Democrats: Spend Like Drunken Sailors Today, Give the Bill to the Kids!

The White House Budget Office has announced that it anticipates a $9 TRILLION cumulative deficit from 2010-2019--$2 TRILLION more than it estimated this past May. Also anticipated is a doubling of our national debt by 2019.

Simply taking a look at the national debt clock demonstrates why we need to be concerned. The Democrats are now in charge of Washington. They have the keys, they are in the driver's seat, and their agenda of nationalizing industries and expanding the size, scope and cost of government is driving our country into bankruptcy.

With each passing day I grow more and more concerned about the future of our country under the rule of the Democrat Party. My daughters--now ages 11, 8 and 6--will have to work harder and longer, just to try to pay off the debts we are creating for them.

Simply put: It's irresponsible, and it must stop. And sending more Democrats to Washington at this pivotal point in our nation's history is absolutely the wrong thing to do.

More Evidence that 2010 Will Be A GREAT Year for the NEGOP

We conducted another listening session this evening, this time in West Point with Republicans in Legislative District 16. The facility (Nielsen Center) was fantastic and the turnout even better. We started at 6:30 p.m. and people were still showing up at 8:00 p.m. Farmers. Business owners. Veterans. Retirees. Families. All were gravely concerned about the direction the Democrats are taking our country, and committed to working their tails off for Republican candidates in the 2010 elections.

It's clear that the Democrat policies of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have energized Republican voters in ways I could not have thought possible. Many thanks to Pelosi and her liberal ilk for getting hard-working taxpayers and families interested once again.

This is also the second meeting in a row where voters expressed disdain for the 2 Ben Nelsons: The Nebraska Ben Nelson, who tries to tell us he's working for us, and the Washington Ben Nelson who goes to Washington and votes against our interests. He's got a couple of more years to keep playing up this facade until he retires or is shown the door by Nebraska voters.

Those attending committed to organizing a 4 county Republican event this November featuring Senator Johanns, Governor Heineman, Attorney General Bruning, and the rest of the Republican ticket. Should be a great event!

Thanks to all who attended. Now let's roll up our sleeves and get to work in District 16 in replacing anti-death penalty Democrat Sen. Kent Rogert!

Hello Democrats: Fix Medicare First

The Wall St. Journal had a thought-provoking editorial in its Thursday edition on President Obama's contradictions on health care reform, including his duplicity on Medicare.

An excerpt:

Maybe you're starting to fret about all those bureaucrats and bean-counters again. You shouldn't, according to Mr. Obama. "The only thing I would point is, is that Medicare is a government program that works really well for our seniors," he noted in Colorado. After all, as he said in New Hampshire, "If we're able to get something right like Medicare, then there should be a little more confidence that maybe the government can have a role—not the dominant role, but a role—in making sure the people are treated fairly when it comes to insurance."

The government didn't get Medicare right, though: Just ask the President. The entitlement is "going broke" (Colorado) and "unsustainable" and "running out of money" (New Hampshire). And it's "in deep trouble if we don't do something, because as you said, money doesn't grow on trees" (Montana).

So the health-care status quo needs top-to-bottom reform, except for the parts that "you" happen to like. Government won't interfere with patients and their physicians, considering that the new panel of experts who will make decisions intended to reduce tests and treatments doesn't count as government. But Medicare shows that government involvement isn't so bad, aside from the fact that spending is out of control—and that program needs top-to-bottom reform too.

Voters aren't stupid. The true reason ObamaCare is in trouble isn't because "folks aren't listening," but because they are.

Attention Democrats: Medicare will soon be bankrupt--Fix Medicare first. If you get that right, then let's move on to fixing what ails America's health care system beyond Medicare.

2010: Shaping Up to be a Great Year for Nebraska Republicans

Last night we held a listening session in Aurora. We sent out a few invites, made a few calls, and we had a GREAT turnout. People were even showing up after the meeting was adjourned.

