Plus. If we can force McCain to spend money in places he wouldn't otherwise, that's less money for him to spend in Ohio and Florida.
Department of Green-Vada. The Weekly Reid's been flooding your inbox with updated registration numbers for the last six months. Nevada is becoming Blu-vada. But have you noticed that it's also blossoming into the renewable energy capital of the world? The Clean Energy Summit hosted by Sen. Reid helped focus people's attention on the Renewable Wonderland that is Nevada. And he's not stopping with conferences - he's using his clout to deliver much needed jobs to Nevada (in Las Vegas, the unemployment rate has spiked to 7.1%). Two nuggets for you today: First, the Department of Energy announced last week a grant of $600,000 for a Las Vegas based company, Acciona Solar Power, to help fund renewable projects. Nevada's got a lot of sun, and there are plenty of smart people looking for work. Second, there's a new company on the scene in Nevada, and its aim is to provide Nevadans with homegrown energy. NV Energy - formerly Sierra Pacific Power Company and Nevada Power Company - promises to focus attention on the renewable energy options in Nevada. From a press release: NV Energy will continue to focus on a statewide three-part energy strategy that emphasizes energy efficiency and conservation, the development of new renewable resources, and adding generation that uses the cleanest available technologies. Same goals, new name. That's branding at work!
Must Reid: Department of What The… The Weekly Reid isn't going to delve into the why's and the how's of the financial meltdown. At all. Not just because none of it makes any sense. Rather, since the Weekly Reid owns exactly zero stock, he's got no horse in the race. Here's what the Weekly Reid will say: Oversight matters. For 8 years the Bush Administration has treated oversight and accountability like…well, no analogy quite captures their utter disregard for two staples of our democracy. The hands-off philosophy of Bush-McCain Republicans has brought our economy to its knees - and now is the time to put the American people first.
Here's what Democrats will do: First, protect taxpayers. We cannot afford to give a black check to the very same administration who has abused such power in the past. We must make sure taxpayers can reap the rewards - not just swallow the risk. As for executive pay? Why should execs who abused the trust of the American people ride off into retirement on our buck? There needs to be a limit. Second, protect homeowners and strengthen the middle class. We need a second economic recovery plan; one that keeps people in their homes and creates jobs.
The bottom-line? Democrats will work this week to restore stability to the markets - but we won't rush into something, taking George W. Bush's word for it.
Department of Oh, We Also Need to… While the American people are looking to the Hill for solutions to the greatest economic crisis in the Weekly Reid's lifetime, there are a number of other pressing issues that must be addressed before Congress breaks for the election. The tax extenders for renewable energy projects will come to the floor this week. Also, look for a deal worked out to pass a CR towards the end of the week. Democrats would like to get one passed to keep the government working through March of '09. Bush-McCain Republicans are hoping to get the Columbia free trade agreement and an India nuclear deal done in a lame duck session. No word yet as to whether or not there will be such a session.
Reid's Watching: Department of Big Spenders. A lot's happening down at the races. The NRSC barely out raised the DSCC last month (by less than a million bucks). But the DSCC is spending aggressively to support our candidates around the country, pumping nearly 14 million bucks into competitive races around the country - Colorado, North Carolina, Mississippi, to name just a few. What does this mean for our chances of getting to 60? Anything's possible. But to get to 60, we need to win in places like Oklahoma (Andrew Rice) and Georgia (Jim Martin, one of Harry Reid's favorites). Remember: The DSCC was there, in October 2006, when the races in Virginia, Missouri and Montana tightened. Their hard work secured victory in the most competitive races then, and will do so again in 2008. Click over to the DSCC's website and help them out raise the Republicans this month.
Department of in the trenches. The Weekly Reid's taking a look at three races this week:
New Mexico: Things are looking better and better for Tom Udall. Pollster.com's poll of polls has him up 55-41, and his newest ad, "Polly" makes a big joke out of Steve Pearce's inane attacks.Have a great week! Tune in next week for another edition of the Weekly Reid!
New Hampshire: Jean Shaheen's been leading in the polls since she lost to Sen. Sununu in 2002. But this is one of those races that will tighten as we get closer to election day. Gov. Shaheen's doing all she can to put the election away now (ARG has her up 12), and ads like this one, Dig, is a great step in that direction. Tag line: "The President has dug us into a very, very deep hole." And John Sununu's helped rubberstamp it!
Minnesota: SurveryUSA and Razz have this race very close - one point stands between Norm Coleman's reelection and his gradual fade into obscurity. Al Franken has really turned this race around in the last few months. And despite brutal attack ads from Coleman's campaign, Al's playing it straight (well, as much as he can be expected to) and running some of the best ads of the year. Here's his newest. And it's the Weekly Reid's favorite type of ad: the direct, stare-in-the-camera and remind-voters-what-the-issues are kind.
Nevada First: The Yucca Stops Here for $200. Early last week the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said it would officially look at licensing the waste dump at this (unstable) location. What is Yucca Mountain? Correct! Over the next four years, commissioners will dig deeper into the proposal. The Weekly Reid can save them a lot of time: Don’t. Even. Think. About. It. 77,000 tons of nuclear waste. Shipped from 100 sites around the country. To a mountain 90 miles away from one of the hottest tourist spots in the world. In an earthquake prone area. Above a water source. Really? Fortunately, Nevadans have Harry Reid on their side. In an editorial last week, the Las Vegas Sun asked all Nevadans to mobilize against Yucca. The Weekly Reid wholeheartedly endorses this idea. And while you’re at it, remind everyone that this election is critical in the fight against Yucca. John McCain (Bush 44, according to Joe Biden) thinks Yucca is a good idea. Barack Obama doesn't. One more thing: Congresswoman Shelley Berkley caught House Republicans trying to pull a fast one on Democrats by slipping in a whole bunch of extra money for Yucca in an Energy bill in the house. Great catch Congresswoman!. Memo to all NRC staff: Put “The China Syndrome” at the top of your Netflix cue.
Must Reid: “Anything Goes” for $400. The failed economic policies of this President led to the market meltdown of 2008. Who is George Bush? Yes! And let’s add to that, John McCain, who claimed just yesterday that the fundamentals of the economy are sound. Sound? Sound? Please explain Senator. … Senator? Harry Reid spoke out yesterday (video here), asking the question middle class Americans have been asking for months: “For whom is the economy strong?”
The economy certainly isn't strong for the 606.000 Americans who lost their jobs this year. This is 606,000 people, and you have John McCain saying the economy looks good? I really don't understand what he means, the fundamentals are good.Thanks Sen. Reid, for putting that in perspective. Thank you for reminding Americans that what’s brought the American economy and Wall Street to its knees are the failed policies of Bush-McCain Republicans. Thanks for pointing out that the failure to police lenders and protect consumers will be the long lasting legacy of the GOP in the first decade of the 21st century.
There may be places in America where the economy is strong – country clubs, a few board, firms that haven't – boardrooms, firms that haven't folded. For the rest of America this country is not strong and won't solve itself. No matter what President Bush and Senator McCain say, fixing this mess will take real leadership and a change of direction.
On The Docket for $600. DOD. Energy. 2nd Economic Stimulus. What are legislative priorities of the Senate Dems for the week of 9/15/08? Absolutely. Cloture was invoked for the DOD authorization last week - and the measure passed today. What does it do for our vets? Gives them a pay raise of 3.9% for starters. Plus, helps them get back into school and find a decent home. The fight to get this passed wasn't easy - to quote the leader, "it certainly would have helped move this legislation forward if the ranking Republican, the Republican nominee [John McCain is the ranking member on Armed Services], had shown the leadership and commitment to this cause by bringing his fellow Republicans on board."
The big push this week is energy. Here’s what we’re hoping for. There are a few options on the floor that are great starting points. The Bush-McCain Republicans are asking for one thing over and over and over again: DrillDrillDrill. Democrats want to ease the financial burden at the pump now - not 10 years from now (which is about when the DrillDrillDrill policy will actually start paying off). We want to roll back the HUGE tax breaks for Big Oil and extend tax credits for investment in renewables. The Hill will be buzzing this week with energy talk. Let's hope Obstructionist Republicans decide to do more than just talk: they need to join with us to get something done for the American people.
Democrats would also like to get a second stimulus package to the floor before the session is out. Republicans don't like the idea. And the President would likely veto it. But that hasn't stopped us before. Not when the American people are counting on us.
Standing Up for $800. In 1994, the Senate passed this civil rights act, written by Sen. Joe Biden. What is the Violence Against Women Act? Right, again! Over the weekend, the VAWA turned 14, and the Obama-Biden campaign is bringing it back into focus this week with a series of events centered on how an Obama-Biden administration would stand up for women’s rights. Tomorrow Joe Biden and Sen. Clinton will host a joint on-line conversation with women from across the country. Also, the Senate may take up again the Coburn Omnibus, which includes the Combating Child Exploitation Act (held up by Tom Coburn). This bill, also written by Joe Biden, is being championed by everyone’s favorite media mogul, Oprah. It’s nice when priorities merge like this, isn’t it?
Reid’s Watching: Ad Wars for $1,000. Many political junkies point to this weekend as the “official” start to serious campaigning. What is Labor Day weekend, Alex? Right, for $1,000. Well, Labor Day weekend has come and gone. The primary elections have all been held. And, frankly, the gloves have come off and the the race is on. Here's the Weekly Reid's update on some of the key races Harry Reid's looking at this fall:
Oregon: Merkley’s up 2 in a new internal poll. Even better - Gordon Smith’s approval numbers are in the tank. Ad: Jeff Merkley channeling his inner populist.
