Brutal portrait of dysfunctional Dem leadership

[Proud Public Servant]

That said, Democrats are off to a quick start in getting at each other’s throats. With lightning speed, soon-to-be Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has sought to air his grievances and presumably shift much of the blame to President Obama for the Democrats’ loss of his chamber. In a remarkably candid exercise, Reid’s chief of staff, David Krone, has matter-of-factly supplied the media with time lines, quotes and precise accounts of the animosity that existed between the Democratic Senate and the White House during Campaign 2014. In a must-read, vivid piece from The Post’s Philip Rucker and Robert Costa, Krone is quoted as saying that they were “never going to get on the same page” and revealed that, after one meeting with the president, the Reid forces were left “beating our heads against the wall.”

The president’s news conference yesterday did nothing to soothe the Democrats’ disappointment or prepare them for the slump that is to come. He hasn’t supplied them with a shoulder to cry on, nor has he exhibited any regret or taken responsibility, as a leader normally would. As a result, the president may be the easiest target for the losers as they collect their thoughts, become more bitter and start to lash out.

So Reid and his staff are pointing the finger of blame at the president. Meanwhile, Obama famously has no real relationship with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and the White House’s relationship with the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Fla.), is openly hostile. As incredible as it may seem, all three of these Democratic leaders plan to hold onto their jobs for the next two years.

...

Anyway, as Insiders readers know, in politics, bad gets worse. And for the Democrats, based on the size of their loss and on their leaders’ performances in the first 24 hours after defeat, things are going to get a lot worse. Reid, Pelosi and Obama couldn’t work together in the majority; does anyone think they are going to pull together in the minority? According to Krone, Obama resisted doing all he could for Democratic candidates who would serve with him in his last two years as president. Do Democrats think the president is going to do much to help candidates who will serve only after he leaves office? Does anyone think Obama is going to suddenly care about the DNC and make it an effective force? It is not unreasonable to think he couldn’t care less. It is probably fine with him if Wasserman-Schultz uses the committee as a vanity platform as long as he doesn’t have to meet with her. I wonder what will motivate Democratic donors to give to the DNC.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2014/11/06/the-insiders-let-the-payback-begin/

Whatever one thinks of the various players, this level of rancor helps us not at all...

[RobertEarl]

1. What a crock

The WP is a well known pro-republican mouth organ who hates the Left.

Anything the WP can do or say to make trouble for the Democratic Party, they will print it and wallow in it.

Anyone posting the WP crap here without commentary makes me wonder what their agenda is.

[NaturalHigh]

2. Interesting article.

I had no idea things were that bad. This reads more like a soap opera than common political infighting.

[riqster]

3. Smells like a hit piece. A way to suppress spirits and funding.

[Rex]

4. Dam...that didn't take long. Blame Obama has been the most successful ploy I've ever seen used.

What the FUCK has Congress been smoking the last 6 years? Why should Obama show any sign of emotions? He's had to go it alone for 6 FUCKING YEARS.

Shoulder to cry on? They should be thanking him for running the country solo and doing a great job at it!

Then again I expect nothing from the washington post but divisive bullshit.

[rocktivity]

5. Hit piece alert!

You've really got to consider the source with stories like this.


rocktivity

[Proud Public Servant]

6. As a daily reader of WaPo, I did

The Post isn't particularly ant-Obama or anti-Dem. It is, however, pro-PTB, which is what makes their PTB insider baseball reporting so compelling.

[Tatiana]

7. This is garbage gossip.

Obama has had a great relationship with Pelosi. She has always defended him and his policies.

There may be some issues with Reid, especially over some of the nominees.

As the de-facto party leader, I don't understand how Obama let Wasserman-Schultz ever attain the position of DNC chair.

[Proud Public Servant]

8. FWIW, I'm working on the Hill at the moment

And the "no relationship with Pelosi" comment certainly mirrors what I've been hearing from fellow Dems up here. Defending the president isn't the same as having a good relationship with him.

[kentuck]

9. Read about the author at bottom of article..

A partner with Haley Barbour.

[struggle4progress]

10. +

[struggle4progress]

11. "Ed Rogers is a Republican strategist"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2014/11/06/the-insiders-let-the-payback-begin/