Reid Rebuffs Idea Of Senate Majority Leader Clinton

Sen. Harry Reid on Monday brushed off the notion that he has any plans to cede his Majority Leader title once Hillary Clinton returns to the Senate full-time.

Asked by The Huffington Post about reports that Clinton may be eyeing Reid's spot if (as seems likely) her presidential run is unsuccessful, the Nevada senator at first offered some humble niceties.

"I do this job the best I can, with the full support of my senators," he said during a small breakfast with reporters. "I feel very comfortable with where I've gotten."

But Reid, the former amateur boxer, couldn't help finishing with a gentle jab.

"Keep in mind also, a senator coming back who's run for president is not a very unique one," Reid said to laughter. "Senator John Kerry ran, he's back. Chris Dodd ran, he's back. Joe Biden ran, he's back."

Those senators have been plenty busy since returning from the campaign trail, Reid added, and "Senator Clinton has some very fine committee assignments."

Comments

[Doofus]

The whole idea of 'proposing' Hillary Clinton as Senate Majority Leader was to give
her AND Harry Reid something to think about. Obviously, it got his attention. It may
yet get hers. It's Something Else for her to focus on, Door #2 if you like, after she
gives up her current campaign. And, yes, it's most definitely a role which requires
the consent of the Senate majority, so all of her persuasive powers will have to be
brought to bear to attain it. A worthy goal, certainly.

[adamsmith]

Note to Dirty Harry: Google resume.com­..........­.......

[clintfatigue]

Don't you have to earn the position of senate majority leader?

[CarmenCameron]

I thought Majority Leader was decided by a vote of a vote of the senators in that party...you think Hillary's got a chance of getting that if she has to be voted on by a group of such highly educated people? I don't. Either way, I hear she's in trouble in New York and needs to worry about just holding her seat in the first place.

[jplass]

wouldn't that just be the best kicker? after all of these shenanigans she loses even her senate seat

[EvgenyLibek]

The GOP best case scenario: 2008 is Bob Dole vs Dukakis.
The GOP worst case scenario: 2008 is Bob Dole vs John F. Kennedy.

Either way, Dole loses.

[Michellelover]

Even Dole can beat Dukaka. The only one that Dukaka may be able to beat is Peanuts Carter

[Doofus]

Hmmm. Think Dwight Eisenhower vs Adlai Stevenson. Twice.

[PKSSK]

I think if Reid and Pelosi had been honest with the public about the bind they were in with a 50-49 majority maybe we would have been more sympathetic to their dilemma and made more of an effort to hound our representatives to vote in their constituents favor. However, the congressional majority consists of blue dog democrats, DLC, who do not always vote with the DNC agenda and cause problems with the people accepting the performance of the democratic congress as a whole, especially when you have the likes of Lieberman, Fienstein and Schumer voting with the GOP on the war bills, FISA and in favor of Mukasey.

Honest transparancy with the people is the only way our democracy can succeed and if that happens than Reid and Pelosi cannot loose favor in the public eye. Maybe things will change when Senator Obama becomes President.

[adzeman]

She better be extremely buzy the next six months working the soil to grow Obama into a giant.

[krayyy]

since when did reid become such a PIMP

[souris]

..........­.......fir­st thing the Dems need to do is get rid of the do-nothing Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House, and namby pamby do-nothing Harry Reid Majority Leader....­........th­ey BOTH need to be replaced with someone [male or female] with BIG BRASS ONES!!! I am sick to death and disgusted with both of them, and their defeatist "we-just-c­an't-do-it­" attitudes!!!

[hip dibler]

amen.

[TXfemmom]

Frankly, it isn't up to Senator Reid as to whether he continues as Senater Leader or whether Clinton could replace him.

He hasn't done anything with that position, SO WHY SHOULDN'T HE BE REPLACED?