North Carolina: A slew of polls - Hagan up one says Public Policy, down two says another. This race is tightening, folks. Kay can hang in there - can Liddy? Here’s Kay’s newest ad - she knows how to balance a budget.
Mississippi: Interim Senator Roger Wicker is up five on Gov. Ronnie Musgrove. The Governor has closed this gap greatly in the last month, and he's got statewide name ID. And he’s also successfully challenged the location of his race on the ticket. Mississippi Republicans attempted to have his race put at the bottom of the ballot in November. Looks like it’ll be near the top, where it belongs. Ad: The DSCC hits Wicker on exporting jobs.
Have a great week! Tune in next week for another edition of the Weekly Reid!
Nevada First:Sharing The Love. After the lashing DC and the northeast took at the hands of Hanna, you may have had enough water talk. But, if you hang around Nevada politics long enough, you quickly become an expert on water. Water usage, water rights. Water. Last week, Harry Reid, along with representatives from Nevada, California, and the federal government, met just north of Reno for the signing of the Truckee River Operating Agreement. Here’s what’s at stake: “Under the agreement, California will get two-thirds of Lake Tahoe's water to Nevada's one-third, while Nevada will receive 90 percent of the Truckee's water to California's 10 percent. It also calls for Nevada to get 80 percent of the Carson River's water to California's 20 percent.” Behind the agreement: Lawsuits going back a century. And Harry Reid, who laid the groundwork for the agreement 18 years ago with the Truckee-Carson-Pyramid Lake Water Rights Settlement Act. There’s an old saying in Rural Nevada: “Politics STARTS at the waters edge.” And thanks to Harry Reid’s ability to work across party lines - and his patience - the TROA will help development along the Truckee.
Blue-vada. The Weekly Reid’s been hyping the new registration numbers for the NV Democratic Party for months. And we’ll keep hyping them all the way through to November 4th.Here’s the latest: 565,855 Democrats. 489,802 Republicans. That’s 76,000 more Ds than Rs. In Washoe County - where the Presidential election may very well be decided - we’re only down by 5,217. But take heart - 12 months ago that number was 16,000. We’ve made tremendous gains in the reddest parts of the state.
Must Reid:We’re Baaaaaack! Traffic in DC just got a whole lot worse. There are a lot more suits on the Metro. Recess is over and the Senate reconvened yesterday afternoon. So what’s on hand this week? What will the Democrats bring to the floor? And what will Bush-McCain Republicans try to block? Here’s the Weekly Reid’s forecast for the coming week:
1. DOD Authorization. There’s no fooling around here folks. Our troops need to be equipped with everything they could possibly need in the field. And the Democratic Party is ready to give it to them. Before recess, the GOP refused to allow the DOD reauthorization to come to the floor for a vote. Yesterday, however, the motion to invoke cloture passed 83-0 (they quickly slipped back into their obstructionist ways by blocking attempts to move on the Highway Trust Fund bill - this is a big deal folks). For you C-SPAN junkies out there - look for Armed Services Chair Carl Levin to make another emotional appeal to Senate Republicans to put aside their partisan agenda and stand up for our troops. (Did you miss his last appeal? Read it here. Key line: “This cannot just be another vote, another vote which divides us Republicans from Democrats….This is not our bill. This is their bill. Let's vote to take it up and set a place, a firm place, where we can protect the men and women in uniform.”)
2. Energy. Energy! ENERGY! Here we go again folks. Another round of debate on critical legislation freeing us from dependence on the oil oligarchs who are draining the pockets of middle class Americans. There’s a lot of background discussion among senior Hill staffers on what exactly will come to the floor, and under what conditions a vote will occur.Democrats are using the Gang of 16 proposal as a starting point - What matters most is that the American people understand the Democratic party is standing up for them. Standing up to obstructionist Republicans. Standing up to (in the words of Harry Reid) “third world thugs, whose only virtue is their control of petroleum-based energy.” We've given Republicans 17 opportunities to lower astronomical energy prices. Their response? Drill! Drill! Drill! Drill! That's it. Like a CD stuck playing the same 3 seconds of your least favorite song.
Hard Hitting. Know why Gov. Palin went out of her way to mention Harry Reid in her speech to the GOP last week? It’s because of Harry Reid’s speech to the Democratic National Convention. Did you see it? If you didn’t, you should watch it here. Or read it here. He takes John McCain and Bush Republicans to task for their years of failed energy policies. A few key grafs:
“Senator McCain and the Republicans have centered their answer to our vital energy needs on one solution: off-shore drilling. Senator McCain calls for it in every speech; his party has demagogued the issue in both houses of Congress.Baloney! Get that? Now, the Weekly Reid loves baloney and mustard on white bread as much as the next first grader, but a baloney energy policy - based not on reality, but on election year politicking? When it comes to solving our country’s energy crisis, John McCain doesn’t have any of the answers. Well, in fairness, he does have one answer, and it’s George W. Bush’s as well: drill. That’s not the change we need; that’s more of the same.
So, is off-shore drilling energy policy or snake oil? Let’s review the facts. White House analysts, congressional analysts, and the oil industry all agree that off-shore drilling won’t add one drop to our energy pool for at least ten years. The way things are going now, in another ten years we won’t need more oil; nobody will be able to afford it.
[snip]
But even if Doc McCain’s magic off-shore oil elixir won’t work, will it do any harm?
The answer is, we just don’t know, and neither does he. It might not ruin tourism in the Gulf or on the California coast. It might not destroy vital fisheries. It might not pollute our waterways.
Nobody really knows. But kindly old Doc McCain would like to sell it to you anyway.
The simple fact is that the promise of more oil isn’t part of the solution; it’s part of the problem. At best this is an 18th century answer to a 21st century crisis; at worst it’s pure baloney.”
Harry Reid’s been working with policy experts, business and labor leaders, as well as his colleagues in the Senate, to craft an energy plan that will set our country down the path to energy independence. A lot of the ideas were discussed in his speech, and a lot were covered in depth at the Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas last month. Read up on them - change is gonna come.
Reid’s Watching:Profiles in Courage. Challenging an incumbent Senator isn’t easy. And taking on one of Washington’s most entrenched incumbents is event more difficult. But this weekend, two papers profiled our challengers who are doing just that. One from the NYTimes, profiling Jean Shaheen, and another from the Charlotte Observer about Kay Hagan’seffort to unseat Liddy Dole. Both Jean and Kay are making their case to the voters - and their opponents are running hard away from the Republican party of Bush-McCain obstructionists. With a combined 60 years in Washington, that’s probably a harder task than Kay and Jean have.
Georgia on his mind. Close your eyes and go back to the fall of 2002. Think of one race that enraged you more than any other. Picture the one television ad that boiled your blood. Chances are, you’re all thinking of the same race and picturing the same ad. Saxby Chambliss won his Senate seat by smearing one of the finest American heroes to ever serve in the Senate. And now, Sen. Chambliss is in a fight for his political life. Jim Martin’s behind by a mere six points. He’s Harry Reid’s newest favorite challenger, and he’s committed to helping Jim raise some dough to take back Max Cleland’s seat. If you’re in DC on September 24th, Harry Reid would love for you to join us for a luncheon with Jim Martin. See the invite here.
Ad Watch: Two great ads for you this week. Tom Udall in New Mexico reminds voters why the Democrats are best prepared to address the national energy crisis. And Dina Titus, running in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, introduces voters to her mother - who taught her what’s worth fighting for.
Nevada First: Prevention Funding. There are few things in the world as tragic as suicide. Our country has made great strides in its efforts to combat suicide. Sadly, Nevada’s rural counties have a suicide rate twice that of the rest of the country. Thankfully, Nevadans have Harry Reid representing them, and he’s been one of the Senate’s loudest voices for suicide prevention. Sen. Reid penned an op-ed last week, in which he outlined some of the ways to reduce suicides in rural communities - starting with telemedicine. The Weekly Reid mentioned the way the VA is using telemedicine a few weeks ago - and now Sen. Reid wants to apply the same principals to suicide prevention. Read the whole op-ed, and pay particular attention to the part about the Stop Senior Suicide Act. Sen. Reid lost his father to suicide 35 years ago - so the issue is a deeply personal one.
Must Reid: CODEL-rific. Sen. Reid took to the skies last week, on a Congressional Delegation to Afghanistan and the surrounding region. One of the first stops was Kyrgyzstan, where Sen. Reid and his wife had lunch with five Nevadans stationed at the Manas Coalition Air Base, which is just outside the capital, Bishkek. He also met with President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, with whom he discussed the burgeoning democracy in his country. From the Department of Understatements of the year: After the meeting, Sen. Reid said, "While many Americans may have never heard of Kyrgyzstan, as an important developing democracy in Central Asia, ensuring its success is vital, especially given its proximity to Afghanistan and the role this country plays in our fight against terror." Many Americans have never heard of Kyrgyzstan? Come on!
In Afghanistan, Sen. Reid met with President Hamid Karzai, and also with American generals who are leading the fight against a resurgent Taliban and al-Qaida. The meeting was productive, and Sen. Reid left the meeting sure of two things: First, we need to focus more attention on Afghanistan. And second, one of the keys to stabilizing the region is reconstruction. “I am proud of our men and women in uniform and what they are doing to defend our country. Their service fighting the Taliban and al Qaeda, as well as helping the people of Afghanistan, is invaluable and has not gone unnoticed,” Sen. Reid said.
