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Reid Endorses July 1 Ultimatum For Super-Delegates
Howard Dean's call for super-delegates to declare their preferences by July 1 has just gotten a very high-profile endorsement: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
"I like that — July 1 or before," Reid told Roll Call. When asked what he would do to encourage the plan, Reid answered simply: "I just did it."
Reid told the Las Vegas Review-Journal last week that he'd been talking to Dean about how to avoid a bloody convention fight — begging the question as to whether he'd already agreed with Dean in private that this would be a good way to go.
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Of course they discussed it. I'd be shocked if Madame Speaker wasn't in on it, either.
With no real "head of the party," now that Bill Clinton has a horse in the race, this is the real leadership of the party: Pelosi, Reid, and Dean, for better or for worse.
Personally, the Dems could do a WHOLE LOT worse than those three, though I am not a fan of Mr. Leader.
April 1, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
With all due respect and deep appreciation of your service, 'Speaker Pelosi' is sufficient a reference, that is if you don't want to wear your misogyny on your sleeve.
April 1, 2008 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think he's referring to Harry Reid here, not Pelosi...
April 1, 2008 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm pretty certain "Madame Speaker" refers to Speaker Pelosi. The reference to Senate Majority Leader Reid as "Mr. Leader" is also a little weird though. These people work for us, no need to aggrandise or slight them.
April 1, 2008 6:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
So if I call Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter "Mr. President" am I slighting him or aggrandizing him? I just want to make sure so I can avoid being sexist or acting inappropriately towards someone who worked for me.
April 1, 2008 7:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Snark if you want but ask yourself: who other than House colleagues refer to Speaker Pelosi, in the third person no less, as Madame?
April 1, 2008 9:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Only people who hate women, if one was to believe you. I think that's a ridiculous assumption to make.
April 1, 2008 10:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think "Madame Speaker" is an appropriate reference, though certainly not required for a blogger, and as we like to spice up our writings more interesting than repeating "Ms. Pelosi", "Mr. Reid", "Ms. Pelosi", "Mr. Reid" ad nauseum.
The proper term for Reid is "Senator Majority Leader Reid", which is about as palatable as The Redundant Department of Redundancy Department.
April 2, 2008 5:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good.
April 1, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
The more they pile on, the more stubborn Hillary will be. She's angry, and she's lashing out. She's being a bitch (excuse my French), she knows she's being a bitch, and she's enjoying being a bitch. This is Joe Lieberman all over again.
April 1, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about defining "bitch" and why being stubborn and wanting to hold on to a well-earned chance to be President fits your definition or even puts her in the league with Lieberman.
Lieberman lost the primary and ran as an independent.
Obama oddly enough has not pulled enough delegates and superdelegates together to clinch the nomination. Is it too much to ask that he fulfill that basic obvious step before calling Hillary anything except "Madame Candidate"?
April 2, 2008 6:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
I still predict the majority of supers will declare on June 4th, after all the primaries are finished.
No real reason to wait until July.
April 1, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, me too. Similarly, I think the trickle of SDs choosing Obama is going to continue, unabated, as it has since Feb. 5th. No reason to think otherwise, especially after the reactions of certain SDs post March 4th.
And if this causes the Democratic Party to mobilize everyone for the primary fight in every state, it might actually be a good thing. Personally, I think deciding the merits of HRC's actions vis a vis the Democratic Party as a whole is a judgment that can only be made in hindsight.
And, since I don't believe anyone on this site is a Democratic SuperDelegate, we should probably focus on watching the show and commenting on the candidates, their tactics, and their policies. Strategy in politics, much like strategy in warfare, is something that can only be analyzed after the fact.
See: "The Anaconda Plan" circa 1862.
April 1, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree.
I also think we'll start to see groups of superdelegates supporting their candidates. Unless Hillary bucks the trend and begins building on her Pennsylvania lead, Obama will continue to collect those supers at a higer rate.
April 1, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Personally, the Dems could do a WHOLE LOT worse than those three, though I am not a fan of Mr. Leader.
Yeah, I'd be worried if Howard Dean wasn't in there, but given that he is, I'm fine.
April 1, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
July 1 does not give Hillary much time to steal and loot the election to over-ride the candidate chosen by the voters. She needs more time. This must be all part of a right-wing conspiracy.
April 1, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wish Harry would pay more attention to getting things done in the Senate rather than the Presidential race. Lame Duck President has been kicking his ASS!
