NebraskaPatriot

Nelson Interview Offers No Apology to Nebraskans

arrogance can be very blinding . . .

Last week, I wrote that it appeared that Ben Nelson had begun to try to find some redemption with Nebraskans through his support of the Republican filibuster that  helped defeat Obama's leftist nominee to the National Relations Labor Board. Well, then in Sunday's Omaha World-Herald, an article by Joseph Morton may have dug Mr. Nelson's hole even deeper than before.

In the article, Nelson is said to have been focused elsewhere thereby not understanding what he had agreed to; that he was only looking out for what's best for Nebraska and in the end he was just misunderstood. In fact, it's this last point, being misunderstood, that made my blood boil.

One of the personality flaws in politicians that just irritates people is a politician's inability to admit he or she made a mistake. It just seems that their ego will not allow them to admit that maybe, just maybe they were wrong.

Nebraska Democrat Senator Ben Nelson is the poster child for this flaw. In the Sunday article, writer Joseph Morton wrote that Nelson:

"has said the exemption [now know worldwide as Cornhusker Kickback] was misunderstood by some out of ignorance and intentionally twisted by others seeking political gain."

misunderstood by some out of ignorance ???????????????????????????????????

Translated from elitist-speak, Nelson means that those of us common folk out here on the frozen plains of Nebraska are just too gosh darn dumb and stupid to understand the nuances and sophistication of elites such as Ben Nelson as he legislates to improve the paltry lives of us ordinary folk. 

According to sources, Nelson said "the furor caught him by surprise." Really? Just how believable it that considering that for weeks, Nebraskans called, e-mailed and publicly pleaded with Nelson to not support Obamacare in the Senate. And yet, he was surprised by our reaction when he sold Nebraskans down the river for personal political gain with Obama and Reid?

But in the end, what is most disappointing with the article is what's not in it. No where in the article does Ben Nelson say to Nebraskans that he made a mistake. Not a word.

As someone once said, "Arrogance diminishes wisdom" and nowhere is that more on display each day than in Washington DC and with our U.S. Senator Ben Nelson.

For Ben Nelson, it's a phrase that will continue to hauntingly appear in the mirror into which he peers each morning until he comes clean with Nebraskans. 

Nelson Next Redemption Step is Obamacare SAY WHAT!!!

Nelson afforded prime opportunity to show Nebraskans he hears us . . .

It now appears that Obama, Pelosi and Reid have a new plan to get Obamacare passed and signed into law. And according to WashingtonExaminer.com Pelosi's own staff isn't being very quiet about it. 

And folks, this is where our Democrat Senator Ben Nelson comes into play. On first blush, I have a feeling that this is Nelson's worst nightmare. Obamacare, his Waterloo. Cornhusker Kickback, folks are still mad as hell about that and now Obama-Reid-Pelosi are bring that all back up again. Not good especially after Nelson just started down the redemption path with his recent support of the Republican filibuster against Obama's leftist wacko nominee for the National Labor Relation's Board.

So I'm sure that he is peaking around the corner right now and can't believe what he is reading and hearing that Obamacare is ALIVE!!!

So after Mr. Nelson stops shrieking, there is an opportunity that is presenting itself to him, but will he take it?

Nelson can take another step down the redemption path by playing hardball with Obama, Pelosi and Reid. He can gather other nervous Democrats(you can't turn around in a Democrat caucus meeting without running into one of those!) in the Senate and they should march up to the White House and let Obama know that if they try this "trick" as Pelosi's own staff member called it, to get Obamacare passed, then Nelson and his group will hold up every nomination that comes down to the Senate. They will join the Republicans and filibuster every Obama agenda item and they will be out in front of television cameras blasting Obama, Pelosi and Reid for bastardizing the legislative process. 

Bottom line, they should make it very clear, they will bring the Capitol to a complete and utter standstill if Obama-Pelosi-Reid forge ahead on Obamacare.

Now, the question is, how bad does Ben Nelson want to get back in the good graces of Nebraska voters?

I guess time will tell. 

Is That A Dose of Reality We Are Seeing Mr. Nelson?

is this an honest position or just political posturing . . .

Nebraska Democrat Senator Ben Nelson has stunned his fellow Democrats by announcing he will support the Republican filibuster against a radical, far left wing labor zealot from being approved for the National Relations Labor Board.

All of us in Nebraska and across the country should be pleased with Mr. Nelson's announcement because Craig Becker is NOT what American stands for. As the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation points out, Becker “has radical views on the extent of union coercive power, and he comes directly out of the all-powerful Service Employees International Union (SEIU) whose bosses have been as thick as thieves with the notoriously corrupt Big Labor front group ACORN.”

So let me be the first to the thank Ben Nelson. Now, let me add that this better be an honest and sincere position by Mr. Nelson that represents the views of Nebraskans and not an attempt by Mr. Nelson to pull the wool over the eyes of those of us in Nebraska after his outrageous actions on Obamacare and the now worldwide famous "Cornhusker Kickback".

