Mitch McConnell Won't Speak To Harry Reid

Roll Call reports that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell isn't speaking to Majority Leader Harry Reid:

[D]espite a previously solid working and personal relationship with his Democratic counterpart, McConnell chose to ignore both the election night call and a subsequent follow-up call from Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), whose party had dumped more than $6 million into Kentucky in an ultimately futile push to knock off the Republican leader.

In fact, according to Democrats and Republicans familiar with the situation, while McConnell and Obama spoke on the Thursday following the election, it took McConnell some nine days to ultimately respond to Reid's overtures.

Republicans warned that Reid should be prepared for a full-court press during his own 2010 re-election bid, and that the sudden deterioration in relations, no matter how short-lived, is a direct result of what they view as an overly aggressive Democratic effort to unseat McConnell.

"The Majority Leader made a tactical error that could potentially cost him his job when he signed off on $6 million of attack ads the last few weeks in Kentucky. McConnell never takes political attacks personally, but he is someone who has never hesitated to repay his opposition for their courtesy," a senior Republican official said, adding that identifying a high-quality opponent to challenge Reid will be a priority for the party in the coming months.

As Steve Benen notes, McConnell seems to be unusually sensitive.

So, let me get this straight. The relationship between the two parties' Senate leaders is in "tatters" because the Republican leader thinks the Democratic leader supported an effort to win a competitive Senate race. The Big Bad Harry Reid was mean in trying to help his party gain another seat.

What, did McConnell think his leadership role left him immune? Funny, I don't remember him encouraging Republicans to scale back their efforts to take down Tom Daschle in 2004.

Comments

[andban]

Please get rid of these old men

[JiminNC]

McChins is a crybaby.

[K.J. Dwyer - Huffpost Blogger]

The puling Mitch McConnell should do us all a favor and just take his marbles and go home.

What an utter and complete freak-show is the Republican Party.

[knerd]

"McConnell never takes political attacks personally..."

Revenge is ALWAYS personal. And dysfunctional.

[Jaybot]

If the Republicans actually did oust Reid it would be the best thing they've done in at least a decade. Go ahead, remove a conservative Democrat that's been nothing but an impediment to any sort of progressive change for his entire tenure as a Senate leader. You will have done what feckless Democratic Senators wouldn't and, incidentally, what liberals have been demanding for years. Good Work!

[guitrman]

Oh Kentucky.......you have so much more to offer than this loser. You deserve better and so does America.

[win2kpro]

So McConnell won't speak to Reid. Reid should feel blessed.

[TomTheAlmostUgly]

Don't worry, Mitch, Harry Reid will soon say he's sorry. Harry Reid is real good at appeasing. (Just ask Lieberman.)

[YesWeDid]

LOSER = Mitch

[NWBrunette]

McConnell has a political attitude that the Dems could learn from. An offense-minded fighting spirit is a useful thing to have when pursuing and promoting one's agenda, particularly in Congress. The Dems need a spinal transplant and need to come out swinging in 2009. And all of us progressives better be hounding their tails.

[1differentdrummer]

Did you read the article?

[rosiebond007]

Poor Mitch - pouting in the corner.
It just proves that the Republicans are not able to play well with others.

[KathyinCT]

World to Mickey Mouse McConnell:

BOO HOO!

[sposton]

McConnel is one of them sensitive fellers. What democrats have done to him was nothing in comparison what Republicans had done to Daschle after he went out of his way to work with the new administration in a genuine bipartisan fashion. Republicans are brutal on offense but easily bruised when attacked with equivalent ferocity.

[jsarets]

Is this news? Republicans don't believe in talking to their enemies. Period.

[LaurenMarie984]

Well, since there aren't many Repubs left in office, this guy's gonna pretty lonely

[DCtrain]

Put an end to the Repub