NEBRASKANS! It is time to find a dem senator with some guts...

[acmavm]

Anybody read the NYT today? About that crackpot Dobson's threat against democratic senators and judicial nominees? Well, one of the senators targeted is our own wussy senator Ben Nelson. And when asked for a statement, does the coward point out that Dobson has no right to try to influence judicial appointments? Does he point out that maybe he could lose his tax free exemptions if he sticks his nose in where it doesn't belong? NO! Here's what the coward's spokesperson says:

<snip>

David DiMartino, a spokesman for Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, said the senator was already an opponent of abortion rights and had never supported a filibuster of one of Mr. Bush's appellate nominees.

"Dr. Dobson knows that," Mr. DiMartino said. "The senator and Dr. Dobson have discussed it before. The fact that the media has the letter before the targeted senators indicates his intention has more to do with the media than with persuading anybody in the Senate."

<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/01/politics/01dobson.html?th

What a whinebag. When presented with an issue that effects this country so seriously, what's he worried about? Public perception and the MEDIA.

I have long said that Nelson is more of a bushbot than Hagel. At least Hagel will, once in a while, take a stand against the corruption and incompetence of the bush** administration. But all Nelson ever does is sell us out. THAT IS WHY WE ARE LOSING THE BATTLE TO TAKE BACK OUT COUNTRY.

Truly, this guy has got to go.

edit: forgot the link. Sorry.

[Prodemsouth]

1. Get a much less conservative state first then you can talk about getting

a Dem Senator with balls.

[Skittles]

2. almost all Dem senators are "with balls"

what we need are some WITH COURAGE

[Prodemsouth]

4. With balls is just an expression.

But contrary to your assessment, Many Americans, both women and men, do think the Democratic Party is a female party-because of the number of high profile female Dem Senators and Nancy Peolsi running things in the house. And being told over and over that it is a party favored by women. It is true there are more men or in many cases males in the party leadership. Perception may be or is wrong but it still guides people in making decisions and to them it is reality.

[Skittles]

8. that expression is sexist and outdated

use another one.

[acmavm]

3. Quislings, cowards, and weasels like Nelson have a lot to do with

why this place is so conservative.

That and the fact that this place has it's hand out to the federal government for farm subsidies, that it's a racist and mysoginistic throwback to pre-Civil War days, and that it's hardly a bastion of enlightenment. AND THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE PANDERING COWARDS WE SEND TO THE SENATE.

What we need is someone to fight the ConAgras, Cargills, Union Pacifics, Mid-American Energy Cos, etc. If we could get someone with some balls to stand up and say something, maybe we could get somewhere. When Hagel, a republican, is the best we have, and he's a bush** supporter and enabler, we are screwed. Not to mention the whole ES&S thing. Plus we are fighting against the media here like they are in places in the deep south. The Ahmundsen family and their ties to the biggest newspaper in the state, The Omaha World Herald, is a really big problem as well. Harold W. Andersen with his constant screeds against democrats and his pathetic homilies on the editorial page is enough to make anyone understand why this place will never be anything but the political equivalent of Hooterville.

I've said time and time again, this place wasn't this way until the civil rights act and the equal rights amendment put the fear of God into all these farmers and backward bigots. We lose the best and brightest young people because the minute they have a chance, they beat it out of here as fast as they can. Give them a little education and the first thing they learn is that this place is not a bastion of liberal thinking and innovation. Unless they just happen to land a job with one of the companies mentioned above they take off like a bat out of hell the first chance they get.

[Prodemsouth]

5. Not being a smart ass, but I feel sorry for you, and I thought I had it

tough living in Georgia. Reading your post, you will never be anything close to happy living in Nebraska.

[acmavm]

7. Not being a smartass myself, but NO SHIT. I'm here because of family.

My Mom is not well, and she's 75. Having to face the fact that she may not live too much longer is what makes me stay. But when she's gone, I want to get out of here.

