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May 21, 2009
Posted: 05:00 PM ET
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at a news conference in which the Democratic leaders discussed the first 100 days of the Obama Administration and their legislative accomplishments. (PHOTO CREDIT: CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY IMAGES) FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty: President Obama has had a lot of success early in his term. But it could be even better. Democrats control the House, and if Al Franken becomes the 60th Democratic senator, they will have a fillibuster-proof majority there. But as usual, when it comes to the Democrats, all is not well. And the problem starts with the leadership in Congress. A new CNN/Opinion Research corporation poll shows House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with only a 39 percent approval rating - 48 percent think she's doing a terrible job. And Pelosi is not doing herself any favors by the way she's handled the torture debate. There's reason to believe Pelosi knew about waterboarding as early as 2002 but she refuses to admit it. Instead she accuses the CIA of lying to Congress. A Mason Dixon poll taken in Nevada for the Las Vegas Review-Journal shows Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's approval rating is even worse: A meager 38 percent - about half of the state's voters have a negative view of Reid. In fact, there's a question whether he'll even be re-elected. 45 percent of those polled say they'll definitely vote for another candidate in 2010. Here’s my question to you: Would President Obama be better off with congressional leaders other than Harry Reid & Nancy Pelosi? Interested to know which ones made it on air? Filed under: Harry Reid House Speaker Nancy Pelosi President Barack Obama January 13, 2009
Posted: 04:06 PM ET
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty: It's official: Roland Burris will be sworn in and officially seated in the United States Senate later this week. He fills the seat vacated by President-elect Obama.
Why did Reid change his mind? This comes after a circus of events that started with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich allegedly trying to sell the seat. Then he refused, and does to this day, to resign from his post. Last week, Blagojevich was impeached by the Illinois legislature. But in a brazen show of arrogance, and perhaps as a way of calling Harry Reid's bluff, Blagojevich went right ahead and appointed Roland Burris. As promised, the Senate refused to seat him. When Burris was named, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and others quickly said they would reject anyone appointed by Governor Blagojevich. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, number two in the Senate, initially said the fate of the vacant seat should wait until Blagojevich is removed from office. And there was no shortage of lawmakers issuing statements or rushing in front of cameras to speak their minds. But look what can happen in a week. Burris met behind closed doors with Reid. Democratic Senators suddenly changed their tune and now they will welcome Burris with open arms as their new colleague. Here’s my question to you: Why did Senators Harry Reid and Dick Durbin cave in and agree to seat Roland Burris as President-elect Obama's Senate replacement? Interested to know which ones made it on air? Filed under: Democrats Harry Reid Roland Burris January 8, 2009
Posted: 01:47 PM ET
"I don't work for Barack Obama. I work with him," Reid said. FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told The Hill newspaper that the Democrats on Capitol Hill will not be a rubber stamp for President-elect Obama's policies, the way the Republicans have been for President Bush. Reid said, "I don't work for Barack Obama. I work with him." Reid's been on a bit of a roll this week. He started Sunday with his ongoing mantra about President Bush's failures and called him the worst President ever. On Tuesday, he turned away Roland Burris at the Senate door, which was not a surprise since he vowed to refuse to accept anyone appointed by scandal ridden Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. But he may not have a choice. Reid met with Burris yesterday and seems to have warmed up to the possibility of seating him if the lawyers can work things out. If that happens, Harry Reid will look sillier than he already does. Reid was also shooting from the lip on the still disputed Minnesota Senate race. He said, quote, "Norm Coleman will never ever serve again in the Senate" Really? What if a court decides otherwise? Yesterday he told his fellow Senators to cancel their travel plans for this weekend and vowed a weekend vote on only the second day of the legislative session. What a busy fellow. Here’s my question to you: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he doesn't work for Barack Obama. Is he right? Interested to know which ones made it on air? Filed under: Barack Obama Harry Reid Senate and Congress |
Jack Cafferty sounds off hourly on the Situation Room on the stories crossing his radar. Now, you can check in with Jack online to see what he's thinking and weigh in with your own comments online and on TV. Send your comments on the "Cafferty File". Jack's Book
Read excerpts about Jack's battle with alcoholism and Jack's philosophy on parenting. CNN=Politics Screensaver
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