Dingy Harry: Hey, No Need to 'Work' This Weekend, I've Got a Fundraiser to Attend

It appears there's something more important for the Dim Bulb from Searchlight than ramming socialized medicine down our throats: His own self-preservation.

Senators and staffers watched CSPAN breathlessly from their offices Wednesday evening as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid indicated they might not have to work this weekend.

The Senate has been working at a breakneck pace (for the Senate) on the health reform legislation. Lawmakers worked all last weekend on Democrats' health reform bill and they worked the Saturday before Thanksgiving and all signs indicated they would work this coming weekend too.

But Reid, who wants to get a healthcare bill finished by Christmas, urged Republicans on the Senate floor to forego a debate on several conference reports this weekend in order to give Senators and staffers the weekend off.

"I understand the Republican leader doesn't want us to do health care. I appreciate that. He and I have different positions on that," said Reid. "I see no reason to punish everybody this weekend and I hope the minority will give strong consideration to the proposal that i've made."

But in addition to shepherding the health care bill through the Senate, Reid is also locked in a tough reelection campaign.

And in that regard his desire for a weekend off is not so benevolent to other Senators and staffers.

It turns out Reid has a 1,000 plus per plate fundraiser scheduled for Saturday in New Orleans, according to one local paper, which also reports that Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA, a key swing moderate in the health care debate, will also be in attendance.

But Reid will not escape the health debate even in the Big Easy; the paper reports that Tea Party activists who oppose helath [sic] reform are planning to picket the fundraiser.

This entire charade of working weekends is farcical when you consider these Washington clowns barely work half the year as it is between their extended recesses, long weekends and trip abroad on your dime. The rank hypocrisy of Reid pulling this weekend stunt of late and now wanting to skip town to raise money for endangered Democrats further underscores the need for him to be removed from office next November.

If Reed indeed shows up Saturday in New Orleans, here's hoping the Tea Party activists have fun with him. He's very thin-skinned, so make sure your signs jab him hard.