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!
***
Lots of chatter on the Leavenworth Street comment boards about Lee Terry's response to Joe Jordan the other day.
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.Those are the rules.
Now, on Matt Sak's website, he is asking supporters to contact the NE-GOP and,
"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...
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...
Posts
117 comments:
At the risk of seeming petulant, I still think Gina Bellman would have made a better SAB ....
Jes' spoofin' ...
UW,
We DO have 13 months to go. Can't fire all the cannons at once...
;-)
-Ed.
I think Davis' photo is actually o.k.
But how will 9.8% unemployment--the highest in 26 years--brought to us by the Democrats--affect her? Or Tom White?
I am curious why Ash Grove cement is going to have to lay off so many people. What happened to all the construction jobs that Obama and Pelosi promised? Don't those require cement?
Tom White is tied to those numbers until he states that he would not support the current Democrat Leadership by returning them to their positions of "leadership"
Nothing helpful is going to ever get done with Pelosi at the helm. The Dem men are all afraid of her and the Dem women envy her. Even the Blue Dogs roll over and play dead when she gives them "the look".
Right--but then add the D's health care 'reform' into the mix.
The Pelosi/White plan adds $1 trillion in spending and increases taxes--even on moderate income families-- who choose not to enroll in plans.
I wonder if Tom White still thinks the stimulus bill was a great thing--9.8% unemployment tells me it has been a flop.
White was wrong on this and Terry was right.
If I were a Democrat I wouldn't bother spending one thin dime on the 2010 election. This country is screwed up but good and Our Dear Leader is more interested in not letting a crisis go to waste than actually doing something useful about it. Talk about not having your eye on the ball. And here I thought Obama was a baller.
This may have escaped most people's attention since Omaha blog updates as frequently or rather infrequently as students get report cards, but how can you ignore a piece with a lead in like this:
"What do Miley Cyrus and Jim Esch have in common? Well keep reading to find out."
I overheard some people talking and the name Hal Daub was mentioned. I am guessing we might hear news recently about Daub getting back into politics.
Did you hear the names of any Democrats running for Gov. or Lt Gov or AG or Treas or Auditor?
Neither have I.
Shoot, someone beat me to the SAB comment
Darn you, Wiggily! Darn you to heck!
By the way, I thought now Obama was President, the world would wuv us again. Instead, he gets the brush off from the IOC, gets dissed by Sarkozy, gets nothing from the Russkies in return for abandoning missile defense...I have to say, I'm not feeling the lurve right now.
Or could it be that THE WHOLE WORLD IS RACIST?!?!
I don't blame them for picking Rio. What a beautiful place to party for a couple weeks, plus, it fits right in with Obama's position of redistributing wealth. Rio said as much in their statement to the IOC.
I wonder if the Obamas will boycott the Olympics since they dissed their hometown and not spend a million bucks to fly the family there so their daughters can experience a little piece of world history.
In this time of great peril for the Earth where flying is the absolute worst thing you can do (private jets excluded), the Olympics, which encourages tens of thousands of people to take unnecessary trips, are an anachronism. I can't believe that Obama was too obtuse to see that the Olympics are killing spaceship Earth.
Hal Daub will be back in the public arena soon I think.
The Olympic loss sheds light on Chicago as an old, corrupt Daley machine run town where the infrastructure is crumbling (CTA), and the schools are failing (kids killing kids on the south side every night), etc.
Chuck Hagel will be new Sec of Defense in 2010.
Think big! Big O = Olympics
Let's form a committee to bring the Olympic games to Omaha in 2020!
Omaha 2020! We have two baseball stadiums! Just in time for baseball to be removed from the Olympics!
O Dayton!
O stands for Optimism.
You will now have to be exiled from the City.
If we did the Olypmics Hal Daub would promise our taxes would not be raised to pay for it
I was exiled from Omaha several years ago. Did the whole "going rogue" phase. Now I hide behind gas stations and live incognito as an everyday insurance salesman/ motivational speaker. Who am I? That is none of your concern.
Pepe Boomer
I must say, i do find it interesting that Leavenworth Street has been so quite with regards to the James Blinn story. Not to accuse you of being partisan, but if the story was about me, i can't even imagine the field day you guys would be having. I thought you were equal opportunity gossipers/haters.
