Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Erin Go Blaugh

As per tradition (sort of) here on Leavenworth Street, see a few entrants in last Saturday's Saint Patrick's Day Parade in O'Maha.

First, Rob Butler for School Board. (Yeah, that's right! We cover ALL the races here on L. St!)


Then Representative Lee Terry for Congress.



And finally, State Senator Tom White for Congress.



There may have been others there, but frankly they didn't send us any pics.  Thanks to the camps who did!

***

We heard a rumor of late (that will likely be confirmed or denied in the comments section) that a resident of Hastings, Nebraska will be running to be the new Chair-person of the Nebraska Democrats.

None other than Jane Fleming Kleeb.

Some of you may know that Mrs. Kleeb -- she of the Scott Kleebs and former employee of the SEIU offshoot "Change that Works", that recently closed shop in Nebraska -- is also running for School Board in Hastings (no word on what her St. Paddy's Day float looked like).

On the one hand she's good for the Dems: (relatively) young and energetic; a good speaker; has organized efforts in the past.

Then again, she has only lived in the state for, what, three years? Not exactly a long time to have been in state to jump to be the head of all the Dems. She seems like more of the Executive Director type, than Chair. But maybe that involves too much work. Who knows.

And then there is the question of her politics. Jane isn't exactly in the mold of a Ben Nelson "conservative Democrat". To say that she is a Beltway Liberal would be credit to all of her talking head appearances on MSNBC and FOX. Would she be the face of the party in Nebraska?

Well hey, beats us. Maybe this is just a trial balloon anyway. But one would think the Dems are looking for something different.

***

Finally, apropos of nothing, we came across this item on eBay:



It's a Key to the City of Omaha (unlocking the city gates) from former Mayor Hal Daub to someone...in England?

Anywho, in can be yours for a starting bid of two quid. (Shipping Royal Mail 2nd Class Standard.) Bidding closes March 20th!

217 comments:

1 – 200 of 217   Newer›   Newest»
Nathan said...

Boo to White and Terry. Those jackets might be a shade of green, but that shade DOES NOT count. My yard is a brighter shade of green than those jackets. Shame on them both!

And may God Bless the Irish, and no one else!

Anonymous said...

Ireland was the only nation to send a sympathy card to Nazi Germany after Adolph Hitler killed himself.

Paul M. said...

Dear Kyle: I absolutely LOVE your Rick Springfield hair-style. In fact, I'd call it "Rad".

Oh, and Ian, that's a sweet, sweet beard.

Anonymous said...

Can someone tell me why a man would hyphenate his last name. What a poser that Butler guy is.

Everyone knows that in Omaha (and the rest of America) you don't have to be of Irish descent to participate in St Paddy's Day Festivities.

As far as the green jackets? Who the Hell cares? They were there, and assumable paid their hefty fees to the AOH to get into the Parade. Were Nelson or Johanns there?

Right Wing Professor said...

Ireland was neutral in World War II. While part of the national territory was being occupied by the United Kingdom, it was hardly reasonable to expect them to fight on the side of their occupier, on behalf of 'the rights of small nations'.

Notwithstanding their neutrality, Ireland accepted evacuees from the London Blitz. allowed British shopping to use Irish waters and airspace, etc..

Anonymous said...

"Ireland was the only nation to send a sympathy card to Nazi Germany after Adolph Hitler killed himself."

And the lines outside the pub in Dublin where they had the card on the counter for everyone to sign stretched for miles.

The card read, "Dear Germany, sorry for your loss. Love, Ireland." And, of course, since Berlin was a pile of rubble by that point, figuring out an address to send it to was kind of like sending a letter to Santa at the North Pole.

/sarcasm.

Anonymous said...

Tom White really cleared out the Legislature will his volunteers. But how did Tom get Bill Kristol to show up wearing his finest denim? (see the guy on the far left)

Anonymous said...

Ireland's President Douglas Hyde and Ireland’s Prime Minister Eamon de Valera both offered condolences to Germany over the death of Adolf Hitler, after news of the Holocaust was known.

The US today has a President who is incandescent with rage at Jews in Israel over zoning laws there, while being quite the diplomat with Moslem nations that seem bent on exterminating Americans. Obama is Irish.

America hasn’t been so threatened by nuclear destruction since the Cuban Missile Crisis back when that other Irish derived fellow was President.

Of course, they aren’t all bad because Omaha had a Boyle and Fahey.

Anonymous said...

I hope Mike Fahey falls off his stool at the Holiday Lounge today. He tarnished every Irishman's name with his dirty deals with the Fire Union.

Anonymous said...

I always thought it odd that Terry's logo is a mirrored version of the Houston Astros logo. Not that Terry is alone among campaigns in co-opting others' logos, but a little originality more often would be nice.

Solomon Kleinsmith said...

Good for Jane.

I hope its true. She's the best person for the job that I've seen since I've been active in local politics, by a long shot, and that she's a transplant... that might matter for a candidate, but like it really matters for a party official.

She married a Nebraskan... with their educations & experience they could have moved anywhere after Scott lost, if they had wanted to. They stayed... she's one of us now, whether you guys like it or not :)

I wish her luck... she'll sure need it.


And I'm with the guy above... good to see Kyle grew his mane out again, haha

buck turgidson said...

Something about Ian's rockin' beard has me thinking pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, green clovers, blue diamonds, and purple horseshoes.

Carpetbagger said...

Solomon, she married a Coloradan!!!!

Anonymous said...

Was Sad Sack Matt Sakalosky in the St. Paddy's Day parade or was the pickup out of action?

Anonymous said...

Don't see LT's wife? hmmm...

Anonymous said...

"they aren't all bad"

Anon. at 10:24 a.m., gee, thanks. Not all bad. Just most of us, I suppose.

And exactly what point are you trying to convey about this offer of condolences. You said previously (I assume it was you) that the entire nation of Ireland sent a sympathy card. Well, you're backing off of that, apparently.

And was there some context to this offer of condolence? I must confess I was unaware of this miniscule tidbit of history until you brought it up but I did read very quickly on-line about some possible explanations, which include that the Irish PM was trying to provoke a public row with Churchill to increase his popularity in advance of imminent Irish elections or that he was simply being gracious to the German ambassador who had acted properly throughout the war.

In the event you're attempting to imply that Ireland, by the conduct of its PM, was anti-semitic, I found this:

"In his 1937 Constitution, de Valera described the "special position" of the Catholic Church as the church of the great majority of Irish men and women (that "special position" was removed by an overwhelming majority in a 1972 referendum). He then went on to list the other denominations then functioning in Ireland as entitled to recognition, legitimacy, and protection, among them "the Jewish Congregations." I have been reliably informed that de Valera was determined to assert Jewish civil rights in the Constitution so that no succeeding government could easily abolish them, as the Nazis had done in Germany."

Anonymous said...

The old guard of the Nebraska democratic party is licking its jobs over Jane Kleeb running and then hoping she gets the job has Chair of the NDP. She is just a puppet for Ben Nelson. Yep you heard it here first. Ben is not happy with the current leadership at the NDP. He is angry over the fact they have been putting pressure on him to vote for public option on the health care bill. Plus the NDP has a list serv that allows critism of Senator Nelson. He wants that stopped. Plus no endorsments of incumbents is now the rule . So maybe Ben might get challenged in 2012 primary. Also there has been a lot of regional democratic party meetings. The old guard never tolerated that. Ian Russell is good friends with Kleebs and they have sold their soul to Ben and the oligarchy that ruled the party for years. The Kleebs are 100% about what is best for the Kleebs. If that means now kissing Ben Nelson's ass they will do it. Everyone in the leadership knows about the coup that Nelson and Russell tried last January to get the current leadership to resign. Some of the so called bribes that were offered if they did quit. Well they failed. So now they pluck a so called reformer of the party the Kleebs and they make a deal. Very pathetic and very true. It won't work. Most like that the party is trying to rebuild itself. They don't want to go back to the old ways of corruption and slippery deal making.

Uncle Wiggily said...

You rat bastage, Sweeper ... title-scooped me again ... I was planning a post entitled either "Erin Go Blog" or "Erin Go Blech" ... but you have shattered my dreams.

You can reach me at the local Dairy Queen ... trying to drown my sorrow in green butterscotch milkshakes.

Jamie said...

Putting a Union leader in charge of the Democratic Party would run them into more obscurity than the Nebraska Libertarian Party. Not to mention a Union later known to have a shorter fuse than Keith Olbermann and is a huge proponent of a single-payer healthcare system.

BlahBlahBlah said...

As a republican I would actually be worried about Jane running the NDP. She is energetic, young, photogenic, likeable, very very media savvy, and with her national connections she could get some money rolling into their coffers. I think she'd take the Howard Dean approach of a 50 state party and have a 93 county party. Dems need to start out with candidates at the local level to build up future leaders. I think it would be a smart choice for the NDP to make.

And as most of us on this blog who like politics as sport, it would be fun to have some actual campaigns and policy debates. Its fun to run this state but it would be even better to have somebody to beat in competitive races. Rather than the no candidate fielding dem party we have now.

Anonymous said...

I had heard some rumors about Ian Russel and the Kleebs being friends. That Ian wants Jane to run against Vic Covalt for the Democrats party leadership. Now we seem to get a better picture why. Sounds like the GOP is not the only party with crooks. The democrats have them too.

