Reuters Article

[quote]Reid Calls on Bush to Repudiate Attack on Him

Mon Feb 7, 2005 08:21 PM ET

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - <snip>U.S. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid hit back at the Republican Party on Monday for targeting him with an attack reminiscent of one used to help oust his predecessor, Tom Daschle.

Standing in the `Republican-led` Senate, Reid called on President Bush personally to repudiate and pull "a hit piece" against him by the Republican National Committee.

"What they want to do is just like (what) they did to Daschle," Reid said.

Republicans last year effectively branded Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat, as a "chief obstructionist" to Bush's agenda on Capitol Hill and persuaded his constituents to vote him out of office.

Daschle had served in the Senate for 18 years, his last 10 as Democratic leader. <snip>

[IMG]http://wwwi.reuters.com/images/w148/amdf852055.jpg[/IMG]

© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.

They are going after Reid because his voice is being heard. The only way they can get Social Security passed is to get rid of him. Senator Reid has credibility and they are beginning their assault. Keith Olbermann said so, too, tonight - even comparing this to the Swift Boat campaign against Kerry.

Senator Reid was magnificent as he held up the RNC letter from the Senate floor and spoke about this unethical assault on his character. He also assailed Bush for not seeking out `bi-partisan` support in the Senate. He was great.

Go, Harry, GO!! I think we should start a petition of support! Sirius, what do you think? What do you suggest? I think we need to start this now. :idea:

I think we need to do everything we can to show support for all democrats...especially those that are targeted, like Reid. If we want them to continue to stand up for us, we have to make them feel as safe as possible doing so.

I think he is doing the right thing by tossing this garbage right back into the heap that it came from...the RNC. I can't believe that after awhile people won't be tired of hearing this crap....I heard on CNN this evening that Reid and his wife were supposed to dine at the White House tonight...THAT should be very interesting.

[quote=suswah]<snip>
Go, Harry, GO!! I think we should start a petition of support! Sirius, what do you think? What do you suggest? I think we need to start this now. :idea: [/color]

Well, personally I'm all for it. Do some of us want to work on this as a project? If we want to do it as a JREG project, we'd have to have a vote on it. Or some of us could just work on it independently and then post the link here. I'm OK at writing petitions, but I seem to be not too great at publicizing them. I've done a couple and neither got as many signatures as I was hoping for.

I can't promise a whole lot, but I just asked my husband if he would be willing to put up a site for a petition....he said he and my daughter could probably get one up in the next couple of days....

What exactly would we want the body of the petition to say?

Here is a place you can post your petition for free Petition Site -- You just sign up and follow the instructions to post a petion.

[quote=sirius][quote=suswah]<snip>
Go, Harry, GO!! I think we should start a petition of support! Sirius, what do you think? What do you suggest? I think we need to start this now. :idea: [/color]

Well, personally I'm all for it. Do some of us want to work on this as a project? If we want to do it as a JREG project, we'd have to have a vote on it. Or some of us could just work on it independently and then post the link here. I'm OK at writing petitions, but I seem to be not too great at publicizing them. I've done a couple and neither got as many signatures as I was hoping for.[/quote]

Do you think we should contact the DNC? Maybe they are already planning something? We could publish Harry Reid's office number as an Action Item and ask everyone to call in tomorrow to support him.

In addition, how about placing calls to Frist's office asking him to please call off the witch hunt?

`C-Span` aired Reid's speech today and I really enjoyed it. He reminds me of Mr. Rodgers but he's tough. We need to give him back up and all others who stand up for us. I loved the way he took this attack right back to Bush, that's exactly what all them should do. The White House tonight, wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall... :shock:

[quote=Teresa22]In addition, how about placing calls to Frist's office asking him to please call off the witch hunt?[/quote]

I like this one even better!! :!: I really hope the DNC is planning something. We should probably check their Web site and stay tuned to what may be in the works. CNN is calling this a "brawl" and that Reid is afraid of being "Daschleized."

[quote=suswah][quote=Teresa22]In addition, how about placing calls to Frist's office asking him to please call off the witch hunt?[/quote]

I like this one even better!! :!: I really hope the DNC is planning something. We should probably check their Web site and stay tuned to what may be in the works. CNN is calling this a "brawl" and that Reid is afraid of being "Daschleized."

Maybe we should expand that and ask everyone to call all of their Republican Senators and/or Representatives and make a complaint....these people are supposed to be representing us, too....not just the republicans who voted for them.

