Archive for the ‘Democrat’ Category

Smell the tourists: With Reid retirement, Capitol Hill loses master gaffe-ster

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is no Joe Biden, but the Nevada Democrat has certainly offered his share of gaffes, insults and wacky comments over the years.

Indeed, in Reid -- who on Friday announced his retirement after more than three decades in Washington -- Capitol Hill stands to lose not only a battle-hardened, partisan warrior, but a reliable (and sometimes eye-popping) source of candor. Here are some highlights from the Reidisms reel:

Smelly tourists

Praising the opening of the Capitol Visitor Center in 2008, Reid said the new building would help minimize the smell of tourists visiting the Capitol. "My staff has always said, 'Don't say this,' but I'm going to say it again because it's so descriptive because it's true," Reid said at a dedication ceremony for the long-delayed visitor center adjacent to the Capitol. "In the summertime, because [of] the high humidity and how hot it gets here, you could literally smell the tourists coming into the Capitol."

The Iraq war is lost

Reid took heat for his assessment that the Iraq war was lost in early 2007. This war is lost and the surge is not accomplishing anything as indicated by the extreme violence in Iraq, the Democrat told reporters back in April 2007 amid a funding debate. Republicans called his pronouncement demoralizing for U.S. troops on the battlefield.

Obama light-skinned with no Negro dialect

According to the book "Game Change," which chronicled the 2008 presidential election, Reid privately described President Obama as a "light-skinned" African American "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one. Reid personally phoned the president to apologize and said he regretted using a poor choice of words.

Ted Kennedy's death is going to help us

In an August 2009 interview with the Reno Gazette-Journal, Reid pondered the impact of Sen. Ted Kennedy's death on Democrats' ongoing push for health care reform. "I think it's going to help us," Reid told the paper, saying the Massachusetts Democrat was an inspiration on health care. "That was the issue of his life and he didn't get it done."

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Smell the tourists: With Reid retirement, Capitol Hill loses master gaffe-ster

What Reid Endorsing Schumer As Top Democrat Means

Sen. Charles Schumer of New York stands a podium March 3 as Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada looks on. Reid is backing Schumer to be his replacement as Democratic leader. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

Sen. Charles Schumer of New York stands a podium March 3 as Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada looks on. Reid is backing Schumer to be his replacement as Democratic leader.

Harry Reid's exit could have ignited a scramble to fill the power vacuum among Senate Democrats.

But the Nevada senator is doing his best to avoid what he called a "knock-down, drag-out fight" by endorsing Charles Schumer, the New York Democrat better known as Chuck, who has been Reid's top lieutenant for years.

"He will be elected to replace me in 22 months," Reid told KNPR about Schumer. "One reason that will happen is because I want him to be my replacement."

Reid called Schumer "a brilliant man" and "a tremendous asset."

Paul Kane of The Washington Post, who first reported Friday that Reid had endorsed Schumer, also noted per Reid that another possible candidate, Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin, was likely to stand aside. A Durbin spokesman later told National Journal Friday that Durbin would not run. "Schumer has his support," the spokesman said. "Durbin intends to run again for Whip and has Senator Reid's support. He's been speaking with senators this morning."

Schumer a high-profile, camera-loving New Yorker is a very different type of leader than the softer-spoken, rules-maven Reid. Schumer has been waiting in the wings of power for years. He's been widely seen as the most influential Democrat in the Senate not named Reid.

Schumer has been by Reid's side and in his ear for a decade and is responsible for much of the caucus's messaging. In fact, Schumer and Reid merged communications offices to have a more unified voice.

Sen. Patty Murray, the highest-ranking woman in Senate Democratic leadership, is another potential candidate to replace Reid. Elaine Thompson/AP hide caption

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What Reid Endorsing Schumer As Top Democrat Means

MO House Democrat Caucus 2015 Legislative Spring Break Press Conference – Video


MO House Democrat Caucus 2015 Legislative Spring Break Press Conference
Missouri House of Representatives- House Minority Floor Leader Jacob Hummel and members of the Democrat caucus met with members of the press to discuss the first half of the 2015 legislative ...

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MO House Democrat Caucus 2015 Legislative Spring Break Press Conference - Video

Democrat Media Complex Begs Republicans to Raise Taxes – Video


Democrat Media Complex Begs Republicans to Raise Taxes
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Democrat Media Complex Begs Republicans to Raise Taxes - Video

Experts back Liberal Democrat health and education plans

Liberal Democrat manifesto plans for the NHS and the education system have been recognised by experts in these areas.

Under our manifesto plans, we will invest 8bn a year in the NHS in real terms by 2020.

We are the only party toset out an NHS plan that meets that meet the financial needs of the NHS as set out by the Chief Executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens in his Five Year Forward View.

Liberal Democrat Health Minister Norman Lamb has called on the Conservatives and Labour to meet this commitment, but so far neither party has.

Discussing the financial future of the NHS on the Today programme, BBC Health Correspondent Adam Brimelow said:

We know that the NHS is looking at a really growing gap in terms of its expected income and what its likely to be spending to meet growing demand.

"Thats been identified as an 8bn gap, even after the NHS has made pretty heroic savings and improvements in efficiency.

"So there is this expectation from the health service that there will be substantial additional money coming from the government to keep it on track during the next parliament, and clearly thats going to be an enormous challenge, a challenge for politicians to make firm pledges in meeting that.

"We heard from the Liberal Democrats saying that they would plug that gap, not specifically though from Labour and the Conservatives in terms of really fulfilling that gap in spending and it is going to be a big question in the election.

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Experts back Liberal Democrat health and education plans