NELSON STUCK HIS NECK IN IT - Just A Minute Radio for Wednesday 01-06-10

            Great to have you with us today –

 

            Senator Ben Nelson – former Governor of Nebraska – and into his second term as Nebraska’s Senior Senator, cut himself a deal with the Senate leadership and became the critical anti-filibuster 70^th vote for the Democrats on Christmas Eve.  But the bloom seems to be off the Poinsettia.

 

            Nelson’s approval ratings – last time he won with over 60 percent of the vote – are now hanging around  the low thirties… Not a good sign for an incumbent.  It’s pretty sure there will be a line of candidates waiting to help him change occupations. Whether they can do it having to wait ‘till the next Presidential cycle in 2012, is to be seen – but for now it looks pretty grim.

 

            His line is, he argued for the special treatment for all of Nebraska’s Medicare recipients – that will have to be paid for – in perpetuity -- out of every other state’s Medicare fees. It’s not proving to be as popular as he probably calculated. His home state voters in present polls indicate they’ll turn him out – but they also say if he rescinded his position he’d pop right back to the top. It’s a bouncing pogo-stick to ride.

 

            Nebraska has voted more consistently Republican than any other state in Presidential years – but they have occasionally elected contrarians to other offices. Nelson is such a one but they sent such a strong “don’t bother running” signal to Chuck Hagel – who had beaten Nelson in a previous Senate run – he called a news conference to say he’d decided not to run and now sits on the sidelines having thought he might be able to switch bloodlessly to the Democrats.  But not in Nebraska – at least not this time.

 

Nelson has a year and a half to contemplate being permanently sidelined. I wouldn’t guess it’s pleasant… but it’s politics.  My guess is he’s now become a senator marked for defeat in the corn-husker state. 

 

            Governors who resign with an ‘arrangement’ to have themselves appointed to an unexpected senate vacancy, have an exceedingly thin track record of making the switch. Nebraska voters up to now have said they don’t like the style.  

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Jack Buttram

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama01-06-10.mp3

 

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“JUST A MINUTE”

NELSON STUCK HIS NECK IN IT

MizP: Just A Minute – Mr. Jack – Senator Nelson of Nebraska is a-hurtin’ big time.

Jack: Right Miz Pearlie… He negotiated himself right into a neck noose..

BB: Cut a deal but jist fer N’braskerns din’t he?

Jack: That’s what they say.

Homer: An now his favribul re-lection ratin’s is right on th’ bottom.

BB: Well Homer, when they gets th’ House & Senate conference committee ta' bangin’ them               

               two bills t’gether.

MizP: Hit’s probably gonna look like a refugee frum th’ munsters. 

Homer: Hit’ll be a big cut & paste job they’s gonna have ta' do. Rite Mr. Billy?

BB: Ah thank they’s a-gonna haf ta' paste two heads on th’ beast m’self… an they’s gonna be blood on th’                floor.

MizP: You reely thank so Beelie?

Homer: He’s jist a funnin’ you Miz Pearl… they stop short of violence…

BB:  Jist barely… rite Mr. Jack?

Jack: I never sat in on a conference session but the tales of conflict are legend.

Homer: Specially when Sen. LBJ was th’ m’jority leader they say….

BB: He was a arm-twister – he ast Sen. Thurmond onct – din’t he ever want ta' git on th’

               Armed Services Committee…

MizP: ‘Cause Thurmond din’t vote th’ way Mr. LBJ wanted…?

BB: At’s whut they said – he cud use his office ta bully people around…

Homer: Like Miz Pelosi does over in th’ House, Miz Pearl.

MizP: If’n you don’t do whut she’ wants…

BB: She’s got a dozen ways ta' lower th’ boom.

Jack: It’s not a game of Tiddle-de-winks…

MizP: Oh Mr. Jack … people don’t even know whut Tiddledy-Winks is now.

Jack: They don’t?

BB: We gone have ta' eddicate this boy.

Jack: But next time… No more time today… I’m Jack Buttram …

 (END)

 

 

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