I think that both he and Pelosi should be replaced if the Democrats retain or expand their hold on Congress in the fall, because both have been weak, ineffective leadership. If Clinton getting the Leadership is something which would heal the party and help us win in the fall, THEN GET OUT OF THE WAY HARRY. YOU DON'T MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS BECAUSE YOU ARE THE MAN.

[ylpatriot]

Dear Harry ...... I do hope the first action THE DEMS take is to get rid of both you DO NOTHINGS YEP I MEAN YOU AND PELOSI !!!!!!


Neither Reid nor Pelosi have listened to the wishes of this country !!!!!!

[McPander]

Well, it looks like the checks bounced for the HRC Trolls. Their post are getting less frequent. I guess you can buy posters like you can buy votes in Texas.

[EyeWantOneNation]

"Buy votes in Texas" ?????

There's quite a few hard-working, politically screwed people here in Texas...honestly voting for Obama...

Your comment was more than tasteless and degrading...

Nice way to unite the country, sparky !!!!

[Darnamell]

Paying people to get other people to the polls is not EXACTLY like buying votes, but it isn't that far off either.

So, while potentially tasteless, I am not sure it is degrading, except in bringing the truth to light.

[ThePrisoner]

Close call. She has more back bone in her little finger than Reid has in his entire body. We could use the "I'm a fighter" mentality instead of his get along mentality. But she has relies on hacks and suck-ups that don't serve her well, is too secretive, is concerned only for herself and not the Democratic party or the public and she's shown the long range planning of a two year old. On balance, I'd love to see Reid go, but she isn't the one to replace him.

[JimR]

Agree. Reid has definitely got to go, but I think Chris Dodd would be a much more effective replacement.

[marinemomof3]

ANYONE would be better than SPINELESS Reid....anyone!!

I do like the idea of Chris Dodd.....

[McPander]

Trust me, once we have a new party head, ie Obama, there will be a shake-up. This is what the Super Delegates have to remember. He has 100 mill and that goes along way if he decides to show up pushing your election.
He will have the coat-tails the Billary never had.

[Michellelover]

If this dope does get elected the heads of the party will be playing him like a violin. He will be relegated to hosting state dinners while the party elders tell him what to say and when to say it. Probably that drunken blowhard Kennedy will be doing most of the dictating

[McPander]

Great Article hear. This along with "Hard working Americans, white Americans" will cost HRC California and her senate seat. We are the progressive party. The inclusive party.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051203014.html

[jdenham]

I think Hillary would make a fine Majority Leader. Harry Reid needs to start looking over his shoulder we need some real leadership in that position. Reid may retain his leadership position this next session but it may be time for a change in that position. Maybe a progressive like Dodd or Fiengold.

[speakingtruth2power]

I'm hoping it will be Dodd. I'd like to see the DLC fade into history.

[ccrnjr]

If Hillary is senate leader, like she was the "next president", then democrats will be in a great position.....just like they were when Bill was in office. As senate leader, she can squander all the political capital, divide the party and country, scream unfair when things get tough and have Bill explain what she meant. I look at her campaign and hope the democrats will get to the point they are no longer afraid of her and her "machine". Her campaign staff was divided, her husband off message and now her campaign is 20 million in debt. Now, that's leadership!

[EvgenyLibek]

Look, I support Obama, but you are full-on delusional if you imagine that a compromise is not necessary -- despite her numerous campaign blunders, Hillary will finish remarkably close (the delegate count edge is by no means a blow-out, and popular vote will be razor thin).

She will have bargaining power -- face it -- and Obama is not going to change the necessity of compromise, despite what some co-supporters suggest.

If she wants VP, the best argument against her would be Senator Chuck Hagel (or the equivalent, but there is no equivalent) -- to build a coalition that transcends even Hillary's supporters (Blue-Red is the dream ticket). But, even in this case, Hillary is not going to walk away empty handed -- Senate Majority Leader would be a good compromise.

I hope she realizes that her being VP would be a risky drag on the ticket, and would opt instead for some other compromise; but this would go against her DNA.