Reply #15: I believe we are both thinking the same thing.

[AnArmyVeteran]

My OP had nothing to do with Reid being the majority leader or his effectiveness as a senator. My only consideration was him as a senator and I want democrats wanting to keep that Nevada senate seat. With Reid's negative ratings the highest in the country the leaders of the democratic party must have known that high negative ratings lead to losing candidates. With the importance of keeping every seat they can I believe it would have been best for the party and keeping control over the senate to have replaced Reid as the Nevada candidate. Had Reid been replaced with someone with virtually no negatives the replacement candidate would be leading Angle by a large margin and I believe Nevada wouldn't have been in danger of being lost to the likes of Sharron Angle.

I will mention Reid's performance briefly though. When faced with one filibuster after another from the republicans Reid never once forced republicans to actually perform the duties of a filibuster. All republicans had to do was threaten to filibuster and Reid gave in and gave up every time. He should have forced republicans to filibuster speaking days or weeks at a time. If Reid had forced republicans to filibuster every bill, they would have soon got tired and wore down and Reid would have a much stronger position to negotiate. It's not smart to give in to bullies but Reid did that all the time. I can't think of a single instance where Reid forced republicans to filibuster. He doesn't seem like a very strong or forceful leader.

I hope he beats Angle, but if he does Reid has no business being leader of the senate. That position needs to go to someone who is strong and not constantly compromising away everything in a bill knowing he won't get a single republican vote. All of those bills that were finally passed were watered down and even though republicans were allowed to gut bills they didn't vote for them. That's not good negotiating, compromise or leadership. And it certainly isn't a sign of strength.