NebraskaPatriot

Subzero & Blizzard In Eastern Nebraska But Heating Up In DC

it warms the heart on these bitter cold days . . .

We are now in the midst of our third blizzard of the winter season in Eastern Nebraska. Gore is right, this Global Warming is hell. Sub zero wind chills and 40 mph winds and snow. Meanwhile in Washington, the Democrats are apparently bound and determined to stoke the anger of their constituents across the country.

I continue to be amazed how tin-eared these folks are or they figure they've gone this far and are taking the Kamikaze approach. The latest is this closed door, secret meeting at the White House to reconcile the two version of Obamacare into one bill. The President's own words from the campaign trail just one year ago that he would hold these meeting with C-SPAN cameras present, are being played over and over again on television.

Meanwhile, Republican House member Eric Cantor of Virginia is doing his best to throw more gasoline on the fires in each of the Democrat House members home states. The blog Hot Air has an article on a memo just released in which Cantor explains how the Reid/Pelosi/Obama behind-closed-doors meeting on Obamacare will make Democrats lives even more difficult at home. It's a must read.

This Is Just Too Much Fun . . .

but Republicans have a lot of work to do . . .

2010 is starting off with the House of Cards know as the Democrat Party, starting to see some cards fall by the wayside. Yesterday it was Senator Dorgan of North Dakota and today it appears that Dodd of Connecticut will announce he is not running for re-election. In reality, that should help keep that seat in Democrat hands since Connecticut is one of those leftist-head-in-the-sand states in the Northeast.

For a broader look, Larry Sabato, a professor at the University of Virginia and someone who gets a lot of face time on TV made these comments this morning in Politico:

"What a difference a day makes. Two Democratic senators, both likely reelection losers, throw in the towel. The incumbent Democratic governor of key swing state Colorado shocks everyone by declining to run for a second term. And the all-but-certain Democratic nominee for governor of Michigan, Lt. Gov. John Cherry, drops out because he can’t raise money. Maybe it’s just a series of coincidental announcements but it sure looks like a January panic by Democrats.

These are my preliminary conclusions:

(1) Since last summer we’ve all been saying that 2010 would be a good year for Republicans. It’s turning out that way. January is a big retirement month, and it is often the time when speculation becomes reality.

(2) Looking just at the Senate, Democrats can now be fairly certain they aren’t going to have 60 seats anymore come 2011. Actually, Dodd’s drop-out may save a seat for them, if state AG Richard Blumenthal steps into Dodd’s shoes as the party nominee. But Dorgan’s seat is a goner as long as Gov. John Hoeven (R) runs. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) is very shaky. Also in serious to deep trouble: Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), and the Democratic open seats in Delaware and Illinois. Democrats may not lose all of these seats, but some defeats are probable. Republicans now seem likely to keep most, but not necessarily all, of their open seats (Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Ohio), plus their two endangered incumbents, Richard Burr (R-NC) and David Vitter (R-LA). A multi-seat gain for the GOP in the Senate is now the best bet.

(3) The gubernatorial picture is much more mixed, with Democrats likely to gain in some places and Republicans in others. And all pigs are equal but some are more equal than others. A Democratic pick-up in California will be worth four or five other medium-sized states. Nonetheless, I would expect Republicans to net several governorships in November, and you’ve just seen two likely prospects. Last summer the Crystal Ball put Michigan in the GOP column; Cherry’s exit just confirms it. Colorado, like Nevada and some other swing states that voted Democratic in 2008, may well swing back to the Republicans in 2010. The gubernatorial picture is complicated by 21 open seats among the 37 races, and the fields haven’t shaken out in many places. Still, with 21 open seats so far and a number of incumbents quite insecure, there’s a good chance that a majority of the fifty states will have new governors come 2011—with dramatic implications for redistricting.

(4) Now we can all see clearly why President Obama is pushing so hard for his agenda in his first two years. He’s unlikely ever again to have anything approaching his current 20-seat margin in the Senate and 40-seat margin in the House. With almost no GOP votes for his bills in either house, Obama’s programs are barely scraping by as it is, especially in the Senate. The key question: Will the January panic by Democrats shake any Senate vote loose on health care reform? Probably not, but everybody will be watching closely. It may also be difficult for the President to get his other controversial items (climate change, immigration reform, etc.) passed. As one semi-threatened Democrat said to me just before Christmas, “I’ve taken all the tough votes for Obama that I intend to take this term.” That sentiment may well spread and harden in the Democratic caucus."

