Harry Reid: "I do not work for Barack Obama," won't rubber-stamp policies (like he did for Bush?)...

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Reid: ‘I don’t work for Obama’

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/i-dont-work-for-obama-2009-01-06.html

By Bob Cusack, J. Taylor Rushing & Hugo Gurdon
Posted: 01/06/09 08:26 PM

Democrats must be “very, very careful” to avoid overreaching and will not rubber-stamp President-elect Obama’s policies, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday.

In an interview with The Hill, Reid said it is essential for Obama and congressional Democrats to work closely with Republicans in the new Congress. He added that 2009 is very different from 1993, the last time Democrats controlled both Congress and the White House.

Reid, who lambasted the GOP-led Congress for being a rubber stamp for President Bush, indicated that he will not bow to the Obama administration.

Reid stated, “I don't believe in the executive power trumping everything... I believe in our Constitution, three separate but equal branches of government.”

“If Obama steps over the bounds, I will tell him. … I do not work for Barack Obama. I work with him,” he said.

[LibDemAlways]

1. Can you imagine a repuke leader in the Senate

publically making a similar proclamation? I can't. What the hell is wrong with this guy?

[lonestarnot]

2. This fucker is a problem.

[blm]

3. Said the man who didn't think Downing Street Memos needed scrutiny, Alito didn't need filibustering,

didn't think Bush should be censured, or that Iraq withdrawal needed a timetable.

[Botany]

4. Time for a new leader

Senate Majority Leader Boxer works for me

[glowing]

5. Which in Reid world means he means the opposite.. so, really he'll

rubber stamp everything.

[el_bryanto]

6. Very very careful to avoid overreaching?

Sweet Jesus.

I want to defend Reid; but he says things like that and it's just impossible.

Bryant

[RandomThoughts]

7. Everything he says

makes sense, yes there are three branches, and part of the problems with Bush was the rubber stamping, and attempts at dictatorship. I doubt, but just guessing, that is not the mold Mr. Obama would plan to take.

What is odd is why would Reid suddenly imply that anybody wants him to bow to Mr. Obama? First off nobody bows to another man, thats a given, second what event made him think that was what was being asked of him? why did he feel he needed to say it? Anyone read about any dust ups between them?

And he is also correct that he does not work for Mr. Obama, he works for the people in his state that elected him.

Anyone got any thoughts on what Reid thinks Mr. Obama is overreaching on? I doubt it is just appointments, after all that is part of executive branch, with some needing to be confirmed by senate.

Interesting little development, maybe just returning to constitutional rule, but interesting whatever it is for. Might be just chatting up the right, or does Reid have some issues he disagrees with in the assumed administration's direction?

[ixion]

8. Reid: "we don't want to upset the opposition"

because then we might actually have to work for a living. :grr:

This is not the type of leadership that leads to 'change'.

[Javaman]

9. harry needs to go away. nt

[spanone]

10. so is harry now going to be the loyal opposition to President Obama? geebus

[Captain Hilts]

11. But he should cooperate with him. nt

[Fumesucker]

12. Harry Reid does not work for Obama, Obama will own Harry Reid..

I'm not a huge Obama fan at this moment but I'm waiting to see what happens, the whole thing just might be a gigantic political ju jitsu move.

I do know that anyone who seriously crosses Obama seems to trip over their own shoelaces and fall down shortly afterward.

Now he has a former IDF troop as an enforcer, it's something to think about.

:evilgrin:

[Astrad]

13. I read this as a warning to the overwhelming majority

who elected Obama. Reid is saying, you may have voted for change, but you still have to get past us.