Looks like Harry Reid has found his spine

[malaise]

He's going to call a vote for the Ryan plan.

Word is that ReTHUGS are scattering like roaches spotting a Tom Delay pesticide van.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/25/969986/-Reid-wants-to-put-the-screws-to-GOP-over-Ryan-budget
<snip>
Senate Democratic aides expect Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to force Senate Republicans to vote on the Paul Ryan budget plan.

Reid hasn’t made a formal decision yet, and won’t until he returns from an overseas trip.

The idea is to drive a wedge through the GOP caucus and put vulnerable incumbents such as Sens. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) in a political jam.

I really hope Reid follows through on this plan, because it could cause a lot of pain for Republicans - and not just this cycle, but further down the road as well. As we noted in the Daily Digest this morning (and as The Hill article mentions, too), Sen. Susan Collins has already put her Maine colleague Olympia Snowe in a bind by coming out in opposition to the Ryan plan. Now Snowe has to decide whether to enrage the teabaggers or risk her standing with independents and Democrats. I'm not sure why Collins felt the need to open her mouth in the first place, but if Reid schedules a vote on Paul Ryan's Medicare-killing budget, then there's no way Snowe can dodge the question.


Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah the fun has just begun! :popcorn: :rofl:

sp.

[annabanana]

1. Is this called setting the hook?

Is this that little tug when the hook actually catches the cheek?

[malaise]

5. Let's hope

:D

[vi5]

2. I'll believe it when I see it.

He absolutely should do this. It's pure political hardball 101.

Which is why I think he won't follow through. Hope he proves me wrong.

[chelsea0011]

11. Agreed. He'll back down when the time comes.

[Keith Bee]

12. Yeah

:hangover:

[Poboy]

19. My sentiments as well.

[senseandsensibility]

3. I'm not going to applaud this until it happens

Yes, I am now officially cynical. It doesn't matter if this is a slow lob over center plate offered up in a gift wrapped package. The Dems are more than capable of not only backing down, but apologizing for doing so.

[eleny]

4. Filibuster this!

:rofl:

[malaise]

6. Better yet

Who wants to go on the record?? :rofl:

[cali]

7. neither Brown or Snowe are particularly vulnerable

and I don't think either of them would have a problem voting against the Ryan budget. Other repukes, however.....

[Samantha]

17. Isn't Snowe retiring after this term?

I believe I heard that some time ago.

Sam

[leftynyc]

43. But if Brown votes against it

he'll invite a primary challenge from a teabagger. I'm not sure what the primary system is in MA but if it's a closed one, he could easily lose the primary on this issue.

[lark]

45. Fine

then maybe Ma. could be a Democrat again

[leftynyc]

46. Exactly my point

MAKE him vote on it.

[joeunderdog]

47. No F-n way.

No one drinks that kind of tea in Mass.

In fact, Brown's still playin' nicey-nice with his stance on issues because he won't get re-elected if he shows his true Conservative colors. A teabagger would not be seen as a true threat on a Mass ballot.

[leftynyc]

54. It would in a primary

The teabaggers will think he's too liberal and may not want him as the party nominee. Baggers are weird people - that's how my state (NY) would up with Carl Paladino as the republican candidate for governor. He never stood a chance but the baggers couldn't help themselves - they wanted him as a candidate. Same thing could happen to Brown.

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. I'd love to see it happen, but

I'll believe it when I see it.

[Recursion]

9. It was never missing -- he wants to stop legislation

And the Senate rules make that possible. Getting legislation passed is the hard part.

[malaise]

14. Certainly valid re the filibusters from

RETHUGS

[CatWoman]

10. LOVE IT!!!

:rofl:

GO, HARRY!!

GO!!

:rofl:

[polichick]

13. Tee-hee!! k&r

[chelsea0011]

15. I will say this...Senator Brown-(R) Ma will vote present or miss the vote.

There is no way he will vote on this. Senator "Where's the Wind Blowin'" from Ma will be chastised no matter how he votes on this. And since he can't be seen making a stand whichever way, he will sit it out. this guy has made his short career on voting as a moderate on the let them out of committee votes, and then vote with the republicants the other way on senate votes. This guy was my state rep before he became and state senator, and now as the Senator from Mass., I still have no idea where he stands on any issues. The true Brown will never appear until after the 2012 elections, and I have a bad feeling about that. He must be defeated.

[rgbecker]

18. Exactly right. Voting to keep financial reform from coming to a vote...

Then voting for it to look like he is someone the Democrats might support.

