Fremont attorney and former Mutual of Omaha corporate counsel, Janet Stewart has said she'll enter the race for the Democrat nod for...Secretary of State.
Man, those Dems do NOT like the job John Gale has done. I mean who WOULDN'T want to go after that so and so Gale!
(Hmm? What?)
Anywho, you may remember that Stewart ran for the 1st Congressional District Democrat nomination back in 2004. No?
Well, Matt Connealy beat her, and then Connealy got beat by Jeff Fortenberry in the general.
Back in 2004, Don Walton of the LJS described the 1971 UNO graduate Stewart as "the only pro-choice champion among the dozen congressional aspirants".
In another of the Unicameral flies, the Nebraska GOP is not wasting any time going after state Senator Steve Lathrop.
You may remember that for a while Lathrop was considered to be the leading Democratic candidate to take on Governor Dave Heineman. Instead Lathrop decided to simply run for re-election in 2010.
Well, the NEGOP isn't going to take that lying down.
Per a post by the Objective Conservative blog, we were notified that they have been dropping door-hangers around Lathrop's southern Douglas County 12th district.
On the right is how it looks (it's Halloween themed on orange paper, so we've done our best to color it...) -- click to enbiggen.
The NEGOP also has a "report card" they are distributing detailing more of Lathrop's votes.
As the Objective Conservative noted, all this would indicate that the Nebraska Republicans have a candidate to take on Lathrop. Who is that candidate?
Don't know...yet.
But seeing as Lathrop was considered to be major enough to run statewide, the GOP has slapped a political target on his back.
This is what happens when they don't have to bother with, say, a Democrat running for Governor...
Jordan first broke the story (somehow) that Rogert, from Tekamah, hadn't paid the sales tax on his speed boat by claiming that he is a "boat dealer". If he is a dealer, he has made less than $1,000 each year by doing so. (For that matter, we're fairly sure that Rogert could also claim to be a lion tamer or Zorro.)
He apparently saved around $3,000 by doing this.
Is there anything illegal by doing this? Not sure.
Unethical? Hmm. Pretty sure.
In any case, Jordan first broke the story at Nebraska Watchdog, here.
The OWH followed up (without mentioning the Neb-Dog story AT ALL -- wonder how they got their info???) here.
The LJS also followed up, and had the courtesy to note the Neb-Dog story, here.
Statement from former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub (issued Friday evening):
"With all the talk about street naming, it seems some people are talking about naming a street after me as well.
Respectfully—but with regard to P.J. Morgan, Mike Boyle, and some good mayors who served Omaha faithfully and are now deceased—I don’t think it’s appropriate.
This special honor has traditionally been bestowed at the end a lifetime of service—and by God’s grace I hope to have many more years ahead of me to continue to serve our community in the ways which bring Mary and me so much joy.
So for me, the consideration is appreciated, but not at this time or under these circumstances."
Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns delivered the weekly GOP Address on Health Care.
Here is the video and the transcript follows. Enjoy!
“Hi, I'm Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska.
“My Republican colleagues and I have a simple test for reforming health care: Will this legislation improve your life?
“Here's what I mean: Americans face rising health care costs, and it's increasingly difficult to get access to health care. True health care reform should decrease what you're paying, and make it easier for you to receive care. That should be a no-brainer.
“Yet current proposals in Congress don't accomplish this goal, and could even have the opposite effect, negatively impacting each and every one of us.
“To the working mother with a disabled child who uses a Flexible Spending Account and those pre-tax dollars for treatment, medicine, and therapy for your child: this plan will end these accounts as we know them today, and result in increased out of pocket costs.
“To the factory worker, who has forgone pay raises for the promise of better insurance benefits for you and your family: your health insurance will be taxed and your premiums will go up.
“To the recent college graduate burdened with student loans: you'll be forced to buy health insurance the government mandates, and if you refuse, you'll be hit with a penalty.
