***
(Except, of course, that Nelson said he would have been the roadblock in the conference committee, since that's how it's "played".)
***
Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson told the OWH:
I can stand the heat, so I'm staying in the kitchen. I have no plans to hang it up in 2012.Mmm hmm. OK. Great.
As a commenter noted, what did you expect him to say? "Oh my! With all this negative press and polls I'll be quitting post-haste!"
Anywho, note that Nelson also...
- Demanded the Stupak language be in the health care bill
- Said Reconciliation was a deal breaker for the health care bill
- Via a hug, let Senator Boxer know that he agreed to her abortion language for the bill
- Via crossed fingers, said he really planned to ditch that promise and hold out for the Stupak language
- Blamed the Cornhusker Kickback on Dave Heineman
- Said the Cornhusker Kickback was really placeholder for the USA Kickback
- Said he couldn't hear anyone yelling at the pizza parlor.
- Thinks Diet Dr. Pepper tastes just like regular Dr. Pepper.*
So you, over there, holding your breath for 2012?
Let it out son. Let it out.
***
On the topic of actual re-election plans, Lee Terry officially plunked down the $1,740 and filed with the Secretary of State for the 2010 ballot yesterday.
We are told that an bigger kickoff will be coming soon.
And here is more info on Terry and White's fundraising for 2009 Q4
***
Dave Heineman, who recently held a funder in Norfolk, will also have an announcement gig sooner than later.
Oh, and we're hearing that the last gasp for a Dem challenger to Governor Dave may be... state Senator Heath Mello.
Do with that what you will.
***
Now have yourself a happy little weekend!
Posts
96 comments:
How much did that little girl running out in the 3rd raise?
A key to winning in 2012 will be who is picked as ED of state GOP. Have heard the name Jim Haga being considered. Former Lancaster Co. GOP chair.
T-Bone I disagree, Vikki Powell could be ED and Ben would still lose.
The "little girl" out in the 3rd can't even update her webpage. It's been comatose since last fall...her twitter hasn't tweeted since late September.
Heath Mello. haaaaahaaaahaaaaaa!
Please do!
The "little girl" updates her facebook page. According to that Rep Walz (D-MN) is going to do a fundraiser for her tomorrow. I hope Rep Walz has a designated driver while he is here (not Jim Esch). He got a DUI a few years back some where near Valentine. Go to minnesotademocratsexposed.com to see his mugshot.
Whatever happened to that parade float guy who said he was running against Terry in the primary?
T-Bone. Is Haga really being considered. Don't know much about him
Where do you people come up with these names? Jim Haga is not a candidate for the gop job.
Van Argaykis is going to be the new GOP ED. Bank on it.
How about Jim Rogers?
If he gets canned at NDP (because he hasn't recruited any good candidates for statewide office), maybe he'd be available.
I heard Matt Samp is up for the GOP ED job. He won the Omaha Mayor's race and he wants to re-energize the TAR and College Republican programs.
I heard Mello is definitely throwing his hat in the ring. I think Nordquist would do a better job though.
MELLO is not qualified to be state senator...he has been caught lying on the floor of the senate (refer you floor debate on January 28th)
Will he have White's permission to run for Governor...he only does what either White or Nelson says...
If he is the best the Dems can come up with...then Heinemann can stay home not spend a single dollar on his campaign and win 80/10...the other 10 percent will right in Pete Ricketts.
Sonny Crockett is going to be the new ED of the NEGOP. I heard from very reliable sources.
Interesting that the NDP has time to put toward developing newspaper ads against DH, but apparently no time to actually get a candidate.
If what the NDP claims is true (which is is not, of course)
then they'd have no trouble getting someone to enter the race.
What's the plan guys?
Do you suppose Sen. Mello got a phone call from his former boss Earmark Ben asking him to fall on the sword? I hope Sen. Mello remembers all the support Tony Raimondo got from his BFF Ben.
Mello got served this week on the floor. Whats worse is he was left out all alone on point. It wasn't very pretty to be sure. White tried to slink out but was caught. Then on Thursday the the rat slunk out and left Mello to take a good ol fashion wupping all by him self.
Tom White lacks any courage, typical bully. The rest of "The" group sat it out and left Mello on an island.
Mello for Gov, good laugh
Hey if Mello runs for Gov what happens to his seat?
Hey what about Sen Lathrop running for Gov? He is running lots and lots of commercials of late. I don't wonder it the Mello thing is nothing more than a ruse to let Lathrop sneak up under the cover of Mello.
off topic but.....