Time will tell and we will all be watching. 

If This Isn't A Red Flag

the Dems are having to spend campaign cash in Jan. & Feb. of a non-election year in Nebraska???

Found this little gem this morning about our Democrat Senator Ben Nelson and who is financing all those TV ads that we are having to endure. 

The problem with these ads is as I mentioned before, Nelson has become THE JOKE throughout the country whenever the subject of abuses occurring in Washington comes up whether it be on talk shows, late night shows or during the special elections like those in Massachusetts and today in Illinois.

Once the public gets a vision of you, it's really difficult, if not impossible to change and Ben Nelson and the "Cornhusker Kickback" are the first words that roll off people's tongues whenever the subject turns to what's wrong in our Nation's Capitol. 

Boy, that's a legacy I'm sure Nelson must be proud of. I wonder if that will go on his newly erected statue out in McCook . . . Governor, U.S. Senator and face of the now famous phrase "Cornhusker Kickback"

Ben Nelson STILL In Denial

he is either in a dream world or just so arrogant not to realize what he did . . .

Our fine U.S. Senator Ben Nelson has continued to insult the intelligence of Nebraskans with these complete idiotic television ads he is running that defend his vote for Obamacare and the sale of Nebraska. Nelson has only increased the level of ire with additional recent "explanations" on his vote which hold absolutely no credibility at all.

Now, the Senator has decided that pro-life supporters are just as stupid as Nebraska voters. Yesterday, Mr. Nelson showed up UN-invited to a meeting of pro-life activist in Washington D.C. And according to LifeSiteNews.com, it was tense to say the least. 

It's amazing how history repeats itself. How many times have we seen a politician blame the people instead of looking in the mirror for the cause of his/her problems?

I'm might suggest that Mr. Nelson read John Fund's latest piece in the Wall Street Journal entitled, Scott Brown: People Aren't Stupid.

And so it goes for Mr. Nelson . . .

Obama Job Losses Mount for American Families

 
this is not something you wish any family to go through . . .

As FOXNEWS reported this morning on its website, "December saw losses of an additional 53,000 construction jobs and 27,000 manufacturing jobs. The number of workers unemployed for 27 weeks or more reached a record 6.1 million, or four out of every 10 unemployed workers."

Remember, this President and his fellow Democrats including our very own Ben Nelson laid their hands on the economy last February and passed the $787-billion "Stimulus" bill. Below is what got stimulated as a result:

 "Hope and Change" courtesy of Barack Obama, Ben Nelson and the Democrat Party . . .

The Deep Abyss Senator Nelson Now Faces In Nebraska

it would be best if Mr. Nelson just shut up . . .

The more Ben Nelson speaks the deeper the hole he digs with Nebraskans. I guess he figures that we are the dumbest people that God ever put on earth. Consider the following:

• "My vote is not for sale. Period." - Ben Nelson quoted in Lincoln Journal Star December 16, 2009

Reality: The now famous Cornhusker Kickback 

• "I stuck to my guns and stood for my pro-life principles"- Ben Nelson on the floor of the Senate December 24, 2009

Reality: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Julie Schmit-Albin, Executive Director of Nebraska's Right to Life and Bart Stupak, the Democrat House member behind tough pro-life language in House's version of Obamacare, all highly critical of Nelson's compromise.

Albin, a long-time Nelson supporter, went so far as to describe Senator Nelson's compromise on abortion as devastating and "it obliterated the hope of pro-life Americans".

• "Regardless of the language of the bill, my intent has been and remains absolutely clear - every state should be treated the same" - Ben Nelson quoted in Omaha World-Herald January 7, 2010

Reality: "I took the Governor's [Heineman] concerns to the Senator majority leader, and he added a provision extending federal payment for Nebraska's new Medicaid enrollees beyond 2017, when the federal share is set to begin to decline" - words written by Ben Nelson in his own Op-Ed in the Omaha World-Herald December 27, 2009

• "I listened to you" - said by Ben Nelson while looking straight into the camera from his new TV ad running throughout Nebraska defending his vote for the Senate version of Obamacare  

Reality: Poll after poll prior to Nelson's vote showed the majority of Nebraskans opposed to Senate bill. The Weekly Standard poll on December 16th is an example where 67% opposed and 26% favored the Senate bill. In addition, Nelson's office was getting flooded by calls. Of course, the Senator claimed it was from special interest groups.

I believe you could consider Nebraska residents as such since we did have a special interest in this vote.

Senator Nelson can "parse" and try and spin this however but the fact remains for those of us in Nebraska

YOU SOLD YOUR VOTE and consequently your soul

You can't blame Gov. Heineman or Harry Reid. You, Senator Ben Nelson voted for Obamacare and future rationing of healthcare for older Nebraskans.

Senator Nelson, I leave you with some thoughts about what you did from someone whom you have shown great admiration for in recent weeks - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid:

"Reid was unapologetic. He argued that, by definition, legislating means deal making and defended the special treatment for Nelson’s home state of Nebraska.