“To our seniors, who wish to receive care in the comfort of their homes: funding for hospice care and home health care services would be cut.
“My state, Nebraska, stands to lose $126 million for home health services, and many of the 38 Nebraska hospices would be in danger of literally shutting their doors. Nearly $500 billion will be cut from Medicare nationwide.
“The bottom line is this: we're nearing 10 percent unemployment. We have a record budget deficit, and many families are working hard just to put food on the table and to pay the bills. Yet, there's no doubt about it: these proposals will negatively impact pocketbooks and paychecks across America.
“President Obama has promised open deliberations in front of C-SPAN cameras for all Americans to learn how reform will impact them. However, a 1,500 page bill, full of carve-outs and backroom deals, is currently being brokered behind closed doors.
“We're about to significantly alter one-sixth of our economy—now is not the time to shut Americans out.
“Reports of this deal-making are shameful. Why do Michigan, Rhode Island, Oregon and Nevada get special deals on Medicaid costs? Why do New Yorkers with Cadillac plans get a pass on paying the tax? It is shameful.
“So now, as a select few deliberate over legislation that will mean higher premiums across the board; higher taxes for hard-working families; and cuts to Medicare for senior citizens; I ask: will this improve your life?
“Republicans are in favor of lowering costs, reforming insurance so Americans can get care when they need it, and providing assistance for those who can't afford insurance.
“See, we stand ready with ideas to tackle those challenges. But hundreds of pages filled with backroom deals, higher insurance premiums, higher taxes, and cuts to Medicare are not the answer.
“I am Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska. Thank you for your time.”
[Former Nebraska Senator, Virginia resident, Chuck] Hagel was asked whether he would run as a Republican if he were to seek office again, a question the Nebraska native did not answer directly.
"I would run as Chuck Hagel. I always have," he said. "If I'd run again, I'd run on my record, and who I am, and that's the way I'd do it."
If you're a Republican, you say, "Of course I'd run as a Republican. I've always been in the party. What are you, nuts? Get outta here!"
But instead Hagel announced the formation of the "Chuck Hagel Party".
"...a lot of the complaints about incivility today are really complaints from the people in power or their supporters in the media, aimed at the folks who won’t shut up and get with their program.
And there’s something distinctly undemocratic about that."
Those complaints can also be attributed to those who are gunning for a SecDef gig...
For those who don't or won't or can't or whatever, you can still read other people's Twittererers, by just following the link -- i.e. you don't have to actually sign up in order to read.
All that being said, we mainly just note when we have an update on the blog. (Though, in theory, that could change...)
***
In any case, an interesting Twitterererer that we read:
If you want stuff like "Attending the opening of Nebraska's first Wind Power Training Facility", go to Jim Suttle's Tweets.
If you want stuff like:
New tax idea: A penguin tax. The zoo has a bunch of 'em, and everyone loves 'em! Goodbye deficit!
Can't believe it cost 7 bucks to park the Doo-Rango at the Qwest! But Miley and Hannah were worth it. Two inspiring young women.
I hope the dad of the quintuplets born in Omaha is named Clive. Then they could have a reality show called "Mom and Clive plus Five"
...go to the "Mayor Suttle" tweets. The guy updates all day long.
We chuckle, anyway. (And the background is good too...)
***
Senator Mike Johanns will be giving the weekly Republican Address on Saturday.
(Pssst! It's 310 First St.,SE Washington, DC, across from the Capitol South metro! har har har...)
***
OK, so after the City Council changes the NoDo streets to Fahey Way and Daub Place, what if the two of them, Mike and Hal, go on a Thelma and Louise style cross-country crime-spree?
Just change the street names back? Wait until Google Maps catches up? See what the NCAA thinks?
We're not saying the two of them have already picked out a convertible and planned their route.
When former head of the Nebraska state patrol, Tom Nesbitt, entered the race yesterday, he immediately began taking votes away from state Senator Tony Fulton. Why?
