Monday, September 15, 2008

Fifty Days


We received this Friday afternoon from a reader.
I am a law student at Creighton and at was the Omaha Bar Association's annual kick-off BBQ last night.

I was having a drink when I saw Steve Achelpohl and Scott Kleeb walk in. Mind you this event was open ONLY to Omaha Bar Association members and Creighton law students. Spouses weren't even allowed.

Achelpohl looked like he was corralling a lost sheep when he was with Kleeb. They eventually made it over to the group I was with and started talking to us.

One student said he was from Iowa and Kleeb asked him if he was going to vote in Nebraska. The student said no.

Then he looked at another person I was with. He asked her if she would vote for him. She had no idea who he was, so she said maybe. Then he looked at her and said, has anyone ever personally asked for your vote like I am now? She said no. Then he went on to say that that is what he is doing.

At that point, Achelpohl grabbed him by the arm and said we need to keep moving.

Just thought you might like the story for a possible update on Kleeb's campaigning style- going for law students, the majority from out of state who have no idea who he is, nor do they really care at an open bar event.
We are curious to know who, if anyone, invited him. Wonder if he paid the fifteen bucks...

***

In his Monday morning column, Don Walton argues that tomorrow's lunchtime debate with Mike Johanns will be crucial for Scott Kleeb.

Except not really.

If Mike Johanns liberates Eastern Europe or something, then it is possible a few people might pay attention. Otherwise, no one will see or hear about this except for the blurb on the news or in the paper. Sure the hard-core politicos may watch, but they've already made up their minds.

Kleeb needs something major to break open that campaign. We don't see anything on the horizon. (Unless you include pleading to law students from Iowa.)

***

Walton does make a good point about the upcoming Lee Terry - Jim Esch debates.

Note this schedule:
Terry - Esch debate
October 7th, 8:00 pm
Creighton University

McCain - Obama debate
October 7th, 8:00 pm
Belmont University

Terry - Esch debate
October 15th, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Bellevue University

McCain - Obama debate
October 15th, 8:00 pm
Hofstra University
Now the 6:30 - 7:30 pm time on the 15th might not turn out so bad for the Congressional debate. It would be sort of an appetizer to the main course of the Prez debate. Of course the press on it will get buried beneath the avalanche of the Prez debate, but they're going to be running into that pretty much no matter what.

However the October 7th time is just silly. You'd have better luck scheduling it against a Husker game. Crank it back an hour and a half like the other and you end up having a decent event -- set up a big screen to watch the Prez debate afterwards. But who knows if C.U. can swing that at this point...

Terry - Esch's fourth debate is on October 16th at the Omaha Press Club at noon. FOUR debates. The challenger can't complain about that.


27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kleeb's plea sounded like a bad pick-up line from the 70's. Has he been watching "That 70's Show" again? He kind of has that Kutcher look...aha another SAB.

Who let him in?

Anonymous said...

That story sounded really creepy to me. But then I like my politicians held at arm's length with my other hand pinching my nose.

Anonymous said...

Oh man. Which were scheduled first? The presidential debates or the Esch-Terry debates?

identity said...

Gee - the Karpetbagger ignoring the rules again ... not to mention his disdain for common courtesy. Color me surprised ....

Yawn ....

Anonymous said...

SS,

I'm only counting 3 debates... the 7th, 15th, and 16th.

Street Sweeper said...

Add in the past KFAB radio debate and see how many fingers come up.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if Kleeb wore his dusty boots and left a dirt trail at my old law school. Hopefully he at least wiped them off before he crashed the party.

Anonymous said...

SS once again making a mountain out of an ant hill. Guess it didn't occur to you that Achelpohl is an Omaha attorney - as is Vince Powers. Kleeb was obviously invited. So you have some right-wing, elitist, self-absorbed student who is obvious anti-kleeb giving a spin to an event that is pro-your side. Yeah, like anyone's going to pay attention to that hard hitting, dependable coverage! (and for those with low intelligence, that was sarcasm with the last part of that sentence).

Street Sweeper said...

I'm sorry, who invited Kleeb again? I missed that in your tirade.

Wow, I thought this was just an interesting campaign nugget, but we clearly must have hit a nerve on this one.

Anonymous said...

Kleeb's ears must have perked when he heard he was going to a "bar" meeting. Were his jeans tucked or outside of his Tony Lama's?

Keep filing those hard hitting reports SS...we with "LI" wait with bated breath for the next.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry you're stupid and can't comprehend, SS, but Achelpohl, and probably even Vince Powers, are clearly the ones who invited Kleeb. Need to have this further explained to you in language you can understand or is that clear enough for you?

Street Sweeper said...

So unless Kleeb is a member of the OBA, or is a CU Law student, where do Achepohl or Powers get off inviting him to a closed event?

It is not their invitation to give (I hope that is clear enough for you...)

my friend said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Street Sweeper said...

"My friend",
Make a comment, if you like. But links to fund-raising pages won't make it here.
-SS

Anonymous said...

Sweeper, I agree with you. I have attended this event several times and it is a Bar Member and Law Student crowd only. Actually its a good way to run up Steve Lathrop's "Safe Ride Home Programs" bill with the open bar...lol..but I digress. It was bad form for Achepol to have him attend.

Anonymous said...

Actually Sweeper you should have a "quote this picture" contest. Here are my suggestions.
"You know it gets mighty lonely on the range"
"When I win in November I need to hire a few interns"
"You know I'm a College Professor at a nationally known liberal arts college"

Anonymous said...

Here's a caption:
"You know before I wanted to be a Senator, I was a model"
"Has anyone ever aske you for your vote over a candlelite dinner at the French Cafe?"
"You know its an open bar, can I get you a few more drinks"

Anonymous said...

I like this contest:

"You don't know who I am? I'm kind of a big deal."

"Wanna see me open a beer bottle with a lighter?"

"My wife doesn't understand me."

Anonymous said...

Wait. Is that Chelsea Clinton he's talking to?

Street Sweeper said...

Yes.
Hence the joke that he is asking for her vote.
Oh well...

Anonymous said...

Ahhhhhh, okay. Sorry, it's Monday. I totally take responsibility for my brain fart on this one.

Carry on. :)

BB said...

Asking Chelsea for her vote would do as much good as asking a law student from Iowa for her vote. With the election so close, isn't there other things Scott could have done to more effectively try to win votes? And as a CU Law grad, let me add to the chorous of this being an exclusive event. His presence there odd because he doesn't even come from the pool of eligible attendees.

Anonymous said...

Johanns has more of a right to be there than he did since he is a lawyer and is a Creighton graduate...but I digress. Bottom line, who drove the hot rancher home or does he have his license back?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
BB said...

You guys are being unfar with these captions. Scott Kleeb is no Jim Esch.

Anonymous said...

Street Sweeper, I don't mind you using my Kleeb photo, but please link to the original source, at least to www.flickr.com/photos/stevewhite

Thanks!

Street Sweeper said...

Done.
(Though your Flickr pic doesn't have our pithy quote...)
SS