Reid doesn’t hold back

March 23, 2006

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) raised a few eyebrows a few days ago when he labeled George W. Bush “the worst president this country has ever had.”

Would the mini-flap over the comment prompt Reid to back down? Not so much. The next day, Reid was still not holding back.

Reid also responded to comments the president made Tuesday when he said his successor in the White House would likely be responsible for deciding when U.S. troops leave Iraq.

“To me it shows how dangerously incompetent he is,” Reid said. “‘Stay the course, mission accomplished, bring ’em on,’ the American people are sick of that. We need to change course in Iraq. … I think the president burying his head in the sand is not going to do the trick.”

I may not agree with every policy Reid takes, but I think he’s a fine Senate leader and I always enjoy it when he speaks his mind like this.

Matt Yglesias wrote the other day that Reid’s aggressive rhetoric is a bit of a tangent from his important responsibilities. “What liberals need from progressive politicians isn’t rhetoric that’s pleasing to the ears,” Yglesias said, “but a combination of election strategies likely to win, and policies that will benefit the country.”

I don’t disagree, but hearing some hard-hitting rhetoric with effective strategies and policies is heartening, too.

I think he’s just showing the frustration many people in this country are having towards Bush. After his comment about leaving the mess in Iraq for someone else to figure out, how can anyone have any faith in this guy’s ability to run the country?

And how is Reid’s comment any different than Dan Burton calling Bill Clinton a “scumbag” on the House floor a few years back? Granted, “worst president ever” is a little more critical, but it’s the Republicans who lowered the bar in the first place.

  • I’m always amazed by Republicans compaining about critisms of their W. after having spent eight years reading bumper stickers saying “My President is Charleston Heston” on the back of a NRA members truck.

    Just laugh in the Repub’s face when he whines like a little sissy.

  • “What liberals need from progressive politicians isn’t rhetoric that’s pleasing to the ears,” Yglesias said, “but a combination of election strategies likely to win, and policies that will benefit the country.”

    Please allow me to give a collective sigh of exasperation for every progressive who’d like to see this country move forward.

    Hello? Matt? You there? The minority leader of the Senate criticizes a president who has sacrificed lives, misled the public, lied, spied, and basically turned America into an international embarrassment (at least as to our government), and your reaction as a progressive thinker throwing a couple rhetorical barbs is to . . . criticize the minority leader?!? Are you kidding? I don’t care what Reid voted for two years ago, two months ago, or yesterday, I care that there are national Dems who finally seem to have woken up long enough to take some shots at, yes, the worst president ever. I mean, Buchanan didn’t have nukes, and even Regan wasn’t attacking our Constitution openly and with disdain (sure, there were some fishy operations, but Regan and Bush Sr. at least had the propriety to try and hide what they were doing). And you know what, Matt? Arguing about exactly how bad BushCo is, or whether the timing of Reid’s comments was perfect, or any other dang fool distracting, pointless argument does anything but undermine a party that has been busily digging its own grave for over a decade.

    I read Matt’s post and I don’t want to quibble about whether he’s right or wrong (above paragraph notwithstanding), I just want politically-motivated, thoughtful people to realize which debates help move the country forward, and which debates are just another version of shooting yourself in the foot. People are dying right now because of the lies this administration has told is still telling, and criticizing a Democrat for actually growing a backbone is worse than a waste of time.

    Sorry if I’m cranky. This stuff is depressing.

  • I think Matt is right, but he also needs to take into account in order to place these tactics on the field we need to fire up people, and get them ready to go. I actually think this is a better role for Reid to take, because I disagree with the displeasure that him, and the others are having over Dean’s grass root tactics. If they can be cheerleaders while others are moblizing the masses that is fine with me.

  • I don’t have much use for Yglesias, Drum, guys like that. Wimpy centrists who still don’t realize that the era of “in fairness to” is over. Reid is right and everyone knows it. What’s wrong with saying it out loud?

  • Dump “Together, we can do better.” For starters,
    get on the bandwagon with “Worst. President. Ever.”
    And back it up with a laundry list of atrocities
    committed by Bush, in neat, easy to remember
    slogan style.

    Then add some positive slogans, things the Dems
    will do that Republicans won’t. On health insurance.
    Tax fairness. Environment and global warming.
    Alternative energy. Fiscal responsibility. Iraq.
    Peace (gasp – yes, I think a majority of Americans
    are really sick of war). Living wages. And some
    way to counteract runaway capitalism that is
    destroying the middle class.

    Finally, “Re-elect Al Gore.”

    But let’s get ready to roll out “Worst. President. Ever.”
    It’s powerful, clean, easy to remember. And
    amazingly, it’s true! Can you beat that? A political
    slogan that’s actually true.

