J.J. Exon is Spinning

So now the Nebraska Democrats are running ads for Earl Ben Nelson featuring President George W. Bush. (Ad for Nelson features kind words from Bush – OWH – 6/28/06)

We’re waiting for the follow up ad where Nelson:
1) punches Anne Boyle in the gut;
2) French-kisses Hal Daub; and
3) rides off on an elephant.

At this point, who would be shocked?

Leavenworth Street Political Consultants

On this Friday afternoon, perusing campaign websites.

Took a look at Jim Esch’s reportedly very expensive website.
And here’s a little free political consultation, Jim:

Jim, you don’t look old. You look rather young. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but you’ve got a young face. Unfortunately that’s not a real asset in a campaign, as people generally want a mature person representing them. Not saying you’re not mature, again, just talking about appearance.

(And we’re not suggesting you go the Lee-Terry-mustache-route either, back when Lee would get carded everywhere he went.)

But when you do parades this summer and fall, try to look a little more like a candidate. You don’t have to wear a three piece suit, or even a tie, but at least ditch the jeans and tee-shirt and tennis shoes. It makes you look like you’re 18 years old.



And worse, don’t wear one of your own campaign tee-shirts. It makes you look like one of the volunteers.



If you’re a known candidate, there’s an outside chance you can get away with that, but even then, it looks dopey. On you, it looks like you’re another volunteer waving at people.



You’re the candidate. Wear khakis and a polo or button-down shirt. Wear a campaign sticker on your shirt if you must. Let your volunteers wear the tee-shirts.

And as long as we’re on this race, Lee STILL doesn’t have his site updated, and his photo section is completely blank.



Again, not criticizing. Just pointing it out.

Pro or Anti Bugaboo?

The Omaha World Herald recently criticized Pete Ricketts’ latest commercial stating:

“How much better served Nebraska would be if political ads focused on specific policy differences between Ricketts and U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson rather than trotting out tiresome rhetoric about Clinton and Kennedy, those predictable bugaboos of the GOP hard right.”

(Furthermore . . . – OWH – 6/19/06)

And the OWH is correct, to an extent: Nebraskans are smart. Ricketts shouldn’t beat around the bush, using the “bugaboos” (can I get a Wikipedia definition on that please?). Petey needs to come right out on the issue directly (saying something like this):

“Ben Nelson likes to pretend he’s a Republican. As elections near, he likes to vote like a Republican. He likes to hang around the Republican President. And he nearly has Nebraskans believing he’s a Republican. So here’s the question, Senator Nelson: If the Democrats take over the Senate who will get your vote for Majority Leader – the Democrat or the Republican?”

It’s a simple question. Because if the answer is the Democrat, then those “bugaboos” the OWH talks about will decide which bills and judges even make it to the floor for a vote. And suddenly Petey’s rhetoric isn’t so tiresome…

(Oh, and the OWH editorial forgot to mention that Ricketts spent $5M of his own money, like they have in every other article written about him…)

"I just like to click things..."

OK, it's already been a long week, and this is my opportunity to vent:

As you've seen on the OWH's home page, they have the daily poll on whatever they deem poll-worthy. Sometimes the questions are big issues; sometimes they're pop-culture issues. Whatever. Fine. But why, pray-tell, do they always have one button you can click for "I have no opinion", and then there're like hundreds of people who have clicked this?

If you have "no opinion" shouldn't you just click away to the next article? Or finish your sandwich? Or finish cleaning out your ears? Or whatever it is you're doing that would be more important than registering the fact that you have no opinion on the poll of the day???

Who are you people????
Am I alone here????? Am I taking crazy pills??????

Help me out here!!!

Regency vs Fairacres

“Main Street Nebraska versus Wall Street” is how Earl Ben Nelson characterized the U.S. Senate race the day after the election. Heck the LJS even used Nelson's line as their headline (In Nelson-Ricketts race, it’s ‘Main Street vs. Wall Street’ - LJS- 5/9/06).

But now it’s published what we already knew: Fieldcrest Drive is a long way from Main Street. That’s right, ol’ humble Benny from McCook is actually a multi-millionaire ($18.7 million, give or take a few hundred thousand) – the richest in the entire Nebraska-Iowa Congressional delegation. (Nelson still wealthiest Midlands lawmaker – OWH – 6/13/06.)

And what’s wrong with that? Nothing.

Except Earl harped on it from Day 1 that Pete Ricketts should be disqualified because he’s a millionaire. At least Ricketts isn’t running away from his money – he’s been pushing his business experience all along.

So let’s characterize this race as it really is:
Regency vs. Fairacres.
Who ya got???

**Update, 6/16/06**
A reader pointed out that we inverted the 1 and 8 in Earl's reported wealth numbers above. It should be 18 and not 81. (Though we wouldn’t be surprised if it was 81 before taxes.) We've changed that above and we thank our frequent readers for pointing out typos.

The All Senate Campaign Channel

Pete Ricketts has come up with a new angle (and TV ad) for his campaign, and it will be interesting to see if it has any legs. He’s pushing the, “If Nelson wins, the Senate could go Democrat” line. (Ricketts TV ad targets Kennedy, Hillary Clinton – LJS – 6/13/06) Without studying the numbers lately, we’re not sure if that’s true, at least for this cycle anyway, but it certainly could be the case. It is absolutely something voters should consider in a Senate race, when they’re picking one of only a hundred Senators. A good question may be: Sure you voted for Alito and maybe some tax cuts, but who will you vote for Majority Leader? It’s a better line for Petey than the earmarking business anyway…

***Update at 11:00am***

In the OWH today, Earl B. Nelson went on to say, "Maybe this commercial is running in the Twilight Zone, because it doesn't reflect reality." (Ricketts raises 'L' word; Nelson calls it partisan rhetoric – OWH – 6/14/06.)