But Republicans must keep their eye on the ball and it appears that National Republican Chair Michael Steele acknowledges that fact.

I believe that no matter what state, the Republican needs to first acknowledge Republican's past errors on spending that took place and then focus on the deficit and out of control spending; Obama's grasp for power with Washington controlling all aspects of our lives and the Democrats continued belief that if we talk nice to the bad guys that they will leave us alone and there will be no more "man-made disasters". We need to be respectively aggressive yet challenge the Democrat that each is running against to defend his or her votes and support for Obama/Reid/Pelosi policies and practices. God knows there is enough out there to keep Democrats floundering around as Obama's team keeps shoveling out more new policies and proposed legislation by the day.

See below, this should make you all warm and cozy in your homes at night. It's funny but sadly true:

Hey Ben, I Think We Are A Bit Unhappy With YOU

doesn't change his vote but . . .

New Rasmussen Poll on Ben Nelson is what I thought it would be. The great majority of Nebraskans HATE what Nelson did in selling his vote for Obamacare.

The poll shows a Governor Heineman vs Nelson contest but I can tell you that we have several high profile Republicans in this state that would fair as well.

It's ugly out here when you talk to folks about Nelson. The dislike is genuine and we are not a state that gets too worked up about much outside of Nebraska football.

Political Correctness Times Two in Washington DC

how soon we forget and are Independents finally waking up . . .

Political correctness has taken a very prominent position in two news stories today:

1. in the continuing story of the Terrorist attack at Ft. Hood

2. in the latest Gallup poll numbers

First the more important story as it impacts the lives of family members of military personnel.

FT. HOOD, TX

The cries of "Connect-the-dots" and "Never again" being heard in Washington DC. Sound familiar, should as those same phrases and words were used after September 11, 2001. Obviously, we as a country have learned nothing from the horrific events on 9-11. And in my humble opinion it's because we have again allowed political correctness to overwhelm preemptive actions with Mr. Hassan as we failed to do leading up to 9-11.

The country is now reaping the results of the Liberal-ACLU led pressures that have eaten away our focus on the war on terror since 9-11. And since January, President Obama has been front and center leading that politically correct call where the U.S. is bad and the Muslims worldwide have been persecuted by the big bad U.S.(for the Left, this is where you sub in George Bush and Dick Cheney).

The President has been very open in criticizing the U.S. for past arrogance in dealing with Muslims around the world and he throws in some good old coddling of the world's worst thugs; despots and radical extremists. And now the country wonders how the tragedy at Ft. Hood could have possibly occurred. GO FIGURE . . .

GALLUP POLL NUMBERS

Political correctness, ok, so it's actually political correction is taking place across this country and for Democrats the news continues to be bad. The latest Gallup Poll has some numbers that have to be rocking Democrats to their core and this on the wings of the disastrous statewide election defeats in New Jersey and Virginia. In both statewide races, Independents flocked to the Republican candidate completely reversing their preference just one year earlier for Democrats. And in the latest Gallup Poll just out, Republicans now lead Democrats in the generic poll by two points but where it gets really interesting is that Independents now favor Republicans 52% to 30% !! As the Gallup Poll reports:

"Over the course of the year, independents' preference for the Republican candidate in their districts has grown, from a 1-point advantage in July to the current 22-point gap."

This is a thunderous punch to the gut that is being felt by Democrats in the House and Democrats in the Senate such as Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and these central plain's Democrat Senators:

Up for re-election 2010:

•     Dorgan-North Dakota
•     Bayh-Indiana
•     Bennett-Colorado
•     Feingold-Wisconsin
•     Mikulski-Minnesota

 Up for re-election 2012:

•     Klobauchar-Minnesota
•     Kohl-Wisconsin
•    Conrad-North Dakota 
•    McCaskill-Missouri
•    Tester-Montana
•    Nelson-Nebraska

NetRight Nation has a very good article that adds some depth to my post. Click here to see it.

A Good Guy May Jump Back In

the folks in New York state could soon find an old friend ready to serve again . . .

Rudy Giuliani is one of my favorite people. He ran a horrible Presidential campaign from which I know he has  learned much. According to the web site Little Green Footballs, it appears Rudy is pondering his next adventure. Click here to read the-rest-of-the-story . . .

Holly Cow! Another Republican Dynamo Steps Forward

first we get Sarah Palin injecting new found enthusiasm into the Party and now . . .

Liz Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney is becoming more and more a public figure and what an impression she makes.

