Reid: "We'll treat The Rs As They Have NOT Treated Us."

[stopbush]

Harry says they'll be involved and have a say.

This is a very good longterm strategy. If the Rs decide not to play along, they are continuing the do-nothing antics
of the 109th. If they go along, Ds look all the stronger for being bi-partisan and getting things done.

Dems are looking very good these days.

On C-span replay right now.

[buddysmellgood]

1. Oh great...more of that "Do unto others stuff."

:sarcasm:

[pacalo]

2. When writing or fine-tuning a bill that affects everyone, the Republicans won't be locked out of

closed door sessions? Democracy is wonderful, isn't it?

[gratuitous]

3. A great deal more forward-thinking

Some folks will howl, but this is the right way to go about governance. The Rs have certainly earned their place out in the swine barn, but Reid may bring back an era where government actually does something like, you know, govern. We'll get a real good look at who on the Republican side of the aisle really is a "moderate" Republican, and who the bomb-throwers-in-a-phonebooth nincompoops are. I'm guessing that Roberts, Inhofe and Brownback will be at the top of the latter list.

[yellowcanine]

7. I agree. After all, there will be some Republican Senators eager to work with Democrats

and likewise in the House. The Democratic margins are too thin to get all high and mighty about it. Anyway it is the right thing to do. There are lots of Americans who have Republicans representing them through no fault of their own. If it becomes necessary to kick some Republican butt, I have confidence that both Reid and Pelosi will not shrink from the task.

[WestHoustonDem]

4. That's ok with me as long as the unwritten codicil to that is

"as long as they don't fuck with us"

[derby378]

5. If I may interject a word of disapproval...

This may not be the best idea right now. We should be starving neo-fascism into submission, not playing nice with it.

Let the Republican Party become the Republican Party it once was - the party of Lincoln, Eisenhower, and Teddy Roosevelt.

Then we can talk bipartisanship.

[depakid]

9. This is UTTER foolishness

Anyone- and I mean anyone who thinks that Republicans like these will EVER play fairly- or honor a deal is naive to the point of childishness.

Look at the last 12 years... Seems to me some people have not learned a fucking thing.

As far as Reid's concerned- I predict he'll be just a much a Republican enabler in the majority as he has been over the last 2 years. All bark- no bite. No contrast with the right.

This could very easily end up a disaster in 2008- and if it does, the so called "centrist" Dems will have no one to blame but themselves.

[John Q. Citizen]

12. As my friend's mom used to say, "If you're so smart, why aren't you

President of the Senate?"

OK, I paraphrased her.

But my point is, look, this guy's been around the block. He does know what he's doing, at least to some extent.

Sometimes you can't tell by what their saying, but it will be clear by what they do.

What would you do? Talk like the slimy scum sucking Republican who just got repudiated in the last election?

[depakid]

15. I'm just looking at his record

Which was a pretty dismal failure- although we did manage to block the ENZI bill (HIMMA) so far as I can tell, that's about the only significant thing he managed to do as leader- in almost 2 years!

Now he's acting like a battered women- running back to her abuser. Do you REALLY think Republicans will respect that? They're laughing behind his back.

What would I do? Be assertive and say "what's fair for the goose is fair for the gander."

Pretty simple really. As So Cal Dem says below- the wanted change not this buddy buddy pat each other on the back business as usual type shit.

Yet, what does it look like we're going to get? More right wing enabling- more bankruptcy bills and more budget busting tax cuts. And maybe worse.

[John Q. Citizen]

27. He said, "We will not treat them the way they treated us." That's almost

Ghandi-esqe, and you know that in the end, Ghandi defeated the British Empire. He used their own belligerence against them, and it can work.

You would have attacked the British and become a martyr to the cause? As they reinforced their troops and squashed all disent?

I think Reid a smart guy. He doesn't always vote as I would, I don't give him carte blache to do anything, but such reaction to a reasonable statement is a little bit over board, in my opinion.

I think what Reid said makes the Dems look good and the Republicans look bad. The Dems aren't even in power until after Jan 07.

Why give them more power now? His statement checks their power now.

[depakid]

30. We shall see

and shall hope in one hand- while remembering what he's shown us in the other.

What I've seen is the opposite of the African proverb that TR liked to quote:

"Speak softly and carry a big stick."

(Depa adding: don't be hesitant to use it if you and yours are abused).

[Squeech]

21. Dunno

I vaguely recall that Reid held a conference call to lefty bloggers, wherein he said categorically that the Military Commissions Act would not pass and that we shouldn't worry.