[quote=ncMindy]`C-Span` aired Reid's speech today and I really enjoyed it. He reminds me of Mr. Rodgers but he's tough. We need to give him back up and all others who stand up for us. I loved the way he took this attack right back to Bush, that's exactly what all them should do. The White House tonight, wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall... :shock:[/quote]

Yes. Harry Reid is like Mr. Rodgers. And he was very direct in his criticism on the Senate floor. No mincing words.

Don't just go the Seators. barrage the White house with phone calls and `e-mails` telling President Bush to Repudiate the ad and call on Ken Mehlman the Chair to pull it from the airwaves.

[quote=Teresa22][quote=suswah][quote=Teresa22]In addition, how about placing calls to Frist's office asking him to please call off the witch hunt?[/quote]

I like this one even better!! :!: I really hope the DNC is planning something. We should probably check their Web site and stay tuned to what may be in the works. CNN is calling this a \"brawl\" and that Reid is afraid of being \"Daschleized.\"

Maybe we should expand that and ask everyone to call all of their Republican Senators and/or Representatives and make a complaint....these people are supposed to be representing us, too....not just the republicans who voted for them.[/quote]

Excellent point. I could certainly call my 2 (Republican) senators. So, maybe this should be our Action Item with a link to all the Republican Senators contact information.

[quote=judykratochvil]Don't just go the Seators. barrage the White house with phone calls and `e-mails` telling President Bush to Repudiate the ad and call on Ken Mehlman the Chair to pull it from the airwaves.[/quote]

Good idea, Judy! Actually Ken Mehlman was quoted on CNN as saying the campaign was going forward no matter what Harry Reid thought. :evil:

So that contact list should include the White House AND the RNC. :!:

I have two Republican Senators, too, and both are considered "moderates" who are possibly unlikely to back Bush's Social Security plan....maybe this would give them some backbone to fight that battle as well.

[quote=suswah][quote=judykratochvil]Don't just go the Seators. barrage the White house with phone calls and `e-mails` telling President Bush to Repudiate the ad and call on Ken Mehlman the Chair to pull it from the airwaves.[/quote]

Good idea, Judy! Actually Ken Mehlman was quoted on CNN as saying the campaign was going forward no matter what Harry Reid thought. :evil:

So that contact list should include the White House AND the RNC. :!:

Thank you.
Here os the information.

President George W. Bush: president@whitehouse.gov
Vice President Richard Cheney: vice.president@whitehouse.gov

Webform: https://sawho14.eop.gov/PERSdata/intro.htm

RNC Chair `E-mial`: Chairman@gop.com

[quote=judykratochvil][quote=suswah][quote=judykratochvil]Don't just go the Seators. barrage the White house with phone calls and `e-mails` telling President Bush to Repudiate the ad and call on Ken Mehlman the Chair to pull it from the airwaves.[/quote]

Good idea, Judy! Actually Ken Mehlman was quoted on CNN as saying the campaign was going forward no matter what Harry Reid thought. :evil:

So that contact list should include the White House AND the RNC. :!:

Thank you.
Here os the information.

President George W. Bush: president@whitehouse.gov
Vice President Richard Cheney: vice.president@whitehouse.gov

Webform: https://sawho14.eop.gov/PERSdata/intro.htm

RNC Chair `E-mial`: Chairman@gop.com[/quote]

Judy, what is the Webform address?

[quote=suswah][quote=judykratochvil][quote=suswah][quote=judykratochvil]Don't just go the Seators. barrage the White house with phone calls and `e-mails` telling President Bush to Repudiate the ad and call on Ken Mehlman the Chair to pull it from the airwaves.[/quote]

Good idea, Judy! Actually Ken Mehlman was quoted on CNN as saying the campaign was going forward no matter what Harry Reid thought. :evil:

So that contact list should include the White House AND the RNC. :!:

Thank you.
Here os the information.

President George W. Bush: president@whitehouse.gov
Vice President Richard Cheney: vice.president@whitehouse.gov

Webform: https://sawho14.eop.gov/PERSdata/intro.htm

RNC Chair `E-mial`: Chairman@gop.com[/quote]

Judy, what is the Webform address?

Actually it is better to use the `e-mail` addresses then the webform because you will get confirmation that the whjitehouse recived your note. The webform also does not have a subject line for your topic.

Thanks, Judy. Everyone - if you have any additional ideas, please let me know.

[quote=suswah]Thanks, Judy. Everyone - if you have any additional ideas, please let me know.

YOu are so welcome.

