Mike Johanns: Against The Farm Bill Before I Was For It

Mike Johanns has started to realize that the position he took as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture - opposing farm subsidies - is politically untenable in Nebraska. So, he's doing what any good Nebraska Republican does when presented with a contradiction in their record: He's ignoring it.

See, President Bush is about to veto the Farm Bill - an imperfect bill that nonetheless provides needed relief to Nebraska farmers - because it doesn't fit the model that he and Mike Johanns laid out. Johanns abandoned work on the Farm Bill to run for Senate, but while he was still at the USDA, advised Bush to veto the Democratic version of the Farm Bill that was being considered by the House.

Now, Johanns says, he would have voted for the bill.

Nope, no contradiction there.

Saying one thing in Washington and then coming back to Nebraska and saying another? Why, I do believe that's what Nebraskans are sick and tired of. Enough of Washington "Values." We need more than that from our leaders.

Please, Don't Let This Man Be Our Mayor (Again).

Hal Daub is announcing that he will run for Mayor in 2009.

Daub's opponent in the 1995 election, and the 1997 election, which he almost lost, got about 80% of the vote in her state legislative primary yesterday.

Daub's opponent in the 2001 election, which he did lose, just secured a 25 year commitment to keep the College World Series in Omaha. Now Daub wants to challenge Fahey.

Really? Do you remember what city government was like when Hal Daub was mayor? Do you really want to go back to that?

One election at a time, I suppose... But let's not forget our history.

The Credibility Gap

The choice for Nebraska Democrats who will vote on May 13 is becoming clear.

In the last week, Scott Kleeb's Republican opponent in the Democratic primary has aired an ad attacking Kleeb as an "academic," backed out on a debate in heavily African-American North Omaha, and triggered the "Millionaire's Amendment" by loaning his campaign $450,000 - or more than 82% of his total contributions so far.

As a Republican running in the Democratic primary, Tony Raimondo has consistently shown his lack of credibility on the issues. Fortunately for Nebraska Democrats, there is a real alternative.

Scott Kleeb knows the importance of listening to voters. It was the centerpiece of his campaign for Congress in 2006, and it is the centerpiece of this campaign for United States Senate.

He is not a career politician like Mike Johanns, and running for Senate is not about a stepping stone for Scott Kleeb. It is about fundamentally changing the way things are done in Nebraska. And while all three candidates talk about the need for change, Scott Kleeb is the only candidate who can deliver on that change.

Mike Johanns and Tony Raimondo are fundamentally incapable of doing that. As a member of the Bush's cabinet, Johanns would continue those failed and disastrous policies that have precipitated this need for change. As a Republican who was afraid to take Johanns on in his own primary, Raimondo would not be able to take on the interests that block change in Washington.

It's this fundamental gap - the credibility gap - that defines this race for United States Senate. On issue after issue, Raimondo has shown that he lacks the credibility needed to represent Nebraskans.

He criticizes Johanns as a Washington politician with close ties to George W. Bush. He criticizes George Bush's economic policies, but he supported those policies when Bush nominated him as "manufacturing czar" in 2004.

He criticizes Kleeb for "dodging" a debate that both attended on April 26, but he is the only candidate who has dropped out of a scheduled debate.

He talks at length about how the Republican Party left him. He says he became disillusioned with his party, but less than a year ago, he was a George Bush Republican who was running for United States Senate and donating thousands of dollars to the NRSC and Nebraska Republicans like Lee Terry and Adrian Smith.

Now, he wants Nebraska Democrats to believe he'll give Mike Johanns a strong challenge. He wants Nebraskans to believe that he'll change Washington. But all he has to offer is more of the same.

A change...

This site is going to change focus for the immediate future. I know most of the small audience of this blog read my work at NNN, and most are probably aware that I stepped down from that blog on Monday. As of today, this site will begin to focus less on national politics and random issues and more of exactly what I was writing at NNN - Nebraska politics.

Scott Kleeb vs. an Empty Chair

A pretty humorous press release from the Kleeb campaign today:

What: A One-On-None “Debate”

When: Tonight, Wednesday May 7th, 6:00 – 7:00pm

Where: CTI Channel 22/Qwest 69, Omaha

Who: Scott Kleeb vs. An Empty Chair

Why: Mr. Kleeb is honoring his commitment to Douglas County and North Omaha despite his opponent’s cancellation

Tonight, Democrat Scott Kleeb will take the stage for an unusual event. After agreeing to discuss the issues with Mr. Kleeb tonight, Tony Raimondo abruptly backed out of the debate.

The Douglas County Democratic Party sponsored tonight's "debate," which will air live on CTI 22/Qwest 69 at 6pm. During the hour-long, live telecast, Mr. Kleeb will take questions from both moderator Bill King and Omaha residents.

"Scott Kleeb keeps his word. He made a commitment to North Omaha families tonight and he will honor that commitment," said Kleeb's Communications Director, Joe Zepecki. "Tony Raimondo owes the people of Omaha an explanation: where is he?"

It's Over, He's The Nominee

The conventional wisdom is shifting, finally, after Obama's resounding victory in North Carolina and narrow loss in Indiana last night.

George McGovern - who is not currently a superdelegate, but will likely be the add-on elected at South Dakota's June convention - endorsed Obama today, saying it's time for the party to unite. Another superdelegate switched from Clinton to Obama today, and Obama's campaign says the magic number to clinch the nomination is 170.

The math is virtually impenetrable for the Clinton campaign at this point, and in 13 days Barack Obama will clinch a majority of pledged delegates. By Memorial Day, Obama will win a majority of the delegates required to clinch the nomination. By the last primary on June 3, Clinton will drop out and endorse Obama.

And the winner...

Of the award for stupidest thing you can possibly do on the eve of a primary goes to this guy, a Republican Congressional candidate in Indiana who evidently thought it was a good idea to go speak at a convention of Neo-Nazis celebrating Hitler's birthday. The accompanying visual would be comical if it weren't actually true.

Lee Terry, Crime Fighter

Sometimes, you just can't help but laugh.

And, We Reach The Realm Of Ridiculous

Miami threatening UNO over their use of a similar-looking logo.

Yeah, because they should really be threatened by our tiny Division 2 school.

Morons.

The Reality TV Debate

I don't know if I've ever seen a debate quite like that. Absolutely disgusting. 45 minutes into the debate, and they had yet to ask a single policy question.

Another Debate?

Yeah, another one between Barack and Hillary tonight. My patience for these is wearing thin.