Nebraska Politics

Ricketts Family Values

2005-11-15T22:32:00.000-08:00

I read with interest about Pete Ricketts' "Nebraska Values Tour" in the Omaha World Herald. You can read about Ricketts' advertising blitz here: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2066631.

We've written here before about Mrs. Ricketts and her values that are anything but Nebraska Values (i.e. pro-choice, etc.) In Ricketts advertising he specifically talks about the values of his family. As more and more people learn of Mrs. Ricketts' left leaning views, Pete's family values will become more of an issue in this campaign.

Nelson Supporting Alito ... Almost

2005-11-02T12:44:00.000-08:00

Nelson continues his fickle ways. Here are a couple of links regarding today's meeting between Senator Ben Nelson and Judge Alito.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051102/ap_on_go_su_co/alito_3

And more at www.omaha.com

Nelson on Alito

2005-11-01T15:32:00.000-08:00

FOX – Sen. Ben Nelson

http://www.shadowtv.com/redirect/notification.jsp?vid=666b9baf352d9870421ccdaccedfeee0

Will Hagel and Nelson Support Judge Alito's Nomination

2005-10-31T13:48:00.000-08:00

Both of our Senators have remained silent so far. We are watching to see if either of them will support the President's nomination.

Another Nebraska Political Blog

2005-10-24T20:34:00.000-07:00

A new Nebraska political blog has been created. We recommend that you check it out.

http://www.necitizen.com/weblog

We will continue posting our thoughts and hope that our blog can help their blog. Nebraska politics will gain much from a free flow of debate and ideas on the internet. Additionally, it will challenge main stream media to focus on the real issues in the upcoming elections. We hope that we can hold reporters and MSM accountable and ultimately keep Nebraskans updated on the hot issues as they arise.

Can Bob Kerry Help the D's Win in CD3?

2005-10-24T05:06:00.000-07:00

Former Governor and Senator Bob Kerry has signed on as Democrat candidate Scott Kleeb's Campaign Treasurer, a high profile role for the former statewide elected offical who currently lives in New York.
Will it help? Kleeb is certainly putting in an impressive effort to win in this overwhelmingly R congressional district. If national trends are any indication, this is will be an Election Year where Democrats can make a run for Republican seats like CD3. Any Democrat running for this seat is a long shot but we think Republicans should consider who the best candidate would be to run against the Democrat rancher.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2049610

Hagel to Introduce Soft Immigration Policy

2005-10-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

The Omaha World Herald printed an article this morning that mentions Senator Hagel's intention to propose an illegal immigration policy that can be perceived by many to be soft on the issue. Read the article here: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1638&u_sid=2050862

Immigration policy is a hot issue in the upcoming election. The majority of people in the state agree that there is a problem that must be resolved. However, there are those in the state who are hardline on the issue and think that illegal immigrants cost more than they are worth and should be sent back to whereever they came from. On the other hand, there are those, many of whom work in the agriculture field who understand that illegal immigrants play an important role in our state's economy.

Hagel's position is not unlike his comments in the past. It is of more interest to us on this site of where many of the state and federal candidates in the state will come down on this issue in the months to come. All candidates in the state will be forced to take a public stand on this important and hot election year issue.

Ricketts Dad Contributed to Ben Nelson This Year

2005-10-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

We were surprised to learn that Peter Ricketts' wife does not share his views on important cultural issues like the Right to Life (although Peter has not been completely clear on his views at this point in the campaign we expect that his vague pro-life comments during his announcement means he is pro-life). We are further surprised to learn that Mrs. Ricketts has donated money twice in the past year to the Democratic National Committee. Furthermore, quick research at campaign finance website www.opensecrets.org reveals that not only has Rickett's wife donated to democrat causes, but his family, most notably his father, have donated significant contributions to Senator Ben Nelson, the man he hopes to unseat in November of 2006. It seems curious that Ricketts would run against a Senator that his family has so outspokenly supported. Ricketts' family has even contributed money to Ben Nelson this year. http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?txtName=ricketts&NumOfThou=0&txt2006=Y&submit=Go%21

Ricketts Pro-Choice?

