Not Just Another Genealogy-dazed Mormon
In this case it would be Senate Dem leader Harry Reid, and Netroots rather than Roots he is after. Senator Reid brazenly stuck his nose into the YearlyKos bloggerfest in Las Vegas last weekend.
If only the reporter had indicated whether it was the studio Rolling Stones ("Beggar's Banquet") or the live recording ("Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out"). They're both totally kick-ass (Watts especially explosive when he comes in at the start on the off-beat), but I was weaned on the Ya-Ya's version and I'd like to know!
As the Rolling Stones' 'Street Fighting Man' blared from the speakers, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid entered the massive ballroom at the Riviera Hotel to speak to 1,000 YearlyKos attendees and, it's safe to say, wasn't sure of precisely what reception he would get.
While the Senate Democratic Leader should by default feel somewhat comfortable addressing a conference filled with progressive activists and bloggers, Reid is a moderate-to-conservative Democrat and, with problems that attendees may have with some of his previous stances, the decision to appear was, to some extent, a political risk.
But the former boxer from tiny Searchlight, Nevada jumped gamely into the ring last night, played to a packed house and, by the time his 20-minute speech ended, Reid appeared to leave as a rock star, mobbed by so many well-wishers and autograph seekers that his phalanx of security could barely get him out of the room.
"As a former boxer, I know fighters when I see them -- you're fighters," said Reid to wild applause. "You're fighters for the truth. You've made a tremendous difference in our country and for the Democratic Party."
With "Give 'em Hell, Harry" signs waving throughout the audience, Reid, who was the first major Democrat to sign on as a YearlyKos speaker, stoked the progressive fires and encouraged those present to remain active and prepare for a tough fight this election year and beyond.
"It was you who were quick to stand against the Swift Boat attacks on Senator John Kerry," he said to an enthusiastic response. "It was you who defended Valerie Plame, an American spy, and Ambassador Joe Wilson against Scooter Libby and Karl Rove. And it was you who led Democrats to victory against the privatization of Social Security."
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Here's a great section from the middle of the speech:
"In the coming months, America faces a great choice. And for such a great choice, the question we must answer is simple.
"Do we -- as a country -- unite and change direction toward a better future for us all, or do we continue in the wrong direction of the last six years? A direction that has resulted in three dollar gas prices, a mess in Iraq, a crisis in health care and incompetence in government.
"You and I have the answer to that question. Unfortunately, the Republicans have their answer -- that's distract and divide.
"Republicans have no interest in changing direction, or taking on the issues before us. Their only goal is for them to stay in power -- even if it jeopardizes the future for us all. You see, Bush Republicans know what we know. Karl Rove knows what we know. And that's if Americans focus on real issues, Republicans will plummet even lower than they are now."
[clip]
And at least one of you was speaking to me recently of the conservative talk-radio gad-fly Mike Stark, who apparently has gifts for both making it through the caller-screens and then being able to more than hold his own with the hysterical other-worldsters. Well he was at YearlyKos too, and this post has additional Reid-reinforcement to offer.
Well, the first YearlyKos conference is now in the books and one of my favorite parts of an amazing event was getting to meet other bloggers whose work I have long admired, but who I had never met in person.
For example, I met Mike Stark, who I also got to spend quite a bit of time with in the YearlyKos media room and elsewhere. Mike runs the Calling All Wingnuts blog, on which he runs audio of the many instances in which he humiliates right-wing types on their radio shows after he somehow manages to get on the air -- which he does with astounding regularity.
You can really see Mike's impact in the way he now has these people so paranoid that, on a recent Rush Limbaugh show, the Oxycontin King went nuts on a totally innocent caller because he was so sure he had finally nailed Mike. You can read about that and listen to it here.
But I mention Mike and his site today because of something he has posted about a brief interaction he had with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid -- Mike told me about it after it happened -- that was short, but very interesting.
As I said in my previous piece on Reid's excellent speech, the Nevada Senator was mobbed like a rock star as he left the massive hotel ballroom and, like me, Mike managed to get close enough to shake his hand. But I'll let Mike tell you what prompted his close encounter with Senator Reid:
"I approached his exit path and ended up standing about 10 feet from him when I said, loudly enough to be sure he heard it, 'Cut Holy Joe loose, Harry. He’s deadweight on our Party.'
"Well, Harry is no coward. He continued on his exit path which took him right by me. Of course he was shaking hands on his way out. He shook my hand, leaned into me and said, 'I heard what you said.'"
