Daschle Plans To Retain Post

[NewJerseyDem]

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/50_4/news/6188-1.html (subscription required)

Seeking to tamp down speculation, Sen. Tom Daschle (S.D.) said he “absolutely” wants to continue his tenure as Democratic leader regardless of who controls the chamber next year, giving him the opportunity to tie the record for longest serving leader in Senate history.

And, as his colleagues attest, Daschle said he is eager to get another shot at being Majority Leader and the “chance to show real leadership and setting a different tone in Washington, especially the Senate.”

Taking a barely veiled shot at his GOP counterpart, Majority Leader Bill Frist (Tenn.), Daschle said his top priority in a Democratic-controlled Senate next year would be curtailing what he considers an overly partisan atmosphere both in the chamber and on the campaign trail.

“The majority is not the goal in and of itself; it’s the means to the goal. The goal is changing the tone,” he said in an interview Thursday.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. So then, we will not be winning the majority then?

:eyes:

[Jim Sagle]

2. What a fuckin' dumbass.

[IndianaGreen]

25. Daschle RAWWWWWWWWWKSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

Sorry, I couldn't resist the temptation. Me bad!

Calling Daschle a "fuckin' dumbass" is too charitable.

Daschle SUCCCCCCCCCKSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

[Jim Sagle]

26. You had me worried there for a second, IG. I/P disagreements are

one thing, but THIS is for all the marbles. Not that Uncle Tom Daschle has any marbles left to begin with.

[IndianaGreen]

27. I agree

While I don't want Daschle to lose reelection to some crypto-fascist, I sure as hell don't want him in any leadership position after the election.

We need people in Congress that are willing to dismantle the Bush legislation that Congress passed out of fear in the 9-11 aftermath. This is not the time for the faint hearted.

[Placebo]

3. Anyone but daschle

Maybe its just me but i'd like to see a new face on the democratic leadership of both the senate and house if we regain at least the senate again come 2004.

Daschle is fine and all, but I think its time to inject some new energy and a fresh face. Also, someone who can appear a bit tougher and more intimidating when need be as opposed to daschle's rather timid and cautious demeanor.

[DU9598]

4. Harkin?

I have thought that Harkin could be a good replacement for Daschle. He came to the Senate in 1986 with Sen. Kerry and they would be a great team, IMO.

Who else would DU'ers support as Daschle's replacement?

[NewJerseyDem]

7. Harry Reid of Nevada is the favorite to succeed Daschle

Whenever the post comes up, he seems like the favorite. However, he is pro-life, so that could be an issues, but he is reportedly quite popular among his fellow senators. Also, Chris Dodd of Connecticut, who lost to Daschle in 1994, might run again or Dick Durbin of Illinois could as well.

[dmkinsey]

9. All I can think is

that nobody else wants that gig.
Why else would Daschle still be leader?

[Neshanic]

5. We don't need no stinkin' tone change, you sir hit the road.

[buff2]

6. That's bad news

Daschle is a wimp...even when he goes after the repukes he most always ends up apologizing afterwords.He should step aside and let someone else with real back bone be the leader.I can't stand his sucking up to the repukes all the time. :thumbsdown:

[AndyTiedye]

11. The Repubs Made Him An Offer He Couldn't Refuse

He does not want himself or his family to die of anthrax.

[Dr Fate]

16. I dont care.

If he feels that threatened, then he is of no help to us.

[Dr Fate]

15. "I think President Bush is an honest man."

Said by Tom the mole a mere 2 hours after Bush lied 3 times in a press concerning his Harkengate scandal.

As long as I live, I'll never forget him saying that in his lispy, Peggy Noonan sounding voice.

The poster child for Pink Tu-tu DEMS has gotta go.

[peacebuzzard]

37. My sentiments exactly.

It's hard to believe he thinks he's a Dem. (lots of expletives (*&^%$)

[sendero]

8. "Set a different tone"?

Are you going to get off all fours Tom, or just use more lube?

This loser has got to go.

[Bryan]

10. I may be overparsing here, but

...I think there's a real and not purely semantical difference between what Daschle wants to do and what Daschle will be doing given a certain set of circumstances. Who the rest of the Dem caucus (Kerry included) will want as Leader if the Dems take back the majority, or what changes there will be if the status remains quo, are things Daschle has no control over.

