# Harry Reid is an idiot. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 23, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619 "2006-03-23T18:31:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619/21 "2006-03-24T01:32:43Z")
Not bad if anybody does it, and I certainly wouldn’t look askance at any politician doing so. I wouldn’t pit Hillary Clinton for visiting Iraq, for example. To suggest that it is done for political reasons, though, really stinks. And to admit as much is even worse. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619/22 "2006-03-24T01:38:19Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > And to admit as much is even worse. You prefer a steady diet of lies? That explains a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619/23 "2006-03-24T02:16:44Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > To suggest that it is done for political reasons, though, really stinks. And to admit as much is even worse. When is it NOT done for political reasons? And you honestly think it’s better to lie about their motives? Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619/24 "2006-03-24T02:22:38Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > To suggest that it is done for political reasons, though, really stinks. And to admit as much is even worse. But since you claim the letter is public knowledge, why should anyone lie about it after the fact? What exactly are you objecting to-- that politicians do things for political reasons? That the aid didn’t try and spin the content of the letter\* in such a way that he looked like a lying sack of shit? What should he have said, in your opinion? \*said letter which I have not seen and you have not linked to, btw. So I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt that it exists-- maybe I shouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619/25 "2006-03-24T02:39:21Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > When is it NOT done for political reasons? And you honestly think it’s better to lie about their motives? > > Jesus. You tell me. I just looked up, for grins, Senators Santorum and Durbin to see if they had visited VA hospitals. Both had, which is hardly surprising. It is the sort of thing politicians do. Now, if you were at a VA hospital and saw a senator, would you confront them and accuse them of being there for political reasons only? And if you don’t, aren’t you buying into the polite fiction as well? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619/26 "2006-03-24T03:01:11Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > Now, if you were at a VA hospital and saw a senator, would you confront them and accuse them of being there for political reasons only? If it was Santorum I would; Durbin, not so much. For political reasons. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619/27 "2006-04-05T21:06:15Z")
The Moonie Paper is kind enough to quote some excerpts from the memo, none of which I find particularly damning: > [@](#): > > “Hold a town hall meeting with troops at a local military installation. … When selecting a location at the military installation for the event, make sure to select a space that allows easy press access and clearly conveys the message in the shot. Planes, vehicles, equipment and signage in the background enhance the pictures coming out of your event.” After five years of The King of Backdrops in the White House (turning the power on in New Orleans just long enough for a speech, anyone?), I’m shocked, _shocked_ to hear that a Dem might think about making good use of what’s actually there to ensure a good photo op while visiting a military base. > [@](#): > > “Work with [veterans] organizations … to find recently returned Iraq and Afghanistan veterans willing to discuss the mental effects they or their fellow veterans have experienced.” How _dare_ they. > [@](#): > > “Tour a factory in your state that manufactures military equipment like Humvees or body armor and hold a press availability afterwards with Iraq and Afghanistan veterans on the importance of protective equipment.” Ditto. > [@](#): > > “Visit the home of a military family that has purchased body armor on their own for a family member serving in Iraq or Afghanistan and hold an open press ‘conversion’ on the issue. … Ask the family if they would be willing to hold the open press conversation/town hall meeting in their yard, on their front porch or in their home.” Ditto. AFAICT, anything remotely upsetting about the memo is in what the Moonie paper _described_, rather than _quoted_. Might that suggest they’re spinning this memo a bit? If they can’t actually quote the most heinous stuff, maybe it doesn’t really exist. And then there’s this: > [@](#): > > As commander in chief, Mr. Bush has made frequent visits to military bases in the United States and abroad. His remarks are generally limited to explaining his war policies and encouraging the troops. Sure. He’s never bashed his political opponents while giving a speech at a military base. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619/28 "2006-04-05T21:59:22Z")
You mean, a **Moto** -brand allegation about a Democrat falls flat on its ass, wanting for merit, veracity or legitimacy? Holy shit! Now I’ve seen everything. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619/29 "2006-04-05T23:14:30Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > The problem, of course, is that if anyone accuses any of these Democrats of only going to a VA hospital for political reasons, they have little defense, because their leader in the Senate has no common sense. He just said the same thing. [shrug] So let **them** say the same thing. “We do this for political reasons and any pol who says different is a goddamn fucking liar,” or television-appropriate words to that effect. The people appreciate honesty. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619/30 "2006-04-05T23:30:20Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Having said that, why is he the minority leader in the Senate? He doesn’t seem to be up to the fight at hand. He just looks like a tired, old man. Was there no one better suited to the job? I think he’s played a weak hand as well as anyone could during his time in as senate leader. I rather like him. Plus his “old man” persona kinda works. Occasionally on NPR they’ll play a clip of him giving the official Dem position on some senate vote or another, then they’ll play a clip of Frist saying how wacko and unhinged the that postion is. But the thing is, Reid’s laid back, grandfatherly manner sounds the opposite of wacko, IMHO. Certainly he’s a far better face for the Dems then Pelosi or Kerry. As to the OP, let me add my voice the deafining “meh” given by most of the rest of the posters. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619/31 "2006-04-06T19:51:17Z")
> [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > You mean, a **Moto** -brand allegation about a Democrat falls flat on its ass, wanting for merit, veracity or legitimacy? Holy shit! Now I’ve seen everything. If it hasn’t been raised already, I nominate **Mr. Moto** as the Pit’s new **Reeder.** ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619/32 "2006-04-06T19:56:20Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > If it hasn’t been raised already, I nominate **Mr. Moto** as the Pit’s new **Reeder.** It’s too late. **Mr.Moto** has announced that he is stepping away from the table. I’m afraid my little comment might have been one of the final straws. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-reid-is-an-idiot/349619.md?page=1)