http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5657616Oh my.
Omaha Steve (1000+ posts) Thu May-14-09 08:18 PM
Original message
Ben Nelson (D-Ne) FIghts Key Obama Appointment At Justice Department
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2009...
Critics question whether it's payback time
Is Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson looking to slap a little payback on the Obama administration?
The conservative Democrat is bumping heads with the president on several fronts, and has not shown any public signs of giving ground.
Nelson is trying to block the confirmation of Dawn Johnsen as head of the important Office of Legal Counsel in the Department of Justice. He has cited her having served as legal counsel for NARAL- Pro Choice America (1988-1993). She is a professor of law at Indiana University and has held several important federal posts.*
Critics have noted that Nelson was never so picky about controversial appointments made by former President George W. Bush, and that he often voted to shut off debate on their nominations.Now, Nelson represents the 60th vote the administration needs to shutoff any filibuster and allow an up-or-down vote on Johnsen’s appointment – something Nelson previously said that virtually all Bush appointees were entitled to have.
I hate to say it to a fellow Nebraskan, OmahaSteve, but tough shit.
Didn't our fellow Nebraska Democrats applaud former Senator Charles Hagel (R-Nebraska) for his independence?
It goes both ways.
ThomCat (1000+ posts) Thu May-14-09 08:23 PM
Response to Original message
1. The more I read about Senator Nelson the more of a scumbag
he seems to be. He is adamantly opposed to reforming student loans so that they are less predatory. He is adamantly opposed to any public option to health care reform, insisting that private insurance is the only acceptable option. He is violently anti-choice.
Why the hell is this guy a Democrat?
Sebastian Doyle (1000+ posts) Thu May-14-09 08:27 PM
Response to Original message
2. How much longer are we going to tolerate this shit?
Opposes health care and ADMITS he's doing so because he's in the pocket of the insurance industry. Now he's opposing nominations. His voting record has always been 90% shitty. We do not need ASSHOLES like this calling themselves "Democrats".
**** YOU BEN NELSON. YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO HUMANITY.
Oh now, while franksolich has differences of opinion with Senator Nelson, franksolich thinks Senator Nelson is quite the opposite. In fact, franksolich thinks of Senator Nelson as a nice guy, the salt of the earth, honest, principled, takes the long view.
One shouldn't let politics skew evaluation of someone's character.
Phoebe Loosinhouse (1000+ posts) Thu May-14-09 08:44 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. Nebraskans are as hard hit as anyone in this recession.
Personally, I wish we would play hardball with people like this - strip him of seniority, committee assigments, etc. Make him drive a Yugo and park in the space in the lot that always floods. Put a tuna sandwich in the pocket of his winter coat and move it to the hook over the heat register. When he naps in the Senate lounge, dip his hand in warm water.
HopeOverFear (874 posts) Thu May-14-09 08:45 PM
Response to Original message
5. My not-so-nice email to Nelson:
"**** YOU, NELSON! STOP BLOCKING DAWN JOHNSEN'S NOMINATION TO THE OLC, YOU ASSHOLE!"
I really did say that. Too much?
But you're not a Nebraska voter. Say what you want, it doesn't mean shit.
Thrill (1000+ posts) Thu May-14-09 08:45 PM
Response to Original message
6. He's pretty much a Repuke. One of the biggest Bush Enablers
If it wasn't for him, there wouldn't have been those ridiculous Bush tax cuts.
uberblonde (631 posts) Thu May-14-09 08:47 PM
Response to Original message
7. Let me guess.
Was he one of the "the President deserves to name his own appointees" crowd for the past eight years?
Alas! poor Senator Nelson! alas!
Caught between the unhappiness of OmahaSteve and franksolich!
Can't please either side!
Such are those later identified in history books as "Greatness."
