* From the ILGOP…
BREAKING: Harry Reid Announces Retirement
This means Dick Durbin would become Majority Leader if we allow the Democrats to regain control of the Senate. We can’t let that happen!
Donate $3, $10, $25 or $50 to help us stop the Democrats.
Tammy Duckworth has recently begun raising money to take on Mark Kirk. This is all part of the Democrats’ secret plan to win back control of the Senate and ram through more dangerous legislation like Obamacare and blocking the Keystone XL Pipeline.
DONATE NOW to help the Illinois Republican Party put a stop to Dick Durbin taking over the Senate.
The Dems have a “secret plan” to win back the Senate?
I thought it was quite public.
* Durbin’s statement…
Harry Reid is one of the ablest leaders of the Senate Democratic caucus in modern history—he has served our country and the people of Nevada with a tenacity and passion rarely seen. The former boxer from Searchlight never forgot his roots and never went down without a fight. He and Landra have been dear friends for more than 30 years, and it has been an honor to be part of his leadership team for the past decade. The Senate will miss his leadership and I will miss his friendship, but with the 114th congress only just underway, Leader Reid and Senate Democrats have a lot of work to do on behalf of working families in this country. I will be by his side every day in that fight.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Well, that didn’t take long…
Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has endorsed Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) to succeed him after he retires at the end of 2016.
“I think Schumer should be able to succeed me,” Reid said in a Friday morning interview at his home in Washington’s West End.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Politico…
Sen. Dick Durbin is telling senators privately he will not challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer for the top spot in the Democratic caucus, sources said Friday.
Durbin’s private comments likely clear the way for Schumer to replace Minority Leader Harry Reid, who surprised the political world when he announced Friday he would not run for reelection next year. Reid promptly said he would endorse Schumer, No. 3 Senate Democrat, which he relayed in a private call to Durbin Friday morning. Durbin, who is the No. 2 Democrat, did not object, sources said.
- Tornadoman - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 10:52 am:
$3? $5??? Methinks there’s another message out there to a different group (or person), “We need another $20 million to stop the Democrats.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 10:53 am:
Will the US Senate Dems choose a Senator from NY, or a Senator from Obama’s IL as its Leader when the time comes?
Durbin is his own man, no doubt, with his own impressive credentials for Government Leadership and Caucus Leadership too, but will being from IL hurt? Dunno.
- Wordslinger - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 10:56 am:
Durbin will have a battle royale on his hands with Schumer, who’s way wired to Wall Street money.
I weep for people who will give up their hard-earned money on the “issues” of repealing Obamacare and the Keystone pipeline. You’re getting played.
Really, IL GOP, that’s all you got?
- 47th Ward - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 10:57 am:
===This means Dick Durbin would become Majority Leader if we allow the Democrats to regain control of the Senate.===
While I would love to see that happen, I suspect Durbin’s former roommate, the Gentleman from New York, and probably a couple of other Democrats will almost certainly try to round up votes to grab this job. It isn’t automatic that Durbin will get the votes to be Majority Leader.
- The Captain - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 10:58 am:
Reid endorsed Schumer.
- Been There - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:00 am:
===It isn’t automatic that Durbin will get the votes to be Majority Leader. ====
And as kind of words Durbin had for Reid, Reid didn’t wait long to throw him under the bus.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/03/27/harry-reid-endorses-chuck-schumer-to-succeed-him-as-senate-minority-leader/?wpisrc=al_alert
- Commonsense in Illinois - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:01 am:
Hmmm. I don’t always agree with Senator Durbin’s positions on things, but at least I don’t have to guess where he stands and why. Now, do I want to see him as leader of Senate Democrats - either Majority or Minority - and have the ability to bring even more “bacon” home to Illinois? Absolutely! But as 47th says, we’ll have to see who else jumps into the ring.
- a drop in - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:02 am:
The Democratic secret plan to take back the Senate is for their candidates to get more votes than the Republican candidates. I hope I didn’t spill any secrets.
- Chicago Cynic - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:02 am:
Reid just endorsed Schumer for the leader job.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:04 am:
From the Washington Post:
“Reid predicted that Schumer, the No. 3 Senate Democrat in leadership and a close friend, would win the Democratic leader post without opposition. He said that the other likely contender, Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), would stand down for Schumer.
Reid and Durbin spoke by phone at about 11 a.m. Friday.”
There you have it. Wonder how that phone call went?
