November 4, 2004
LEADERLESS:
Dodd clears path for Reid: Crushed Senate Democrats seek to regroup swiftly after Daschle’s defeat (Geoff Earle, 11/04/04, The Hill)
Reid’s bid for leader opens up a race for party whip that could expose deep ideological rifts within the party and provide a forum for reexamining Kerry’s defeat.Squaring off will be Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Sen. Byron Dorgan (N.D.), who chairs the Democratic Policy Committee. Although both men are well-respected in the caucus, some critics have said Dorgan is haunted by the same liability as Daschle: He represents a conservative state that could hinder his dual role as a party leader.
“Why would we vote in another Dakotan to be in leadership right now to be in a solidly red state?” one Senate Democratic aide asked. “There’s still simmering bad feelings because Dorgan voted for the Medicare bill, and nobody’s forgotten. That’s two big strikes against him.”
One Democratic Senate aide, who also spoke highly of Reid, said Durbin is “sharp, savvy [and] thinks well on his feet.” Another aide said the party would do well to elect either of them.
Some aides speculated that centrists and liberals alike would enthusiastically back Reid because of his work ethic during his tenure as whip — even though he is to the right of some Eastern liberals. But the party’s liberal wing then might try to assert its influence in the whip’s race by backing Durbin over Dorgan.
Typically an eminence grise is behind the scenes, but Democrats will continue to offer a public face of gray men and unacceptable liberal lightning rods. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 4, 2004 12:32 PM
I don't know much about Reid. From a very, very cursory glance at his voting record, he appears to be a relatively moderate Dem. Is that incorrect? Or were you referring to Durbin?
Posted by: Timothy at November 4, 2004 1:57 PMReid is as liberal as necessary to be leader of the Democrats. In other words he can be a raving commie if necessary and don't you forget it.
Posted by: h-man at November 4, 2004 2:08 PMTimothy:
The point is that he's the second ranking Democrat in the Senateb now and you know nothing about him. He's a cipher.
Posted by: oj at November 4, 2004 2:09 PMThat's certainly true. I'm just trying to look at this in terms of the coming battle between the Dean liberals, the Lieberman moderates and the Edwards opportunists. Reid falls in one of the two latter categories, I imagine.
Posted by: Timothy at November 4, 2004 2:22 PMI don't know much about Reid, he is a Mormon, having joined the church while attending my alma mater, Utah State.
He has to do the typical dance of a pro-life Democrat, and represent the interests of the gambling industry as well, while still attracting enough votes from Mormons and other conservatives to get reelected.
Posted by: Jason Johnson at November 4, 2004 2:38 PMHarry is the perfect weasel replacement for Tommy D. He has no other philosophy than "keep gettin' reelected". Meanwhile, his sons' lawfirms continue to fatten in Vegas. Although every Nevada politician has to dance to the industry's tune, Reid is big enough now to be a junior partner rather than just a hireling.
Posted by: ed at November 4, 2004 3:06 PMSo you are saying Reid is really the Senator in "The Godfather: Part 2"?
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at November 4, 2004 3:18 PMOkay, I'll ask it. What does "eminence grise" mean?
Posted by: Brandon at November 4, 2004 3:18 PMThe reincarnation of Pat McCarran.
Posted by: ed at November 4, 2004 3:45 PMReid has been annoyingly partisan and I can't see him as the face the Dems want on national TV. He's sure to alienate pro-choice womyn too.
Posted by: Bart at November 4, 2004 3:53 PMEminence grise is "gray eminence" - an elderly, statesmen who is the power behind the throne and not seen by the public.
Durbin would be a good fit for minority leader. He has a safe seat in a blue state, fairly moderate, and very sharp. But then again, I'll support almost anything that boosts my old homestate of IL.
Posted by: Chris Durnell at November 4, 2004 4:06 PMSince Dick Durbin was the man who beat Paul Findley for Congress, I'll always have a soft spot for him.
Posted by: Bart at November 4, 2004 4:52 PMDurbin is one of the Judiciary Committee obstructionists. Reid followed Daschle's lead on the filibusters, and it looks like he will reveal where he stands when the Senate takes up judicial nominations in January/February. If he allows filibusters, then write him off. But if not, perhaps he will be different.
Posted by: jim hamlen at November 4, 2004 10:21 PM