Democrat Ben Nelson Opposes Kagan

[Joanne98]

Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson announced late Friday he would vote against the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan.

In a statement released this evening, Sen. Nelson said, "I have heard concerns from Nebraskans regarding Ms. Kagan, and her lack of a judicial record makes it difficult for me to discount the concerns raised by Nebraskans, or to reach a level of comfort that these concerns are unfounded. Therefore, I will not vote to confirm Ms. Kagan’s nomination."

Nelson is the only Democrat to oppose Kagan at this point. Five Republicans, on the other hand, have said they will support Kagan's nomination, giving her more than enough votes to win confirmation. A vote is expected in the Senate late next week.

Nelson has sided with Republicans on a number of votes in the past, most recently the restoration and extension of unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/07/democrat-ben-nelson-opposes-kagan.html

[arbusto_baboso]

1. Well that convinces me. If DINO Nelson opposes her....

She must be a decent nominee.

Now, can we kick that shitsack out of our party?

[OmahaBlueDog]

2. All politics are local

He's trying to get back in the good graces of locals who are still furious over his support for HCR. If there were a filibuster, or the vote were close, he'd vote with the party.

[IADEMO2004]

19. He's a moth that attracts flame

but he is in the Democrat caucus and gives us a majority.

[mmonk]

3. He has the cover and is against filibustering. No harm to her nomination.

If I were in office, I would oppose her too but for reasons different than his.

[Kalyke]

4. Why doesn't he just change parties?

:shrug:

[OmahaBlueDog]

7. If Crist get's elected, he might

.. or he might go "indy." I keep wondering if Snowe, Collins, Nelson, Lieberman, and a would-be Senator Crist might attempt to form their own third voting bloc.

[BlueDemKev]

14. Crist

I hope and pray that Charlie Crist will beat Marco "Right-Wing" Rubio. Crist is a Republican, but VERY moderate (my parents who live in Florida said he was a breath of fresh air after 8 years of Jeb Bush). My concern is that Crist and Kendrick Meek (the Democratic nominee) will split the liberal/moderate vote which will cause Rubio to win.

[OmahaBlueDog]

21. Crist would be a huge improvement over Mel Martinez and far better than Rubio

Lots of Florida Republicans are moderate, and Crist will play well with the 65+ Crowd on the Gold Coast and Treasure Coast.


That said, I have not seen recent polling

[IADEMO2004]

5. Sen. Ben Nelson (Toast )

Republicans hate him because he is a Democrat and Democrats hate him because he is a Republican. How can he win again I don't know

[Bitwit1234]

6. Flash ! ! ! ! The real Democrats oppose Nelson and wish he would

change parties.

[Skink]

8. The democrats must vote in lockstep

[Ken Burch]

10. They're at least supposed to vote with the party on most stuff

How can you defend Nelson, who votes against the party almost HALF the time?

It's not like our bills are evil, or that his no votes on Democratic priorities ever lead to anything better.

[BlueDemKev]

15. THAT will be the day!

The day Democrats march in lockstep will be the day that hell freezes over. :eyes:

[upi402]

16. When they vote in lock-step with Republicans

...then they ARE Republicans.

So we get a choice when we vote in a democracy; either Republican you want -free to choose! yay choice!

[Ken Burch]

9. Imagine my surprise.

I've heard he votes with us on a few things...but is it ever on anything that actually MATTERS?

That state that produced William Jennings Bryan and George Norris can do better than this.

[BlueDemKev]

11. Nelson's merely trying to get back in Nebraskans' favor

Nebraska is a highly conservative state (very rural, with a huge military population). His constituents are upset with him because of his support for the stimulus bill and the fact he cast the 60th vote in favor of the Senate version of the health care bill back in December (via the "cornhusker kickback"). So now he's trying to show his more conservative side....opposing the extension of federal unemployment benefits and voting against Kagan (which is totally safe, since he knows she'll be confirmed anyway).

Reminds me a little of former Georgia Gov. Zell Miller, who was pretty much center-left in the early '90s and then took a sharp turn to the right after barely winning re-election (then he totally lost his marbles by the time he got to the Senate in 2000). Let's hope that Nelson doesn't totally lose his sanity the way Zig-Zag Zell did!

[bluestateguy]

12. His vote is not needed

She has 5 Republic senators so far. His no vote on unemployment insurance is of far more significance.

[upi402]

13. "Democrat" lol n/t

[MineralMan]

17. Demopublican Ben Nelson Blows Donkeys...

New headline.

[NorthCarolina]

18. Corrected title "DLC Democrat Ben Nelson Opposes Kagan"...that is all. n/t

[Monique1]

20. Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

:sarcasm: Bill Nelson: puke:

[tritsofme]

22. In the off chance there is a 50-50 Senate after November

There will be a lot of GOP pressure for Nelson to flip ahead of his 2012 reelection campaign. Although the recent experience of Arlen Specter may make this much less likely.

[wisteria]

23. Does he ever vote with the Democrats? n/t

[AlabamaLibrul]

24. For Ben Nelson, "Democrat" is a trade name. (eom)

[TransitJohn]

25. You forgot to put Democrat in quotes n/t

n/t