Anonymous said...

BlahBlahBlah, you're over estimating Jane. If she was smart enough to do the farm team thing she wouldn't have had hubby run for Senate last time. He'd have run for the Hastings School Board.

She's got some assets, for sure, but that photogenic stuff requires a bit of talent in the retouch department. She dresses like a 16 year old. That's not going to impress a whole lot of the 60 something ladys who actually vote, although it might get some response from the Viagra chewing old men who select the leaders in the Democrat Party.

Anonymous said...

There's as saying that goes something like: Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian, any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. Well, let me rephrase that: Living in Nebraska doesn't make you a Nebraskan, any more than being a big fish in a little pond makes you a good catch. Ian Russell, Jane Kleeb, Barry Rubin and friends all represent the seemy side of politics for personal gain, as opposed to the true grassroots Nebraska Democrats that want to thrive in this state.

And every time her name is brought up here, or any other blog, JFK blasts it all over the 'net, "look how afraid they are of me!" as supposed proof that her presence and status have great credibility. Don't give her that satisfaction.

Jane Fleming Kleeb said...

I heard that unicorns fly and leprechauns give you gold too :)

Ahh the rumors. Its why we love this blog.

If you are going to say I dress awful or call me a carpet bagger, at least have the courage to sign your name.

We need more discourse, more competitive races, more grassroots and more fun in our politics. If I run for chair or if I run a new group it will be because of those reasons. I love our state and believe in politics. And I hate cowards. -jane

Uncle Wiggily said...

Jane:

I don't mind the way you dress ... but your hubby shore wears funny hats.

BTW, my Funk & Wagnall's defines 'carpetbagger' as "any opportunistic or exploitative outsider" so, while you may, as a matter of personal privilege, eschew the term, you are danged sure married up with one. Maybe that just makes you a "carpetbagger-in-law" ... ?

Brian T. Osborn said...

I spoke with Jane at our last SCC meeting. She told me then that she intended to run for State Chair. I replied that I too would be running.

It's not that I believe Vic Covalt has done a bad job as Chair of the NDP, its just that I believe we need a change in the focus of our party. It is time for someone from rural Nebraska to run our party.

We need a fresh approach to how we do things. We need someone that can be a State Chair full time and that would probably mean having to combine the State Chair and Executive Director positions so that whoever wins, can have a living wage while working 24/7/365 to grow our party. Jane agreed with me on that point.

I realize that I have about as much chance of winning that spot as the proverbial snowball in hell, but one thing I CAN guarantee is once I am nominated at the State Convention - and Nelson's henchmen won't be able to stop that from happening, like they did with another candidate in 2006 - you'll never have heard a speech like the one I'm working on.

Anonymous said...

1) Ben Nelson is not a democrat.

2) Jane Kleb is a politician. One with whom I only rarely agree. However, what is unusual for Nebraska is that she is a competent one. Any good cattle breeder knows you need to get new blood into the line or you end up with a lot of inbreeds.

3)I believe law provides that you need to be a registered voter in the state of Nebraska to run for office. As of yet, I don't believe we have a dynasty system here. No doubt some would like to change it. But then even the Queen of England is more German than British.

kj said...

Jane has lived in our state for what, 3 years? But I ask how much she's done for our state in comparison to all you other Nebraskans has done. She's created grassroots campaigns to get Nebraskans out voicing their opinions, not to mention the courage she has to fight for what she believes in. Regardless of what your political standings are, I doubt any of you have the passion inside of you to stand up and fight like she has. Doesn't that in itself make someone an excellent candidate for the Chairman of anything? Isn't that what a Chair is supposed to do? Rally the troops and fight for what you believe in?

Anonymous said...

Ah! KJ is that the thoughtful voice of reason I hear? Thank you. There IS hope in the youth.

Sorry for the mess us old farts have made of it all.

soozie said...

... it appears that most of you enjoy playing doppelganger, practice sophomoric finger-pointing & offer cosmetic comments & solutions to complex issues . this is just another social networking tool to waste folks time, and honestly does more harm than good. Jane Kleeb is well educated, intelligent, dynamic and just because she is attractive ....well, that appears to make some of you nervous.
our country is need of change, intelligent conversation & integrated solutions .... open your minds & read something that isn't merely the propaganda issued from your own party - form an intelligent opinion based upon study & fact not whimsy ... or you might as well take off after that pot o'gold !

Lucky Charms said...

I saw Lee Terry's wife at the Hibernian's Luncheon today handing out stickers for Lee. I didn't see Tom white anywhere. He must be under a table at Clancy's

Anonymous said...

BTO running for State Chair. What a joke. He had a job in the NDP. Then got run out.Or quit? What is it? Who is going to vote for you? YOU. So you and Jane are both running so you can get a paying job? She loses her job and BTO has never had one. Just milking his girlfriend. WOW no wonder the democrats are so screwed up with leaders like you. I bet your great speech your talking about is all hot air. My question who would risk their rep and nominate you for the job? Or are you going to nominate your self?

Your Name said...

Ms. Kleeb, if you feel the need to reply to personal criticism in a blog, or anywhere else, and you use words like "hate" and "coward" toward your critics, then you are too thin skinned to be running anything of importance.

For the record, you do dress awful and you are a carpet bagger.

If that bothers you, for God’s sake stay out of politics.

Anonymous said...

Your Name, you make some very good points about Ms. Kleeb. But, I think you may be exagerating a bit if you are trying to paint the Democrat Party in Nebraska as "anything of importance."

Anonymous said...

From the looks of the anon. post at3:52 PM, it looks like Lisa Hannah will be supporting Vic Covalt in his bid to remain Chair of the NDP. That alone could be the kiss of death for the poor guy.

Brian T. Osborn said...

I love how cowards are so "brave" when they hide behind their anonymity. They are also so perfectly moral, successful, and better than all the rest of us. That fantasy is what allows them to pontificate about how bad everyone else is, all the while throwing their rotten eggs from behind mommy's skirts. But the fact remains - they are nothing but disgusting cowards.

I respect Jane Kleeb for always taking her stand and signing her name to what she writes. It gives her an authority that exceeds that of 50 thousand anonimii. I would suppose most of you nameless ones dress like 12-year olds, kick dogs, and molest your sister's kids when she thinks you're baby-sitting them.

If you maintain anonymity while espousing your stand on issues, that's understandable, but if you are going to attack someone, use your name if you have ANY honor at all. I dare you.

I've posted here, and elsewhere, my reasons for standing down from the position of 3rd CD Associate Chair. It was done as a personal favor to Vic Covalt in order to rid ourselves of an even bigger problem. So, A-3:52, if you have any questions about that, or any of your other baloney, ask me like an honorable person and I will give you an honest answer. Toss your **** around, just to see what sticks, and I'll ram it down your throat with my fist. No wonder you choose to remain an ignominious anonymous.

Right Wing Professor said...

If you are going to say I dress awful or call me a carpet bagger, at least have the courage to sign your name.

While I disagree with Ms. Kleeb on pretty much everything else, I'm with her on this.

Anonymous said...

Vic Covalt has been embarrassing for Dems, what with his "Spoiled children" comment in the media and such. Does he hold a grudge against Ben Nelson for some past perceived slights?

Right Wing Professor said...

Oh, and happy St. Pat's Day, BTO. Go raibh tú slán ar Neamh sula fhios ag an diabhal go bhfuil tú marbh.

Right Wing Professor said...

Oh, and Happy St. Pat's Day to the Dems who post here, but only those with the cojones to sign their names. Go raibh sibh slán ar Neamh sula fhios ag an diabhal go bhfuil sibh marbh.

Brian T. Osborn said...

RWP,

The devil's in the details. ;-)

Right Wing Professor said...

An diabhal sna sonraí?

(I had to look up 'details'. As you might imagine, it's not a particularly common word in Irish, mostly used by bureaucrats. i suspect it's cognate with the Béarla 'sundries'. )

Brian T. Osborn said...

Oh, dang, RWP! I thought you were writing in Klingon!

Right Wing Professor said...

Sasanach!

Anonymous said...

someone needs to tell Lee Terry that St Patricks Day colors are green not blue...and this guy is our congressman...great

Brian T. Osborn said...

RWP, but there you are wrong. Although one would think Osborn an Englishman, I came about that name due to my father being adopted. We've since discovered his original last name was Kennedy. My mother comes from the proud border Scots - Clan Kerr.

One Out In The Third said...

Sweeper...

Do you double as a proxy bidder? I would like to start the bidding at $1.87?

That is one fine key. I bet it is keyed for a treasure box hidden somewhere on the grounds at Fontenelle Park.

Happy St. Patties...

Anonymous said...

Why attack somebody for their looks or how they dress? Is kit because she's a woman? I didn't like it when they did it Sarah
Palin, and I don't think we should do it to the Kleebs.

Besides have you seen our congressmen? Fortenberry & Nelson have the two worst heads of "hair" in the entire state. And I saw Johanns at Husker Harvest days a few years back wearing a members only jacket. I mean seriously. He looked like an extra from Boogie Nights.

Anonymous said...

Jane Kleeb is only out to fire the current executive director and get that job for herself. If she runs for state chair the real Jane Kleeb will be exposed. And it's not pretty. Scott lost votes over her politics....and that was a shame.

One Out In The Third said...

re: Ms Flaming=Kleeb...

