They're picking the Majority Leader today in the Senate Democratic Caucus. That's got such a nice ring to it. Running the Senate is a merciless job. There are 99 other prima donnas who each have the power to slow things down. The Senate is so much more free-wheeling than the very rigid and tightly-controlled House. But, Harry Reid is more than up to the task:
Barely a week has passed since the midterm elections in which the Democrats wrested Senate control from the Republicans. Not wasting time, Senate Democrats will be caucusing Tuesday to pick their leaders for the next Congress.On the GOP side, Trent Lott is making a comeback try for a leadership job. And, they have to fill that third-ranking job left open by the loss of Santorum.
Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada was unchallenged to become the schedule-setting majority leader, succeeding possible presidential candidate Bill Frist, R-Tenn., whose self-imposed two-term limit expires this year.
The vote-counting Democratic whip is expected to be Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois. Democratic leaders have asked Sen. Charles Schumer of New York to continue as the chairman of the party's senatorial campaign committee after overseeing last week's elections.
Controlling the agenda and what makes it on to the Senate floor are such powerful tools. We're not going to see Harry Reid and the Democrats bringing the gay-bashing constitutional amendment up for a vote. The days of hate-filled legislating are over -- for the time being.
