R.I.P. NDP

Recent developments have confirmed something liberal activists and many in the Nebraska political press feared.

The Nebraska Democratic Party is on life support and nearing death.

Evidence?

1. Democrats have been unable to recruit any candidate to run for a Nebraska constitutional office. No candidate for Governor. Lieutenant Governor. Secretary of State. Attorney General. Auditor. Not even for the open State Treasurer's office being vacated by Shane Osborn.

How about for federal office? No challenger to Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, and the only announced challenger to Congressman Adrian Smith is a young Yale theologian who moved back to Nebraska to run. Sound familiar?

Democrats claim they have a strategy. Over the weekend the Associated Press uncovered the top-secret plan being employed by the Nebraska Democratic Party to challenge Governor Dave Heineman in 2010:

But so far the Democrats don't have a candidate to propose change, and it could be months before one is announced. Covalt said it is even possible the party may wait until the state party's convention in July to announce a gubernatorial candidate.

Huh? Wait until July 2010 to see who gets the shortest straw at a meeting and becomes the next Stormy Dean? That's a strategy?


2. As the Nebraska Republican Party was holding its Founders' Day event featuring Gov. Mitt Romney (with 600 in attendance and raising around $100,000 for the NEGOP), Nebraska Democrats distributed a class-warfare fundraising e-mail. Here are some of the lowlights:

Times are tough in America today. Foreclosures, lay-offs and mounting debt are pressing down upon the shoulders of the average American. Most of us are struggling with basic necessities like health care and the ever increasing cost of living. The jobs the middle class have long depended on are disappearing before their eyes almost as fast as their pensions are shrinking.

Amidst all of these hardships the Republican Party hacks and GOP cronies are donning their penguin suits, peeling out their checkbooks and scrawling out $5,000 dollar contributions in exchange for photos with Mitt Romney presidential wannabes. Tonight the NEGOP hosts its annual Founder's Day dinner with flash-in-the-pan, primary contender Mitt Romney as their special guest. For five grand you too can have an awkward thirty seconds with the Republican ideologue.

That's how they come up with the coinage time and time again to run their races, by relying on the same handful of corporate execs and neo-con tycoons to cut checks of that size.

Now it's no surprise that the Nebraska Democratic Party doesn't have pockets that deep. We've never been the party of silk lined brief cases and golden parachutes. We are here for you, for the average American who feels it when the economy dips. America is hurting right now and we understand that, we're not going to ask for $5,000 dollar contributions from each of you. But we are asking for your support. We need to demonstrate to the GOP moguls that they may have the money but we have the hearts and minds of the people. We are here working for America, while all they can do is attempt to obstruct the progress we have all made.

Oh, there's so much to say in response, but I'll limit it to three points:

• "Hacks" and "cronies"? "Penguin suits" (sorry folks--Founders' Day wasn't a black tie)? "Silk lined brief cases"? Obviously NDP is short of funds and cannot hire a communications director.
• Members of Nebraska's political press have shared that there appears to be a growing split between Omaha Democrats and the current leadership of the Nebraska Democratic Party, in part due to this class-warfare rhetoric being deployed. You can't bash job creators and then go to them with hat in hand asking for financial support for your party and its candidate (singular). The business community will take a pass on the next Democrat fundraising event and should turn a blind eye to the next Tom White fundraiser.
• Tom White--the Democrats' purported savior--is worth as much as $7 million according to his financial disclosures. Wealthiest member of our congressional delegation? Democrat Sen. Ben Nelson. The party of "silk lined brief cases"?

3. Tom White danced, twisted and strained to avoid any mention of the word "Democrat" during his announcement for Congress. Why is Tom White embarrassed of being called a Democrat--which is what he is? Is it because of the moribund condition of the NDP? Or because he wants mislead voters about his support for Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her radical agenda?

Meanwhile, the Nebraska Republican Party continues to build for 2010 and develop a strong bench for 2012 and beyond.

Nebraska Welcomes Governor Mitt Romney

Another update: Thurs., Oct. 8: The Romney event is now officially SOLD OUT! With RSVPs approaching 600, the NEGOP can no longer accommodate new requests for tickets. THANK YOU to all who are planning to attend--should be a great event for the State of Nebraska and your Nebraska Republican Party!