Hey...leadership positions in the NEDEM's is a revolving door. If she can find work and is a responsible taxpayer then go girl.

School board...I hope Hastings is smarter than that. I doubt it though. The Queen City is a hideout for hippy throwbacks. They are one of the few weak links in the conservative Third. The "Haze" in Hastings is not from carbon emissions.

The big question is do the NEDEMS provide a wardrobe allowance...and someone to pick out her shoes?

One Out In The Third said...

OOPS...

Sorry about the typos...I meant Fleming-Kleeb. Honest. Really.

Brian T. Osborn said...

Sometimes I look at the level of "political" discourse here and I have to ponder just how in the hell it is that my party hasn't cleaned the NEGOP's clocks yet. Then I read NNN and it all comes back to me.

Sweeper usually kicks the conversation off with a thought provoking article and it doesn't take long before the main topic becomes somebody's funky hairdo, the clothes they wear or who they're dating. Sounds like a bunch of junior high school girls!

If it wasn't so much fun, I wouldn't keep coming back! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Just in --> Kris Pierce will also run for NDP chair.

One Out In The Third said...

BTO...

And we want you to keep coming back.

Cave said...

BTO- Your party hasn't cleaned clocks because too many are shrill, don't have much experience in holding jobs or owning a businesses, and the drift farther to the far left by your national party.

When Sen Avery is not even considered, nor spoken of, with any regards by the young guns, then you know you have problems. It seems the art of negotiations is not being taught in the liberal 101 classes. Yet if you are content with what the results are then by all means keep it up.

I think the national, and state wide, sentiments will only further identitfy the current democratic party as out of touch and too radical.

The 2010 elections will be a fairly good indicator of how much public sentiment has moved since 2008. I suspect at the national level your party will lose more than the normal mid-term election losses in recent years.

Of course those on the R side of the isle need some work too.

I hope, as one of those on the R side you beat out Mrs Kleeb. I say this because any further move to the radical sides by either party may well create an insurmountable evide in our state.

Ricky said...

Looks to me from the pics that Mr White had about twice the crowd at the parade then multi-term Congressman Terry had.
I did not see Matt Sakalosky downtown last Saturday, but I hope to see the debate between Rep Terry and Matt soon.
Why doesn't the administrator here delete the conjecture regarding Mr White "under the chair at Clancys", etc, that I have seen a number of times on LS?
I could say looks like Rep Terry is on a bunch of downers considering his rumpled appearance.

Nathan said...

Boo to an anonymous idiot. Taking an innocuous comment and turning it into a discussion of Nazis. Hope you all had a safe and happy St. Pats day.

Anonymous said...

Jane and Brian want a fair fight. You with your bare hands and they with all the power they seek.

Anonymity is safety from those who seek any kind of elective power. Power is always a weapon, never used to silence friends but rather critics of power seekers.

Jane and Brian won’t demand to know the names of all who vote for them. Yet they want to know the names of their critics. Why? If not vengeful and petty, if they really do want to improve things, shouldn’t they focus on the validity or invalidity of a criticism rather than try to add critics’ names to a hit list for after they gain power?

Those who fear that Jane and Brian are prone to passionate reactions inappropriate to handling power, see that in Jane and Brian calling critics “cowards” for being cautious of the misuse of power that Jane and Brian seek.

Anonymous said...

Have you ever wondered what it would look like if a paranoid schizophrenic tried to put their thoughts down in writing?

Anonymous said...

So, Jane loves this blog but hates people who don't sign their names. You hear that "Street Sweeper," you anonymous bastage?

Perhaps if she read your interview with the LJS, she could imagine why some folks want to preserve their anonymity.

I will say, anonymous or not, it's kind of petty to criticize the way someone dresses. Or their hair, for that matter.

Anonymous said...

Excellent point, anonymous at 8:38.

Anyone remember Sam Wurzelbacher, the accidental pundit? All he did was ask Candidate Obama a simple question and the Democrat attack machine went into overdrive.

Pretty soon, we all found out that the guy's name wasn't really Joe and he wasn't even a licensed plumber. And (gasp!) he owes back child support. And ... and ... and ...

And it's pretty easy for someone who's already thrown her hat in the ring to demand everyone else attach their names to their posts. For the rest of us who have real jobs, it might not seem that easy.

Street Sweeper said...

Oh, Jane has a Love/Hate relationship with L. St. She once proclaimed to MTV Nation how swell we were. Then she decided that she hates us b/c she doesn't know our names. (And then she went and appropriated our talking head design of her -- which we will give a pass on, for now.)

Oh and Jane, since we know you're an avid reader of the blog, interesting that you went to Facebook to announce that your move political activism in Nebraska is JUST LIKE Mike Johanns's! It's exactly the same! (Interesting, interesting.)

(Now if you'd have gone for Fortenberry, you'd be closer on. But then, maybe your white-hot hatred of him isn't the same...)

Anonymous said...

Hey Ricky, the comment about White and Clancy's was only duplicated by you, no one else. Maybe you thought it multiple times-Heck maybe you wrote it BOTH times-who knows.

A more appropriate comment about Tom White's absence from the AOH lunch at the Fire Hall yesterday would be that the reason he couldn't be there is because all of his "volunteers" would have been accused of campaigning for a federal candidate's race while working for said federal candidate in the Unicameral. Taxpayers don't like to see their money being spent on anything but taxpayer work.

If White would be honest and quit subsidizing his Congressional Campaign with State Employees, maybe he could actually have a presence at some of these events.

BTW, Ian Russell doesn't work at his office in the Capitol or at Tom White's house enough hours in a year to have as much comp time as he has been and will be taking.

He must be working at Tom White's private law practice-I wonder what Ian Russell does there? His car is there all the time.

macdaddy said...

LB 1110 got withdrawn because support was eroding quickly. Guess all the letter to the editor writers were the sum total of those who supported it. The rest of us heartless bastards just called our reps and told them what we thought of it. Thank you, unicameral, for listening to your constituents.

Anonymous said...

And now, we have a Schuyler Dr. saying that he has a former patient that got an abortion and another considering it because they only cost $500 in Lincoln.

If she had gone to EPS in Omaha, AWT in Bellevue, PP, or NUFL, she could have given them the $500 abortion money and they would have gladly provided prenatal care within the confines of the law and helped her to be a good mama and tried to help the father too.

On second thought, I don't actually know if PP would have provided prenatal care-they may have just told her an abortion is cheaper and that she should consent to being the poster child for illegal immigration and Pelosi Care.

John McDonald said...

We will not get anywhere attacking Jane on anything other than substance. Jane is a smart political organizer who demands recognition for her abilities. With that said her politics are wrong for Nebraska. They don't resonate with Nebraskans and that is why I don't believe democrats will be successful in the future in this state. They will only be successful if we take Jane lightly and not take her serious.

Brian T. Osborn said...

I feel a quick clarification is due here, Sweeper. I have never begrudged you your anonymity, although I have attempted to loosen a clue or two from your grasp. Anonymity when writing about principles, ideals, etc., have a long history - even such notables as Benjamin Franklin/Poor Richard resorted to its use. The Federalist Papers appeared anonymously.

My only issue with anonymii is when they use their pen names to sling mud. If someone is going to call a person (one that has identified themselves) a nasty name, cast aspersions on their character, or just post lies about them, then of course I believe they should have the cojones to stand up and defend what they have written. The only way to do that honorably, is to use the name their parents gave them. Otherwise they are worse than slime.

Anonymous said...

Ricky,
You have apparently had too much Green Beer.
You, Pierce and Peffer should as Motley Crue so Aptly put:
Don't go away mad, just go away!

Brian T. Osborn said...

A-8:38,

I don't seek "power," I seek the opportunity to represent. I have had this debate with several others within the NDP "hierarchy." I believe the "higher" you go in an organization means only that you have a greater responsibility, not more authority. As you can imagine, my philosophy on that point was not well taken; Sen. Nelson was particularly upset with me when I told him he worked for me (as a Nebraska citizen and a voter) and not the other way around.

My whole goal, from the time I became active in the Nebraska Democratic Party has been to make it easier for Democrats to participate in governance of the NDP. I have had to contend with an oligarchy that is more than content to maintain the status quo. I have had to contend with what I call "sheeple," those that show up for the meetings with rubber stamps in hand, mindlessly willing to do only what they are told. I have had to contend with people who present a "progressive" face in public but become dictators once a modicum of "power" is within their grasp. My ultimate goal would be to have every Democrat in this state become as outspoken as I am. Then you would have your hands full.

I realize that I am an anachronism. I am one of those rare beasts, seldom sighted, but rumored to exist in this state - a (gasp!) free range Liberal! I don't hide my leftist leanings behind the pseudonymous moniker of "progressive." I wear the term Liberal proudly, just as George Norris did. But, I am also enough of a pragmatist to realize that, while Nebraska is a fairly conservative state, it doesn't lean as far to the right as many of you would claim, nor as far left as I would wish.

Should the seemingly impossible occur, and I were to be elected as Chair of the NDP, I can only guarantee that I would work my ass off to make it a party of the people, not just a party of the Omaha attorneys. It is high time that rural and working class Nebraskans gained a political voice.

GeosUser said...