Setting the Agenda. Before he left for his CODEL, Senator Reid also weighed in on the September work period in the Senate. There’s a lot left to do, and Sen. Reid laid out an aggressive agenda. On that agenda (described by Roll Call as “hectic”): Tax Extenders (blocked numerous times), an energy bill (blocked countless times), the DOD Authorization (which didn’t come to the floor before recess because Obstructionist Republicans preferred to talktalktalktalk about offshore drilling), LIHEAP (blocked), the Tom-nibous (more exciting the second time around), an expansion to the Americans With Disabilities Act, and, just for kicks, a CR that would fund the government and avoid a shutdown. Just so you have something to look forward to, the Weekly Reid will be providing a blow-by-blow account of each and every Republican filibuster.
Reid's Watching: Schumer's First Rule. Kay Hagan went up today with her first ad of the general election - it’s great, because it reminds North Carolinians what Kay Hagan’s been doing for the last ten years: balancing budgets and standing up for North Carolina’s families.
And Al Franken, the winner of the Give ‘Em Hell Harry “Pick A Candidate” contest, is also up with a new ad. The Weekly Reid loves this ad because it follows Schumer's First Rule of Political Campaigning: If they hit you, hit ‘em back. Hard. And the stay tuned bit at the end? America loves a cliff hanger. Like when the Weekly Reid saw “The Empire Strikes Back” and put his Han Solo action figure in the freezer until “The Return of the Jedi” came out. Classic.
Polling in NV-3? Why are veterans thanking Harry Reid? Who is Mark Begich sending through the car wash, the local car wash? Reid on!
Nevada First: We’re Up. Up. Up And Away. Great News. Huge News. But not Surprising News. Dina Titus, the congressional challenger in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional district leads Rep. Jon Porter 50 - 43. For the last three months (remember, Dina got in this race late) she’s been all over the 3rd CD, talking to some of the 25,000+ newly registered Democrats and reconnecting with those folks who supported her in her gubernatorial bid in 2006. And all that campaigning is paying off. She has her finger on the pulse of the 3rd CD. Jon Porter? Not so much. He can't get anything through Congress. And he's becoming more of a partisan, Bush-McCain Republican every day. Oh, and he hasn’t been campaigning. In fact, it's been so long since he's been seen on the stump, that Las Vegas bookstores are considering replacing their stock of Where’s Waldo books with the new Where’s Jon Porter edition.
Dina’s going to win this race because she knows what Nevadans want - someone who can think for themselves and isn’t beholden to special interests. Or the Republican Party and their failed policies. In fact, that's exactly why Dina first ran for office 20 years ago.
News That's Fit To Print. Last week, the Weekly Reid mentioned Harry Reid’s Clean Energy Summit, set to start on August 19th at the UNLV campus. Well over the weekend, Harry Reid had an op-ed published in the Las Vegas Sun, where he again called for making Nevada the renewable energy capital of the world. “Nevada is an independent state born of opportunity and of the great resources we held both during the Civil War and today. The treasure we have offered to the country in silver, gold and minerals, we can now offer in heat and power from our vast solar, wind and geothermal potential.” And channeling his inner-Obama, Sen. Reid continued, “Our moment, as Nevadans and as caretakers of our families and our planet for generations to come, is now.”
With partisan bickering and Republican obstruction dominating the energy debate in DC, there aren’t too many people who could pull together a bipartisan energy summit with as many big names as this one. But Sen. Reid’s got clout, and he’s using it to showcase Nevada’s natural resources - and remind Americans that we can be energy independent.
We Have Sen. Reid To Thank. The Weekly Reid couldn’t have said this any better:
“Rural Nevada veterans now have easier access to federal benefits information and assistance through an innovative Remote Benefits Delivery Program using video conferencing technology. In partnership, the Nevada Office of Veterans Services (NOVS) in Elko and the Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Reno will be providing this additional service to an estimated 7,671 veterans who reside in Elko, Humboldt, Lander, Eureka and White Pine counties. [snip] ‘We have Sen. Reid to thank for this enhanced service which will benefit our rural veterans. Through his efforts at the federal level, our State is the second in the nation to obtain this Remote Benefits Delivery Program,’ said Tim Tetz, Executive Director of NOVS.”
The Weekly Reid covered Sen. Reid’s request to the VA back in April. Let’s be honest - we owe it to our returning vets to provide them with the best care possible. They’ve stood up for us, and we need to keep our promise to them.
Must Reid: The Recess Recap. The Congress stands in recess for the next five weeks, and each of the 535 members are back in their home districts, meeting with constituents, and (for all but the 66 Senators not up this cycle) campaigning for reelection. Follow the Weekly Reid down memory lane, as we look at what each party has to be proud of as they head home to talk to voters.
Democrats:
We listened to the American people and passed sweeping and far reaching housing legislation. At first the President didn’t like our bill, but after a record-breaking seven cloture votes the bill that emerged did more for the American Family than anything the Republicans did in their years in the Majority. Before the bill passed about 8,500 Americans received foreclosure notices every day. Since the bill passed, more than 50,000 Americans are safe in their homes because of our Democratic majority.
With the help of Ted Kennedy’s surprise arrival on the Senate floor and his now famous, thundering “Aye!” Democrats passed the so-called “Doctor’s Fix” of the Medicare bill. Millions of America’s seniors breathed a sigh of relief. Teddy - their favorite liberal lion - was back, and their doctors were going to get paid.
Under the steady-handed leadership of the Democratic majority, the Senate passed a bill to combat the Global AIDS epidemic. To their credit, the (normally obstructionist) Republican minority saw the light and supported the legislation. You know, people around the world look to the US for leadership on the most pressing issues of the day. If we’re not leading in the fight against global HIV/AIDS, then how can we expect the world to look up to us?
In a last minute flurry of activity last Thursday, Democrats in the Senate led the charge and passed two bills especially important to middle class families - The Higher Education Opportunity Act and the Consumer Product Safety bill. Now, American parents can sleep a little better, knowing a college education is back within reach for their kids, and the toys in the game room are safe to eat(?).
Republicans:
(crickets)
Republicans are on the ropes. Rather than listening to the American people and working with Democrats to solve problems, Bush-McCain Republicans are resorting to partisan attacks and political chicanery. They know they can’t win on ideas, so they’re throwing a wrench in the whole political process.
Reid’s Watching: Perfect Timing. The Weekly Reid LOVES Mayor Mark Begich’s ads. In the (timely) ad “Car Wash,” Mayor Mark takes a subtle jab at the corrupt, scandal prone Alaskan GOP. And Mark had a great week last week - he’s up 21 in a new poll.
Other great ads this week: Al Franken and Kay Hagan (this is part of the ad blitz the DSCC is paying for, highlighting how ineffective Liddy Dole is).
Bloggers for Reid. Harry Reid’s been on the cutting edge of technology for years now (unlike John McCain). Rumor has it he had one of the first BlackBerries on the Hill. And he’s also one of the Hill’s biggest supporters of the blogosphere. Two weeks ago, he sat down with a few of the most prominent political bloggers for the second installment of “Meet the Bloggers.” Check it out here.
Who's ready for the National Clean Energy Summit? Who was running around the Capitol on a Saturday? What are your favorite campaign ads so far this cycle? Reid on!
Nevada First: File Under “Clout and Clouds.” An oil man, a former president and the Senate Majority Leader plan a trip to Vegas. There are a lot of ways this story can end - but none better than "and they host the National Clean Energy Summit!" We’re talking about a meeting of the minds - politics, policy and power. Harry Reid, President Clinton, and T. Boone Pickens. Solar power, wind turbines, and breaking our dependence on foreign oil. Here’s the deal according to Jonathan Humbert, of Channel 8 News: “A landmark clean energy summit is right around the corner, and it will be held right here in Las Vegas. Political heavy hitters are expected to work with industry leaders to shape renewable energy policy and bring much needed jobs here to the valley.” It’s a renewable energy party in Las Vegas - and Harry Reid’s playing host.
How is this possible? “Clout and Clouds” (and Casinos?). That’s Harry Reid’s commitment to making Nevada the renewable energy capital of the world, and his fighting for Nevada in ways only he can. And that’s the great state of Nevada, battle born, with her abundant natural resources, bright sun and environmentally minded citizens. Sen. Reid said it best, “As we know in Nevada, we know the sun shines all the time, the wind blows a lot and we have that steam pouring from the earth that has just been wasted all these many generations.” Let’s harness those resources and break away from the oil oligarchs.
The National Clean Energy Summit is set for August 19th, on the UNLV campus. Attendees who arrive in Hybrid cars or Jet Packs get priority seating.
Must Reid: File Under “Even I Had the Day Off” When the Weekly Reid woke up on Saturday and turned on the C-SPAN (isn’t that what you watch on Saturday morning?), guess whose face graced the screen? Harry Reid. On a Saturday. Thanks to obstructionist Republicans, the Senate convened for a rare Saturday session. On the agenda: the Housing Bill (which had an astounding 8 cloture votes associated with it) and LIHEAP (the low incoming heating assistance bill championed by everyone’s favorite independent, Sen. Bernie Sanders). After President Bush signaled he’d support the Housing bill it passed overwhelmingly.
