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associated press file
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid answers questions after speaking at the Air Force Energy Forum last month in Las Vegas.
By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Sun archives
- Harry Reid inching ahead of Sharron Angle, new poll finds (9-25-2010)
- Harry Reid ladling the attack on Sharron Angle in Senate race (9-16-2010)
- Reid abandons total immigration reform in last-ditch voter push (9-15-10)
- Harry Reid, Lady Gaga exchange tweets on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (9-14-10)
- Harry Reid wants vote on plan to let young immigrants become citizens (9-14-10)
- Sharron Angle, Harry Reid have yet to pursue the undecided (9-12-2010)
- Senate urged to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ (9-10-10)
- Over half disdain him, but Harry Reid could still win Senate race (9-5-2010)
- ‘None of the above’ vote could be deciding factor in Senate race (7-28-2010)
- How experts see route to victory for Harry Reid: Complicated (6-20-2010)
Sun Coverage
For weeks, polls have shown Harry Reid the 2010 Senate candidate lodged squarely in the dead heat of a pressure cooker.
But according to his colleagues, Harry Reid the Senate majority leader doesn’t appear to be breaking a sweat.
Reid and his opponent, Sharron Angle, were in a statistical tie for all of September, most of which the senator spent in Washington in the final congressional work period before elections.
But being across the country didn’t mean Reid left everything at home. At times, in fact, it seemed the Senate floor had simply become a satellite battleground for Reid’s state challenge.
Republicans accused Reid of using the Senate to make pitches to his base, when he attempted to attach a repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding gays in the military and a launch of the DREAM Act — a program to put young illegal immigrants who go to college or serve in the military on a path to citizenship — to the defense authorization bill.
The bill failed to muster enough votes to get to the floor — an outcome many Democrats argued was not so much a referendum on the added provisions but a way for Republicans block the majority party from achieving any victories before the elections.
Reid’s counterpart, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, put it bluntly:
“It’s a cynical act that appears to be to try to salvage a losing campaign.”
But ask Republicans whether they see an overall change in Reid’s tactical style, and there is quite a difference between the policy and the person.
“I don’t see him being affected,” said Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who has been in the Senate through Reid’s career. “Harry’s as steady as always.”
Whatever opinions people hold about him as a candidate and senator, Reid is widely respected in Washington for being an experienced strategist — which has earned his party several victories but is also a root cause of why he is so reviled.
Reid has presided over the Senate in the four years when party discord has been at an all-time high, and cooperation at one of its nadirs. Few controversial measures — and several seemingly noncontroversial ones — move forward without a filibuster. The 111th Congress has set a record for most cloture votes taken in congressional history — and the lame duck portion is yet to come.
Who’s to blame for the acrimony is the $64,000 question — but as the leader of the majority and the controller of the Senate floor calendar, Reid’s an obvious target to take these hits.
But the soft-spoken former boxer — as the president likes to point out — is used to it.
Before his term as majority leader began in 2007, Reid was the Democratic minority leader, a position he took over from his friend Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota, after Daschle lost his 2004 re-election bid to Republican John Thune.
Before that, Reid served as Democratic whip — the second-in-command position now occupied by Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois.
Perhaps that’s why in Washington — despite the obvious pressures of the campaign — Reid doesn’t appear to be out of his element, even behind closed doors.
“Quite the opposite,” said Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, who worked closely with Reid on the defense authorization bill. “He’s been handling everything coolly and confidently, as he always does.”
And the great majority leader could not or would not lead the way to have the Bush tax cuts extended like everyone wanted. That means when they go back they will let them expire and the largest single tax increase will affect everyone's wallet. Thanks for nothing harry.... VOTE REID OUT OF OFFICE!!!
The LV Sun campaign ad brags that "Reid has presided over the Senate in the four years when party discord has been at an all-time high, and cooperation at one of its nadirs. Few controversial measures move forward... and the lame duck portion is yet to come.
Who's to blame for the acrimony is the $64,000 question -- but as the leader of the majority and the controller of the Senate floor calendar, Reid's an obvious target to take these hits"
No Jobs and the Senate took off all summer and is off again without passing the Bush tax rate extension
Harry Reid was instrumental in cramming through Obamacare, complete with backroom deals. The majority of the citizens opposed passage of the bill, but Harry doesn't care what the people he is supposed to represent think. Derail his power trip by voting him out of office!
