Reid Dares Republicans to Stay Over Break

[Wretched Excess]

silly, harry.  if congress doesn't lift the ban on domestic drilling, it is an election issue.  in effect, it creates a lethal campaign issue to use against congressional dems.  and I had forgotten that the dems were playing parliamentary games to keep the president from making recess appointments . . . .

Reid Dares Republicans to Stay Over Break

WASHINGTON — The indictment of Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska on Tuesday lifted Democrats’ hopes of winning a Senate seat in Alaska — a feat they have not accomplished in the Last Frontier since 1974.

But the majority leader, Senator Harry Reid, said he was actually feeling good about Senate races across the country. And he said that if Republicans wanted to stay in Washington through August to debate energy policy instead of going home to campaign, well, that was just fine by him.

With a bitter fight raging over how to address high gasoline prices, some Republicans have intimated that the Senate should not leave for the August recess at the end of this week unless it can pass some sort of energy legislation. In fact, the Democrats have not officially “recessed” for more than a year because they do not want to give President Bush the chance to make appointments to vacant jobs that require Senate confirmation.

And Mr. Reid said he would be happy to have Republicans join the lone Democrat coming in to open the Senate during the break. “We don’t need the Republicans’ permission to adjourn,” he said, scoffing at the question at a news conference on Tuesday. “We’re going to be in pro form session. This is because of President Bush not being fair on nominations. So we’re going to be here anyway.”

But then, feeling feisty about the Democrats’ election prospects, he basically dared Republicans to stick around Washington. “We do not have a single Democratic incumbent — has any trouble at all. We’re in great shape,” Mr. Reid said. “There are 11 Republicans that we have races that they should be worried about, and they are worried about them.”

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[NHSparky]

If Senator McConnell has any stones whatsoever, he'll call for Senate Republicans to stay just long enough to show that the Dems went and left DC for the August break.  THAT picture should be in every campaign ad from now till November.

[Willow]

One of the talking political heads on the TV said last night. "Pelosi and Reid have to prevent this bill from coming to the floor for a vote. If it reaches the floor for a vote Obama will have to vote no and that would be a disaster for the Democrats."

[DumbAss Tanker]

Since only a third of Senate seats are on the block every general election, this is not nearly as dire a pronouncement as Harry the Worm wants to pretend.

[Airwolf]

If harry is trying to play poker over this he'll need more then a pair of twos to beat the Republicans if they call him on this.

[Chris_]

Since only a third of Senate seats are on the block every general election, this is not nearly as dire a pronouncement as Harry the Worm wants to pretend.

There more R's up this go-round than D's.  Enough to give them a veto-proof majority.

[DixieBelle]

Ugh. Playing politics again. Yes, I know that's obvious. I just hate it. There is serious business to be done and these tools are worried about seats and majorities.

I also think it's funny that they have essentially worked all year and have zilch/nada/zip/zero to show for it. Idjits.

[Wretched Excess]

Since only a third of Senate seats are on the block every general election, this is not nearly as dire a pronouncement as Harry the Worm wants to pretend.

There more R's up this go-round than D's.  Enough to give them a veto-proof majority.

true.  I believe it's something like 21 or 22 GOP to 12 Dem, in fact.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Since only a third of Senate seats are on the block every general election, this is not nearly as dire a pronouncement as Harry the Worm wants to pretend.

There more R's up this go-round than D's.  Enough to give them a veto-proof majority.

Yet it is only the ones who are actually up for it that need to leave, and even they could go and run back for critical votes.  Almost all the time spent by the Senate in session is in committee meetings or public posturing, not the key votes.   

[Willow]

The House of Reps are in session. Call Pelosi 202-224-3121. Tell her to allow the vote or park her jet! 

[Lauri]

The House of Reps are in session. Call Pelosi 202-224-3121. Tell her to allow the vote or park her jet! 

yeah, i just dont see how the Dems think they are being so smart on this one.

if our congress critters stay there and hammer out something that actually helps the country, they will be back in office with no interuptions. the GOP has this one; they tell the public how the Dems wont vote on this and want to go off on vacation - and the Dems will be publically forced to go back.

where Barry has to make a public vote..

its a win win for us.