Jim Esch
Why, what did YOU do?
But mainly, we haven't said much about it because:
1) we really don't have any other info beyond what's been in the OWH and;
2) what's to write? He's was in office, but quit. He's gone, hasn't been heard of, and there are no other details. Should he run for office again, you can bet this would be Issue No. 1.
This is a blog about politics. Once there's some interesting politics in this issue (and we have some intel) we'll talk about it.
Well, good morning to you. Just giving you guys a little grief. I'm bored doing laundry.
however, talk about blood in the water. can the republican politicians move any faster to throw Jamie under the bus? i think that article quoted everyone but janitor at city hall. friends like these...
That is one weird contemplating photo. Perhaps she is looking at a pile of cow dung?
though in fairness, they have no choice. there has to be an investigation.
the OWH must be thrilled, could you ask for a better story to sell papers?
On the endorsement issue, it seems to me that Matt S. is saying the party shouldn't even be able to endorse Gov. Dave Heineman. I think an early endorsement is warranted, and can help DH build really good momentum toward creaming whatever D eventually steps forward to run. Let's do it!
Yeah, Jim, a better story would be Huskers 62, Missouri 0.
One other thing on the stimulus bill--I read today that 60% of it has been spent--that's ludicrous. No wonder it hasn't had any real effect in pumping $$$ into the economy. What they should have done was immediate tax cuts last Jan/Feb (like The Republicans proposed) to get $$$$ immediately into the economy. Not pork barrel $$$.
Have fun defending this disaster, Tom White. And your 9.8% unemployment.
Mr. & Mrs. Leavenworth,
Uhh... I think you're conveniently missing the Blinn story.
None a my bidness, but you folks are aware (aren't you) that Matt S is heavily intertwined with the whole 912 Project/C4L/Ron Paulista thang.
A nuttier coalition of the political halt and lame would be difficult to dig up.
Maybe he should be referred to as "Nutt" Sak instead of Matt Sak ... oh ... wait ...
Never mind.
Does anyone know what happened to the blog Suttle Watch? There have been no postings since late August.
Macdaddy - good point. i'd like to see that story.
I'm glad Jim Esch is posting here, again.
Welcome!
Regarding Suttle Watch, does anyone else find it interesting that the blog went dark at almost exactly the same time Chuck Sigerson fell ill?
Hmmm.
One thing that's funny about White is, so far, he has said he would oppose the public option and that he would have voted against cap and trade.
In essence, "I'd vote the same way Lee Terry has." That's gonna really help him w/progressive Ds--watch them sit home on election day.
They think the Blue Dog is nothing but the yellow dog.
MD and JE,
We noted and linked to the 9-12 endorsement of Sak in this post.
-Ed.
The 9/12 Project - a brain child of Glenn Beck and FOX News - the footsoldiers of the Republican party. The base of the teabaggers and the birthers. In other words, the perfect group for the people who post on here.
I thing the Suttle watch blog stopped posting before Chuck got ill. Although that still doesn't mean it wasn't him I guess.
But I hear that any potential candidates or supporters of potential candidates are hesitant to start a recall fearing it will backfire on them if they run for mayor.
I mean think.It's really early.
All you have to do is remember Jim Cleary to know that you can't carry the torch to recall someone and then set it down in the grass next to you and not expect to get burned.
It will be a behind the scenes person. A conservative, someone with money in case donations don't come pouring in and, I would hope, someone without a dog in the fight.
And, Uncle Wiggly, we were on the floor in laughter at your last post! Love your sense of humor. As for JE, glad to see you are being productive and doing you laundry all by yourself these days!
OK ... so now the newest Dem health care plan says if you don't buy insurance, you'll be fined $800.
Whatever happened to freedom of choice in this country?
The Dems, and Tom White, are on the wrong side of history.
Terry's plan--letting people w/out insurance buy into plans that are part of the Fed Emply Health Program is the way to go.
$800 may not be alot of $$$ to a millionaire trial lawyer like Tom White, but it is a couple of car payments for any middle class family.
Remember when Clinton and the Dems slammed Dole & Newt over proposing to 'cut' Medicare in 1996?
The Dem health plan will cut Medicare by over $500 BILLION--it is a major part of their plan!