Obviously (if I'm remembering this correctly; seems to me I read it on the blog Suburban Guerrilla) whatever information Reid was working from was wrong. Either he misread the tea leaves or-- more likely-- he got played by the Republicans. Neither possibility fills me with warm fuzzies.

[cali]

29. er, no it's not. It's called smart politics.

This sort of stuff gets the public on your side, and that's just smart. It doesn't mean they get rolled over. And calling Reid a repub enabler just demonstrates your ignorance.

[depakid]

37. Actually, it demonstrates memory

I've watched and been involved with many things in the trenches all these years. Just don't talk about them much.

As I said- we shall see- but cats don't often change their stripes. Expecting more of the same- and possibly even worse, all things considered- it's a rational response to what we're hearing.

Hope you're right though... I really do.

[lovuian]

6. I'm sorry is this going to be Democrats

catering to Republicans??? cause they treated Dems terribly

CMon harry be tough

[John Q. Citizen]

8. Reid is a smart guy. I'll never forget how he squashed the Repos

on Harriet Miers nomination.

He said something like, "She's a very nice lady." Then he sat back and watched the Repos themselves bash the shit out of her.

At the time, there were many here who were appalled that Reid didn't come out swinging. He never endorsed her nomination, just said, "She's a very nice lady," and he let the Repos do themselves in.

It was genius, and very well played. He's a chess player I think.

[depakid]

13. He sure played Alito well, didn't he?

Rallied the troops and kept an unethical judge- who lied during his last confirmation hearing before Congress- off of the Supreme Court.

Not to mention EVERY other extremist travesty that got rammed down our throats with no amendments.

[John Q. Citizen]

22. Reid joined the Filibuster, but there weren't the votes to sustain it. I remeber,

I worked long and hard as did many to get it to happen.

There were too many Dem crossovers.

Maybe you should be mad at these people, instead of Reid.

I know I am.

Arkansas - Lincoln (D) Yes; Pryor (D) Yes
Colorado - Salazar (D) Yes
Connecticut - Lieberman (D) Yes
Delaware - Carper (D) Yes
Florida - Nelson (D) Yes
Hawaii - Akaka (D) Yes; Inouye (D) Yes
Iowa - Harkin (D) Not Voting
Louisiana - Landrieu (D) Yes
Montana - Baucus (D) Yes
Nebraska - Nelson (D) Yes
New Mexico - Bingaman (D) Yes
North Dakota - Conrad (D) Yes; Dorgan (D) Yes
South Dakota - Johnson (D) Yes
Washington - Cantwell (D) Yes
West Virginia - Byrd (D) Yes; Rockefeller (D) Yes
Wisconsin - Kohl (D) Yes

Edited to add - Also, there was the fact that only one Supreme Court Judge in history has been filibustered, Abe Fortas.

We lost that, but I don't blame Reid. What could he have done that he didn't?

[depakid]

32. Quick query

With less votes than Reid had- how many Clinton nominees did minority leader Bob Dole hold up?

How many federal judges did the Republicans keeps off the bench- while still winning election after election?

(Fortas is actually a really good example- because Alito had ethical problems that were objectively just as bad as his).

Not to mention the deal with the Fairness Doctrine- Dole stopped that legislation with just a threat- how did he do that? Curious.

Of course the FCC could have reinstated it administratively, by going through the process set out in the APA, but still- one wonders.

[John Q. Citizen]

33. That was Reid's fault? They lost in 96 and in 2000

Read this and see what you think.


http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php

[depakid]

35. Errr....

The Dems held Congress for how many years?

Then lost for how many years? By doing what?

Could it be- we pandered to the far right and enabled and legitimized them? The likes of Falwell- or- name 'em.

Could it be that Bill Clinton appointed Micheal Powell to the FCC?

I've always wondered about that- why would he do such a self destructive thing? I heard Randi Rhodes talk about it once.

To paraphrase, she said: why did you do that (her angle was signing the so called Telecommunications bill). Her thoughts were as I recall- assertive: "you must want to be in the minority party for a long time." Brave thing to say.

The hearsay about his response was: "I guess maybe I deregulated a little too much."

Something to think about- especially if we're interested in Re-reinventing government....

[John Q. Citizen]

38. I'm not going to argue with you about stuff when you have the facts on your

side:)

Bill was the greatest Republican President in modern times.

Still, I'm not bashing Reid because of the quote in the OP.

I think it was smart politics, and nothing worth getting worked up about.

We have bigger fish to fry.

I have one decent Senator (now, soon) and one Dino in my state. (MT) The only people I know who dislike Baucas more than most Dems are the Repos.

