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.
No word on whether he's keeping the goatee.
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63 comments:
Sorry about the link: http://www.ketv.com/video/17912812/index.html
SS:
Kris Pierce was DCDP's Executive Director, not party Chair.
Thanks and updated.
-Ed.
Come on NE Voter; You know, and I know, and you know I know that you know more than that. Do tell! Share your wisdom/experience with the L-streeters. It's soooo entertaining.
Verily.
There's a world-herald video that is even funnier.
If I had known, I would have talked Walt out of that hire. Walt is much smarter than that, Pierce must have been free.
Sorry, a little much.
Lame. I'll try a rewrite.
I heard the only reason Pierce is running is to pay himself to run his campaign. If that's not illegal, it probably should be, but I guess it's up to his donors.
If for some crazy reason you'd like to make a donation to the Pierce Campaign, make it payable to "cash" and send it to his van down by the river.
This is hilarious.
Really, NO ONE could tell me that I screwed up the headline?
(fixed now)
You people have gone soft...
Matt Foley for Sec. of State.
Sweeper you blew it...you could have unveiled the first ever SAB video. The Dem political machine is parked down by the river. At least Pierce has one redeeming quality...he likes to drink - perhaps?
And Heath Mello? Did Stormy Dean change his name?
Oh...and kudos to you...a blitzkrieg of updates.
Sweeper,
After watching that video of Pierce, I think you need to do an SAB with him and Chris Farely. There is a Sat Night Live skit where Farely even has on the same tan jacket. Isn't there some fashion rule about not wearing those after Labor Day?
John Gale has done nothing to ensure our election system is fair and secure (just like that big clown you've got running the show in Omaha, Dave Phiilips?). Gale is afraid that if people were to get registered and vote on election day they might not follow in step to the Republican marching orders.
John Gale does nothing!
Gale spent 22 million dollars to make the election process run smoother in Nebraska...too bad he didn't spend it on voter verification.
If there is one state constitutional officer who is safer than Heinemann, it would have to be John Gale. This guy has competence oozing out of every pore. He's about as close to non-political as you can get - he just gets the job done. I have watched (and written about) him for quite a while now and he strikes me as the real deal.
Good luck to the fat guy with the whiskers and the drinking problem. Gale is pretty much invulnerable.
Not gonna be much drama here in Huskerville come next November.
He even may make it more corrupt with election day registration. Queue the busload of college students with fake addresses and utility bills.
He didn't step in to make it fair for our service men and service women when it comes to selecting candidates in Nebraska's Dem Caucus (a.k.a. Mob Rule) either. Lip service is all I heard from the State Dems and Ben Nelson.
That's the worst goods you've got on Kris? That he was exuberant upon hearing of Douglas County's win for Obama, and that he stepped on some very fragile Democratic egos in Omaha? Hell, I usually do that every day before I have breakfast!
In fact, I'm probably the only Democrat that the NDP censors on its listserv on a regualar basis - usually when I am excoriating Sen. Nelson for acting like one of you Republicans.
Hey BTOX, not surprising you defend Kris, but what he did was more than get exuberant. He was making an announcement before results had even been verified. He was not in charge of the event and had no right to do that. And if you recall, the final results that showed Obama won Omaha took a few more days, not hours. It's declaring victory before the runners have even come around the curve, and no one has crossed the finish line.
Why on earth isn't he running for Treasurer instead of Secrtary Of State? (although I'm guessing SOS will be a major theme of his campaign.)
Also, the person that approved Walt Peffer's campaign materials- peach orange and white- deserves to be locked up.
Wouldn't the D's be better off just leaving the SoS candidate blank? This guy's gonna embarass them...
Congrats to Jim Rogers and Vile Kyle--great recruit there! lol
In reference to the idea of naming the area near the new CWS Ballpark after Mayor Fahey, how about we rename City Hall, Pension Problem Place.
Why the Hell should Fahey get a naming of any kind when the City finances are in the Hell Hole they are?!
This is dumber than the Bob Kerrey Senate Retirement Gift!
Harold Daub Jr. Drive is fitting in front of the Qwest Center if that Pension Spiking Sellout Mike Fahey gets a name on a street!!!! Who is John Fahey???Omaha Taxpayers want to know!!!
Time to again complain about the anon. comments, and the cowardice that brings them about. John Gale and Dave Phipps do their jobs and do them well. To say they have done nothing to make our elections fair and more secure is just plain false. The smear about Kris Pierce and a "drinking problem" is below the belt, and false as well. When I see things like this here, I wonder why I ever read the comments, and wonder if the anon. ones should be allowed.
