So, in light of that, here is a Separated at Birth suggested by a loyal Leavenworth Street reader, whom we couldn’t turn down:
Senator Ben Nelson and former Wonder Years star, Dan Lauria.
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Remember the whole saga of the New York Boy and the Nebraska Boy and the Unity ’08 ticket? Well, they’re still talking about it. And if you are itching for something loooooong (like 5,000 words, 15 pages long) and political to read this afternoon, click right here: If He Did It…A Bloomberg ’08 campaign manual. (Of course, the Nebraska Boy is featured prominently.)
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Wait, I think we missed it. What was Bob Kerrey’s decision last week on whether to move out of New York City and run for Senate from Nebraska? Or did he decide the week before that? Help us out here.
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We heard a rumor (from a VERY reliable source!) that Charlie McBride is going to run against Jeff Fortenberry* for Congress. And Milt Tenopir is running his campaign. Can anyone confirm that?
*That’s a joke, folks.
Posts
32 comments:
Chriss Timm is going to lead Pat Flynn to the win.......that ain't a rumor. That's a fact!! I read it in The Flynn Flyer.
Sully
That's an odd asterisk placement, SS. Which is the joke - the post itself or Jeff Fortenberry?
The answer is C, all of the above.
His name is Tim Criss and that is the fact!
Anyone know if Criss Tim is related to the illusionist Criss Angel?
maybe Peter Criss (drummer of KISS)
Fortenberry is a joke, McBride would have his head on a platter
OMG. that's a top five SAB there SS. All you readers need to watch "The Wonder Years" and picture Ben in the role of the father. It's right on.
When are people in the 1st going to wake up and realize Fortenberry is a loser?
Connealy and Maxine Moul were the superstars (behind only Ben Nelson) of the Nebraska Democratic Party, and in consecutive years Fortenberry won by 12 and 18 respectively. One cannot, therefore, categorize his as anything other than a winner. And when the Dems run Bill Avery against him, he will have been a winner at their expense three times in a row. Avery will then assume the category of "loser" to join Matt Connealy and Maxine Moul...he may even jeopardize his seat in the legislature to become twice a loser. You are calling Fortenberry a loser?! You liberals sure see reality different than it is, don't you? Last I checked, the definition of a loser is "one who loses".
Connealy and Moul were weak candidates. Connealy was a State Senator from a Dem friendly district, never had to run a tough campaign. Moul was an unappealing candidate, who was driven from the Dem ticket for the more appealing Robak. Sooner or later the 1st district is going to realize that this guy treats his staff terrible, has terrible constituent services and doesn't have the respect of either Lee Terry or Adrian Smith. Not to mention a growing group of other members in the house.
Black sheep, you've got it wrong. Connealy didn't represent a Democratic-friendly district at all. Ever been to Cuming County?
While I agree with very little Fort does, he won twice. And unfortunately he'll probably hold the seat as long as he wants it. He'll use the Heineman/Terry/Johanns playbook - if you don't do anything significant, you won't do anything to piss anyone off.
SS (or anyone else) - heard any rumors about Brad Ashford's political plans? He sent out an invite to a fundraiser this week with the following donor levels: $2500, $1000, $500. Most senators do $100/head events this far away from their re-election campaigns. Apparently he's trying to outdo Speaker Flood and Tom White's numbers (probably the two best fundraisers in the Legislature), but why?
I "wonder" if Jack Arnold ran for Senate later in life and then pointed a few earmarks in Kevin's direction. Winnie wouldn't have approved.
Politically speaking, Fortenberry is in the strongest position of the delegation. Remember last year he beat a former Lt. Gov with big business connections in Lincoln by almost 20 points.
Meanwhile Lee Terry, the senior member of the House delegation, got tagged by a sprout, a 30 year-old no name with no money - he didn't even run TV.
In 2004 newcomer Fortenberry beat front-runner and moderate Curt Bromm and went on to be the first Republican to win not only Lancaster County, but the city of Lincoln, in a competitive race - a feat not even Hagel or Johanns managed in their first elections. Not to mention his strength in the rural areas. Wake up Black Sheep.
Tom White is one of the best fundraisers? As I recall, White finished his campaign in debt. Check his A&D page and behold his fundraising record. Regarding Ashford, I have heard he wants to be in Washington. He can't get there, but he'll eventually take a shot at it.
Seriously, why bag on Fortenberry? He is dominating the press of the three in the delegation now, he's secured tons of $$ for the district, he is becoming a well-respected, bi-partisan leader in the House. Get off his back, he is strong and is going to be here for awhile.
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Fortenberry is going to mop the floor with Bill Avery - the Prof won't have a chance - unless he gets some aborted babies to vote for him. Jeff's Congressional office does an excellent job with constituent services. Test him on that and share the results with the Street. or all the rumors that fly around about Jeff not treating his staff right, he definitely has surrounded himself with some great people. Has anyone met his District Office Director Josh Moenning. This guy is top quality, baby... people should start getting his autograph.
I see Fortenberry staffers are posting here again. Perhaps the Terry staff or Smith staff will want to weigh in.