Because no one knows who Fulton is. Sure maybe YOU do, but you're sitting there reading a Nebraska political blog. The average Nebraskan who will make the effort to vote in the 2010 GOP primary? Maybe not so much.
The advantage that Fulton will hope for is that, as it stands now, very few people will make the effort to vote in the primary.
Sure the Lee Terry and Matt Sak supporters will have to get off their duffs in May, but the rest of the state? When the only race to vote on is Treasurer? It will be a lot easier to just go home and catch Dancing with the Idols, or whatever is on.
What about the average voter, who will go out and vote anyway? They've heard of Don Stenberg. And that could be enough to float Stenberg the lead.
Tony Fulton's problem -- or Tom Nesbitt's, assuming he can pull together a campaign -- will be that those folks who don't like Donny Sten will have another non-Stenberg box from which to choose.
And if others choose to jump in the race? Just more dilution of the non-Stenberg votes.
That's the reality -- right now anyway. Unless Fulton can whip together a hell of a campaign and really get his people to the polls. But it ain't gonna be easy.
***
And who is Tom Nesbitt? Interesting story on him.
He is the first Nebraska state patrol sergeant to rise to the top spot of the state patrol -- placed there by Mike Johanns. He even took time off and then campaigned for Johanns on behalf of the union.
But when Dave Heineman came into office, Heineman wanted "his own person in the job".
Nesbitt then worked for a time -- in the state Treasurer's office.
As noted on TV and in the fishwraps, there will likely be a proposal before the Omaha City Council to rename a street in North Downtown, near the new stadium, after former Mayor Mike Fahey.
Interesting question as to whether or not Fahey should get such an honor, or whether other Omahans should receive such a deal as well.
In any case, we polled distinguished Omahans (thank you, all) and came up with the... Top Ten Things You Need To Know About the New Mike Fahey Street
10. The NCAA maaaaaay take away the CWS if it is not built
9. It will be a toll road.
8. Street construction workers will be allowed to retire at age 25, with a $250,000 lifetime salary
7. They will tear up a street in South Omaha in order to build it
6. Like the former Mayor's office, it will only be open two days a week
5. It will be a state of the art street, but payment will be put off until 2030
4. Mayor Suttle's understanding is that the street's finances are in perfect shape
3. David Sokol will not be allowed to drive on it -- wait, the NCAA says that he can or they'll take away the CWS? -- OK he can drive on it
2. It will actually connect the Lake of the Ozarks with The Holiday
and the number one thing you need to know about the new Mike Fahey Street,
1. A street in name only. If you want to get somewhere, you will have to use Paul Landow Lane.
In a shocking piece of news, a local Democrat has decided to run for a statewide office in Nebraska.
Former Douglas County Democrat executive director Kris Pierce has decided he will challenge John Gale for the office of Secretary of State.
Of course the funny part of all of this is that Pierce is so un-liked in his party, it's not clear what his affiliation really means, other than that he's unlikely to beat Gale.
Kris Pierce was the executive director of the Douglas County Dems in 2008 when Barak Obama gunning for the second district's Electoral Vote was all the rage.
Pierce notoriously attended the Obama victory party in Omaha on Election night. Before event organizers were aware or could announce, Pierce reportedly took the mic (after a few too many Shirley Temples, perhaps?) and declared that Obama had won the 2nd.
From there, things apparently got U-G-L-Y. Organizers were unhappy that Pierce stole their thunder, and Pierce then refused to leave the stage. He was eventually escorted from the premises by security. Stage-dancing was involved.
Thereafter he was replaced as county party chair.
Your Democrat candidate for Secretary of State, ladies and gentlemen!
(In hindsight, this doesn't look so bad. But apparently you had to be there. Note that it's not usually the sort of announcement that a lowly E.D. would make. We've heard that lots of Dems were pissed at Pierce.)
In any case, Pierce will be formally announcing his candidacy on October 22, October 25 and November 2...all in Omaha. (Pssst! Kris! People in Lincoln and Gothenburg get to vote too!)
