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Is Durbin about to lose his leadership gig?

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Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, who witnessed his rival Chuck Schumer move aggressively to secure the post of Democratic leader, may now have to fight to keep his own job.

Washington Sen. Patty Murray is refusing to rule out a run to be the chamber’s No. 2 Democrat, a position Durbin wants to keep in the next Congress. Yet several Democratic sources say she is getting encouragement from senators to take on a larger role in the leadership. And the Democratic leader-in-waiting, Schumer, is open to seeing Murray elevated to whip from her current role as the caucus secretary, the No. 4 job, several sources said. […]

Reid has thrown his support to Durbin for the whip’s job, an endorsement viewed as “status quo” and not a snub of Murray, one source close to the Nevadan said. A Durbin aide asserted Monday that Schumer and Durbin had reached a deal in a private conversation in the Senate on Friday morning: The Illinois Democrat would endorse Schumer for leader, and the New Yorker would back Durbin for whip. Asked for comment, a person close to Schumer said: “It never happened, and they know it.”

* Lynn Sweet followed up…

As I reported on Friday, a Durbin aide said that Durbin immediately went to Schumer on the Senate floor [after talking to Harry Reid] and told him he would support him — and that he wanted to remain as whip. The Durbin aide said that Schumer agreed to back Durbin. That was the deal.

Soon afterward, Durbin publically announced his support for Schumer. […]

Durbin spokesman Ben Marter told me on Tuesday, “The two senators agreed to support each other and shook hands on it. That’s what a deal is.”

On Friday, a Schumer spokesman told me that Schumer was just focusing on his own leadership contest. On Tuesday, a person close to Schumer told me, “The Durbin thing never happened.”

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:29 am

Comments

Someone is lying.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:34 am
Seems like a few jumps need to be made to get to “Durbin’s in trouble”. Murray could “take on a larger role in leadership” just by taking Schumer’s old job.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:37 am
Obama is leaving, so….

we could use more Durbin here. Dick and Loretta are sometimes the real workers for good for the party in all areas of the state in Illinois.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:38 am
Dick, that pain in your back is a knife.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:38 am
==Someone is lying.==

Schumer. Durbin tries to support his party and constituents, big and small, & isn’t a double-crosser. Schumer seems like a publicity hounding, Wall Street-grubbing, brass-ring-grabbing weasel.

Then again, maybe that’s just his New York cachet. …

Comment by Crispy Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:43 am
The ole rule of thumb in a deal like this is the one giving up the “fight” gets the support first, to lock the “supporter” into ending the fight, and making the compromiser endorse the “victor” when asked to comment.

Broken protocol leads to deals failing, or to a double cross…

Durbin should’ve gotten the public “nod” for #2, Durbin asked to comment, appreciates the support from Schumer, his choice for #1, easy-peasy.

Following the deal-making protocol locks everyone in.

Oh well…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:46 am
Looks like Chuck went to Blago’s school of double crossing. Maybe Durbin should get things in writing from now on.

Comment by The Colossus of Roads Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:56 am
“The Durbin thing never happened.”

Uh, oh!

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 11:56 am
Durbin’s mistake was to trust his ambitious colleague, assuming his word was his bond.

Comment by nona Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 12:00 pm
===Asked for comment, a person close to Schumer said: “It never happened, and they know it.====

That’s right up there with “I double Dutch dare you to prove otherwise”.

The new guy doesn’t want the old guy’s old guy. In DC, when you’re out, you’re out. Dick’s out.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 12:05 pm
This is what Schumer is all about. Himself. Not a fan.

Comment by Jorge Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 12:05 pm
Between https://capitolfax.com/2013/12/16/how-could-durbin-lose-a-clout-fight-for-u-of-i-grant/ and this, Durbin has recently shown signs of losing either his general desire or ability to fight.

He is being challenged and forced into battles that should have instead been easy wins for him.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 12:06 pm
You can’t trust a politician’s word? GET OUT!

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 12:22 pm
How many of Democratic Party votes come from women & people of color?

Having two White guys–both from financial services states–in the top two positions in the US Senate is a bit of an optics problem.

The old Dick Durbin was more progressive than fit the job of being Dem whip in the new Democratic Party.

If Durbin wants to be whip, there are problems with forcing him out.

