Behind the scenes and in the Senate via "
The Plank" we learn of Reid's combativeness. For those still in doubt Senator Reid is ready for the fight.
Perhaps it was Bush not consulting Senate Democrat Leaders on the Alito pick. One thing for sure, Senator Harry Reid is, umm, angry. Brillant Harry tallied his tally and seized control of Frist's agenda by the little used rule to close the Senate. Who said the minority has no clout under Parliamentary rules of procedure?
more after the fold
Bill Frist, after he picked himself off the floor, did a cat's meow that he will never trust Harry for the next 18 months.(I'm parapharasing here)
According to Republicans, Reid broke the rules. And Reid shot back:
"What right do the Senate Republicans have to talk about the rules" he asked.
Could Harry be thinking about the "N" word-nuclear option. Yes, looks like he has been tallying.
And who got Harry so riled. Big Dick Cheney that's who. I say Big Dick is on Reid's Tally Sheet.
Michael Crowley of The New Republic Online has some choice tidbits the, before and after, on Tuesday's play.
As noted by Laura Rozen in The American Prospect and elsewhere, it seems Big Dick has been conspiring with Senator Pat Roberts to stall the Senate Intel Committee's work. As I have diaried here, "Cheney's Cabal hijacked" from the FT piece on the speech given by Powell's former Chief of Staff, Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, this is a pattern for Vice Cheney. No question, Cheney has been up to a lot of hijacking. And Harry is calling him to account.
TNR's Crowley notes that Reid, in speaking with Congressional reporters, had this to say, "Nothing happens regarding intelligence gathering...unless it's signed off on by the Vice President" Emphasis mine.
[snip]
Wow, wow. Read that again. "Nothing happens... " Gets me wondering, could torture, fixing the intelligence for going to war, outing of Plame all at Cheney's feet?
Crowley writes, "When [I] asked Reid whether he mean't to state so flatly that Cheney was personally and directly stalling the Intelligence Committee's work, he didn't pause a beat. In fact he almost stood from his chair. "Yes. I say that without any qualification....Circle it."
Get the whole morsel here http://www.tnr.com/...