This is what happens when someone who can’t be scripted …

By Jon Ralston

Monday, April 13, 2009 | 2 a.m.

This is what happens when someone who can’t be scripted goes off the script. And no one ad libs better, for the media, or worse, for his allies and staff, than Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Here’s what happened: Reid had his staff set up a conference call for legislative leaders seeking a stimulus waiver with higher-ups in the U.S. Education Department. It went well; the waiver was all but assured. As they were having that call, Reid decided to tell reporters that he was opposed to a waiver, that he thought lawmakers should boost education funding first. Chaos ensued. Phone calls were exchanged. And then: a clarification that essentially said Reid wouldn’t stand in the state’s way. That clarifies it, all right.