April 27, 2007
Sen. Reid's Fine Leadership
The Senate Democratic Caucus sent a letter to the Washington Post to
contest the attack on Senator Harry Reid's Leadership by David S. Broder in his
April 26 column, "The Democrat's Gonzalez."
The letter was signed by Sen. Reid's 50 colleagues in the caucus:
Sen. Reid's Fine Leadership
Washington Post
Letter to the Editor
Friday, April 27, 2007; A22
We, the members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, contest the attack on
Sen. Harry Reid's leadership by David S. Broder in his April 26 column, "The
Democrats' Gonzales."
In contrast to Mr. Broder's insinuations, we believe Mr. Reid is an
extraordinary leader who has effectively guided the new Democratic majority
through these first few months with skill and aplomb.
The Democratic caucus is diverse, and Mr. Reid has worked tirelessly to
make sure that the views of each member are heard and represented. No one
ideology dominates the caucus, so that a consensus can be reached and unity
achieved. It is hard to imagine a better model for leadership.
Because Mr. Reid has the support of members of the caucus, is a good
listener and has an amazing ability to synthesize views and bring people
together, the Senate has accomplished a great deal during his time as majority
leader. Armed with his years of service in the Senate and with a mastery of
procedure, Mr. Reid has led the chamber with a slim majority and a minority that
is, at times, determined to stop legislation with which it disagrees.
In the first 100 days alone, we made great strides under his leadership
on long-neglected legislation concerning stem cell research, the Sept. 11
commission's recommendations and the minimum wage, to name three. In addition, under Mr. Reid's leadership, we have fulfilled our obligation, left uncompleted by last year's Republican-led Senate, to fund the federal government. He has accomplished all of this in the face of stiff opposition and with a commitment to giving ideas full opportunity for debate.
Finally, in this age of scripted politicians speaking only to their
base or claiming that they "don't recall" anything, the fact that Mr. Reid
speaks his mind should be applauded, not derided. His brand of straight talk is
honest, comes from the heart and speaks directly to the people.
THE MEMBERS
OF THE SENATE
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
Washington
What has Harry Reid's straight talking directly to the people brought us?
19 pieces of new law, of which 10 rename things, 1 changes the House Page Board makeup, 1 new arterial road and 7 pieces of legislative genius that tweaks things.
No wonder Harry Reid has so much time to insult the President, Vice President and everyone else, including our troops, because he, Harry Reid, is a legislative mover and shaker. A genius if you will. In fact, a "master of procedure" as the DemocratIC Caucus calls him.A bill to redesignate the White Rocks National Recreation Area in the State
of Vermont as the "Robert T. Stafford White Rocks National Recreation Area"
To designate the Federal building located at 400 Maryland Avenue Southwest in the District of Columbia as the 'Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building'.
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3903 South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, as the "Sergeant Henry Ybarra III Post Office Building".
To designate the United States courthouse at South Federal Place in Santa Fe, New
Mexico, as the "Santiago E. Campos United States Courthouse".
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2633 11th
Street in Rock Island, Illinois, as the "Lane Evans Post Office Building".
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16150 Aviation Loop Drive in Brooksville, Florida, as the "Sergeant Lea Robert Mills Brooksville Aviation Branch Post Office".
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1700 Main Street in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the "Scipio A. Jones Post Office Building".
To designate the United States courthouse located at 555 Independence Street in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as the "Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Sr. United States
Courthouse".
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 152 North 5th Street in Laramie, Wyoming, as the "Gale W. McGee Post Office".
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1300 North Frontage Road West in Vail, Colorado, as the "Gerald R. Ford, Jr. Post Office Building".
To revise the composition of the House of Representatives Page Board to equalize
the number of members representing the majority and minority parties and to
include a member representing the parents of pages and a member representing
former pages, and for other purposes.
To provide for the construction, operation, and maintenance of an arterial road in St. Louis County, Missouri.
Make further continuing appropriations.Anew effective date for the applicability of certain provisions of law to
Public Law 105-331.An act to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the
Small Business Act and the Small business Investment Act of 1958 through July
31, 2007, and for other purposes.To amend the Antitrust Modernization Commission Act of 2002, to extend the
term of the Antitrust Modernization Commission and to make a technical
correction.To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide waivers relating to grants
for preventive health measures with respect to breast and cervical cancers.A bill to endorse further enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) and to facilitate the timely admission of new members to
NATO, and for other purposes.A bill to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to reinstate certain
provisions relating to the nutrition services incentive program.
Harry's first 100 days has altered legislative history. The Republic is agog at his leadership. The world sits in awe of his acumen.
But the troops have nothing.
Fine show by the embarrassment from Nevada.