File Under “Made for TV.” Sadly, LIHEAP didn’t go nearly as well. By a 50-35 margin, the cloture motion failed. You read that right. 35 United States Senators voted against providing millions of dollars to keep low income families, seniors and disabled Americans warm this winter. How many Republicans with tough reelection battles in ‘08 voted against it? 3. And one was Sen. Ted Stevens from oh-so-tropical state of Alaska! Last time the Weekly Reid looked at a globe, Alaska was, like, in the Arctic. Which Senator facing a tough reelect didn’t bother to vote at all? Liddy Dole. Memo to Mark Begich and Kay Hagan and the Obama campaign: find a few of the Alaskans and North Carolinians who stood to receive some of the $96 million the LIHEAP expansion would provide. Put them on TV.
File Under "Business as Usual." On the floor this week, two things are certain. The Republicans will try to block something, and Democrats will have our agenda - both short- and long-term solutions to the energy crisis - subjected to cloture vote after cloture vote. We’ve got the ideas and the solutions. Republicans would rather TALK TALK TALK about the problem.
Reid’s Watching: File Under “New Addition.” You’ve asked for it. We’ve listened. The most popular websites the Weekly Reid links to are campaign ads. So we’ve decided to scour the Internets for the best political ads each week. See one you like? Drop us a line at weeklyreid@harryreid.com. We’ve got two great ones for you this week. First, Mary Landrieu. We don’t talk enough about Sen. Landrieu. She has drawn an opponent this cycle, but she’s proven she’s the best leader Louisiana could ask for - and that doesn’t stop her from having great ads that remind folks of her leadership!
Second, we have Al Franken. One of the best things about AL Franken is that he’s raising good money from a large network of grassroots supporters. This ad shows that he’s much more than a one trick pony. His jokes are great, but his politics are better.
What did Harry Reid do for Nevada this week? What plan of Obama's are people coalescing around? Can you really put a hold on Superman? Reid on!
Nevada First: Help is NOT on it's way. Just how badly damaged is the GOP brand in Nevada? Ignore the “voter’s remorse” many Nevadans are feeling about sending Jim Gibbons to the Governor’s Mansion. Pay no attention to the massive voter registration advantage Democrats now have (60,068 more!). And Mac’s down to Barack in the latest Razz poll? Forget about it. The clearest sign that the GOP brand is crashing faster even than Fred Thompson’s presidential bid - They couldn’t get 675 people to show up to the State Convention. So they canceled it. As Blue Sage Views noted on Friday, the NV GOP needed just .1% of the 390,443 registered Republicans in the state to sign a card (postage paid!). Our convention? 2,500 - and there were plenty more who wanted to come. The GOP reminds the Weekly Reid of Mrs. Fletcher, from those Life Alert commercials in the 80s. It’s fallen - and it ain’t getting up.
Support you can count on. Senate Democrats have done a lot this year to take away the GOP's favorite talking point - that Democrats don’t support the troops. We passed the 21st Century GI Bill. We’ve voted 30+ times to bring this war to an end (more on that below). And just last week, Senator Reid announced he helped secure $194.5 million in funding for Nevada’s military bases. About $80 million of that will go to the National Guard and the Army Reserves. Harry Reid - fighting (and delivering) for Nevada’s veterans in ways only he can.
Must Reid: Look who's walkin' back. The weekend news cycle was dominated by the back and forth and back again over Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s comments to the German magazine Spiegel. In case you missed it, he basically endorsed Barack Obama’s position for withdrawing troops from Iraq. This puts John McCain in a pretty pickle - he keeps saying we must stay to finish the job, leaving only when we’ve secured Iraq, finished the mission and have been asked to go. His is an open ended commitment. If he were to backtrack now...well. To paraphrase the words of a Republican strategist, as quoted in Marc Ambinder’s blog, they're in trouble. (Bonus question: Who was Ambinder's source? Email your guesses here.)
Look. The Iraqi people are coming together around Sen. Obama’s plan. The Iraqi government is coming around to Sen. Obama’s plan. The American people support Sen. Obama’s plan. And, as Sen. Reid said on the Senate floor yesterday, “Even President Bush – who bears the primary responsibility for this incompetently managed war – is now belatedly and gradually moving toward some elements of key Democratic positions – on Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq.” Once again, times are changing. The political landscape is changing. And John McCain is behind the ball.
In related news, John McCain got on the Internet yesterday. All by himself.
Coburn-tastic! The Weekly Reid brought you news of the Coburn Omnibus a few weeks ago. As a recap, the bill is really a package of bills that have passed the House, cleared the appropriate Senate committee and typically have broad support. Pretty much everyone likes them except Senator “Dr. Tom” Coburn. Here’s just a sample of some of the bills packaged in the Coburn Omnibus: The Emmitt Till Unsolved Crimes bill, The Runaway and Homeless Youth bill, The Combating Child Exploitation bill, The ALS Registry bill, and The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act. Who’s against helping runaways and the homeless? Who’s for Child Exploitation? How can you possibly put a hold on Superman!?
Reid's Watching: Begich Buzz: New Razz poll has Mayor Mark Begich up 50% - 41% over Alaska’s Founding Father Ted Stevens. The poll was taken after Mayor Begich started airing two new (and awesome) ads.
Other polling updates: Oregon Assembly Speaker Jeff Merkley’s up over Gordon Smith 43% - 41%. That’s an 11 point swing in the last month (in our direction). We’re up 6 in Louisiana, 9 in Colorado, and we’ve all but won in Virginia and New Hampshire.
DSCC’n. In the past, the campaign arm of Senate Democrats - the DSCC - has been a valuable resource for challengers and incumbents alike. The DSCC has the ability to shift large amounts of money around in the final weeks of the campaign - right when races tighten and the attack ads start flying. Well this year, according to both the WaPo and Roll Call, the DSCC is going to be more than just an ad machine - they’re investing in field operations. Great idea. Independent and undecided voters pick a generic Dem in most polls these days - let’s make sure they get out and vote for our candidates.
How many Nevadans are going to sleep easier this week? Guess who showed up and shocked 9 Republicans? What's up with Dina Titus's fundraising prowess? Reid On!
Nevada First: Throwing Lifelines. Last week was a hectic one on the Hill. And while some of our legislative priorities were blocked by obstructionist Republicans, Senate Democrats threw more than one life preserver to the American people. On Friday, the Senate passed a version of the Housing bill. The bill, which was sent back to the House for some additional tweaking, focused on the root causes of the (much larger) economic crisis in this country - home foreclosures. You’ve probably heard Senator Reid hammer home the point on C-SPAN: This bill will keep people in their homes by allowing 400,000 American homeowners to swap their adjustable mortgages with ones backed by the FHA. With stable monthly payments, homeowners can turn their eyes to other pressing matters - like saving for their kid’s college education. President Bush (surprise!) vowed to veto the bill.
What does this mean for Nevada? It means that thousands of Nevadans can sleep a little easier this week. It also means that Nevadans looking to buy a home for the first time can get a credit of $8,000. Senator Reid has made solving the housing crisis one of his top priorities. And while the bill isn’t totally ready, we’re one step closer.
The Investment That Keeps On Giving. Proving once again that he stands up for Nevada’s interests like no one else, Harry Reid announced on Monday a nearly $1.5 million grant for the Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization. The non-profit brings together public and private organizations and aides them in the research and development of clean, renewable technologies.
What does this grant mean for Nevada? Jobs, for one. As Sen. Reid works to make Nevada the world leader in clean, renewable energy, more companies will invest in Nevada’s workforce. It also promises to make energy cheaper for Nevadans - and all Americans. Harry Reid’s worked for decades to protect Nevada’s natural resources, and breaking our dependence on foreign oil is just one piece of that puzzle.
Must Reid: Saving the Day. Words cannot explain what happened on the Senate floor Wednesday, nor can they adequately describe the shiver that went down the Weekly Reid’s spine as it watched the roll call vote on the Medicare “Doctor’s Fix” bill. Senator Reid did his best summing up the dramatic events of Wednesday: ““They [the Bush-McCain Republicans] thought they had us beat until the last minute. They didn’t know I started working last Thursday in getting Sen. Kennedy here.” And get him there he did. After a standing ovation, the Liberal Lion - who was there in 1964 when Medicare was born - cast the deciding vote for cloture, thus ending debate on the “Doctor’s Fix” Medicare bill. With Senator Kennedy on the floor and passage of the bill a sure thing, 9 Republicans - 9! - broke ranks, changed their vote and joined a united Democratic caucus in voting "Aye."
Think about the scene (if you haven’t seen it, check it out here). Sen. Kennedy, who got on a plane right after getting a chemo treatment, his immune system weakened, makes a triumphant return to the floor of the Senate to cast the deciding vote saving a program he has long championed. How could you not be moved? The Weekly Reid won’t speculate as to what was running through the minds of those 9 Senators. But it was either that, or more banal things like getting reelected.
Oh. The president vetoed the bill. Thankfully, House and Senate Democrats brought enough Republicans on board to rebuke (for the fourth time in two years) Mr. 28%. One more thing: if the 69-30 original roll call vote looks weird to you, it does to the Weekly Reid as well. Who would have missed this vote? Someone seeking to avoid casting a vote that would placate the base of his party, yet enrage average Americans? Yes! John McCain - missing yet another vote.
Who has your back? Pop quiz: What are three things Democrats are doing to solve our energy crisis? What are the three things Republicans are doing? For the former: standing up to greedy speculators (bill coming this week), investing in renewable energy (see above), encouraging oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres of federal land they already have access to. For the latter: … Um. Nothing? Unless you count giving tax breaks to oil companies for NOT drilling on the 68 million acres of land they already have and lining the pockets of oil executives for NOT investing in renewable energy.