That's our Harry.
Hard working as the day is long, respected, and respectful.
Sure, you can disagree with his politics.
But all the hateful nonsense posited by the right is cruel and without merit.
"Harry Haters" ravage & savage Harry the person, as well as his politics. I can't fathom why. I suppose it's partly because they have been so ineffectual at replacing him with a more "conservative" politician.
Now the "Harry Haters" would like us to replace him with Sharron Angle.
Angle's compass spins wildly in circles like she's flying through the Bermuda Triangle...
Harry's compass is steady as a rock...
I'll take steady.
Nevada NEEDS STEADY.
Our COUNTRY needs steady.
Not some comedic caricature that can't get through a SINGLE DAY without shooting herself in the foot.
If I hear the phrase "we've got to keep the Bush tax cuts!" one more time, I'm gonna puke...
"Just let us keep ALL OUR MONEY!!! We'll trickle something down to you; just BE PATIENT!"
It's a CON GAME...
Harry will be right at home in Searchlight on November 3.
Harry's compass is as steady as all the special interest money his rakes in from the banks, finance and real estate interests. Did I mention health care as well? Millions. Cha Ching.
The compass and his interests are all pointed to somewhere other than Nevada and for the benefit of people other than Nevadans.
Power and influence. Senator Reid has a lot of both. Nevada needs money during these tough times and one person in Washington can bring it home.
Newbee senators (regardless of party) can't bring home a bag of bananas. It was long-standing Harry Reid who secured funding for the new N. Las Vegas VA hospital complex. It cost $600.4/M to build. It will create many good paying jobs for the area. Could a newly elected senator have done that? Negative.
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, Nevada. Re-elect Harry Reid!
If Harry Reid is so good for Nevada, why is he in a tight race with an unknown? Harry committed treason to the citizens of Nevada when he traded Nevada stimulus money for votes on a health care bill the majority of Nevadan's don't want. He has lined his pockets with money from the sweat of hard working Nevadan's and has done nothing but damage to the lives of most Nevadan's. It's time to retire Harry and see what someone else can do for the people. Harry is out of touch with Nevada and the people of the United States of America. Don't let Harry and his socialist cohorts pass an immigration law that would bankrupt the USA.
Reid is not all bad.
He strongly pushed for a bill to deny citizenships for babies born from illegals.
He supported Nevada's ban on gay marriage.
He voted for DOMA so that Nevada could ignore gay marriages from other states.
Not once did he push for investigations into Bush adminstration dealings including the so-call illegal and unconstitional activities.
He did not fight hard against Bush nominations for the Federal court system.
He did not push hard for the public option.
He did not push any for single payer.
Instead of raising taxes on the rich to pay for free health insurance for the children of middle class families, he raised for taxes on low and poor income families.
He cut a deal with drug companies. They would run TV ads in support of him in exchange he would prevent any bill that allow cheap drug imports.
They had a filibuster proof majority. They diddle all summer long and produced this watered down version of health care reform.
He ain't bad. He is a pretty inept Senator Democratic leader. I wonder if he is really a Republican.
Comment removed by moderator. name-calling.
Reid is plain bad for Nevada. See more facts at http://aBadReid.com
We just can't afford the Reids any longer... His compass needs repair because it doesn't point to Nevada and you and I are paying dearly!
I don't buy all these ultra right wing comments.
I guess that if I were to develop a brain disease, I'm supposed to overnight hate Senator Reid. And I'm supposed to do that not because there are any compelling reasons why I should hate him, but because people are telling me I should overlook everything good he has done not only for Nevada, but the nation as well.
And I'm supposed to hate him because with him there in the Senate, Nevada has power that he abuses, when in actually everything shows he wields it to our best interests.
And I'm supposed to hate him because he helped turn the faucet off on southern Nevada receiving and storing millions of tons of nuclear waste at Yucca.
And I'm also supposed to hate him because he has done a lot to help senior citizens and veterans.
And I'm supposed to hate him because...um....because...I'm supposed to hate him because people who have a political agenda all want me to do that...even if I don't believe in their malarkey!
Can't fly this crap past me.
My vote goes for Senator Reid in November. I prefer sanity.
