Buh bye Harry Reid

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Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced Friday morning he will not seek reelection.

His departure opens up a top swing seat and deprives Republicans of their hopes to take out the Democratic leader.

“I have had time to ponder and to think,” he said in a video released by his office, referring to his recent time off as a result of an injury. “We’ve got to be more concerned about the country, the Senate, the State of Nevada than us and as a result of that, I’m not going to run for reelection.”

He tried to limit speculation that the departure was linked to the injuries he sustained to his face and ribs earlier this year that has left him with dark bruises on his face and wearing protective glasses.

“The decision they I’ve made has absolutely nothing to do with my injury, it has nothing to do with my being minority leader, and it certainly has nothing to do with my ability to be reelected, because the path to reelection is much easier than it probably has been any time that I’ve run for reelection,” he said.

More at The Hill

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I’m definitely going to miss the Innocent Bystanders Blog (which shut down this week) more than I’ll ever miss Harry R.

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“We’ve got to be more concerned about the country, the Senate, the State of Nevada than us

Which is exactly why he needs to be out of there. Perhaps he can use of all of his new found free time to gather and present evidence that Mitt Romney cheated on his taxes.

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Reed knew all along that Romney probably didn’t do anything illegal on his taxes. The problem was most likely the special tax breaks reserved for the very wealthy, and how regular, non-privileged American taxpayers would react upon seeing a clear example of how that works.

Is Reed evil for doing such a thing? Politics is a hard game. Keep in mind that Jeb Bush just bumped Romney out of the running for 2016 by telegraphing he was going to use the same play.

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Harry is simply another congressional Democrat who realizes that “the jig is up” for him. The polls were looking terrible for Senate NAZI “no votes for you” Harry, there are multiple shady deals coming to light, his partisan obstructionism, his support for Obamacare and for Obama’s illegal amnesty have hurt him greatly with the non-illegal Nevada voters. With all that in mind:

24 of Harry Reid’s Oddest Quotes From His Senate Career

In honor of Reid’s retirement annoucement, here are some of his more colorful comments from his Senate career.

“I have been a fan of earmarks since I got here the first day.” Harry Reid – May 2014

“Two decades from now, I’m willing to take a look at it, but I’m not willing to take a look at it right now.” Harry Reid – age 71 – March 2011 on Social Security reform

“Seniors love getting junk mail. It’s sometimes their only way of communicating or feeling like they’re part of the real world.” – Harry Reid 2012

“The National Endowment of the Humanities is the reason we have in northern Nevada every January a cowboy poetry festival. Had that program not been around, the tens of thousands of people who come there every year would not exist.” – Harry Reid defends taxpayer dollars for Cowboy Poetry March 2011

“Despite all that good news, there’s plenty of horror stories being told. All of them are untrue, but they’re being told all over America,” – Harry Reid on Obamacare problems – February 2014

“We in the Senate refer to Sen. Gillibrand as the hottest member.” – Harry Reid September 2010

“If you’re over age 50, the internet is something you’re just learning about.” – Harry Reid October 2013 defending the Obamacare website

“My friend from Texas is like a schoolyard bully.” – Harry Reid on Sen. Ted Cruz – May 2013

“Many of our job creators are like unicorns, they’re impossible to find and don’t exist.” Harry Reid December 2011 on millionaire job creators.

“Madam president, have everyone sit down and shut up.” – Harry Reid on the Senate Floor August 2013

“Your dog is fat.” Harry Reid to George W. Bush about his dog

“In fact, one of our core principles is that if you like the health care you have, you can keep it.” – Harry Reid on Obamacare 2009

“One problem that I’ve had today is keeping my Wongs straight.” – Harry Reid speaking to the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce August 2014

“I don’t think you’re smarter than anybody else, but you’ve convinced a lot of us you are,” – Harry Reid to Asians at the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce

“I don’t know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican, okay. Do I need to say more?” Harry Reid – August 2010

“That may be some place, but it’s not here in Nevada.” – Harry Reid on illegal immigrant construction workers – July 2010

“We’re going to hear an earful, but it’s going to be an earful of wonderment and happiness that people waited for for a long time.” – Harry Reid Dec. 2009 on effort to pass Obamacare

“This war is lost and the surge is not accomplishing anything as indicated by the extreme violence in Iraq yesterday” – Harry Reid on the War in Iraq – April 2007

“He didn’t pay taxes for 10 years! Now, do I know that that’s true? Well, I’m not certain,” – Harry Reid lying about Mitt Romney’s taxes July 2012