Who’s in the Twilight Zone? Who does Earl think controls Congress? Who does he think passes bills – the Majority or the Minority? All these swell tax cuts that Earl says he’s for would never even make it out of committee of a Dem Senate.

Vote Hunky Hunkerson

After a vote for the smokingest female politician was held (and South Dakota’s Rep Stephanie Herseth pushed herself down to second place with her new doo), the Politics1.com website is having the men compete for Beefcake Pol of the Year. And who is there, but none other than 3rd District carpetbagger Scott Kleeb. Be sure to cast your vote for Cowboy McDreamy now! (And you know Adrian Smith is sitting in the back with the chess team just fuming about this…)

Why Bush Was Here

The Bush motorcade considered a cruise down Leavenworth Street, but was detoured by Lee Terry's anti-cruising law...

As the President goes “wheels-up” from Omaha today, many still have a question mark as to why he was here. Only one person in the Congressional delegation supports the Prez’s position (Sen. Chuck Hagel) and for the rest, it’s almost a no-winner at election time. (And, as always, Don Walton of the LJS has an excellent summary of their positions and many implications -- Bush plan turns state's politics upside down – LJS – 6/7/06.)

Tom Osborne has shown that to be pro-immigrant-anything right now is a loser in Nebraska. Pete Ricketts, who supports the Hagel position, may find that this is the defining issue in November, and it could take down his ship.

So why is the President fighting for this presumably pro-immigrant position? Some would say he’s taking the high road. But the reality is that President Bush is thinking politically, and thinking for his party’s future.

By anyone’s count there are a zillion illegal immigrants in the U.S. (numbers estimated). And generally, those immigrants/Latinos are going to have kids (some would say more kids than the average Bob and Sally in West Omaha/Elkhorn). And when those kids are born, they will be LEGAL U.S. citizens. And one day, in the not-to-distant future, they will vote. The Prez is making an investment with his political capital, that future Republicans better appreciate. Instead of having a minority group that goes 90% for the Democrats in every election (like the African American voter block), the Republicans could have a huge group that actually supports them. Not to mention a group that has traditionally conservative roots on many issues. (And Nebraskans, you can gare-un-tee that Earl B. Nelson will be very pro-immigrant in the Senate if he pulls it out in November. Just as he’ll change his tune on lottttts of other issues. The Dems aren’t just going to cede this voting block to the Republicans.)

So Republicans should tread lightly here. Lee Terry already seems to understand this to some degree. He seems willing to support a compromise, as long as it solidifies his short term position (“build a friggin’ fence!”). And politically, one can’t blame Heineman for taking the wedge position against Osborne in the primary, even if it was a finger-in-the-wind decision.

But if they can manage to not completely outrage the entire Latino population, Republicans will have George W. Bush to thank for many election victories for years to come. Even if they can’t see beyond November 2006.

Godzilla vs Nelson

U.S. Senator Earl Ben Nelson is no doubt pulling out all the stops to ensure his victory in the fall. He has married himself to the Dave Heineman position regarding immigration – ironically to the right of Pete Ricketts. (Ricketts has instead decided to go lock step with Chuck Hagel, and we’ll see where that gets him. This could be the overriding issue in November, and could be trouble for Petey.)

Now Earl has nailed down another issue: protectionism! The U.S. had been exporting around a billion dollars worth of beef to Japan. Japan finds some bones in a shipment, and immediately calls a halt to all U.S. beef imports -- a pretty big deal to Nebraska cattle men and all the related industries. So what does Earl propose?

A ban on Japanese Kobe beef.

And how much Kobe beef does the U.S. import? Around a million dollars worth (or less) a year. So let’s see, a million divided by a billion, (carry the one) and that comes out to about 0.1% of what the U.S. exports to Japan.

The Japanese haven’t quaked so much since the invasion by Mothra.

Earl B. admits it’s a “pittance”. He says it’s the “principle”. (Nelson aims to halt beef from Japan – OWH – 6/1/06). What’s that principle again? Beef for beef? Because if we’re really talking about principle, Earl should go after something that is questionable (slightly) on the Japanese import side – DVD players or ginsu knives maybe. Heck how about sake? Something that could raise just a little ire in Japan. It’s like when you put your hand on your little brother’s head as he swings away a few times. I suppose it makes little Earl feel good. Because it certainly won’t affect the Japanese.

It will be interesting to see if anyone (any voters) see through this meaningless grandstanding by Earl. He proposed this before in the Senate, and even Chuck Hagel voted against the bill. And yesterday, referring to China, but very likely a jab at his Jr. Senator, Hagel warned against a “sophisticated, dangerous protectionism streak” in Congress. He went on to say, “Things can always be resolved through dialogue and discussion” (Experts talk trade during China forum - OWH- 6/2/06).

Hagel pointed out that the embargo would likely end at the end of June, but Nelson insisted on the end of May (Beef trade set to resume, Hagel says – OWH – 5/26/06). Why? So Earl could grandstand on it for a month, then make it seem like Godzilla himself caved to his pressure. He’s also going to demand that the sun rise tomorrow or he’ll propose an anti-sun bill in the Senate immediately.
It will be interesting to see how many more bald-faced pandering moves Earl B. Nelson can make before people start calling him on them. Politically shrewd or doing anything to win?