So, Harry, I'm sure that your constituents know all about what you've done for them over the many, long years that you've ... (ahem) ... "served" them. I'm sure they appreciate all of your many and varied "accomplishments" that you've done for them. But, as in so many other areas of life, when voters go to the polls in November, they're going to have one question on their minds:
So what have you done for us lately?
This fall, the 2 biggest issues on voters' minds will be -- c'mon and say it with me -- jobs and health care. They're going to remember that they sent you to Washington with the biggest Democratic majority in a generation. They're going to remember all of those promises you made made about how it was sooooo important that we have that Democratic majority. They'll remember those pledges you made that you, as Senate MAJORITY Leader, would "make the lives of every Nevadan" oh-so-much better.
So ... (ahem) ... Harry, what have you done for us lately?
You, as majority leader, were given a mandate, one all-encompassing, all-consuming mission to do in Washington -- bring back jobs and health care for Nevada.
You, as majority leader, had the biggest, baddest, full-court Democratic caucus anybody has seen in decades. Even with all the Conservadems and the imbecilic Joe LIEberman you, Harry, as majority leader, have everything you need to bring back jobs and health care for Nevada.
A health care bill, not great but certainly one that would help a lot of your constituents? Check, got it. A jobs bill, again not great, but one that would definitely put some money in the hands of a lot of hungry and hurting voters? Check, got that one too. Maybe you don't have enough votes to get them passed by a super-majority, but with that great, all-important, Democratic majority, certainly enough to pass through budget reconciliation? Check, got that one too.
Oh, but here's where you drop the ball, Harry. You COULD use reconciliation to pass these bills (and oh so many more bills that could greatly improve the lives of We the People), but you, as majority leader, choose NOT TO. In the face of a GOP that absolutely...will...not...vote...for...these...bills, You choose, as majority leader, NOT to do whatever you need to do to pass these bills. To the average voter, reconcilation/shmeconcilation. We DON'T CARE how you get the bills passed -- we just want them passed so our lives will be better. Yet, over and over and over, again and again and again, YOU choose, as majority leader, to REFUSE to send these bills to reconciliation so that they can be passed.
So, remind me again, Harry, what have you done for us lately?
And the one thing, the only thing, that might help you hang onto your job this fall? Force the vote, Harry. Force Republicans to stand up and vote against jobs and health care, the two most critical, most important issues on voters' minds. Force the vote, Harry, so that Republicans will have to look voters in the eye and whine/weasel/lie to them about why they're voting against jobs. Force the vote, Harry, so that your opponents this fall will have to explain, in excruciating detail, why Republicans don't want voters to have jobs or health care.
But no, Harry, you've decided, as majority leader, that none of that is important to you. Certainly not worth your time or trouble, as the MAJORITY leader, to worry your pretty little head about. So, on the two most important issues of the day, you, Harry, couldn't be bothered with lifting a finger to advocate or stand up and fight for the interests of your voters.
So, tell me again, Harry, what have you done for us lately?