Street Sweeper has been revealed. He must be Sen Lautenbaugh. Otherwise why should we care whether you think anonymous comments should be ALLOWED. I guess you know better than all of us Senator. Please tell me does my name meet your criteria for comment? I long for your approval.
Seriously, that last post is more than below the belt. If you're going to make a claim like that you've gotta put your name on it.
About Gale and company...
The nonprofit I ran did voter registration almost exclusively. I didn't have ANY problems with the election commission, and as a matter of fact they did a great job and were very helpful, both in Omaha and Lincoln.
I too have a hard time figuring out why he'd take a stab at this race... either he's got some dirt or he's running as a sacrificial lamb.
Never underestimate the love Nebraskans can have for Democrats who seem to dump on thier own party. That BS trick is Ben Nelson's bread and butter.
Yes-- "Blah Blah Blah", you're a hero, and you have my admiration. Who wouldn't admire yet another anonymous poster? And, yes, because I wondered if anon. postings should be allowed (by Sweeper), I must in fact be Sweeper. So, time to shed the mask-- besides serving in the Leg., practicing law, and raising a family, I spend my "spare time" running a fairly active political blog. It's all true, and it's such a relief to come clean finally. I am also DB Cooper, and I kidnapped the Lindbergh baby. Pleased to meet you-- hope you guess my name. (Perhaps I gave away too much with that last one)
Pierce-Farley, you are spot on. That Farley skit with Patrick Swayze is probably in the top 5 funniest skits in SNL history and this video really makes Pierce look goofy. The thought of Pierce strapping on some red spandex leotards and taking his shirt off like the SNL skit leaves me I'm busting a gut laughing so hard while also searching for a vomit bucket.
LOL
All he needs is a bottle of tequila and a sombrero to complete his Halloween costume!
Fat Guy on Spring Break in Mexico!
Anon 7:20,
"He was making an announcement before results had even been verified."
Then Kris is an expert prognosticator. It appears his ability to forcast election results far exceeds that of many Leavenworth Street odds makers.
Issue isn't whether he made a good guess or not. The issue was the foolish behavior of stepping on toes at a party that was not his and doing so in a manner that did not do justice to how someone in his position should behave in public.
I don't care what the guy does at home, or even at a bar, but when he's at an event and behaves like that, it shows a lack of judgment that does not indicate someone worth of high elected office.
Frankly, the guy (Pierce)sounds like an embarassment. Does he have any private sector management skills or experience?
Anon 1:44,
You must have been one of those fragile Democratic egos that I wrote about before. Now he has had the AUDACITY to run for a statewide office without first consulting YOU!
Oh the humanity!
Anyone who would consult with Walt Pfeffer is astounding in itself let alone raise that kind of money for him. OK, maybe the guy dances funny on video, Walt just dances.
Is this a link to "Dancing with the Stars" or just political satire?
I watched the video. People seemed pretty happy with Mr. Pierce when he made the announcement. And if he was only guessing, he guessed right. The party hacks can be upset with him and torpedo his candidacy if they think all those political neophytes who carried Obama over the top and who would be uninterested in behind-the-scenes panty-wadding are gone. But if they are wrong, and those newbies are still willing to get out and vote for all things Democrat, then the party hacks will need to swallow their pride and get behind the one guy willing to take on The Man. Kris Pierce may be a dancing fool, and he may have taken on an impossible task, but he is stepping up to the plate. Of course, the party hacks may know something more about him than we do. For instance, maybe he really does live in a van down by the river.
Heard that Lisa "Montana" Hannah may get into the SoS thing too. Sounds like there'd be a couple of heavyweights vying for the office on the Dem side.
Is Pierce really serious about this?
Or maybe it is a ploy to get some p.r. for his consulting business.
"Frankly, the guy (Pierce)sounds like an embarassment. Does he have any private sector management skills or experience?"
Silly public acts aside... according to his LinkedIn page he was the Director of the Business Enterprise Program, for the State of Indiana... for about a year, then ran a political consulting firm for 4 years, until getting the job running the Douglas County Dems.
"Heard that Lisa "Montana" Hannah may get into the SoS thing too. Sounds like there'd be a couple of heavyweights vying for the office on the Dem side."
Seriously?
And Pierce owns a home off of 120th and Blondo I think... most definately not in a van by the river, haha
Anonymous said...
