracled your ass over it by now!"

I'm not going to get too worked up about Reid's comment. Didn't Sun Tzu say to keep your enemy in a state of constant confusion? Make him think you're near when you're far away, and far away when you're near. Biran Nick seems to have swallowed the comment whole on behalf of the Republicans. Apparently, he has no knowledge of Lou Holtz, a football coach who constantly poor-mouthed his own team and praised his opponent to the heavens for the media, then went out and whupped their asses once the ball got teed up.

[Nashyra]

15. Let them let their guard down

They are so arrogant, some in critical seats will get lazy. Good political posturing.

[leesa]

17. Well, saying shit like this doesn't help. We are more strongly

placed than ever before and this nut is going around saying stuff like this?? WHY do Democrats allow the GOP to spin reality??

[KittyWampus]

20. Reid Is A "Nut"? "Saying Stuff Like This"? Dems "Allow" The GOPTo Spin?

[quiet.american]

19. Don't "mis-underestimate" Harry Reid.

That is all.

[Straight Shooter]

21. "I guess miracles never cease." That sounds optimistic to me.

Actually, it all sounds rather tongue-in-cheek to me. Go ahead, Harry, appropriate their "code words." I don't think the Repubs have latched onto "miracle" yet.

:thumbsup:

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

23. They Control The Machines

There is no way the democrats have a chance at anything. We are in a one-party system now. Too bad none of them have the balls to admit that.

[MontageOfFreedom]

40. Admit that? What if they elect HIllary...

That's all this amounts to is a hidden agenda. If we fight the process at the state level, than the federal government can't corrupt elections.

Divestiture for Democracy, is allied to squeeze and leak all the money out of the entire network....

http://www.velvetrevolution.us Reid isn't part of some agenda. He knows the fight will be hard, but the people will overcome.

[BadNews]

44. BS... There are too many Dems with

presidential aspirations, and political connections for that to be true. Why would they play in a rigged game? Clinton, Kerry, Edwards, Dean, Gore,and many, many others would have made election reform the only topic on their agendas if this were true. If we don't get over '04 and fight for '06, we will lose again. Perhaps, that is what you want so you will feel your accusations have been validated and then you can continue crying about the rules of the game. Your belief can only bring about apathy in the progressive portion of the public which will lead to a stronger GOP. After all, why should someone who voted in the last election for Kerry vote in the next election. The rational would be that their vote is unimportant because it is all already rigged.

Every time someone starts a thread on the '06 election, this is where it goes. Quit groveling and stand up! I for one, refuse to give up.

[lovuian]

27. This country is under a dictatorship its going to take a

national strike to get these corrupt SOB's out of office!!!

When we get the Depression we will get that strike!!!

Harry just wait its coming soon very soon!!!

Bush is the next Hoover!!!

[Moderator]

28. kick to combine

[BadNews]

29. 'Miracle' needed to win back senate.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20050429-124430-4013r.htm

Talk about defeatism. Could it be he thinks elections are rigged? If not, how do statements like this help Dems get out the vote?

<snip>

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid raised a few eyebrows yesterday on the Senate floor when he said it would take a "miracle" for Democrats to win enough races next year to take back the Senate.
"I would like to think a miracle would happen and we would pick up five seats this time," he said during a floor debate over the filibusters of President Bush's judicial nominees. "I guess miracles never cease."
Republicans were delighted by what they called an "admission" from the highest-ranking elected Democrat in the country.

<snip>

"After listening to Senator Reid's political spin about judicial nominees for the last several weeks, it is good to hear him come back to reality -- if even for a brief moment," said Brian Nick, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. "Senator Reid can do the math: A Democratic Party, plus no ideas, plus obstruction, plus over-the-top partisan rhetoric equals continued minority."

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

30. Defeatism?

Really? Or a poker player?

Reid is the senator from Nevada and former Nevada Gambling Commissioner. I think he has some idea of how the game is played.

[autorank]

36. Clearly poker. You're absolutely right! We have to learn to read this gu

And he needs to coalesce and demand across the board discipline. I love Reid as a tactician and, up to this point, a strategist but the bankruptcy bill was a real chance to go populist in a big way. They can correct that by doing a rider or something in the summer to lower credit card late charges, screw banks on "incidental" fees, and exclude medical crises from the original act.

I think his strategy is to build things to a point where a major fight riles everyone up and then demand discipline on all issues. Clearly, he's ready to go to the mat on judges, a core Democratic issue from left to moderate. That will be our Battle of Midway I hope.

[MontageOfFreedom]

31. Reid knows they are rigged...

We don't need a miracle....We just need to reform the state elections at the local level and support the divestiture for our civil rights.

http://www.velvetrevolution.us

[oldtime dfl_er]

32. keep expectations low

works for Rove.

www.cafepress.com/showtheworld

[brainshrub]

33. The Republicans will have 60 seats, minimum, in 2006.

That's when the fun starts.

[Cats Against Frist]

34. over-the-top partisan rhetoric???

And B.Nicky's quote was what???

[Piperay]

35. Republicans 'delighted by admission'

I find that statement very troubling they take such glee in destruction that....well I don't know...it's just scary.:-(

[MontageOfFreedom]

39. That's their own self-serving rhetoric talking....

The ego of absolute fascism, now that the republic of the damned has taken over two complete sections of government.

The ego of drunken power always comes before the fall.....They have no idea what they are playing with.

[Charlie Brown]

37. Sadly, I think Reid is right

The Red State democrats will be under assault by "values voters" for opposing the marriage amendment and "obstructing" Bush's assinine energy proposals and social security.

I think this kind of bating by Republicans is revolting and reprehensible, but it's become a familiar pattern in many parts of the country.

[Rose Siding]

38. Trust the WaTimes to try to do damage with a sardonic turn of phrase

"If by some miracle I finish the laundry..."

[spotbird]

43. Link found at Kos

This analysis may prove that even a miricle won't help. http://electionarchive.org/ucvAnalysis/US/Exit_Polls_2004_Mitofsky-Edison.pdf

There is also a thread about it over there, it must be down or I'd provide a link. It is a great read so check KOS later.