Let me be clear, Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) is a fine lieutenant. He carries out his marching orders from On High with unimpeachable allegiance and dogged determination. He is a master at arm-twisting when muscle is called for or at sweetening the pot if that is what it takes to win over a precious vote or three. Who can ever forget the infamous "Cornhusker Kickback" or the "Louisiana Purchase"? The smokey back room deals in the dark of secrecy that led to the passage of Obamacare. Classic Harry Reid. He's a man who knows where his bread is buttered. He also knows to toe the company line. He's the ultimate Washington Insider. A man who craves to be liked. A four-term career politician who has grown cozy with the perks and privilege of life inside the Beltway. A life far from his native state of Nevada. A life far-removed from the constituents whom he supposedly represents.
But it's not too difficult to picture a life much different decades past, when a young Harry Reid stood in a dusty schoolyard full of peers in the quaint Nevada town of Searchlight, knickers to his knees and socks pulled up high. A scrawny child with a slight slouch and a perpetual sourness etched on his young face. Not the sort to be picked first or second in a recess game of kickball, or even twentieth for that matter. But definitely the sort to make a mental note of the popular kids who once again humiliated him by arguing over which team had to take him. Thus marked the day he would get even with those losers. Born was the emotional victim. Bred was the mind that must right that societal wrong by either eternally ceding his own liberty and freedom to others or, better still, controlling theirs.
Fast-forward to 2010. Inexplicably, a grown-up Harry Reid finds himself in one of the most influential positions in all the free world. Yet he still hasn't forgotten those early childhood days. No, no, no, no. Those bullies who taunted him, the pretty young girls who shunned him as "that weird, quiet kid". He hasn't forgotten. Those memories, in fact, embolden him now. The psychological scars have toughened his skin. His Democratic peers in the Senate like him. Obama says he likes him. However, Nancy Pelosi barely tolerates him. But that's okay. Two outta three ain't bad.
As unlikely a story as this is, for all his power and prestige, Harry Reid finds himself in the battle for his political life. An upstart conservative Republican and Tea Party favorite named Sharron Angle has dared to challenge "Prince Harry" for his imaginary crown. He mustn't dare lose all he has so dearly strived for. He mustn't lose the one thing that has given him his sustenance and power. It's his, by God. He's rightfully earned it and he'll fight to the death to maintain it.
After all, Reid's a devout Progressive. So devout in fact that he faithfully votes for a dangerous and unpopular agenda despite the thunderous public backlash against it. As a direct result, Reid's home state of Nevada currently ranks the highest in the nation in unemployment. But that's just collateral damage in Reid's war against liberty and freedom, and against the ghosts of the past that still haunt him. Obviously, those Southwest bumpkins just can't comprehend the end game. They just can't or won't appreciate all he has achieved for them. If they did, they would surely thank him, he is told by his Puppeteer-in-Chief. Those ungrateful bastards.
Despite this, and despite his plummeting popularity, Reid has been a very cooperative and obedient soldier. He has consistently spurned his fellow Nevadans and voted the way his superiors have commanded. In fact, Reid has been so cooperative, judging from his Senate voting record below, one might rightfully call him "Senator No".
He voted NO on paying down the debt by rating federal programs' effectiveness (Mar 2007)
He voted NO on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)
He voted NO on a balanced-budget constitutional amendment. (Mar 1997)
He voted NO on a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
He voted NO on ending funding for minority and women-owned businesses. (Oct 1997)
He voted NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal tax dollars. (Jul 1995)
He voted NO on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms. (May 1994)
He voted NO on school vouchers in Washington DC. (Sep 1997)
He voted NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer. (Jul 1994)
He voted NO on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax. (Apr 2009)
He voted NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade. (Apr 2009)
He voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (Jun 2008)
He voted NO on drilling in ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
He voted NO on prohibiting eminent domain for use parks or grazing land. (Dec 2007)
He voted NO on establishing free trade with Singapore ('03), Peru ('07), Chile ('03), Oman ('06), and the Andean nations (('02).
He voted NO on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections. (Jul 2007)
He voted NO on establishing the Senate Office for Public Integrity. (Mar 2006)
He voted NO on approving the presidential line-item veto. (Mar 1996)
He voted NO on banning more types of Congressional gifts. (Jul 1995)
He voted NO on limiting self-employment health deduction. (Jul 1999)
He voted NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. (Dec 2005)
He voted NO on declaring English as the official language of the United States. (June 2007)
He voted NO on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006)
He voted NO on limiting welfare for illegal immigrants. (Jun 1997)
He voted NO on confirming Samuel Alito ('06) and John Roberts ('05) as Supreme Court Justices.
He voted NO on eliminating the "marriage penalty" tax. (Jul 2000)
He voted NO on permanently repealing the "death tax". (Jun 2006)
Ladies and gentlemen of Nevada, on November 2nd, you have the opportunity to tell Harry Reid a big, fat "NO!". Folks, it's time to send ol' Harry back to Searchlight. After all these years, I'm sure he has lots of catching up to do.
Who knows, maybe he'll even find the time for a game of kickball.
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