Can Democrats survive without Ben Nelson ??

[kentuck]

It appears he has a credible opponent in 2012? The Nebraska Atty-General, a Republican, will challenge him for his Senate seat. Shouldn't we all get behind Ben Nelson and make sure we have another "Democrat" on our side in the Senate?

Fuck no!!!

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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/nebraskas-gop-atty-gen-to-run-against-ben-nelson.php?ref=fpb

[Ozymanithrax]

1. Yea, who the hell needs control of the Senate...

It is much for fun to sit in a ditch and be kicked by Republicans.

[kentuck]

4. If we take it, maybe we deserve it?

It's time to get out of the ditch, stand up and show a backbone, and start acting like Democrats. You would think we were totally helpless and unarmed against the strong and sun-burned Republicans? There comes a time when we have to stand for something.

[Ozymanithrax]

7. Ideological purity is the quickest way to minority status...

in the two party system.

But if you don't mind Republicans in charge as long as our representatives are pure it is your choice.

Democrats have 20 Senate seats to defend in 2012, pluss Joe Lieberman and Bernie Sanders. Republicans have ten.

And you want to surrender one to Republicans now. Except Scott Brown, those Republicans are all in Red States and survived quite well in 2006, a great year of Democrats. So there will be not likley be many easy pickups for Democrats. Would you also suggest that Jo Lieberman be another sacrificial lamb. Well that makes 2 seats. I'd back seeing him primaried, though I suspect he would win that.

But we should not surrender any seat to republicans just because we don't like the Democrat sitting in it.

[kentuck]

12. You are confusing "pure" with "unacceptable"...

And it is an exaggeration also.

[Ozymanithrax]

17. No, I am simply saying that it is better to be in charge then

handing another of he rigns of power over to Republicans. I find Republicans unacceptable.

[treestar]

25. The only thing that is "acceptable" is to hand the reigns over to

republicans, since there are so many centrists. Brilliant. :sarcasm:

[treestar]

24. With one more R in the Senate we will get to stand for something witn no effect

A "backbone" will not overcome that R's vote. What's this obsession with "backbone?" What good does it do? It doesn't turn Republicans into progressives. It's insane.

[ShadowLiberal]

8. Indeed, Nelson unfortunately is probably the best we can do in a state like Nebraska

I'm all for primarying politicians who are too moderate, but I'm also pragmatic enough to know that sometimes it's better to settle for a bluedog then it is to almost certainly hand the election to the republicans (similar to how the Tea parties handed us the Delaware senate seat, and the Nevada senate seat, and you could say the Colorado senate seat).

After all, it's better to have a guy agree with us 70% of the time, then a guy who agrees with us maybe 5% of the time if even that.

[treestar]

26. Exactly! Let's take some advice from the TEA PARTY about how to lose!

:rofl:

And all from people who are not from Nebraska. Who have probably never been there.

I've never been there and don't even know anyone from there. What's it like there? No one saying to primary Nelson has the slightest idea, I'm betting.

[provis99]

16. Ben Nelson votes like a Republican

Getting a real Republican in his place won't make any difference in the voting record on Capitol hill.

[Ozymanithrax]

18. It is better to control the Senate with some like Nelson...

then to let Republicans control the Senate with 51 who are worse.

[treestar]

27. Yes it does.

If they get a majority, they get to set the agenda. This shows complete lack of understanding.

Plus, it does nothing for the alleged goal of getting the party further to the left, since it means giving up on Nebraska and ceding to the Republicans. Hilarious. I guess you're not one of those making a hero of Dean?

[countrydad58]

30. 60 votes!

Pukes did pretty good with 40 didnt they? Bye Benny ! Take you & your bad hairpiece with you Scumbag!

[brewens]

2. Primary his sorry ass! n/t

[treestar]

28. I'm sure that works so well in Idaho

Please name your liberal Democratic Senators.

[kwolf68]

3. It all depends

How the environment is in 2012.

Had Nelson run this term, he'd be history.

he's running in 2 years. Lots of time and the political landscape WILL change by then, that's a guarantee.

[dflprincess]

5. Another alternative would be to find an actual Democrat to run.

Just saying...