Bush-McCain Republicans in the Senate must think the oil companies need more power and influence over our energy policies. And they must think that Americans are going to continue shelling out $4+ for gas. Democrats are working to lower has prices by combating speculation - Bush Republicans should join their Democratic colleagues in supporting the bill.
Reid’s Watching: Money Money! Fundraising numbers are slowly trickling in, and we’ve got good news. Our two Nevada Congressional challengers, Dina Titus and Jill Derby, turned in great quarters. Dina raised over $575,000 (her opponent raised a disappointing $418,000) and Jill over $280,000. Jill also raised more than her opponent. Read those two sentence again: both of our Congressional challengers raised more money that their opponents. Think Nevada's ready for change?
On the Senate side, Kay Hagan raised $1.6 million. With her serious (and much needed?) ad blitz, Sen. Liddy Dole spent more money than she raised - and her cash on hand dropped by nearly half a million bucks. What’s Kay got going for her? A lot of grassroots support - and an opponent who can’t seem to break 51% in any reelection poll.
Which agency lifted a moratorium this week? Know what the Coburn Omnibus is? What was the first casino on the Strip? Reid On!
Nevada First: Filed Under "That'll Show 'Em." Last week, we brought you the news of the opening of the Ausra plant in Las Vegas (Remember? It builds components for solar thermal power plants). Hot on the heels of the opening of the plant - more good news for Nevadans and renewable energy fans across the country. The Bureau of Land Management lifted a moratorium on the development of solar plants on public lands (3/4 of Nevada's land is managed by the BLM). Why the sudden change of heart? Two words: Harry Reid. Nevada's senior senator was a vocal opponent of the moratorium. And someone at BLM must have seen his ire coming, because they never gave Sen. Reid the customary heads up. He read it in the paper.
But there's more at work here than just a simple clerical error. The Bush administration refuses to fully pursue viable options for renewable energy. Two weeks ago, Bush-McCain Republicans blocked a bill that gave tax cuts to American innovators and entrepreneurs who developed clean and renewable alternatives to foreign oil. The Republican Party of Bush and McCain refuse to stand up to Big Oil and would rather line the pockets of oil executives than lower gas prices for American Families. They'd rather fill their campaign coffers with contributions from oil executives than invest in renewable energy. Now that the BLM has realized the error of their ways, will Senate Republicans follow suit?
Filed Under "Odds and Ends." Harry Reid had a busy recess (as the LV Sun notes). In Reno on Wednesday, Sen. Reid met with representatives from the various agencies working to ensure Nevada is prepared for this year's wildfire season. Meetings like this are one of the most important things Sen. Reid can do for the state - bringing stakeholders together to share ideas and coordinate activities.
Did you see this interactive map of the Las Vegas strip? Scroll through the years and watch as the Strip blossoms from a "desert stop over town for GIs" to the glitz and glamor capitol of the West (Sorry LA).
The newest voter registration numbers were released this week. And it's official - the momentum and enthusiasm the caucuses stirred up continue. We now have a 55,560 voter registration advantage. Help our congressional challengers talk to each one of these new voters - Dina Titus and Jill Derby.
Must Reid: Filed Under "Forecast for DC." Sen. Reid took the the Senate floor yesterday to lay out a road map for this four-week work period. In a nutshell: "Everything you guys blocked two weeks ago? We're going to revisit that. Plus: lowering gas prices, PEPFAR, Consumer Product Safety, DOD Authorization, DOD Appropriations, and The Coburn Omnibus" (more on that below). The forecast for the month of July in DC is hazy, hot and humid. Bush-McCain Republicans won't find relief from the heat in hallowed halls of the United States Senate. We're holding their feet to the fire.
Filed Under "Gotta Know When to Fold 'Em." Sen. Tom Coburn has placed a hold on hundreds of bills this year - bills that deal with minor legislative issues and typically have broad support. The Weekly Reid isn't going to bore you with an analysis of the legislative philosophy of Sen. Coburn; basically, it appears he simply doesn't like government or governing. Sen. Reid has found a workaround. Ryan Grim of the Politico writes, "In a stroke of legislative creativity that may have no precedent, Reid could lump all of the bills into one package and bring up the Coburn Omnibus for a single vote. Coburn can still object, but the broad popularity of the bills means that there would likely be more than enough support for veto-proof passage." How's that for thinking outside the box? Harry Reid: Giving 'Em Hell.
Filed Under "FISA Fight." Miss the fireworks on July 4th? Want to see more? Just mention FISA or retroactive immunity in a political circle. Then sit back and enjoy the show. The bill is likely to come up for a vote this week, and Harry Reid will vote against it. Although the bill is likely to pass, Sen. Reid cannot support the retroactive immunity for the telecoms.
Reid's Watching: Filed Under "Big Time Attention." The Udall cousins, Mark and Tom, are hoping to bring their Democratic "New West" philosophy to the Senate in 2008, and they got a major press boost on Monday from the New York Times. Know what's great about winning these two races? They'll bring with them the Udall commitment to protecting the natural resources of the West - a longtime priority of Sen. Reid.
Filed Under "On The Air." Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich is up statewide with two new ads, "Path" and "Energy Leader." Mayor Mark's making a whole lot of noise up there. Alaskans say "North to the Future" but the Weekly Reid says "North to Victory." Help the mayor keep these ads up on the air.
Nevada First: Gas Expands. In the Weekly Reid's AP Chemistry class, Mr. Campion mentioned off-handedly that we should buy our gasoline early in the morning - especially during the summer months. Why? Because, he said, gas expands in high temperatures. So there's actually more gas in a gallon bought at 60 degrees at 6 am, than there is in a gallon bought at high noon, when the mercury has risen to 80. Made sense to the cash starved high school drivers in the class. Apparently, it also made sense to a number of Las Vegans - where morning temperatures in the summer months are, naturally, much higher than out east. They calculated they're spending $100 bucks a year for gasoline they didn't get. The law suit may not go anywhere, but it just goes to show - not much gets past Nevada's consumers.
Air Traffic Control. Last week Senator Reid met with the heads of several major airlines. The topic: rising fuel costs and the airlines reduced service to tourist hot spots - like Las Vegas. With record high unemployment in Nevada, boosting the state's tourism is the surest way to bolster the struggling economy. Sen. Reid - standing up for Nevadans and delivering in ways only he can - urged Senate Republicans to join Democrats in a bill to aimed to combat rising fuel costs by fighting oil speculation, "From Nevada's perspective, the sooner people can afford to travel again, the sooner our state will be on the road to economic recovery." Truer words have never been spoken. Sadly, Bush-McCain Republicans care more about protecting the status quo than they do about providing relief for Americans working to make ends meet. They essentially blocked the bill last week (see below).
Working Recess. The Senate broke for it's July 4th Recess on Friday, and while staffers in DC gleefully show up to work in the recess uniform (lots of polo shirts and linen), Sen. Reid's days are just as packed in Nevada as they are when he's in DC. On Monday, he officially opened a solar thermal power manufacturing plant in Las Vegas. The plant is the first of it's kind in North America, and will be capable of producing 700 megawatts of energy each year. After he pressed the button to start the production line, Sen. Reid said, "Nevada is poised to be a leader in the clean energy revolution. This facility will help position our state as the premiere place to invest in these new technologies. As the factory expands operations and we continue to invest in clean energy, we'll create thousands of good-paying jobs and keep our outdoors pristine for future generations."
On Tuesday, Sen. Reid made a stop at the Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Fusion Center, a state of the art center that serves as a collection point for information that will aide first responders during a crisis or natural disaster. The whole idea of a centralized data sharing clearing house makes the Weekly Reid smile. First Responders are true American Heroes, and we need to provide them with the best tools possible.
Must Reid: Block, Block, Block, That's All You Do. Senate Democrats had a number of high priority pieces of legislation to pass last week, but as usual, the Bush-McCain Republicans had different priorities.
Rather than punish speculators who are driving up oil prices, obstructionist Republicans chose to walk in lockstep with the President and fill the coffers of Big Oil.
Rather than ensure doctors who participate in Medicare get paid this week, Bush-McCain Republicans chose to protect the special interests who bankroll their reelection campaigns. Our (bipartisan) bill stopped the pay cut doctors would take, expanded funding and access to preventative care, and ended higher co-payments for mental health services. It passed the House OVERWHELMINGLY (355-59), with broad bipartisan support. Did we mention it was bipartisan? The Republican bill? It did nothing to end the over payments Medicare is making to private interests.
Rather than provide relief for the millions of American families facing foreclosure, Bush-McCain Republicans chose to stand up for the very same people who've crushed the American Dream for so many families. The roadblock the housing bill hit last week centered around language the House dropped in the version it passed. Republicans refused to vote on the bill without it. Rather than getting the bill passed quickly - and in the process helping the thousands of Nevadans facing foreclosure - Republicans refused to budge.
When will they learn? Maybe when they get an earful from their constituents back home. And maybe when they're forced to vote on these bills again next week.
A Moment of Sanity. There were a few bright spots in the Senate last week. We passed supplemental funding bills for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and for urgent domestic needs. We got the 21st Century GI Bill passed (and signed by the President yesterday). The bill will help our returning vets readjust to civilian life and ensure they can afford a quality education. The domestic spending bill will extend unemployment benefits to the victims of the failed policies of the Bush-McCain economy. In a week full of partisan bickering and Republican obstruction, it was nice to see some good done for those who deserve it most.
