If Schumer won't be Minority Leader, who do you think it should be?

[irisblue]

Dick Durbin(Illinios) is the assistant Democratic Leader. Patrick Leahey(Vermont) is the President Pro Tempore Emeritus. Patty Murray(Washington) is Secretary of the Conference .

[One of the 99]

1. Dick Durbin

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. Whoever needs to be good at knowing and using Senate rules. But frankly...

Anyone who a majority of those voting with the Democratic caucus can unite around to prevent Schumer from becoming leader works for me. Any of those you listed at this point would be fine. Whoever has the relationships to get the votes. I can not any loner abide by the thought of Chuck Schumer leading the Democrats in the Senate, period.

But having said that, I support a draft Durbin movement: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027053950

[irisblue]

5. I didn't see this, thanks for the info.

Last edited Fri Aug 7, 2015, 08:52 PM - Edit history (1)

[City Lights]

3. Dick Durbin. nt

[hedda_foil]

9. Of course it should be Durbin

Two potential issues, though:

1. I think he's planning to retire by his next election, and

2. He is one of Schumer's housemates in a DC townhouse owned by Schumer. So that could be uncomfortable.

Not insurmountable barriers, but potentially problematic.

[irisblue]

4. this is not a hit & run post, I need to go do stuff for a couple of hours.

[DeadLetterOffice]

6. Leahy would be great.

But honestly, (just about) anybody but Schumer would make me happy

[geek tragedy]

7. Murray, Durbin, or just to fuck things up, Elizabeth Warren.

Majority leader doesn't need to be senior.

[Smarmie Doofus]

8. I think it's more like:"if Schumer CAN'T be the majority leader;"

(He CAN'T, btw)....Therefore: Warren, Durbin. Leahy.

In that order. Open to suggestions.

Oh... needless to say.... SANDERS. If the other thing doesn't work out.

[KamaAina]

18. Bernie caucuses with the Dems but is still an (I)

as far as the Senate goes. That could be problematic.

[Smarmie Doofus]

20. I move that we SUSPEND THE RULES.

Happens all the time, no?

[JI7]

43. Sanders said he supports Schumer for dem leader

[sadoldgirl]

10. If he is elected again: Russ Feingold n/t

[stuffmatters]

11. Al Franken would be wonderful

Most Dems love him & lots of independents too. People pay attention when he speaks and "stay tuned" if they know he's coming up on tv.

[restorefreedom]

13. yes. franken would be excellent. nt

[smirkymonkey]

41. Yes! I love Franken.

My picks: Franken, Warren, Leahy, in that order.

[Go Vols]

46. +1

[choie]

12. Pat Leahy or Sherrod Brown?

N/t

[appal_jack]

14. Warren or Franken. We need new(-ish) blood in leadership roles. nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

15. If those are my three choices, I'll go with Durbin. n/t

[irisblue]

31. There are more listed in Dem leadership , http://democrats.senate.gov/leadership/

I only listed those 3 b/c of their seniority in Dem Leadership positions. As much as I like Warren....knowing she would kick asses...I can't imagine a very new senator as minority leader. I didn't realize Stabenow has been in the Senate that long, but she has never seemed that publically/nationally outgoing.

The Senate Dems need an assertive, willing to be pushy, demanding and feisty in pursuing small d democratic principals as well as big Democratic party principals....channeling some FDR stealth would be good too.


Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Center

Debbie Stabenow – (D – MI)2001

Chair of Steering and Outreach Committee
Amy Klobuchar-(D-MN)2007 – Strategic Policy Advisor to the Senate Democratic Policy Committee

Elizabeth Warren – (D – MA)2013


Policy Development Adviser to the Senate Democratic Policy Committee

Mark Warner – (D – VA)2009


Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

Jon Tester – (D – MT) 2007
tester.senate.gov

[Tarheel_Dem]

34. In that case, I'll take Stabenow. It's time a woman was in charge.

[mazzarro]

16. Warren, Leahy, Sherrod Brown, Franken or Whitehouse; any one will do - n/t

[Evergreen Emerald]

17. I vote for Murray

She does good work and does not back down from a fight.