Now Obama is going to take on the NCAA Bowl system!!!????
What's up with Kyle's Twitter? Its all black.
No, Randy Moody is back from D.C. I assume Don Walton's puff piece in the LJS this morning was his introduction as the new GOP ED.
Don knows all things Republican, right?
I don't think State Senator Steve Lathrop or ANY elected officials should be ae to run ads featuring themselves and/or names in a reelection year unless it's a paid political ad. We all know State Sen. Lathrop's "trial attorney is a noble calling" is just an attempt to build name I'd and personality points for reelection. It would be nice if someone would pass a state law to address that.
heath mello for governor? that is seriously the funniest shit of all time! I'm sorry but that boy is a clown! Lolololololololololololololololololololololololololololololol
Do we really need to refer to an ivy league educated congressional candidate as a "little girl"?
If she were educated at UNL, would it be OK?
Why not ... we referred to an Ivy League educated candidate for the Senate (and, 2 yrs earlier, for the House) as a Drugstore Cowboy and a Fake Husker. Some other sobriquets that I recall: Corduroy Cowpuncher, Gabardine Gaucho, New Haven Ranger, Stonewashed Buckaroo, Yippee-Ki-Yo Kleeb, Speed Racer, Yale Yahoo, and 19 or 57 others.
... and we were right every time.
Just sayin' ...
I could never be mistaken for a Mello appologist however, he is not a clown. He is a young man who has a lot of life yet to live. Perhaps one day he will grow tired of paying other's bills. Mellow is no clown.
Now if you want to get him for being a tad bit over bearing, that is clearly a point ot debate. It will be interesting to see where he tries to go from here. I doubt it is the Gov, maybe Sec of State, or Omaha City Council, or even in 2 years against Terry. Not Gov.
For those of us who can't watch the Leg. all day, how did Mello get "served" this week? Who did it? What happened?
UW, One Out, RWP One "little girl" has all of you big bad conservatives scared already. After you are done with the name calling, you three will probably put snow down the back of her shirt. Next, you'll sit on top of her and scare her by letting spitballs hang down from your mouths over her face. Last, but certainly not least, you'll let her up and snap her bra strap and finish with a snuggie. Oh, you mean blog bullies!!
I can see why you are scared. She is a minister, she is educated, and she thinks. Any one of those traits would scare the beejesus out of all of you.
Pipster:
I'm an atheist. Ministers don't impress me. I went to a grad. school in Cambridge, MA, and it wasn't MIT. Yalies impress me less than ministers. And I've lived in Nebraska 20 years, long enough to be more scared of jackalopes than of a Democrat being elected in the Third District.
What is it about the 3rd district that attracts the alumni of New Haven Community College, anyway?
Mello tried to get a bill passed that would enable the D's and got served. He wanted to let Party's accept anon contributions less than $50. Could you imagine how that would work at a Union Hall meeting!
Any how it was crushed for the partisan POS it was. Mello tried to fix it on the floor, and was left out on an island as Tom White slunk out of the room. Seems White has a independent group that funneled $30000 into varrious activities this past election cycle.
With all of this it was pointed out how partisan Mellow, White, Nordquist, Conrad(Snow Plow Nantkes)et al are. Mello was told his little band of misfits actions on the floor of bashing the Gov, Treas, and Sec of St were very partisan in nature and the body was tired of it.
At one point when Mellow went on about transparency and doing the people's work the response was something to the effect that it seemed what a politician was supposed to do is buy adds durring a football game to explain away why they didn't act on the majority will of the people! It was a slam on Sen Ben Nelson, and was a direct hit as all last year Mellow made comments Thanking Ben Nelson for the Bail Out.
The whole affair was kind of interesting to watch. Wish I had recorded it. I do know the media was all over it in the papers, but of course the LJS just played it as a "Partisain" day.
Heath Mello is the embodiment of a young Ben Nelson- sleazy politician with the loaf of bread hairdo.
I'm tellin' ya, Sweeper, you shoulda seen Heath Mello get mopped on the floor of the Unicameral by Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh. I have never seen a verbal pummeling that was so much fun to watch.
Poor, poor Heath. So very much out of his league. At least his dimpled smile is still intact.
RWP-
lemme get this straight. you are a Harvard elitist with a chip on your shoulder about yale. And you espouse this negativism from your perch in NE?
Hmmm. Angry, pajama-clad blogger is an interesting use of the Harvard education.
Sen Heath Mello is not sleazy! Misguided, young sure. Right on about the hair though.