I want to comment on something real quick. All of this talk about starting petitions and what not. Maybe this is why the Democratic party is in the shape it is in today? I mean petitions are great and everything but the `neo-cons` don't even listen to military advisers, what makes you think they will listen to a piece of paper with some names on it? And petitions give us the appearance that we are whining about what the Republicans are doing. Whenever you see a Democrat attack a Republican, the Republican never goes out and starts a petition. He/she hits back twice as hard. Maybe we should start hitting back...

I think the value of petitions is that they give the democrats the necessary backbone to stand up....without knowing they have alot of support behind them they tend to cave. Ofcourse, the neocons don't care, but my two Republican Senators might think twice about using similar tactics in my state if enough people register their dislike. They haven't had alot of democratic competition, so they do rely on many democrats voting for them to stay in office. Not that I am one of them....but, it doesn't hurt to let them think that maybe they will loose some of the moderate support that they need. Ofcourse, both are whats now considered moderates anyway, but they might need some backbone, too.

As to fighting back...what are your suggestions? I think we do have to think about doing some things that we might have once considered beneath us...and encouraging democrats to do the same. Sometimes you just gotta fight fire with fire. Maybe we are way too interested in being fair to those who would just as soon see us off the face of the earth.

I'm not suggesting that we stoop to their level or do anything "immoral." But look at what Reid just did. He called the Republican party "deconstructionists." I think that is called fighting back. Daschle never did anything like that and quite frankly neither did Kerry in the election. Yes I know it is similiar to petty name calling, but that is what people listen to and understand and that is the only way we're going to get strength back in the party, in my opinion.

[quote=William477]I'm not suggesting that we stoop to their level or do anything "immoral." But look at what Reid just did. He called the Republican party "deconstructionists." I think that is called fighting back. Daschle never did anything like that and quite frankly neither did Kerry in the election. Yes I know it is similiar to petty name calling, but that is what people listen to and understand and that is the only way we're going to get strength back in the party, in my opinion.[/quote]

I couldn't agree more....and when someone, such as Reid, actually speaks up I think we need to let them know that we are behind them. Positive `re-enforcement`, you know? Let them know when we approve of them, not just contact them when we have something to complain about.

I am beginning to really have a good opinion of Harry Reid...he is understated enough that when he says something it really packs a punch. Name calling is when thats all you offer, calling a spade a spade is just telling the plain truth....and I think there are many people who will respond to it. I, too, kept waiting for Kerry to do this during the campaign.

[quote=William477]I'm not suggesting that we stoop to their level or do anything "immoral." But look at what Reid just did. He called the Republican party "deconstructionists." I think that is called fighting back. Daschle never did anything like that and quite frankly neither did Kerry in the election. Yes I know it is similiar to petty name calling, but that is what people listen to and understand and that is the only way we're going to get strength back in the party, in my opinion.[/quote]

You are right, William! I think Harry Reid is using much stronger language than Daschle did. And a petition is simply a written reminder that there are some people out here who don't agree with the present administration - especially since we don't have a bully pulpit. You fight with what you've got. And a petition is just one tool.

By the way, I called Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's (`R-Texas`) office here in Dallas yesterday. I told her staff person (in a very calm way) that I was concerned about the RNC attack on Senator Reid. She was VERY attentive. And let me express myself thoroughly. Making phone calls is very important and does make a difference.

We should all call our local Republican reps and express our concerns about the unethical RNC practices! :!:

[quote=suswah]
We should all call our local Republican reps and express our concerns about the unethical RNC practices! :!: [/color]

I would if I had any Republican reps, but come to think of it, thank God I don't!

[quote=sirius][quote=suswah]
We should all call our local Republican reps and express our concerns about the unethical RNC practices! :!: [/color]

I would if I had any Republican reps, but come to think of it, thank God I don't![/quote]

I don't have any local ones, but two at the state level....and I think this is important because I firmly believe that we have to start getting back to the idea that elected officials are accoutable to all...not just those that voted for them. Maybe thats part of the problem....they haven't heard enough direct opposition. I can't help but think it would give some pause to many of them...especially on issues like Social Security where there isn't alot of real support for their party's position.

Petitions are valuable because they allow us to voice our opinion as a group and groups do have more power than indiviidual.

I may not agree with Sen. Reid, but I respect him.

Well, I am surrounded on all sides by Republicans. So, I could spend a week calling every one of them in the state. :shock:

This seems silly and a little `tame-calling` him an obstructionist and publicizing votes of his that they disagree with? Opposition leaders in the Senate have probably been called "obstructionists" since the beginning of the Republic(certainly as long as I can `remember-several` Republicans during the Clinton years).