But, it might not be crazy to persuade him that he would be happier & more free to pursue his priorities if someone else was whip.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 12:26 pm
Being Senate Majority Whip is about the worst job there is, especially for Democrats, who rarely display the same party loyalty or discipline as the Republicans muster. Being Minority Whip is only slightly less awful, because there’s always one or two Democrats that can’t wait to show the world how bi-partisan they are and go along with the Republicans on something, when holding out would be a better strategy for the Dem Caucus. Why bang your head against the wall? Who needs the aggravation?

If I was Durbin, I’d trade the leadership spot in a heartbeat for the ranking slot on Appropriations.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 12:32 pm
FKA, we did end up winning that grant.

Comment by Juice Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 12:40 pm
Juice - we did win that grant. It is not that we won it, but that it never should have been a fight to begin with for someone of his stature and clout.

That should have been a strong win and never in doubt. Just as holding his current Whip spot should be. But for some reason, those easy wins are no longer looking so easy.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 1:15 pm
Schumer is a snake. Durbin is a class act.

Patty Murray is likely being pushed hard by Schumer to challenge Durbin, because there’s little doubt that she would be easier for Chuckles to control.

Murray can’t beat Durbin for the Whip post “and she knows it”. And if she tries she should be prepared to see some pretty sparse crowds when she rolls through Chicago on the fundraising circuit.

Comment by bardo Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 1:21 pm
bardo, “Chuckles-sic” has been controlling Durbin from the back seat already. Of course, you lost me at “class act”. The new leader….will get who he wants. Especially in the minority. Next time around Dick’s Junior Senator won’t be in the White House. That’s a lot of juice to lose.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 1:36 pm
Meh, Durbin was whip back when Obama was “That guy who made that decent speech at the Convention”. His clout in the Dem caucus is independent of Obama.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 1:44 pm
Durbin was first elected majority whip before Obama was president.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 1:45 pm
Go away Dick. just go away.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 2:08 pm
If this is true, it is time for Durbin to retire.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 2:09 pm
Durbin has generally appeared as an above-average senator, but a less than effective majority/minority whip.

Comment by Buzzie Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 2:10 pm
What REALLY has Durbin done for the State of Illinois? Don’t forget he is an ILLINOIS Senator and should not be a Washington insider. Has he forgot from where he came? I think so. It’s time for a change all right!

Comment by Buzzards Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 2:10 pm
Not a fan of Durbin. His early public denunciation of members of our armed forces was so uncalled for, and an affront to those who serve, including members of my family. His “apology” later was empty, especially since his comments were not emotional utterances but planned and calculated.

But, Schumer ain’t much better, IMO. Still - don’t much care either way.

Comment by dupage dan Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 3:12 pm
Yep. Harry put him in charge of a lot of very important initiatives…just not a single one that comes to mind. Schumer on the other hand has been in the thick of everything Reid was pushing. Don’t like either of them, but how this could be a surprise to anyone is a surprise.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 3:32 pm
Murray has been a force to be reckoned with ever since a Washington state rep made the mistake 30 years ago of saying she couldn’t make a difference because she was just a “mom in tennis shoes,” a phrase she reclaimed in every election in the political career she subsequently embarked on, a career in which she has yet to lose an election. I wouldn’t automatically assume she’s someone’s puppet.

Comment by Angry Chicagoan Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 3:50 pm
==What REALLY has Durbin done for the State of Illinois? Don’t forget he is an ILLINOIS Senator and should not be a Washington insider.==

Seriously? If Durbin spent his time on DC politics, he be the next majority leader. Putting Illinois first is what jeopardizes his position in leadership.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 3:53 pm
A good descriptor for Schumer is smarmy. Oily also works.

Comment by Keyser Soze Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 4:08 pm
Yes A Guy, the Democratic Whip was cut out of all things! Affordable Care Act, Dodd-Frank, Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Durbin was nowhere to be found. Tell us more wise one.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 4:18 pm
VM is correct. Senator Durbin lost the vote in his home town.

Comment by Hickory Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 4:37 pm
Having met Durbin once and been treated rudely by him I say let his downfall begin. I’m with the folks a single what’s he really done for Illinois?

Comment by Johnny's in the Basement Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 8:12 pm