How Does Harry Reid Spell Reasonable? B-I-T-T-E-R

By John Bresnahan

(The Politico)  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is a tough guy but he ususally doesn't take his anger out on the press. Thursday was an exception, however.

Reid held a press conference today with the rest of his leadership team - Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and Democratic Conference Secretary Patty Murray (Wash.).

Reid railed against Republicans for filibustering the Democrats' energy bill and refusing Reid's offer for votes on several GOP-favored amendments related to offshore drilling and nuclear power, among others.

Reid then turned his sights on the gathered reporters, saying news stories on the state of the Senate's energy fight had been improperly relayed, especially whether he had actually offered Republicans seperate votes on their proposals.

The Nevada Democrat said reporters should actually watch what's happening on the Senate floor rather than just printing what Republicans said.

"I would suggest you would pick up a lot of interesting things doing that," Reid said. When a reporter said she was watching the floor, and it still wasn't clear what Reid had offered the Republicans, Reid got made.

"Turn up your hearing aid," Reid said. "It was clear for those of us who understand English."

Reid also had harsh words for former Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas), who was until recently an economic advisor to Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign. Gramm pushed through legislation allowing more widespread speculation in oil futures during his time in the Senate, and Democrats blame speculation in part for the huge run-up in oil prices over the last year.

Reid criticized "the economic genius of Phil Gramm," and earlier in the press conference, he sarcastically noted that McCain "has changed his economic advisors."

Reid also lambasted Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who has filibustered a $300 billion Democratic housing bill that even President Bush supports. DeMint has offered several amendments that have slowed down debate on the housing bill, and when Reid was asked whether he would try to "reach out to DeMint," Reid shot back: "Reach out to him - for what?"

All in all, the normally irascible Reid was extra crispy bitter on Thursday, as even his own aides privately admittted. Should be an interesting 10 days in the Senate before the August recess begins if Reid stays in this kind of mood.