And there is truth to their `claim-Reid` is blocking a lot of stuff that the Republicans want to ram through.

I think the only solution is for Reid to rise above the petty name calling and laugh it off. He should publicly tell the Republicans that he would love to negotiate these bills with them but that he was not going to be steamrolled. Use their petty attack to make them look bad, but don't sink to their level. I would rather the Democrats look like statesmen than whiners and victims.

[quote=Tago45]This seems silly and a little `tame-calling` him an obstructionist and publicizing votes of his that they disagree with? Opposition leaders in the Senate have probably been called "obstructionists" since the beginning of the Republic(certainly as long as I can `remember-several` Republicans during the Clinton years).

And there is truth to their `claim-Reid` is blocking a lot of stuff that the Republicans want to ram through.

I think the only solution is for Reid to rise above the petty name calling and laugh it off. He should publicly tell the Republicans that he would love to negotiate these bills with them but that he was not going to be steamrolled. Use their petty attack to make them look bad, but don't sink to their level. I would rather the Democrats look like statesmen than whiners and victims.[/quote]

Laugh it off?

No. Bullies just keep picking on you if you "laugh it off." Make no mistake...the RNC are the worst kind of bullies.

You deal with bullies by hitting them harder than they hit you. The RNC obviously fears Harry Reid. He should confirm their fear.

Whack 'em, Harry.

I"m sorry....but we do have to learn to hit back hard, and I don't see Harry Reid as "whining"....and he has made statements to the effect that he will work with them when something is presented in which some common ground might be found. As to "laughing it off" and "being bigger"? Isn't that exactly what Kerry attempted to do during the campaign? If democrats have a problem it is that attitude...that we are just sooo far above the fray that we had rather sink than fight for ourselves. Time to get over it.

I don't see Reid as a whiner. I was referring my statements to other democrats who believe all we should do is sign our name to a petition(not directing that at anyone here because there is only so much we can do as bloggers). I believe that Reid, Dean, and Edwards will help make the Democratic party great again

Ok, I guess it's in the water in WI - but here goes. I agree with Tago on several points.

First, I work in a very, very obscene place where top management thinks NOTHING of calling their employees obscene names and yelling at them at the top of thier lungs. I have seen grown men who fear losing their job nod thier heads in agreement when they are called an obscene name -- sue 'em you say? They laugh and talk about how deep thier pockets are....

They started in on me about a week ago calling me a 4 letter word of the female anatomy starting with a 'c'....I calmly looked at the name caller (Pres of the co) and told him that when he was ready to behave and speak as an adult I would be back. Until then, I would be at my desk, The ranting and screaming that ensued and the language out of his mouth would have made a sailor cringe....at least what I heard while I was walking out of the room.

I still have my job and guess what, they don't yell at me anymore. I get acknowledged with a friendly good morning or how are you today.....but, that will all stop soon as I have a new job!!!!!! Just gotta make it 2 more weeks!!!

I am rather afraid to give my notice but hey...

Bottom line, this isn't the world of 'if you can't lick 'em, join 'em' even as much as the bushies would like it to be.

Sometimes you can get a lot more flies with sugar than vinegar and while I absolutely detest the repub tactics, I think it's time to just show the world what a bunch they really are and that is why I posted the article from Arianna the other day.

I think Dr. Dean will bring a civility back all the while showing them for thier true colors.

Hitting a bully just angers him and he just hits you harder the next time has always been my experience (and yes, I've hit a few and sorry to say, they smacked my a** back but good! LOL!!) BTW, I sent Sen Reid and my senators a nice letter telling them I fully supported them in exposing the tactics. I also signed a petition I got in the email.

With all due respect, we've been playing the "nice guy" role for the past 10 years and look at where it has gotten us. Politics are totally different from individual affairs. In politics you have to get a entire crowd to believe you and your cause whereas in a individual affair you have to only convince the bully to leave you alone. Many voters are not very smart(yes I know yall we call that elitist, but it is true and you know it) and all they understand is "fighting words." Unless the Democrats start creating more Democrats from the 50% of americans that do not vote, then we are going to have to start fighting back harder than we are. Simply saying George Bush is a liar is not going to cut it, anymore.

If you read Arianna's article, it says everything I feel.

She has some great ideas for combatting this stuff and I hope Dean listens to her.

If you have read some of my previous posts, you know exactly how I feel about this stuff...and there is a time and a place.