2005-10-20T19:52:00.000-07:00

Depends on which Ricketts you're talking about. We hear that Pete Ricketts, millionaire candidate in the GOP primary to challenge US Senator Ben Nelson, has told prominent Republicans that his wife is very much pro-choice. We wonder how well this will play in pro-life, conservative Nebraska, and wonder even more if this will hurt Ricketts in the GOP primary. Perhaps his wife's stance on this issue will not matter one bit, but we have a feeling that pro-lifers in our state will have a hard time supporting a candidate whose wife holds this position.

Finance Reports

2005-10-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

No big suprises in the money race.

Cash on Hand:
Senate Race
Democrat Ben Nelson - $2.6 Million
Pete Ricketts - $297,000 (raised $372,000)
Don Stenberg - $12,566 (raised $92,443 )
David Kramer - $88,000 (raised $172,000)

3rd Congressional District
Republican Candidates:
Jay Vavricek - $59,302 on hand, raised about $61,000 ($78,420 raised total for this cycle)
John Hanson - $37,577 on hand, raised $68,920
Adrian Smith - $36,576 on hand, raised $55,724
David Harris - $4,206 on hand, raised $6,275 ($11,685 raised total for this cycle)

Democrat Candidate:
Scott Kleeb - $26,933 on hand, raised $34,830

Check back soon for some analysis of these finance reports.

Don Stenberg: "Why I'm Running for the United States Senate"

2005-10-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

Opinion- Editorial

For Immediate Release: Contact: Dan Parsons
October 11, 2005 Phone: 402-580-2321

Why I’m Running for the United States Senate
It’s Time for Change in Washington
BY DON STENBERG

Earlier this month, my wife Sue and I embarked on a 2-day 12-city tour across Nebraska to formally announce my candidacy for the United States Senate.

Prior to this month’s tour, I spent the past 5 months traveling the state listening to Nebraskans. The overwhelming message I heard was it is time for change in Washington – and I couldn’t agree more.

The leadership of the national Democratic Party has been captured by the “blame America first” crowd who want to take America in the wrong direction.

Unfortunately, at the same time, many Republicans in Washington have abandoned basic Republican principles of smaller government, restrained federal spending, and local control of education. Republicans in Washington need to be reminded why they were sent there in the first place.

My twelve years as Nebraska’s Attorney General establish me as a proven conservative, who Nebraskans know and trust. As Attorney General, rather than going along to get along, I earned a reputation for doing what I thought was right. That is exactly what we need in Washington today.

Nebraskans know that when I say I will work to protect our families from terrorists, to reduce energy prices, to cut taxes, to rein in out of control federal judges, and to reduce federal spending and regulation, that I will cast Nebraska’s vote to keep those promises.

Our highest responsibility is the defense of the nation – to protect the lives and safety of our families and our neighbors. I am proud to stand in unwavering support of our men and women in uniform.

President Bush is right when he says that we must take the fight to the terrorists wherever they may be found. If we don’t, the terrorists will surely bring the fight to us – just as they did on 9/11, 2001.

I disagree with those who say we are losing the War On Terror. Leaving Iraq before we finish the job would result in the terrorists gaining enormous financial assets.
And their “victory” over the United States would gain them radical new supporters throughout the world.

The other key issues that must be addressed in Washington are summed up in these points: (for more details on these and other issues, visit my website - www.stenbergfornebraska.com)

· We urgently need a common sense national energy policy that will open parts of Alaska and offshore to oil and gas development, that will promote the construction of needed oil refineries, and promote renewable fuels like ethanol and bio-diesel that we can produce right here in Nebraska.
· It’s time to restore democracy by putting judges on the Supreme Court, and other courts, who understand that public policy decisions are supposed to be made by our elected representatives, not unelected judges.
· We must make the President’s tax cuts permanent.

On each of these issues, the leadership of the national Democratic Party is working to take America in the wrong direction. And Ben Nelson continues to work to put these people in charge of the government of the United States.

At the same time, many Republicans in Washington have lost their way and no longer support smaller government, restrained federal spending, or local control of education.

Since an election is approaching, Democrat Senator Ben Nelson will be doing everything he can to convince Nebraskans that he is not really a Democrat. But the fact is, time after time, he has done his best to put liberal Democrats in control of the government of the United States.

