Joe Biden has some stiff competition. Harry Reid, the diminutive Senate Majority Leader of Nevada has recently suffered from numerous bouts of oral diarrhea that would give Biden a run for his money. Considering some of Biden's more noteworthy gaffes, his is a rather tough act to follow.
No Senator Left Behind?
Every time Reid opens his gullet to discuss military matters, his foot ends up in it. Who could forget the 2007 "Phony soldiers" controversy, in which Reid mischaracterized on-air comments by Rush Limbaugh referencing Army washout Jesse MacBeth and others who believe they can choose which war to fight?
Weary of waiting on Congress to consider legislation that would kill conservative talk radio, Reid crafted a ridiculous letter to Limbaugh's producer that was co-signed by dozens of liberal Democrats mischaracterizing the context of Limbaugh's remarks and trying to bully his producer. It is a sad testament to our republic that Congress legislates education standards that they themselves cannot meet. Despite the stack of law degrees possessed by this ridiculous letter's cosigners, including Reid, it seems that none them has yet mastered fourth-grade reading comprehension.
How about Reid's own attacks on our Iraq veterans? "The war is lost."
That statement, uttered by a Senate Majority Leader while there are boots on the ground and lead flying is, in this veteran's opinion, sacrilege; it is overt treason. With his unilateral declaration of defeat, Harry Reid demoralized our Marines, negated the sacrifices of our Gold Star Mothers, pacified his anti-war constituents and comforted our jihadist enemies, giving them hope that if they just held out a bit longer, we would pull back. He was also trying to blunt testimony of Iraq's success by General David Petraeus, but it didn't work. In spite of Reid's treason, Congress never managed to marshal enough support to force retreat, the military surge succeeded and Iraq's rebirth as a democracy is well underway.
America, You Stink!
Our feckless leaders Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid recently gleamed with pride at the opening of the US Capitol Visitor's Center but only they know why. As is typical of most federal undertakings these days, at three years behind schedule and grossly over budget, the 621 million dollar center was originally budgeted at 71 million. This monstrosity, described as a monument to bloated government, has three levels of left-leaning exhibits, movie theaters, restaurants and souvenir shops which disguise it's true purpose - the expansion of Congressional office space.
During the opening ceremonies, Senator Reid spoke of his delight at the center's long-awaited and overdue completion:
“You could literally smell the tourists coming in to the Capitol... That’s no longer the case... The people's temple shines brighter than before.”
People's Temple? Reid is either suffering from an LSD-induced hallucination of US citizens bowing in deference to the Senate or some bizarre flashback to the Jonestown Massacre, only he knows. Either way, a poor choice of words providing insight to Reid's muddled thought processes.
Blagojevich 1 - Reid 0
Perhaps the best example of Reid's craven leadership and constitutional ignorance is how he handled potty-mouthed Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's appointment of Roland Burris to Barack Obama's open Senate seat.
In response to Blagojevich, Reid and Senate leaders stated in unequivocal terms that any Blagojevich appointment was tainted and would not be seated. Period. "We decide who sits in the Senate." quipped Reid.
The governor shoved a stick in Reid's eye and appointed Roland Burris in spite of Harry Reid. But when Burris arrived to be sworn in, he was told his credentials lacked the requisite signature of the Secretary of State. Reid's response to the outcry that followed was that the Senate has never waived rule regarding signed credentials and they wouldn't budge now. The truth, however, is that
according to Senate Rule II, the signature Reid is seeking is a mere recommendation.
As scenes of a black man being frozen out of the Senate dominated the airwaves, Reid agreed to meet Burris, who was ushered in a private entrance to avoid reporters. Afterwards, Reid and Dick (Turban) Durbin praised Burris, hinting there was room for compromise and acting as if Burris' appointment was a mere formality while they awaited a court ruling on the need for a signature. On Friday January 9, 2009, the court ruled that a signature wasn't required. As of Sunday, Senate Democrats were still sending mixed signals, an indication they are still floundering for a solution to their self-imposed dilemma.
Based on his own words, Rod Blagojevich is a foul-mouthed scumbag who allegedly even shook down children. He has been impeached and will probably be convicted of official corruption. Until that day comes, he is still the duly elected governor of Illinois. To say that the Burris appointment is tainted is to say that every single decision the governor has made --at least while under investigation-- was also tainted. You can't undo that much governance.
Harry Reid has a long history of saying outrageous things. His declaration of defeat was a slap in the face to all Iraq veterans. His remarks about smelly tourists at the capitol was a contemptible attack on ordinary Americans and his shifting positions on Roland Burris demonstrate his inflated ego, constitutional ignorance and political cowardice.
