Someone’s Giving Senator Reid Jonestown Kool-Aid
I expected more of Senator Harry Reid than a quote like this: “Asked Thursday his reaction to Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s insistence this week that Social Security must be transformed, preferably along lines urged by Bush, Reid replied:
“I’m not a big Greenspan fan. … I voted against him two times. I think he’s one of the biggest political hacks we have in Washington,” Reid said on CNN’s “Judy Woodruff’s Inside Politics.”
I know. The cognoscenti will argue this is tactical politics. But for the Democrats tactical politics is Jonestown Kool-Aid — a dying political culture in a death spiral sips poison that tastes like invigorating sugar.
This Knight-Ridder article, datelined “Searchlight, Nevada,” sheds a favorable light on Reid’s background. Reid should be a Lieberman Democrat (ie, an FDR-Truman Democrat) but he’s having to wear Clinton-Kerry-Dean rhetorical clothing and play obstructionist, along with former Ku Klux Kalnner Robert Byrd. This game proved fatal for Tom Daschle, the last Democrat Senator Minority Leader.
Part of the problem is the Beltway Ambience. Inside the Beltway Peter Jennings’ sighs and the editorial page of the NY Times matter more than common sense. Reid — who was a boxer at South Utah State College — has to finesse fundraisers with cause celebre leftish toffs in Georgetown. Reid’s two men — Nevada Reid and DC Reid. Before the Internet he might get away with the double identity, but not anymore. As I’ve said in a couple of recent columns, the Dems need armed liberals. Instead, Reid is aligned with the decadent Byrd-Boxer-Kennedy Kool-Aid cult.
It could be worse, Austin. Reid is bad, and semi-delusional, but at least he isn’t the featured speaker at a pro-terrorist anti-war rally like my Congressman will be in a week. You may be correct in saying that some Democrats are content to sip the Kool Aid. Unfortunately, it seems that an ever-growing amount have taken to gulping down cups at a time.
Comment by Confederate Yankee — 3/4/2005 @ 12:09 pm
Not every one there when the kool aid is drunk dies from the kool aid. Some are shot. (hmmm I keep typing ‘kook aid’… its a sign)
Comment by dave — 3/4/2005 @ 10:14 pm
These absolutely are Kool (and Kook!) Aid drinkers. I, too, have the very sad misfortune of having Hinchey as my “representative.” These people aren’t just dissenters; they ARE on the other side. Belmont Club is addressing this poison in his post of yesterday when he addresses what I believe needs to be examined thoroughly in the blogosphere (the MSM will never do it): a possibly fatal flaw of Western freedom and democracy that is the breeding of weakness and self- loathing in most of the educated and sophisticated in our societies. Freedom, democracy and prosperity seem to lead to a decadent weakness and inability to perceive evil and the enemy determined to destroy us. This is not to say that we brought 9/11 upon ourselves. But our determination to deny that we have evil and enemies among us could be our downfall.
Comment by Peg C. — 3/5/2005 @ 8:26 am
I forgot to mention that I am a former lifelong Dem and left the party when I realized that it no longer in any fashion has this country’s best interests at heart and is actively abetting our enemies. Yes, I honestly believe this.
Comment by Peg C. — 3/5/2005 @ 8:29 am
If I recall correctly, Jonestown used Wyler’s drink and not Kool-Aid. Not that this is relevant in any way, shape, or form.
Comment by Jaybird — 3/5/2005 @ 10:08 am
Harry Reid was up for reelection in Nevada last November. His ads clearly and specifically declined to identify him as a Democrat. Everyone noticed, it was a key part of his reelection strategy to distance himself from the Democrat Party and it’s anti-American agenda. Now, of course, he can show his true colors. He’s every bit the obstructionist, hate monger, and two-faced party hack he always was. Don’t be fooled. He hates Bush, the Republicans, and everything America stands for. He can’t be trusted to keep his word, to tell the truth, or to hold up his end of a bargain. Ignore him or shun him, but don’t waste time on him. He isn’t worth it.
Comment by Black Jack — 3/5/2005 @ 11:07 am
Re: “Peter Jennings’ sighs” — how does a high-school drop-out rate such adulation?
Comment by Just a Flesh Wound — 3/5/2005 @ 4:44 pm