Not sure how Pierce will be handling his gig as a campaign consultant while running his own campaign. You may remember that Pierce ran the ill-fated campaign for Omaha city council candidate Walt Peffer. In that campaign they accused their opponent of being both a Republican tool and not being Republican enough.
More jocularity can likely be expected from Pierce statewide.
We recently received results for a poll taken in the Nebraska 2nd Congressional District.
The poll asked about the race between incumbent Republican Congressman Lee Terry and challenger, Democrat state Senator Tom White.
The autodial poll asked 670 likely voters the following:
If the election for Congress were held today, for whom would you vote?
The results:
Lee Terry............56% Tom White..........39% Other/uk ..................5%
We don't have any cross-tabs or other info on the methodology. If that means to you this is a worthless poll to you, so be it. We're just passing along the info we were presented. At the moment we're also not at liberty to say who took this poll. If that changes we will update.
As far as the results go, we're not all that surprised.
Considering Terry garnered 52% a year ago, he shouldn't sneeze at 56%.
Considering many may have no idea who White is, he should be happy enough to start at 39%.
Remember a year ago? Remember the 2008 election cycle? Remember Democrats?
The Dems were gathering en masse at 80 or 90 Obama HQs around town. They were registering to vote Democrat. They were giving Senator Obama their Electoral Vote.
They were gonna CHANGE things for Dems in Nebraska!
Now, mind you, a lot can change in 365 days. Looking back AND going forward.
But, geez. What happened?
The Dems are hardly stocking the cupboard either. Sure someone can come out of nowhere, but it's those lower offices that they're supposed to come from.
Right now we see, maybe, Pete Festersen, Heath Mello and maybe Steve Lathrop as the Dems' hopes. But not in 2010.
Just a bad year? Too early?
What is it Dems? If not now when? (etc., etc., etc.)
The newspaper biz is in a tough time these days. People read the news online, often don't purchase the paper, and the papers are late on scoops.
So it's not been unusual to see the local papers skew from their standard storylines.
Case in point: the recent criticism of Bo Pelini.
Now we don't want to turn this into a discussion of the Nebraska football program (and whether or not the problem may be rooted in the offensive coordinator position). But ever since T.O. went political, the head coaching job has transcended simple Nebraska sports. So, rather, we want to look at the Omaha World Herald's and Lincoln Journal Star's carping on the head football coach.
Lee Barfknecht of the OWH and Steve Sipple of the LJS both wrote columns giving their personal views of the "boorishness" of "ugly" Pelini on the sidelines and in the press room. Both suggested a certain immaturity on the part of young (41 year old) Bo, and maybe, could we say, non-Nebraska-ishness?
Whether or not that's the case, it is still a bit surprising to see the OWH and LJS -- through their reporters -- calling out the most visible man in the state. There was a day when such statements would be considered heresy and would get a reporter sent to the woodshed by the Athletic Department, and maybe see one's press credentials curtailed.
But frankly, with the blogs posting everyone's thoughts and emotions on the subjects, the newspapers must feel that they have to keep up.
Look at the OWH's recent boasting that, Look at us! Look at us!, the OWH "was the first to reveal" the settlement on the Mayor of Papillion! (Uh, yeah guys, we read it.)
(By the way, want to make a quick quarter million? Have a consensual relationship with a single man in Papio, then break up with him. Cha-ching!)
Then there was the story last week about the plant closing in Auburn, Nebraska. The OWH pointed out that the cabinet making plant had a number of reasons for moving everything to Pennsylvania and that the Nebraska department of economic development had been in touch with the company as well.
But then who did they get a comment from -- in the story, mind you? Some guy in Hagerstown, Maryland. Maryland? And why? Because the guy has some relatives who live near Auburn.
That's it. No other connection. No other insights. No other expertise on the issue. But the story quotes said Marylander that "the governor has to get involved".
Thank you Maryland! Juneau, Alaska on the line, go ahead.
