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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHarry Reid's Gambit
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This is the right thing to do, Reid told one of his closest advisers. If I dont do this, I might as well just walk away.
As some of his fellow Democratic senators remained on the fence, Reid called in a heavy hitter to close the deal: President Barack Obama, according to sources familiar with the matter. Obama personally called senators on Wednesday to back the move, and Reid ultimately won the vote on a slim margin, 52-48. Just three Democrats broke with Reid: the retiring Carl Levin of Michigan, the moderate Joe Manchin of West Virginia and the vulnerable Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
When the seismic moment finally came, shell-shocked senators in both parties couldnt believe that Reid pulled the trigger and were grasping to understand the far-reaching ramifications.
Asked how history would remember him after this move, Reid told POLITICO: I dont write history.
But nobody disputed that the move was emblematic of Reids hard-ball style that has come to characterize his leadership in recent years whether it was his passage of the health care law in 2009 on a straight party-line vote, his willingness to go over the fiscal cliff in 2012 or his refusal to bend to GOP demands during the 16-day government shutdown last month
Much More..
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/harry-reid-senate-fillibuster-100243.html
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/11/22/rise-and-shine-676/
I could only snip so much but the whole long article is worth the read.. not bad from "politico" imv
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"Asked about his changing views on the issue, Reid told reporters Thursday: I have a right to change how I feel about things.
Harry Reid
immoderate
(20,885 posts)That struck me as a very funny thing to say. It's also true. Harry is looking strong. Of course, the alternative is to let the Republicans demolish governance.
--imm
Cha
(297,528 posts)so how would he know. Didn't feel like guessing.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)I was unaware of the President's involvement.
-Laelth
Cha
(297,528 posts)saw PBO's remarks on it and he was quite happy in a subdued sort of way.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)I don't blame him for that. If I had to combat the "angry black man" stereotype all my life, I would probably do the same.
That said, I am not surprised to learn that the President was involved in this. He is the leader of the Party, and he has done a remarkable job of enforcing party unity. For that, I give him credit.
-Laelth
Laelth
(32,017 posts)The Democratic Party has become far more liberal in recent years than is readily acknowledged.
-Laelth
Cha
(297,528 posts)mountain grammy
(26,644 posts)Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)So, when the Rethuglicans blocked 45 executive nominees, people who are nominated to run the federal departments of government, it was obvious that the Rethuglicans were strangling the federal government, acting like a lynch mob.
The Rethuglicans were shutting down the government from within by using the filibuster, but they overreached.
Cha
(297,528 posts)stupid greed.
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)Last edited Fri Dec 6, 2013, 02:28 PM - Edit history (1)
After I read that Ed Meese had convened a meeting of the heads of the current Rethuglican party in January of this year to discuss how they should shut down the federal government, I realized that we are in dire straits.
What Harry Reid did was to save the process that we have developed over the last 224 years to conduct the business of the federal government.
The business of the federal government is America.
So, as far as I am concerned, Harry Reid saved America.
IrishAyes
(6,151 posts)Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts). . Reid continued to try to work with him.
But, there is a limit to the amount of straw that a camel can carry, and when they blocked all 3 of the latest nominees that were appointed by the President of the United States to the DC Court, that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Reid did all he could to keep from changing the rulez of the Senate.
He has been a Senator since 1987, for 26 years . . more than a quarter of a century.
But, enough is enough, indeed.
Cha
(297,528 posts)bless their trepid hearts. Boom.
to Reid ..and PBO helped!
malaise
(269,157 posts)Democratic folks stood up to them big time since the shut down.
Go Cheney yourselves ReTHUGs and your baggers.
Cha
(297,528 posts)malaise
(269,157 posts)ReTHUGs, They're wimps after you stand up to them and all their daddy or sugar daddy's money cant help. Ask Rmoney, ask the fugging Kochroaches
Harry goes Nuclear!
It's marvelous Cha, and he got all but three dems to vote for him. I love it that the "Big Guy" was brought in.
So proud of our party, together strong!
Cha
(297,528 posts)I didn't know and it was a good light shining on Harry! From politico of all places~
Yeah, I liked the graphic, too.. Harry goes Nuclear right through the top of mitch's lyin' whinin' 'ead.
Harry, she~
sheshe2
(83,860 posts)A confusing day for the GOP and Tbaggers.