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AP Photo/Harry Hamburg
Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., left, and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., right, listen as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., speaking at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 22, 2010.
Thursday, April 22, 2010 | 11:28 a.m.
Sun Coverage
WASHINGTON -- The "Give 'em Hell, Harry" campaign trail version of the majority leader was on full display this afternoon as Sen. Harry Reid used some of his harshest language yet in calling out Republicans for obstructing Wall Street reform.
Reid stopped short of using the L-word to suggest Republicans were lying when they claimed the financial overhaul would allow the "endless taxpayer bailout of Wall Street," a much-repeated phrase from Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader.
"What he said here is not true," Reid said, slowly and carefully choosing his words.
"We're going to bring the strongest oversight ever to Wall Street," Reid said. "The facts and the American people are on our side."
Democrats have stepped up their offense as they press forward with Wall Street reform, refusing to let Republican criticisms go unanswered.
Democrats admit they were blindsided during the health care debate, stung by the speed with which Republican talking points entered the vernacular and swayed public opinon against the bill. Remember the weeks spent debunking imaginary death panels?
The result is a campaign-style assault coming from Democrats that has been unfolding over the past week, hitting a high note today as Reid and his leadership team played video loops of Republican leaders making comments they dissected as not true.
Republicans also have realized they may have overreached, and are toning down their rhetoric against the financial overhaul bill as it becomes clear popular support is growing for Wall Street reform. Republicans do not want to be seen as supporting bankers.
The tougher stance will help Reid in Nevada, where he needs to fire up his Democratic base to turn out votes in what will be his steep uphill climb for re-election. Democrats, especially progressives, have longed for Reid to take a stronger role as leader.
When pressed today if he agreed with a colleague who staid the Republicans were lying, Reid declined to bite.
Reid knows the dangers of calling someone a liar. He has been unrepentent in calling George W. Bush the L-word over the then-president's handling of the proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain. Calling a sitting president a liar was a position that even Reid's supporters have reportedly said went too far.
The financial reform bill is being set up for a possible vote next week.
Harry Reid should return the Goldman Sachs money before he starts talking about real reform.
Anyone notice how the republican talking points on wall street reform are almost the same as on healthcare reform !?!?!
Is the GOP so out of ideas they have to regugitate the same talking points and lies on every issue?!?!
Harry wants government to control every aspect of our lives. He truly believes bigger government is better. That is why he is determined to create this new federal bureacracy. I believe most Americans think government is already too big. That is why Harry will be unemployed come November.
Let's face it; both Parties have their fingers in the pot. Still wondering why Fanny Mae isn't on the 'hit list'.
"We're going to bring the strongest oversight ever to Wall Street," Reid said. "The facts and the American people are on our side."
THANKS, HARRY!
It is so true ...Both Parties have their fingers in the pot...The fact is all of this is pure politics...No one is putting the people first....I hate to say it but after looking into this all and the past history...the GOP leaders are lieing...Why I have no idea? Politics? The democrats though are not innocent either...this reform they speak of is still going only half the way they said reform needed to go just 10 months ago...When will we get leadership in either party that is capable and has true guts?...Leaders that are committed to doing the right thing not afraid of not getting elected again....
Obviously the answer is more government.
what is this the remake of The Three Stooges...Larry, Curly and Mo
If corporations could be trusted we would not need ANY government oversight: no minimum wage laws, no consumer protection or employee safety laws, no truth in advertising laws, no environmental protection laws, no insider trading laws, no anti-trust laws, and child labor would have never been an issue.
But the sad fact is that these corporations will take whatever they can, and get it by any means necessary - until the Government reigns them in.
Look, let's face an unpleasant fact: the only time McConnell lies is when his lips move. The rest of the time, he's only thinking about lying.
Housing financial reform, including fannie and freddie is coming in a month, according to Geithner.
George Bush's "ownership society" pushed home ownership to people who couldn't afford it, and suckered people into IRAs, MSAs and other investments so his friends on Wall Street could slaughter the unsuspecting consumer.
We need government to undo the damage of China Wallboard brought in under George and Jeb Bush.
LEST WE FORGET!
Harry Reid's willingness to declare the WAR LOST in Iraq...Just to try and solidify his political power.
No matter what he does - has done - or can do for Nevada, I will never forgive - nor vote for him or his son - ever.
I hope you will join me.
The guy on harry's left, dick durbin, has the IQ of a horn toad. Another gift from Illinois.