Reid's Watching: It's a bird! It's a plane! It's.... What's the surest way to raise some dough for a struggling Republican candidate and motivate the Democratic base? Bring in Air Force One. Today, President Bush will attend a closed door fundraiser for interim (not incumbent) Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). Former Governor Ronnie Musgrove - one of Senator Reid's favorite challengers - is making this race very competitive. Remember what happened last time a high profile member of the Bush Administration flew into Mississippi to raise money for a tanking candidate? Travis Childers - the Democrat - won. Local Democrats are reminding Mississippians that a vote for Roger Wicker is a vote for the failed policies of George W. Bush. Help the Governor offset the W. money by contributing here.
Nipping at her (Tar) Heels. CQPolitics.com profiles Kay Hagan's race against Liddy Dole, and notes, "fluctuating polls over the month and a half since state Sen. Kay Hagan won the May 6 Democratic primary have raised questions about how solid and secure Dole is in her status as the favorite." Kay may have spent a bunch of money in the primary, but she came out much stronger than anyone would have thought. She's going to win this race, and inside-the-beltway press like this helps raise her profile in the national press.
Have a great week! Tune in next Tuesday for another edition of the Weekly Reid!
Nevada First: Sobering Numbers. On Friday, Nevada's Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported that unemployment in the Silver State jumped half a percentage point in one month. It now stands at an astounding 6.2% - that's .7% above the national average. Here's a couple of statistics to help put that number in perspective: According to the Review Journal, drive-in traffic to Las Vegas dropped 7.8% in the month of April; every hotel room in Las Vegas equals six jobs - and more and more of those jobs are union.
So, gas prices are through the roof, Americans are cutting back on discretionary spending, families and frat boys are canceling trips to Vegas. Fewer tourists means fewer jobs in tourism driven cities (like Las Vegas). Fewer job at casinos and hotels means fewer union members at these hotels, which means fewer people getting their ticket to the middle class punched. As people lose their jobs, they struggle to make payments on their credit cards and their mortgages. And Nevada leads the nation in home foreclosures. What's the cause? The Failed Policies of Bush-McCain Republicans, for one. Gas Prices. Plummeting consumer confidence. Obstructionist Republicans blocking The Consumer First Energy Act, the Foreclosure Prevention Act, the Climate Change Bill, and...well, you get the idea.
Did you know that 84% of Americans believe our country is on the wrong track? Or that 76% of Nevadans believe the country is on the wrong track. But, guess what? All of that can change - when we elect Barack Obama president. And when we convene the 111th Congress with an expanded Democratic majority in the Senate - because a President Obama is stronger with a filibuster-proof Senate majority.
We've got the answers. The Las Vegas Review Journal poses 9 questions that may help shed light on which way Nevada will swing in the fall (we've already told you why one Nevada pundit thinks it will go blue). Molly Ball asks, "Will Democrats be unified?" Yes, and now we have proof. "What role does rural Nevada play?" A big one - and Barack Obama has shown us he knows how connect with rural Nevada, and with every passing day, John McCain becomes more like President Bush, and less like the maverick he claims to be.
Noted, without comment. Michael Jackson - the gloved one - living in Pahrump, NV?
Must Reid: How in the world? The Weekly Reid noticed something last week. Right after President Bush had his Rose Garden presser saying he wanted to start drilling off the coast, the Republican noise machine kicked into hyperspeed. We had Lindsey Graham on Meet The Press, Tom Ridge on Fox News Sunday, Tim Pawlenty on CNN - all talking about how OFFSHORE DRILLING will lower gas prices. Excuse me?! Since when did the GOP, where the O stands for OIL, have any credibility on our nation's energy policy? In typical Bush-McCain fashion, the Republican surrogates on the Sunday shows obfuscated and peddled myth and falsehood after outright lie.
Allow the Weekly Reid to set the record straight:
Myth: We're drilling as much as we can domestically - if we want more domestic oil, we need to open up new offshore wells.
Truth: We have 44 million acres of land onshore, leased from the federal government, capable of producing oil. 31 million - that's 70%! - are not currently producing. The Weekly Reid's father had an expression, "Champ, before you start a marathon, you've gotta finish a 5K." They want to build new rigs when they're not even working the land already allocated!
Falsehood: We can drill our way to cheaper gasoline.
Truth: US demand for oil is 25% of the world supply, yet we have only 3% of the reserves. Even if we followed the Bush-McCain Republican's plan, domestic output on the Outer Coastal Shelf would only be 7% higher - and that's a measly 22 years down the road.
Outright Lie: Opening up more area to drilling will relieve the pain Americans are feeling at the pump.
Truth: The price of a barrel of oil is determined on the international market - just because the oil is closer, doesn't mean it's cheaper. Oh, and we wouldn't even see any of that offshore oil until 2017.
Continue Reading - Below The Fold Read More »
Nevada First: 1 in 96! Every time Senate Democrats try to do something to help ease the burden on middle class Americans, Bush-McCain Republicans find a way to block it, stop it, kill it, stymie it or put a secret hold on it. They're going to filibuster "themselves right out of their seats" (so says the estimable Chuck Schumer). As for Harry Reid, this obstruction is hitting very close to home. In Clark County, 1 in 96 homeowners face foreclosure - that's an increase of 66% since last year. And Nevada still leads the country in home foreclosures. With these numbers in mind, Sen. Reid's opened another front in his fight against obstructionist Republicans: he's taking it to the streets. Bush-McCain Republicans blocked the Foreclosure Prevention Act, so Nevada's Senator Harry Reid went to work with Nevada's Attorney General to establish Foreclosure Prevention Seminars. Yet another example of how Harry Reid, as leader, delivers results for Nevada that no one else could - and he's willing to work with anyone and everyone to do it. Last Friday and Saturday, hundreds of Nevadans attended the seminars (the third held in the last few months), which brought together lenders, credit counselors and homeowners. The seminars helped make the American Dream once again affordable and attainable for scores of middle class homeowners.
Must Reid: Above the Fold. Last Tuesday, while you all were busy reading the Weekly Reid, Bush-McCain Republicans were doing what they do best: protecting the status quo. That's the same status quo that provides tax cuts for oil companies (ensuring record profits, longer lunch breaks at fancier restaurants, and corner offices for everyone), keeps gas above $4 a gallon, and prevents thousands of Americans from getting green collar jobs. But don't take our word for it, the headlines speak from themselves: Senate Republicans Blocks Windfall Taxes on Big Oil, Senate Republicans Block Debate on Gas, Oil Provisions, GOP Blocks Energy-Related Bills.
The Bush-McCain Republicans in the Senate just don't get it. Americans want to see their government working for them - not pretending they don't exist. We've got great ideas. We've got new, innovative solutions. We've got our finger on the pulse of the American people. The Republicans? They're listening to a president with approval ratings in the 20s. They're saying no to the millions of Americans who bear the brunt of their failed policies. And they're crossing their fingers, hoping they don't lose all 23 seats they're defending this fall. Oh, and they're probably wishing their press shop was as good as ours.
Tax and...aide! Senate Democrats have committed themselves to making the American dream affordable again. This week, we'll focus on tax relief. The tax relief package (also known as the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008) will do a few things the Bush-McCain Republicans are sure to hate. Like our efforts to invest in renewable energy sources like solar and wind (what kind of tax relief bill doesn't line the pockets of oil executives?). We can virtually assure you that the Republicans will HATE the fact that the bill puts money in the pockets of hard working Americans (what kind of tax relief bill helps ordinary Americans?). In the words of the Weekly Reid's grandmother, "Politics ain't a popularity contest." Which is a good thing for Senate Republicans, because only about 11 people think this bill is a bad idea.
Reid's Watching: Southern Appeal. Handicapping Senate races is one of the Weekly Reid's favorite pastimes. And we'd just like to say, we agree completely with Chris Cillizza: North Carolina and Mississippi are two of our favorite sleeper races. In North Carolina, Liddy Dole is already running ads about how she can deliver for the state. Forget for a moment that she's been totally ineffective as a Senator (ranked 93rd! Three of our '06 Freshmen are above her), and get this: the ad doesn't use the word "Republican" once. And in Mississippi, Ronnie Musgrove, a popular former governor (who after a few years out of politics is very, very eager to get back in) squares off against an opponent who's never won state wide office. He's the kind of Democrat that can win in Mississippi, and he'll get a boost from what's likely to be record setting African-American turnout. What they both need is to have a strong fundraising quarter to scare the NRSC into spending some loot in these states. Online contributions accepted 24/7 on our ActBlue page.
Have a great week! Tune in next Tuesday for another edition of the Weekly Reid!
Nevada First: Blu-vada. Some of you may have seen this on Friday, but it's worth another read. Jon Ralston - the Chuck Todd of Nevada Politics - opined on the possibilities of a Blue Nevada in November. Jon's analysis is spot on - For the first time in a generation, Democrats out number Republicans (by nearly 60,000). Our state party - under the leadership of Congressional District 2 candidate Jill Derby - employs the best political minds Nevada has to offer. And let's face it, John McCain isn't exactly Nevada material. He's for Yucca, he's against gaming(!), and he's actually going to be on the ballot as George W. McCain. Independent, he is not.
What you've all been waiting for. On Friday, Senator Reid endorsed the candidacy of Barack Obama, citing Senator Obama's ability to inspire millions, to bring new people in to the process, and to make the fist pump hip. Today, he explained to Molly Ball from the Las Vegas Review Journal why he thinks Nevada is Obama's to win. Here at the Weekly Reid, we've been watching the nomination battle with keen interest. As a result of the 54 contests held between January 3rd and June 3rd, we have a stronger party, a more engaged and enthused party, and - more importantly - a larger party. But don't tell John McCain - he's got no idea what's about to hit him.
