Reid Rejects Notion That GOP Is Winning Hill Battles

If this is what winning looks like, then Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants no part of it.

Tired of Republican crowing about winning on Iraq funding, the budget battle and the energy bill, Reid (D-Nev.) shot back on Tuesday afternoon.

"We hear a lot of Republicans boasting ... because of their unprecedented obstruction," Reid said.

Indeed, Republicans have gotten their way in the battle over spending, have forced Democrats to jettison rollbacks of tax breaks for oil companies, and have beaten back attempts to pay for expanded children's health care programs with a tobacco tax increase. Even though they're in the minority, the GOP, backed by President Bush, has used the filibuster to block Democratic priorities over and over this fall.

"Who's winning?" Reid asked a group of reporters. "Big oil, big tobacco. ... Al Qaeda has regrouped and is able to fight a civil war in Iraq. ... The American people are losing."

Reid left the microphones to head to a signing ceremony for legislation which increases gas mileage rules for the first time in 30 years  _ something Democrats will indeed tout as a "W" in their won-loss column.