“You’ll find a number of states that are treated differently than other states. That’s what legislating is all about. It's compromise," he said." article by Chris Frates, Politico December 19, 2009 after Cornhusker Kickback was announced

Nelson Bewildered by Nebraskans' Anger

is the reality of his actions setting in yet . . .

Nebraska Democrat Senator Ben Nelson said in an interview today with the Fremont, NE Tribune, “I  think it was a mistake to take health care on as opposed to continuing to spend the time on the economy,”

He went on to say, “I would have preferred not to be dealing with health care in the midst of everything else, and I think working on the economy would have been a wiser move.”

While it appears that Nelson is trying to find some solid ground on which to step back onto with Nebraska voters, the Democrat still is living in a fantasy land when he claims that by holding out, he, Ben Nelson was able to get changes in the bill that “took a bad bill and made it better.”

He added, "I cannot understand the level of anger and frustration aimed at me because this language that I put together does ban (federally funded abortions). It absolutely bans it,” he said.  

Really? Well Senator, let's look at this reality:

Rep. Bart Stupak, a Democrat and leader in the House in getting tough pro-life language in the House's version of Obamacare described Nelson's self-proclaimed victory for pro-life in the Senate version this way:

"What the Nelson compromise does is recognize abortion for the first time as a benefit in a federal health plan. It mandates that at least one plan has abortion coverage. Those are drastic changes to the current law.” -National Review Online 12-24-09

Meanwhile, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following statement on 12-23-09 after Ben Nelson performed his supposed magic on the Obamacare bill in the Senate:

"Federal funds will help subsidize, and in some cases a federal agency will facilitate and promote, health plans that cover elective abortions."

And finally there is Julie Schmit-Albin, Executive Director of Nebraska's Right to Life and a long time vocal supporter of Senator Nelson. Schmit-Albin writes the following on NRL's blog:

"Senator Nelson had a chance to ensure that the longstanding principle of the Hyde Amendment against federal funding of abortion with narrow exceptions, would be placed in the Senate healthcare legislation. He dashed any hope of that with his late-night agreement with Senators Reid, Boxer and Schumer on unacceptable language that he claimed would address pro-life concerns."

She went on to write:

"There is no pro-life Nebraskan more devastated by Senator Nelson's actions than myself. It's a very sobering day for myself personally and for pro-lifers across Nebraska and the nation. Senator Nelson obliterated the hope of pro-life Americans who saw him as the last man standing between expansion of government funding of abortion and the Hyde amendment."

Senator Nelson still is not living in the reality that is now on the ground in Nebraska. As sure as we have snow on the ground and sub-zero wind chills, the great majority of Nebraskans are pissed off at Senator Nelson. And he is only compounding the issue with his insulting ad  that  is running day and night where he looks in the camera and says "I listened to you". As my father would say , "The hell you did."

It is becoming very clear to everyone but Ben Nelson. As I said in an earlier blog entry, the recent decision by Byron Dorgan, Democrat Senator of North Dakota not to run for re-election is the fate that is awaiting one Ben Nelson unless he does something very dramatic to change the dynamic. Such an opportunity will present itself in the next few weeks in U.S. Senate . . . 

Ben Nelson: What a Piece of Work

this is like a kid that gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar . . .

It's not my fault, bad old Harry Reid put it in the bill. That my friends is the newest incarnation that Ben Nelson has come up with to save his political hind-quarters.

I strongly urge you to read a piece in the Politico that is just amazing.

So now "it was simply a marker", no big deal folks, silly you, it will all be fixed.

Wow, Ben Nelson is flying down the advanced slope right now with out ski poles and through uncharted terrain for him. He's never been on the defensive in this state and it's becoming very obvious that Nelson is not good at making it up as he goes. And his attempts so far have done nothing but insult the intelligence of Nebraskans. 

Now famous Ben Nelson phrases:

My vote is not for sale.

I listened to you[from his new TV ad running in Nebraska].

I didn't ask for the Cornhusker Kickback to be put in the Obamacare legislation

It was simply a marker

Nelson Runs Ad During Nebraska Bowl Game

you know your goose is cooked when you have to do this . . .

Nebraska's Democrat U.S. Senator Ben Nelson ran a television ad last night during the Huskers' bowl game with Arizona. What was stunning about it were Nelson's very first words in the ad:

"I listened to you"

If your brain just went numb then you just had the same reaction I had when he said those four words.

Why is it when politicians are in trouble their instinct is to treat the public as idiots?

Ben Nelson with those four words just provided further proof that he is clueless because if he really "listened to you" then he would have voted as the great majority of Nebraskans asked repeatedly and he would not have allowed Obamacare to come up for vote.

Nelson, you had your chance last night and this is what we get, an attempt to make us out as some dumb country folk that really meant for you to vote for Obamacare when we said not to vote for Obamacare????? Really, is that the best you have?

Amazing . . .