There is a huge difference between beligerence and sticking up for one's self....I don't think anyone here is advocating the former, and I have seen nothing from any democrat that approaches it....I am, however, seeing democrats starting to stick up for themselves, and to that, I say, its about time.

Congratulations on your new job, RL! :!: Why can't you sue for sexual harrassment? From what you have described, isn't it a "slam dunk"?

And about fighting back - I think Harry is "speaking up." If the words are chosen carefully, or `re-framed` correctly, there is power in that. Lots of power. So, Democrats must be smarter and wiser than Republicans- we need to "listen" because they are using words carefully to control the message.

Democrats must expose Republicans' manipulative use of symbols and study how they are doing this. It's their weapon. Listen to any of the radio talk jocks any day of the week and you will hear the repetition of a particular theme. Hannity's opening theme song, "Independence Day" by Martina McBride followed by "O Fortuna" (O Fortune) from The Carmina Burana are both excellent examples of starting the show with democracy and religion themes.

And aren't these the primary themes that the Republican Party wants to hammer into everyone's brain cells? I will say that people are so emotionally aroused by these anthems that they are just putty in his hands after they are played every day.

The funny thing is, he sets up the idea that he and Republicans KNOW all about democracy and religion AND more important to this - Democrats DON'T. The fact that so many people buy into this premise is the really scary part. But to get them to bond with this idea, he tells them how smart they are over and over and over. And over. AND he has this cute thing, when they call in, he tells them they are a GREAT American. And they tell him HE's a great American. And then they both agree that Democrats are NOT great Americans. They are in fact, LIBERALS - the lowest form of life.

And then everyone is happy because they have played their little game and believe in their hearts that they have achieved immortality by bashing anyone who doesn't agree with Bush.

I apologize for this discussion of Hannity. He had Rove on today - that's enough said. :roll:

RL, can you repost the article you are referring to here?

I'm so informed I can hardly watch FOX at all anymore. It's total propaganda directed at enforcing the Bush policy, making good into bad.
IMO, Reid did exactly the right thing - he stood up for himself. I know the Repubs are afraid of Reid because I did see FOX do a spot on Reid and then mention he had dinner with the Prez that night.

This is a very good article about Reid, may be a little dated but it helped me as I knew nothing about the guy. I'm going to post it here for all to read because I think after, you will know Reid knows exactly what he is doing. Like the DU said...get ready to rumble.

[quote]Harry Reid Is Not Boring
Has Scorsese fictionalized your U.S. senator?

By Chris Suellentrop
Posted Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004, at 5:51 PM PT

http://slate.msn.com/id/2111392#ContinueArticle
[/quote]
[quote]And here's another story from Reid's tenure as chairman of the gaming commission: A man named Jack Gordon, who later married LaToya Jackson, tried to give Reid a $12,000 bribe. Reid let the FBI videotape Gordon offering him the bribe, and then, according to a Las Vegas `Review-Journal` account, he "put his hands around Gordon's neck and said, 'You son of a bitch, you tried to bribe me.'" That's right, Senate Democrats are being led by a man who once tried to strangle LaToya Jackson's future `husband-manager`. You call that boring?[/quote]

Me thinks, I like this guy!

Has anyone actually seen the article in question? I think it is very tame! Most of it is just lists of his votes, and the main charge is that he is obstructing the GOP agenda. It says that Reid voted against Bush's tax cuts. They found a quote of Reid supporting partially privatizing Social Security, which I guess he wouldn't want people to read.

Is it really any different than this? http://www.democrats.org/specialreports/ch...cord/index.html Shall we start a petition against the DNC?

I don't understand all this stuff about a "personal attack." It makes Reid and the Democrats look exceptionally `thin-skinned`.


[quote]Isn't that exactly what Kerry attempted to do during the campaign?[/quote]

He just tried to ignore it. Here is in interesting piece from that Newsweek postmortem of the campaign: "John Edwards, on the other hand, was able to deftly redirect the question back to Cheney's draft status during the Vietnam War. Questioned about Kerry's medals by `talk-show` host Don Imus, Edwards shot back with a laugh, "Five deferrals, and you're asking me about John Kerry?"

I think this should be the level of Reid's `response-go` on Chris Matthews with a few clever `one-liners`.

I think most people, certainly myself, are tired of the partisan bickering in Washington. That is one of the reasons that they don't pay attention. There always has been and always will be a certain amount of partisan bickering, but whenever we can, we should seek to minimize it, not "hit back harder."

[quote]I think Dr. Dean will bring a civility back[/quote]

Now that is original!

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