Harry Reid has outlined his strategy, in an interview with “The Hill,” about his approach to serving as minority leader when Republicans take charge in the Senate in January. He had some very bold and, it appears to me, shrewd comments about how Senate Democrats will work with the new Republican majority.
Unlike Republicans when they were in the minority, Reid comes across as magnanimous, saying he has no intention of obstructing, like Republicans did. Reid said he wants to work with Republicans in the hope that by compromising with Republicans, it might result in some degree of compromise by Republicans enabling certain Democratic priorities to also be addressed, like an increase in the minimum wage and pay equity legislation.
http://www.buzzflash.com/
Reid's comments sound pitch perfect to me, coming off an election where voters obviously were disgusted with the way things are in Washington. It is, to my way of thinking, a great way to show the American people that, even in defeat, Democrats are not going to engage in the same destructive behaviors that have dragged Congressional approval to single digits, the lowest in history.
Oddly enough, almost immediately after reading that article in "The Hill," another one came to my attention, written by Joan Walsh in “Salon” about how Republicans will likely use their new leverage to end Medicare as we know it.
http://www.salon.com/...
The Ryan budget, including a plan to turn Medicare into a voucher program, passed the House of Representatives (barely) earlier this year, with even a few Republicans voting against it. However, it's plan to radically alter Medicare hasn't received widespread national media attention since it was obvious it would go nowhere in the Democratic Senate.
Now that the Senate will be led by Republicans, it appears that the Ryan budget has more than a good chance of being passed by both houses of Congress. When that happens, it will be interesting to see the public's reaction when they realize what Republicans are really up to when it comes to one of the most important programs for seniors this country has and whether those dramatic changes will be welcomed with open arms.
Which leads me to wonder this: Does Harry Reid's strategy for dealing with Republicans consist of giving them enough rope to let them hang themselves?
We all know from recent political history that, when it comes to exposing themselves for what they truly are, Republicans just can't help but overreach once they get access to that power that they so desperately crave.
Of course, there are also plenty of examples of Republican extremism being allowed to flourish with no repercussions whatsoever (Scott Walker in Wisconsin, Sam Brownback in Kansas and last year's Republican government shutdown, for instance.)
My immediate reaction, however, is that Reid seems to be striking the right note, so to speak. The question is this: If Republicans start trying to steamroller every vile Republican plan on the rest of the country, without compromising with Democrats one bit on anything, at what point in time do Democrats like Reid say enough is enough?