Last night while I was flipping channels, I got desperate (!) and flipped to CNN and there on Larry King Live was Liz Cheney debating the serpent head, James Carville over Obamacare and it was an absolute joy to watch.(video clip here)

Old serpent head likes to go all wild and yell and interrupt and try to intimidate those he is debating but Liz was just great. She wouldn't take any of it and she calmly and rationally tore Carville to pieces. The man didn't know how to deal with her calm yet forceful and intellectual debate. Liz did a Carville and turned the tables on him and interrupted him numerous times with point after point, dissecting Carville into pieces. He got so frustrated it was just a treat. I actually started to feel sorry for old James, ok, not.

I'm telling you that this woman is someone to watch for future political office.

Sarah and Liz, what an amazing couple of Republicans. I know I feel a lot better about our party's future with folks like these two women out there leading the cause.

Palin Announcement

What an interesting announcement . . .

It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the weeks to come. I have my opinion but I want to let this settle before commenting.

I do have to say that Sarah sure does know how get under the skin of the State run media . . .

More to come, oh, if you are interested, she does have her statement on her new PAC website:

Democrat U.S. Senators Beware

        “Whatever starts in California unfortunately has an inclination to spread”

                                                                                    -former President Jimmy Carter

Oh that 39^th President is such a hoot isn’t he? It’s hard to imagine that I would be calling the peanut farmer and now terrorist-sympathizer from Georgia prophetic considering how completely inept he was as President but on this, he is right I’m afraid. California is in complete fiscal melt down, an utter fiscal mess after years of out of control spending and liberal law making, which have strangled the business community and law abiding citizens. It’s all self-inflicted by those wonderful, feel good, let’s-all-hold-hands-and-sing-Kum-Ba-Yah Liberals that control California. But again as the former President Carter said, “whatever starts in California unfortunately has an inclination to spread” and so Democrats in Washington DC beware because the day of reckoning will soon be on the steps of the Nation’s Capitol and a resounding smack down by America’s voters not far behind. The folks at HotAir have a great companion piece that's a must read.

Note to Democrat-elected Senators and House members from the Midwest, Get Ready Folks because if the citizens of a Liberal dominated state like California won’t pay higher taxes to solve their self-inflicted fiscal disaster, then what is your fate when the bill comes due on this house of cards you are building with trillions of dollars of debt?

Dorgan-North Dakota    Bayh-Indiana    Bennett-Colorado    Klobauchar-Minnesota

Conrad-North Dakota    McCaskill-Missouri    Tester-Montana    Nelson-Nebraska

 Yes and even Feingold and Kohl of Wisconsin

When the bill comes due, and it will, you are going to see Democrats scurry for cover like rats on a sinking ship. 

We’ve got some Democrat U.S. Senators that are up for re-election in both 2010 and 2012 who are sinking their claws deep into Obama’s kitty litter box. The reality of politics for taxpayers is this: To those like Byron Dorgan of North Dakota; Evan Bayh of Indiana; Michael Bennet of Colorado and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, the election may be a year and a half off but that is a lifetime in politics. You may think you are secure with your constituents but what if Obama is wrong (I know, blasphemy!). What if this economy doesn’t respond by November 2010? And there are real big question marks on that happening . Let’s then add in all these trillions of dollars in debt you are piling on the American people. And this doesn't even include the take over of our healthcare system that you all are planning!

Hey, I know you have been able to play off the Bush Administration for the last eight years but that ship is in dry dock. You boys are on your own. Misters Obama, Dorgan, Bayh and Bennet and the like own this economy. Each of you is providing a target rich environment for your opponent in 2010. And you will be forced to provide answers to the voters.

But I would also offer a word of warning to Kent Conrad of North Dakota; Amy Klobauchar of Minnesota; Herb Kohl of Wisconsin; Claire McCaskill of Missouri; Jon Tester of Montana and our very own Ben Nelson of Nebraska. If the experts are right and we can not sustain this insane level of debt and it continues to drag down the economy and the stock market, do any of you really think that voters will be in any mood to re-elect you folks? Again, I offer the state of California as an example of voters’ intolerance and this from THE Liberal state in the country. You might all want to think about all this. You all can’t really think this is going to work do you? I realize Obama can perform like a great tent revival minister hocking snake oil to the populace in the countryside but come on.

One final thought to leave you with. In 2012, whose name will be at the top of the ballot that each voter is given prior to entering the voting booth?

Answer: Barack Obama

Guess whose name will be just below it?