Iraq is quite cozy with Iran, they have Hezbollah training their troops. Is that a win?? Did they recognize Israel, the way Wolfowitz hoped they would? And what about the "democratic dominoes" that were going to be created after Iraq fell? What other middle east country has gone democratic?
WWII, Korea, Vietnam? did we really "win" those wars? Was Poland free after WWII?
Take of the old cammo jacket and turn off the Rambo movies, and "lose" the "POW-MIA" flag.
Keystone Kops in the Senate (and House) :)
Captain Water Reed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx9Tovevx...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sahm3ot89...
George Bush's ownership society? What a joke. Try Bill Clinton and his every american should own a home and friendship with the FNMA heads, just like health care, your answer is government regulation. Local county planners could have prevented the meltdown by controling growth through proper planning. They're the ones that hurt Las Vegas by letting the builder's run amok and allowing all these investors into our city. Everything doesn't happen at the federal level. Some cities weren't even harmed. Try local government.
The bottom line is the laws are there and have been there to go after the individuals and companies that caused the meltdown. Instead, all politicians continue to take money from these same people. Do you ever wonder why New York State AG Cuomo has had to take the lead on every crminal prosecution of these people? Really the state of New York changing the way FNMA operates while the politicians sat back and watched, hoping their cash cows weren't destroyed.
It is because the feds won't take action and the finance/banks/insurance companies own the politicians. Why else were they given a bail out and a walk? You need to open your blind eyes. It is not reform that is needed, what is needed is enforcement and prosecution. These same people whom all committed these crimes, just changed their company name, got a government sweetheart deal, and started ripping you off all over again. The narrow mindedness of thinking government control is the answer is crazy. The answer was a public demand that these crooks should have been left to fail and prosecuted for their crimes.
Quit trying to blame Bush, as you all know he was too damn busy fighting a war to notice what was going on. Even republicans understand how easy he is to blame for everything because he was so consumed with the war.
The aftermath should have been handled very differently. Obama giving these guys a carte blanche check was the joke just as his so called bail out plan. The only ones bailed out were the politicians taking contributions from the individual friends they helped. Regulation is not the answer, holding the politicians accountable is, and demanding enforcement of our laws. Anything else is another line of BS.
You high and mighty Reid voters should at some point quit listening to his crap and realize he is trying to be the president. He doesn't even know Nevada exists, and you have got to love his spokesman getting on TV, and offering the same lame excuses (well I told them the forms weren't filled out properly, are you kidding me?) on why NV gets no federeal funding for anything. Wake Up!!
It is time for all people regardless of party to take back government and demand proper explanations on why and where all this money goes, and why these people are not in jail. You need to hold the politicians responsible. Forget the national level the problem is in our back yard. It is obvious the federal government could care less about our city or state. Reid continues to ignore NV.
I just love the smell of a hyprocrite in the morning. Seriously, our modern politics is like something from a bad Hollywood film shot back in 1952. Only, the twist is not as grandious any more, the plot line kind of fizzles around the predictability of it. Some one just give me an honest politician that will represent the will of the people. My current will-- term limits, reduce congress "retirement" to the same equation that are Armed Forces have, and, some one in legislation enact a law that says we the people can recall our elected officials from office if there is any question of ethical conduct (Ensign) or they do not represent the will of the citizens that put them there (Ried) -- that I will vote for
The GOP isn't built on telling the truth, it's built on lies and hate.
How can you defend less govt at a time when every screwed up corporation is trying to take advantage of us and our tax money?
Ha. The facts and the American people are on our side. Same thing they said about the health plan. However, every poll showed the American people were against it. Liberals won't be happy until we're all making the same amount of money regardless of education, intelligence (there's a difference), ability, effort and responsibility. There's a value to people's individual abilities and some actually deserve to make more than others. But libs don't see it that way.
ThisOneGuy - If we had honest politicians whose only job it was to serve the people and to do what is best for the country wo would not need voters! Luckily there are voters and term limits to reign in these bunch of idiots in Washington. I guess you still feel that government knows best. Good luck with that.
go_rebels, Nevada loses out on its share of some federal funding for two major reasons: the governor and his staff are incompetent and the state lacks the revenue to meet federal matching requirements. So money that should go to Nevada for Medicaid, education and community development is left on the table.
Given those restrictions, Reid is doing everything he can. For example, Nevada got 300M for clean injury in the Recovery Bill. A transmission line from White Pine to Clark County begins construction in 2011. That means many jobs and a means to bring geothermal and wind energy to Las Vegas. In fact, geothermal got 160M. There's plenty more to learn if you are willing to look at the facts.
