General Discussion

housewolf

(7,252 posts) Wed Dec 28, 2011, 12:24 AM Dec 2011

Something you need to know about Ben Nelson [View all]

Let me first say that I'm no fan of or apologist for Ben Nelson. I have felt all the same disappointment and frustration with him that you have felt. And yet...

He voted with the Dems 82% of the time.

He'd been offered the job of position of Agriculture Secretary by Karl Rove. If he had taken it, the Dems wouldn't have had 60 votes in the Senate from 2008 - 2010.

He was re-elected with 66% of the votes in Nebraska (a very red state) in his last election.

Nebraska is a very red state. The odds of another Democrat winning Nelson's seat are virtually non-existent (unless Bob Kerry would consider running for it)

Ben Nelson didn't vote for Mitch McConnell or any of the Republican agenda (voting "no" on something does not equate to voting 'yes' on the agenda of the opposite party, it means "no, there's something here I can't support&quot

Ben Nelson voted for President Obama's health care reform

Yes, we've all been frustrated with Ben Nelson. Nonetheless, we have much to be thankful for to him. But he's not a Republican. He's WAY better than a Republican would have been or will be.

And if you question that, do some research. Go check his voting record and see for yourself instead of tossing off flip phrases like "he's a Republican anyway so it won't make any difference if he's replaced by a Republican."

Democrats don't vote in lockstep. We never have and we never will. The Dem constituency is too diverse to allow for that to ever be the case.

It will make a difference if a Republican takes his seat, a big difference.

52 replies

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Something you need to know about Ben Nelson [View all] housewolf Dec 2011 OP

With you 100%. elleng Dec 2011 #1

Don't you mean 82% ? B Calm Dec 2011 #21

Exon, Zorinsky and Kerrey were elected to a number of terms hfojvt Dec 2011 #2

Well if the rumors are right, they've still got the old Kerrey... nt TheWraith Dec 2011 #5

actually about Kerrey hfojvt Dec 2011 #12

Kerry was actually a bit better dsc Dec 2011 #46

Lawrence said he called Bob Kerry today housewolf Dec 2011 #6

He's perennially thinking about running frazzled Dec 2011 #8

I hope the Democrats have someone ready to step up BlueToTheBone Dec 2011 #3

Kicked and recommended. TheWraith Dec 2011 #4

Thank you for that housewolf Dec 2011 #10

And I'd rather have 12 Lincoln Chaffees or Jim Jeffords than 1 Ben Nelson. PassingFair Dec 2011 #30

Elizabeth Warren would win handily in Nebraska MannyGoldstein Dec 2011 #15

Keep telling yourself that if you like, but you're wrong. TheWraith Dec 2011 #17

You just definitively redefined the word Dewey Finn Dec 2011 #20

You are woefully incorrect in that assessment. MineralMan Dec 2011 #34

I seriously doubt that Warren could win in Nebraska proud2BlibKansan Dec 2011 #41

You are a Kansan. Who are democratic players in your state that can run a winning race? bluestate10 Dec 2011 #51

Not many. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2011 #52

He also happened to be the ONLY Democrat to sign Grover's No Taxes Pledge. Bandit Dec 2011 #49

I'm getting fed up with the 'they're all the same' meme. Who does it serve? freshwest Dec 2011 #7

I'm tired of it, too housewolf Dec 2011 #11

And orchestrated by the corporate media and swallowed whole. freshwest Dec 2011 #13

He wasn't going to win. We would lose the seat even if he didn't retire. LiberalAndProud Dec 2011 #9

66% support from a red state is all I need to know that he is not a real dem! Logical Dec 2011 #14

So you'd rather have a "real Repub" in the seat? housewolf Dec 2011 #16

Ben Nelson, is not who I want in office. And his statement about cooperation is a joke..... Logical Dec 2011 #27

Your response is all I need to know that you have a (fortunately) unique take on being "logical". Dewey Finn Dec 2011 #18

By your logic, you rule out ANY Democrat possible ever being both a "real" karynnj Dec 2011 #37

Want me to send you a list of things Nelson fought against? Then you can decide? Logical Dec 2011 #38

I was not speaking of Nelson per se, but re-read the op karynnj Dec 2011 #47

But let's not forget he was elected to represent the people, NOT the Democratic party proud2BlibKansan Dec 2011 #42

I agree. He was elected to represent the Red state of Nebraska. Which he did! Logical Dec 2011 #44

And if he hadn't represented Nebraska, he wouldn't have been re-elected. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2011 #48

I agree with you 100%. But it still does not make him a Dem. At all. Logical Dec 2011 #50

yeah. it's the conservative voters that I hate RainDog Dec 2011 #19

I'm with you housewolf. joshcryer Dec 2011 #22

i absolutely could not stand him CreekDog Dec 2011 #23

K & R ellisonz Dec 2011 #24

Well said. Betty Karlson Dec 2011 #25

I can't believe ANY state is still red Tsiyu Dec 2011 #26

I hear you housewolf etherealtruth Dec 2011 #28

Yeah, well maybe the experience with "the craziest of right wing nuts" will cause blow-back. PassingFair Dec 2011 #29

I don't know etherealtruth Dec 2011 #31

What positions does Banishek hold that Stupak didn't? PassingFair Dec 2011 #32

Conservative dem etherealtruth Dec 2011 #33

You can work towards blow-back and a stealth pro-choice candidate. PassingFair Dec 2011 #35

I'm not making excuses ... etherealtruth Dec 2011 #36

He supported a Constitutional amendment to oppose marriage equality Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #39

Same thing can be said about Dems in other states too. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2011 #40

He opposes the most fundamental human rights lunatica Dec 2011 #43

IF a Republican takes his seat??? progressoid Dec 2011 #45