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Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)

60. I dislike Ben Nelson but I like Pat Leahy and Barbara Boxer.

Tue Dec 27, 2011, 08:36 PM

Dec 2011

Nelson's decision makes it less likely that Dems will hold the Senate.

Nelson screwed us on health care and on (insert complete list here) but he supported Pat Leahy to chair the Judiciary Committee. The ranking Republican, who'll probably become Chair if the Republicans pick up a couple seats net, is Charles Grassley.

Over at Environment and Public Works, Nelson's vote helped Barbara Boxer replace James Inhofe as Chair. Inhofe, one of the leading global-warming deniers in Congress, is still the ranking member, and will probably resume control if there's a Republican majority.

Think of an issue, any issue. Figure out which Senate committee deals with it and look at the committee's roster. Compare the current chair (a Democrat) with the ranking member (a Republican). If you can contemplate the change with equanimity then you're not paying attention.

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MSNBC: Nebraska's Ben Nelson will not seek reelection. [View all] flpoljunkie Dec 2011 OP

More from Politico... flpoljunkie Dec 2011 #1

I'm thrilled JustAnotherGen Dec 2011 #4

+1 cutlassmama Dec 2011 #12

Don't be. TheWraith Dec 2011 #13

Suck it Nelson Hawkowl Dec 2011 #19

He doesn't stand a chance of winning JustAnotherGen Dec 2011 #21

That 'same sex stuff' is a fake out. He Voted YES on a Constitutional ban on marriage Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #23

Useless really kenfrequed Dec 2011 #24

+1 Beavker Dec 2011 #28

Useless = I support a hard right Republican in Nebraska joeglow3 Dec 2011 #50

Logical fallacy kenfrequed Dec 2011 #80

Forgot to add "Deciding vote on Bush Tax Cuts" and "Voted against raising debt ceiling". bullwinkle428 Dec 2011 #37

Eff Nelson and it is good he is gone. harun Dec 2011 #47

It's not like you can ONLY win as a Dem in Nebraska Ken Burch Dec 2011 #74

He was with us on Medicare and Soc Sec and those votes are coming and he'll be gone! SugarShack Dec 2011 #82

Serious my ass, Nelson is a democrat in name only stop your BULLSHIT Politico bigdarryl Dec 2011 #9

Name one... brooklynite Dec 2011 #18

So JustAnotherGen Dec 2011 #22

If the Party does not know who to run, that is a huge failure on their part. Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #25

You already have said you lived your whole life in a blue state. You clearly dont understand what stevenleser Dec 2011 #42

Wrong wrong wrong wrong ChairmanAgnostic Dec 2011 #72

Obama won the southeastern NE district that includes Omaha and Lincoln Creideiki Dec 2011 #71

...and lost the state by 120,000 votes. brooklynite Dec 2011 #73

Scott Kleeb did run for senate Omaha Steve Dec 2011 #52

Progressive Democrats in Nebraska... progressoid Dec 2011 #57

Good riddance to bad rubbish! n/t RoccoR5955 Dec 2011 #10

Let's see how all the folks who claim it's easy to replace Blue Dogs with "real" Dems now. dmallind Dec 2011 #17

but why waste resources that can go to winnable races, such as Warren's, Berkley's, Heitkamp's etc. liskddksil Dec 2011 #20

Because of the 79%. Who gets to lead the Senate and committees depends on numbers too. nt dmallind Dec 2011 #29

which is why we need use our limited resources to help the candidates that can win, so we can hold liskddksil Dec 2011 #34

Good call....Nelson is another Lieberman....asshole. russspeakeasy Dec 2011 #70

And what did he do on those committees? kenfrequed Dec 2011 #35

And his far right GOP replacement? How do you think they will vote on those committees? nt stevenleser Dec 2011 #43

You miss the point. The Senate numbers determine who leads and forms committees dmallind Dec 2011 #49

But the trade off seems to be... kenfrequed Dec 2011 #83

Sometimes things need to get worse before they can get better. Nelson is a sell-out to the 1% if harun Dec 2011 #48