Terry is right to oppose this. And, White is wrong on it.
Well ... Sunday is the start of a new week.
I'm told the NDP staffers get their paychecks this week. But what did Jim Rogers et al do to earn them?
Great candidates they've recruited!
The one at the NDP you should go after for not being able to get candidates recruited is Vic Covalt. He's completely incompetent.
Latest coward (anonymouse),
If you're going to attack someone by name, then use yours, or get back behind your mommy's skirts and STFU!
BTO--where ya been?
Here's something: the Senate D health bill will require a family of 4 earning $63k/year--smack in the middle of the middle class--to spend up to $11,080 on health insurance. If they don't get a policy they get fined.
After the tax credit, they have to pay a net $7,110 for premiums.
Really nice thing to do to families right now, huh?
The mandate issue couldn't be a clearer difference between the parties. The D's don't trust people and force them to buy insurance. R's want to make insurance cheaper and increase access (i.e. Terry plan). But we leave that decision to families to make.
Anon 4:35,
I've been to Alliance, Scottsbluff and Omaha. Unlike some D's that complain of having too many meetings to attend, and those that stay home rather than doing the work they were elected to do, I try to hit all the meetings I can.
I certainly don't support that kind of requirement, and I don't think a lot of other D's do either. But, those whose campaign coffers are filled to overflowing by the insurance companies evidently do.
You write of the "Terry plan." Where can I find a copy of it? All I've seen from the Republicans to this point is that they oppose anything and everything proposed by any Democrat, anywhere. They have justly earned their new nickname of "the Party of NO!"
Here's a proposal for ya. It's one that our Sen. Nelson claims to want. Let's you Republicans and we Democrats actually get together, ask ourselves what the American people (not the American corporations) really need and want, then work together to deliver it to them. Let's forget about what it costs and do what is morally correct.
A recent report in the American Journal of Public Health states that 45,000 deaths in America, each year, are attributable to the lack of adequate healthcare coverage. That is the equivalent of FIFTEEN 9-11 attacks each and every year. As a response to 9-11, our nation started two wars and has dumped countless billions into that bottomless pit, with no end in sight. Shouldn't we put forth at least that amount of effort defending the health and welfare of America's citizens?
You say it would drive our nation into endless debt? Here's a thought from Robert Reich's "The Truth About Jobs That No One Wants to Tell You:
"When I was a small boy my father told me that I and my kids and my grand-kids would be paying down the debt created by Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Depression and World War II. ...
...America paid down FDR's debt in the 1950s, when Americans went back to work, when the economy was growing again, and when our incomes grew, too. We paid taxes, and in a few years that FDR debt had shrunk to almost nothing."
By the way. The Nebraska Democratic Party State Central Committee, at their meeting in Omaha on Saturday, unanimously passed a resolution of support for the public option. It will be interesting to see how our Sen. Nelson reacts to that!
BTO--appreciate the back and forth.
Terry offered his proposal as an amendment when the Energy and Commerce Committee debated HR 3200 before the August recess. It was defeated by a narrow 28-31 vote. Interestingly, Terry got 5 of the seven Blue Dogs to support it--had he got the 2 others, it would have passed. (You can get the amendment, debate etc at the committee's web site.)
The beauty of Terry's plan is that it provides precisely the kind of "exchange" that Obama and the D's want, but without any new infrastucture--it is already there. Why reinvent the wheel--unless you guys believe in the Noah's Ark Theory of gov't--i.e. have two of everything.
The plans you can choose are private and have different levels of co-pays and deductibles. Which is the other reason it is a good idea--the major problem with health insurance access is the cost to individuals who have to go out in the market alone. This way, they can be part of the "group" (federal employees) and get coverage cheaper at the group rate.
Have to take exception to your comment that "most Democrats don't support" the individual mandate. Brian, that is the heart of your party's plan--require everyone to have health insurance. We want people to have access to insurance--and there are other ways to do this--such as allowing policies to be sold across state lines. We just don't believe it is right to force or corerce people to do it. Leave the decision to them.
If you are supporting the Dem approach, then you are still (unwittingly maybe) supporting the individual mandate--since all of the versions have it.
Speaking of health care, why is Tom White AWOL from the debate?
Where's his plan? Let's see something Tom!
