We have enough lunacy to deal with here in Connecticut with Sen. Chris Doddand his crazed, frenetic activity in the world’s most exclusive club. But nothing compares to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, who is trying to outscore Dodd as the nation’s  most unpopular U.S. Senator.

Reid broke new ground yesterday and today by comparing opposition to the nationalization of health care to those who supported slavery and the century of discrimination and institutional racism which followed Lincoln’s emancipation.

Reid has simply lost it as his hopes of finding 60 votes to close debate are eroding. And he can’t blame Joe Lieberman for everything. Now Reid is truing to rewrite history and play the race card on top of the health card.

Doddhas been running pillar to post, announcing money for jobs that don’t exist or  promising to give everyone in his line of sight “free” health care, instant union membership or a time share at his Irish cottage.

“If you think you’ve heard these same excuses before, you’re right,” Reid said. “When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said, ‘Slow down, it’s too early, things aren’t bad enough.’ ”

That is what Reid said Monday. Tuesday, Reid said that people were distorting his views, but that he meant them, anyway.

“At pivotal points in American history, the tactics of distortion and delay have certainly been present,” Reid said. “They’ve certainly been used to stop progress. That’s what we’re talking about here. That’s what’s happening here. It’s very clear. That’s the point I made — no more, no less. Anyone who willingly distorts my comments is only proving my point.”

Dodd, of course, has said nothing about this insane rantings by one of the most powerful people in the country.

Reid conveniently forgets, as most Democrats do, that it was the Democrats from the South who stopped all Civil Rights legislation, particularly in the 1950’s under the leadership of Lyndon Johnson of Texas. In fact, during the long filibuster process, Democratic Senators took the floor to denounce any civil rights laws 80 percent of the time.

It wasn’t until, ironically, that Republicans, led by U.S. Sen. Everett Dirksen of Illinois,who helped break the southern filibuster to pass the Voting Rights Act in 1965.

But this is the typical nonsense that Reid and others do everytime they can’t get their way, even though they have the numbers, the White House and the media guarding their backs.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele called on Reid to apologize, which is unlikely.

Reid trails in recent polls to former Nevada GOP Chairwoman and State Senator Sue Lowden of Las Vegas, 51-41 percent. Reid’s approval rating is a miserable 38 percent.