We should see the papers getting more and more creative and see more and more opinions in the "news".
But please, just remember where to come if you want the REAL, original snarkiness...
**UPDATE**
As long as we're talking about the OWH, Papio and non-sequiturs, get aload of this afternoon's story about Papio fire recruits cheating on a test.
So the story goes on about how someone discovered guys cheated, they don't know who and they're going to re-administer the test.
Now...here's how that story ends:
The fire department controversy surfaced just days after Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning concluded his investigation into the City of Papillion's previously secret settlement and $200,000 payout by the city's taxpayer-funded insurance carrier to former Mayor James Blinn's female assistant, Racheal Cascio.
Blinn and Cascio had a longstanding romance that ended badly in June, and she accused Blinn of work place sexual harassment.
Blinn, 40, resigned without explanation July 7, the same day Cascio filed her claim. Neither has spoken publicly about the settlement or their relationship.
We did not make this up.
You get two free tickets to the Kansas State game if you can tell us what on Earth those two stories have to do with each other, other than that they both took place in Papillion.
Will every article about Papio now end with that story?
"...and the Papillion police took the bank robber into custody. This is the same Papillion where former Mayor James Blin was nailing his assistant and then she got paid a bunch of money. The World Herald reported that first, you know. Not WOWT. Or Joe Jordan and his stupid Watchdog blog, for gawd's sake..."
You'll remember a few weeks ago when Nebraska GOP Chairman Mark Fahleson placed a bounty, of sorts on Tom White's head.
The reward for any good info an industrious citizen could find in White's financial filing would be two tickets to the Nebraska - Kansas State football game.
After a brief amount of over-righteous vocalizing by the Dems, the Lee Terry camp even suggested that the ticket offer should be rescinded.
And on his blog, Fahleson points to Tom White's new FEC filing as one more source for the crowd to mine through for salient details on Tom White's campaign.
The funny thing about all of this is that with the K. St's ascendancy to the head of the pile in the Big XII north, that game may take on new meaning -- and the tickets may become that much more valuable. Heck maybe there are some Dems out there who so desire to see the battle with the Wildcats that they're willing to give Fahleson some heretofore unknown guff on White.
Of course, here's the deal: part of the job description for state party chair -- Dems and GOPers alike -- is "bomb-thrower". While this "tickets for info" deal was originally posed as some sort of sinister plan, after it has been around for awhile, it makes us chuckle even more.
If Fahleson would throw in a couple of big foam Husker cowboy hats, it would only sweeten the deal.
In the 3rd District, Congressman Adrian Smith has so far raised $317,000 for the 2010 campaign, has $379,000 cash on hand, and raised $128,000 this quarter.
His Democrat challenger, Rebekah Davis, has raised $7,000 total, has $5,800 cash on hand and raised $5,400 for the quarter.
(No word on how she compares herself, a'la Tom White, with other 21st CENTURY challengers...)
***
Then in the 1st District, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry raised $64,600 for the quarter, $212,500 total for the 2010 campaign and has $541,000 cash on hand.
And get this! Fortenberry's Democrat challenger has raised zilch! Nada! Nuthin! Can you believe it, I mean (hold on)...(What? I can't hear you...Huh?....Oh...)
Um, Fortenberry would seem to be in the cat bird's seat.
Democrat State Senator Tom White issued a release trumpeting his fund-raising results at the end of the 1st quarter for the 2010 2nd District Congressional campaign.
Congressman Lee Terry has done the same.
Let's look at the results:
While Tom White declared that he has raised the most of any challenger for a quarter "in the 21st Century" (you have to say century, like SENNNNN-too-REEE!), he still comes in second place to Terry by around twenty grand.
Curious too that White only spent seven thousand dollars for the period. Hmm. Interesting. That's really on the cheap. Hmm.
In any case, a good point is made by KMTV that Terry will likely have to spend money against his primary opponent. Though Terry will also be getting extra cash from the national party as well.