Must Reid: 492 Pages of Republican Shenanigans. The Republicans in the Senate have filibustered our agenda a record 74 times since Democrats took control in January 2007. They're on track to break the one-year record (which they set last year). But even they're getting sick of plain old filibuster. Last Wednesday, they sunk to a new low. In classic Republican chicanery, they dusted off a procedural maneuver not used in a decade. The obstructionist Bush/McCain Republicans forced a reading of every single syllable in the 492-page Global Warming Bill. Every. Single. Syllable. It took nine hours. Why? They must have had some problem with the bill, right? Wrong! They were objecting to judicial confirmations. Our oceans are rising, our forests are burning, our rivers are flooding, and Washington, DC is experiencing its earliest heatwave in recent memory. And the Republicans are concerned about Judicial nominations? Which do you think matters more to most Americans? The first Reid-ier to correctly calculate the carbon footprint of the Wednesday's Republican tomfoolery gets a Give 'Em Hell Harry T-Shirt. Leave your comments below. And then, read this "day in the shoes" account of Senator Reid's Difficult Wednesday.
Shakedown Street. AAA reported Tuesday that gas now averages $4.02 per gallon. That's a jump of 20 cents in just one month. On Friday, unemployment jumped 10% from what it was a month ago. The economy has lost nearly 500,000 jobs this year. Seven long years of the Bush Administration's buddying up with the oil industry, handing out tax breaks their closest friends and pretending the middle class doesn't exist has led us to this: The greatest shakedown of the American family in our nation's history.
Democrats to the rescue with the Consumer First Energy Act (vote today!). What'll it do? Roll back the $17 billion in tax breaks the oil companies don't deserve. Stand up to the oil oligarchs in OPEC. End market speculation. And, three words: Windfall Profit Tax.
The Consumer First Energy Act is an important first step. We can't erase seven years of failed economic policies with one vote. But we can, and should, expect Republicans to recognize the squeeze Americans are feeling with sagging employment numbers, rising food costs and skyrocketing gas prices. As Democrats, we're offering solutions. Are Senate Republicans willing to buck the trend set by Bush and McCain? Tune in!
Reid's Watching: The Battle for the Right. What do you get when you pit a Republican congresswoman - connected with a massive White House scandal - against a "True Conservative" willing to win at any cost? The New Mexico GOP Primary! Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce finally finished their campaign to see who could "out-Bush" the other. Pearce won; but the big winner is Tom Udall. Tom steps into the general election ring with a clear head and his fists up. Steve Pearce, on the other hand, has been knocked down a few times and is nursing a pretty serious cut above his right eye. Help Tom finish the bout (and end this poor boxing metaphor) by throwing a few dollars into the ring.
Have a great weekend! Tune in next week for another edition of the Weekly Reid!
Nevada First: Not Gonna Happen for $1000. On June 3, 2008, the Department of Energy applied for a license to build a nuclear waste dump here. What is Yucca Mountain? Yes. We also would have accepted an earthquake prone area above a water source 90 miles away from the biggest tourist attraction this side of Graceland. Senator Reid, delivering for Nevadans only he can, vowed to kill the proposed dump. The application is only 35% complete (which if this were high school, would warrant an F). Surely the application addresses one crucial question: What would the DOE do in case of an emergency (any emergency). Oh, wait. They left that one blank.
Landlords for $400. By far, the biggest landowner in the state of Nevada, the Federal Government owns this much land. What is 87%, Alex. Correct! And we're not just talking Area 51 and the Nuclear Test Site, either. Thanks to the leadership of Harry Reid, Nevada also boasts some of the most beautiful (and protected) deserts and mountains in nation.
Must Reid: Color Coded Jobs for $600. This "healthy" type of job accounted for more than 450,000 direct and indirect jobs in 2006. What are Green Collar jobs, Alex? You betcha! As the Weekly Reid mentioned last week, the Senate this week tackles the Global Warming Bill. Senator Reid and others have acknowledged that passage will be very difficult (especially with President Bush sharpening his veto pencil). Here are the facts: The Bush/McCain economic policies (is it even fair to call them policies?) have squandered countless opportunities to promote economic growth by creating green collar jobs. Case in point: the economy lost 107,000 construction jobs in April alone. The Climate Security Act would create millions of good-paying jobs and spur growth in construction, manufacturing and industries we haven't even imagined yet. Thomas Jefferson (ever idealistic, always forward thinking) counted on American ingenuity to carry our young nation to greatness - this bill continues in that long tradition. The new, 21st century economic engine runs on Green!
Fire and Water for $400. In the last 30 years, the length of this season has grown by 78 days. What is the Democratic Primary Season? No, sorry. The correct answer is "Wildfire Season." Nevada and the desert southwest are hotter than ever, and what little rain does fall evaporates more quickly because of increased temperatures. The droughts are more intense. The wildfires are larger and more intense (on average, the fires that cover 2,500 or more acres last five times longer). Scientists say we need to reduce our carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050. What's the White House's response? Shut the scientists up.
Reid's Watching: Challengers for $800. This Senate challenger is the Weekly Reid's newest favorite candidate to knock out a committed Bush/McCain Republican. Who is Ronnie Musgrove? Yes! And now, two polls show that Mississippi is definitely on the table: one from Rasmussen (Musgrove +1) and one from the DSCC (Musgrove +8). Show the former Governor you love him too.
Rhyming Nicknames for $200. This former governor and senator got his nickname by walking the length and breadth of Florida during one of his campaigns. Who is Walkin' Lawton Chiles. Yes! And his niece, Kay Hagan, learned a lot from her uncle - she's building one heck of a ground game after her primary victory last month. Kay's hosting "Family Reunions" and house parties across the state now, and the phone banks are up and running already. All politics is local, and Kay's got one huge advantage over Liddy Dole - her husband can vote for her!
How many vetoes will we override between now and January '09? Want to see the Weekly Reid on it's global warming soapbox? How about some Reid video? Reid On!
Nevada First: Overridden! Big news out of the Senate last week. By a whopping margin, the Senate overrode President Bush's veto of the Farm Bill. The Weekly Reid won't go into the tortured logic Bush used to justify vetoing the bill. We're all tightening our purse strings as a result of the Bush-McCain economic policies, and low-income Americans are shouldering an even heavier burden. In rural Nevada, the rising cost of healthy food is taking its toll on the neediest of our fellow citizens (see Senator Reid's op-ed in the Reno Gazette Journal) Democrats used the Farm Bill to bring much needed relief to rural America - confirming once again we stand up for struggling families.
Let's take a look at what the override would do:
-- Provide $10 over the next 10 years for nutritional programs to help millions of families afford healthy food.
-- Provide $1.2 billion over the same period to help food banks replenish their pantries.
-- Raise the minimum food stamp benefit from $10 to $14 - the first increase in 3 decades.
Oh, and the bill would cap payments to absentee farmers who don't need the subsides.
Like we said, we're not going to bore you with the tortured logic used to justify the President's veto. We'll just tip our hat to James Madison, and say, "Thanks for the Checks and Balances."
Must Reid: Veto Proof (Again). The Weekly Reid is happy to report that the 21st Century GI Bill passed last week, as a part of the supplemental war funding bill. The bill passed with a veto proof majority: 75-22 (it's a testament to the sad state we're in when we need to qualify this bill as "veto proof"). Noticeably absent? John McCain. Who said he'd vote against it anyway.
Against? Yes. He objects to the amount of money spent in the bill (for things like extending unemployment benefits) and says the GI education benefits would discourage troops who wish to reenlist. Forget the fact that we owe America's bravest a full ride and a diploma. And forget that the biggest deterrent to reenlistment is the failed strategy of Bush-McCain in Iraq.
On a related note, 25 Republicans broke ranks with the President and John McCain on this bill. 25. What does that say about John McCain as the new leader of the GOP? What about the president's influence? Leave it up to Senator Reid to, in just a few words, capture the dismal state of the Bush-McCain role in domestic and foreign policy, "What influence?"
Soapbox Time. When the Senate returns next week, they'll take up the Climate Change Bill. We usually think about global warming in terms of crazy weather patterns, super storms and melting glaciers. But an important part of fighting global warming is preventing the humanitarian crisis that comes along with the longer, drier summers and severe storms. For example, with hotter summers and longer droughts, and as farmland dries up, people (especially in developing countries) flock to big cities - cities that don't have the infrastructure in place to support a population explosion. Diseases run rampant and clean water becomes tougher to find. Next comes a food crisis in these big cities. A recent study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that global warming will likely lead to 40 to 170 million people being malnourished in the coming decades. So the next time a winger tells you global warming ain't a problem, take away his sandwich and tell him people are starving.
Reid's Watching: Recess TeeVee. Two quick video links for you. Senator Reid was on "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos a few weeks ago. Watch the video here. And the good Senator was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal. Check out the video here.
Nevada First: File under "Party Unity" - When you get 2,500 Democrats in a room, only one thing is certain - there are (at least) 2,500 different opinions on how to right the USS America after 8 years with George W. Bush at the helm. But this weekend in Reno, 2,500 Democrats converged on the Grand Sierra Resort for the Nevada State Democratic Convention. In what we all hope is a preview of the Denver Convention, delegates passed a party platform and committed to working together to beat John McCain. We may be the Big Tent Party - but when it comes to ending the greatest foreign policy blunder in our nation’s history, we stand together.