Hey wonder how he and Sen Avery are getting along these days. Seeing how Mellow was Avery's student and how Mellow attacked Avery in the last campaign? Seems Avery isn't "Liberal" enough for Mellow. From what I heard Mellow and Ian both were working for the State Dem Party and worked hard against Avery.
Professor...
I will give Davis a small break...she is from here. Has anyone asked her why she came back to Nebraska with all that expertise and years of experience and not used it somewhere other than in a dying town in western Nebraska?
The only suggestion I can render is that Nebraska Dems think high falootin' credentials impress us out here in the 3rd and the elitists in eastern Nebraska and points beyond feel we are a bunch of mindless hicks that can be led to the Kool-Aid trough like sheep. Not the case. "All hat and no cattle" doesn't cut it out here.
Pip...
Sounds like you've done it all. The hanging spittum was classic...I remember that as one of the tactics used by our neighborhood bully and it was disgusting. I would not resort to such a despicable act.
You have to at least give us credit for checking into her website to get and idea of where she stands. The activity there is deafening.
Did you ever notice...all Dem contenders drive POS vehicles that break down while out campaigning? I guess that is a reach to make us feel they are "one of us." Even Kleeb used it. Here's a suggestion...Get a real job for a few years...earn some of your own money and buy a reliable car like the rest of us. Maybe along the way while you are working a real job you might gain some experience with real people.
Davis has a snowballs chance in hell of coming within 20 points of Smith. We can rekindle our old wager and make it a bi-annual event if you like...at least while the 3rd remains the 3rd.
Amazing how you libs in one breathe tout the Ivy League credentials of your inexperienced candidates (let's face it, it is all they got) and on the same breathe call RWP an elitist for touting his.
How about an atheist professor taking such a holier than thou attitude? Now thats irony folks.
i'm in DC this weekend and our beloved Ben Nelson is the laughing stock of the town. I literally have to apologize for being a Nebraskan. What is even more funny the Liberals hate him out here more than we do back home.
OOITT: Maybe the Right Reverend is trying to minister to the afflicted and save the lost. There may still be one or two of those out in the 3rd. And she might think her neighbors are worth the effort.
Take a pill, Pip. I wasn't dissing your progressive princess ... only suggesting that she's playing in the Bigs now ... where spades are often referred to more colorfully than "just another shovel."
The Third is not exactly the South Side of Chicago, but we still take our politics (and our politicians) seriously.
Ms. Davis has about 3/4 of a year to make some kind of connection/impression on the voters out here ... does she plan to start anytime soon? Curious minds want to know.
Hey, what about the idea that all pregnant women aren't entitled to prenatal care in Nebraska? Apparently uteruses have to have legal status. Really pro-life, that Governor Heineman. And the senators who approve of this or fail to object. . . How exactly do they earn Schmit-Albin & co's endorsement? Hypocrites.
What exactly do you mean by "entitlement", Too Bad? If you are talking about a right to prenatal care, then tell me where that right comes from. Hint: you won't find it in the US or Nebraska Constitutions. You should really know what you are talking about before you call someone a hipocrite. To do otherwise just makes you look dumb.
What, did Gov H outlaw prenatal care in NE? Of course women in this state are "entitled" prenatal care! What they are not entitled to is to have me and the rest of the taxpayers pay for it.
Sorry One Out, Our last gentleman's wager still has me tapped. As a semi-honorable resident of the Third, I did pay up. It was a fun wager, but I still cough up an occasional black feather, and I can still taste crow.
As far as the Yalies coming to the Third, I don't know. Generally, we are highly suspect of people who have more degrees than a thermometor. So many of these people bitch and protest the very same government that hands out the grants they live off.
I'm going to take my pill, Unk.
Nathan:
Holier than thou? Moi? Are you drinking?
It amazes me how the pro-abortion (ya know the whole choice thing is bs) get all up in arms about the prenatal issue. Since you don't want to realize it is a living person in the womb and such then why are you upset? Is it because you just pick and choose when something matters? Can't really have it both ways now can you.
The bill Sen Flood is bringing will pass and at least the abortions after 20 weeks will stop in Nebraska.
It isn't a Choice issue for the baby is it? "... health of the mother..."? Let the Dr decide.
Anon 3:28 wrote: "You should really know what you are talking about before you call someone a hipocrite. To do otherwise just makes you look dumb."
You should learn to spell "hypocrite" Anon 3:28. To do otherwise just makes you look dumb.
