I can't say that being the Senate Majority Leader isn't a difficult job. After all, the only person in history who was able to fully force their will (a la a Speaker of the House) on the Senate was LBJ, and there will never be anyone like him again, at least for a long while.
But what I can say for certain is that Harry Reid has dramatically and dangerously underutilized his power not just against obstruction, but FOR good policy and good legislation.
While the Senate is designed to be a somewhat undemocratic institution insofar as a determined minority can derail the majority's business, that power was generally reserved for times that a determined minority believed that the basic fabric of the nation is in danger of being undone by the policy, act or resolution at hand.
By not forcing the GOP to act on its threat of filibuster, Sen. Reid has in fact emboldened them to use it as a tactic for the smallest policy differences.
In this way, he has made the Senate even less responsible to the people than it was during the age of Richard Russell, Strom Thurmond and other Dixiecrats who held up civil rights and made the regulation of unthinkable business practices more difficult.
For contrast's sake, the Democrats truly believed that Bush judges and appointees would dramatically undermine the rule of law or other American values.
Whereas John Cornyn just wants to filibuster Al Franken because he doesn't want another Democratic senator, even if he has the proper certification.
If we had a real majority leader, he or she would make Senator Cornyn take a public stand. Make him recite a cookbook, the bible, or People magazine. Make him stand for his narrow, partisan foolishness in public.
Allow him to falsely elevate it to the level of "tearing at the fabric of our nation" just so we can see how morally bankrupt the GOP is.
But instead? Sen. Reid looks like he might want to let his buddy Norm Coleman, a man who has not been re-elected, "retain" his seat:
Coleman’s first term officially expires at noon on Saturday, and he is locked in one of the closest Senate races in history, with Democrat Al Franken clinging to a 49-vote lead out of nearly 3 million votes cast.
Since he has not been certified a winner in the race, Coleman may have to give up his privileges as a senator, including his desk on the floor, his personal office and his right to vote on legislation, according to Democratic aides familiar with the rules.
Some of his staff members could continue to get paid for up to 60 days if they do not find new employment, but each eligible aide would need to return every two weeks and sign an affidavit to certify he or she has not found new work. Coleman still would be able to enter the Senate chambers and meet with his colleagues on the floor, since former members are granted floor privileges so long as they are not registered lobbyists.
It is possible, however, that all of Coleman's privileges may remain intact should the two parties reach an accommodation, and aides signaled that talks were occurring on the matter through Friday.
We're far too familiar with this kind of "accomodation", Sen. Reid.
This is the height of foolishness and disrespect for the United States Senate, and if we cannot correct Sen. Reid, we must replace him.
Either that, or admit that we too are all part of the problem.