Donna Brazile's
new column in the subscription-only Roll Call gives mad props to Reid.
By attempting to compare the new Minority Leader to his predecessor, former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), the Republican Party has breathed life into a Congressional leadership that now thirsts for a little blood of its own. In their cowardly rush to personally "Daschle-ize" Reid as an obstructionist, they not only insulted Reid, but they also rallied the Senate Democratic Caucus to stand behind its leader.
Instead of sitting off to the sidelines in their nice Senate offices like a bunch of dutiful public servants, Senators in the restless minority rushed to the floor and the airwaves to collectively defend Reid's good name and to reiterate their strong opposition to the President Bush's plan to partially privatize Social Security.
So, thanks to Ken Mehlman and those little researchers at the RNC, the Democratic Congressional leadership is now up and raring to go.
Using a left-right combination of jabs, Reid personally led the charge to set the record straight and to throw the Republicans' trash back in their faces. The man even went to the White House and gave the president an earful. At first, I thought Reid would come off as a hapless little crybaby, but in the end, Reid's strident defense made him appear eager for battle.
"We can't wait for 2008 to begin this work," Reid told the enthusiastic DNC gathering. "We can't even wait for 2006. We need to begin right now. Because this is a struggle for America's future. And the stakes are high."
Entire column behind the fold. (Here's hoping Roll Call doesn't mind too much and sics lawyers after me.)
Update: Column pulled at the request of Roll Call. I'm going to stop linking or discussing their content until they learn to be better web citizens.
Even the Wall Street Journal offers free web content for blogger access.