With all eyes in the state focusing on this race, it should be a kick.
In an interview with Don Walton of the LJS, Democrat State Senator Tom White said that he would have voted for President Obama's 900 billion dollar "stimulus" bill.
And then he says...
He would work to "control spending";
He would work to prevent "prevent new deficit spending";
In his present job he'll "oppose any effort to increase taxes".
So, ya got that?
In FAVOR of blowing $900 billion on ham. But pledges to "control spending".
Mr. Walton does not indicate whether or not he spit coffee all over White after he burst out laughing.
Tom White also says that the people of the 2nd District should elect him because he is a Democrat and the Dems are in the majority in DC, so... you know...Democrats.
Remarkably, not an argument you heard from any Dems when the GOP held the House.
Nor an argument you heard from White in his last campaign for the Republican dominated Unicameral.
And by the way, it would be nice if the Dems could put up a candidate -- ANY candidate -- that the people of Lincoln could vote for. Poor Don Walton can only kidnap Tom White and make him drink so many cups of coffee in Haymarket so many times...
We received this photo from the Senator Mike Johanns press shop.
It shows MJ receiving the booty from his bet with Missouri Senator Kit Bond -- a slab of ribs and bottle of barbecue sauce, after Nebraska's (fourth quarter) trouncing of Mizzou in the Columbia monsoon.
The tragedy in this exchange?
Bond hands the good people of Nebraska (represented by the aforementioned MJ) "Jack Stack" BBQ sauce and ribs!
Jack freaking Stack?
Anyone who has ventured to Kansas City knows that the best barbecue around is easily Arthur Bryant's or Gates & Sons. This would have been like Johanns paying off with Burger King instead of Omaha Steaks. (OK, not really, but we felt the same when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor...)
Finally (for the day), we chuckled a little about Obama White House guru David Axelrod's kvetching about the "new media" while in Lincoln the other day:
New media, including cable TV news and the Internet, have distorted the public debate on health care and stoked the personal vitriol, Axelrod said.
"Instead of attacks being filtered through the perspective of a thoughtful news media, things go out unfiltered through cable TV and the Internet," he said.
"That amplifies the angry voices beyond what they deserve or the numbers they reflect."
So you got that, new-mediaites? (Cable?)
If you're not one of the networks, why, you're just filling the air with noise that could otherwise be filled with The Truth from The One!
Ignore those thousands who protested at the town halls, wouldja? Turn off the internets.
Yank that cord going from the wall to the TV.
Adjust those rabbit ears. And listen while the White House via Katie Couric tells you how it all should be.
Nebraskans for Fiscal Accountability. Ricketts created this independent political group last year, giving $20,000. He then used the organization to conduct an opinion poll last fall.
Speaking of former Nebraska Senators who no longer live in Nebraska-- Bob Kerrey (the guy with the large melon, not the multi-million dollar walking bridge to a field in Council Bluffs) thinks it's great that President Obama got the Nobel Peace prize.
See Kerrey thinks it is an award for all Americans for voting against John McCain, which is just like voting against George W. Bush. (e.g see previous "peace" awards for Carter, Jimmy and Gore, Al). And the dudes in Oslo love them some not-Bush.
Nonetheless, Kerrey thinks that President Obama has F-ed up when it comes to his current war in Afghanistan:
"(Obama) has made too many apologies. And at this point, his strategy is too naïve and has too little coherence to be called a strategy."
Ouch!
By the way, you'll remember that Rockin' Bob supported Hillary in the primaries.
Also Kerrey: he notes that the surge in Iraq SUCCEEDED. Wonder if Nebraska's other former Senator who no longer lives in Nebraska but still issues press releases will admit the same.
You may have heard that former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel made a generic statement in favor of generic health care reform.
He's in favor of it, see:
"I urge all Members of Congress to put aside their narrow partisan differences and seize this moment for health care reform."
Well, that's awfully bold of him.
But did you know who was emailing out Hagel's statement?
