corrente

One of the nice things about Harry Reid is that he doesn't look in the mirror and see a President (yeah, Joe Biden, I'm talking about you).

Here he is, ever so gently and reasonably setting Bush up:

"I am convinced this is an opportunity for the president to bring the country together," Reid said during a news conference at UNLV's William S. Boyd School of Law. "We do not need a lot of acrimony."

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, 75, announced Friday that she was retiring from the Supreme Court, creating the first vacancy on the high court in 11 years.

During his brief remarks to reporters, the Nevada senator praised O'Connor for her moderate opinions on the bench and encouraged Bush to look to the Senate for qualified nominees.

He specifically mentioned Republican Sens. Mel Martinez of Florida and Mike Crapo of Idaho as examples of several current and former senators with the credentials to serve on the Supreme Court.

"I just hope it is someone similar to Sandra Day O'Connor," Reid said.

Although Democrats are not looking for a showdown, Reid indicated they would resist a nominee deemed too conservative.

"There is no reason for this to be knockdown, dragged-out fight in the Senate," he said. "How easy this is, is up to the president."
(via Las Vegas Sun)

And we all know what a uniter Bush is....

What Bush says:

Speaking with reporters Friday, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said the administration would undertake "more thorough consulting" on the high court vacancy.
(via LA Times)

Of course, anything is "more" than zero...

What Bush does (not quite the same thing):

The president spoke Friday with Sen. Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and placed a call to Reid, although they did not connect, according to White House and congressional officials.

Good thing Cheney let Bush handle Leahy, eh?

But what's with "not connecting" to Reid? The President of the world's only superpower can't manage to place a call?