For example, Ben Nelson served as the Nebraska Chairman of Al Gore’s campaign for President. He voted to make liberal Democrat Tom Daschle the Majority Leader of the United States Senate. And, through his political committee, Nelson contributed $10,000 to Daschle’s 2004 campaign and $5,000 to ultra-liberal Democrat Barbara Boxer’s campaign.

Nebraska is not well represented by a man who wants liberals like Al Gore to be our President and Tom Daschle to run the United States Senate. If Ben Nelson is reelected, he will continue to work to put this blame America first crowd in charge of the government of the United States. Democrat Zell Miller walked away from this crowd—Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson has not!

It is time for change in Washington. It is time for new leadership. It is time to send to Washington a proven conservative leader Nebraskans know and trust. That proven conservative leader is Don Stenberg.

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Paid for by Stenberg for Senate 2006 Committee

Dan Parsons, Parsons Public Relations, Inc., (402) 580-2321, parsonspr@neb.rr.com

3rd District Politics

2005-10-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

The Republican primary in the 3rd congressional district is currently gaining as much if not more attention than the Republican US Senate primary race. We'll be watching to see who raised the most money when campaign finance reports are submitted this week to the FEC.

We hear that Grand Island Mayor Vavricek is telling friends he is having a hard time raising money. Vavrieck will have a hard time in this race regardless as a moderate Republican with strong ties to Democrats like Ben Nelson, who he claims as a strong friend, even listed on Senator Nelson's official website http://bennelson.senate.gov/about/profile.cfm. That won't play well among these conservative Republican primary voters.

State Senator Adrian Smith is holding a fundraiser in Lincoln with country music star Sara Evans. http://www.joinadrian.com/sara.htm

Meanwhile, we are aware that former District Director for Congressman Tom Osborne, John Hanson, is holding a fundraiser in Washington, DC next week with his former boss. We have a feeling that a fundraiser with Tom Osborne will raise more money than one with Sara Evans and is much more impressive to the primary voters in this district.

Stay tuned for more information about this race.

Good move?

2005-10-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

Political pundits in the state seem to be agreeing that Congressman Osborne made a brilliant and sound move in referring to State Auditor Kate Witek as his running mate in the 2006 Gubernatorial contest. Striking at Governor Heineman's base, this is not good news for the incumbent. Furthermore, a detractor in the ranks of state government suggests that those who are most familiar with state government believe the Congressman would be a better Governor than the current one.

What are your thoughts?

Independent thrust fuels Stenberg bid

2005-10-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

http://journalstar.com/articles/2005/10/09/local/doc4349a86bc25f7160691386.txt

Lincoln Journal Star
Oct. 9, 2005
Don Walton

Don Stenberg lit a fire under his Senate campaign last week.
First came a declaration of conservative principles that disassociated him from the Republican record in Washington and effectively erased any image of him as a rubber stamp for President Bush.Next, Stenberg sent letters to 525 Republican leaders and activists throughout the state addressing the question of “electability” that has been used against him.Stenberg lost an earlier challenge to Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson in 2000.
However, it was “the closest U.S. Senate race in Nebraska history,” Stenberg wrote members of the GOP’s governing state central committee, delegates to the most recent Republican state convention, officeholders and donors.Prior to that loss, Stenberg noted, he was elected statewide three times as attorney general.John Thune, John Ensign, Jim Talent and Arlen Specter all won Senate seats after prior losses in statewide races for the Senate or governor, Stenberg pointed out.“In each of these cases, previous losses were stepping stones to future victories,” he argued.Stenberg’s Republican primary opponents might have been hoping he’d try to “sit on his lead” as the best-known candidate rather than venture outside the box, stir the waters or campaign aggressively. Last week was an indication none of that may occur.On earlier travels throughout the state, Stenberg found Nebraska’s conservative Republican base upset with Washington Republicans. Just as he is.Nebraska Republicans let Stenberg know they support the war in Iraq, but oppose the apparent abandonment of fiscally conservative government by a Republican president and a Republican Congress.Just as he does.Stenberg’s supporters believe that’s a good fit.