That would be the White House Media Affairs Office.
It seems that the House of Obama is trying to show the public how all "even-keeled' Republicans really support them.
Like Bob Dole, for instance.
Dole too made a generic statement supporting health care reform. And then the White House tried to make it seem like BobDole supported all of their positions. And BobDole got a little pissed:
"...while he believes there is currently an opportunity for reform, he is not supporting any of the current Democratic proposals."
So where does Hagel stand on the myriad of DETAILS in such giant legislation? Beats us. But, darnit, don't you be PARTISAN!
Hagel has been known as being less than supportive of Israel's positions. So it is not entirely surprising that he was a keynote speaker for the Gala Dinner for a group called "J Street".
They sell themselves as "supporters of Israel", but actually an extreme left-wing group which is supported by Muslim groups and hands out money almost exclusively to Democrats. They are not well thought of in the Jewish community.
Of course President Obama supports these guys. And he's been generally cool towards Israel. So the guy rumored to be the next SecDef would be fully on-board for such a gig.
Today we're going to try staggering the post topics into individual posts -- instead of lumping them all in one. They'll be updated throughout the day -- last one at 3:30pm Central. Please let us know which format you prefer. -Ed.
Nebraska Democrat Chair Vic Covalt, talking about Governor Heineman's special session of the legislature:
“We have a crisis... What kind of leadership is that? It is time for a change."And what sort of change? Well...um...CHANGE change! Yeah!
But Covalt was correct about HIS crisis. You see Covalt has yet to announce that his party has someone to "change" into the Governor's McMansion. (Or any other statewide offices up in 2010 for that matter.)
But, "Covalt said it is even possible the party may wait until the state party's convention in July to announce a gubernatorial candidate."
Which is completely laughable. Oh sure, if Heineman somehow collapses, or dies, or the Dems can get Warren Buffet to self-finance a campaign.
Candidate wants to get money from the national GOP.
Candidate can get it if he's on the list (that's good!).
Candidate has to be on the vulnerable list (that's bad...).
Being on the vulnerable list means your opponent looks tough (also bad...).
But candidate gets more money, because he's on the list (but good!).
And go 'round and 'round until your head hurts.
Congressman Lee Terry being on the GOP's "Patriot Day Program" list should help Tom White's national fundraising too, in theory. Except that the more GOPers that leave the list means tougher Dem races that will focus that national money to Dem incumbents.
White's saving grace right now is that he's apparently the only Democrat in the state who is running a serious campaign. Apparently all the Democrat eggs are going in White's basket.
***
Since the Dem's have only one serious candidate, the Nebraska GOP can also concentrate on that candidate as well.
They have apparently called out Tom White's campaign to answer how he is allotting the time of his state Senate office staff (namely Ian Russell) and his Congressional campaign staff (namely...Ian Russell).
Word is they're demanding that White produce policies on use of email, internet, office space and hours of work.
And it is still over a year out.
Expect the heat to be turned up from both sides. (Oh, what a fun year in store...)
"What they're going to do is pass the bill and then pass the costs on to the states. I wrote our two United States senators, both of whom are former governors, and said, You know what that means. We'll either be forced to raise taxes on our citizens or cut funding for important programs, like the education of our children. That's not fair. That's not appropriate.
"And what's really disgusting, we've already heard that Senate majority leader Harry Reid has an amendment that takes care of Nevada, but not Nebraska, for example. That is really appalling."
"I've actually talked to my United States senators. Both have indicated they're very, very concerned. I hope they'll address this issue. I'd like to get it addressed in the Senate Finance Committee, but if not, on the Senate floor."
***
On Saturday (10/10), the NEGOP State Central Committee will vote on whether or not to endorse incumbent 2nd Congressional District Congressman Lee Terry over primary challenger Matt Sakalosky. If Terry wins two-thirds of the central committee's votes, he'll get the NEGOP endorsement.
The Matt Sak people are fighting against it.
