MyDD :: Primary Challenge Ben Nelson?

Primary Challenge Ben Nelson?

by JeremiahTheMessiah, Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 04:34:41 PM EST

We all are expecting this to happen in Nebraska.

Monday, September 10th, 2007: Chuck Hagel announces his retirement at the end of this term.

Next 2-3 Months: Three Republican Senate candidates announce and fight each other over who gets to be the nominee. (State AG Jon Buning, Former Governor Mike Johanns, Former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub).
One Democrat Announces (Former Governor and Senator Bob Kerrey)

There is a lot of Arguing back and forth as to whether appreciate the candidacy of Bob Kerrey or not... And while looking up some information about Bob Kerrey, I came across a diary post by "kos" on Dailykos.

Full Post Here: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/8 /24/124053/185

Below I have Kerrey's 1998 interest group ratings. In parenthesis, I'm including Ben Nelson's 2004 numbers for comparison purposes. (Nelson replaced Kerrey in the Senate.)

Americans for Democratic Action (liberal group)
95 (65)

ACLU
86 (33)

AFSCME (labor union)
100 (86)

League of Conservation Voters
100 (67)

Concord Coalition (fiscal conservatives, pro-balanced budget)
86 (81)

National Taxpayers Union (conservative anti-tax group)
22 (34)

Chamber of Commerce (conservative pro-big business group)
56 (81)

American Conservative Union
0 (52)

Christian Coalition
0 (83)

As you can see, 1998 Bob Kerrey's record is decently to the left of Ben Nelson's 2004 record. I don't remember anyone calling for a primary challenge to Ben Nelson for the 2006 elections (but then again I wasn't an avid blog reader back then neither). So it strikes me as hypocritical for people to be harping on Bob Kerrey when (from the records we can compare) is to the left of Ben Nelson.

Am I misrepresenting the opposing views at all? If I am, please correct me.

I believe Bob Kerrey has the ties to create a strong, efficient and effective campaign without taking away from the national scene too much. (Like Amy Klobuchar in 2006. Minnesota is fairly liberal so DSCC was able to cut her off rather early and she did fine when polling showed her up 20 points. The expectation here is that Bob Kerrey's name recognition and popularity can carry him like the state's blue tilt carried Klobuchar in 2006.)

What we should be hoping for is as many bloody primaries on the Republican side as possible. It forces money to be spent in the primary AGAINST Republicans rather than in the General against Dem's. Which is EXACTLY why Idaho is so important to the overall scheme of things, even though we have little opportunity there. (Except Laryy Grant vs Sali in District 1)

Tags: 2008 Senate, Nebraska, Bob Kerrey, Ben Nelson (all tags)

Permalink :: 9 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Primary Challenge Ben Nelson? (none / 0)

Progressives must realize that in order to expand our majority in the U.S. Senate, we need members like Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Sens. John Tester and Max Burns of Montana and now Bob Kerrey of Nebraska. They add to our community and make us a stronger progressive alliance than the GOP, which will use its power to advance its theocratic evangelical agenda onto the U.S. Supreme Court.

by American1989 on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 05:03:38 PM EST

Re: Primary Challenge Ben Nelson? (none / 0)

Max Burns? Conrad's brother on steroids maybe?

lol... Max Baucus

by KainIIIC on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 05:07:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Primary Challenge Ben Nelson? (none / 0)

Tips?

My point is it's extremely hypocritical to complain about Kerrey when there wasn't a blogger driven effort to unseat or replace Nelson. It's also annoying as hell to read people complaining, then of course they say, "Well, it's unlikely, but I'd like Kleeb" Well? So you don't want Kerrey but you've got nobody else? Then stop arguing a pointless arguement!

I just feel this arguement is reoccurring and continues to go in circles... I'm just tired of it.

by JeremiahTheMessiah on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 05:31:32 PM EST

Re: Primary Challenge Ben Nelson? (none / 0)

I live in ID-01. Not sure how much of a pickup opportunity it is this time around, since there will be a Republican presidential candidate at the top of the ticket. I'd like to see our Larries run hard, though, to help set up party infrastructure for '10, when Crapo, Otter, and of course the ID-01 Congressman (Sali? A Sali primary opponent?) are up without a presidential candidate to help them out.

The Wayward Episcopalian

by Transplanted Texan on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 06:18:56 PM EST

Re: Primary Challenge Ben Nelson? (none / 0)

Bloggers looking to get a far left candidate elected in Nebraska need to put down the hotpockets and the WOW can get realistic.

Nebraska is a conservative state. Conservative states have conservative politicians. Also theres nothing wrong with being a conservative democrat. I'm not a conservative democrat but we are a party with multiple factions ans aspects.

by world dictator on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 06:53:30 PM EST

Re: Primary Challenge Ben Nelson? (none / 0)

and get realistic*

by world dictator on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 06:53:53 PM EST

the reason (none / 0)

is that Nelson does not go on TV and trash Democratic positions. So, he votes as he likes, but he is not damaging in the way Lieberman is. And he is from Nebraska. That is why the liberal bloggers do not criticize him.

John McCain is a Bush ally on Social Security.

by John DE on Sat Sep 08, 2007 at 07:14:53 PM EST

Yeah - he's not on MTP dumping on Reid (none / 0)

Nelson is conservative, but so is NE.

by dataguy on Sun Sep 09, 2007 at 09:58:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Failurecrats (none / 0)

It's nonsense, there are those on the left who by their actions show that would rather defeat Democrats than Republicans. They are just the mirror of Lieberman, wasting their time on thinning the ranks rather than expanding to become a super majority with enough progressives to set the agenda.

by Jerome Armstrong on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 08:08:50 AM EST

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