- bored now - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:05 am:
most people think schumer has the inside track. he was head of dscc through two classes of senate seats (although not this one), helping a dozen or so new senators to be elected, as well as holding vulnerable seats that republicans targeted. he’s got a lot of chits in his pocket.
moreover, he’s been aggressive about helping democrats raise money in new york city, which adds to the pile.
durbin and schumer have been competitive for awhile, but — in the end — i doubt durbin runs for leader. he’s a good vote counter. sure, tammy winning the democratic nod would help, but only if she beat mark kirk…
- 47th Ward - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:07 am:
===DONATE NOW to help the Illinois Republican Party put a stop to Dick Durbin taking over the Senate.===
Mission accomplished.
- bored now - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:07 am:
and, if i had waited to write that, i wouldn’t have needed to!
- Commonsense in Illinois - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:08 am:
It will be interesting to see if Schumer can put the votes together. If this becomes an open race, I’d look for Elizabeth Warren to jump in as well and try to move the caucus even further to the left.
- Gooner - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:10 am:
With the tone of that appeal, it is amazing that it did not include a reference to BENGHAZI!
- train111 - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:11 am:
Hyperventilating already!!! Wonder what it will be like in 10/16?
- Team Sleep - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:13 am:
Durbin has to be seething. Then again, politics are politics are politics.
Gooner - yeah, that crap drives me nuts.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:14 am:
Regardless of the party, it’s a sickening farce that each use the old “We Gotta Stop Em” gag (take that any way you choose) to hustle money. I can’t think of a bigger waste of money than giving it to politicians. We already do that with taxes, and that’s not showing sterling results
- A guy - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:17 am:
The Durbin Coup lasted less time than Jim Oberweis at the Pride parade. Yikes.
- Demoralized - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:19 am:
Is this the same sort of “secret plant” the IL GOP has to take back control of the General Assembly. I don’t think their track record on “secret plans” is very good.
- Ethan Hawk - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:22 am:
Make sure you “secretly” send me your money in the dark of the night in small unmarked bills so we can “secretly” stop these pesky (less than transparent)Democrat wabbits.
Your “secret” friend,
Elmer Fudd
- A guy - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:28 am:
EH, if you’re going to quote Mr. Fudd, it’s “Se quit”
- A1 - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:29 am:
Guess he should have not attended Bibi’s speech?
- Jorge - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:54 am:
I knew the battle to replace Reid would be between Schumer and Durbin. I hope it doesn’t get ugly.
- Illini97 - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 12:02 pm:
“Secret plan?”
You mean they want to have more seats than the opposing party? Shocking! Good thing the opposing party is on to them. If they had $3 more, they could ensure it doesn’t happen!
I’d rather the email just said:
“Hey. We need $3. Can we have it?”
- Springfieldish - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 12:08 pm:
Could it be that Durbin is willing to forgo Senate Minority/Majority Leadership in exchange for a guaranty of significant money for Tammy Duckworth? Since Tammy campaigns hard and raises money well on her own, a DSCC all-in might force a money shuffle. With Reid and Boxer not running, and the Boxer seat more secure in CA than Reid’s in NV, it means there are nine real defenses on the D side as opposed to 24 GOP Senate seats to defend. Advantage already leans to the Dems. Perhaps Durbin is looking long-game.
- A guy - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 12:08 pm:
=== Jorge - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 11:54 am:
I knew the battle to replace Reid would be between Schumer and Durbin. I hope it doesn’t get ugly.====
Bloodless Coup: it’s already over. Durbin may remain as a dutiful #2, hanging in there long enough to bleed all over Illinois for Manar.
- Jorge - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 12:15 pm:
Guy, that terrible analysis you provided is what one should expect from a troll such as yourself. No leadership change is ever bloodless.
- A guy - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 12:22 pm:
Jorge, See Senate Democrats; one phone call. it’s over. Terrible; maybe. True; you bet.
- Sunshine - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 12:31 pm:
I definitely didn’t see Durbin as a ‘Leader’ and have always contended that he answers to Chuck Schumer. I also don’t think Schumer should take the position either as, in my opinion, he will do more harm than good. But that hasn’t stopped political decisions in the past.
- BehindTheScenes - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 12:34 pm:
Harry: “Thanks for the kind words, Dick - but Chuckie is my guy.”
I had long thought Durbin might beat Reid out the door of the Senate, what with the personal trials the Senator has undergone in the last couple of years.
- Mouthy - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 12:44 pm:
Don’t Durbin and Shumer share a rented apartment together?
- Wordslinger - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 12:52 pm:
Durbin’s out of the running?
Who knew the IL GOP was so powerful?