If we want to hold his seat, we are going to have to find a Lamant here in the Big Sky, cause if we don't take him out, the Repos might. They had a good shot in 02, but ran a total clown against him who self destructed early in the campaign, and got burned so bad, he dropped out before the election.
Baucas could never pull off an independent run.

Pork and only pork has kept Baucas where he's at. Oh and social security. The one thing in the last 6 years he can point to and say, "See, I'm a Democrat." He ran on bush's coat tails the last time.

All the Repos have to do next time is run his ads from 02. And run someone who's not a complete fucking idiot.

So don't get me wrong here, I think we are pretty much on the same side.

[depakid]

39. "We have bigger fish to fry."

Agreed... completely.

It's far right policies that are both unpopular and hurt us.

And our kids....

I reckon that's where our focus might be.

[Guaranteed]

10. THAT is a really good way of putting it. Beat them with the moral high ground. nt

[SoCalDem]

11. Careful now.. The PUBLIC seemed to have other ideas in mind

when they voted..

They get to vote again in a few years..

Time has a way of slipping by, and if the public who HOWLED about the "buddy-buddy.. cover-your-ass.. corruption" sees it continuing..just with someone else holding the gavel...well..they will vote YOU out next time too:)

[John Q. Citizen]

28. The Dems don't get power until after Jan 07. This statement makes it

more difficult at present for the Repos to act stupid.

[jsamuel]

14. We can treat them nicely, but punch their failed policies in the mouth.

[RethugAssKicker]

16. Do you guys think these Dems are really going to change things?

[Der Blaue Engel]

20. Yes n/t

[rockymountaindem]

25. Yes

If the Republicans continue to act like jerks, then we can say we tried. We put out our hand but they wouldn't shake it. Besides, how do you think it would be recieved if Reid said "we won, suck on it"? Not too good...

This is the best long term strategy. If the Republicans don't want to play ball, then that's their problem.

[nealmhughes]

17. Voltaire said it best, perhaps, in a quip: "Rien n'est si ordinaire que

faire usage des armes de vos ennemis" or words to that effect, i.e., "nothing is so vulgar as to employ your enemy's tactics."

[Captain Hilts]

18. GOOD. No more of that holding votes open, etc. nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. I'd rather that he treated the Dems nice...the one's who elected him.

[ellenfl]

23. YOU CATCH MORE FLIES WITH HONEY THAN WITH VINEGAR.

those of you who are disagreeing with reid's remarks want what? revenge?

this is the best way to show the sensible republicans and the american people that dems will be much more fair than the repugs ever have been. i cannot believe anyone here would want us (dems) to act like them (the fascisti who were just VOTED OUT . . . well, many of them). i applaud reid and pelosi for giving the republicans a chance to make amends to the american people for all of the things they have done to us in the last 6 years. what is the point in alienating them? in the words of the fundies. . . what would jesus do?

sheesh.

ellen fl

[Nite Owl]

24. I don't mind that he is willing to

listen to them but is he willing to say no to them too? Compromise can be a good thing but we have moved way too far to their end and it's time to listen to us too. Will he do that? Is the 'base' to be listened to too or will they continue to ridicule us like they did.

[roamer65]

26. If we look the same to the American people as the Rethugs...

...we'll lose Congress again like we did in 1994. Harry's approach will give us another 40 years of control.

[ComerPerro]

41. yeah, and we won't accomplish a damn thing

because we will be too busy caving in to demands of finge conservative extremist psychos

[NewYorkerfromMass]

31. 2 words: Magnanimity and comity

Pull out your dictionary if you must, but those are two words the Dems will now restore to congress.

[depakid]

34. Want comity & magnamity back?

Don't invite duplicitous people into your home. Ask a mugger or a burglar in- and you'll get beaten on the head or stolen from.

Some people still believe- despite all of the evidence to the contrary- that this breed of Republicans is the party of "states' rights." Or the party that demanded all those years- a balanced budget amendment to the US Constitution.

Federalism, Comity- basic principles of honor and decency- even Habeas Corpus and the Geneva Conventions they mean nothing to these folks.

The sooner people realize that- :dose of reality: and get assertive, the sooner we'll all be able to start setting things towards those goals.

Wake up and smell the Coffee- remember what they've done- because given half a chance- they'll do it again.

Believe me, I want those things too. Yet from experience, it seems to me we need to recognize that we cannot have them just by wishing for or wanting them.

[jgraz]

36. If we lose seats in 2008, he's an idiot. If we gain, he's a fuckin genius.

In other words, we don't really know how this is all going to play out. When in doubt, it's usually pretty good strategy to just do the right thing.

[ComerPerro]

40. That's bullshit. Fuck them. They should have no say or input.