Fortenberry has been through staff like Paris Hilton has been through tiny dogs. I don't know if he treats them bad or there's an odor in the office, but the fact is that turnover like that is seldom a sign of good tidings. (And it's a reflection on Moenning too).
And I dont' think anyone in their right mind would call Fort a "bipartisan" leader. I bet Fort wouldn't even try that.
As for the other two, Jeffy may well be the best one. But that's like saying Moe is the most competent of the Stooges.
Does anyone have Paris Hilton's contact information. I watched her burger commercial to see what her position on the SCHIP was, but I am slightly unclear.
Why do you guys pick on Adrian? I mean come'on... give the kid a chance. He'll learn. Would you rather have pretty boy Scott represent the 3rd?
It is so obvious when Jessica gets on the blogs. Fort, himself, has told people that constituent services is his least favorite part of the job.
As for Ashford, I would say Gov before Congress. He can't use any of those high dollar donations in a Fed race (personal donor limits and a ban on non-personal $$).
As for the win margins, I can tell that those on the left still think that Smith and Terry were "close to losing". Here are the facts:
1) They were sworn in back in January, not their opponents.
2) Just because you came closest in a "throw the bums out" year, does not mean that you almost beat anyone (losing by almost 10%, is not almost winning)
3) There is not one single former or current challenger in the House races that has made any kind of a decent effort at mounting another campaign (Esch hasn't even bothered to comply with the law and file financials for over 6 months!)
The voters will be focused on keeping Hillary out of the White House and holding onto at least 1 Senate seat (or on the otherside, winning another one!)
Beat up on whomever you want, but the last fact to leave you with is this one, Congressman Terry has $400,000 in the bank and is the best "bi-partisan" worker the 2nd District has ever had!
You're all right. All three stooges are tremendously competent. We should all be proud of them for so convincingly knocking out the Glass Joe's of the Democratic party. That's all that really matters.
I think all who spend time bitching about the exact amounts of campaign donations and reports to the Big Brother are nerds and are missing the point. As Lee Terry says "money is the mother's milk of politics". Until we come up with some type of public financing where people that want to make a difference don't have to "roostervacuum" - nothing will change. Let's have total of 100 grand for Terry and Esch, and see who wins it.
can we go back to actually moderating this and having to own a user name to post? I'm sick of the liberal infestation on this website...make them sign up to exercise their free speech. kind of like what Tom White was trying to shove down the throats of Nebraskans with his union right to work act.
Actually, LB 57 wasn't White (why does it seem increasingly that attacking White is the NEGOP's knee-jerk solution?). It was introduced by Preister and prioritized by Nantkes.
http://uniweb.legislature.ne.gov/Apps/BillFinder/
Anonymous at 6:57, 10/21,
We all know when Lib Trolls are trying to make a hit here. We don't need to make them (or you) sign in -- right now.
The best moderators are the ones making comments. We hope to keep it that way.
The funniest thing of all here, frankly, is how an errant asterisk got ya'll talking. It would seem people are ITCHING for a post about Fortenberry. Of course, it would help if there were ANY opposition lined up...
The idea of the Dems running Bill Avery must be a joke, right? The guy's openly anti-military. Not just anti-Iraq war, but anti-US military in general. I took one of his classes years ago and was shocked by one of his anti-military comments in particular. I'm sure that of the thousands of students he must have had over the years, there are hundreds who have similar stories.
Just to clarify the Anon post 1:17am: Your analogy is all wrong. Fortenberry goes through staffers as quickly as Paris Hilton goes through STD's.
Or, you could say Fortenberry goes through staffers as quickly as Lindsay Lohann inhales her stash of blow.
Or, Fortenberry goes through staffers as quickly as Britney Spears devours sticks of deep fried butter.
Don't get discouraged, though. With time and practice you'll get the hang of it. By the way, does anyone know if Fortenberry allows his staffers to make eye contact with him?
Sweet Willis!
Where have you been?
We're hoping your blog goes back up!
-SS
Dudes, I am still waiting on that Paris Hilton contact information - consider this a request for constituent services - what's happening?
It is true that Fortenberry has had an extremely high staff turnover. But that doesn't mean he is a bad Congressman, especially compared to Lee and Adrian. Chuck Schumer goes through staff like toiletpaper - but he always ends up with clean butt and does a decent job (for Democratic standards anyways).
As far as Fort office's constituent services go - i have used Fort's office for help a couple of times, and things got done. Thanks to Fort's office, my wife and I have had some very happy moments recently after Fort's office helped us with the paperwork. I called Hagel and Nelson's office for the same problem and I am still waiting to hear from them. I'll keep you posted on the results when they write me back.
Eliot...
Your crime stopping momentum may be hindered if you wait for a return from Nelson and Hagel. I have found that while you will get put on Hagel's mailing list the first time you make contact with his office...my history shows a record of one out of three in direct replies. Nelson is a waste of time...too busy handing out earmarks I guess.
On the local scene...if you try to pin Heineman down...you will get a two or three page response that requires a dictionary to realize he is pulling a CYA.
You want constituent services fixed? Elect Pat Flynn!
Sully
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