One of the items on our agenda was to discuss current Democrat State Senator Annette Dubas, who currently "represents" District 34 (which includes Aurora). Senator Dubas is a likable person, but the reality is she votes against her district and sides with the liberal special interests in Lincoln. There are a lot of nice people that I wouldn't want representing me in the Nebraska Legislature. Attendees were shocked to learn that she OPPOSES the death penalty even for the most heinous of murderers, voted in FAVOR (at the behest of the trial lawyers) of measures that would have increased the cost of workers' compensation insurance on small businesses and increased government spending, and has a voting record with the Chamber of Commerce that rivals Ernie Chambers.

Most showed up out of concern for the direction our country is headed after the November 2008 elections. Government takeovers of private industries, a risky proposed health care experiment, and the Democrats' steady march towards socialism. That's not what Nebraskans are about.

The enthusiasm of those attending the Aurora meeting is refreshing, and I'm confident that a Republican will be elected to represent District 34 in November 2010. The group also expressed unanimous and enthusiastic support for Senator Johanns, Congressman Smith, Governor Heineman, Attorney General Bruning, and the rest of the Republican constitutional officers.

It's no wonder the Democrats can't find anyone to run for statewide office. Not even Stormy Dean.

Our listening sessions continue later this week and will continue through the remainder of the year. I'll keep you posted on how they go, and why 2010 is shaping up to be a great year for the NEGOP.

Ben Nelson Has Been Found!!!

In Alaska . . . .

Where Are You Washington Ben?

Calls to Sen. Ben Nelson's office have revealed that our Senator is not releasing a public schedule. Private meetings . . . .

Why won't Washington Ben answer to Nebraskans on his position on health care, card check, tax increases, skyrocketing budget deficits, and his vote for a pro-choice Supreme Court nominee?

2012 cannot arrive soon enough.

Health Care Reform

Yesterday's Wall St. Journal featured a well-reasoned opinion piece from John Mackey, the CEO of Whole Foods, on specific reforms that can be implemented to begin the process of fixing what's wrong with our health care system. Let's hope the ideas he has outlined become the framework for discussion rather than the government takeover being proposed by the Democrats in Washington.

It simply cannot be disputed that we have the finest, highest-quality health care system ever created. It also cannot be disputed that the vast majority of Americans like the health insurance coverage they currently have. Finally, it cannot be disputed that our health care delivery system and the federal/state safety net Medicaid provide access to health care for all Americans.

So what's the issue--what are we trying to "fix"? Is it the cost of health INSURANCE? As someone who currently pays over $15,000/year for health insurance premiums for family coverage, I believe that the cost of health insurance is a primary concern. However, any health care historian will confirm that past government action (e.g., wage controls, ERISA, mandated benefits) is the primary cause of this problem.

Do we really want more government and more bureaucracy to further compound the problem of increasing health insurance costs? Democrats apparently answer "YES." Republicans, on the other hand, answer "NO," instead choosing to pursue the alternatives highlighted by Mackey. Let's hope that after they have had a chance to hear from their constitutents that the Democrat members of Congress have a change of heart.

Seniors Know ObamaCare Means Rationing

It has been interesting to watch the members of Congress as they attempt to deal with citizen discontent over the Democrats' plan to nationalize our health care system. Americans are rightfully scared over what 535 members of Congress--yes, the same Congress that gave us "cash for clunkers" --will do as they attempt to centrally plan 16 percent of our economy. The citizen discontent is real--and the Democrats ignore it at their own peril.



As Peggy Noonan wrote in her Saturday column,

[T]he Democratic response has been stunningly crude and aggressive. It has been to attack. Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, accused the people at the meetings of “carrying swastikas and symbols like that.” (Apparently one protester held a hand-lettered sign with a “no” slash over a swastika.) But they are not Nazis, they’re Americans. Some of them looked like they’d actually spent some time fighting Nazis.