How long until he passes through the revolving door and reappears as a healthco lobbyist? Bozita Dec 2011 #2

Minimum five years under the new law, I believe. nt TheWraith Dec 2011 #3

Really??!! kenfrequed Dec 2011 #36

Dunno about loopholes, but I'm pretty sure the waiting period for lobbyist is 5 years now. TheWraith Dec 2011 #38

Well then... kenfrequed Dec 2011 #79

GOOD RIDENCE!!! bigdarryl Dec 2011 #5

Say Bye Bye to that seat SadPanda Dec 2011 #6

Why don't you wait and see who's running on our side before you CHICKEN OUT!!! bigdarryl Dec 2011 #11

Why don't you face facts? OmahaBlueDog Dec 2011 #14

And that fact, if it is a fact, is a failure on the part of the Party leadership, national Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #26

Explain how you get a "deep bench" when you cannot even elect a Democratic janitor. joeglow3 Dec 2011 #51

I am happy kenfrequed Dec 2011 #31

+1000 PassingFair Dec 2011 #33

+1Brazillion Myrina Dec 2011 #39

And that will change the vote on key issues...how? Pab Sungenis Dec 2011 #63

He voted against the Dem agenda a little over half the time OmahaBlueDog Dec 2011 #75

I've said it before and will say it again. Pab Sungenis Dec 2011 #78

Go big red. JEB Dec 2011 #7

Nelson has no balls. At least go down fighting instead of quitting. craigmatic Dec 2011 #8

He's been running a PR -type series of TV ads for months OmahaBlueDog Dec 2011 #16

This is a sincere question from a life time blue state guy... Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #27

Yes. They have a different concept of what it means to be a Democrat. Best evidence of this stevenleser Dec 2011 #40

Sincere answer OmahaBlueDog Dec 2011 #76

Good slay Dec 2011 #15

WOW, check out the headlines over at HuffPo right now! Bozita Dec 2011 #30

One of the actual headlines on HuffPo: DeathToTheOil Dec 2011 #32

LOL, I have to agree. harun Dec 2011 #45

kick this one up OKNancy Dec 2011 #41

Which now makes 7 Democrats and 2 Republicans retiring from The Sentate - LIST on link below Tx4obama Dec 2011 #44

Excellent news. Horrible, horrible Senator. harun Dec 2011 #46

PLEASE CHANGE FORMAT to go with LBN rules.Thank you. uppityperson Dec 2011 #53

Good riddance to bad rubbish! perdita9 Dec 2011 #54

Best News... itsnotaboutu Dec 2011 #55

He is a selfish stupid old man. jonthebru Dec 2011 #56

So, the seat will continue to be held by a Republican. MrSlayer Dec 2011 #58

"I know all there is to know about the holograms"...sung to the Crying Game Safetykitten Dec 2011 #59

I dislike Ben Nelson but I like Pat Leahy and Barbara Boxer. Jim Lane Dec 2011 #60

Good riddance to that traitorous piece of garbage. [nt] Jester Messiah Dec 2011 #61

Nelson not seeking re-election Pab Sungenis Dec 2011 #62

A republican will replace his seat and outside the letter we won't be able to tell the difference LynneSin Dec 2011 #64

One more Dino DonCoquixote Dec 2011 #65

Just now Laurence O'Donnell just said that Bob Kerry DIDN'T rule out run nt julian09 Dec 2011 #68

He was joking (imitating reporting on Chris Christie) emulatorloo Dec 2011 #84

Yippeekiyo! lonestarnot Dec 2011 #66

see ya, bennie....don't let the door hit you in the ass....n/t unkachuck Dec 2011 #67

Nelson's Fate Was Sealed DallasNE Dec 2011 #69

I knew Bruning was the guy when they ran a massive ad camaign for his unopposed run for AG OmahaBlueDog Dec 2011 #77

Good riddance lsewpershad Dec 2011 #81