Leavenworth Street has even received pleas from Matt Sak supporters that any endorsement by the party before the Primary election is anti-American values, and the like.
It's an interesting argument, and a compelling case can be made by a challenger.
But when the party's main job is to help elect members of their party, supporting an incumbent isn't exactly some sort of crime against the Republic (or Republicans).
Generally, we would suggest that if a candidate is trying to take down an incumbent from within one's own party, that candidate had better have lined up support within the party early on, if he's hoping for their help.
If you want to change the rules, you have to make a little more effort than just showing up.
We had posted a pic of Democrat 3rd District Congressional candidate Rebekah Davis the other day, noting the sort of random shot she has on the splash page of her website.
Then, after thinking about it, we wondered what look she was going for. Pensive? Thoughtful? Wistful?
Then it came to us: Prairie Woman.
So who is the quintisential Nebraska Prairie Woman? Why, Willa Cather's My Antonia, of course!
And a brief interwebs search led us to this:
Accidental pose or shrewd, politically calculated image? You be the judge!
To recount, Jordan had asked Terry if the Matt Sakalosky primary challenge helped Terry at all. Terry responded, (essentially) "of course not".
We noted a number of cases that generally point out that primary challenges against incumbents rarely "help" the incumbent in the general election.
So Matt Sak (as he likes to be called) and his supporters are up in arms about the idea that Sakalosky "shouldn't" run, or that the NE-GOP may endorse Terry in the Primary. Sak is going to make a statement on this sometime today. (Just a hint, but Friday afternoon ain't exactly the top time to be making announcements, unless you like things buried on page 4 of the Saturday Midlands section.)
Of course, lots of righteous indignation is certainly one way to whip up your supporters. Essentially, Sak is looking to drive the 9-12 movements to frame him as the outsider, and Terry as a shill of...something. (Ask Tom White if Terry is Republican or conservative enough.)
So we looked into what the Nebraska GOP's stance is regarding endorsing candidates in a contested primary.
The answer we got is that:
The state GOP constitution permits the party to endorse incumbents. They have to request the endorsement (most, if not all, have) and it requires a vote by the State Central Committee (which will occur on Oct. 10 in Omaha). Once that occurs, the NEGOP can expend time, money and resources to support and reelect the incumbent.
"Request endorsements of candidates should not be given until the primary election has been completed in May, 2010".
(By the way, Sakalosky is already an endorsed candidate by The 9-12 Project -- no word as to whether he is fighting to have them rescind that endorsement so Terry can get his shot. )
[*UPDATE 10/5* We're informed that The 9-12 Project -- with whatever sort of leadership hierarcy or organization they may have -- has not endorsed Matt Sak. Sak just "signed up as a 9-12 Candidate" on the 9-12 Candidate website. That only means that 1) he's a candidate and 2) he signed the 9-12 "pledge". So there ya go.]
But unless the Sak people can convince the NE-GOP Central Committee to do otherwise, we would assume that they will be voting on this issue next Saturday.
Can the Sak-ers succeed on this point? Should they? Is there a good reason why the Central Committee shouldn't endorse incumbent Lee Terry?
We're guessing there are a few opinions out there...
***
If you hadn't seen it, Bill Kristol told Hugh Hewitt on his radio show that the word is that Defense Secretary Robert Gates will resign at the end of the year, and the President will nominate former Senator Chuck Hagel as SecDef.
Don't be surprised if this is 100% true (or, you know, 100% false), as this is how these sort of trial balloons are floated around DC.
Sort of standard responses from either side of the aisle on this. But we've not seen many complaints from the Dems about Hagel, who previously didn't like his 70% Republican voting record.
Conservatives, on the other hand, aren't happy with what they see as Hagel's "cut and run" strategy in the major conflicts (and his apparently failure to recognize that he may not have been correct in his vociferous opposition to the Iraq Surge strategy).
Anywho, doesn't look like Hagel will be moving back to Omaha any time soon...
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