Osborne Selects Kate Witek as Running Mate

2005-10-10T09:37:00.000-07:00

News Release

October 10, 2006 For more information
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dave Buchholz 402.462.6226 or
402.469.8044

Osborne Selects Kate Witek as Running Mate

OMAHA, NE—Gubernatorial candidate Congressman Tom Osborne has tapped the Nebraska State Auditor as his running mate in the Republican primary. At a news conference this morning in Omaha, Osborne announced that Kate Witek has accepted his invitation to run as his Lieutenant Governor in the primary, which will be held May 9, 2006.

If Osborne is elected Governor, Witek would become the first Republican female Lieutenant Governor in Nebraska history.

“I am truly honored and extremely excited to campaign with a world-class leader who is dedicated to uniting Nebraskans—and raising the overall level of performance of our state,” she said. “Tom Osborne is the only candidate for Governor with a program of action—and the experience and proven leadership to accomplish a transformation of state government that will make Nebraska a world-class, affordable, high-performance service provider.”

Witek, 50, was elected to the constitutional office of Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts in November 1998 and was re-elected in 2002.

Prior to her election as Auditor, she served six years in the Nebraska Legislature as the state senator representing District 31 in southwest Omaha. She served on a number of legislative committees including Banking, Commerce and Insurance; Government, Military and Veterans Affairs; Nebraska Retirement Systems; and Health and Human Services.

During her remarks, Witek quoted President John F. Kennedy: “There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.” Witek went on to say that Nebraska government is currently in a state of “comfortable inaction.”

“Inaction allows a 7% annual increase in government spending and settles for the long-range risk of having one of the highest tax burdens in the country,” she said.

Noting that he is the only gubernatorial candidate with legislative experience, Osborne said that Witek would bring that and more to the role of Lieutenant Governor. “Kate has proven to be a choice of the people, having been repeatedly elected by her Nebraska constituents both in her previous legislative district and statewide as auditor,” Osborne said. “Her background, experience and intimate knowledge of state government will have a tremendous impact on our goal to improve government efficiency, control state spending and reduce the tax burden on all Nebraskans.”

Osborne noted that Witek has dramatically improved the effectiveness and efficiency of the State Auditor’s office during her time at the helm through innovation, strong management skills and dedication.

“Kate will bring unquestioned integrity, values and work ethic to the Lieutenant Governor’s office,” Osborne added. “She is not afraid to challenge the status quo—and she believes, as I do, that Nebraskans are not satisfied with ‘pretty good’ or ‘good enough.’ With Kate on our team, I am convinced more than ever that we can transform Nebraska into a world-class performer on every level.”

Witek echoed Osborne’s remarks. “Congressman Osborne and I share the same vision that government should be a high-performance service provider,” she said. “If elected, one of our first initiatives will be to conduct a focused assessment of state government within our first 120 days in office. The goal of that assessment will be to formulate and recommend practical changes to government agencies and programs that reduce total costs of operations, increase productivity, improve service and make Nebraska government more accessible, responsible and accountable to the citizens of the state.”

She added that a similar review conducted recently in California resulted in more than 1200 recommendations to streamline government that have the potential to save $32 billion over the next five years. “We can do this in Nebraska. We need to do this in Nebraska. And with Tom Osborne as Governor, we will do this in Nebraska,” Witek said.

Osborne remarked on the announcement of Witek as his running mate at this time. “When Nebraskans go to the polls on May 9th, they deserve to know who is on our team when they enter the voting booth,” he said. “When I identified Kate as my running mate, I felt that it was important to let Nebraskans have the opportunity to meet her during the campaign and discover the value, knowledge and leadership she will bring to the role of Lieutenant Governor.”

Witek added that she wanted the announcement made sooner than later as well. “Once I accepted the Congressman’s invitation to join him, I wanted to give Nebraskans interested running for the State Auditor’s position plenty of time to enter the race and run the type of campaign that will allow voters to make an informed choice on election day,” she said.

Witek, who lives in Omaha, is an executive committee member of the Nebraska Republican Party. She is a member of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers—and serves as chairman of that group’s Excellence in Accountability Awards Committee. She is also a member of Women Executives in State Government and St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church. She has also been a member of the Millard Jaycees and the Nebraska Motor Carriers Association.

Witek was born in Detroit, Michigan and attended Eastern Michigan University.
She and her husband of more than 30 years, Charles, have two children.

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Nebraska Politics

2005-10-10T09:19:00.000-07:00

Check back often to find the latest news in Nebraska Politics.