Update: Wed., Oct. 7: Over 525 seats have been sold already to this great event with Gov. Romney--exceeding our goals and expectations! Thanks to everyone who is attending! We're making room for a few additional tables--if you are still interested, please e-mail Rebecca Weber at rebecca@negop.org ASAP to snatch one of these few remaining tickets. Hope to see all of my fellow Republicans this Friday!

On October 9, the Nebraska Republican Party will hold the biennial Founders’ Day celebration to recognize those volunteers who made the 2008 elections so successful. Our featured guest is former Governor and Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. He will be joined by our own Governor Dave Heineman, Nebraska’s three outstanding Congressman, and many other GOP elected leaders at the downtown DoubleTree Hotel in Omaha.

Many times, it takes hundreds upon thousands of hours of dedication and hard work to win an election. In 1931, the Nebraska Republican Party instituted the first Founders’ Day to honor those individuals who generously gave of their time and helped move candidates from the campaign office to elected office. It is the NEGOP’s honor to hold this event.

Giving levels range from $65 per dinner seat to $5,000 dinner table for ten including admittance to a cocktail reception with Governor Romney along with a photo opportunity. To make your reservations or for more information, contact the NEGOP at 402-475-2122 or rebecca@negop.org.

We hope to see you there!

Thank you Senator Johanns!

Nebraskans can be very proud of Senator Mike Johanns.

This past Monday he took to the Senate floor and thoughtfully articulated the reasons why the Senate should support his amendment to prevent taxpayer dollars in the transportation and housing appropriations bill from going to fund ACORN (Assoc. of Community Organizations for Reform Now).

Thankfully, the Johanns Amendment passed. Now, as a result of Sen. Johanns' leadership, a national movement to completely wean ACORN from taxpayer dollars has started.

Employees of ACORN have been convicted of various acts of voter fraud and other illegal actions.

ACORN activists have been present and active in Nebraska as well, reportedly taking an active role in helping Democrats in Omaha.

Now, without the benefit of our taxpayer dollars, perhaps they'll pack their bags and go home.

Tom White Opposition Research Contest!

Surprise! It's official! Tom White--that divisive Democrat denizen of the Nebraska Legislature-is officially a candidate for Nebraska's Second Congressional District.

As part of making the obvious known, White was required to file a financial disclosure with the Clerk of the House.

His financial disclosure can be found here.

On its face, the financial report is very, very, very intriguing in oh so many ways. We would love to assign this to an opposition researcher, but we don't have one. The Nebraska Republican Party operates on a pretty lean budget--we have limited staff and don't have the Washington Union Bosses or President Obama to loan us staff to use at our disposal. So we thought we would be innovative and try crowdsourcing this project, i.e., "the process by which the power of the many can be leveraged to accomplish feats that were once the province of the specialized few."

Are you game?

Take a look at Democrat (yes, contrary to his announcement speech, he's a Democrat) White's financial disclosure and tell us what you find. See if there's anything interesting in it that needs to be further examined or pointed out to 2nd District voters. Example: certainly Senator White filed the appropriate ethics disclosures in the event he voted on a measure before the Nebraska Legislature that somehow impacted the multitude of investments he has. Has he pulled a "Charlie Rangel" and failed to list anything?

So have at it--the entire civilized world with internet access has now been deputized by the NEGOP. Review and analyze the report, or any other publicly-available information that's available on Senator White. Tell us what you find by November 1, 2009, and e-mail it to me at mfahleson@gmail.com

The entry that the NEGOP believes provides Nebraska voters with the most useful information will win two (2) tickets to the November 21, 2009, Nebraska football game against K-State.

Good luck!

Nebraska Democrats: If Ben Nelson Calls . . . .

It's September 1, and the Nebraska Democrats still do not have a candidate for Governor.

Or Secretary of State. Or Attorney General. Or Treasurer. Or Auditor. The list of offices goes on and on.

And it's not for a lack of trying. Based upon reports from Nebraska Democrats and the political press, Sen. Ben Nelson has been beating the bushes looking for a candidate who is crazy enough to challenge Governor Dave Heineman. Yes, that same Dave Heineman who has a 63 percent approval rating among Nebraska voters according to a recent poll by the liberal Daily Kos.

The NEGOP will give Sen. Nelson credit when credit is due. He can be a very persuasive man when he has to be. Some have even called him a sycophant.

Just ask Stormy Dean, Tony Raimondo or any of the other failed Democrat candidates Ben Nelson has worked hard to convince to run for public office.

So, if you are a Nebraska Democrat and Ben Nelson calls, you might want to think twice before taking his call.

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!