Harry Reid: 'Why Would We Want To' Help One Kid With Cancer?

Hear it from the majority leader of the U.S. Senate, himself...



As a reminder: How many times have you heard, "If we can help/save just one child..." as a reason for legislation?

"Inside baseball"...

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) gives a speech...references the "National Mets."


Maybe someone should give ol' Harry another shot of Geritol.

Of course, ol' Harry could be taking a cue from the late "Lion of the Senate," Teddy Kennedy...



Let's hear it for "Mike McGwire and Sammy Sooser!"

Money talks...

Steve Wynn...

Steve Wynn, the CEO of casino company Wynn Resorts, delivered what some are calling "an epic anti-Obama rant" during his company's quarterly conference call today.

(The audio can be heard here...)

The self-described "Democratic businessman [who supports the U.S. Senate majority leader -- who just happens to represent Nevada, which is home to Wynn's hotels and casinos] Harry Reid," laid into the Obama administration for its failed economic policies.

One of Wynn's signature properties/accomplishments...

Some excerpts from Wynn's "chat" --

"And I'm saying it bluntly, that this administration is the greatest wet blanket to business, and progress and job creation in my lifetime. And I can prove it and I could spend the next 3 hours giving you examples of all of us in this market place that are frightened to death about all the new regulations, our healthcare costs escalate, regulations coming from left and right. A President that seems, that keeps using that word redistribution. Well, my customers and the companies that provide the vitality for the hospitality and restaurant industry, in the United States of America, they are frightened of this administration.And it makes you slow down and not invest your money. Everybody complains about how much money is on the side in America."

"You bet and until we change the tempo and the conversation from Washington, it's not going to change. And those of us who have business opportunities and the capital to do it are going to sit in fear of the President. And a lot of people don't want to say that. They'll say, God, don't be attacking Obama. Well, this is Obama's deal and it's Obama that's responsible for this fear in America."

"The guy keeps making speeches about redistribution and maybe we ought to do something to businesses that don't invest, their holding too much money. We haven't heard that kind of talk except from pure socialists. Everybody's afraid of the government and there's no need soft peddling it, it's the truth. It is the truth. And that's true of Democratic businessman and Republican businessman, and I am a Democratic businessman and I support Harry Reid. I support Democrats and Republicans. And I'm telling you that the business community in this company is frightened to death of the weird political philosophy of the President of the United States. And until he's gone, everybody's going to be sitting on their thumbs."

The money is talking, Mr. President? Are you listening?

"Change that works for you." Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...

Senate Majority Leader Takes a Shot at the Other Whorehouses...

I guess Sen. Harry Reid (D-Vice) got tired of all the competition...

Why Harry Reid has reversed course and started cooperating...

Because he sees the writing/poll numbers on the wall...

Full of...

...himself.

Harry just can't help himself (in any way), can he?

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who looks like he's about to take an unplanned retirement, appeared on MSNBC today and said, "But for me, we would be in a world-wide depression."

I don't which is worse: that he said that with a straight face or that he might actually believe it...

Out of touch...

...out of time.

"Who's a Twitter?"

"What's a Facebook?"

These are questions, of course, we imagine U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Slot Machines) poses when the subjects of technology and social media arise. And while his office has established various accounts in his name with the usual venues, no one in their right mind believes the guy has ever "Tweeted" or posted a "status update."

Following his debate with Republican challenger Sharon Angle last night - where the GOPer called Reid out on his infamous, "...the Iraq War is lost" comments, the Silver State's senior senator posted this on his Twitter account:

@HarryReidSenator Harry Reid

Angle @ debate: Reid demoralized our troops when he said the war was lost. LIE! HERE’S PROOF http://bit.ly/aZjGWu#nvsen

He also posted this on his Facebook account:

Harr

Harry Reid Angle @ debate: Reid demoralized our troops when he said the war was lost. LIE! HERE’S PROOF

Setting The Record Straight: FACT CHECK | HarryReid.com

www.harryreid.com

(As you can see, Reid also posted his response on his "fact check" website.)

Unfortunately for Reid, audio and video that make their way to the Internet do not die. Watch and learn:

From the venerable blog, Hot Air: "This comment came on April 19, 2007, more than a month after the comment Reid claims Angle is misrepresenting. In it, one can get the impression that Reid wants people to think that the war in Iraq had already been lost, because he says:

'Now I believe, myself, that the secretary of state, the secretary of defense and you have to make your own decision as to what the president knows:that this war is lost, that the surge is not accomplishing anything.'"

Poor old Harry - he's out of touch...and out of time.

Rearranging the deck chairs...

Well, the Democrats had a “major announcement” today. Was it news about the president? No. Maybe they dug up some dirt on a GOP official? Nope. A plan to revive the economy? Nuh-uh. The big news? A new logo! Only this one isn’t all that inspiring – especially since it looks like they’re giving themselves a “D” (which some folks think is being generous).