- Carl Nyberg - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:00 pm:
The Democrats may have a plan to win a majority in the US Senate, but the US House has them as flummoxed as Illinois Republicans.
- Springfieldish - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:07 pm:
Good Lord! You all sound like the US Senate is an episode of Survivor. Durbin is closer to Schumer than Reid, both operationally and personally. And yes, he and Schumer, and others lived in that famous house in DC for years. I stand by my assessment. If Durbin is out, and that may not necessarily be the case, it’s for a reason that has nothing to do with a lack of pull or the votes. Me thinks Dick is looking down the road rather than racing the car next to him.
- Left Leaner - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:08 pm:
“Secret plan”
The GOP sticking to its fear and conspiracy-based messaging at all (even ridiculous) times, I see. I have no doubt that “secret plan” was purposely used in that messaging.
Message to GOP = grow up!
- Arsenal - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:19 pm:
I highly suspect Durbin knew that Schumer would be tough (Wall Street $$$ + chits to cash from almost every Dem elected after 2006) and isn’t exactly shocked. I don’t know if he bowed out or made a deal or something, neither would surprise me, but I doubt he thinks this is such a slap in the face.
- ZC - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:27 pm:
At the risk of being called ageist, I do practically think it was a consideration (good or bad) that Schumer is one Senate-cycle younger than Durbin; Schumer is 65 I believe, Durbin 72.
I’m not saying everyone slows down in their early 70s, but Durbin was already thinking a bit about retiring this past 2014, wasn’t he?
I’m not so sure Durbin was still interested in this role. He was definitely interested in it back in 2010. If Reid had retired or been beaten then, Durbin would have been in the thick of it. But maybe this wasn’t so much a palace coup, six years later.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:32 pm:
==but will being from IL hurt?==
==I don’t know if he bowed out or made a deal or something==
You serve as the no 2 guy so loyally and for so long, only to have the king retire and pass the throne to someone else. Few prizes are bigger than the one you just lost. Was there a lack of support for him internally or some other problem that he didn’t even express interest in the job? Unusual and unexpected.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:33 pm:
If Chuck Schumer (D-Wall Street) becomes Majority Leader and Hillary Clinton is elected President, the Democratic Party will have officially become the moderate wing of the GOP.
- Responsa - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:37 pm:
The country would have been better off if either Schumer or Durbin had had the courage to go up against King Harry a few years ago and dethrone him.
- Wordslinger - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:37 pm:
FKA, just from the papers over the years, it’s not unexpected that Schumer would roll Durbin when Reid retired. He has raised a lot of money.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 1:39 pm:
I will say as a Moderate GOP voter, my choices, federally especially, seem to be how far Right am I willing to go, instead of looking at the 80% Reagan Rule and being completely satisfied with my 80% being met.
Once I started measuring how far Right, versus how my 80% is being met, the worry became more justified.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:00 pm:
Wordslinger - Thanks. I expected Schumer would put up a fight when the time came, but I also expected the fight would take more than a few hours between the Reid announcement and the Reid endorsement.
He really did get ==rolled==, first round knockout. Though we should see a few statements soon that Durbin gave it up willingly, had no interest, and so on.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:11 pm:
Willy - very, very well said.
- Demoralized - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 2:25 pm:
OW
So you’re looking forward to Ted Cruz being the nominee? lol
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 3:19 pm:
- FKA -, thanks.
- Demoralized -, here is all I have to say about Cruz, today;
When you scare with “fire”, you’re apt…to get burned… Senator.
I really don’t know how this Nomination will shake out.
- Jonah - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 3:50 pm:
If the Democrats thought they could take back the Senate in 2016, Reid would not have retired. the GOP will flip his seat in NV.
- walker - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 3:56 pm:
Schumer’s got the bludgeon. Durbin’s got the bandages. They would be in the right roles for managing their caucus.
- Springfieldish - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 4:12 pm:
That’s hilarious. A seventy-five year old man, who suffered a severe enough injury to lose partial sight in one eye and still has concussion symptoms today? With more surgeries on the horizon? No, Reid was ready to step down. C’mon, they almost bombed his wife’s car when he was in the house! He’s fought the fight. And after the money lost on Angle’s goofy campaign, don’t be so sure the GOP will be ready to invest so much for NV. Without any players ID’d, Nevada is a toss-up. Remember, the GOP has 24 seats up. The GOP butter is going to spread pretty thin across the toast in 2016.
- Amalia - Friday, Mar 27, 15 @ 5:01 pm:
ugh Schumer. not liking this for my party.