A Conversation With Harry Reid
[Guest post by DRJ]
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was interviewed yesterday by his hometown newspaper, the Las Vegas Review Journal, and the conversation covered a wide range of topics. Most of it was predictable although a few of his opinions surprised me. For example, even though Reid clearly stated his dislike for John McCain, he defended Lieberman’s planned appearance at the GOP Convention and noted Lieberman is a reliable Democratic vote on social issues:
“He [Lieberman] has a close personal relationship with John McCain. I don’t fully understand why he does,” said Reid, who said Lieberman called Tuesday from the Republic of Georgia to alert him to the move.
“I told him last night, ‘You know, Joe, I can’t stand John McCain.’ He said, ‘I know you feel that way,’ ” Reid said.
But Reid said he would continue to resist calls from the Democratic Party’s base to strip Lieberman, now an independent, of his Senate positions for his disloyalty. “All my close votes, he’s always with me, whether it’s the budget or energy issues,” Reid said. “No matter what it is, he’s always with us. He just does not vote right on Iraq. … Why would I want to throw away a good vote?”
Reid may not be so concerned about Lieberman if the Democrats increase their majority in the Senate this November.
Regarding Obama’s VP choice, Reid said he didn’t know who Obama would chose but he thought Clinton and Richardson might still be in the running. He admitted he had “talked to Obama on quite a few occasions, mostly telling him who I didn’t want.” (I’d love to hear those conversations.)
Reid was enthusiastic about Biden but not-so-effusive about Bayh or Kaine:
“You could take all 100 senators, Democrats and Republicans, and I think they would all agree that the most knowledgeable person on foreign affairs is Joe Biden.”
Reid was less enthusiastic about two others he named as top contenders, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, whom he called “an interesting choice,” and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. Reid noted that Bayh’s father, Birch Bayh, was a senator and saved Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy’s life in a plane crash.”
That’s an interesting comment.
In addition, Reid comes across as wordy and gaffe-prone, and the reporter’s comments suggest this may be normal:
“Talking about Democratic vice presidential candidates, Reid momentarily had trouble keeping them straight.
Reid had just been talking up the credentials of Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., whom he called the “odds-on favorite” to be this year’s running mate, when he pivoted to take a question about Lieberman.
“I have a good relationship with Joe Biden. I have great respect for Joe,” Reid said. “He was driven into some of the positions he’s in because the far left took him on in the primary. … I’ve done a lot to protect Joe Biden.”
Asked whether he meant Lieberman, Reid, whose stream-of-consciousness speaking style often leads to such flubs, corrected himself.
During the hourlong colloquy, Reid also forgot the name of former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, a Democratic Senate candidate, and the Title IX legislation giving women access to school sports programs.”
No wonder Reid likes Biden. They are loquacious soul-mates.
– DRJ
Did they ask him about our loss in Iraq?
Comment by Apogee — 8/21/2008 @ 5:18 pm
“They are loquacious soul-mates.”
I’m sorry, DRJ, does that translate to “blithering idiots” ?
Comment by SPQR — 8/21/2008 @ 6:13 pm
SPQR,
Harry Reid is Senate Majority Leader and his job is to work with other Senators and US leaders whether he likes them or not. It’s ridiculous for an adult to gossip like a schoolgirl about his dislike for another Senator, let alone share that with the press.
It isn’t that politics has become too partisan. The problem is that politics has become too juvenile. Grow up, Senator Reid.
Comment by DRJ — 8/21/2008 @ 6:31 pm
This is funny: Joe Biden, we are told, “… can address two of Obama’s biggest weaknesses — his lack of experience, especially on world affairs, and his reluctance to go on the attack.”
So Biden will be the experience and the strong arm Obama needs but then Harry Reid tells us, “He [Biden] was driven into some of the positions he’s in because the far left took him on in the primary. … I’ve done a lot to protect Joe Biden.”
Shouldn’t Obama then be looking at Reid as a veep?
Comment by Dana — 8/21/2008 @ 6:33 pm
The comments on the papers article are interesting. Overwhelmingly negative about dingy harry in a Nevada paper.
Comment by Paul — 8/21/2008 @ 6:34 pm
Harry Reid, however dull that he is, does do one thing well, and that’s keep the Democrat Party senators in line. Plus, he comes across in the media as a doddering uncle. Who could get mad at him or belief his false claims of wrath?
Comment by steve miller — 8/21/2008 @ 6:38 pm
John Mccain is among the most courteous and respectful Republicans when it comes to working with Democrats. He has a temper, but he usually reserves it for other Republicans who aren’t trying as hard to compromise.
If Reid can’t stand Mccain, Reid can’t stand any Republican. It’s that simple. And it’s why the Republicans still rule congress, more or less, even without much actual voting power. Democrats in congress are not as united as Republicans, and Pelosi and Reid are why.
Now, I also doubt all Republicans senators think so much of Biden. he’s a proven liar, and I doubt he knows much at all about foreign policy.
Comment by Juan — 8/21/2008 @ 6:40 pm
Dana #4:
Not absolutely sure, but I think that was an example of Reid misspeaking: I think he was really referring to Lieberman there.
Comment by EW1(SG) — 8/21/2008 @ 6:42 pm
Actually, the only reason Reid keeps getting elected is Las Vegas… Pretty much the rest of the state can’t stand him…
Comment by Scott Jacobs — 8/21/2008 @ 6:45 pm
Hey Juan~ I did see your note about comment spam, it may be that I hadn’t really noticed because my wife hasn’t allowed me to spend much time unsupervised in the blogosphere lately.
Comment by EW1(SG) — 8/21/2008 @ 6:45 pm
#8, I was mostly being sarcastic - I read the interview at the link in its entirety and thought it Reid was rather disjointed and difficult to follow…. but it did strike me as funny to think of Dingy Harry protecting anyone in light of picturing Biden as O’s watchdog…. I’m obviously a bit too easily amused….
Comment by Dana — 8/21/2008 @ 7:02 pm
#8, I was mostly being sarcastic - I read the interview at the link in its entirety and found Reid rather disjointed and difficult to follow…. but it did strike me as funny to think of Dingy Harry protecting anyone in light of picturing Biden as O’s watchdog…. I’m obviously a bit too easily amused….
Comment by Dana — 8/21/2008 @ 7:03 pm
In Reid’s last election, he declined to identify himself as a Dem. His billboards on highways featured his grinning countenance 10 or 12 feet high, but had no room for party affiliation. Reid got elected the old fashion way, he fooled the voters.
Comment by Ropelight — 8/22/2008 @ 8:24 am
Don’t know about this particular reporter, but the LVJR is editorially a very conservative, if not libertarian, paper.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/22/2008 @ 8:35 am
Opps, LVRJ - not LVJR.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/22/2008 @ 8:35 am
Reid is not all bad. As a good Mormon he voted for DOMA and the partial-birth abortion ban and the Patriot Act; he is pro- Death Penalty and against nearly-unlimited appeals in death penalty cases.
Of course, the list of issues where he is dead wrong is much longer.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/22/2008 @ 8:44 am
Yes, he’s just another corrupt, money grubber, who happens to be on the correct side on a few, high-profile issues.
Good Old Real-Estate Harry - Searchlight’s own dim-bulb!
Comment by Another Drew — 8/22/2008 @ 8:55 am
Reid noted that Bayh’s father, Birch Bayh, was a senator and saved Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy’s life in a plane crash.”
I wonder if it stung Ted Kennedy’s conscience to have to say to another person, “You saved my life.”
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/22/2008 @ 9:05 am
Only if the plane crashed into a body of water.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/22/2008 @ 9:07 am