Is Reid using the recent terrorist plot for powerful publicity?
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In what opponents consider a display of political muscle flexing, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced he will force a vote on President Obama's proposed head of the Transportation Security Administration, Erroll Southers, when Congress reconvenes in three weeks.
Fellow lawmakers expressed concern that Reid's sudden interest looks more like a display of personal power than a genuine concern to put the right nominee in place. Opponents claim he ignored Obama's TSA nominee for weeks. Then suddenly this week, Reid announced he will file a motion for cloture, a procedural step to limit debate and hold a roll-call vote.
Reid aides say the rush is in light of the attempt by a Nigerian extremist to blow up a commercial flight as it landed in Detroit on Christmas Day. Reid had wanted the Senate to confirm TSA nominee Erroll Southers without floor debate, along with multiple other nominations, before they adjourned for its winter break Christmas Eve. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) objected, temporarily halting the confirmation, because he is opposed to unionizing the TSA, which he believes Obama wants to push.
DeMint said Tuesday that Reid had "completely ignored this nominee for weeks until the recent terror attempt" and was now grandstanding. "I'm only looking for some time to debate the issue and have a vote so this isn't done in secret," DeMint said. He hoped the debate and the alleged terrorism attempt "will convince Reid and President Obama that we cannot give union bosses veto power over national security at our airports."
Reid spokesman Jim Manley said DeMint was being "petty and vindictive" and that "he can't have his cake and eat it too. The fact is he objected to us confirming this nominee. The one who's grandstanding is Sen. DeMint."
Southers is a former FBI special agent and the Los Angeles World Airports Police Department assistant chief for homeland security and intelligence. He also is the associate director of the University of Southern California's Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events, and he served as a deputy director of homeland security for California Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
This article is part of the series, Inside Harry's Head.
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Comments
DeMint is toast. And, FWIW, Reid actually IS the most powerful man in the Senate. He's well within his rights to call DeMint on his bullshit.
DeMint's attitude toward unions may have cost the lives of 300 people. Think about it.
Reid is one of the ultimate obama appeasers in the Senate. He will be out in 2010 like a few others. Kudos to DeMint for calling that old douche bag out.
This nominee like all others should have a complete hearing and debate and then an up or down vote. Seems like Reid is using the senate as his own little piece of government. What would he have said it Pres. Bush and the republicans had tried this tactic.
Lets have a honest and open debate, not behind closed doors. After all we were promised an open and transparent government. When is it going to start.
This organization does not need to be unionized to do their job and would be better off with being unionized
Just another part of the power roller rolling us flat. We need the shoulder up and push the roller backwards right over them.
Obot....Your living in a dream world...Read what the union did in Califonia....Reid is just a imitater...When he gets kicked out and looks for something else there all gonna say "Got what we wanted" sorry ...He's got to look in the mirror he's looks like walking dead...When he comes out his fairy tale world it'll hit him....
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