April 1, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Let me tell you something. When it comes to finishing the fight, Rocky and I have a lot in common. I never quit," Clinton said.
Does someone want to tell Sen. Clinton that Rocky lost in the first movie?
April 1, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stephen Colbert compared Bush to Rocky during the white house press dinner.
"...Look, folks, my point is that I don't believe this is a low point in this presidency. I believe it is just a lull before a comeback. I mean, it's like the movie Rocky. Alright? The President, in this case, is Rocky Balboa, and Apollo Creed is everything else in the world. It's the tenth round. He's bloodied. His corner man, Mick, who in this case, I guess, would be the Vice President, he's yelling, "Cut me, Dick, cut me!" And every time he falls, everyone says, "Stay down, Rocky! Stay down!" But does he stay down? No. Like Rocky, he gets back up, and in the end he -- actually loses in the first movie. Okay, doesn't matter. Doesn’t matter.
The point is it is the heart-warming story of a man who was repeatedly punched in the face,..."
April 1, 2008 11:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
So he came back and won in the second movie, and Sylvester Stallone became one of the most successful and best paid actors/directors/studios of all time.
"Unlike the first match, Apollo gets off to a fast start, flooring Rocky twice in the first two rounds and building a huge lead on the scorecards as the fight goes on. But throughout the fight, Rocky pounds away at Apollo on and off, turning the fight into a brutal battle. At the start of the fifteenth round, Apollo's trainer begs him not to try to go for a knockout, as he can win simply by avoiding Rocky. Apollo, desperately wanting to prove he can knock out Rocky and frustrated that he keeps coming back, disregards the advice. Mickey tells Rocky to switch back to boxing left handed now, and although Rocky initially refuses, he switches back, landing several crashing lefts. Rocky hits Apollo with a final punch that knocks him down, but from sheer exhaustion, Rocky also goes down to the canvas. The referee starts the final ten-count as the fighters struggle to their feet.
As a beaten and exhausted Apollo slumps to a corner, Rocky grabs the top rope and picks himself up at the count of 9, and is declared the new Heavyweight Champion of the World. In his post-match speech, he thanks Apollo for another hard-fought battle and Mickey for training him before shouting, "Yo, Adrian! I did it!"
April 2, 2008 6:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is really good news. Wish Reid had this kind of back bone on other matters (FISA, etc.), but I take this.
April 1, 2008 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
What makes you think that when D-Day arrives, Harry will do anything other than fold up the tent?
April 1, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree with SCMadden and Angry Vet, above, although I rather like the sound of May 7 -- at dawn, preferably.
April 1, 2008 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you shitting me?
So all the Reps. on the floor of the House are mysognists because that's how they address when she is holding the gavel?
April 1, 2008 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
that's still too long IMHO
April 1, 2008 6:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I WANT TO FIX HILLARY CLINTON FOR STAYING WITH BILL WHEN SHE SHOULD HAVE DIVORCED HIM OVER:
1. HIS ANTIMASTURBATION
2. HIS CHEATING ADULTERY
ALSO IM AGAINST HER NOT LISTENING TO ME ABOUT VOTING AGAINST THE ANTI POKER BILL (PHONE CALLS, LETTERS) AND RECEIVING FUNDING FROM HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY OVERCHARGING AND AGE DISCRIMINATING. I ALSO BELIEVE LIKE JOE LIEBERMAN THAT BILL CLINTON SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED AFTER ILLEGALLY CHEATING ON HIS WIFE.
April 1, 2008 7:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I want to impeach you for a profoundly annoying use of capital letters. Really, get a shift key, buddy.
April 1, 2008 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reid, Pelosi, and Dean better be careful. Hillary is likely to don her Kevlar Pantsuit and treat them like a bunch of Bosnian Snipers.
Don't mess with Hillary Rambo Clinton, The Heroine of Tuzla. If she needs reinforcements, she can always call on her Rocky Balboa persona to emerge.
April 1, 2008 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have a warning for all the super delegates and the Democratic Party. If Obama wins the most number of votes AND the most number of states AND the most number of pledged delegates, be VERY careful if you plan on having the super delegates anoint Hillary Clinton the queen of the United States ignoring the will of the constituents. If this happens, there will be a civil war within the Democratic party. A large number of people who voted for Obama (more than 50% of the Democrats) will NOT vote for Hillary under these circumstances and some of them may even vote for McCain.