Better yet. Let ME decide.
(Hand me my sword!)
Just got back from a shindig in Valentine. So who's your new ED?
Fahleson messed it up and the Governor is now in charge. The former favorite Isom disappeared back in to the woodwork. Three finalists are Northwall, McGrain, and the random government lackey they'll pull out of bureaucracy. Decision is due this week, but it's been due the last two weeks as well.
RWP,
Prodigiously.
BTO: Who is your candidate for Gov?
Pip...
You are 100 percent "Honorable" in my book...just slightly misguided...ha. It was a fun wager and it went for a good cause. I matched your wager and look forward to seeing you part with more of your hard-earned moola in the future.
I'll stick with my 20 points...if she shows up. Dangling spittum...ugh.
Would that be the same McGrain who had AG Jon Bruning call Senator Johanns a lapdog to the Bush admin-istration? Or, take it to present Councilwomen Jean Stothert in the last days of her successful campaign? That McGrain or another? Please Governor Dave find someone with class.
If McGrain got the ED job, I just couldn't imagine how Leavenworth Street could continue.
We would continue just as always, kids -- seeing as the extent of Jordan McGrain's involvement on this blog was as a guest commentator at the 2008 GOP convention.
(And thanks for reading!)
SS
I like to picture SS as a ninja fighting off the bad guys.
no links, kiddos
(I really should print this somewhere...)
Anon 10:46,
MY candidate for governor was David Hahn in 2006. Nebraska would have been much better off had he been elected. But, he didn't fit into Ben Nelson's ideal of having someone like Joe Lieberman by his side, so he got no help from the NDP. After all, Ben owns the party ... but not for much longer.
BTO, you revisionist jackass...maybe Hahn lost because he had no message and no money or maybe it was the lame ass 3rd CD organization?
Did Nelson kill Kennedy too?
Get over yourself.
BTO,
And by 'better off' with Hahn over Heineman I can only assume you mean in much the same manner as America is 'better off' with Obama vs McCain (or that dreadful Bush)? If that is the type of 'better off' to which you are referring, then NO THANK YOU!
BTO--I just found it interesting that you are fixated on who the new E.D. will be for the GOP. Don't you have somewhat bigger fish to fry--like getting statewide candidates? Your party's turnout is going to crater this November w/out a statewide ticket, theme and message.
BTOX,
I'll reply to you when you grow a pair.
"Sometimes,"
You're probably right. If we could have kept Jr. in office we could be twice as far in debt, involved in a couple of more unnecessary wars, and the No Child Smarter Than Jr. program would be flourishing. If McCain had won we'd all be out in our yards yelling at the kids to get off our lawns and joining Sarah at the movies, smelling the Bizarro World popcorn.
Anon 3:40,
I'm a county chair - not the NDP State Chair, not a National Committeeman, and certainly not the NDP Executive Director - it isn't my job to find the next candidate for Governor. Pay me $50,000/yr. with benefits, give me an office and a budget and I'd find one for you.
Several others here on LS were creating quite a stir with the speculation about who would be announced as your new E.D. at the McCook meeting. I was swept up in the hoop-la and was just on pins and needles. The anticipation was nearly as nail-biting as awaiting the iPad. But ...
Kids,
We don't accuse people of killing others here.
OK?
Please get a handle on yourself.
Thanks
-Ed.
BTO:
With Obama in office, we spent 4 months dithering whether to send reinforcements to the 'necessary' war. And it's hard to imagine Bush could have gotten us any further in debt, considering Obama's projected deficit for next year is three times larger that the highest deficit W ever ran. Even his fans at the NY Times this evening are complaining there won't be any new domestic initiatives for the next ten years, because we're going to be spending that time just getting the debt under control.
RWP,
And just WHO was running around with our credit cards running up the tab that we'll be paying down for the next ten years? SOMEBODY has to pay for it. Bush just wanted to let all his money bags friends off the hook while filling the coffers of the military-industrial complex. As for the "necessary war," why in the hell didn't Bush fight it after he started it?
Anybody know when the reporting period is for Federal Office's? Think it will be interesting to see how Tommmy "tantrum" White did in the last qtr.
It's up...FEC.gov
Isom was going to leave Smith's office? Where did he get any campaign experience? Jordan would be fine, at least he has campaign experience and a good sense of humor. Northwall has some field experience, but no fundraising experience.
What's most important in an ED? Field, fundraising, or Campaign Management experience?
Sweeper...
I respect your policy of no web links. Therefore I posted your picture and you SAB on my blog.