Answer: Yours since the U.S. Senate candidates are always listed next

Got to make you squirm just a bit to know that your name will be seen by voters right below Obama’s and will serve as a reminder that you willingly allowed this lunacy to happen.  Oh, wait, what did President Reagan say again:

“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.”

-Excerpt is from Ronald Reagan’s speech “A Time For Choosing”  (1964)

Democrats . . . Hello!!!

            Are Obama’s lemmings heading straight for the political cliff?

 

The Encarta World English Dictionary defines a lemming as follows:

 

doomed conformist: a member of a large group of people who blindly follow one another on a course of action that will lead to destruction for all of them

 

Boy, is that erringly accurate of the current state of the elected Democrats in the House and Senate. I’m one that says 2010 is looking brighter and brighter each day for Republicans. So will the Democrats continue to follow Obama and ultimately off the political cliff in 2010 or will they see the political reality that’s unfolding in front of them?

 

I know it’s early but you can see where Obama’s policies are leading these lemmings. Surely they see it. They can’t be that dense, can they?

 

Let’s watch the Democrat U.S. Senators listed below in the weeks and months to come. You will know how their internal polling is going by what they say and do. Should be interesting, real interesting.

 

Up for re-election 2010:

    Dorgan-North Dakota    Bayh-Indiana    Bennett-Colorado    Feingold-Wisconsin

                Mikulski-Minnesota

 

Up for re-election 2012:

    Klobauchar-Minnesota    Kohl-Wisconsin    Conrad-North Dakota    McCaskill-Missouri

        Tester-Montana    Nelson-Nebraska

Senator Ben Nelson & The Upcoming Healthcare Debate

Will He Finally Stand on Nebraska Principals or Be Obamafied?

 

Since President Obama has decided to turn up the heat on destroying the world’s most advanced and prolific healthcare system, it’s probably time to begin turning the heat up as well.

 

Out here on the central plains, folks will do a controlled burn to clear a field of underbrush and overgrowth. Once burned off, green shoots spring forth signaling the new growth from the established field. Conversely, President Obama and his Liberal Democrats would use Napalm completely obliterating the world’s greatest healthcare system leaving only a wasteland in their wake that only Mr. Obama, he will tell us, can fix and at the low, low price of more trillions of taxpayer dollars. Folks, this one is going to get hot.

 

So here we go. There comes a time despite your misgivings when you have to give a guy credit when credit is due. Our Democrat U.S. Senator Ben Nelson surprised me by his recent comments that appear to come out against the single payer plan of President Obama and his Liberal clan. Hey, that’s pretty strong for a guy that I view as having no strong core beliefs. His political career can best be described as a master at riding the fence. 

 

In an interview with KOLN/KGIN television out of Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday, June 6^th, Nelson said he will “not support single payer, big government, one size fits all plan to solve the needs of 45-million and take away the rights of 200-million Americans who have private insurance”. Wow! Good so far.

 

But then he added that he would look at a “public option” but not the single payer plan the Democrats are putting forth right now. Oh Senator, withstand that urge to swing that leg back up over the fence.

 

Nelson said a public plan for him to support would be a back up to the private insurance plans. He cited as an example the prescription drug plan for Medicare. He says he just does not support a public plan when the private plan is working. Nelson said, “We do not want to destabilize private insurance for 200-million Americans when it is working.”

 

Hey, I have to give Senator Nelson credit for stating publicly that he is against the single-payer, big government plan that Obama and the Democrats are leading with.

 

So now the hard part for Senator Nelson. If he truly believes what he said on June 6th, then he needs to get out there and start voicing it nationally. Show some guts and be out there standing on your Nebraska principals and criticize this President and his Liberal allies in the Senate that want to pass a single payer, big government approach to healthcare. Second, he needs to start working with like minded Democrats and Republicans like Tom Colburn of Oklahoma, whose “The Patients’ Choice Act of 2009” appears to be a path that Nelson might find more agreement with and a plan to use as a starting point. 

 

To me the bottom line is this: Our system is not broken. We need to clear out some underbrush and overgrowth and some tweaking is in order. Now is not the time for Senator Nelson to sit on the fence as the President stokes a hot fire from the Left.

 

It’s now up to Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska. He can be the Democrat that plays the statesman role in improving our current system or he can sit back and watch the world’s greatest healthcare system destroyed. I don’t see how Nelson can do the latter and look himself in the mirror each morning as well as the voters of Nebraska in 2012.