Wow! The prospect of BTO and Comrade Kleeb engaging in a vocal and nasty campaign for the doomed NE Dem Party chairmanship is political theater at its very best. I hope someone does a video capture and posts it online. I'm sure Ms. Kleeb has ulterior motives but BTO is a true believer...socialist through and through. Kyle over at NNN already lusts after Comrade Jane, so she's already captured a major endorsement from the moonbeam faction.

Brian T. Osborn said...

Geos,

I may be a "socialist" as you say, but I prefer that to being the "anti-social" type of person that you have proven yourself to be.

STOP JANE said...

Ok I'll attack Jane Flemming Kleeb on substance...Why would the conservative citizens of hastings want Uber liberal, pro-choice, high taxing person on their school board? Do you want her VALUES taught to your kids????

Anonymous said...

BTO doesn't have a chance. He's shown how unstable he is and is the laughing stock of Democrats. Jane can smile and present a front but ask why she ended up chasing away nearly all her staff before they closed up. There's a lot of people who have now seen the real Jane, and she ain't pretty.

Anonymous said...

Oh, c'mon Lisa, tell us what you really think about him.

Brian T. Osborn said...

A12:50,

Thank you for demonstrating, in a timely manner, exactly what I pointed out above. You have attacked both Jane Kleeb and myself personally, without revealing your own persona. You are, quite simply stated ... worse than slime.

Now, please explain, just how it is that you came to the conclusion that I am "unstable" and a "laughing stock" when yours is the only dementedly hysterical voice we can hear.

As for Jane "chasing away" her staff, did the thought ever occur to you that the drying up of funds supporting Change That Works was beyond her control? ... I didn't think so.

GeosUser said...

BTO,
I'm not anti-social but I am vehemently anti-socialist. It must be awesome to be fighting to be the leader of those whose sole answer to every question is to make more moochers out of those to weak minded to think and provide for themselves. I also don't think the US Constitution is a suicide pact as you and your fellow "if we're nice to them, they will be nice to us" pinheads apparently believe when dealing with Islamic terrorists. The upside is, you "progressives" just can't help revealing yourselves as intellectually deficient.

Brian T. Osborn said...

Geos,

I think you have me confused with one of the characters in the comic books they use to indoctrinate you mindless wingers.

Nick H. said...

Seeing Kyle in the Tom White OMAHA parade entry, gets me to wondering how many others White had who 1) don't live in Omaha and 2) don't live in the 2nd District and can't vote for White.

If that's not a false display of support, I don't know what is.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of Vile...

Kyle has a post on NNN about Jane and BTO running for NDP chair.

One wag posted that the only time he has been contacted by the NDP is to give $$$.

Someone mentioned the 'dream' ticket: BTO for chair; Jane as his right hand #2. In the cards?

Johnny Paycheck said...

BTOx as Chair and Jane as ED? At least it would give the Kleebs an income.

Anonymous said...

I actually think BTO would work to build the party.

Jane would work to build her contacts for a 2012 run.

What's the CIT? said...

What the hell, Vandy? Biggest choke since Jim Esch.

macdaddy said...

So how would Tom White have voted for Deem and Pass? Would he join all the other Democrats in open violation of the Constitution while hoping and praying that the voters wouldn't notice? Democrats have just declared war on our Constitution. They are too chickens*** to have an actual vote on Obamacare and so just relegated us to a Third World banana republic. How long before Obama follows their lead and picks out some other parts of the Constitution to ignore? I give him a month.

Bud said...

Mac daddy. Deem and pass was used more than 100 times during the time period 2001-2006. That was the time period in which the GOP was in the majority of Congress and made the rules. Was that an open violation of the Constitution? No just a means to get legislation through Congress. Did you complain then? I doubt it. The real asault on the Constitution was the Administration of Bush and Cheney in their illegal war in Iraq.

Anonymous said...

I wish Butler the best. same with Justin Wayne. we need to get Penny Sophir who is running against both of them.

and also we need to kick Brab Velasquez in OPS District 7 out of the ops board this year.

at least McGregor aint running again. she's a RINO just like Sandra Jensen is.

btw:

someone needs to run against Jensen and Kersten Borer and Nancy Huston on the ops board in 2012

Anonymous said...

Anybody have an opinion on LB1110? On how it was bracketed by Sen Campbell? Or thoughts on the OWH editorial?

There sure seemed to be a lot said by Senator's Mello and Nordquist.

macdaddy said...

Bud,

I didn't know it was going on and I certainly oppose it. As I understand it, it was used mostly to increase the debt ceiling. That was BS then and it's BS now. What's their job other than to freakin' vote on things? As it stands, Obama is about to take over 1/6 of the economy and Congress can't even see fit to vote on it. They voted on the Iraq war, BTW, and approved it on a bipartisan basis. They also voted many times to fund it.

So have fun, Democrats. This is rightly deemed the Slaughter rule because you are going to be slaughtered in November.

Brian T. Osborn said...

After we finally get this health bill on the books, America might (temporarily) become a poorer nation, but it will be a healthier one.

We spend billions upon billions in military hardware to "protect" the U.S. against what is often an illusory enemy. Thousands upon thousands of Americans die each year because they can't afford health care and the Republicans cry about how much it is going to cost them.

Anyone that is unfamiliar with the farewell speech that the REPUBLICAN President Eisenhower gave as he left office, the one warning America about the military-industrial complex, should Google it and pay attention to what Ike had to say.

If the billions we spend on military defense to keep Americans alive are worthwhile, then how can the billions spent on healthcare to achieve even more tangible results be bad for us?

GeosUser said...

BTO (aka King of the Moochers),
Democracy fails when the moochers find out they can use the police power of the state to take from the productive and give to the unproductive. That's the progressive answer to every "problem" the USA faces. How did this country ever survive and prosper before the advent of the progressive/socialist/communist pinheads you champion? Just what are you going to do when the productive decide it is in their best interests to stop being productive? Did you pinheads learn nothing from the implosion of socialism in the former USSR or in Chile, the ongoing socialist disaster unfolding in Venezuela or your philosophical ideal Cuba? I just hope you remember the glory days of the progressive movement when the inevitable collapse happens and you get a decent meal before the lights go out for good.

macdaddy said...

If by temporary you mean the next 100 years, then I would agree with temporary. Healthier? How is that going to happen? You are confusing having health insurance with health. It isn't the same as evidenced by the larger and larger numbers of retirees with obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. These are lifestyle diseases and by-products of a wealthy nation. Obama's solution seems to be either keep everyone poor so they can't afford food or a car or start regulating every tiny little thing about our lives, all in the name of "health."

But I guess in the fevered minds of the Left, the ends justify the means, screw the Constitution.

Brian T. Osborn said...

Geos and MacDaddy,

If your guys ever used your heads for anything other than echo chambers, you'd realize how ridiculous your assertions are. Just because Glenn Beck tells you what to think, doesn't make it the truth. I don't understand why you guys put such faith in the demented rantings of a washed up cocaine addict anyway.

Howard Dean said...

Would you rather have your tax dollars pay BTO's hospital bills or invest that in a keg of beer?

After reading what just came out of his mind, I am leaning toward the beer.

Brian T. Osborn said...

Howard,

Methinks you've leaned a bit too towards the beer already.

Brian T. Osborn said...

I would suggest some of you that are making outlandish claims as to what is, or is not, in the U.S. Constitution actually go have an adult read it, and explain it, to you.

Anonymous said...

Lee Terry looks rumpled in DC because he sleeps on an air mattress. Does he sleep on an air mattress in Omaha now too?

Bud said...

The so called progressive movement really took off in January of 1933. That movement lets see. Beat the Great Depresssion caused by Conservatives. Defeated another group of conversatives, called the NAZIS,and the war lords of Japan. Helped create the first real middle class in our history by giving unions, rights. Then Civil rights were given to minorities. Something the dixiecrats were against. They call themselfs Republicans now in the Solid GOP south . Then to top it off, they put man on the moon. Then you saw Nixon and Ronnie take over and it was all down hill except for a brief good period when Bill Clinton had more jobs (25,million) created than any other President in History. Then came a repeat of the 1920's. Junior the goof WOW! what a mess he created. Regulations cut, corporations run a muck and the average every day working person gets screwed to the benefit of the GOP the party of the super rich. So now the progressives will have to clean up another Republican mess. There is your real history lesson for the day.

Right Wing Professor said...

BTO:

Eisenhower was never beloved of conservatives, and towards the end he was completely a creature of the Washington left.

The 'Military industrial complex' speech was written by leftist U. Minnesota Professor. And JFK won the Presidency by running to the RIGHT of Richard Nixon, Eisenhower's VP.

Nick Naylor said...

Brian,

As an adult I have read the constitution and I am not sure where your malfunction on the unconstitutionality of this measure lies?

Article 1, Section 7 of the Constitution stipulates that for any bill to become a law, it must pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Am I missing something here? Face it, your beloved Tom White, Nancy Pelosi and Obama have really crossed the line on this one.

Keep in mind folks. Tom White is for Obama Care.

Right Wing Professor said...

Bud;

What is the word 'Nazi' short for? Hint: it's isn't National Conservative.

Are you really as stupid as you write?

Bud said...

