Classy Harry! If you think he's shirking, then let him in on the negotiations. You can't have a secret club and blame others for not being there. Schmuck!

Reid needs a spine transplant. He's the epitome of the jello.

Wow, the pressure coming from the left must be getting to him. This seems to be very clearing throwing Sen. Schumer under the bus.

I'd love to see Sen. Schumer come out and say:

"If it were up to me, it's in the Bill. Done. I've made my decision."

and he wonders why his poll numbers are so awful. i don't mind if he loses, even if it means he loses to a GOPer. he's a waste of space

Put it in then Harry. Don't hide behind Sen. Snowe. If a robust public option has 51 votes put it on the floor and force the GOP and Conservadems to filibuster.

That's our Harry! Always ready and willing to take on a challenge!

That said, this was a pretty nasty think to say about Chuck. But I kind of like Chuck's approach: telegraphing that if this doesn't get done, blame it on Harry!

The only way Reid can toss this football is to resign as Majority Leader. Harry, being Majority Leader means assuming the responsibilty of leadership. What part of 3/4 of the country wanting a PO don't you get? What part of bringing Democratic Senators on board for the good of the country don't you get? You do understand that without a strong PO, your re-election in 2010 is toast, don't you?

The Senate Democratic caucus needs a leader who leads, not one who refuses to acknowledge his power. Does Senator Reid fit this description of caucus leader? Is it time to get a leader who accepts the responsibility without trying to pass off the hard parts? It seems to me that this statement of Senator Reid's, at this time, is enough to begin reorganization of the Senate leadership, at this time.

It's comical that he has the title of leader.

Shorter Reid: How dare Chuck Schumer remind people that I'm the Senate Majority Leader?

"He would rather say anything so it wasn't up to him," Reid said

Well, Harry, if it's not up to you, maybe you should resign as Majority Leader and let someone else take the job, preferably someone who is willing to take responsibility for what his party does or doesn't do. What a weenie.

The trouble with all of this discussion is this: the White House really doesn't want a public option. I know, Obama campaigned for it, but if the White House wanted a public option, it would have demanded one months ago. Months. Folks, it's October 14 and we have no bill yet. Remember that 4th of July deadline? How about the July 31 deadline? Remember the Labor Day recess? They don't want a public option.

It has to come from the House. Anyone who thinks that this Senate bill is going to include a public option is crazy. Reid, Dodd, Baucus -- they're all paid for by insurance companies. They're all fearful of a public option. So unless the liberals in the House say, adamantly, "we have enough votes to kill ANY bill without a public option," the White House and Max, Chris, and Harry will skip the public option.

And, we'll be another step closer to losing control of one or both Houses.

We need Moveon. or some other progressive group to set up a fund with a trigger that will automatically give the money raised to Reid's republican challenger IF the bill does not include a triggerless public option.
These Reid and Schumer comments stink. They are already squabbling about who to blame if there is no trigger in the bill. I have no faith in the Democratic Senate or Rahm Emmanuel. When will Obama realize that close to 20% of dem's DO NOT approve of his work thus far, and most of those are progressives? Move to the left-NOW- or move on out.

it reads like a one-liner. (i didn't see video)
is it possible reid was being funny about
schumer?

Just curious. What was Reid's voting record on issues of health care reform in the years before he became Majority Leader? Does he even want reform, or a public option, or is all of this 'out of my hands' talk a smokescreen? Is he on our side?

Reid was a boxer right? Did he ever win a round, let alone a match? God, give us a leader with spine. Please.

I've been getting email and telephone calls lately from Democratic fundraisers. My standard response is "No money until the PO is passed with healthcare legislation; if its not passed, my money goes to supporting primary challenges to Blue Dogs and Reid."

Re: Rahm Role

Let's be clear about Rahm's role in this. Whether or not a healthcare plan is passed that is good for Americans and includes cost control is of absolutely no concern to him. It doesn't factor into any of his calculations in the slightest.

The only thing that's important to Rahm is preserving Democratic power at the national level. That's all. Anything he has to do not directly related to maintaining that power that is irrelevant. Similarly, any deal he has to cut, including with the Devil himself to maintain power is absolutely in play.

If he determines that a healthcare bill is essential to that goal, it gets done. But, when you have a narrow focus of preserving power, everything is negotiable - not least of which is a bill that is good for America.

Go to Reid's webpage and bombard with vehement words in support of a public option.
My hope is that Reid's remark isn't a veiled indication that Obama is the one that has long since decided on watering down Reform and omitting a public option.....

It pains me to say, but it would be better for a Republican to win Reid's seat in '10. Call it addition by subtraction. That clown is the worst possible excuse for the Leadership role. He's only going to continue to cave at each and every opportunity, not that he has a progressive bone in his body to begin with. Maybe he can then get a job on his pal Lieberman's staff.

I'm beginning to think that Hillary was right about Obama.