How About ACTUALLY Giving Them Hell, Harry

Harry Reid says he opposes Judge Mukasey. He's so committed to seeing America as a nation that renounces torture and extreme executive power that he's set up an online petition so like-minded people can send him a show of support.

Only, Harry Reid can actually see to it that America is a nation that renounces torture by REFUSING TO BRING THE NOMINATION TO THE FLOOR, as the Majority Leader who sets the vote schedule. (UPDATE: And America agrees that waterboarding is torture, so there would be NO meaningful political fallout). This is a familiar Democratic tactic of pretending you have less power than you actually have. The Majority Leader has a host of parliamentary tactics at his disposal to parry the Republicans and ensure that no Mukasey vote goes forward without, say, a vote and signature from the President banning waterboarding by non-military organizations (Gen. Hayden has already apparently banned it as a tactic by the CIA, so this would be for future generations, and really just a small step to restoring the tatters of the Bush years). But Reid will pretend that he can't do such a divisive maneuver, that he must abide by the recommendation of the Judiciary Committee and schedule the vote. So he assumes less and less power, until he just becomes a secretary rather than the leader of the Senate. It's the same with the Iraq funding issue, he could refuse to allow a vote on funding until Bush acquieses.

It's like Democratic leaders need an orientation from Doyle Brunson or some other poker player, so they can understand how to play the game. Reid was actually decent enough in the minority against lightweight Bill Frist; but he has proven himself incapable of effective governance from the majority on far too many issues.

UPDATE: Exhibit B: The sloppy way Dennis Kucinich's privileged resolution on impeaching Fourthbranch was handled on the floor of the House. The guy has a 19% approval rating and has possibly committed multiple crimes. But Steny Hoyer thinks he has no ability to do what the American people ask, or at least move the process forward to get to the truth. but Dennis Kucinich saw a UFO so he's deeply, deeply unserious, not the crew who refuse to stop funding for a failed occupation because people might say mean things about them.