Also BTO--the plans you support rely on $500 BILLION in cuts to Medicare to finance it.
Do you really ewant to do that to seniors, especially in a state like NE that has a large number of elderly?
Anon 9:33,
When I say most Democrats, I certainly am not referring to those that work within the Washington, D.C. beltway. My primary example is what happened at this weekend's NDP SCC meeting. A resolution to demand the public option will, with little doubt, fall with a thud on Sen. Ben Nelson's ears. It will be interesting to see his reaction to the demands of his party.
Anon 10:24,
I'll admit that I need to read more on this, but I would think that any cuts to Medicare would be made up with coverage provided in other ways.
BTO--thanks. I think this kind of back and forth is valuable--much better than the constantly negative, attack-oriented and vile posts at NNN.
During the meetings you attended, did you hear any names of D's running for Gov or AG?
The Terry camp is on all cylinders trying to paint Matt Sak as an extreme right-winger, Ron Paul, Club for Growth. Matt has had not contact with any of them and the tactic won't work. There isn't a single thing he has said that Goldwater or Reagan wouldn't have said.
As far as the 912 project, Lee Terry spoke as a guest with the 912 before Matt jumped in the race. They have both spoke with the group. Terry's finance chair just recently was at the Sarpy County's 912 meeting telling them why he is so conservative.
Lee likes to say one thing and then do another. A complete split personality without being able to commit to anything of value. Ask Lee if he supports the 912 Mission, or would he prefer to distance himself from 'those' kind of people...I bet he wouldn't answer the question??? At least Matt Sak has a 'Nut Sak' as you say, oh wait a minute, never mind.
Lee is part of the Colin Powell Big Spending Republicans, so what else would he try to do, he's a democrat lite...that's why he's a top 10 favorite of Democrats while being well below 100th in his own party after 6 terms.
Oh man. Enough with Lee Terry's "plans" please!! How many of his "plans" did we hear about last year when he was in the midst of his campaign -- and then once he (barely) won, poof! Nothing more of those "plans" were ever heard from again. Now he comes up with another "plan," and what's going to come of it? Yep, nothing. As usual.
This is funny--for years all we heard from the D's is that Terry was too conservative. Now someone says he's too liberal?
And, anon 11:06, get more R's in Congress (like I think will happen next year) and you'll see better plans passing (like Terry's).
Here's a question: Terry's Omaha office is open and up and running today.
How about Tom White's Capitol office? Everyone went AWOL it seems...
Why the problem with Sak being connected to the Club for Growth? After all, everyone was all for that group when they bought and paid for Adrian Smith. They are his primary support group and pay for yearly trips for him to resorts.
Remember everyone ...
These posts that criticize Sak are probably coming from liberal D
(im)posters here--their attempt to avoid a discussion of the 9.8% unemployment their party has caused. Same goes for the posts that criticize Terry that appear to be from Sak supporters.
Thse kinds of posts=Democratic disinformation.
I have no problem with Matt Sak being endorsed by Club for Growth. (But is he actually?) I agree with much of their agenda. However, Club for Growth's record in getting their candidates elected has been less than stellar and I fail to see how getting Democrats elected to maintain conservative ideological purity helps 1) the conservative movement and 2) my life.
BTO needs to go start his own blog. He can then dictate how he wants people to post comments. Otherwise he can STFU and leave that decision to SS. That is, unless SS is suddenly in some sort of partnership with BTO. If that's the case, I'll be disappointed. SS is too good for that.
Terry's office may be open today, but it seems like most of his staff is doing nothing but blogging on here most days. Is that what our taxpayer money is going to?
Tom White's staff may actually be out DOING something. (Gasp!)
Oh, and the thought of Terry's "plans" actually passing just with a few more Republicans in the House? Ha. That's laughable. How many of his "plans" passed for the 8-10 years he was in the House with a Republican majority? None?
Hey, don't get me involved in your bickering.
But I WILL say that I have many times requested that instead of "Anonymous", you click "Name/URL" and come up with a nom de plume to use.
That way commenters can refer to each other more easily.
"America paid down FDR's debt in the 1950s, when Americans went back to work, when the economy was growing again, and when our incomes grew, too. We paid taxes, and in a few years that FDR debt had shrunk to almost nothing."