[Willow]

Mitch McConnell is throwing the gloves down. he just got the Dems in the Senate to admit that even if gas went to $10 a gallon they would not agree to drilling offshore!   

[Lauri]

Mitch McConnell is throwing the gloves down. he just got the Dems in the Senate to admit that even if gas went to $10 a gallon they would not agree to drilling offshore!   

oh good Lord! do they even know what theyre arguing about anymore??


jeez!

[NHSparky]

Since only a third of Senate seats are on the block every general election, this is not nearly as dire a pronouncement as Harry the Worm wants to pretend.

Actually, Obama voting NO would get Republican/conservative voters out in droves to keep the libtards from taking over those Senate seats.

A win-win scenario.

[Donpeyote]

 The Future holds trouble for this country !

[Airwolf]

If Bush had the balls he would demand the Congress come back and finnish its work during a special session untill it did come up with something to fix the countries problems and pass the appropriations bill for this year. Sadly though it won't happen.

[TheSarge]

   
Reid Dares Republicans to Stay Over Break

Note to Harry...they did...and your counterpart in the House turned the lights off on them.

[Donpeyote]

 The political primitives are in for it !

[Chris_]

House Republicans go back on the floor Monday to talk gas prices

Continuing with their guerilla tactics from last week, House Republicans will be back on the floor Monday to talk gas prices, even though Congress is in recess, and they may stay there all week.

More than a dozen Republicans have already committed to make appearances, according to House GOP leadership aide, including National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.).

Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) and Mike Pence (R-Ind.), who lead Friday's five-hour talkathon after the House shut down for the August recess, are also expected to be there, according to this aide.

(more...)

heh.

[rich_t]

I wonder if they can get the C-SPAN cameras turned back on?

[TheSarge]

I wonder if they can get the C-SPAN cameras turned back on?

Nope.  They don't control the cameras.  At one point the Dems were trying to have security clear the press gallery but the Republicans started lining up to talk to the reporters forcing the Capitol Hill cops to stand down.

Try as she might...Stretch couldn't squelch from the public what was going on.

[Vagabond]

This is good news.  The bad news is you could go broke betting on the Republicans to do something smart.

This oil and energy problem effects everything.  With tighter supply driving up oil prices not only do consumers get hit at the pump.  They get hit at the grocery store and everywhere else as a result of higher transport costs being passed on.  Businesses may have to make a decision to let employees go as a result of lower demand caused by the higher transportation costs.  Hotels and resorts don't see as much business do to the cost of getting there.  Further all of this leads to overall decreased tax reciepts for the government and it's programs.

In other words, the democrats claim to have chops on domestic policy.  This is an exposed flank, in fact their entire argument about domestic economic policy can be exploded using it.  The Republicans need to make sure to state that their democratic opponent supports high energy prices, even if he says he doesn't his party does and he won't buck his party.

In the words of Nimitz, The world wonders.

[rich_t]

This is good news.  The bad news is you could go broke betting on the Republicans to do something smart.

This oil and energy problem effects everything.  With tighter supply driving up oil prices not only do consumers get hit at the pump.  They get hit at the grocery store and everywhere else as a result of higher transport costs being passed on.  Businesses may have to make a decision to let employees go as a result of lower demand caused by the higher transportation costs.  Hotels and resorts don't see as much business do to the cost of getting there.  Further all of this leads to overall decreased tax reciepts for the government and it's programs.

In other words, the democrats claim to have chops on domestic policy.  This is an exposed flank, in fact their entire argument about domestic economic policy can be exploded using it.  The Republicans need to make sure to state that their democratic opponent supports high energy prices, even if he says he doesn't his party does and he won't buck his party.

In the words of Nimitz, The world wonders.

Good point.

[Donpeyote]

 Somthing bad is going to happen this summer

[rich_t]

Somthing bad is going to happen this summer

Something bad happens every day.