Meanwhile in the well of the Senate: "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday predicted to The Hill that Democratic Senate candidate Chris Coons will safely win the Nov. 2 general election against GOP nominee Christine O'Donnell. But Reid said Coons would have won even if Rep. Mike Castle (R) had prevailed over O'Donnell. 'I'm going to be very honest with you — Chris Coons, everybody knows him in the Democratic caucus. He's my pet. He's my favorite candidate,' Reid said." (The Hill) My pet? Really? The senate majority leader said that? On the other hand, it is Harry Reid...

From our lips to God's ear...

Whistling through the graveyard? According to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Pelosi Island), recent Tea Party primary victories were "very positive" for Democrats. Pelosi also listed as "positives" - tax audits, water boarding and root canal surgery (without anesthesia)...

Nancy Pelosi and the power of "positive" thinking...

"Elizabeth Warren To Be Appointed to Help Create Consumer Finance Protection Bureau" - because, you know, it's good to put added regulations and other burdens on the backs of businesses during times of economic woe...

From Taegan Goddard's Political Wire: "Former President Bill Clinton said the Republican Party is embracing 'ideology over evidence' and even questioned whether former President George W. Bush would fit in among the party's candidates this year, the AP reports. Said Clinton: 'A lot of their candidates today, they make him look like a liberal.'" This from the guy who ran left and snapped back to the right so quick he gave his base whiplash...

If at first you don't succeed (at bludgeoning the electorate) with ObamaCare™, try, try again...

"Recovery Summer" or "Summer of George?" - 'nuf said...

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Harry Reid: U.S. Senate Majority Leader and...

...the best friend the GOP ever had?

If he's not opposing his president on the Ground Zero mosque issue, he's making speeches against bestowing citizenship on "anchor babies" born to illegal aliens. (Sure, it was a while ago but that's not going to stop the GOP from making hay with it...)

Late add/bonus Harry Reid (D-NV) material: from Ed Driscoll over at PajamasMedia some examples at the Senate leader's more memorable gaffes (and there are a lot to choose from):

The Top Ten Harry Reid quotes!

Number 10: Get this man a Claritin!

Number 9: The Peasants are Revolting!

Number 8, Beware the Evil-mongers!

Number 7: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.

Number 6: The Senator as psychiatrist.

Number 5: Newspaper jobs saved or created!

Number 4: Harry Supports the Troops.

Number 3: Beltway Babies Say Goodnight.

Number 2: When Harry met Barry.

And after that racial epithet, Harry doubles down! Which brings us to The Number one quote from the Harry Reid super gaffe-o-matic 76 machine: Harry stands up for diversity and freedom of choice: “I don’t know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican. Do I need to say more?”

Add Reid (from Taegan Goddard's "Political Wire"): A new Rasmussen survey in Nevada shows Sen. Harry Reid (D) in a dead heat with challenger Sharron Angle (R) in the U.S. Senate race with both getting 47% support.

Let's give 'em something to talk about...

We're nearing week's end, so here's a round-up of some of the bigger stories out there...

The president went on "The View" yesterday. Among the topics he touched on - Snooki and LiLo, race and social media. Ba-ba Wa-wa, unfortunately, did not ask him if he was a tree what kind he would be...

When Nancy Pelosi promised to "drain the swamp" in D.C., who knew emptying it would begin on her side of the aisle? (I wonder what else is under the rocks...?)

Maybe her drainage pipe is blocked...

Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio/Gray Davis? Poll shows Californians prefer Davis over The Governator. Looks like Ah-nold shouldn't have quit his day job...

Now that Sen. Harry Reid's efforts have failed, is the global warming movement dead? Moreover, is Harry Reid's career dead?

News item: One in five Californians say they need mental health care...so that's how Nancy Pelosi keeps being re-elected...

Serf warning: "Tax tsunami on the horizon" -(c.q.)...

News item - "Judge Blocks Parts of Arizona Immigration Law"; no word from Feds on actual enforcement of existing laws...

Americans between the ages 18-42, H.R.5741-Universal National Service Act- calls for 2 years mandatory national service. The bill, by the way, is authored by Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), who will be lucky if he gets away with just two years...

Charlie Rangel - he has a right to be worried...

Hey, who wouldn't like to take four vacations in a month? (Times are tough all over!) I'm just glad the prez and his family feel all our pain...

He was against paying taxes -until he was for paying taxes? John Kerry has "Nothing more to say" about yacht tax dodge. (Thank goodness Mrs. Heinz-Kerry was able to cough-up a nice $500,000 check to the Commonwealth of Taxachusetts to buy-away the embarrassment.)

He should've stuck with the windsurfer...