So, BTO, your point is that we shouldn't worry about Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress running up the debt, because sooner or later we'll elect a Republican who'll pay it off?
Anon 11:19: You must have a lot of time on your hands to drive by Terry's Omaha office and White's Lincoln office. Sounds really, really suspicious and even kind of weird.
RWP,
That must be why we have a two party system. ;-)
We pass the legislation that the American people deserve, and you guys pay for it. It's a fairly symbiotic relationship I'd say.
Don't worry, twenty years from now we will have screwed everything up so badly that you guys will be back in power again.
BTO--how about 'four' years...
:)
We pass the legislation that the American people deserve, and you guys pay for it. It's a fairly symbiotic relationship I'd say.
Not exactly the word I'd choose.
Symbiosis (n): A close, prolonged association between two or more different organisms of different species that normally benefits both members.
Compare and contrast:
Parasitism (s): interaction between two organisms, in which one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.
YMMV, of course.
Anonymous 1:56--I think what is 'wierd' is when all of the Senate offices are open at the Capitol with the exception of White's. I hear it is mostly closed.
BTO--question:
I understand from your post that the NDP has endorsed the public option. Didn't this move just lose you every vote of every employee of every insurance company located in NE (i.e. 5,000 alone at Mutual of Omaha)?
Here's a question: Where do all these opponents of Tom White stand on issues? For that fact where does Tom White stand on issues. Or, what are the issues they all should be discussing instead of a meaningless tit for tat exchange. We know Matt has a float, Tom has Ian and Lee has Boomer. Yipee. What do each say they will do for me if I was to vote them into office?
RWP,
Glad to see that you admit that Republicans are parasites.
Anony 3:01,
No, saving the lives of 45,000 Americans every year is MUCH more important to me.
DH,
I have to invoke the "No linking" policy. (And frankly I don't get the video...)
Sorry.
-Ed.
Anon 9:33 a.m. (10/5):
Took you up on your offer to look at Terry’s “plan” on the Energy and Commerce website (its under the 7/31 markup if others want to look). Although it was offered in Terry’s name, you can clearly see from the PDF that it was originally Rep. Gingrey’s (R-GA) amendment before they crossed off Lee’s name as a cosponsor and handwrote him in as the lead proponent. I doubt he or his staff did any work on this at all.
It’s like a colleague just handed him a piece of paper and said “Hey Lee, act like you work here for a minute and propose this amendment.”
You're acting foolish and desperate. Terry has been talking about the FEHP for several years and has sponsored legislation on it. He offered the amendment in cmtee and controlled his side of the debate. Remember, if 2 more Blue Dogs voted 'yes', it would have passed. So ... instead of blogging here why don't you call them and urge that they support the Terry plan on the House floor.
If the public option is so good, why did the Senate Finance Cmtee vote it down? What I've heard is that alot of House Dems don't want to go on record as supporting it since it could cost them their seats.
So . . . the record the Dems have so far is passing a stimulus bill that hasn't worked, failing to create jobs so that unemployment is now at 9.8%--the highest in 26 years--and threatening to pass a health care bill that will cost a trillion and cut Medicare by $500 billion. What a record.
Hey 6:41,
GDP going from negative six percent to positive three percent.
Clearly the stimulus had absolutely no impact whatsoever.
Do you think the unemployment number might have been held down by moving from negative six percent to positive three percent?
I would be willing to say definitively yes, but hey who knows where you are coming from or your level of education.
On decimating the private health insurance industry which amounts to 1/6 of our economy and calling for the same type of fundamental change that led NAFTA to wreak havoc on our country's manufacturing sector and lead to serious consequences of unemployment, well hey there you made a good point.
While I'm not a betting man...I would bet that Governor Dave is the likely contender in Nebraska's next Senate race...He's on Greta this evening tootin his horn.
...and shakin' his pom poms.
Gee-Willickers BTO...Are you and Fahleson bunk buddies? He let you post on his blog.
Anon 7:26: what are you talking about? The 2nd quarter GDP dropped another 0.7%. 3rd quarter estimates are just that: estimates. Maybe it will go up, maybe not. Probably it will go up. The stock market seems to be betting on it. As for the porkulus, only 15% has been spent so far. If you want to claim it mitigated the jobless rate, which is predicted to rise for another 8-10 months, feel free, but just remember that Obama claimed we'd stop at 8% if his porkulus package got passed. The elephants certainly won't forget.