Nightingale
I agree. The reason that the city did not get the funding yesterday is because they did not fill out the paperwork right. The reason federal grants are so specific are because of the fraud that has occured in the past. Now I see republicans whining because Harry did not pull strings. So they complain when Harry does something they don't like and they complain when is is not willing to break the law to give money to us here. The city and state need to hire somone that knows how to write these grants and to follow through wsith the requirements-the requirements that have been put inot place to PROTECT our tax dollars.
Are you really going to bring his religion into this? Is his version of history any more or less illogical than the beliefs that include parting of the sea, walking on water or rising from the dead?
I don't care how YOU worship, why would I care how he worships?
More regulations won't make Wall Street (or politicians) more ethical.... Enforcing existing regulations would be a good start. Similarly, you don't improve health care by creating a giant new $10 Trillion bureaucracy (1400 new IRS agents?) then saying you'll also cut $500 Billion from Medicare... Why not just cut the $500 billion first to prove you can do that?
Creating a path to citizenship for all the illegals while also closing down the border? Why not close down the leaky border first?
See a pattern here? Dangle a treat and then smack the taxpayer with a hammer. This administration and Congress are all smoke and mirrors in addition to a string of broken campaign promises..... Most transparent government ever?.... yeah right....
What progressives (Democrat or Republican) will never admit is they can do none of these things. They can't (or won't) enforce existing regulations so they create more unenforceable regs, they can't (or won't) prevent illegal immigration so they propose immigration "reform" and they can't figure out how to get reasonable health care to the most vulnerable in our society so they "reform" it for ALL..... And understand this, the current health care "reform" law will bankrupt our nation... Do you really think the government got their estimates right on this one after their proven bungling of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc, etc..? You really believe that?
To bring this back to topic.. Harry is only in this thing for Harry.... He doesn't care a lick for Nevada or his constituents...
@IP
Your "comparison" or whatever that was is just plain illogical.
But your point about our representatives is correct: we have laws to regulate politicians. Checks and balances is what is written into the U.S. Constitution. On the other hand laissez faire capitalism, this obsession right wingers have with the so called free market, is NOT guaranteed in the Constitution.
See how that works? The Constitution regulates government and government regulates industry. The People felt that industry needs more regulation and voted in a government to do that. Sounds truly democratic - strange isn't it?
Doubledown Defender, I want to congratulate you. For saying that someone who is rabid needs an intervention, you win today's irony award. Thank you for playing.
To allvetteup: How can anyone take anything you say seriously when you entire comment is based upon lies. You sound just like the republican leadership in congress. Come back and debate these issues with us on facts not your dreamed up fiction that came straight from the idiots on Fox News.
A typo in 3 para from bottom "colleague staid" you probably meant said or possibly stated.
I like this rhetoric from Reid but I would like it more if followed with closing some tax loopholes such as rising the capital gains tax rate to mirror earned income 39% rather than 15% which means more taxes paid taxes by average middle class earner than hedge fund managers. Also should be a transaction tax on every trade to raise some revenue for our government. I hope Democratic Senators should compete to extract more money from the wealthy for the benefit of all and not just their campaigns like DLC types have been doing for 20 years.
There's more than enough blame to go around -- both parties, the govt bureacrats, and the American electorate all had a significant role in the economic mess we now find ourselves in. The problem is that they all seem to be trying to play campaign games still -- business as usual -- and are resolutely failing to address in any logical or even discernable fashion the major problems we now face and the impending financial implosion many economists are coming to believe may be unavoidable. Reid needs to go, as does Gibbons -- maybe then both parties in this state will understand that "we the people" have had enough and the new guys/gals will take that message to Carson City & Washington!
"The GOP isn't built on telling the truth, it's built on lies and hate."
I'm sure President Lincoln would appreciate that.
You had to go back THAT far to find an (arguably) non-liar, non-hating Republican? That tells you something.
Sen. Reid is trying to slap some sense into the lamebrain GOPers but their skulls are thick.
Still, it looks like he might get through to a few of them.
Give 'em hell, Harry Reid! Good luck in November. Nevada and the US need you to continue representing us in Washington.
Please - instead of just saying the republicans are lying - point out the specific lies. I can do it about Reid, Obama and the rest - waht specific lies are you libs talking about.
Housing and financial crash = Government backed Fannie Mae and Freddie mac.
Do your research.