Because the other option provides hopelessness, despair and a fall back to the failed Republican Party broken promises from before. And it is a lock Sharron Angle will take us to a scary place we don't want to go to. Not to mention that with her in power, that will make Nevada a laughing stock. Not only amongst Democrats, but Republicans also. Because Sharron Angle is a lightweight, morally impaired with views shared by only a select few, and not one problem solving bone in her body. She prides herself in her ability to cause problems with absolutely no solutions to them and her ability to talk an issue to death, but solve nothing. She will do nothing but embarass us by participating in voting no...and I remind everyone that we already have a useless Senator (Ensign) that does that...and if she is elected into power...she will follow his stupidity to the letter.
Sharron Angle needs to go away in November. Never to show up on the political stage ever again. Well... Wait. She can show up on Fox News as a commentator or something. That would be okay. Because she would be easier to ignore. I never watch that crap...
Let's bring Harry home to Nevada and out of Washington. We'll all sleep better.
If Harry is voted out you'll get Chuck Schumer, tougher and meaner.
Even mANN Coulter say the Repubs won't take the Senate.
Read this!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39480172/ns/...
Yes, you should vote for Harry Reid if -
you support cap & trade where your electricity rates will "necessarily skyrocket".
Yes, you should vote for Harry Reid if you believe our energy policy should consist of -
Shutting down oil production every chance we get while we loan money to other countries so they can drill for oil.
Buying nearly useless solar panels from China so they can use our money to build nuclear power plants while we get toxic twirly light bulbs, smart meters, and public service announcement imploring us not to use our power so "Everyone can have some".
So what is Harry Reid's energy policy?
Bye, Bye Harry! Sure wish I could say I would miss you but I can't.
Maybe after the firing of "Dirty Reid" and he has to move out of the Ritz Carlton Hotel, maybe then he will remember where Nevada is on the map.
Harry Reid in a nice suit. Sharron Angle in a conservative dress. This is what some voters vote on, including my wife. She voted for Obama last-time because she believed his B.S. Now, a bit too late, she realizes her error. That's the way liberals are---they don't know what the hell they're doing until it's too late.
sharon angle should be a politician down south where they appreciate those bible thumping, war making republicans.
las vegas is too sophistifated for the likes of sharon angle.
harry reid is our man.
To cover all the liberals who comment on this page, we conservatives must be vigilant. WE WILL BE VIGILANT! You socialists are not American, and you are GOING DOWN! The "Tea Party" is not a political party. It is a grassroots movement of "WE THE PEOPLE" to take our government back from you liberals.--------------And, by the way, we will also rescue you liberals' asses, too.
These wingnuts could care less about Nevada, all they want are those tax-cuts for the rich while the rest of us go down the drain!
Harry:
You have been in for far too long. You are dishonest, a liberal, and quite frankly, a real loser. Enjoy the fight, it will be your last!!
Senator Harry Reid: Vote on Immigration, this is what he thinks of this Country, and State,and the Voters. Senator Reid is truly, the best friend illegal alien have in America,,,
http://www.ontheissues.org/International...
BobbyG- That is not a back room deal, Senator Reid promised the Mexican that he would help send their illegal alien Children to College, on the Citizens of this country taxpaying dollar, is he Crazy, or is he pandering for votes, what a slimy politician. What back room about what Angle did, that is common sense".. You Democrats will pick up anything, your audio just happen to be there at the meeting, Man you folks are getting seriously desperate, I voting for Sharron Angle, open borders Harry need to be voted out of office along with Obama Care
Pleeease Nevadans, Please don't deliver "old Harry" back to Washington again. Our Country just can't afford him.
Both Nevada and California--must enact laws, to stop the free distribution of welfare benefits to nationals that injured the economies of these states; Proposition 187 was the people's vote in California to do exactly that, but was secretly derailed so it couldn't reach the Supreme Court. Sen. Robert Menendez's (D-N.J.) introduction of amnesty legislation, with the Dream Act and Ag bill attached to it suddenly appeared last week. These are all travesties of our immigration laws with some surreptitious agenda. We must remember to vote for any incumbent democrat, means billions of dollars out of your wage packet, to keep illegal aliens in America. Nobody who entered the US illegally, from whatever corner of the world they come from--should be rewarded. The 1986 Immigration law has never been strictly enforced, not by Democrats or Republicans, who have failed to protect the economy and safeguard this country. This illegal immigration is just a paramount problem in border states anymore, but has spread like a pestilence to every community in America; just not large cities today.