1/3rd,
Yeah, that's the first thing he's let on there in a while, probably because it was innocuous. The other things I've tried to post there never got through his censorship. That's why my crack about him acting like a Democrat. Ever since I had the audacity to criticize the Benator on the NDP blog, it has just become a place to put press releases. So much for the free expression of what the people are thinking!
Kudos again to the Sweeper for allowing a very open forum here.
So, the fire fighters are breaking the law by collecting for private organizations while on duty.
The REAL issue here is they knew this was against the law in 2003 and still tried to push it.
In 2003, the fire union asked for an opinion on this because they wanted it included in their collective bargining agreement. They were advised it was illegal, violating state law, and not to include it in the contract.
That raises another question. What kinda crap do they throw in these contracts. The damn contracts should be about wages and pensions. That is it!
Get ready for the fire union to rape the city to take zeros for two years. In these economic times, when people are just lucky to have a job, they should be willing to give the city these two years without demanding the huge payoff in out years.
Omahans are fed up. Many out of work. We do not sympathize with how "rough" the fire union has it.
BTW, wasn't Pete Festersen on Fahey's staff when he got us in this mess? Funny how he now backs the fire fighters union...isn't it.
Raucus Baucus...
What's up with the Baucus/Dem health bill? $140 billion in NEW taxes--on everything from insurance policies to medical equipment.
The tax on health policies will just make premiums go up. The $40billion tax on medical devices will hit thouands of products (something even as basic as surgical bandages) and they'll cost more. Some reform.
Face it, Dems and TWhite--you are now having to defend 9.8% unemployment, the same way you'll have to defend it (and your policies like the 'stimulus' bill) when it hits 10%. Have fun!
Anonymous 7:26--who negotiated and signed NAFTA? Pres Clinton.
Here's some news of interest...
McDonnell holds a 54-43 lead in the VA gov race.
Rep. Mike Castle is runnng for the Deleware Senate seat--good pick-up opportunity.
How could Petey know what Mikey was doing? He was only on his staff and we all know staff members are clueless. That brings us back to Paul....wasn't he really "mayor" all those many years?
Anon. 6:31 pm (10/5)
“You’re acting foolish” – I think you are foolish when you don’t get the acronym for the program you are talking about correct.
“Terry has been talking about the FEHP [sic] for several years and has sponsored legislation on it.” – Bill number? And by sponsor do you mean he's actually done something about it himself or just signed on as a me too to someone else’s proposal?
Yes. It's very easy to say you "sponsored" legislation when you're a congressperson or senator. All that means is you tell your staff to call the office of the Member who actually wrote the bill and have your staff tell that person's staff to add your name to the list.
There. Done. You "sponsored" something. Way to go Lee. Your staff has figured out how to use the congressional phonebook. Woohoo!
Becky is no Scott Kleeb. Heck, she's not even a Maxine Moul...
Yikes.
Foolish Anonymous 1:01--the other point to keep in mind is that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again but expecting a different result. That's the case w/your attacks on Terry, be it issues, term limits, casework or legislation. All you do is attack attack attack--and where's it gotten you? Nowhere. And that's where you'll be again in 2010.
Rather than post negative attacks here, it seems to me that Anon 1:01would be better off getting out to help the D's recruit candidates for Gov/Lt Gov/SoS/Treas/Aditor and AG.
What's happening there guys?
For starters, campaign staffs are not paid for with tax dollars. This is highly illegal and no one does this. No Democrat or Republican. So stop saying the campaign staffs are wasting tax payer's dollars.
Second, Matt Sak is just trying to rush in and claim to be the 9/12candidate. He was never involved in the Campaign for Liberty (what the Ron Paul campaign evolved into) either. I have never seen him at any of these meetings and he has not been formally endorsed by either of these organizations.
Third, if Matt Sak is so opposed to primary endorsements, why is he trying to be endorsed by other organizations? Is it that he is only opposed to endorsements that he does not get?
Fourth, how can an endorsement of Tom White by a teacher’s union be taken seriously? We still have many months for another Democrat to enter the race. What has Tom White done for education that makes him so awesome that he is better than anyone else who could possibly run?
