Let's get rid of Harry Reid

By Libby

I read in the WaPo this morning about the pending Tomnibus bill that the Senate is supposed to pass before they take their weeks long summer vacation and had the same reaction as Booman. Why is it that Reid could ignore Dodd's hold on the FISA bill but allows this yahoo Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to block dozens of bills that have large bi-partisan support? Why didn't he just hold the damn votes right along? That's what the Republicans did when they held the majority.

I'm predicting this omnibus bill will get mired down in Beltway kabuki and will be tabled untl September, no matter how critical the included bills are to the people. Reid is a miserable failure as a leader and Pelosi has been almost as bad. We need better Democrats than this if we're ever going to repair the damage of the Bush regime.

Comments

[Nell]

Why is it that Reid could ignore Dodd's hold on the FISA bill but allows this yahoo Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to block dozens of bills that have large bi-partisan support?

If your question isn't rhetorical, KagroX provides an answer here.

KX's post isn't a defense of Reid's actions, but it is an explanation. We have to change the politics that currently make the Majority Leader's calculations result so often in these kinds of unfavorable outcomes.

Senate procedure is almost impossible to understand without help from people who've spent time on the Hill. If the press and the school system did their jobs, more Americans would know more about the subject. But that would decrease the power of those with the required arcane knowledge: members of Congress, staffers, and lobbyists.

For example, you'd think members of Congress would be required to list the names and positions of those on their staff on their websites or somewhere else easily accessible. But you'd be wrong. They won't even supply them to constituents when asked politely and in writing.

[Libby]

It was half rhetorical Nell. I don't understand the procedural machinations and frankly even the people that do understand them don't really know everything that's going on even when they access to the players as far I can see. But you're right, we need to change the politics that makes this game possible.