Right wing professor thank you first for replying to my little history lesson. The NAZIS were and are fascists. Since I have both a BA and MA in Political science and history. I know that belongs on the right side of of the political spectrum.(Conservative) Just like socialism and communism belong on the left side (liberal)of the spectrum. I don't think the GOP is a bunch of NAZIS any more than reasonable Republicans think Democrats are communists. But I am glad you did not disagree with my premise that Progressives have led the charge for the most part in the last 70 plus years in making America the great country she is. While Conservatives have been the down fall of America. Has for your stupid comment. Your a Republican the party of Sara Palin and Michelle Bachman, Glenn Beck, should I go on? Go figure!

Brian T. Osborn said...

Bud -We've got our loonies on the left, just as there are mindless wingers and neo-nazis on the right. It is just that at this point in history, their lunatics outnumber ours. Give us time, we'll over-react to their ignorance and breed a new group of our own nincompoops. As one that has a deep understanding of history, I'm sure you will agree.

Nick - Where were you with your Constitutional scholarship when the Republican Party was in charge of both the Presidency and the Congress? There is nothing being done today by the Democrats that wasn't done by your party in the past. In fact, one of your great heroes, that philanderer, Newt Gingrich, was famous for pulling such pranks. Get over it.

If you want to run the government, you have to win elections and hold the majority. That's the way it works in this country. If you're unhappy about it, then run for office or move to Paraguay. I'm certain you'd be very happy there. In fact, ex-President G.W. Bush has already bought himself a big ranch down there. Maybe you could go be his favorite gaucho.

We Democrats will screw up enough, sooner or later, and you'll have the opportunity, once again, to screw it up even worse. In the meantime, we both need to understand that Nebraska isn't a hard-right conservative state. It is a moderately conservative state that has, in its recent history, elected many Democratic Governors and a couple of Senators. Every once in a while they do get it right.

Anonymous said...

Bud,

I hate to speak for RWP (since I don't know him and have never met him) but I suspect his question about whether you are as stupid as you write relates to the fact that one could run a red pen out of ink trying to make editorial corrections to your two posts.

"Your [sic] a Republican ...." Please tell me someone ghost-wrote your Masters thesis for you. (Please also tell me your thesis wasn't on modern European-American history.)

Bud said...

Right wing Profesor you really don't know history that well. Ike was no liberal. Yes he is a lot better than Ronnie, and Junior and the nut cases called NEO cons today. He had sense and he knew about war since he had fought and won one. Has for JFK and Nixon. Did you forget about that part of the 60 campaign when JFK came out in support of Martin Luther King JR? The part when he (King) was arrested because he wanted to be treated like an American. That is what won the election for JFK. Not the foreign policy stuff. Most Americans have been anti Communism especially during the Cold War. So the stuff I know your thinking about, Cuba, the missile gap, the islands off the coast of Red China. Those foreign policy ideas of the 1960 campaign both Nixon and JFK had the same ideas. Nixon planned the Bay of Pigs for God's sake. Come on you right winger you can do better than that. Give me some of your trickle down nonsense how it is really good for us. Or how about the John Birch Society and the KKK two out standing conservative groups. Maybe those idiots on tv yesterday telling the guy with parkisons that he woud not get any hand outs from them. He was only using his GOD given rights to assembly. But the Right wingers there thought it was good usage of their freedom of speech to make fun of him. But I doubt if you saw any of that on FOX and FOOLs

Bud said...

My MA thesis was written on JFK. I am sorry you don't like history. Glenn Beck does not either. That is why the Father Coughlin of our time period is always making up his own.

Anonymous said...

"My MA thesis was written on JFK."

By whom?

Brian T. Osborn said...

A-4:59 - The way Bud's thumbs get in his way while typing on his Blackberry may not adhere to the King's English, but I doubt you can find fault with his logic. Next time, maybe you could criticize his hair, that's always a popular way to avoid dealing with the facts.

RWP - Granted, NAZI stands for National Socialist German Workers' Party, but in reality it stood for (and here I borrow from Wikipedia): anti-parliamentarism, pan-Germanism, racism, anti-Semitism, collectivism, social Darwinism, eugenics, anti-communism, totalitarianism, and opposition to economic and political liberalism.

I could call myself drop dead gorgeous, but that wouldn't necessarily make it so, now would it?

E. V. Debs said...

Here's a little more history for GeosUser and the rest of you getting your propaganda fix from Faux Noise.

The collapse of nearly every major civilization for several thousand years has been the result of the government failing to make the needs of citizens a priority. They depleted all their resources supporting a military they couldn't pay for. The Soviet Union is just the most recent example.

Contrary to popular myth, Reagan didn't win the cold war. The Soviets just went broke before we did. Thanks to George W. Bush we are heading down the same path, and in a few short years the Chinese will be able to say that they have finally won the cold war.

Right Wing Professor said...

Bud:

While I wouldn't doubt the possibility that a modern Poli. Sci. or History program could graduate the illiterate you portray yourself to be, I think it's more probably you're trolling. You wouldn't be the late lamented '4.0 UNL student', would you?

But for any other Dems here, 'Nazi' was an abbreviation for Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (National Socialist German Workers’ Party). Real conservative, in other words.

BTW, the progressive movement has been around at least since the days of Teddy Roosevelt.

Brian T. Osborn said...

For those of you that are Christians, I would like you to think a little about the behavior demonstrated by the founder of your faith - Jesus Christ. Do you think He would have begrudged his fellow citizens (or non-citizens) the help they needed? Did He not feed them when they were hungry, give them drink when they were thirsty (or even wine in the well when the keg ran dry), or heal them when they were sick? Didn't He expect YOU to act the same way towards your fellow man?

And think about this the next time you take Communion, it shares the same etymological origin as community, communication, and ... communism. Things that make the little propeller on top of your beanie cap spin furiously, no doubt.

Right Wing Professor said...

anti-parliamentarism, pan-Germanism, racism, anti-Semitism, collectivism, social Darwinism, eugenics, anti-communism, totalitarianism, and opposition to economic and political liberalism.

In the last week we've had the Slaughter Solution, and Obama picking a fight with Israel. In the last year we've collectivized most of the auto industry. And 'liberalism', in the European sense, is the equivalent of US libertarianism; pro-free market and anti social conservative.

Brian T. Osborn said...

So, RWP, are you agreeing with me that the label we put on things isn't necessarily reflective of what it might actually be? I've been accused of being a Communist on this very page, despite the fact that I helped to bankrupt the Soviet Union while serving in the U.S. Navy, thus helping to "win" the Cold War.

One of the most famous Liberals in Nebraska history was the Republican, George W. Norris. One of the most conservative Democrats is Sen. Ben Nelson. It's hard to tell the players apart without a program!

I believe many Americans, let alone many Conservatives, confuse Communism with Leninism, Stalinism, Maoism, this-ism, that-ism, isn't it the most?

Right Wing Professor said...

BTO:

Of course I'm not a Christian. But I was involuntarily made familiar with much of the documentation of that religion, and I don't remember JC agitating for or even advocating governmental welfare programs. IIRC, when he was promoting charity, it was interpersonal charity, not a Roman funded handout program. It was 'sell what you own and give it to the poor', not 'take your neighbor's stuff and hand it to your political backers'.

It ain't compassion if you're spending someone else's money.

E. V. Debs said...

Right Wing Pro:

You may have a PhD. but it isn't in political science. The Nazi Party in Germany was not socialist. It was facist - the definition of right wing. If you're confused by their lack of truth in labeling, just think of them as political drag queens. They aren't what they say they are, and a not so close inspection will prove it.

You're not all that up on the progressives either. Bud was clearly speaking of their glory days under FDR. Cousin Teddy rode into D.C. on the back of the same populist mule that William Jennings Bryan was leading around Nebraska.

Right Wing Professor said...

BTO:

For what little it's worth, I don't think you're a communist, and certainly people are far too loose with words.

And thank you for your service. Several of my family also served in the Navy, and fought against Hitler and the Kaiser, even though they had no particular love for the King under whom they served.

Right Wing Professor said...

Debs.

It's 'fascist'. They were most definitely socialists, ad implemented state control over the universities, most industry, the churches, etc.. They were, in other words, the antithesis of modern American conservatism.

If TR rode the same mule as WJB, it was a very odd looking mule, because they ran on opposing tickets in 1900.

E. V. Debs said...

RWP,

I'll trade you an "s" in fascist for an "n" in and.

T.R. was picked for the Republican ticket in 1900 because he was a populist. If they'd had any idea he might ever become more than a wall decoration in the VP's office they never would have put him on the ticket.

Hitler and company were war mongering race baiters. Everything they did was in support of those goals. You seem to be confusing totalitarian with socialist governments. They are not the same thing.

As war mongering race baiters the Germans of the Nazi Party have a whole lot in common with "modern American conservatism." If you translated most of Dick Cheney's talking points into German and substituted the word Moslem for Jew it would be hard to tell the difference.

Bud said...

Oh you right wingers, Hitler would love you guys calling him a socialists. Has for my education. It has been a long time since I was in college. Since I graduated in the 80's after I got out of the military. I was in the USMC. But I do keep my education up daily by reading. Not watching Glen Beck and Hannity. The guys most of you get your education from. I have yet to have any of you right wingers dispute my historical facts. You can't, their facts. Another fact. Some time Sunday, America will have a new health care bill passed. Soon it will be reconciliated, and become law. Then if any of you don't have health insurance you can use it. But since your all against government programs; you won't use it, right? I mean I bet you don't use the postal service. You don't collect Social security? How about Medicare? I saw some right wing loon the other day with a sign saying; "keep the government out of my Medicare" I laughed so hard I about had a stroke. Maybe you dislike the military that I was part of since it is a government program? Like those super kooks who go to funerals of men and woman who died in defense of the USA and protest them saying how bad they are and that they died because America is hated by GOD because we have gay people. Just why do right wingers say they love America but seem to hate so many Americans? Unless they are white and rich , straight, healthy and GOP.