As a teacher I am upset by this decision. How dumb do we look if Tom White doesn’t even win his primary? Did the teacher’s union even interview other candidates? Did they even talk to Lee Terry, or the Green or Nebraska Party candidates? Seriously, could the union have rushed any faster to a giant liberal? (Remember “Tom the Liberal”) I am disgusted.
Sorry I must remain anonymous
"Paracites" crawl around in the bowels of productive Americans, feeding off blood and looking for wallets. What the paracites don't consume or spend themselves, they give to others and then take credit for being charitable.
There is nothing wrong with paracites that a good worming medicine cannot cure. However, be advised they are the size of donkeys and it hurts to pass them. Yet better that then leave them in there gnawing at America's innards.
Paracites (sic)?
And a good education, paid for by America's taxpayers, was wasted on Anon 6:30.
Charlie Cook (The Cook Report) last week raised the odds of the Democrats losing their House majority to 50/50.
Gerald Seib of the WSJ had something interesting yesterday--the last time unemployment hit 9.8 percent (2002), it stayed there for one full year. The administration's party lost 26 House seats.
So, if we're at 10% unemployment this time in 2010, godbye Dems like Tom White.
The new Gallup generic congressional poll is out.
Dems= 46
Repubs= 44
Party in power is under 50%--bad position for them to be in.
Good Grief.
Now it turns out that the Baucus plan guarantees health care costs will go up by $29 billion to PEOPLE NOW COVERED. That's because the tax on insurance, medical devices and drugs WILL be passed on to people through higher premiums, according to the Joint Comm on Taxation.
And also this...
The NYTimes reports that the Dem bill sets new 'standards' that every policy has to meet. Those that don't meet them have to increase services that are covered--with the result being higher premiums for individuals and families. Nice job.
Some people will have to pay twice now for health care.
Take a 4-person family that, right now, has their health care through a Naturopath. There's no insurance involved.
Under the Dem/White bill, they would have to buy a health policy (probably for $7,000 a year minimum in order to avoid the tax) yet then pay again out of pocket if they want to keep the Naturopath.
Hit people twice?
Anon 9:19: Dammit! It is not a tax! They are merely fulfilling their responsibility as responsible citizens in Obama's America. Those leeches should have to pay more because they haven't been patronizing insurance companies. (Good luck figuring out on which day insurance companies are necessary and good and which day they are evil and should be strangled) And of course they will pay more. But it's not a tax. Get that through your thick skull! Obama has spoken!
BTO: thanks for pointing out Anon 6:30's lack of spelling ability, but do not think for a minute that his education was wasted. In fact, every process is designed perfectly to achieve the results it does. So let's make sure that the government gets control over our bodies, too, because I'm sure that will turn out better than our educational system.
The latest from Jane ...
So, Jane Kleeb just hit Terry over at NNN--claiming his plan would mean she would be enrolled in her employer's health plan even if she didn't want to be.
Hello? Jane--your plan forces everyone to get insurance--so what's your point?
I guess Jane wants to force everyone else to get insurance but still retain her own freedom of choice on the matter.
McDad,
(Sarcasm switch on)
Yup! It is faaaaaaar better to have an insurance company employee determining what, if any, healthcare I get than to have a government employee deciding that. I'm absolutely certain that insurance company employee, who's annual bonus depends on how many claims he/she can refute, will be much more fair in determining my healthcare needs.
(Sacasm switch off)
BTO--the Dem's find any statewide candidates yet?
New poll just in from New Jersey:
Christie: 47
Corzine: 44
Another good pickup opp for the Repubs. VA is also looking good.
Anon 2:30,
Yes. And they must all be relatives of yours. They all go by the name ... Anonymous.
BTO, you obviously haven't spent much time among the civil servants. Try getting one who's in a bad mood. There's nothing you can do about it. Nothing. You can't go with another company, you can't take your business elsewhere. They can't get fired. And if you think that government employees are the embodiment of goodness and light, fair in all things, wise beyond their years, then you are truly delusional. I urge you to get professional help.
McDad,
Professional help? Just because I disagree with YOU?!! The one needing professional help is that guy that looks back at you from your bathroom mirror.
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