Durbin, Schumer prep for fight (for leader if Reid loses) with donations to Senate colleagues

[jefferson_dem]

Durbin, Schumer prep for fight with donations to Senate colleagues
By Alexander Bolton - 02/02/10 06:00 AM ET

The second- and third-ranking Senate Democratic leaders are doling out huge sums of cash, laying the groundwork for a leadership race should Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid lose reelection.

Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), the vice chairman of the Democratic Conference, has been the biggest giver to Democratic Senate candidates, contributing $210,000 to colleagues and candidates.

During the same span, Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has given $110,000 to Senate candidates.

The leaders gave money to newcomers and candidates facing tough races. But they also contributed to those whose reelection prospects seem solid, such as Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who last won in liberal Vermont with 71 percent of the vote. While Leahy probably does not need the money for reelection, Durbin and Schumer may feel they need to contribute to his campaign to cement his loyalty.

Both lawmakers gave the money through their leadership political action committees (PACs), which allies say is a sign that they are preparing for a possible leadership battle if Reid (D-Nev.) loses reelection, a prospect that is looking more likely.

Spokesmen for Durbin and Schumer declined requests for comment.

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http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/79163-durbin-and-schumer-lay-ground-for-a-fight

[Clintonista2]

1. Oh please please please please please

Losing a senate seat would be a small price to pay in return for Dick Durbin as leader.

[jefferson_dem]

2. +1.

Yes. Durbin is the obvious choice, in my opinion. He's principled, decisive, articulate. I worry, though, that these leadership battles are too much about internal politics rather than what's best for the party.

[Cosmocat]

3. Right ...

Durbin is as noted, principled, decisive and articulate ...

Which pretty much means the used car salesman posing as a senator will be the one who wins out ...

BTW, I like Harry Reid a lot, I take NO joy in his downfall ... He has not been a great majority leader, but he IS a solid D senator ...

[mgcgulfcoast]

4. Hillary must be wondering

why did she take sec of state? senate majority leader is a much more powerful job.

[Lord Helmet]

7. very unlikely -- she had no seniority - no committee chair

I strongly favor Durbin over Schumer.

[karynnj]

10. It is not clear that she would be in the running

both Durbin and Schumer have been more apart of the leadership. Not to mention, she would have have a minimum of 2 years as a rather Junior Senator without the seniority to chair a committee.

Hillary's power base was the people who supported her, the media - not the Senate. I prefer Durbin anyway.

[Jennicut]

5. Durbin would be way, way better.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. There may be no such position for them to fight over.

[PassingFair]

8. Recommend for all of the Durbin votes.

Love him.

Schumer....not so much.

[AlinPA]

9. I really like Durbin, but think Schumer may be a tougher leader in fights with the GOP.

At one time I thought Reid was just a mild-mannered, quiet person, who really had a strong conviction for Democratic principles and issues, but now it seems that he allows the republicans to trample him, and he is too deferential to them.

[karynnj]

12. Schumer is more abrasive, but it absolutely not true that that is a plus in this job

A bigger plus is being able to find paths to passing legislation.

[AlinPA]

21. Ideally, I can't argue that, but we need someone who doesn't shrink and cower the way

Reid does.

[karynnj]

26. I've never seen Durbin cower

I have seen Durbin take strong positions, but with a Midwestern geniality that makes him look less bombastic than people shouting or yelling. He has been very very good in any talk show appearance I saw - very articulate and able to speak to people in a pleasant way.

[AlinPA]

29. I have no problem with Durbin, of course he would be better than Reid. Just

tired of being "nice" to people like Coburn, Inhofe, McConnell, Grassley, DeMint.

[blm]

16. Schumer USED that abrasiveness to fight AGAINST Dem filibuster of Alito and AGAINST Iraq withdrawal

bill.

Schumer plants bogus stories against other Dem senators to get his way, too. He never did that to Republicans.

Schumer is also in the process RIGHT NOW of pushing Immigration Reform debate he wants to lead ahead of Climate Change bill that is supposed to be next on senate docket. As if the earth can wait longer while Schumer works up an Immigration bill that would most ASSUREDLY cost Reid and other Dems in this election cycle.


Schumer is a total snake.

