Senator Reids Abysmal Record (Read if you dare)

[BayCityProgressive]

Sorry guys, I posted this in another thread that I started but everyone needs to see where our new minority leader will be standing on the issues. It is absolutely atrocious. http://activote.ontheissues.org/AVA/Senate/Harry_Reid.htm

[PATRICK]

1. No need

I've seen him in debate action on the floor of the Senate on C-Span. As charismatic and powerful as the current chairs of the DLC. If you've never seen them on television, don't. No need for that level of depression.

This was one of the worst signals the dismally caving(or quiet) and clueless party has done ever, much less in a week when a forlorn hope is trying to retrieve the right to vote itself.

[David Dunham]

2. He looks very centrist to me. Pro-ENDA, but anti-gay marriage

[David Dunham]

4. Robert Byrd is also a centrist

[Maat]

8. He's not even a Democrat, as far as I'm concerned.

And the fact that Feinstein supports his ascendancy makes me sick. Sen. Feinstein sounds more like a Republican every day ... and we used to be so proud of her. She just recently got on the human rights groups because they 'pushed' same-sex marriage, and 'Americans weren't ready for it.' Well, our party is not the great party it used to be. That's for sure.

[Wind Dancer]

3. On Ed Shultz today,

he said Kerry conceded in order to bring the country together just like Richard Nixon did in the close presidential race against Kennedy. It just made me more angry and depressed to hear that.

[bullimiami]

7. i turned the radio on and off like 3 x

i wanted to smash the fucking thing in the dash.

i really dont like fools and harry reid sure sounded like one.

[walldude]

20. Well that really fuckin worked didn't it...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. How is he suddenly the Minority Leader?

Don't the Dems have to have a caucus and vote first? If so, we can write our Senators (those of us lucky to have Dem Senators-I have two) and suggest they vote for someone else.

[bullimiami]

6. centrist doensnt bother me.

denial that there is such thing as americans that care not for democracy and freedom does. trying to 'work' with them is not going to work.

[BayCityProgressive]

11. I hope to God someone else

is voted leader..but I dont se eit happening. If the DEMS think putting a pro-life mormon in the senate leadership is going to make us win a presidential election they are delusional. It will only suppress our base. Pelosi is great in the house. Why cant we have Dayton, Durbin, or Feingold in the senate?

[TaleWgnDg]

13. Reid of NV is a Mormon? LDS?

edit: yup, Reid is LDS: http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=S0561103 (this is a great link for overview of Reid's career including his voting records, and other offices)

[goobergunch]

14. Aye. (n/t)

[nevadascandal]

17. Reid and Hatch had a snit over Mormonism

Reid once said that Mormons should be Democrats. Here's what he said:

"One of the reasons I feel so strongly about the philosophy of the Democratic Party is that we're concerned about people who have little," Reid said. "Look at the programs we've pushed: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. Republicans opposed those, every one of them. ... I don't see how a person who cares about their fellow man could oppose these programs."

And he said it's easier for Mormons to be Democrats than Republicans.

Dear old Orrin Hatch responded, naturally, by saying that was "pure bunk."


http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Sep-08-Sun-2002/news/19525007.html

[TaleWgnDg]

9. dupe n/t

[TaleWgnDg]

10. Nevada is a conservative state . . . newbies may change . . .

that; however, NV remains conservative. So. What do you expect from a U.S. Senator from a conservative state? Liberal politics? Or a middle of the road fence-sitter who tries to appease this constituency by not 100% of the other constituency.

It's called politics.

And, no Reid or any fence-sitter would not be my first choice for Minority Leader of the Senate. However, I am willing to listen to the "whys," the rationalities as to this Dem decision. Of course, the general public never knows the "whys." We are only left to guess.

[goobergunch]

12. ADA ratings

2003 - 70%
2002 - 85%
2001 - 100%

http://www.adaction.org/votingrecords.htm

[Democat]

15. Looks like he fading fast after 9/11?

From 100% to 70% in 3 years?

[nevadascandal]

16. Reid may save our collective butts

So, okay Reid's a Nevada Democrat--he ain't no New England liberal.

I have serious problems with Reid, too. For one he tends to take Big Mining's side on Environmental Issues. But here in Nevada you don't win statewide office if you don't make concessions to Big Mining and Big Gaming.

The Northern Counties here (by which I mean everything but Clark, where Vegas is) are REALLY conservative. They've elected neocon, Reagan-worshiper Jim Gibbons five times. Yech. Out there on the rim of the country, you all may not have to deal with folks like that. But here closer to the middle, we do.

Anyway, I think Reid was the real guy (not Daschle) who de-railed Bush's uglier judicial nominees. Reid really knows how to put a stop to Republican nuttiness. He's noted for his filibustering. I would say he exactly the best guy for the Option Party role. You like deadlock? You ain't seen nothing yet. I bet the Republicans would prefer Daschle to Reid anyday.

As for the abortion vote...do we really think that partial birth abortions are a good idea? Granted the bill passed really stunk because it allowed no exceptions, but I think persons of good conscience have to think twice about a blanket endorsement of every abortion procedure.

And let's be careful about damning Senators by their votes. Remember, they vote for huge appropriation bills which have parts we all hate. I seem to remember similar attacks against John Kerry just recently.

Best thing I like about Reid is that he really hates insurance companies.

Here's his site for the other side of things:

http://reid.senate.gov/

[JohnKleeb]

18. judging from his DNC Speech, he appeared to me to be very pro labor

[MemphisWill]

19. I like Joe Biden

Joe Biden is the straight-talking kind of leadership we need, and he has no desire to be anything other than a good senator, right now. He has a son in the military too, that's the kind of public opposition we need to President Bush. He could lead the dems to a huge 2006 win. He's my choice as a party leader.