Senator Reid addressed the convention, noting how many new (and excited) Democrats we have as a result. He also took aim at Senator McCain, reminding the assembled masses that John McCain isn’t the maverick he claims to be, "I know where he stands on the issues. I've seen him vote. He's a flawed candidate. He has the wrong temperament, he's wrong on the war, he's wrong on the economy, and we're going to beat John McCain. We don't need a George Bush clone." Watch the whole speech here.
File Under "Bush III" - The Weekly Reid is a huge fan of this new DNC sponsored website: McCainpedia.com. Want the truth on George W. McCain and Yucca Mountain? Click here (it ain't good). Hours of enjoyment - just a click away.
Must Reid: File Under "Here We Go Again" - It’s supplemental time again in DC. And with Democrats in control of both houses of Congress, we have the opportunity to change course and give our troops the support they’ve earned. Whereas the Republican majorities in the 108th and 109th Congress simply rubberstamped the Administration's failed policy, Democrats in the 110th Congress are addressing the problems the Bush Republicans have ignored.
In English: We’re cleaning up their mess. The President’s failed policies have us spending $5,000 a second in Iraq. That means, in the time it took you to read this paragraph, you could have bought a new car. With the money spent on 15 seconds of the war in Iraq, the Weekly Reid could completely pay off its college loans.
File under "8 Semesters" - This week the Senate will also take up the new GI Bill, sponsored by over half of the Senate, half of the House and nearly every veterans group under the sun. Slam Dunk, right? Well, there’s still half of both houses who HAVEN’T cosponsored it. One reason to support it: This war has put heavy burdens on our National Guard and Reservists. Under the current education benefits, they receive only a small fraction of the money they need for higher education. Which, as you know, is the best ticket we have to the middle class.
File Under The Long Goodbye - Job Description: Regulate campaign finance legislation; interpret the current laws, issuing rulings and clarifications; maintain the integrity of the commission. Candidate Qualifications: worked to suppress Democratic voter turnout while working at the DOJ. Appointed to the FEC through a recess appointment; faced fierce criticism when nominated for a full term.
The FEC has been hamstrung by a fight over nominees to the commission - with only two full members, they haven’t even been able to reach a quorum. With the withdraw of Hans von Spakovsky this week (the above referenced resume) it looks like the FEC is making a come back.
Reid’s Watching: File Under "Yep. Alaska!" - Two polls out last week confirm what the Weekly Reid’s been saying for months now. Mark Begich (Mayor of Anchorage) is the real deal. And Uncle Ted is in a heap of trouble. Mayor Mark is up five points in this Research 2000 poll and two points in this Rasmussen poll. Oh, and look at the favorable/unfavorables for Senator Stevens! It’s gonna be a long, sunny summer for Democrats in Alaska. On the web: www.begich.com
File Under "Rocky Mountain Dem" - Mark Udall was officially recognized as the Democratic nominee for the Colorado Senate seat being vacated by Wayne Allard. At the state convention over the weekend, Mark thanked his fellow Democrats and took aim at “Big Oil” Bob Schaffer, “We can't afford another year of an energy policy written by the oil industry, and we can't afford to send another politician to Washington who stands up for the oil companies instead of the people and the future of our state.” Mark’s gonna win this race! On the web - www.markudall.com.
Nevada First: Empty Wallets. Let’s turn the clock back to May 2000. The good ol’ days. The Boy Band craze was on it’s way out. No one knew what a hanging chad was. And a barrel of crude oil cost $27.39. Fast forward to 2008 - instead of *NSYNC we have the Jonas Brothers. HBO’s “Recount” er, recounts, those crazy weeks when hanging chads got the media coverage Star Jones craves for. And oil costs over $125 a barrel. Nevadans are paying $3,000 dollars more a year for gas than they were 7 years ago. Where’s that money coming from?
The Bush administration’s oil-friendly policies amount to the one of the greatest shakedowns of American families in our nation’s history. And as the Washington Post/ABC News poll released this week shows, Americans are looking to Democrats (by 21 points) to fix the disastrous policies of the Bush administration. Exhibit A as to why there are 50,000 new active Democratic voters in Nevada.
Up From Searchlight. Newsweek sits down with Senator Reid to discuss his new book, The Good Fight (currently the best selling book about Nevada on Amazon.com). Read it for exclusive dating advice from the Majority Leader.
Must Reid: Stop-This. This LA Times piece from last Friday gave the Weekly Reid serious agita. The President promised to minimize the number of troops affected by the stop-loss policy (read: back-door draft) that keeps troops in uniform well past the time their service should end. With the announcement of the surge, there's been a 43% increase in the number of soldiers who've seen their tours extended. To make matters worse, the Army Times reported last week that the program will continue until the fall of 2009.
Not even divine intervention. Mere days after the Supreme Court handed the Right a huge victory in their effort to disenfranchise as many voters as possible (and reminded us once again that John McCain is no maverick), 12 Roman Catholic nuns were denied their right to vote because they lacked photo ID. None of them drive. One is 98.
The Samuel Gompers Seal of Approval. The Weekly Reid’s been harping on the Bush Republican’s war on the middle class for months now. What’s the best ticket to the middle class? The right to bargain collectively. This week, the Senate takes up the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act. Want fair wages for the men and women on the front lines of protecting our families? This is the bill for you! Want to strengthen the ties of our first responders to their communities? This bill does just that! Now, if we can just put the L back in the NLRB…
Reid’s Watching: Webb 2.0. Lots of people in DC and the blogosphere have been comparing Kay Hagan’s challenge to Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina to the now famous Jim Webb/George Allen battle in ’06. Well, on the heels of the new Rasmussen poll, perhaps this race should be upgraded from “Sleeper” to “One to Watch.” Kay Hagan 48% Elizabeth Dole 47%. One (sarcastic) caveat: Liddy Dole is a GREAT campaigner. Expect Hagan’s margin to widen as North Carolinians remember they sent Dole to Washington once before.
Whose side is he on? Jeff Merkley - Speaker of the Oregon House and architect of their new majority - is ready to take on Bush Republican Gordon Smith in November. And Gordon Smith is already preparing to take on Jeff Merkley. In a rare move, Sen. Smith is running negative ads against Merkley before the Democratic primary has played itself out. Some argue Smith’s trying to help Jeff’s opponent (who is losing to both Smith and Jeff pretty convincingly now). The Weekly Reid thinks he feels the weight of the Bush Republican water he’s been carrying for the last eight years.
Welcome to the Weekly Reid, a compilation of the highlights of the past week about Majority Leader as well as occasional messages and special information from Senator Reid himself. Look for it every Wednesday.
Nevada First: Look! Up in the Sky! Pop quiz: You’re a United States Senator, faced with a bill that would upgrade airport infrastructure, improve oversight of the FAA and the airlines, modernize the air-traffic control system, and help the airlines lower the cost of their fuel. Do you a) co-sponsor it, b) offer an amendment to incorporate aspects of the Passenger Bill of Rights into the final bill or c) filibuster it.
If you chose a or b, then congratulations! You’re an honorary member of the Democratic caucus! Bush Republicans faced this choice this afternoon, as the vote on cloture for the FAA Modernization Bill came to the floor. For those of you keeping count at home, this is the 69th time in this Congress that Bush Republicans have donned their obstructionist hats and threatened a filibuster. They’re not even willing to DEBATE the bill or offer amendments - they just want to kill it. The Las Vegas airport - McCarran International - accommodates 4 million passengers a month. In about 3 years, it’ll reach full capacity. What will Vegas do with all those empty hotel rooms? This bill would invest in the future of all airports and air travel (read: tourism). If he were still around, Howard Hughes - everyone’s favorite rich recluse aviator - would probably just build another one for Nevada
Maybe If They Served Peanuts. Here’s something about airports that isn’t controversial. Senator Reid joined forces with Senator Ensign and Congressman Heller in announcing funding for Reno-Tahoe airport. The 7 million dollars - split over two separate grants - will help reduce the noise level from the increase in air traffic coming into the airport. Said Senator Reid: “Reducing noise levels around the Reno-Tahoe Airport is an important quality of life issue for people residing in nearby neighborhoods. I’m happy we’re able to bring the money we need back home to Nevada for this important work.”
Must Reid: Mission…still not accomplished. Half a decade. That’s how long it’s been since President Bush declared “Mission Accomplished.” Of the more than 4,000 heroic Americans who’ve died in this war, 97% have given their life since President Bush’s photo-op on the USS Abraham Lincoln. And if President Bush had not so recklessly vetoed a bill passed by both houses of Congress and supported by the vast majority of the American people, every one of our combat troops would be well on their way home. We’re spending $5,000 a second in Iraq. $5,000 a second. How much do you think that banner cost the American taxpayer?
Money in the bank. The Weekly Reid got its economic stimulus check last week - while on vacation in Las Vegas (no, the $600 was not put on red). Keep an eye on your mailbox! They’re being mailed out to you based on the last two numbers of your social security number.
Reid’s Watching: Thank God For TiVo. Jon Stewart hosted Senator Reid last night - watch the video here. And listen to his talk with Steve Inskeep from NPR’s Morning Edition here. Still haven’t read the book? Order it from Amazon.com now - it’s cheaper than in the bookstore, and your online purchase will help us move up the list of non-fiction bestsellers! Don't forget - all proceeds will be donated to charity!
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