Deconstructing Harry Reid

[Casino67]

WSJ Opinion:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid can say the darndest things. He certainly did last week when he proclaimed: "I don't know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican." That must have thrilled his son, Rory, who's trailing a Hispanic Republican, Judge Brian Sandoval, in the Nevada governor's race by 16 points in the most recent Mason-Dixon poll.

Mr. Reid can also do inexplicable things, such as tentatively schedule a floor debate in September on extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts that expire on Jan. 1.

There are many ways this debate can hurt Democrats in November's election, such as deepening their image as tax-and-spend liberals. There are only a few ways it could help, such as if they agreed with Republicans to keep the Bush tax cuts in place. Rightly sensing trouble and trying to protect vulnerable House Democrats from yet another unpopular vote, Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared that her chamber would take up the issue only if the Senate passed a bill first.

[Sanguine]

Harry's a puzzler, that's for sure.

[AceRimmer]

Harry's a puzzler, that's for sure.

 

His internal polls must suck for him to be bringing up the Bush tax cuts so soon. We'll know he's losing if he goes for extending the top tax cuts...

[Argyle58]

Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared that her chamber would take up the issue only if the Senate passed a bill first.

 

I don't know how they are going to work this, since tax legislation, by statute, has to start in the House. As the appropriating body, it is their responsibility, and Pelosi has already publicly claimed that she will not consider extending the Bush tax cuts.