[karynnj]

19. dick Durbin who I preferred long before this

He is a fantastic voice for the Democrats, smart, honest and a soft spoken Midwesterner.

[2banon]

21. Leahey 1st choice, Durbin 2nd choice if those are the only choices.

I'm aware of the brouhaha around Schumer's opposition to the Iran negotiations -

For the record, I've never been a big fan of Mr DLC Schumer, and most especially find his publically stated position on the Iran negotiations extremely egregious but even more, his remarks absolutely contemptible.

You won't find me crying in my beer if his shoulder tap for the Democratic Senate Leadership were to be rescinded. But my question at this juncture is: has the nod been rescinded? Or did Schumer threaten to bow out? Did I miss some important news in that regard?

[irisblue]

32. no you didn't miss any news. A lot of people are pissed @ him. You know what happens

with pissed off people who are DU members....

[2banon]

39. thanks. Been away, wondered if this was wishful thinking.. which it is for me!

Haven't been a big of Schumer for years. This recent antics against the Iran agreement is certainly the final straw and should be for everyone else, imo.

[BillZBubb]

22. Elizabeth Warren would be the dream candidate.

Patty Murray would be a good alternative.

[tritsofme]

23. Schumer's downfall over this issue is merely the wishful thinking of his pre-existing opponents.

Schumer's support will not be determinative, the issue will have passed by next year, especially if Democrats retake the control of the Senate.

[MADem]

27. Stop making sense!

There's dreaming going on...

Some people think we get to vote on it!

[840high]

35. +1

[dsc]

24. Mitch McConnel

I hope we have the majority in 2017

[irisblue]

33. LOL & point taken!

[maxrandb]

25. My dream would be Elizabeth Warren, BUT

as Majority Leader

[LynneSin]

29. I would say no to Warren and here's why

There is much compromise to the Majority/Minority leader position which puts them in a very hated seat. Of course what Schumer is doing isn't compromise but basically putting Israel ahead of the United States and that is bullshit!

As for Warren, I'd rather she not be in a position of compromise but a position where she can be a decider and a fighter. Majority/Minority position has never been that slot. But a leadership position such a committee chair would be great for Warren. She has earned it!

[MADem]

26. He will be, though. nt

[Historic NY]

28. Durbin

[still_one]

30. Elizabeth Warren, but it won't happen. Durbin, probably

[oasis]

36. Dick Durbin

[hobbit709]

37. Not a DINO

[craigmatic]

38. Durbin because repubs seem to have a tough time working with guys from IL.

[oldandhappy]

40. great thread

Thank you for the post and to all of you with your comments. You stir my brain!

[pnwmom]

42. I love Patty Murray. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

44. Every last one of those individuals voted for DOMA and represent all I dislike about this Party

nt

[geek tragedy]

45. Durbin. nt

[MurrayDelph]

47. Jeff Merkley

He is in favor of bringing back the "talking filibuster"

[StevieM]

48. The filibuster will go the next time the GOP control the White House and the Congress.

The Republicans made such a big deal about Harry Reid going nuclear, calling it "dictatorial." But they had effectively ended the filibuster under George Bush, at least for judges, by threatening to go nuclear. And under Obama filibuster's had reached an insane level, never before seen--or approached--in history, before they finally changed the rules.

The GOP won't miss a chance to get rid of Obamacare, or at least parts of it, if they are ever in control. They will go nuclear.

I suppose it's possible that a creative use of budget reconciliation might take the place of the nuclear option. I have always believed the the threat of this option is what got Joe Lieberman to grudgingly vote for the ACA, along with a belief that he would have a second chance to block it after it came back from conference. But then there was no conference, of course, and the House took the Senate bill word for word.

But at a certain point--like allowing drilling in ANWR--using budget reconciliation, where there is no real application, is really no different then going nuclear on the filibuster.