Heard that Lisa "Montana" Hannah may get into the SoS thing too. Sounds like there'd be a couple of heavyweights vying for the office on the Dem side.
I'm sure she'd get the Hispanic vote. Right Fiddler?
One of you should crash the campaign meeting he's having at his house on Sunday LOL!!!
Anonymous 2:45--can you elaborate, please? I've heard rumors about comments Lisa made about Latinos while employed at Nebr HHS, it would be good to have more information in that regard.
A candidate for public office should be someone who can bring people together, develop a consensus and respect other points of view. Would Lisa be able to do that? I wonder, since her colleagues in the 3rd CD apparently ousted her as chair due to her inability to work with others.
Sol (1:35) good points, although your question depends on how 'heavyweight' is used. At this point though, one has to wonder what it will take to get the Democrats to put up a credible candidate for Governor as well as the underticket spots. The two individuals mentioned here just don't meet that threshold.
8:48 am & 8:52 am,
Google "Lisa Hannah" and "Beatrice Fiddler" for your answer. Lisa's report cards probably had a lot of "does not play well with others" in the comment sections.
Hopefully she will enter one of the Democrats' races. It would be better for us Republicans than even an uncontested race since she would drive even more people away from the Democratic party.
Wow! I just read it--Hannah should be ashamed of her insulting comments. I wonder if she acted that way while employed by SEIU--if so, it is understandable why she was fired from there, too.
I don't know about those other folks, but I could give a rat's ass about Hannah. She is gone from the leadership of the NDP and I could care less what she is up to these days.
By the way "anonymous" if you are going to attack people by name ... grow a pair and sign your real name if you want to be taken seriously. Otherwise, get back behind your boyfriend's skirt.
As for my "leaving first," get your freaking facts straight. I stepped down as Associate Chair of the 3rd CD as a favor to Vic Covalt, as it was the only way we could be rid of her and her divisive tactics.
Hey BTOX, who do you think it was that asked the Hall County Chair to go to Vic and ask him to approach you in the first place? The local people in the room that day knew the whole behind the scenes story, even if you didn't. Why do you think we applauded when you resigned and not when she did?
Personally, I really don't care about the intra-Dem party warfare. Please take it to NNN.
No wonder that the Dems can't get any candidates.
LIsten up dimwit.
I was talking to Vic about this long before you think you thought of it. And since I do record all the meetings, do you really want to hear which of us got the applause following our speeches at the CD3 Caucus meeting? Do you really live in some kind of alternate universe, bizzaro world where what you say makes sense?
Another reason why the Dem candidate recrutiment is such a failure:
The Council of Economic Advisors testified Thursdy that the Obama admin. now projects unemployment will be over 10% at this point in 2010. Goodbye, Dems. You had your entire program enacted lock stock and barrel--it ain't workin'.
Anon 3:34,
If your name ain't Sweeper, and you can't understand the tagline "the talk of Nebraska politics," then nobody cares what you like or dislike. Go bitch about it on NNN.
BTO--you having a bad day or something? Switch to decaf at least. I've never had issue w/you posting here. Others have, and I think some Dems are trying to hijack this thread with more attacks--they should just stay over at NNN and post where no one will really notice.
I always have a bad hair day when some dipswitch anonymously attacks others by name, but lacks the cojones to do so using their own. It is the epitome of cowardice. They are no better than monkeys that toss their own excrement.
I have no problem with people posting their opinions anonymously; in fact, there are probably very good reasons for doing so. Personally, I don't do it and, as you can well see, I pay the price for it. But I'm a big boy and I can handle the heat. Those who don't have thick skins should probably stay out of politics.
Any time anyone wants to communicate with me personally, I'm not that hard to find. All they've gotta do is click on my name, it's hyperlinked to my Blogger page, and my email address is there. If these anonymous bozos that want to get into it with me would do that, I wouldn't have to smack them down in public. How else can I reply to cowards that fear me and my horrible reputation for being adept at using the English language?
I'm surprised that ego fits through the front door.
Well, Anon 11:09, at least it uses the front door, rather than crawling through the basement window like a thief in the night.
Hire Mudcat!
Recently in the news...
"Democratic strategist Mudcat Saunders criticizes White House for anonymously throwing VA gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds under the bus this morning."
Something tells me Mudcat will be looking for a new gig soon . . . maybe Covalt can hire him to run the Dem races here (if they ever find candidates).
Go Mudcat!!!!
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