As I have watched the videos of these town hall meetings, it has been interesting to see that a significant number of those opposing nationalized health care are senior citizens. That's true nationally, and true here in Nebraska as well. The outrage of our nation's seniors has not gone unnoticed and was confirmed by a recent Washington Post article.


Senior citizens understand what the Democrats' proposed government takeover of health care means.


It means rationing.

And it means a loss of additional freedoms as government will decide who gets care, what kind of care they get, and when they get it.



That's not the America that so many of our seniors fought to protect and preserve. They understand that--a lot better than the Ben Nelsons, Harry Reids and Nancy Pelosis.

Nebraska Democrats' Arrogance Abounds

Nebraska newspapers are reporting that a statue of a young Ben Nelson is being erected in McCook. The statue, which apparently costs $70,000, is being funded through a donation from the McCook Foundation via the Nebraska Community Foundation.

Turns out that Ben Nelson donated the land on which the statue will be erected.

Hmmm. Wonder who donated the money to the McCook Foundation (or the Nebraska Community Foundation, previously run by Nelson's former Lt. Governor Maxine Moul)?

You have to hand it to Washington Ben Nelson and his fellow Democrats like Tom White. They take the cake when it comes to hubris and narcissism.

Tom White: Admit or Deny

Most Nebraskans probably don't know that Tom White makes his living as a trial lawyer. As an attorney, he's very familiar with federal and state court rules, including those rules that apply to what attorneys call "discovery," which is the process of requesting and gathering information in preparation for trial. One discovery device is called a "request for admissions" whereby a party is asked to admit or deny a specific statement; if the party doesn't respond appropriately within 30 days the statement is deemed admitted. It's a great way to pin down a party who is being evasive and won't give precise answers to precise questions.

In recent years, those rare instances where Nebraskans have supported Democrats have come as a result of Democrat candidates hiding the truth as to what they plan to do if elected. It's only after these stealth candidates have misled Nebraska voters that we learn of their real intentions.

Case in point: Democrat Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle was elected by remaining completely silent on the critical issues facing Omaha; now that he has been elected and his positions are coming to light, Omahans are having "buyer's remorse" and Suttle is already the target of recall efforts.

Tom White claims to be "exploring" a bid for the U.S. House of Representatives--he wants Nebraskans to throw out Congressman Lee Terry, someone whose positions mirror those of the Second District and who currently serves as the dean of our state's congressional delegation.

Let's not let Tom White be a stealth candidate and pull the same Nebraska Democrat trick that Jim Suttle did.

Tom White: where do you stand on the issues?

So as to not let Tom White avoid answering the questions, I'm publishing 5 Requests for Admissions that the Nebraska Republican Party is asking him to definitely answer on or before Friday, September 4, 2009. In the event White chooses to continue to hide his positions and not respond, the Nebraska Republican Party will conclude that each of the 5 Requests set forth below are ADMITTED by Tom White and we will proceed to educate the voters of the Second Congressional District of what exactly he plans to do if elected.

Request No. 1: Admit or deny that if you were a member of the current Congress you would have voted IN FAVOR of H.R. 2454, the House version of the "cap-and-trade" legislation.

Request No. 2: Admit or deny that if you were a member of the last (110th) Congress you would have voted IN FAVOR of H.R. 800, the House's version of the so-called "Employee Free Choice Act," otherwise known as "card check."

Request No. 3: Admit or deny that if you were a member of the current Congress you would have voted IN FAVOR of the $787 billion so-called "stimulus" legislation passed by the House and Senate on February 13, 2009.

Request No. 4: Admit or deny that if you were a member of the current Congress you would have voted along with the other Democrats and voted AGAINST an amendment offered by Congressman Lee Terry on the version of health care legislation that was marked-up and advanced by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on July 31, 2009; that amendment would have provided all Americans with access to the same health insurance plan that members of Congress have.

Request No. 5: Admit or deny that, if elected, you will vote to re-elect Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The clock is running. We look forward to learning of your responses on or before September 4, 2009.