tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post416228477803501824..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Senate Leadership? Why?Jonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-69199424184778331422011-09-22T14:14:25.740-05:002011-09-22T14:14:25.740-05:00Lamar Alexander quit the same day that the Senate ...Lamar Alexander quit the same day that the Senate leadership sent their letter to the Fed. I think it is reasonable to assume that the two events are related.William Ockhamhttp://www.example.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-67001771578906400242011-09-22T10:19:58.008-05:002011-09-22T10:19:58.008-05:00Anon,
Thune is 50, and has already admitted to pr...Anon,<br /><br />Thune is 50, and has already admitted to presidential ambitions. I don't see any reason to believe that he has any other main long-term goal.<br /><br />Which may not mean he'll ever actually run or anything, but if Obama wins I'd be surprised if you don't see his name again for 2016 -- and he could still be a contender in 2024, for all we know.Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-75955257064535049072011-09-22T10:15:46.495-05:002011-09-22T10:15:46.495-05:00I wonder how much the difference has to do with ho...I wonder how much the difference has to do with how knowledgeable the individual members must be? In the Senate, members serve on a number of high-profile committees, so they must be familiar with a wide-range of issues. This causes members to have stronger opinions about many different things, making it more difficult for the leadership to twist arms.<br /><br />In the House, on the other hand, each member only serves on a small number of committees, and only one major committee. It might be hard to convince a newbie or backbencher on the Financial Services to vote a certain way on banking reform, but it might be easier to sway his vote on energy policy, for example.<br /><br />I suppose the adage might be right: Serving in the Senate leadership is like herding cats: They're smart and independent. In the House, it's like herding dogs: dumber and more likely to go with the pack.<br /><br />Folks in the Senate leadership can become quite influential (if not powerful), though. I expect Schumer may someday approach Mansfield and LBJ in his influence as Majority Leader.Kalhttp://twitter.com/#!/Kalbelgarionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-53557044724296672132011-09-22T10:11:25.181-05:002011-09-22T10:11:25.181-05:00Thune not thine, sorryThune not thine, sorryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-17648203697136616282011-09-22T10:08:44.010-05:002011-09-22T10:08:44.010-05:00Now that thine is out of the Pres race what do you...Now that thine is out of the Pres race what do you think his long term goal is? Majority leader?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com