Add Kerry: "If you guys think that John Kerry doesn't have enough sense of either propriety or common sense, that I'm going to be sailing my boat around Massachusetts where I'm highly recognizable but it's going to somehow stay in Rhode Island and I'm going to avoid a tax . . . I'd be crazy to think that I'm going to be doing that, and that was never our long-term intention here." (As quoted in The Boston Globe - h/t: James Taranto @ Best of the Web Today/WSJ.)

RADIO ALERT! - Yours truly will be hosting the John Batchelor Show tomorrow (Saturday) from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m., Pacific Time. I'll be joined by Gordon Chang of Forbes.com, as well as more than a dozen other guests as we take on the news and events shaping our world. Check local listings or John's website for details...

The John Batchelor Show - tomorrow night!

You're doing it wrong...

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) explains that federal government bailouts of GM and Chrysler saved Ford.

Yes, that's just how it worked...

Surprised/not surprised...

Just a few quick notes regarding recent developments here at home and around the world…all worth paying attention to…

A report in the Wall Street Journal details the further deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan. In a story that seems more farcical than real, officials have revealed that “U.S. Support for Power Plant in Afghanistan Benefits the Taliban.” It goes on to say that, “Since U.S.-funded repairs of a turbine at an Afghanistan power plant doubled its capacity in October, nearly half of the total electrical output has flowed to districts where the Taliban administer the grid, Afghan officials say.” Apparently, the Taliban doesn’t have to win this fight – we just have to keep shooting ourselves in the foot.

And you thought your utility company was tough...

From close behind to edging ahead: According to Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire, “A new SurveyUSA poll in California finds Carly Fiorina (R) edging Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) in the U.S. Senate race, 47% to 45%, a lead which is within the poll's four point margin of error. Key finding: The poll found twice as many Democrats cross-over to vote Republican as Republicans who cross-over to vote Democrat in the race.” Likewise, Goddard adds, “A new SurveyUSA poll in California finds Meg Whitman (R) leading Jerry Brown (D) by seven points among likely voters in the race for governor, 46% to 39%. Key finding: Whitman gets 77% of Republican voters, while Brown gets the support of 64% of Democrats. Independents break by a 5-4 margin for Whitman.” Suddenly, a whole bunch of folks are sitting up and paying attention…

Leading ladies...

Out of touch? Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) had an, um, “interesting” reply when asked about illegal immigrants working in his home state by a reporter from the Las Vegas CBS affiliate. "When you go to the unemployment office there's many U.S. citizens who are unemployed construction workers and they don't have jobs because right now, some of those construction companies find it easier to hire undocumented workers," said Reporter Nathan Baca. "I think that any information you have in that regard is absolutely without foundation," responded Reid. "That may be someplace, but it is not here in Nevada." You can see the report here.

Losing touch...

RIP: George Steinbrenner, the bête noire of every Red Sox fan (and decent human being) passed away today. He was 80. We won’t bother with an obit – that’s what print guys get paid to do. Instead, here’s the one great thing he did:

What's news?

A quick rundown of the people and events making news that matters to you:

California / the West

The Los Angeles Times endorses San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom over L.A. City council member Janice Hahn on the Democratic side for lieutenant governor, saying "whoever fills the job must be ready to become governor at a moment's notice. Newsom, for all his cockiness, is a dynamic leader — one who is more suited than Hahn to guide the state." LAT editorial

Meg Whitman is coming off an extraordinary successful quarter – at least when it comes to adding money for her campaign. California Watch. Plus: Her tax return for 2008 shows Carly Fiorina and her husband had income of more than $2.75 million. LAT

Tom Campbell: Arizona immigration law is constitutional

Poizner's tilt right is in keeping with record

Building sell-off slammed - Report says guv's plan to unload buildings would lose state $1.5 billion...

CA gov backs health overhaul...

Franken to raise money with SNL alums at LA event...

Weren’t we supposed to be boycotting California for its homophobia?...

Tourism chief opposes Arizona boycott - SF's Joe D'Alessandro says it could hurt the very people it is trying to support...

Newsom edging toward the boycott bandwagon...

SF's Proposed Arizona Boycott Threatens Job Program...

‘Little decisions’ could have big impact - The bad news we already know: San Francisco has a $483 million budget deficit that must be resolved before June 1.


Gavin - he was against the post of Lt. Gov. before he was for it...

The Economy / Wall Street

Volatile Jobs Data Point To Uneven Recovery...

Goldman's Gift to Democrats - "Lawmakers have been haggling over financial reform for 18 months, but it took Goldman Sachs just one day to get it done," the Washington Post reports. "Of course, the Wall Street giant wasn't intending to get the financial legislation done. Quite the opposite: Like most in the investment world, Goldman would generally prefer that regulators leave it and its billions of dollars of profits alone. But when Goldman executives faced a Senate panel on Tuesday, their performance was so obnoxious, their contempt for lawmakers so palpable, that their appearance had the effect of dissolving the Republican resistance to what Democrats are now calling 'Wall Street reform.'"