Brian T. Osborn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

120. Eat your heart out NNN.

Cave said...

E.V.Debs- when was fascist coined, and in conjunction with whom?

BTO- So just how much of the GDP is spent on DoD and how much on Medicare?
What is the level of spending here in Nebraska on Medicare/Medicade?

Brian T. Osborn said...

Cave, learn how to use Google, I'm not your go-fer.

What does more good for Nebraskans, the DoD or Medicare/Medicaid? I'll bet those that are sick, infirm or old can answer that one easily enough.

Back in high school, above the door exiting the boys' locker room, one of the coaches put up a sign that said "A Chain Is Only As Strong As Its Weakest Link." I like to think of America in the same way, sort of like Benjamin Franklin's drawing of the snake cut in pieces that is titled "Join or Die." If we can't even take care of the weakest, the most downtrodden of our own citizens, then our nation deserves to be no stronger than them.

I keep hearing from the right how we need less government, less interference in our lives, fewer regulations on how greedy we can be. I say to those that think that is what America is all about, that they are dreaming of a fool's world - one invented by Ayn Rand.

It seems too many think that so long as they can carry a gun and do whatever they want to, that it would be a wonderful world. The problem is, in that kind of world, with everyone shooting anyone that disagrees with them, or has something that they want to take away from them, it wouldn't take very long before there wouldn't be much of an America left to defend. That is why we have a government, that is why we have a society. If you can't live within the constraints placed upon you by the others that live around you, perhaps you'd better go buy an island and hope that the animals there don't see you as just something else to eat. After all, that is the way they live. That is the kind of "independence" they have.

Right Wing Professor said...

Debs:

You claim that "most of Dick Cheney's talking points into German and substituted the word Moslem for Jew it would be hard to tell the difference.".

Go ahead. Prove it. Take something Cheney has written, translate it into German, substitute Moslim for Jew, and show a similarity to Hitler. If it were true, it wouldn't be hard to do.

You can't, because it's just a stupid libel.

Right Wing Professor said...

So, RWP, evidently you oppose the government deciding what can and cannot be taught in schools.

Huh? Where the heck did THAT come from?

Anonymous said...

RWP asks:

"So, RWP, evidently you oppose the government deciding what can and cannot be taught in schools.

Huh? Where the heck did THAT come from?"

RWP, my guess is BTO has been trying to figure out how to drop the Davey Crockett great, great, grandfather thing into the conversation all day long. Didn't get his opening so had to create one. Just a guess. Do you doubt it, though?

Nathan said...

RWP,
Obama picked a fight with Israel? I think Israel has gotten used to the idea that they can do whatever they want because they have the big bad USA at their back. Israel is not interested in peace, otherwise they wouldn't be taking territory that isn't theirs and building settlements on it. We need to let Israel that they are going it alone from now on.

cave said...

BTO- I have the numbers to a fair degree of accuracy,,,,, you can find them in the budget on the Appropriations Committee site. Just needed to see how you would respond. Thanks.

macdaddy said...

Fascists and communists are two different brands of socialism. Mussolini was the father of fascism and he was very much a socialist. He came out in favor of World War I and the communists didn't like it and started calling fascists "right-wing." So you guys are still falling for communist propaganda. BTW, FDR was very enamored of Mussolini and the fascists until Hitler came along. Nazism was fascism plus German nationalism. Another BTW was that Nazis were very much the environmentalists, pagans, favored a living wage, hated loans, wanted shared profits with the unions, increased old-age pension, were anti-Semites, and were all about identity politics. And government controlled industry. Does that sound more like today's conservatives or today's liberals?

Brian T. Osborn said...

RWP,
I guess I had in mind something I read on another blog and thought it was you. Case of mistaken identity. Sorry.

A-11:31,
So ... did I finally give YOU an opening to prove to all of us that you are an imbecile?

Brian T. Osborn said...

Well, let's see, MacDaddy.

Did the fascists and the nazis only know how to say NO? Nope, guess that couldn't be them. They actually had ideas ... screwed up ideas ... but they had some.

As for those things that today's liberals embrace, such as caring that we leave a livable world for future generations, giving an honest days wages for an honest days work, taking care of our elderly citizens ... you know ... all of those despicable "lefty" things like that ... yeah, could be us. But we certainly don't share the racism, wacky economic theories, warmongering, and distorted interpretations of the U.S. Constitution promulgated by the winger factions within today's conservative groups.

Nathan said...

It is asinine to take a democrats position on social security or medicare or universal healthcare and somehow equate that to communism or nazism. Just as it is asinine to take a conservatives stance on religion as them wanting to turn this country into a theocracy. Yes the fringe of each group may want that, but that is the reason they are the fringe. Take your head out of the sand macdaddy, join the coherent and sane once again (or maybe for the first time).

Anonymous said...

Seperated at birth: Lee Terry and Neil Cavuto.

Anonymous said...

NNN ...

The last ten articles Kyle posted have seen a grand total of 26 comment posts. Wow.

Kyle's 'excuse' for NNN's low participation has been people have to register, even though they can create any identity they want.

I actually don't buy that. Even if NNN did not have registration, I think few people would post. It is just not an informative or interesting site.

I think it also speaks to the 'enthusiasm' of Dem voter this cycle--which is not much.

The current article on LS already has about five times the posts as NNN's last 10 articles combined.

Bud said...

Why go on NNN and preach to the Choir? When we (Democrats) can come on Leavenworth Street and give the right wingers some truth. If you guys would get off FOX and Fools network and watch MSNBC we would not have to come over here and give you an education. I have to be honest though. Twice a week I will go watch FOX; and even listen to Rush to get a good laugh at all of the nonsense the right wingers come up with. But I do come out of my comfort zone and if I ever hear anything that makes sense I will let you guys know. My offer to you are you willingly to come out of your comfort zone twice a week to listen to the other side? I doubt it, most of you (GOP) don't need the truth getting in the way of your thoughts that make you feel better. Maybe you should go read "Atlas Shrugged" again. Yes I have read it. It is fiction in more ways than one.

Anonymous said...

Hey Bud--glad you're here. It shows the diff between the two sites--one is inclusionary and the other exclusionary (NNN). Vile Kyle admitted that the site has become shrill and hypocritical, so I don't blame you for hanging here with the Repubs. Maybe you'll make a valid and relevant point soon!

Nick Naylor said...

BTO

Just because the republicans did it makes it right?

Get out of this R v D crap and look at what I am telling you. It is unconstitutional. You think I wasn't angry when it was used for small GOP votes? Of course I was. Now I am steamed its being used to take over 1/6th of our economy.

I've seen folks get away with murder before as well. Does it make it right for me top murder someone as well because I may be able to get away with it?

Flawed logic there BTO.

Anonymous said...

DNP Chairman BTO:

Will you make a public pledge during your campaign for chairman to keep Jim Rogers as E.D.?

Or would you ditch him and throw him under the bus... please tell

Brian T. Osborn said...

A-11:04 (aka Jim),

I would do as all previous State Chairs have done. I would allow Jim to present his résumé, along with anyone else interested in the job, then decide based on what I see who, of all the applicants, I believe to be best suited for expanding the Nebraska Democratic Party and launching it into the 21st century.

Brian T. Osborn said...

Nick Naylor,

What is right, is right. What is wrong, is wrong. It matters not to me whether wrongdoing is done by someone with an R or a D after their name on the ballot. I would venture to say that I have more potentates in the NDP that hate me than I do in the NEGOP, due to my constant badgering of those within my own party to uphold my party's principles.

If you really believe that the U. S. Constitution is not a "living" document that has allowed changes to take place in the governance of our nation over the past 223 years, then take it up with the U. S. Supreme Court. This is just a blog where all of us politically addicted folk come to vent.

The Constitution also delineates the process for authority to go to war. War has not been declared in the cases of either Afghanistan or Iraq. Are you OK with that?

I believe that providing health care to all Americans is just as, if not more, important than all the wars we've ever been involved in. If it takes some kind of obscure parliamentary procedure - that all three branches of our government have already validated - then I'm not going to run around with my hair on fire screaming that the sky is falling. You and your Tea Party pals are doing enough of that already.

macdaddy said...

Bud, you go girl. Speak that Truth to Power! From your posts, though, you are the one in need of some knowledge. Your 8th grade civics tacher didn't know what he was talking about.

macdaddy said...

"But we certainly don't share the racism, wacky economic theories, warmongering, and distorted interpretations of the U.S. Constitution promulgated by the winger factions within today's conservative groups."

No, BTO, you have your own. Especially the wacky economic theories and distorted interpretations of the Constitution.

Brian T. Osborn said...

MacPappy,

My reply to Nick applies to you. What IS your favorite, Early Grey?

Kyle Michaelis said...

Fear not, NNN haters....by every objective standard, New Nebraska Network has its highest level of daily readership in five years of publication. Although comments are always appreciated, I quite prefer that NNN avoids mindless political chit-chat.

You kids play nice. And, hey, no more talk of "Rick Springfield." I have feelings too, you know.