I am a Maryland Democrat but I believe in Democracy and fairness. If Hillary Clinton wins the most number of pledged delegates fair and square I will vote for her in the general election.
If the party insiders make her the candidate ignoring the will of the people (what is this, Russia?), I may just vote for McCain out of utter disgust. This wold essentially mean the end of the Democratic party and she will become the Ralph Nader of 2008.
Play fair or it will be the end of the Democratic party.
Remember the outcome of this is not meant to be a CORONATION for a queen but a presidential candidate for an INAUGURATION as chosen by the CITIZENS, not all the corrupt self serving chronies of the Clintons.
April 1, 2008 7:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reid, Pelosi and Dean? They're now the fount of all wisdom? God help us. I'd rather just have everybody vote, including the sad sacks in MI and FL. But I guess we can't have that. It might mess up the Obama math.
The Democratic Party is becoming a joke.
April 1, 2008 7:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bwahaha. I love how the Obamites think that it is possible to "steal" the nomination. I either candidate get the 2025 necessary they are the nominee. If not then there is no clear path to how it will be decided and at that point all the criteria regarding states, popular vote, etc. are irrelevant.
Heads or tails? And the toss is in the air........
April 1, 2008 8:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wouldn't say it's a cointoss, man. Maybe the odds of Clinton winning are 5 heads tosses in row...at best.
April 1, 2008 8:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
ThatsHowISeeIt: Please don't vote for McCain. Such conduct would be tantamount to being the Nader of 2008; helping hand the election to the person who REALLY doesn't represent your ideals because you're not fond of the political tactics (not even the positions!) of the person who's running against him.
Beyond that: Let's hope this gets wrapped up nicely and neatly. Ickes may have been by Ted Kennedy's side for the 1980 debacle; let's hope he doesn't repeat it for Hill.
April 1, 2008 8:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I will vote for McCain if Hillary steals and lots the nomination and I will implore everyone else to do the same. I will also leave the Democratic party and become an Independent.
People do you realize that this is how they elect people in RUSSIA? A bunch of corrupt insiders get together and decide who wins, disregarding the voters. If the citizens of this country have voted and Obama has won the most states, delegates, AND the popular vote only to see it over-turned by party insiders, what kind of a Democracy is this?
I do not want someone in the White House who has no respect for DEMOCRACY. Like I said, I will vote for whoever wins fairly. If Hillary Clinton uses her corrupt party insiders to over-turn the will of the voters I will actively do everything I can to derail her chances of winning, including voting for McCain. I do not want anyone who does not respect the will of the voters to become President in the country. 8 years of Bush is enough.
McCain has faults but at least he did not steal the nomination. There is NO democracy in over-ruling the will of the voters in every conceivable metric.
April 1, 2008 8:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
With all due respect Sen. Reid I wish you'd throw your "considerable weight' behind not letting the telcos and Bush spy on us. You need to keep you eye on the current president and let us keep an eye on the candidates.
April 1, 2008 9:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jeez, Sen Reid, this is a FINE TIME to FINALLY grow cahones. We have been waiting for you, to little or no avail..... But, do you have to do it against a DEMOCRAT!!! How about applying some of that against the Republicans??? You know, the ones that we all want to defeat. Hilary has every right (at least under DEMOCRATIC rules, to continue into the Convention. Why do you find a DEMOCRATIC process so tivial, and previously have continued to back a losing incubent president, who, incindently. fits all of the requirements of an international bandit?? Do you REALLY think that you are qualified for the job that you (unfortunately) hold?
oM
April 1, 2008 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
As leaders of the party, they have to be very careful to be perceived favoring any side. They have a process in place and if as Dean said: rules are rules.
It's a conjecture to say that the contest is damaging to the party. Instead cutting off the nomination early and leave the outcome in doubt could be more damaging.
If the democrats wanted Obama, they would have given him the requisite no. of delegates to secure the nomination. The fact is the jury is split and there's a role to be played by those who are supposed to break the tie.
The leaders would be blamed for breaking the process if it ended up a divided party.
And let's not forget FL and MI. Dean made this mess with his unreasonable and unenforceable rule. The violation doesn't merit disenfranchising voters as punishment, particularly the people punished had nothing to do about the violations. They did their duty to the party by voting and in record numbers I may add.