Politicians have never built the double fence or even completed it; never made illegal entrance a felony. America should only seek highly skilled workers, not the desperate and poor who always need monetary assistance. It is time to begin the purge of all politicians, Governors, Mayors and elected officials in both parties who are determined to go against the public grain of illegal immigrant removal--which means--ALL--not just criminals. November you are for or against that will save this country from further financial deterioration, but also watch for illegal aliens voting. GOOGLE--keywords such as illegal alien costs, or investigate your senator or congressman's record on the illegal alien enforcement. Remember this Washington switchboard number of 202-224-3121 and confront both party members of their stance, then vote them out of office?
Get more informed at NumbersUSA & Judicial Watch. In conclusion--this smear on Meg Whitman in my book, has been instigated by Union goons, as a favor to Jerry Brown; with policy payback to come? Interesting thought? If E-verify had been in operation permanently in every business in the USA nine years ago, this maid called Nicci would have been detected and she would have been fired. Sen. Harry Reid must accept full blame for that, as he is responsible for weakening E-verify to a voluntary program.
One of the most costly issues that American taxpayers must decide on in the voting booth is--ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. The quantity of money spent to educate illegal alien children; the colleges that pander to illegal students, emergency health care treatment (much cannot be classified as an emergency) prison incarceration and then wide scope of state, county and city public entitlements. The dollar amount cannot be even estimated, as the US government as even local authorities keep these figures shadowed and out of the public view. Occasionally figures are released by public minded officials; otherwise there remains no accounting to this fiscal problem? Both parties over two decades are to blame for ignoring this obligation to the taxpayer. In Washington money can be borrowed from China and Japan to keep the wheels of our economy still on the rails; only now running erratically or just keep printing the green stuff.
The majority leadership and their peons are currently overlooking the 15 million unemployed Americans, as they try to change public opinion on giving 12 to 20 million illegal aliens legitimacy. Right now the LiberalCrats have failed to mention of Pew Research Center intelligence, that somewhere around 8.5 illegal workers are advantageously employed. That instituting another Amnesty will give millions of illegal aliens free reign to your Social Security and will only make mass exodus from other countries worse; bringing millions more to our shores and borders. Central in enacting any form of Amnesty is Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) whose own state in is serious economic trouble, from illegal alien welfare benefits and instant citizen of babies birthed by an illegal Mother.
Reid has a unacceptable immigration record as he has said--YES--to Federal funds for Sanctuary Cities, Comprehensive Immigration Reform; Dream Act (a De Facto Amnesty); another Guest Worker program; (previous Guest Worker programs resulted in Amnesty); allowing illegal aliens to participate in our struggling Social Security. All these very negative actions have cost US Taxpayers billions of dollars, which is taken from their paychecks. Reid voted--NO--to making E-Verify mandatory as a business requirement; or limiting welfare to illegal aliens that is another massive cost, estimated to be just the federal level of $113 billion dollars yearly. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) voted faithfully the same to Senator Reid. Then the majority speaker Democrat Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) says that arresting and detaining--ALL--illegal immigrants was Un-American, an administering to the same party line issues as all Liberal-Democrat members.
I have voted for Harry Reid since he was first elected. I have met him, listened to his speeches, and even campaigned for him in the 90s.
Sen. Reid started his career as a fighter for NV and it's way of life. He would argue/work with both Dems and Reps on issues that affected NV. He was a champion for the voters. Since becoming a major figure in the Democratic Party, Sen Reid has embraced the entire Democratic Party agenda (good and bad) and seemingly forgotten who voted him into office. I am not interested in the "Second Most Powerful Man in Washington", I am voting for the Senator for the State of NV. Sen Reid used to work with both parties to accomplish things in the furtherance of NV, now every other word is a partisan insult. He is neither a vicious man, nor is he stupid. He has merely forgotten why he is there. I base my opinion not on the ignorant attack ads and ravings, but on the Sen's own speeches I attended and actions during his recent term. He has given all he can and needs retire while he is still respected.
Sen Reid has become the epitome of "the Washington DC Business-as-Usual Atmosphere" and a poster child for term limits. I will never vote for Sen. Reid again.
Gladd: "Moreover, sweetie, I am not now nor have I ever been a Democrat"
That may be true.
You might be left of Democratic party.
Let's add up the score on your fable.
You say your not a Democrat and now you say your not left of being a Demcorat.
Yet, you hate Angle.
Yet, you love Obama.
Yet, you wish for single payer.
Yet, you believe that abortion is hard coded in the Constitution.
Yeah....you are not a Democrat.
I don't know what to believe first.
There is no Easter bunny rabbit or you are not a Democrat.
You lost whatever credibility you even had.
Why is it that the state of Nevada has two crazies running for senate? Could we just find someone else? I for one will go for No One as both of these have serious issues and faults and so much more.
Harry Reid - Devalued Homes, massive unemployment, failure in 30 years to diversify the economy, crazy obama health plan with nothing good in it (except for the hard to enforce "preexisting conditions clause). His opponent has gotten a rough ride in the press - so its hard to know.
Vote for No One. Return Harry to Searchlight. No more of this senile senator from Searchlight.
Voters really should take a good look at what is happening, you got dirty politics, Senator Reid is a pro at dirty political tactics, I wonder was he made to pull that TV Ad that said Sharron Angle lied on him when she said in her current Ad that Senator Reid tried to give social security to illegal aliens, Senator Reid have since pull his Ad, but Sharron Angle's Ad is still running; why? because she is telling the truth, I encourage all potential Voters to read everything, look at both sides before deciding to vote, Don't be mislead by Reid bloggers, like BobbyG; listen to posters like USNCPO, common sense voters.
Senator Reid really did care for Nevada, and I voted for him also years ago, I once respected his views, some I agreed with, some I did not, however Senator Reid resembles someone who is not ever American. I will not vote for a man who puts Our Country last, whether you are Democrat, Rup, or Ind. We all should be voting this anti American out of office.
Angle is the WORST CANDIDATE to ever run for
public office in Nevada, period.
We'll send her right back to Reno.
SAVE OUR STATE AND COUNRTY,
VOTE HARRY REID.
The reason Harry is so cool and condescending is that he thinks he is far above us average citizens. He thinks he is so deserving of his job when, in fact. he needs to be booted out. Perhaps us "lowly citizens" will go to the polling places and hand him his well-deserved pink slip in November.
I believe Gladd blown a head gasket.
Sharron Angle...crazy as two ticks on a junkyard dog.
Anyone who would vote for Harry Reid - whose policies are forcing energy costs sky high - with massive increases due after the November elections - you need to get your head examined and stop voting until you become informed about the issues.
Las Vegas has never seen such bad economic times since the 1940s...and Reid is the forerunner of the most economically-damaging policies in modern history.
Reid must GO...and if Nevada can't get it done - then maybe prostitution can be your new revenue-maker.
Do we only have ONE SENATOR IN NEVADA? Where is Ensign in helping us get back on track to prosperity? Where is our Governor helping us get back on track to prosperity? Why is everything in this state on the back of Harry Reid? Do you people spewing the BS of the republic party or the teabaggers have an ounce of sense?
Ensign can't help, moogie.
He's too mired in personal problems to do anything. And it seems like he's content to let Senator Reid take the flack for everything.
Most of his time and money is spent with lawyers trying to fight an ethics violations investigation. Not to mention possibly pending felony corruption charges.
The only thing he does is duck the press.
And vote no. On EVERYTHING. His voting record in the past two years is absolutely horrible. It is so bad, and clearly does not reflect the wishes of constituents here in Nevada, people here are starting to believe he's a north Korean spy.
But that's okay.
After Angle gets vaporized by Senator Reid in November, Ensign is the next one in our sights to boot out on his fanny perpendicular.
We still got work to do.
Harry Reid is as corrupt as they come and a poster boy for all that is wrong with Washington. His role in shoving a raft of bad legislation down our throats should be rewarded with his swift ouster from the Senate. The health care bill is already revealing itself to be a gigantic mistake with all sorts of disasterous intended and unintended consequences that will drive up, not lower costs, ration care (with millions more added to the government rolls), drive doctors out of the profession. Moreover, the insurance mandate, which was the financial basis for covering those with preexisting conditions, is unconstitutional and will be overruled by the courts. It's a classic case of why government is the problem. If you thought healthcare system was bad before, Obama and Reidcare will make it far worse.