Here come Harry Quixote, riding his donkey backwards and prepared to fight the ferocious giants by himself and his loyal squire Barry Panza...
When will the thief give back the Goldman Sachs money?
GemsofNirvana writes: "Housing and financial crash = Government backed Fannie Mae and Freddie mac. Do your research."
--
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac caused the market crash? That sounds pretty insane. Who told you that?
Leftists believe that if a lie is told often enough it will become believable. I once had a promiscuous friend who adamantly would deny his trysts even if caught in the act. Twenty years later he was still in denial and his wife's recollection was starting to slip. Leftists, yup, all lies to accomplish their goal of total control because "they know better."
Richard Koo's latest observations on the US economy are as always, a must read. The critical observation from the Nomura economist explains why the realists and the naive idealists are at greater odds than ever before: the government continues to perpetuate, endorse and legalize accounting fraud in the hope that covering everything up under the rug will rekindle animal spirits. The truth, as Koo points out, is that were the FASB to show the real sad state of affairs, the two core industries in the US - finance and real estate, would be bankrupt. "If US authorities were to require banks to mark their commercial real estate loans to market today, lending to this sector would be extinguished, triggering a chain of bankruptcies as borrowers became unable to roll over their debt."
In other news Citi, Bank of America, and Wells just reported fantastic earnings beats on the heels of reduced credit loss provisions. Nothing on the conference call mentioned the fact that all would be bankrupt if there was an ounce of integrity left in financial reporting, and that every firm is committing FASB-complicit 10(b)-5 fraud. One day, just like Goldman's mortgage follies, all this will be the subject of epic lawsuits. But not yet. There is some more money to be stolen from the middle class first, by these very firms.
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/richard...
http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/02/account...
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=2...
tdkarabatsos sez: "Leftists believe that if a lie is told often enough it will become believable."
--
I don't believe you, no matter how many times you make that claim.
Koo sez: "If US authorities were to require banks to mark their commercial real estate loans to market today, lending to this sector would be extinguished, triggering a chain of bankruptcies as borrowers became unable to roll over their debt."
--
Yes, and that's exactly what America needs; another Great Depression with bread lines, soup kitchens and work camps.
It's what's good for us and we've got it coming too because we dared to boot those Republican Free Marketeers out of power after they pillaged, plundered and nearly burned us to the ground.
From Rash Limbaugh all the way down the Teabagger food chain, I'm starting to think the Republicans WANT to see America go down in flames because the last thing they want is for America to prosper under Democratic leadership.
Back Door Harry wants more government, more control over our lives. Who even believes Dirty Harry any longer after what he did to us with Obamacare! What we need is to rid ourselves of Dirty Harry and send him back to Searchlight.
Next Dirty Harry will be trying to force the immigration bill on us. Dirty Harry has forgotten that he is a public servant, a public servant of the American people.
Congratulations to the people of Arizona for having a governor who is standing up for the American citizens of Arizona!
"Dirty Harry"? Rush Limbaugh calls Senator Harry Reid "Dingy Harry." That sounds much more "intelligent."
But I guess that's why they pay Rush $90,000 per hour, and you do this for free.
I think they should break up the banks,have a consummer protection agency outside the fed. Have capital requirements,and ban collateral debt obligations. That would work but then again so would the public option. Who would want that besides we poor.
Harry Reid will do just about anything to get votes including raising chickens...
LarryVegas-AKA-henderson, the self-proclaimed "chickenhawk" of Las Vegas is standing by the liars in his Republican party, I see.
Thank you very much there Mia for your thoughtful comments about me not the discussion topic...
Not a single post from you on this thread addresses the topic, you flaming hypocrite!
Dear lord these Chickenhawk Teabaggers are hilarious.
Does anybody still put any value or trust in anything Harry "Backdoor" Reid says? This guy doesn't get it, yet.
LarryVegas, We get it, It is obvious who you don't like.
Now could you enlighten us as to who is better and why?
DessertSun writes: "This guy doesn't get it, yet."
--
What is it that he doesn't get?
Kulpepper: that's because you are a Leftist.
But you said "leftists believe that if a lie is told often enough it will become believable" and so if you say that often enough then it means you're a leftist, no?
What more proof do you need?
I ask you?
vc spewed the following from his keyboard: "To allvetteup: How can anyone take anything you say seriously when you entire comment is based upon lies."
Please back up your claim that there were any inaccuracies in my post. You used the word "lies". Pretty bold claim when you don't back it up. Where did I lie? Facts please.