U.S. / Politics

Bush Was Right - Obama’s predecessor would have passed immigration reform if not for 9/11. He was correct to shift focus then—and Obama shouldn’t let the Arizona debacle force him to push for a new law during an election year...

Senate Dems will move campaign finance legislation before July 4...

Republicans Eye Three Symbolic Senate Seats - Washington Post: ""Every now and then, there comes a congressional race so fraught with history and symbolism that it becomes as much about sending a message as winning a seat. This year, Republicans are looking to hit the trifecta in the Senate. As things stand now, they are well within striking distance of winning President Obama's old seat in Illinois and Vice President Biden's former perch in Delaware, and of toppling Majority Leader Harry M. Reid in Nevada."

Senate Democrats to unveil immigration plan

Reid Still Trails Badly - A new Rasmussen survey in Nevada finds Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) still struggling against his possible Republican challengers. Sue Lowden (R) is ahead 52% to 39%, Danny Tarkanian (R) leads 51% to 41%, and Sharron Angle (R) is in front 48% to 40%.

Al Gore buys $8.8 million ocean-view villa...

The Most Polarized Congress in Modern History - William Galston: "The current Congress -- the 111th -- is the most ideologically polarized in modern history. In both the House and the Senate, the most conservative Democrat is more liberal than is the most liberal Republican. If one defines the congressional 'center' as the overlap between the two parties, the center has disappeared."

Motor City Madman Backs Palin - Rock star Ted Nugent endorses Sarah Palin: "We who are driven to be assets to our families, communities and our beloved country connect with the principles that Sarah Palin embodies. We know that bureaucrats and, even more, Fedzilla, are not the solution; they are the problem. I'd be proud to share a moose-barbecue campfire with the Palin family anytime, so long as I can shoot the moose."

McCain Holds Double-Digit Lead Over Hayworth - A new Public Policy Polling survey in Arizona finds the Republican U.S. Senate primary much closer than a Rocky Mountain poll released yesterday. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) leads challenger J.D. Hayworth (R), 46% to 35%, though a majority of Republicans think "he's too lenient on immigration" and a plurality feel that "he's too liberal in general." Hayworth actually leads McCain 46% to 38% with conservative voters. But McCain's 60% to 15% advantage with moderates is so overwhelming that it allows him the double digit lead...


Al Gore - feeling the heat over his new digs...

International

Tribal elders refuse to return to former Pakistani Taliban base, jeopardizing military gains...

Saddam's loyalists in Syria blast US...

Gordon Brown's Disastrous Day - The British prime minister’s spectacular gaffe has further imperiled his faltering campaign. Alex Massie on how upstart Nick Clegg is taking advantage—and what he wants...

All hail the success of Hugo Chavez's bolivarian socialism: "What we're seeing in Venezuela is a phenomenon where productivity, private activity and private business is falling"...

Latin America Will Expand In 2010...

AHMADINEJAD TO ATTEND CONFERENCE AT UN NEXT WEEK...

US Navy has encounter with Iranian jet...

US gives $2.5 million more to help pay for Charles Taylor war crimes trial...

Iran's Ahmadinejad - coming soon to a UN near you...

Defense / Terrorism-related

Could drone pilots be tried for war crimes?...

Navy to allow women to serve on subs...

Health/tech/science/Environment

APPLE WANTED A “PUBLIC EXECUTION” in the iPhone case?...

Steve Jobs' scathing bash of Flash - Apple CEO lays out 6 reasons why he won't support the Adobe technology on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch...

Water Ice and Organic Material Found for First Time on Asteroid...

U.S. Escalates Oil Spill Response...

Microsoft Tablet Project Shelved...

Google to Show TV Software in May...

Boss Jobs...

China / Asia

South Korea ship sinking may be perfect crime for North...

The U.S. and China are locked in a kind of mutually assured economic destruction that will force cooperation even as security disputes simmer...

Japan Forces Bureaucrats to Defend Spending...

So, Ready for War With North Korea?...

Thai Political Tussle Intensifies...

The start of something bad?

Hat tip (sources): Los Angeles Times, NY Times, LA Observed, SF Chronicle/SFGate, SF Examiner, The Hill, Legal Insurrection, KCBS, Forbes.com, the Wall Street Journal/Online WSJ, the Drudge Report, Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire, Gawker, Instapundit, Philly.com, BBC, PopSci.com, AP News/MyWay, Boing Boing, Breitbart.com, The Daily Beast, Comcast.net, Korea Times, the Washington Post, Reuters, California Watch, TIME, Rheilworldview.com, Telegraph UK, Big Journalism, Moonbattery.com