Politically my life does suck. It is so hard living in a place like this. A while back Dick Cheney came here for one of his speeches and photo ops. (Not during the election, about a year and a half before that.) Just because that crazy bastard was giving a speech at the Western Heritage Museum, the police were blocking off all the streets for blocks. I got there just in time for the barricades. I made them let me go down Jackson Street because I told them I lived down there and they let me through. But it just about made me pop a vein when I thought that just because that cretin was doing a $2000.00 a picture whore-fest I couldn't get home unless I went wwwwaaaayyyy out of my way. That was the day when all the crooks in town should have gone on a rampage because every single cop in Omaha was down there at the barricades. Well, maybe not all of them, but a lot.

Before 'Shock and Awe' there was a peace march in downtown. A little semi-riot broke out and it was totally instigated by members of the police department. Arresting officers in their police report referred to them as 'nazi skin-heads'. I know, I read the reports. Most of them got off with a dollar find and court costs because of the inappropriate behavior of the officers at the scene. All except one who hit a car with his fist because a nasty bush-supporting weasel hit a march with his car. He told the police he was 'attacked' and then they started rounding up kids, chasing them down on horseback and using pepper spray on them. Needless to say, there's been no active opposition to the war and bush** since then.

[CatholicEdHead]

11. Liberal Libertarian

To me, it sounds like Liberal Libertarian stances might work down there.

Use their fear of the government against them. Run on the flag, Bill of Rights attacks, etc...

[Lenape85]

12. Somebody PROGRESSIVE could win the state

Just goes to show you that DINOism will never win in the heartland.

[TwilightZone]

20. Actually, "DINOism" wins fairly often out here.

Ben Nelson is about as close to a DINO as it gets, and he's won most of the races he's been in.

Stephanie Herseth (in South Dakota) ran right-of-center and notes often that it's the only way that a Democrat will win out here.

[hadrons]

6. most of the people of Nebraska have allowed themselves to be whipped by

the GOP for so long I don't think they know any other way ... "6 of the 40 poorest counties in the U.S. in Nebraska; no problem, we'll go FARTHER to the right" ... that's the mind-set

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

9. Nebraska Democratic Party? Dude, Where's My Gentalia!

The Nebraska Democratic Party doesn't have the heart, stomach, cohesion or leadership to fight anymore.

The Party proved that back in '97, when so many "good Omaha Democrats" lined up right behind Hal Daub and his band of big-money elephants.

When the Democratic Party of Nebraska decides to stand for something rather than try to out-Republican the GOP, they might start doing something.

But it won't happen. Too much dissensions. The latte sippin' West Omaha Democrats don't trust the inner-city democrats. Inner-city white democrats don't like North Omaha and South Omaha non-white Democrats.

First district democrats try too darn hard to be fake Republicans. And I think Nebraska would be a helluva lot better off if we just gave the third district to Wyoming. How so many outstate Nebraskans keep voting Republican even though the third district keeps getting screwed by Washington and the Stupidcameral is beyond me.

Remember. If you want to know what a Republican does to the state of Nebraska, just go to Henry Doorly Zoo during mating season. :)

I know, I'm ranting. But the sellout of my home state by the neoconservatives angers me.

[TheFarseer]

10. I can take it when Nelson sells out the party

Hey, he's got to get re-elected. How can I begrudge the guy that? I absolutely can't stand it when any of our reps from any party sells out the STATE. I can't think of any times when Ben has done that(although maybe my memory is bad. I don't follow everything he does)

On a side note - David DiMartino went to my high school Horay!

[pdurod1]

13. But he's the "Benator". After getting diss'd by monkey pants, Nelson

had to bum a ride from the Quest Center. I have a feeling the "Benator" won't support SS accounts.

[Hippo_Tron]

14. Wasn't Bob Kerrey pretty progressive?

I know that he wasn't an ultra leftist or anything but as I recall he was definately better than Nelson.

[TwilightZone]

22. Yes, he was pretty liberal by Nebraska standards.

Pro-choice
Pro-affirmative action
Anti-sexual orientation discrimination
Pro-gun control
Anti-death penalty

Some pretty progressive stuff for a guy representing Nebraska.

Jim Exon, a long-time Nebraska Democratic Senator, was much more conservative, probably even more conservative than Nelson is.