[AlinPA]

23. Well then, let's go with Boxer. nt

[WI_DEM]

11. I want the guy who would be the toughest with the GOP--and while I prefer Durbin

I have a feeling that Schumer would be more in your face.

[blm]

17. You mean like the inyourface way he sabotaged Kennedy and Kerry's Alito filibuster?

Yep...Inyourface Schumer when it's against other Dems.

Of course, he's also skilled in undermining Dems behindtheirbacks, too.

[backscatter712]

13. Durbin's the top choice, though even Schumer would be a huge improvement over Reid.

Losing Reid's Senate seat would be a small price to pay to get a majority leader that has something resembling a spine.

[Nancy Waterman]

14. Even if Reid doesn't lose his seat,

does he have to remain Leader?

[backscatter712]

20. He doesn't technically have to keep the seat, though he probably would in that case. n/t

[phleshdef]

15. I'm still calling for John Kerry to be majority leader.

[blm]

18. Nah...JK's far too busy, and far too crucial to Obama's expected foreign policy gains.

Though I understand why you would want him to take on that role. INTEGRITY matters.

I think it will be Durbin and Kerry will certainly support Durbin.

Reid has to know by now that Schumer's current push for Immigration Reform debate to come before Climate Change has been calculated to assure Reid loses in November.

[karynnj]

24. I thought it interesting that a Chicago paper printed a story in 2005 or 2006

(when the Republicans made Durbin apologize) that Durbin had been the person Kerry personally argued for as VP - but the party, including Kennedy and Clinton pushed back as they are both Catholics and they thought Edwards was more exciting and could help the ticket better.

[Mass]

19. Please, not Schumer, if you want the Democrats to be able to take strong positions.

Schumer was a great supporter of the "we should not fight back"/do not filibuster policy in 2005. This year, he was a strong supporter of "some sort of a public option".

I like Durbin, would prefer Feingold, but it is unlikely to happen.

[AlinPA]

22. Well then, let's go with Boxer. nt

[karynnj]

25. I doubt Feingold would be interested - as you can't be both the leader

and a purist on votes. On some issues, I like Feingold, but in this Congress he has really had some bad votes (IMO)

Here are some I found in the first half of 2009:

Feingold voted three times to weaken gun control
Ensign amendment that cut back DC gun laws - Feingold for
Coburn amendment to "keep people safe in National Parks" by allowing them to bring guns - Feingold for
Gregg amendment to require various forms print info on the national dept - Feingold for
Wicker amendment that let people take guns in checked baggage on Amtrack - Feingold for

Foreign policy votes - these incidentally surprise me because I have watched the SFRC for years. I suspect that Feingold voted for the AIPAC ones because he is up for re-election. They all failed incidentally due to Kerry's leadership:
Inhofe amendment against the UN - Feingold for
Three counterproductive Kyl amendments against Iran/Egypt/Gaza/Hamas that Kerry and Lugar successfully defeated - here Feingold backed AIPAC and Kerry didn't.
To strike the provision funding IMF - Kerry and Lugar leading the fight against this, Feingold for

environment related bills -
Omnibus Public Land Management bill 2009 cloture vote - Feingold was the ONLY Democrat to vote against it - but both than voted for the bill when cloture succeeded.
to waive the CBA on Whitehouse's amendment for a deficit neutral fund for clean energy -
to prohibit reconcilation for cap and trade (Johanns bill) - Feingold for
Graham amendment - to protect middle class from an energy tax - Feingold for
Bond amendment - anti future climate change bill if it affects coal - Feingold for

Fairness Doctrine

Demint amendment to prevent the FCC from ever promulgating the fairness doctrine - Feingold FOR
Thune amendment to prohibit funds to the FCC to repromulgate the fairness doctrine - Feingold for

Voting against the budget
This in addition to voting against the 2010 budget and the supplemental budget

[ProSense]

27. What if Reid doesn't lose?

"Spokesmen for Durbin and Schumer declined requests for comment."

Durbin and Schumer have always been among the Senates top donors to candidates.

This is the media pushing the Reid is going to lose meme ("a prospect that is looking more likely") and using the unsourced claim that Democrats are lining up for the majority leaders spot.

[politicasista]

28. Durbin or A.B.S.

Plus, Durbin likes Obama.