“I don’t want to answer that question. That’s a clown question bro,” – Harry Reid dodges a question from a reporter June 2012

“My staff tells me not to say this, but I’m going to say it anyway. In the summer because of the heat and high humidity, you could literally smell the tourists coming into the Capitol. It may be descriptive but it’s true.” – Harry Reid 2008

“One of our core principles is that if you like the health care you have you can keep it.” Harry Reid 2009 on Obamacare

Obama a ‘light-skinned’ African-American ‘with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.’” – Harry Reid on Barack Obama in 2008 according to the book “Game Change”

“While I respect his right to say anything he likes, his unpatriotic comments I cannot ignore. During his show last Wednesday, Limbaugh was engaged in one of his typical rants. This one was unremarkable and indistinguishable from his usual drivel, which has been steadily losing listeners for years.” – Harry Reid blasting Rush Limbaugh in 2007

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Opponents haven’t been able to beat the guy in a Senate election for 28 years. He’s going to retire on his own terms at the age of 76, after finishing his current term. While his favorable opinion rating is low in national polls, it has consistently been 10 percentage points higher than the approval rating of Congress as a whole.

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@Greg:

it has consistently been 10 percentage points higher than the approval rating of Congress as a whole

The last 2 years he ran the senate, the senate rankings were 7 – 10%, so you putting Reid at 17-20 %. Is that something you think Reid should be proud of?

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@Redteam:

Greg is spinning as usual. Harry Reid’s national rate (19%, and the worse of anyone in the Senate,) is terrible, and comparing it to Congress as a whole is a disingenuous attempt to try to make Reid’s numbers look good. Harry Reid’s home state polls have continually nose-dived starting prior to his 2010 re-election (yet another election which the GOP snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by selecting a very stupid candidate,) and his obstructionist handling of the Senate has resulted in huge losses of support by Nevada’s voters (even with state Democrats). In January, Crystal Ball Polls predicted Harry’s possible retirement.

Crystal Ball Polls Say Harry Reid is Most Vulnerable Senator in 2016

In the Crystal Ball’s first batch of 2016 Senate ratings in December 2014, we identified Reid as probably the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in this Senate cycle. While we rate the contest as Leans Democratic, the prospect of a possible challenge from popular Gov. Brian Sandoval (R-NV) could seriously endanger Reid’s future in Congress’ upper chamber, and Reid’s weak approval ratings also make him potentially vulnerable to other, less heralded Republicans. It’s also possible that he will retire, although his heavy fundraising and public comments suggest that he’s running again.

(Snip & from above article continued in Rasmussen Reports)

Reid has won five straight elections for Senate, starting in 1986. His average share of the vote in those contests was 52.1%. If we compare Reid to other senators who won at least five consecutive contests (including special elections), his mark is the lowest average percentage won by any qualifying senator. Reid also had the lowest median percentage (50.3%). Overall, as shown in Table 1 below, there are 72 senators who qualify for such a list, eight of whom later lost renomination or reelection. Note that this list does not include any losses before a senator was first elected to the Senate — after all, Reid narrowly lost in his first Senate race in 1974 to Sen. Paul Laxalt (R-NV).

Others also take note that Reid would very likely lose 2016 election bid:

Poll: Harry Reid Would Lose Senate Race to Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval

Harry Reid’s Swansong

With many Nevada voters, it was the issue of Yucca Mountain that kept Harry in his leadership position but that issue has has fallen off the political radar. Meanwhile, the MSM has continuously ignored reports of Reid (& Son)’s crony deal finagling and outright accusations of corruption that have created a lot of notice of “Dirty” Harry’s corrupt politics in his home state. Nevada voters are now looking at the various land deals by Harry and his son that have come to light in the aftermath of the “Bundy standoff,” which has tarnished his son Rory so much that he has in recent months suddenly become camera shy.

Corruption Scandals Led to Harry Reid’s Abrupt “Retirement”

Could Harry Reid’s part in visa fraud scandal be connected to his retirement announcement?

How Deep Is Harry Reid’s Corruption?

Senator Harry Reid’s Chinese Connection and over $3 Billion in Green Energy Corruption

It seems the Obama Justice Department may even be involved in covering up Harry’s dirty deals: FBI Blocked In Harry Reid Corruption Probe

In fact, (thanks to both Obama and Harry’s policies,) Democrats did so badly in Nevada in 2014 that both Houses of the State were switched by the voters from Democrat to Republican control under a Republican Governor, turning Nevada red again.

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@Ditto: Thanks for the info. Yes, I’m sure if Dirty Harry thought he could win, he’d be running. He’s only trying to make lemonade out of it.

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