From what Mike told me later, it was obvious from his manner that Reid understood Mike's sentiments about Joe Lieberman and embraced the thought himself. Short, but interesting and sweet.
[clip]
If only the reporter had indicated whether it was the studio Rolling Stones ("Beggar's Banquet") or the live recording ("Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out"). They're both totally kick-ass (Watts especially explosive when he comes in at the start on the off-beat), but I was weaned on the Ya-Ya's version and I'd like to know!
As the Rolling Stones' 'Street Fighting Man' blared from the speakers, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid entered the massive ballroom at the Riviera Hotel to speak to 1,000 YearlyKos attendees and, it's safe to say, wasn't sure of precisely what reception he would get.
While the Senate Democratic Leader should by default feel somewhat comfortable addressing a conference filled with progressive activists and bloggers, Reid is a moderate-to-conservative Democrat and, with problems that attendees may have with some of his previous stances, the decision to appear was, to some extent, a political risk.
But the former boxer from tiny Searchlight, Nevada jumped gamely into the ring last night, played to a packed house and, by the time his 20-minute speech ended, Reid appeared to leave as a rock star, mobbed by so many well-wishers and autograph seekers that his phalanx of security could barely get him out of the room.
"As a former boxer, I know fighters when I see them -- you're fighters," said Reid to wild applause. "You're fighters for the truth. You've made a tremendous difference in our country and for the Democratic Party."
With "Give 'em Hell, Harry" signs waving throughout the audience, Reid, who was the first major Democrat to sign on as a YearlyKos speaker, stoked the progressive fires and encouraged those present to remain active and prepare for a tough fight this election year and beyond.
"It was you who were quick to stand against the Swift Boat attacks on Senator John Kerry," he said to an enthusiastic response. "It was you who defended Valerie Plame, an American spy, and Ambassador Joe Wilson against Scooter Libby and Karl Rove. And it was you who led Democrats to victory against the privatization of Social Security."
[clip]
Here's a great section from the middle of the speech:
"In the coming months, America faces a great choice. And for such a great choice, the question we must answer is simple.
"Do we -- as a country -- unite and change direction toward a better future for us all, or do we continue in the wrong direction of the last six years? A direction that has resulted in three dollar gas prices, a mess in Iraq, a crisis in health care and incompetence in government.
"You and I have the answer to that question. Unfortunately, the Republicans have their answer -- that's distract and divide.
"Republicans have no interest in changing direction, or taking on the issues before us. Their only goal is for them to stay in power -- even if it jeopardizes the future for us all. You see, Bush Republicans know what we know. Karl Rove knows what we know. And that's if Americans focus on real issues, Republicans will plummet even lower than they are now."
[clip]
And at least one of you was speaking to me recently of the conservative talk-radio gad-fly Mike Stark, who apparently has gifts for both making it through the caller-screens and then being able to more than hold his own with the hysterical other-worldsters. Well he was at YearlyKos too, and this post has additional Reid-reinforcement to offer.
Well, the first YearlyKos conference is now in the books and one of my favorite parts of an amazing event was getting to meet other bloggers whose work I have long admired, but who I had never met in person.
For example, I met Mike Stark, who I also got to spend quite a bit of time with in the YearlyKos media room and elsewhere. Mike runs the Calling All Wingnuts blog, on which he runs audio of the many instances in which he humiliates right-wing types on their radio shows after he somehow manages to get on the air -- which he does with astounding regularity.
You can really see Mike's impact in the way he now has these people so paranoid that, on a recent Rush Limbaugh show, the Oxycontin King went nuts on a totally innocent caller because he was so sure he had finally nailed Mike. You can read about that and listen to it here.
But I mention Mike and his site today because of something he has posted about a brief interaction he had with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid -- Mike told me about it after it happened -- that was short, but very interesting.
As I said in my previous piece on Reid's excellent speech, the Nevada Senator was mobbed like a rock star as he left the massive hotel ballroom and, like me, Mike managed to get close enough to shake his hand. But I'll let Mike tell you what prompted his close encounter with Senator Reid:
"I approached his exit path and ended up standing about 10 feet from him when I said, loudly enough to be sure he heard it, 'Cut Holy Joe loose, Harry. He’s deadweight on our Party.'
"Well, Harry is no coward. He continued on his exit path which took him right by me. Of course he was shaking hands on his way out. He shook my hand, leaned into me and said, 'I heard what you said.'"
From what Mike told me later, it was obvious from his manner that Reid understood Mike's sentiments about Joe Lieberman and embraced the thought himself. Short, but interesting and sweet.
[clip]
posted by Sir Gumbo at 9:58 PM
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