Butifldrm Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Harry Reid, Senate minority leader, to retire 'I'm not running for re-election,' Reid says in video By Dana Bash, Jeff Zeleny and Alexandra Jaffe CNN POSTED: 07:06 AM CDT Mar 27, 2015 UPDATED: 08:12 AM CDT Mar 27, 2015 WASHINGTON (CNN) -Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said Friday he won't seek reelection in 2016, a surprise move that's certain to open a fierce battle for his seat as well as a fight to lead the Democratic party in the chamber. The fifth-term Nevada Democrat had denied retirement rumors for months, which grew louder after he suffered serious injuries in an exercising accident on New Year's Day. He said in a video posted on Twitter and Youtube that the bruises were "nothing," but added that "this accident has caused us for the first time to have a little bit of downtime ... time to ponder and to think." "We have got to be more concerned about the country, the senate, the state of Nevada, than us. And as a result of that, I'm not going to run for reelection," he says in the video. Reid was a top GOP target and expecting a fierce reelection fight, and he says in the video that he feels it would be "inappropriate" for him to "soak up all those resources" while Democrats have a real shot at taking back the Senate. In an interview with the New York Times, Reid notes that many of Democrats' top targets are in big, expensive states, naming Pennsylvania, Missouri, Florida and Maryland as examples. "The decision I made has absolutely nothing to do with my injury, and it has nothing to do with my being majority leader, and it certainly has nothing to do with my ability to be reelected, because the path to reelection is much easier than it probably has been any time that I've run for reelection," he says in the video. A member of Reid's staff tells CNN that the senator made the decision to retire with his family around Christmas, but told his staff that he wanted two months or so to sit on it before announcing it. When his eye injury happened, on New Years' Day, it became clearer to him that he should retire. He hesitated, however, because he didn't want the decision to be seen as a result of his injury. This aide says Reid has been telling people in private meetings that it's not so much about how he feels physically, which he says is great --- the decision was based on how he would feel in eight years, which remains an open question. Reid, the source said, doesn't want to be one of the senators who's perceived to have stayed in the Senate past his prime. Reid told the New York Times: "I want to be able to go out at the top of my game." The notorious sports fan and boxer added: "I don't want to be a 42-year-old trying to become a designated hitter." Likely replacements for senate minority leader include Illinois Sen. **** Durbin and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer. A top Democrat on the Hill tells CNN that Senator Schumer intends to start making calls later Friday morning to some of his fellow Democratic senators, trying to begin the process of succeeding Reid. One source close to Durbin, the second ranking Democrat, told CNN it's too soon to rule him out of the fight. Schumer issued a statement within minutes of the announcement praising Reid as "one of the best human beings I've ever met." "His character and fundamental decency are at the core of why he's been such a successful and beloved leader. He's so respected by our caucus for his strength, his legislative acumen, his honesty and his determination. He has left a major mark on this body, this country, and on so many who have met him, gotten to know him, and love him," Schumer said. Reid, who was first elected in the House in 1982 and to the Senate in 1986, rose to Senate Democratic leader in 2005 and served one of the longest tenures as floor leader in Senate history. http://www.abc17news.com/news/politics/harry-reid-retiring/32044426 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattyangel Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Anything on Pelosi, she needs to retire as well. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nannab Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Good ridance to bad rubbish. One down and one Pelosi to go. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedro Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Good By to Harry, staunch member of the HARRY & BARRY Recking Ball Team. Barry is next, (unfortunately not soon enough) hopefully both never to be heard from again. God Bless America, I pray we will fully recover from their actions!!!! 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captl1 Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Needs to retire to jail. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbill Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Don't let the door hit ya on the way out!!!! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vietnam1969 Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 AMEN! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeetdog Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Thanks Butfldrm....Sue him for back pay, nullify his retirement...Mandate Pelosi to be his legal representative.... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintsfan Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Hes endorrsing Chuck Schumer... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10 YEARS LATER Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 What . . . you haven't left Harry ? Get ta movin'. We've ALL had more than ENUFF of your brand O' CRAP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boosterbglee Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 This is way overdue..................... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butifldrm Posted March 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 (edited) Did ya'll notice the bruises? Hum, maybe this really wasn't his decision. Just kidding, supposedly he hurt himself months ago falling while working out. https://youtu.be/MqPWTECMIQo Edited March 27, 2015 by Butifldrm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtFuryUSCZ Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 ***/// Good riddance to bad rubbish. Adios to old bones that shoulda been ground up for fertilizer LONG ago. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xtaxguy Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 I hope he gets the retirement he deserves. But why wait?? Give it to him now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leanonme Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Good riddance to another crooked, corupt, self serving bought and paid for politician. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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