Brian T. Osborn said...

I guess we'll have to take your word for it, Kyle, since that's all we've got to go on.

Anonymous said...

Well, that's really not much then, BTO.

Still like the Slaughter House Rule, Kyle? It smelled so bad even the Dem leadership finally backed off this afternoon.

Keep rootin' for it, Vile!

Anonymous said...

Interesting that VK's latest article (health care, 3/19) has been up for two days on NNN and not a single comment posted from anyone.

Probably a good example of mindless political chit-chat.

macdaddy said...

BTO: the Constitution says Congress has the power to:
To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water.

In Afghanistan and Iraq, Congress did that. Oh, and it was bipartisan and no legislative tricks or a Cornhusker Kickback were needed for passage. What's your point?

Anonymous said...

The Slaughter House idea struck me as odd--if the Dems are really proud of this bill (as their leadership seems to be in talking about how it extends coverage to 30million + people), then why wouldn't they want to go on record voting for it?

Bud said...

The reason they backed off on the slaughter rule is they don't need it.KLets be honest. They got the votes to pass the bill. Lets get rid of that rule and the 60 vote rule in the Senate. Pure majority always wins. But then that means Gore would have been President instead of Junior. WOW! what a great idea. The constitution is a living changing document like BTO said. When Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Purchase that proved it. It says nothing about buying land in the constitution. Now that fight about who is supreme the States or the federal government came to a head in 1861-1865. A Republican President said the Federal government was in charge. A Civil War was fought and States rights were broken forever, No matter how bad the fans of Dixie want it to be like the good old days. How many of you right wingers plan on using the new health care LAW for your benefit? Myself, I have good insurance and like the President says I get to keep it. Until I go on Medicare another government program in about 15 years. Maybe by then we will have Medicare fOR everyone. All AMERICANS. Everyone then is equal with a natural right.

Nick H. said...

Bud,
Hope you like your health care when it's LOTS more expensive due to Obamacare. You think the increased costs to the insurance companies aren't going to affect your rates?

Someone has to pay.
And I laugh out loud at anyone who suggests this is all going to make things cheaper. What a crock.

Anonymous said...

Nick, sometimes you are a lot better off to pay a little more for quaility. If you were one of the thousands of people who had insurance and still lost everything they owned to pay for medical expenses you'd understand just how much better it would be to pay a few dollars more for much better insurance coverage.

Nick H. said...

I'm giggling that you think Obamacare is going to be "much better".

Right Wing Professor said...

Although comments are always appreciated, I quite prefer that NNN avoids mindless political chit-chat.

Actually, it seems quite successfully to avoid any chit-chat at all. A slightly surreal echo chamber seems to be about the best description.

Anonymous said...

I think it's funny that Right Wing Professor tries to claim that John Kennedy ran to the right of Nixon. Reminds me of tea-baggers claiming that Bush was really a liberal. Get real, read Kennedy's acceptance speech of the Liberal Party's Presidential nomination.

For those of you who have access to the Secretary of State's voter file (which is open to the public and most campaigns have readily available), check out how often Right Wing Professor votes. You'd think for someone who has 30+ hours a week to be a online troll they'd at least take the time to vote.

Right Wing Professor said...

Gawrsh, I guess I'm being stalked. But just not very well.

I voted for Ron Paul in the primary, and McCain/Palin in the general, sweetie. Seems like you might want to work on your sleuthing skills.

Right Wing Professor said...

Another comment: how sick is this? Somebody went to the trouble to look up my voter records (though apparently with very little success)?

These people truly are thugs.

Brian T. Osborn said...

Good God! If they've got THAT on you RWP, I'd hate to even think what they could find out about my ties to the CIA and the Mafia!

(That's sarcasm folks ... sarcasm.)

Anonymous said...

"If you guys would get off FOX and Fools network and watch MSNBC we would not have to come over here and give you an education."

I love it when Dems like Bud trot out the old "you guys get all your info from Glen Beck/Sean Hannity/Fox News" line of attack. It just reveals the poverty of ideas that typifies most Democrats I've come into contact with these days.

It would be one thing if any conservative on here had cited Beck or Hannity as some sort of authoritative source but it hasn't happened. Of course, don't let that stop you from flinging your ad hominems, Bud.

And then there's the whole arrogance of presuming that anyone who disagrees with you could not possibly be thinking for themselves but must instead be relying on some tainted source to tell them what to think. Riiight. Only liberals think for themselves. You just keep telling yourself that. (Or is that what Keith Olberman told you to think? Ha ha!)

Anyway, this is about par for the course for what I've seen from Democrats these days. You make a serious point about the cost of this healthcare plan, for example, and about all you hear in reply is "You need to stop getting all your information from Fox News."

TexasAnnie said...

I'm sleepless in Texas and thus reading all this political chit-chat. Will someone please identify Kyle in the photo? I don't know him but would like to meet him some day.

Also, will some history major up there verify for Nebraskans that the eugenics movement was prominent in Nebraska prior to WW2 and German Nationalism? Given this fact and last year's BSDC death rate, I'm wondering if Nebraskans are practicing eugenics a la Nazi Germany even now. The Right Wing Professor hails from the very university that sponsored eugenics research!

Guess I'll go over to NNN and see if I can figure out how to register a comment...

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:04--but what else would the Dem trolls have to talk about?

Certainly not their slate of candidates in NE this year.

Questionable last-minute candidate for Gov.

No candidate for Lt. Gov.

No candidate for A.G.

No candidate for Auditor.

The worst showing by a political party in NE ever?

macdaddy said...

BTO: RWPs point is that people are doing "opposition research" for lack of a better term on a blogger. He's not an elected official but just some dude who posts his opinions on the Internet and already somebody has taken the time to track down his boss' phone number to try to get him in trouble and is looking up his voting record. That's more than a little bit creepy. But then, I guess that's what's to be expected in the Era of Hope and Change. Voice an opinion critical of The One, and you'd better start looking over your shoulder.

Right Wing Professor said...

The Right Wing Professor hails from the very university that sponsored eugenics research

You mistakenly write about this as if it were in the past. Back in RWP's laboratory now, he's working on a final design for the Ãœbermann. He will be stronger, more intelligent, and far more ruggedly good looking than you puny humans -- as will his consort, the Ãœberweib. Together, they will raise a race of far-right wing Ãœbervolk that will sweep the mooching hordes of Obama-voting welfare recipients from the shores of our Ãœberland and repopulate it with characters from Ayn Rand novels. Weaklings and defektives need not apply!

(Cue demonic laugh)

Bud said...

RWP I think you might be a right winger I would like to meet. We may have different ideas on how the country should be run. But you do stand up for what you believe in. I have to give you credit. I do think your wrong most of the time. But your an American and you have the right to your beliefs. When I became an officer in the USMC I took an oath that I still take very serious even today. I just wish many of the people on your side of the spectrum would give democrats their due that they also love their country and care about its well being. Some of the things I have seen on TV the last two days make me wonder. I would like to hear your demon laugh. Today when the health care bill passes I will be lighting fireworks in celeberation. Just like my neighbor did when Scott Brown won his Senate race a couple of months ago. All the talking heads on FOX said the health bill was dead. Again they were wrong. Days like today make my belief in GOD even stronger.

Anonymous said...

This quote seems to fit Right Wing Professor like a glove...

There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.

Right Wing Professor said...

This quote seems to fit Right Wing Professor like a glove...

I need to keep reminding myself: no satire or sarcasm can be so obvious that someone won't take it as written in all seriousness.

Bud: there's a saying about counting chickens. And remember, even if Pelosi manages to herd 216 cats into voting 'yes', what you have is the Senate Bill, warts and all. And Mitch McConnell and his merry band of scallywags will be spending the next month playing with the reconciliation package in the Senate like a cat plays with a ball of yarn.

Anonymous said...

Bud--I'll be celebrating too if it passes.

Because you guys just lost the House and possibly the Senate.

R's can then fix it in 2011--the real cost of this bill is to add $500 bil. to the deficit (look at the op-ed in today's NYTimes).

Meanwhile, your party has ignored the real issue--the economy--with a program (stimulus) that isn't working and just makes things worse.

Goodbye.

Anonymous said...

Rep Jim Clyburn says that yesterday's Capitol speech to the Democrat Caucus was the best speech he's ever heard Obama give.

WELL, OF COURSE IT WAS! It was aimed at only Democrats.

Obviously, Clyburn doesn't care about bipartisanship, if he did, he would have enjoyed Obama's public, non-campaign speeches.

All that is left to do is pray.

I guess they were right when they said that Conservatives, in the end, just cling to there guns and their bibles.

BTW, shame on the handful of racists within the teaparty folks on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol yesterday.

Anonymous said...

You are wrong, if the GOP takes back the House (likely) and the Senate (less likely), they still won't have a President to sign their legislation for at least 2 more years.

The upside, is that in '12 if we have majorities in both the House and the Senate, and win the Whitehouse, many of the tax dollars will have already been sucked into the blackhole commonly referred to as the Federal Reserve and can just be used to pay down the debt instead of funding this crappy democrat boondoggle that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid came up with.

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:58--
Remember, Clinton vetoed the Repub welfare reform law twice before he finally buckled and signed the GOP initiative.

And as seniors see they lose Medicare Advantage plans because of the law, and businesses start ditching health coverage (pushing people to the exchanges) there could be an outcry so loud Obama has to revisit it or face a loss in 2012.