BTO,
You think it's so funny and you got swept up in the "hoop-la" of Repubican infighting? What do you think the Republicans think when they see you all over the blogs attacking Lisa Hannah, Vic Covalt, Kyle Michaelis, or any number of other Democratic party leaders? Or when they turn on the news and your idiotic behavior is on the Grand Island news? You're practically the NEGOP mascot.
McGrain would be a good score for Fahleson and the party, so I'm pretty sure it won't happen.
Nice article in the OWH about Dont Ask Dont Tell. Anybody have an opinion on it? Should it stay or should it go? In my opinion get rid of the damn thing.
Oh, and Steve King (R Iowa) has got to be about as stupid as they come, and thats saying something folks.
Jordan is the most divisive person we have in the local GOP. If he is picked Mark and the Governor just sunk our ship before it left port.
Good to see our leadership is still lacking common sense and continuing to not listed to its grassroots folks if this is the case.
Anony 10:54
Tommy Boy only raised $120k. Things must be imploding over at Tommy Boy HQ.
Ask anyone in the 3rd or 2nd district and almost everyone has a bad taste in their mouth from Jordan. If what I am reading here is true then I have now lost all respect for Mark.
/ GOP Insider
Right, because The Governor and Mark Fahleson are well known for taking action to damage the Party.
Give me a break.
There is no candidate that would please all the activists. Not one. Whoever the choice, I think the Governor knows what he's doing.
@935am
You may be aright about that but even Perre had fewer enemies than Jordan does. From everything I have been reading and hearing this decision has everything to do with Jordan needing a job after the disaster of 2009 and Nothing to do with what is good for the party.
McGrain is in charge of the party? GOP is screwed....
To change the subject completely. Over at NNN some fool is attacking Lee Terry for not continuing to partner with Bennie on earmarks.
First off, the House and the Senate have different rules on earmarks and Madame Nancy screwed up the process by making it an ethics violation to request an earmark that you will financially benefit from. Since everyone that uses MUD as their sewer provider will benefit financially by earmarked sewer separation funding, then that is financial gain. What the lovely Madame forgot to do in her haste to "clean up" Congress is to define separate personal gain from public good. Once she did that, it was too late for any new earmarks except the ones that she told her conference to submit because she knew that she was going to change the rules. All politics, all the time.
This country needs to decide whether it wants the bureaucrats in the federal departments choosing where the budgeted money goes or the elected officials that live in the communities in need. Few, if any-anymore, earmarks are above budgeted spending. Earmarks actually just direct Department and Agency dollars to the specific programs they are intended for rather than being wasted on staffer salary increases and new furniture for the agencies.
However, the funding for sewer separation has been known about for decades and it has to be paid for somehow.
Hey Lee Terry at 10:02;
House Ethics has said your argument doesn't hold water. Nice try. Lee, why can't you just admit you've chosen politics over your constituents?
Oh, and anyone see Mike Johanns desperately claiming credit yesterday for the presidential earmark for the NE VA Center? What a hoot. When he was governor he opposed the effort. Now, he's taking credit for something that has been worked on at the federal level by Lee and others for years. Hell, even Hagel supported this thing. Johanns not so much. But there he was taking credit for a presidential earmark.
I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. Some of the greatest minds also had great enemies and it seems like they all congregate here. So much bitterness. . .
Jordan is well liked by many and having been a campaign manager several times, has the most experience.
You can't be in the campaign employment world and expect to have everyone love you.
But you also can't hire the person that has the least enemies, just to make life easier. Experience is vital in an Executive Director. I can only guess that experience was the tipping point on this hire.
Let's move forward and clean out the Legislature, hold onto all our Constitutional Offices and return our 3 Congressmen to Washington (to a hopefully new found Majority!)
Let's prove once and for all that the people of Nebraska are not for sale to anyone with a smile and a mini van to drive them to the polls and feed them lunch. We are principled and can't be bought-well, most of us can't, anyway!
It is funny that shoe always seems to think that she knows exactly what Congressman Terry thinks.
That's just how little you know.
BTW, Ethics rulings are made after the fact. Are you of the frame of mind that you act first and ask for forgiveness later? Better to get caught with your hand in the cookie jar every now and then than have to go with out cookies for a whole day?
How ethical of you!
Jordan McGrain. I thought the goal of political campaigns was to win them?
don't ask don't tell???....get rid of that crap, it's damaging the military in especially vulnerable areas like linguistics
Post a Comment