Add attack dog, energy maven to Reid’s titles

Senator assails GOP policies, citing ‘toxic mix of oil and war’

Leila Navidi

The Nevada delegation cheers Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who castigated Republicans for their emphasis on offshore drilling.

By Lisa Mascaro (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Denver — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid seemed to establish a new role for himself Wednesday night — party attack man on Republican energy policy.

Reid: Offshore drilling is 'pure baloney'

Sen. Harry Reid

Fresh from his energy summit in Las Vegas, which got a nod in his prime-time speech at the Democratic National Convention, Reid even sounded a little like a Cabinet energy secretary.

Rather than lift the crowd with the optimism that has soared through the hall in Denver, Reid played history teacher, lecturing that “the last hundred years has been a toxic mix of oil and war” and warning of the “snake oil and quackery” peddled by Republicans to solve the nation’s energy crisis.

He offered this critically folksy portrait of the Bush administration’s energy legacy:

“The man in the Oval Office has tipped his hat over his eyes, kicked back his chair and snoozed at his desk,” Reid said. “Charged with protecting our national interests, he slept on duty while his vice president conspired with oil industry cronies.”

Democrats are trying to assert themselves on energy policy after Republicans gained ground this summer in their pursuit of offshore drilling. Polls show most voters support drilling in the ocean, and Republicans have criticized Democrats for being reluctant to allow an up or down vote on a policy some seriously oppose.

Reid reminded his audience that drilling alone won’t quench the nation’s thirst for oil, saying Republicans have “sold their magic beans with a promise of a giant beanstalk.”

Energy is a prime issue in the West, which is trying to lead the nation toward renewable energy development, making Reid an apt spokesman.

In fact, Nevada seemed to offer itself as the go-to state when it comes to energy policy. The state is home to vast renewable resources and is ground zero in the nation’s fight over nuclear expansion with the proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain.

When Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley cast the state’s votes for Sen. Barack Obama as the party’s nominee, she said Obama has a vision for the West in developing renewable energy and keeping nuclear waste out of Yucca Mountain.

Still, Reid’s was a tough act, coming after the historic roll call nomination and before former President Clinton brought the crowd to its feet.

The audience kept quiet until the Nevada delegation interrupted with just one cheer, waving a single, homemade “I (heart) Harry” sign.

Reid confided to Nevada reporters backstage that he was nervous. But he said he thought he’d delivered his message well — “that John McCain is trying to sell snake oil, quackery, and I made it pretty clear.”

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By laguna

8/28/08 at 9:08 p.m.

Suggest removal

Dingy Harry is the most boring, nasty, little creep that ever lived.
By Future2012

8/28/08 at 10:15 p.m.

Suggest removal

Reid got kicked out of the sandbox for not playing nice.

In Jan Harry will be kicked out of the Senate Leadership by Obama. Obama will need some to work Obama's adgenda.
By cpaer

8/30/08 at 11:37 p.m.

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Just because Sen. Reid is opposed to the Yucca Mountain Repository for nuclear waste does not mean all Nevadans are opposed. In fact many of us see it as a opportunity to create additional wealth for this state, begin research and development on what to do with the stuff to make it a viable resource, etc. For what it is worth is was Sen Reid's buddy Jimmy Carter who stuck us with all this waste with his questionable "Peace Inititives". Sen. Reid would have more creditability on this subject if he could explain to the citizens of Nevada how it is he "supports" renewable energy in this state, yet allows the pro wilderness folks to gobble up so much land for Wilderness Areas, which, once gobbled, cannot be used for any renewable energy source including power transmission lines.
By SJ

9/3/08 at 2:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

The V.P. "may" have conspired with the oil industry - good for him - at least someone is trying to do something to get us out of the mess the rest of you government morons got us into to start with by not allowing us to drill 10 years ago when we would have benefit of it now. All the while Mr. Harry Reid was "conspiring" with the Wilderness Radicals that make their money trying to tie up even more of our prized open land to block access. Folks, this is many hundreds of thousands of acres that will be locked up so that you will never be able to see it again. Land in Lyon, Mineral and Esmeralda Counties that has historicaly been used as recreational areas and such that we would no longer have access to. Unfortunately White Pine and Lincoln counties didn't see the writing on the wall and have learned a harsh lesson. Then he has the gall to hold disposable land hostage unless these counties go along with this hairbrained idea of doing a county wide lands bill and setting aside these many hundreds of thousands of acres as wilderness. The counties said no to his hairbrained idea. For someone that was elected to represent Nevada, that is a mighty poor showing Harry. We will not forget in 2010. Not everyone in Nevada is against the Yucca Mountain project that could greatly benefit some of the counties that are affected units. Your true colors are showing through, it's green, the almighty dollar.