April 1, 2008 11:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sen. Clinton is showing clearly what matters most, and it is clearly NOT the issues of her voters. As it has become clear that she cannot overtake the pledged delegate lead of Sen. Obama, she has the right, but no REASON to go on with her campaign, and a DUTY to the party to ensure they are in the best position for November. She is desperate to get the nomination, but does she seriously think she can win, with her high negatives, zero cross-over appeal, and independents breaking largely for McCain? Also, as she could only get the nomination "by super-delegate", and less elected delegates, what is the % of Sen. Obama supporters that would simply stay home? Super-delegates know this, too, and cannot and will not let this happen. I see the current battle as a fight to death of the old dem. establishment against the upstart inside the party who does not owe the DLC, CLintons, McAuliffes etc a thing, and they are freaking out. A McCain win is more palpable for them, as they abide their time and stay at the top of the dem. pecking order. An Obama win will send them out into orbit - especially after how they've been "running" against him - and that is their nightmare scenario.
April 1, 2008 11:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Like I have said before the IRON ***** will LIE,
CHEAT,STEAL and do what ever else it takes to WIN.
She will destroy anybody who gets in her way of what she wants or anything including the Democratic Party.If the rest of you allow her to do this you are all DOOMED!!!Perhaps to be a fringe Party maybe?Or Perhaps to be Semi Republican?The choice is yours guys what will you all do?
April 1, 2008 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who cares what Harry Reid thinks? He's been a very underwhelming Senate Majority Leader and I really couldn't care very much about what he thinks of all this.
April 2, 2008 12:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why not round up the SDs after June 4th and settle this so we can go after McCain. Prolonging this because Hillary says so is nuts. It's time for the grownups in the Party to act like grownups.
April 2, 2008 12:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
The give-us-an-inch-we'll-take-10,000-miles Clinton campaign will read Dean's rather feeble line-in-the-sand as a three-month reprieve, unless he and other party leaders maintain and increase the pressure to end this thing soon.
The fact is, we need to get this done long before July 1.
Dean et al. need to amend their remarks to "July 1, at the latest -- preferably much sooner."
April 2, 2008 12:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
These Democratic leaders of Congress have done nothing but back down every time Bush has threatened them. Why should we think they have developed a spine, now? The only tough thing Reid has followed through on has been to nominally keep the Senate in session so Bush couldn't make some recess appointments the Democrats didn't want. Other than that, I can't think of a thing. We need new leadership. That, if noting else, might be a reason for an Obama change tidal wave to sweep over the entire Federal elections come November, clean out Congress as well as the White House.
April 2, 2008 12:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Excactly, we need Hillary in and a tidal wave of people like spineless Obama lackeys Reid, Pelosi, and John Kerry out. Fortuanatly Hillary supporters like John Murtha and General Clark will be around to shove them and the Bushies out the door. I mean after watching Obama limp wrist a 37 bowling can anyone picture him as Commanader in Chief? I think Hillary could kick his ass in a fistfight. Obamy looks a little light in the loafers if you know what I mean.
April 2, 2008 1:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
So we Obama supporters are Spineless huh?Speak for yourself BOY!!!Sounds just like a Hillbot to Lie about others.Does it make you feel important to tear others down?Does it make you look Big?Then get a Life man.
April 2, 2008 4:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Reid compares only with Condiliar Rice in complete insignificance.
April 2, 2008 6:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Uh, if Obama gets to 2025 delegates+superdelegates, he's won. If he can't do that, it's not "cheating" to find another arrangement. If that bothers you, tell him to do a better job. You know, "put your lips together and whistle". You should know that in Russia candidates are thrown in jail so they can't run, or are thrown off the ballot or otherwise a victory by 95% to 5% is arranged. But thanks for getting hysterical.
April 2, 2008 7:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pork Whisperer,
"Madam Speaker" is the correct form of direct verbal address. For a letter heading, "The Honorable Nancy Pelosi" followed by "Speaker of the House of Representatives" underneath is appropriate. The correct letter salutation is "Dear Madam Speaker". You may be using the AP Style Manual or a similar guide but they are not appropriate references for official correspondence or greetings. Please consult a protocol officer or an etiquette guide for clarification.
With that said, how does Dean expect to compel the superdelegates to declare their preferences by the July 1st deadline?
April 2, 2008 8:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
What Hillary Rambo Clinton, The Heroine of Tuzla, is urging the Super Delegates to do, is to overthrow the majority of elected delegates. The Clintons are calling for a Coup to install Hillary. Think about the irony in that. It is called The Democratic Party, but Hillary wants to be installed as it's leader by means of Coup.
April 2, 2008 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink