And to think Judd Gregg was up for a Cabinet post. I'm sure glad he turned that down, because imagine that sort of mentality running a department. "Okay, here's how we slow down those Social Security checks!"

Dems should all have a copy of "the Plan" and hold it up at every single interview, presser, etc.

I'm sure they won't. I'm sure they'll just let it go in the interest of bipartisanship.

Sigh.

It's time to remove the filibuster altogether. What are we "keeping our powder dry" for? To get the country out the GOP-created hell-hole we're in, Congress needs to quickly enact numerous bills on a wide variety of issues. Otherwise, a critical window of opportunity will slam shut.

If it gets much worse, there may not be anything left to save. Furthermore, if Dems can bring this country back to prosperity, we won't have to worry about when the GOP is back in power.

Well, good for Harry, but how many people are going to know about this? If the media would do its job, everyone would (same with the whiners on the Franken amendment).

Sen. Durbin ripped into the Rs on the Senate floor the other night about their lack of a health care bill, how the Dems had worked hard for a year to create the bill, and that all the Rs could do was criticize, not contribute. Basically called them lazy obstructionists. He and Sen. Sanders talked about putting up for a vote bills that would abolish Medicare and the VA to get the "anti-government run health care" idiots to put up or shut up. But then, of course, Cornyn, Thune, et al would go berserk. 'They tricked us! They made us look bad.' Believe me, it doesn't take much.

The Rs are so tiresome. The voters who put them into office should be ashamed.

Judd Gregg is interesting . He was quite miffed that he was a cabinet selection , because it turned out , our president was from the democratic aisle . This caused him some apparent pain as he was incoherent for a brief period . Now he is improved , and quite articulate . Ahh , some things just are not capable of being improved , as an incoherent Gregg was just a self absorbed angry foible . The cool , clear visionary that has emerged from the soiled coccoon of self important huffery and puffery , is a leader of a precise angry quibble .

properly handled (wishful thinking, i know) this "Obstruction Manual" could be just the ticket for getting institutional reform passed.

stir up the public with exactly the argument Reid made this morning but with regard to not only health care but the economy, jobs, energy, appointments, everything.

then craft reforms aimed at taking away the precise tools used in Gregg's manual.

have Dems call out opponents by name in debate, wave the Gregg Manual, and ask how they can support this when it interferes with helping the American people (or, as applicable, "undermines troops in the field.")

repeat as necessary until the meme sticks and we can pass reform.

As Barry Goldwater said, extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.

Perhaps "Give 'Em Hell Harry" is back

If so, it's not a moment too soon. As a Democrat, I'd like to support the triumphant return of Sen. Reid's spine, and encourage it to continue working.

Any bets that the mainstream media (or even the Policio) will pick up on Reid's comments. We are treated to an endless parade of Republicans whining that they are being abused by Al Franken because they voted to back rapists and their enablers, but I doubt anybody in the media will even notice Reid's comment.

what Homer @ 12:34 said.

Make sure EVERYBODY has a copy so the playing field is level(ed). Now just add some mud and some girls and we're ready to make laws!

Harry needs to enlarge the memo to poster format and have every Dem Senator speak next to it when debating and point as necessary.

Easy Democratic message repeated over and over and should get a bit of traction -

Why are the Republicans so against affordable health care for their fellow Americans?

Why do the Republicans want to see their fallow Americans suffer in a dysfunctional system that seemingly only benefits the insurance cartel?

Why do the Republicans want to kill legislation that would benefit their constituents, and continue the dominance of the insurance industry that now has the power of life and death over Americans of all sorts.

And, finally, I just want to see a Democratic leader get up and ask the public question, Why are the Republicans such dicks? -Kevo

what an entertaining place the clown car senate is! of course, the world historical pity is that -- literally -- the health and well-being of the american peeps is in their hands.

that 30 of 'em are so narcissistically blind that they think an anti-rape bill is a personal affront to them by a newbie colleague. such is indicative of our country's nauseating pathology and the complete breakdown of american democracy into dementia (perhaps absolute zero of the dumbing down of america).

is there hope? the heart sinks in the memory of judd gregg's nomination to the obama cabinet. was that ignorance? more dumbing down, and therefore evidence that there is absolutely no hope at all?

What Zandru said--Give 'em hell, Harry!

Every time I give up on Harry Reid and dismiss him as a spineless, ineffectual weasel, he does something like this. Great stuff!

The problem is that the Democrats have no message discipline. If they did, then it would not be possible for the press to interview any Democrat about any matter before the Senate without having the obstruction manual discussed, pressing until reporters feel that they must confront Republican senators about it.

The only way for Democrats to get the GOP to change some of the rules that make it easy for the minority to obstruct the work of the senate is to actually obstruct the work of the senate when they are in the minority. But they are to busy rolling over for the GOP to accomplish this.

What zeitgeist @ 12:51 said! And might I add that I am sure pleased to see your input again.

I like Reid. I think the ex-pug is getting ready for the famous accidental collision of heads that just happens to leave the other head black and blue.