[craychek]

15. sad

not to be a downer or anything, but finding a democratic senator who has a set of balls is like trying to find a honest man in congress. That's what's driving me nuts about the democratic party right now, they keep appologizing and not standing up to the republicans and the republicans see this and act like school yard bullies. Unless the democrates grow some balls real soon and start calling the republicans on their gross incompitence then we can pretty much kiss our freedoms and any hope of salvaging this country goodbye.

[LiberalAndProud]

16. Listening to Nelson on NPR today turned my stomach.

When asked about Cheney's "Last Throes" remark, Nelson says,
"I can see both sides of the issue."

When the Senate Democrats vote as a block, save one, you KNOW who the one breaking ranks is good old Ben.

THIS IS A BITCH!!!

I think I'm going to vote Green in 2006.

[phreakwars]

17. I'll tell you what the problem is.

Nebraska is one of those states that, for ONE have no REAL vote push, and 2, is mainly conservative based because its just the way nebraskans think... or at least THINK how they stand politically.... Usually, its... Well Dad was a republican... and uhhhh... FOOTBALL RULES so its how the voting goes...

Nebraskans have no REAL sense of where they stand.. I took an invalid poll on a nebraska BBS forum in one of there newspapers, they were asked to take the VERY TINY political quiz of the internet... 10 simple questions.

http://www.self-gov.org/quiz.html

They were instructed to vote AFTER they had recieved there results.

In results that only confirmed what I suspected, MOST were either CENTRIST or LIBRETARIAN, A stronger few were LIBERAL, while only a couple were CONSERVATIVE.

It is my belief in order to enlighten people on where they REALLY stand, will take a Centrist canidate in whatever elections are to come..

A centrist that swayed a tad left would be great.

What Nebraska needs is a CENTRIST /DEMOCRAT that can appeal to the people where they need it. THE NEBRASKA ECONOMY !!


I'm not gonna flat out call Nebraskans STUPID, but I feel ALOT of them need to wake up to the fact that a REPUBLICAN is not a bad thing, but being a republican because "DAD" was and they think a republican can control money better, is plain ignorance..

George Bu$h has only been in Nebraska what 2 times ??

Once to cower away from a national attack on our people (9/11) and once to talk trash about fixing social security, crack a couple stupid jokes, then talk about TAKING AWAY money from farmers..

And convincing these GOOD OLE' BOYS that its gonna BENEFIT them

Has anyone seen Tom Osborne, I believe, and his proposal for ETHANOL ??

Nebraska farmers can be major contributers to not only nebraskas economy, but our dependence on foriegn oil..

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/ne03_osborne/042505EnergyBill.html

I think TOM needs a HIGHLIGHT REEL of this idea in Nebraska media system, with a nice big fat DEMOCRAT endorsement to the people of Nebraska.
.
.

[LiberalAndProud]

18. The sad part it Ben Nelson looks good next to these guys.

Promising conservative leadership on issues from tax cuts to immigration reform, David Kramer on Tuesday entered the 2006 Republican Senate race.

The former GOP state chairman will be matched against former Attorney General Don Stenberg in next May's Republican primary election. The GOP nominee will face Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson 17 months from now.

Kramer, who stepped down as party leader last Feburary to prepare a bid for the Senate, said he would "take the lead in making President Bush's tax cuts permanent" and in giving the president's judicial nominees an up-or-down vote.

He promised leadership in crafting Social Security reform, strengthening agriculture and in enacting an energy policy designed to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and increase reliance on alternative fuels like ethanol and bio-diesel.

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2005/06/28/local/doc42c1843da6ca8385143792.txt

[hibbing]

19. keep dreaming

Don't hold your breath waiting

[TwilightZone]

21. As I said in another thread, I have to admit that I tend to respect Hagel

more than Nelson. I certainly don't agree with his politics, but the guy doesn't fear the political repercussions of opposing the Bush administration's view of the war in Iraq. That's rare, even on our side of the aisle.

Stephanie Herseth won in similarly-conservative South Dakota, though she's also moderate on most issues and conservative on a few.

I think it's a chicken-and-egg kind of argument. Nelson probably won because he's not a liberal, but a true liberal or progressive probably couldn't win here.