# Ben Nelson retiring. Good (I hope) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 27, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572 "2011-12-27T22:57:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/21 "2011-12-28T18:39:28Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > With Democrats like Nelson, one hardly needs Republicans. Still, with a state like Nebraska, the next person could be worse. Good luck, Nebraska Dems – I’m sure you can find a more progressive candidate than him, I just hope it turns out to be an electable one. I doubt it but now at least we will have fewer instances of Republicans claiming bipartisan support for clearly Republican positions. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/22 "2011-12-28T18:48:06Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Bah, good riddance to bad rubbish. It sure was tiresome, hearing all the times he voted with Republicans instead of Dems. The heck with him and his years of service … to Wall Street. But here is the thing, and I’ve said it in other threads: Ben Nelson votes for Harry Reid as Senate Leader. The most liberal pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-this, anti-that, progressive Republican candidate votes for Mitch McConnell for Senate Leader. It’s like when our side gets a Lincoln Chafee or Jim Jeffords (when he was with us). Sure you would like better, but its the best you can get out of RI or VT (or in your case NE). Win the victories as they come. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/23 "2011-12-28T19:06:37Z")
The problem with that is that sometimes you end up giving Lim Chaffords too much influence, though. Look at Joe Lieberman - the entire Democratic Party bent over backwards to make him happy (which of course turned out to be a fool’s errand anyway). ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/24 "2011-12-28T20:05:16Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > 😃 Spoken like a TRUE conservative. Fred Phelps for Nebraska!!! Phelps is a Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/25 "2011-12-28T20:29:54Z")
Not since 1998. He let his registration lapse after losing the 1998 gubernatorial primary. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/26 "2011-12-28T21:26:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > The problem with that is that sometimes you end up giving Lim Chaffords too much influence, though. Look at Joe Lieberman - the entire Democratic Party bent over backwards to make him happy (which of course turned out to be a fool’s errand anyway). Sure, but when it is 49-49-1 or 59-40-1 either way, you have to make a deal with the devil. The defeat of the devil would make it 50-49 or 59-41 respectively and you lose anyways.. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/27 "2011-12-29T00:07:41Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > The GOP nominee will either be Attorney General Jon Bruning or Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. There isn’t a Democrat with a high enough profile to do anything now, even if Kerrey did come back. > > Ben actually might have won against Bruning–he’s very vulnerable on some personal issues, and, with the exception of an excrable person now representing my parents’ district, Nebraska doesn’t have a record of sending Santorum-like folks to Washington. Then again, the climate has changed so much in the last ten years that a tea party-type might have a shot. Bruning certainly panders to that base; I understand he keeps trophies from captured “illegals” in an office cabinet. I agree. Bruning will likely be the nominee and will likely win. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/28 "2011-12-29T14:36:49Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > I agree. Bruning will likely be the nominee and will likely win. I have hopes for Fortenberry or somebody. I don’t know as much about Fortenberry, but every time Bruning opens his mouth I cringe. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/29 "2011-12-29T14:49:40Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Bah, good riddance to bad rubbish. It sure was tiresome, hearing all the times he voted with Republicans instead of Dems. The heck with him and his years of service … to Wall Street. More to the point, his service to Omaha and the health insurance industry. Ben knew which side his corn was buttered on. Nebraska is conservative but does occasionally elect sensible Republicans; one can but hope. As for Bob Kerrey, although he was popular in his day the controversies over the Thanh Phong massacre and the student insurrections at the New School have probably ensured that Bob’s done with politics. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/30 "2011-12-29T14:50:49Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Sure, but when it is 49-49-1 or 59-40-1 either way, you have to make a deal with the devil. The defeat of the devil would make it 50-49 or 59-41 respectively and you lose anyways.. The Democrats _did_ lose, at least in the Lieberman Affair. As I recall he wouldn’t vote for anything contentious once the watered down healthcare bill passed. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/31 "2011-12-30T00:10:38Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > I have hopes for Fortenberry or somebody. I don’t know as much about Fortenberry, but every time Bruning opens his mouth I cringe. Fortenberry may be able to edge out Bruning, but I don’t think so. Stenberg is the political joke he has always been. The Democrats are starting from too far back to make an impact in this election. I heard someone on the radio this morning calling for Fahey to run, but I am sure he is not interested. Mike Boyle could take a shot at it, but he couldn’t win. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/32 "2011-12-30T17:35:59Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > The Democrats _did_ lose, at least in the Lieberman Affair. As I recall he wouldn’t vote for anything contentious once the watered down healthcare bill passed. I will admit that Lieberman was different because in 2006 he ran as an independent while there was a Democratic challenger that could have been elected. And CT is a state you should be able to get a reliable Dem. My point was in a situation where you have Ben Nelson (D-NE) who pisses you off because he doesn’t always play ball, but still caucuses with you versus John Doe (R-NE) who is pro-Obama health care bill, pro repeal DADT, basically everything you want, but he gives his vote to Mitch McConnell as Majority Leader and also votes with the GOP on other caucus issues. And that is really how it goes because a state like NE will 9/10 times elect a conservative Republican. Just like VT and RI will elect a liberal Dem 9/10 times. On either side, if you get that 1/10 just be thankful for it and not complain because he isn’t as conservative/liberal as you would like. You are never going to get a Sheila Jackson-Lee out of Nebraska, like you would never get a Rick Santorum out of RI. Embrace the D/R INOs that you can pick up from those states. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/33 "2011-12-31T16:23:33Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I will admit that Lieberman was different because in 2006 he ran as an independent while there was a Democratic challenger that could have been elected. And CT is a state you should be able to get a reliable Dem. > > My point was in a situation where you have Ben Nelson (D-NE) who pisses you off because he doesn’t always play ball, but still caucuses with you versus John Doe (R-NE) who is pro-Obama health care bill, pro repeal DADT, basically everything you want, but he gives his vote to Mitch McConnell as Majority Leader and also votes with the GOP on other caucus issues. > > And that is really how it goes because a state like NE will 9/10 times elect a conservative Republican. Just like VT and RI will elect a liberal Dem 9/10 times. On either side, if you get that 1/10 just be thankful for it and not complain because he isn’t as conservative/liberal as you would like. > > You are never going to get a Sheila Jackson-Lee out of Nebraska, like you would never get a Rick Santorum out of RI. Embrace the D/R INOs that you can pick up from those states. 🙂 I don’t see the point of embracing someone who votes with the Republicans just because he has a D after his name. ---
**Author:** ![Linden\_Arden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/34 "2011-12-31T19:58:23Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I don’t see the point of embracing someone who votes with the Republicans just because he has a D after his name. There are far more conserva-Dems than there are moderate Republicans in the Senate. There are only three of the latter - Scott Brown and the Maine ladies. With Nelson gone the Senate is probably lost. After conceding Nelson and Conrad’s seats it will be 51-49 with five more Dems set to retire. Tester and McCaskill will be tough holds and probably underdogs. Bill Nelson in Florida will have a rough fight. By my count the real pickup opportunities are eleven to one in favor of the GOP. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/35 "2011-12-31T22:02:48Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > 😃 Spoken like a TRUE conservative. Fred Phelps for Nebraska!!! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Not since 1998. He let his registration lapse after losing the 1998 gubernatorial primary. He ran in numerous primaries before that winning several thousands of votes. Not to mention he went to the inauguration of Bill Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/36 "2012-02-28T00:21:37Z")
According to [a Washington Post story](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/bob-kerrey-changes-his-mind-will-run-for-senate-source-says/2012/02/27/gIQARWZ3dR_blog.html?wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics), Bob Kerry has decided to run for Ben Nelson’s seat. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/37 "2012-02-28T01:41:59Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > According to [a Washington Post story](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/bob-kerrey-changes-his-mind-will-run-for-senate-source-says/2012/02/27/gIQARWZ3dR_blog.html?wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics), Bob Kerry has decided to run for Ben Nelson’s seat. Now, if we could only get Russ Feingold to run again in Wisconsin. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/38 "2012-02-28T04:00:53Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I don’t see the point of embracing someone who votes with the Republicans just because he has a D after his name. Because a Democrat who doesn’t vote with the Republicans fairly often won’t keep his seat in Nebraska, and his Republican replacement will vote with the Republicans even more consistently. Nebraska’s not going to elect Chuck Schumer. Your choice in Nebraska is somebody like Ben Nelson or somebody like Mike Johanns. And lets be fair to Nelson here. While he may be the most conservative of the Democrats in the Senate, his 2011 National Journal vote ranking, for instance, still shows him as voting more liberally than any Republican, even “liberal Republicans” like Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, and Scott Brown. ---
**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/39 "2012-02-28T19:30:50Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Because a Democrat who doesn’t vote with the Republicans fairly often won’t keep his seat in Nebraska He’s retiring anyway. It’s all the more frustrating knowing he’s not running for re-election. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572/40 "2012-02-28T20:00:36Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Because a Democrat who doesn’t vote with the Republicans fairly often won’t keep his seat in Nebraska, and his Republican replacement will vote with the Republicans even more consistently. Nebraska’s not going to elect Chuck Schumer. Your choice in Nebraska is somebody like Ben Nelson or somebody like Mike Johanns. > > And lets be fair to Nelson here. While he may be the most conservative of the Democrats in the Senate, his 2011 National Journal vote ranking, for instance, still shows him as voting more liberally than any Republican, even “liberal Republicans” like Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, and Scott Brown. He still went with the Republicans on most of the important stuff, or held them up until they’d watered down the legislation until it was acceptable to him, and to be honest, most Republicans. Piece of shit. I’d sooner have an honest Republican in office than someone like him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-nelson-retiring-good-i-hope/607572.md?page=3)