  • “What liberals need from progressive politicians isn’t rhetoric that’s pleasing to the ears,” Yglesias said, “but a combination of election strategies likely to win, and policies that will benefit the country.”

    That may be true. But nothing fires up the base and boost morale like a leading Democrat saying what’s been on our minds for a long, long time. The majority in this country thinks Bush is a miserable failure and a liar. It certainly doesn’t hurt the minority party’s chances by pointing it out early and often.

    Plus it just feels good to say it. WORST. PRESIDENT. EVER.

  • Finally, “Re-elect Al Gore.” – hark

    This is where I’m really confounded.

    Gore? Warner? Rudham-Clinton?

    Not Kerry or Lieberman, that’s for sure.

    Edwards? Clark?

    Gore/Clark? Does that work?

    I just hope the Democrats don’t end up tearing each other to part this time. Though I suppose the Republicans have the same problem, and maybe a disinclination to just accept the Washington’s establishment’s direction to back some chosen candidate, after their failure with Bush.

  • I say, GIVE ‘EM HELL, HARRY.

    It’s about time someone on the Dems started giving real –and “aggressive” — voice to what many of us have been feeling for the last five years.

  • First, I agree — strongly – that “We Can Do Better” is an obvious and absolute loser.

    Second, although sound tactics and strategy are important, stoking the emotions of the Democrat base is important. I also think that base should be wider than it is. Personally, I am a centerist with a tilt to the left. I might even be called a “Clintonist.” I firmly believe that the Democrats MUST find a sincere credo that will appeal to a broader range of Americans — a stand that has a direct and personal impact.

    We must recognize that we have our own versions of the Religious Right, and we all have been typecast in the image our extremes. That’s why Republicans win. Joe Sixpack cares about being able to afford his six-pack, not about arcane issues like endangered lizards. That’s just reality.

  • “What liberals need from progressive politicians isn’t rhetoric that’s pleasing to the ears,” Yglesias said, “but a combination of election strategies likely to win, and policies that will benefit the country.”

    Oh no. Rhetoric matters a lot. A good chunk of the liberal’s problems comes from their image as spineless sissies. Tough to sell anything to Middle America when you project an emasculated image.

    Dems need to talk tough, to act tough and to look tough. They need it badly.

  • “…but a combination of election strategies likely to win, and policies that will benefit the country.”

    Does anyone else take issue with the latter part of that statement? We are the minority party. We don’t get to implement our policies. As for the first part of the statement, I agree with others above that this kind of forcefull talk from Dem leaders is part of a successful election strategy.

  • The future Majority Leader of the United States Senate needs to keep this on the front burner. If they want to shatter the credibility of the Republican “base,” then all that has to be done is to align all those “die-hard loyalists” with Kid George’s new nickname:

    COP-OUT.

    Yep—right there it is. No one could get him to own up on the “cop-out” over Katrina’s vicitms in New Orleans—tax-paying citizens…or the “cop-out” over No Child Left Behind’s victims—little kids in elementary schools…but now he’s come out and admitted that his way of “supporting the troops” is to leave them in Iraq until “some future President” decides to bring them home.

    If Harry can play this one to the hilt, he’ll get solid results. And, should Kid George decide that things are just too hot, and changes his mind, he can be stretched out in front of the whole country as being…(drum-roll, please)…”wishy-washy.” Now, THERE’s a title that’ll sink ANY incumbent—and the party that clings to him, as well….

  • Matt’s full of shit. He’s worried about reality? About “policy”??! HEY, WAKE UP! Reality does not get you elected! This is politics, dammit! Rhetoric is everything, attitude, appearances, image, branding, bluster, advertising, sales, mass hypnosis, repeating the same things over and over again until everyone has them memorised.

    Sorry Matt. Your “reality” strategy is a loser. This is America, land of McDonald’s, Pepsi, Coke, Microshaft, and the RIAA/MPAA. Bullshit wins. Bullshit makes the money. Bullshit walks away with the hot chicks. Bullshit is king of America.

    If you don’t learn how to play politics, you’ll never win at it. Policies don’t mean jack shit to anyone except political junkies. Rhetoric, style, image, and bullshit are what wins, what makes money, what gets power. Reid gets it. Howard “I want my country back!” Dean gets it. Bill “It’s the economy, stupid” Clinton got it too.

    Whine all you like about “policies”. Policies lose, again and again. What people want is style, inspiration, emotions to be engaged… this is what gets people up off their ass and to the polls. Not “policies”? Hello? Are you insane?

    Sheesh. The only “reality” that matters on the ground is political organisation, and, again, you need the rhetoric to get people engaged and involved. Nobody cares about your policies. Worry about those after you get elected, *if* you get elected.

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