I hope Rahm breaks his foot off in Ben Nelson's ass

[CatWoman]

:grr:

Ben Nelson Tougher On Obama's Nominees Than Bush's

Sen. Ben Nelson's opposition to President Obama's choice to head the Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel appears to be the key obstacle to her confirmation. Democrats say Dawn Johnsen, an Indiana University law professor, has 59 backers in the Senate -- just one vote shy of cloture. Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat, is standing firmly against her appointment, pointing to Johnsen's job 15 years ago as a counsel to the abortion rights group NARAL.

All of which has left Nelson's critics furious. Where was the principled opposition from the Senator during the Bush years? Why is he refusing to show Obama the same deference that he offered the previous administration?

The votes, they argue tell the story. Nelson supported cloture or confirmation for some of Bush's most controversial judges and political nominees, including several who were never able to be confirmed even under a GOP-controlled Senate. Moreover, Nelson often defended his positions by citing presidential prerogative.

"The president's nominees, especially to the Supreme Court, deserve an up-or-down vote," he said of the nominating process, "even if the nominee isn't popular with the special-interest groups in Washington."

Indeed, Nelson voted for cloture twice on former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton and once for former EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/14/ben-nelson-tougher-on-oba_n_203447.html

[JVS]

1. And since it's Rahm, may his foot get stuck there.

[HereSince1628]

4. Really. All the way to the hip.

If the colonic confrontation could only take them both out of the game.

[mnhtnbb]

2. Nelson is simply pandering to the right wing Catholics in NE--the town of Lincoln

is 40% Catholic.

They have huge protests against Planned Parenthood there. They have an extremely right wing
archdiocese; the Bishop has excommunicated Catholic city council members who dared to be pro-choice.

Nelson is sucking up to the Catholics in NE--pure and simple.

Oh, how I long for Al Franken to be seated.

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. Does that mean that he is representing his constituents?

:shrug:

[Kingofalldems]

16. Ah, good to hear the republican side of this issue

Thanks again!!:shrug:

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. Are you suggesting that only Republicans are capable of representing their constituent's views?

:shrug:

[mnhtnbb]

17. It means he's afraid to take a pro-choice stand.

[The Magistrate]

3. Nelson, Ma'am, Badly Needs An Attitude Adjustment....

[TahitiNut]

9. He needs a high colonic with a fire hose.

:grr:

[The Magistrate]

14. Just What The Doctor Ordered, Sir

A heroic treatment, often proving fatal, but what else can be done?

[Pirate Smile]

5. IMO This is because Obama told Nelson that Nelson is NOT going to stop the Student Lending Reform.

The middle man who is getting taken out of the equation is in Nebraska and Obama told him that they are doing it anyway.

Menendez in NJ was also screwing with Obama's appointees because he didn't want Obama to change our foreign policy re Cuba.

God, they piss me off. We knew that Obama's trouble was often going to come from Democratic Senators more then Republicans - and that has been the case.

[ThomCat]

6. Any democrat who showed MORE support for Bush

needs to have all his senate privileges taken away until he learns some basic lessons.

Put him in the smallest office in the basement. Take him off every committee. Reduce his staff to the minimum. Play hardball.

There is always a right to your own opinion, but when you support the opposition party more than your own it's time for some tough love.

x(

[babylonsister]

8. Did you see this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5648964&mesg_id=5648964

Ryan Grim

Ben Nelson All Alone In Quest To Block Health Care Reform


Sen. Ben Nelson announced at the beginning of this month that he opposed the creation of a public health care plan that people would have the option to buy into. He'd be gathering together a coalition of like-minded senators to oppose the plan, the conservative Democrat from Nebraska promised.

More than two weeks later, it's still a coalition of one.

Since Nelson's announcement, eight moderate Democrats and one Republican have told the Huffington Post that they are open to a public health care option. Two others, Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Jim Webb (D-Va.), have signed on to the idea.

Last week, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) said they were open to a public plan but undecided. Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) said much the same in a letter to the advocacy group Health Care for America Now,

Add more names to the list of those open to a public option: Jon Tester (Mont.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Kay Hagan (N.C.) and Maria Cantwell (Wash.).

Because Democratic leaders have said they are willing to pass health care reform with a simple majority -- rather than the 60 votes needed for most Senate business -- fewer centrist senators are needed.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/13/ben-nelson-all-alone-in-q_n_203084.html

[CatWoman]

10. yeah, I caught that yesterday

can't you just see him in a corner, talking to himself? :rofl:

[Me.]

22. Good To Know

This will kick his self importance down a notch or two.

[lonestarnot]

23. :)

[librechik]

11. I think the Senate has become a useless organ

in this day and age, I doubt we even need it--especially since it has become a palace of elitism, rather than a home for the people.

[tnlefty]

12. On pay per view?

I'm in!

[Vinca]

13. Following Nelson's thinking then, virtually any practicing attorney

up for a position could be excluded for representing someone at some point in their career.

[MisterP]

15. Rahm? I'm sure the conservative Dems are just a-TREMBLE n/t

[Forkboy]

18. Nothing brings me more pleasure than two people I don't like going at it.

Life doesn't bring one many win-win situations, so I enjoy them when they manage to come along.

And hey... :loveya:

[Forkboy]

19. Nothing brings me more pleasure than two people I don't like going at it.

Life doesn't bring one many win-win situations, so I enjoy them when they manage to come along.

And hey... :loveya:

[firedupdem]

20. Another reason I hate living here. Disgusting! n/t