Actually, I think Brown will vote this Ryan bill down...its a safe way to get more good press and he can claim it would hurt Medicare which is again safe to claim in Massachusetts.

His form answers to emails on almost any issue end up being very hard to figure his position....very clever guy...Who should we support to beat him in 2012?

[Recursion]

22. Capuano or Khazei, if either one is running again (nt)

[white_wolf]

30. Isn't it rumored that Ted Kennedy's son might run?

I thought I'd heard rumors that he might try and take his father's old seat back from Brown. I hope he does, every Congress needs a Kennedy.

[juajen]

50. Which son? NT

[yourout]

16. I hope this doesn't backfire and end up forcing Obama to Veto it.

[disillusioned73]

28. Actually that would also be a win..

Obama can run on the premiss of "saving" social security and whichever idiotic Dem votes for it will be exposed for the R in Dem clothing that they really are.. win/win

[CatWoman]

31. exactamundo!!!

[leftynyc]

44. Not a backfire at all

A win for left. Saving Medicare.

[RDANGELO]

20. That is a no brainer.

This will either further marginalize the Republicans who vote for it or cause a rift between them and the base.

[UTUSN]

21. He always had one. In Shrub's 1st yr, REID called him a LIAR n/t

[Zorra]

23. I expect another strongly worded letter. But

I really hope he makes me eat crow.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

24. I sure hope he DOES that. n/t

[mopinko]

25. he has to. what are the choices? if he doesn't

they get to bawl like little babies that reid wouldn't bring it up. win win.

[Obamanaut]

26. Perhaps they should stay in DC and work when they are scheduled to

be in session.

They are off until May 2 for what the senate calls 'state work period', yet Reid and eight other senators are out of country on a 'fact finding tour.'

Are there no 'facts' to find in their home states? Homeless? Jobless? Foreclosures? Bridges/roads in disrepair? Hungry school children?

[disillusioned73]

27. This is such a cliche.. win/win - but there is no better way of describing..

Dems can only win in this scenario. Which is why I am sceptical that they will follow through on this. If they back down it will only give more credence to the "one party kabuki" theory..

[tclambert]

29. Perhaps you underestimate the Leader's determination to find a way around the reverse Kobayashi Maru

scenario. There MUST be a way to defeat in the no-lose scenario.

Maybe, . . . maybe they allow it to pass, and just to call their bluff, Obama does not veto it. "That's what you want? Fine! We'll give it to you." Boy, that'll show 'em. When Medicare and Social Security vanish, and elderly people start dying off by the thousands? Well, they were old anyway. All those towns in Florida de-populated? That'll make it easier when sea level rises and Florida disappears beneath the waves.

[disillusioned73]

37. Well then, in that impossible scenario we are officially screwed..

because not only would all Repubs need to vote yay, a couple of Dems would neep to flip and the Prez would also sign it??

That my friend would be the "tipping point" for people to take to the streets..

[CanonRay]

32. I'll believe it when it happens

and not before.

[upi402]

33. good

overdue

[WinkyDink]

34. THIS = "A SPINE"? "Reid hasn’t made a formal decision yet...."

[Marr]

35. Anyone care to make a wager on Reid actually doing this?

Judging from his past behavior, I'd put the odds at about 10-1 against.

[valerief]

36. But it might offend billionaires and these Republidems never do that. nt

[bertman]

38. The 'famous' Nevada boxer, Harry Reid, is going to show some guts. I'm in the believe-it-when-.

I-see-it category.

[madrchsod]

39. that`s the way the game used to be played....

[defendandprotect]

40. After 6 years -- congratulations, Harry?

[cui bono]

41. We all need to call him and our senators and make him follow through.

It's a waste of my minutes to call Feinstein but I'll still do it.

[bobburgster]

42. About time!

The Dems need to play hardball. We know the tea baggers have no morals or ethics in their actions. Though to listen to them you would think they are on the road to sainthood.

[Moondog]

48. Never fear. He'll get over it soon enough.

[tweeternik]

49. Good!! Just do it! n/t

[louslobbs]

51. I hope,that at the most important phase of this battle, our side doesn't give an inch.

Lou

[DallasNE]

52. Will Reid Use Reconciliation For Ryan Plan?

Otherwise the Republicans would dodge an up or down vote by filibuster. Even that would be good though -- a Republican filibuster of a Republican bill.

[rpannier]

53. Snowe will come down with a virus on the day of the vote

Then she'll duck the question for the next two years