It seems like that Ben Nelson chump from Nebraska always votes

[cboy4]

against us and with the republicans; even though he's a "democrat." (wink, wink)

Why don't I hear the same kind of Lieberman-type outrage about this idiot?

I realize he represents a conservative state, but what good is he?

I don't understand his usefulness.

Can't we at least find a moderate democrat to run against this fundie? :shrug:

[nickshepDEM]

1. Based on some surveys he's more conservative than Chafee

Collins and Snowe. But personally, Ill take em', because in reality, he's the best we can hope for out of a state like NE.

Let me put it in context, its either Nelson, or a clone of Coburn.

You choose...

[cboy4]

12. Yea, yea -- that DLC logic has won us so many elections over the

past six years.

And BTW, I find Collins and Snowe to be more progressive than Nelson the idiot.

[nickshepDEM]

25. OK, then go for it... primary him.

First, Democrats in NE are far different than Democrats in, say, CT. He would win his primary easily.

Second, if you took Ted Kennedy's voting record and gave it to Nelson, he would lose re-election this year by 30% or so.

By the way, since you feel like being a smart ass, Ill be one right back. The last democratic president was a member of what three letter club?

_ _ _

Hint: Its in my avatar.

[Tesha]

33. Wait, wait, oh yeah: THE PRESIDENT WHO LOST THE CONGRESS.

> The last democratic president was a member of what three letter club?

Wait, wait, I think I've got it.

Oh yeah:

THE PRESIDENT WHO LOST THE CONGRESS AND DROVE THE DEMOCRATS FROM
POWER FOR GOING ON TWELVE YEARS NOW WAS A FOUNDER OF THE "DLC".

Did I get that right?

Mr. Triangulation hisself, William "BJ" Clinton?

Oh yeah, he was definitely good for Democrats in the long run.

Tesha

[cboy4]

35. The last democratic president was Al Gore, but before him.....I don't

know, it's been so long I can't remember.

BTW, I'm sorry to hear about what happened to your people's buddy Joe Lieberman. :spray:

[skeeters2525]

2. Great Idea

Let's vote out all Democrats and give the Senate to Republicans 100 to 0

God this place is getting putrid

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Toots]

31. No only those pretending to be Democrats

What Democratic Ideal has Ben nelson ever supported. He is against the minimum wage, he is for Privatizing SS and eliminating Medicare. You tell me what he stands for that I could support.

[cboy4]

36. Your question is apparently more nicely worded than my response which

apparently got deleted.

[LittleClarkie]

3. You answered your own question

Connecticut is a blue state. Florida at the moment is not.

[nickshepDEM]

6. NE- Nelson

[LittleClarkie]

7. Like oops. Well, isn't that still a red state, or no?

But I don't think he tends to be as gregariously conservative as Lieberman, nor is the war as big an issue with him. Plus, he's not the leader in the Senate that Lieberman can be and has been. He's one of the background Senators.

[paulk]

4. his usefulness is the (D) next to his name

that could give us control of the Senate, and everything that goes with that.

You don't hear the Lieberman type outrage because he's in Nebraska, not Connecticut. He's very popular in his state - one of the most popular Democrats in the country. The question to ask yourself is why?

[cboy4]

10. Oh please, who says he's one of the most popular Democrats

"in the country?"

He sounds like Zell Miller every time I hear him open his mouth.

[paulk]

17. he's ranked 7th among Democrats

for popularity in his state, 68% approval - 27% disapproval.

http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/100USSenatorApproval060523Net.htm

Since you live in CA, I'm sure he could care less what your approval of him is.

[cboy4]

20. He may be popular in his state, but I'm sure he'd be extraordinarily

unpopular in a national opinion poll of democrats.

His right wing views have all but assured him no political future outside of Nebraska.....thank god.

[Poiuyt]

14. That's exactly right. Democratic control of the Senate is extremely

important. Even if he doesn't vote the way we would like, he will help us get a majority and all the committee chairmanships and subpoena powers that comes with it.

[CrushTheDLC]

24. And if the Nelson/Zell/Lieberman types are all the committee chairs...

...then how is anything different (except in name only.)

[MH1]

27. Because a Democrat is Majority Leader and Democrats set the agenda.

Is it perfect? Of course not, just better than if Republicans are in charge.

I've had enough of idiots and nutjobs running the asylum. I'll settle for an improvement to less-progressive-than-I'd-like.

[SaveElmer]

28. You can only make that claim...

By not researching who is in line for committee chairs...when you do...come back and make that same claim...

[CTLawGuy]

16. I don't mind him because he at least keeps his head down

Lieberman is a huge attention whore, and he gets his attention by screwing us over.

[sandnsea]

5. He gets bashed all the time

People act as if it's a walk in the park to win a Senate seat, or even a House seat. It's damned difficult and this seat isn't even all that safe a Dem seat.

What's his usefulness? The Senate Judiciary Committee, that's what his usefulness is. Good grief.

[cboy4]

11. Thanks for reminding me. I sure enjoyed his vote for Alito

:eyes:

Listen, I'm not saying dump him.

I'm simply voicing my frustration about his right wing fundamentalist voting history.