[kwolf68]

6. In Nebraska?

Nelson may be as good as it gets unless you can find someone truly amazing.

I don't care for him at all, but his state is very red...I can cut him a break because of that.

Also, we still need to be the big tent party, and that goes for ideology.

My god...the Conservanazis are talking about how bad McDonnell, Boener, and even Huckabee are. Those guys aren't right enough.

Let the Repukkkes chase the moderates our way.

Again, I am NOT a Nelson guy at all...I'm a gawtdamn Liberal and proud as hell of that, but lets not become the enemy.

[countrydad58]

31. Bullshit!

Economic policy wins every time! Look at the south during FDR! Even though these areas are all socially conservative, a bread & butter competent candidate can & will win these areas of the country!

[FBaggins]

9. Any ideas? I'm sure the democratic version of O'Donnel is available.

We couldn't find anyone who could win a dog catcher race this year... let alone a House race (I think we only have one who lost by less than 30%)... and you think we have another Senate candidate in the wings waiting to take on Nelson?

[Telly Savalas]

15. What's stopping you?

[dflprincess]

21. I live in Minnesota

but I am hoping we find someone to challenge Amy Klobuchar for the DFL endorsement.

[Hawkeye-X]

10. Ben needs a challenger from the left -- primary time.

And he should be challenged constantly.

No more Blue Dogs!

[kwolf68]

11. How far...

Do you think someone like Feingold, Kucinich, Kerry would get in this state?

Those are arguably 3 of my favorite Democratic politicians ... those guys are brilliant, committed, honest and wonderful...but they would get toasted in Nebraska.

Nebraska is another version of the South...

all they care about is

gettin' gub'ment off my back...
those neegros already gawt too much...
and gayes? hell boy...if Gawd meant for people to be gaye, then dogs would be humpin' my leg.

/End (mostly true) stereotype.

[treestar]

29. Another resident of ?

Please tell us where you live or how many years you lived in Nebraska.

[geckosfeet]

13. Good gawd - he is the bluest of dogs - a dinos dino.

What difference does he make - with him gone it is one less knife in the back in the senate.

[Zen Democrat]

14. I can't understand why that guy even calls himself a Democrat.

He's supports the Republican agenda down the line. I think he reports back to the Republicans on the Dem strategies and inside talk. If he goes in 2012, and Lieberman goes, and Lincoln is gone, it gives more credibility to the name "Democrat" -- because these Blue Dog types are useless to the future of the Democratic Party. If the Democrats would stop kowtowing to Republicans Lite, they may find that there are a lot of Independents who would be attracted to their toughness and adherence to principles of Human Rights and the Common Good. There's a lot of support for Republicans simply because they appear to be strong and in charge, and people reward that. The Democrats could attract NEW voters if they actually stood up for the things they claim to stand for.

[bornskeptic]

32. No he does not support the Republican agenda down the line.

I consider Bernie Sanders to be as good as any senator to represent the liberal position. According to opencongress.org, Ben Nelson votes the same way as Bernie Sanders 68% of the time. The Republican senator from Nebraska, Mike Johanns, votes the same way as Bernie Sanders 24% of the time.

http://www.opencongress.org/people/compare?person1=300077&person2=400357&commit=Compare

It is true that his voting record is similar to those of Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, but they don't fit in the Republican Party any better than Nelson fits in the Democratic Party. If Nelson is replaced by a Republican, it will be someone like Johanns, not someone like Snowe or Collins.

Maybe you're one of those people who hate the PPACA, but for those of us who appreciate it, the fact that there would have been no healthcare reform without Ben Nelson's vote has some significance.

[COLGATE4]

19. Lyndon Johnson said it best:: "It's better to have the camel in

the tent with you, pissing out than to have it outside the tent, pissing in".

[LiberalFighter]

20. Forget about Nelson

Check out other states to see where we can pick up the wins.

[FBaggins]

22. There aren't that many R seats up in 2012

And virtually all of them are survivors from 2006.

Brown's the obviousl first target... then replacing Lieberman with a real D.

Retirements are our next best shot (IMO).

[treestar]

23. So you're saying just let a Republican win?

What good will that do?

Are you from Nebraska. let's get an opinion of a DUer from there.