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:52--are you sure the jerks weren't ACORN staffers--trying to manufacture a racism controversy? Bet they were.

Anonymous said...

Employers were already ditching health care coverage because rates were going up so fast. Now, at least they will be held accountable and the uninsured will have a place to go to get affordable health care coverage. And it's about time that Medicare Advantage gets reigned in. It's been a huge waste. It cost much more than regular Medicare and didn't provide any better coverage. Funny that Republicans claimed it would cut cost but it instead cost 18% more than regular Medicare.

Anonymous said...

What the heck does the student loan program have to do with health insurance in America?

Remember, this is a Health Insurance Bill that will screw up the Healthcare in America.

Ben is toast. He is turning his back on the insurance industry and the student loan industry by casting 1 stupid vote in the Senate.

Brian T. Osborn said...

Anon7:37 - If it sounds and smells like the contents of the Faux News echo chamber, the chances of it coming from there are pretty darned good. It is hard to separate the contents of an echo chamber from its source. Before you go off on me getting everything from MSNBC, I only get what TV comes through the rabbit ears, and Limpbaugh melted my radio years ago with his drug addled blathering.

MacDaddy - I've had enough trouble with those in my own party that have tried to pull that crap on me. For example, it is verbotten in the current NDP to criticize Ben Nelson. The NDP Rules Committee, which not surprisingly has Kyle Michaelis as a member, has proposed new draconian changes to our NDP Constitution to make it even easier for those in power to remove anyone that disagrees with them.

RWP 8:09 - We beat you to it. I'm already here. ;-)

Anon11:17 - Yes, and the blackshirts that marched into Rome with Mussolini were really Communists. Where DO you come up with these ideas? I guess I'm no longer allowed to assume it might be (gasp!) Faux News!

macdaddy said...

Stupak caved. He bought the Executive Order ploy. The feminists are strangely silent.

My question is this: will the NE RTL still keep falling for the myth of the pro-life Democrat?

Anonymous said...

And, the Executive Order will be challenged by those very feminists you speak of.

That's probably why those feminists-Nancy Pelosi, the pseudo-catholic leader of the club-currently look like they've swallowed a canary-feathers hanging out of their mouths and all!

Anonymous said...

Immediately upon signature!

Stupak just committed another sin, fortunately for him it is only political suicide.

Right Wing Professor said...

macdaddy:

Stupak denies it. C'mon, guy, I know this is a stressful day, but believing something you heard on MSNBC?

Anonymous said...

If Stupak and Hoyer are shaking hands, it is a done deal.

If Stupak is dumb enough to believe a pro abortion President and an even more pro abortion Secy of HHS, then he deserves to get thrown out on his ass.

Maybe he can go replace Pelosi's former staffer as the CEO of Planned Parenthood.

Anonymous said...

March 21 7:37AM Anon:

I know what you mean. I was looking at the slate of GOP candidates in Douglas County--

Assessor

Attorney

Clerk of the District Court

District 2 County Board

Treasurer

Metro Board of Governors

Gosh...that's the worst nonshowing by a political party in the universe ever?

Bud said...

In 1965 the GOP said we will get rid of Medicare in the next election. Because at that time it had only 25% approval in the gallop polls. That did not happen. The current new soon to be health care law has 41% in favor 45 % against. So your right if you say that the majority are against it right now. But in 1965 it was lot worse than now. Plus in 1965 the Civil Right bill had 35% approval in the polls and in the south less than 5% Some times our Congressman have to do what is right for America. Even if it costs them elections and popularity. When you elect a person to congress you elect their judgment. When Bush got his tax breaks for the rich through that cost this country more than a trillion dollars how many of you said this is terrible ? This bill will save lifes. Yes it will cost money. Blood or treasure what is more important? I believe in America. We can get out of the mess that Junior got us in. We got out of his Dad's and Ronnies. But it won't be done over night. But today is a step in the right direction. Again I ask any of you since you are against government programs are you going to use Social Security? medicare? the post office? or this new law?

Anonymous said...

3:09--I'm sure the R's would trade w/you in a second...then they could have no credible statewide candidates. lol

The Gov's race turns out a tad more voters than the race for Reg. of Deeds, I think.

Anonymous said...

Spirited discussion here--telling that it occurs on LS and not NNN--

Bud--SS and Medicare were bipartisan votes--actually, most of the 'no' votes on Med in the Senate were from D's.

Anonymous said...

Look at the local angle...

If the bill was really good, then Tom White would have been jumping all over the press about it.

Not a peep from him...

Goodbye.

Bud said...

Your right about the no votes back on medicare and Civil rights. They were the Southern Democrats. The famous Dixicrats, who left the Democratic party in the 1960's and the 1970's because of those laws. The Dixiecrats then joined the GOP party has part of Nixon's plan in 1968 to become President. The GOP still has a southern base today. LBJ said that passing the civil rights laws would lose the south for generation to the GOP. Democrats today really don't like claiming those racists and sheet wearers. Since they joined the GOP you are welcome to them. I rather lose elections with out them; than win with them.

macdaddy said...

Bud, the Civil Rights bill was the right thing to do and had the added benefit of not being a threat to bankrupt this country. In case you hadn't been paying attention, Medicare is going under. That's why everyone was incredulous that Obama was claiming that cutting half a trillion dollars from it was going to save it. At its time of enactment, Medicare was projected to be a fraction of its actual budget 10 years later. The Medicare administration says that Obamacare will bend the cost curve upwards and the "doc fix" puts Obamacare in the red per the CBO. In other words, we are already behind the 8-ball and the politicians haven't got their grubby paws into it yet. We are projected to have trillion dollar deficits for as far as the eye can see and that's without Obamacare. This is madness.

Anonymous said...

Reax...

Obama is now 43% approval and going down.

The health bill will drive it lower.

And, with unemployment close to 10%, it is circle the wagons time for D candidates.

goodbye

Bud said...

Medicare and this bill are the right things to do also. The economy can and will be fixed. This is America and I believe we can do this. It might mean some millionaires might have to pay a few more dollars in taxes. I would be more than willingly to trade with them. I am glad you are in favor of Civil rights. There were a few and I say few, knuckle heads also known has tea baggers who do not seem to believ this from the way they were acting to US Congressman yesterday.

Anonymous said...

CQ Politics predicts a gain of 4 seats right now by the Repubs in the Senate.

Another 8 are toss up--most now held by Dems.

A wave is building...and today's vote accelerates it.

Anonymous said...

Bet the jerks were ACORN plants, Bud. Type of stuff they do.

Bud said...

I bet they were not ACORN. Only right wingers go to Tea bag events. Do you think it was ACORN people who went after that guy with parkinsons the other day?

Anonymous said...

Rasmussen

Generic congressional has R's up 45-35 over D's.

Wonder what it is next week--bet today's vote boosts the R's at least 5 points.

Anonymous said...

If EBN was up this fall, he'd be creamed.

Anonymous said...

ACORN staff have alot of time on their hands now--they've largely been laid off as the group files bankruptcy. Bet they were shills at the Cap today--just to discredit the opponents who showed up en mass.

Bud said...

You right wingers are something else. Blaming ACORN for prejudice shouts. Yet not saying what they said was wrong. We all know it was not ACORN who did this. We all know it was wrong. ACORN blaming, no wonder you lost the election in 2008. You just don't get it.

Brian T. Osborn said...

I think it was done by Karl Rove, a.k.a. the pimple on Rush Limbaugh's ass that kept them both from becoming the true patriots they yearn to be in their fantasies.

Anonymous said...

The Repubs had two bad cycles--06 and 08.

Now it's your turn buddie.

It is hilarious how tone deaf the D's are--they're ramming something through that the voters don't want.

But, of course, you know what's best for everyone else, right?

Anonymous said...

Very interesting discussion going on over at NNN.

lol

No posts today--must be closed for business.

Brian T. Osborn said...

A6:16,

Yes, that is what you get to do when the MAJORITY of AMERICANS agree with you. Since the majority of Americans elected a Democratic President, a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives and a Democratic majority in the Senate, they get to pass legislation that the majority of Americans want.

If you are on the other side of the issue, then you have your work cut out for you. You must find candidates that are not a bunch of wild-eyed, radical know nothings, convince the other voters that they deserve to replace their Democratic opponents, and then get enough people to the voting booth to get them elected. You failed to do so in the last election. Maybe you will this year, maybe you won't.

In the meantime, we're going to have a health care law that treats Americans as though America loves them more than it loves corporate greed. Fair enough?

dittohead said...

Be sure to tune in the NNN Blogtalk Kyle and Lisa Love Fest at 10 p.m. tonight. You can listen to those two whispering sweet nothings to one another for a whole hour! Even better, give them a call and tell them what you really think. It could be fun.

Bud said...

BTO is right you win elections you get your legislation passed. The GOP got tax cuts for rich people and a 750 billion dollar war passed against the wrong enemy. The democrats get health care for most Americans passed.

Anonymous said...

BTO and Bud are right...

You have the votes, you'll get this passed...and you're party will be accountable.

So when you lose Congress this fall remember--you did it to yourselves.

People don't want the $1 trillion takeover, but we know you're tone deaf.

Plus, your only econ program is to shovel more $$$ to gov't programs and rack up trillions more in debt.

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