Lindsey Graham: Harry Reid Ate The GOP’s Lunch

Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about the lame duck session is how successful it’s actually ended up being. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal, the impending ratification of the START Treaty, the confirmation of about half-dozen judgeships that had been tied up for most of the year, and a plan to extend the Bush tax cuts. Yes, the Democrats suffered defeats in the failure to pass the DREAM Act and an Omnibus Spending Bill, but as South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham acknowledges, Harry Reid has pretty much won the month:

“When it’s all going to be said and done, Harry Reid has eaten our lunch. This has been a capitulation in two weeks of dramatic proportions of policies that wouldn’t have passed in the new Congress.”

Things will obviously be different after January, but, still, who would’ve thunk it?

H/T: Political Wire

FILED UNDER: Congress, US Politics, , , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Todd says:

    What makes you think that things will be different after January? I don’t hold out much hope for the Republicans. They caved in the Lame Duck just weeks after the most astounding election in our time. Give them until January to forget us and start thinking about themselves. They might remember the voters again when they want to be re-elected and are looking for campaign cash. I say screw ’em. After the cave in on DADT and START, I won’t give them a dime. I will look to replace the remainder of the current crop of RINO’s next election. Hopefully the newbies coming in won’t be spoiled by then. I hear that politicians have a very short shelf life before they become rotten.

  2. Stan says:

    Speaking as a Democrat, I hope from the bottom of my heart that in the 2012 Republican primaries the voters heed Todd’s call.

  3. Tano says:

    Well, of course Lindsey could never actually say this, but the truth is that the big winner of the month was President Obama.

  4. michael reynolds says:

    Tano:

    That’s it exactly. Graham was doing his best to deny Obama any credit. Given the choice he’d deflect to Reid.

  5. TG Chicago says:

    *Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal

    Widely popular amongst Americans in general and the military in particular.

    *the impending ratification of the START Treaty

    Broad bipartisan support.

    *the confirmation of about half-dozen judgeships that had been tied up for most of the year

    Very little coverage of this, no major controversy (most similar appointees haven’t had any trouble getting through in previous presidencies).

    *and a plan to extend the Bush tax cuts.

    Which is what the Republicans wanted to begin with.

    I’m having trouble seeing this as such a huge win. DADT repeal is big (though something of a no-brainer at this point), but the rest makes me think “Do you want Chris Rock to give you a cookie?”

  6. Hugh says:

    Here’s an interesting take on the ‘caving’ from Red State: http://bit.ly/ecGdGG