[sandnsea]

21. Alito wouldn't get out of committee

with a Dem majority which we need him to contribute to. That's the point. :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[cboy4]

22. You are lecturing me that if Nelson isn't senator, then a republican

would automatically be taking his place.

You don't know that.

Nelson isn't the second coming of Christ.

You're telling me there are no other moderate democrats who could challenge him?

[sandnsea]

23. What would be the point?

One moderate for another?? The votes end up the same. There may be a time in the future to target Nebraska, but not this year. In the meantime, why don't you work on getting a fairly progressive Dem into the Pub seat in Montana?? Doesn't that make more sense than pissing and moaning about something you can't change?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

9. Nebraska went 60%-70% for Bush.

Good luck finding moderation anywhere in that place.

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. 66% to be exact

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/NE/

[TheFarseer]

15. I'm a critic of Nelson, but he's much better

than the George Allen wanna-be running against him. You see, Ben does a thing called represent his constituents. Most of the ape-like people in my state wanted Alito confirmed, so he did that. I don't have a problem with that. What I have a problem with is when he panders on economic issues. Cafta for instance, and repealing the estate tax. He should try to educate people on how voting for that would actually HURT Nebraskans. He's doing that on some issues like National Sales tax but not enough issues. I'd like to know WHY exactly he's against illegal immigration. If it is to help American workers, then he is on the right track. If it is to appeal to racists and xenophobes, then I'm not sure I like that too much. He's got to be more on the ball with populist economic issues. That's my only complaint. I want to say he's getting better, but that might be wishful thinking.

[SaveElmer]

18. His usefullness is a "Yea" when his name is called for Harry Reid...

As majority leader.

[flaminbats]

19. Ben Nelson isn't half the man Bob Kerrey is..

Bob Kerrey wasn't my favorite Senator, but now I know what made him special. He wasn't a chicken when casting his vote, he didn't vote the way Republicans told him to, and he was never afraid to speak out against those who abused their power! Ben Nelson votes for tax cuts because he's afraid to pay for government spending, he supports the war in Iraq because his son will not die there, and he votes the way Republicans tell him to so he can get money for his campaign.

Is Nelson worse than Lieberman? Would he switch parties or refuse to drop out like Lieberman after losing a primary? Would he vote to pay for the programs or wars he claims to support? Or would he claim to support these wars and programs without voting for the tax increases necessary to fund them?

[SaveElmer]

29. Bob Kerrey just endorsed Lieberman...fyi!

[rasputin1952]

26. Since I am located here in NE, allow me to add some perspective to

this.

Nelson has made some very poor decisions IMO, and I certainly don't agree w/everything he's voted for or against, and I have spoken w/him, both personally and in numerous e-mails voicing my opinions on several of the more contentious votes. He has always been a pretty good listener to the voters from here, and that is one of the reasons he's in the Senate now; as a D from a very R state.

He can never be seen as a Liberal Democrat, but he is a moderate, and that is a whole lot better than our other Congresscritters from NE. IF, by some strange fluke, Pete Ricketts(R) was elected to the Senate, and Nelson was ousted, you would see one more super-rich, never worked a real job, Rubber Stamp neo-con in a seat we can't lose.

As for Nelson's D credentials, he's voted too often for R related issues, but that is pragmatism at its best. He is politically adept, and while he is no Bob Kerrey, he's no Hagel either. If the Senate goes D, I believe you would see a much more potent Nelson on D issues. He'll never roll out the ultra-Liberal carpet, but he would be much more amenable to most issues.

I don't think he's going to make radical changes in his thought/voting processes when re-elected, but the alternative, Ricketts, is a horror waiting to be unleashed in the Senate. It is between Nelson and Ricketts, my vote, and I hope the majority of Nebraskans will go to Nelson...there is no alternative.

[cboy4]

34. I'm not going to argue with you, of course, because you live there. I

just get tired of seeing Nelson's name next to all of the (R)'s every time there is a big vote on something.

I hope you're correct Nelson will tone it down a bit if the senate goes D!

[rasputin1952]

39. I sure hope so too! Right now, it's a good hunch abfter talking to him...

he has quite the balancing act in a state this Red...:(

I do believe that if we take the Senate though, he'll change over, and we can all rest easy as a D Congress works on getting us back into a nation of the people, instead of these corporate bastards that just milk the nation for all it's worth...:grr:

[cboy4]

40. IF we take the senate? You mean WHEN we take the senate!

hehehe :)

Nation of the people.......it has a nice ring to it!!

[rasputin1952]

41. I shall concede that point!!!!! I was watching a story on the Diebold/Ohio

fiasco when I posted that...:eyes:

[karynnj]

32. The first most important vote is which CAUCUS they choose

He votes to be in the Democratic one. Becoming the majority party is important.

[cali]

37. It's all about getting the majority.

And what makes you repeatedly call him a fundie? Are you simply throwing that out as the worst insult you can think of, or do you know something about his religious background that would qualify him for that label?

Look, I'm glad to be from Vermont where we elect Pat Leahy term after term, and where Bernie Sanders will be elected in November, but I'm mindful that different states have different electorates.

[cboy4]

38. He is opposed to

Federal funding for stem cell research . . .

He is opposed to allowing women the right to choose.

He voted for the constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage.

He is a friggen fundie.

I'm disgusted that he calls himself a democrat.