[NewJerseyDem]

17. Well, if Democrats do bad, there could be a movement to remove him

There were some rumors back after the 2002 elections that Chris Dodd of Connecticut might challenge Daschle, but nothing ever happened. I doubt that Daschle would be forcefully removed. It seems like he is a fairly popular leader in the Democratic caucus in the Senate. He does a pretty good job uniting Democrats on most issues.

[fujiyama]

33. Which issues has he united dems over?

Medicare Reform? Oh wait...

What about the other major issues? The tax cuts? He might be better at uniting dems than in the House, but the House is a totally different matter, with the way so many districts are gerrymandered.

Another person said we must keep him because that's the only reason SD votes for a democrat. If that's the case, we're screwed.

Hope he wins his seat. He's a decent enough guy, but he SUCKS at leadership.

[KoKo]

12. OUT OUT DARK SPOT WHO HAS PLAGUED US WITH YOUR LACK

OF SPINE! Bastardizing Shakespeare's Lady MacBeth, but could help it...

AYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! No Daschle! NO!

[SenatorBulworth]

13. poor daschle

should just put on a dress and some pretty pink panties and be done with it already, the big pansy!:hurts:

[Dr Fate]

14. I would prefer someone else- from a safe state.

I'm tired of the DEMS in the Senate being under the thumb of South Dakota voters.

[Bonhomme Richard]

18. He's thinking only of himself............

I can't think of anything crazier than a guy in the democratic leadership position when most of his constituents are conservative. That's nuts because his first priority is re-election and he will base everything he does on pleasing his conservative base. Off the bat we will set ourselves up with conservative leadership.
It's crazy.

[amber dog democrat]

19. What a waste

At this rate I would as soon have Zell Miller

[Frodo]

20. We need to hold this conversation AFTER THE ELECTION

There will be plenty of time to replace him after November.

If there's even a fair chance reported in the press that he will be replaced we will lose that seat.

Dachle being the leader kept Johnson's seat two years ago and will (likely) keep him the seat this year. THEN we can talk about replacing him.

[LTR]

21. My preferences (out of left field)

1. Ted Kennedy (because it would absolutely piss off the RWers)
2. Hillary Clinton (same reason)
3. Russ Feingold (most integrity of anyone in the Senate)
4. Dick Durbin (also has integrity)

[Democat]

22. What about Tom Harkin?

Does he have enough experience to step into leadership?

[NewJerseyDem]

31. He definitely has enough experience

He has been in the Senate for 20 years and I think he served in the House for about 10 years before that. But, there is no sign that he is interested and he is currently the ranking democrat on the Agriculture Committee, and he would be chairman if the the Democrats reclaim the Senate. And I doubt that someone that senior would take the post since he already has influence on that Committee. Most people that become leader seem to be fairly lacking in senior. Trent Lott had about 8 years, Daschle had 8 years, and Frist had 8 years so it seems that newer members are more likely to desire the position of party leader, which in the Senate isn't as powerful as one might think.

[Seth Gecko]

23. changing the tone?

Isn't that what bush campaigned on in 2000?
Get this panty waste Daschle out of all leadership.

[Gyre]

24. Where else would this loser get a job?

He sure as hell doesn't want to actually do something useful, like working for a living. I think of Daschle like Arafat; he's great for the opposition. And their constituents just keep voting them back into power. What a bunch of maroons.

Gyre

[fujiyama]

34. LOL

Interesting way to see it.

[Bo]

28. How do we get rid of this idiot?

[annagull]

29. Daschle, when you had the majority, you squandered it

Mr. Moderate nice guy, and the pubs rolled all over you. The only sucess I saw was getting Jeffords, and i don't think he was that hard to convince. Change the tone? These are the same guys who stole computer records, hell, even an election and Daschle wants to play patty cake. He's hopeless.

[DaveSZ]

30. Damn

Durbin would be better.

[Myra]

32. Gosh Senator Daschle, you've already overstayed your welcome by years

I'd like to trade up, like we did in the house when we swapped
Gephardt for Leader Pelosi.

Go away Tom. You've served as GOP mascot far too long.

[dusty64]

35. He may try, but

hopefully after his reelection he is replaced by a REAL leader. I for one am underwhelmed by his "skills".

[Media_Lies_Daily]

36. That guy is one of the FIRST that needs to go right after the NeoCons.