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Via a headline at Eschaton (“God Hates Atrios“) I learned the discouraging news that one of the slipperiest centrists in the Democratic Party has reconsidered his decision regarding the US Senate seat now held by the retiring Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Here’s the news:
Former senator Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) has changed his mind and plans to run for the open Senate seat in Nebraska, according to a senior Democratic aide.
The aide said Kerrey has called Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to inform him of his plans.
Navy SEAL Team Leader at Thanh Phong!
Been a Governor and a Senator!
Dated Linda Ronstadt! And Debra Winger!
Justifying his 1999 vote for Gramm-Leach-Bliley which fundamentally recast America’s financial landscape and safeguards: “The concerns that we will have a meltdown like 1929 are dramatically overblown,”.
Headed the New School in Manhattan, and fought the NLRB and UAW on unionization! Presided over a full-scale occupation and, later, riot.
Little known tidbit: Kerrey was selected to head the MPAA but they couldn’t come to terms, leaving an opening for Chris “I’ll never lobby!” Dodd to become the biggest lobbyist in town.
But how in-character for Kerrey’s return to the arena to be marred by a betrayal:
Nebraska Democratic Senate candidate Chuck Hassebrook… who just stepped down from his position as a University of Nebraska Regent, announced his candidacy earlier this month after Kerrey said he was passing on a bid to avoid putting his “family at risk.”
If Kerrey does take the plunge into the Senate race, Hassebrook said he would not be able to keep his current job.
“There is a filing deadline for incumbents that’s two weeks earlier. I would not be able to go refile for the position I hold now,” he said.
Here’s the thing: if you’d like a younger more treacherous New Democrat to fill Ben Nelson’s seat, here he is. If you think Mark Warner isn’t corporate-friendly enough, Bob Kerrey’s your man.
26 Comments
Does anyone know anything about Chuck Hassebrook? And when is the Nebraska primary? Things must be going swimmingly that the DSCC thinks it wise to piss away a few million dollars trying to prop up a dinosaur.
All I know is what I read: the guy quit his job after waiting a respectful time for Kerrey’s initial decision, and now he can’t go back to it. Par for the course for Kerrey, who’s always seemed to float through his political life with little concern for the impact on others.
i just remembered that Rape Gurney Joe Lieberman is retiring.
So there’s a slot for Bob Kerrey in the pathology of the Democratic hierarchy: the “mainstream” scold.
Is Nebraska so blood red that there aren’t any actual Democrats who would be viable candidates? Say, maybe, Roger Welsch? I’d recommend Ernie Chambers — who would still be representing Omaha as a state senator if the Republicans in the “non-partisan” lege hadn’t passed a term-limits law designed specifically to take him out — except he’s gearing up to get his old job back.
(This, of course, assumes that Kerrey’s backstab of Hassebrook keeps Hassebrook out of the race.)
Either of the Kleebs (Jane or Scott) would be terrific, I think. My understanding of their couple’s dynamic is that she’s the smart one and he’s the pretty one. He ran for Senate once before (cowboy hat) and lost in 2006 or 2008.
But she’s supposedly the great organizer as well as policy wonk. I think he’s the native, though, and that seems to matter with Cornhuskers. Hell, Kerrey — after stints as Governor and Senator — is expected to have to ward off (GOP) accusations of being a carpetbagger, having taken a job in NYC for a while (and considered running for Mayor there, though….)
yah…totally agree about the kleebs. I see Jane on the blogs but never hear of Scott. Scott kleeb could do it…he just needed more exposure.
That said…there are lots of things I don’t like about Kerry…but one of my favorite quotes from him was about taxes being an obligation of the rich for getting the opportunity to make money in America. I would rather have him, that Jon Bruning…any freakin’ day of the week. Bruning collaborated with the banks…he was attorney general when I was fighting GMAC…he took on the little banks but would not touch the big ones… or help me in any meaningful way.
The “Evil Senator Kerrey” earned that epithet (when there were two Senators with last names that way) by being a shameful apologist for the CIA: The Navy SEAL connection, and his apparent experience [according to the article] as a Terrorist Conspirator, somewhat explains that behavior.
(The nickname distinguished him from the other Senator Kerry, who used to be called the “Good Senator Kerry,” but somehow that doesn’t seem appropriate anymore.)
Because there aren’t enough Vichycrats in the Senate now…
Oh yeah! I remember Scott Kleeb. I sent him some of my evil out o state money.
Kerrey is smarmy. Just what we need – another one. s/
And I’m sure the mandarins of the Democratic Party are also looking for someone to fill the great yawning gap left by the departure of Evan Bayh. Good scolds are hard to find.
To paraphrase Markos Moulitsas, “more and shittier Democrats.”
No. No. No. NO.
NEAUX.
So, what’s the plan? FDL almost upset Lincoln in Arkansas, there must be enough experience around these parts to give a legit challenger a boost. Fifth columnists are need not apply.
What’s the way forward?
Spot on. What good are more Democrats when they are shittier? I suppose only Markos can answer that.
Sister-in-law (from Lincoln, NE, staying with us right now) reminds me that Scott Kleeb had a traffic/parking ticket snafu back last election cycle. Dumb.
So it’s really Jane Kleeb – she’s been great, vocal and hot on Keystone which has resonated through the state – with everybody.
“The concerns that we will have a meltdown like 1929 are dramatically overblown”
Screw you for that one, Kerrey.
Kerry’s a 90′s “centrist, moderate” who hates the left.
In other words, he’s the perfect candidate for Obama and the current Dem leadership.
Occupy Bob Kerrey.
Other than Kerrey, no Democrat has a chance in hell of winning this open Senate seat.
As such, despite some misgivings, I will support him. He would be a much better Senator than the probable GOP nominee, who has compared welfare recipients to raccoons.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/nebraska-jon-bruning-regrets-comparing-welfare-recipients-raccoons-160006279.html
Bob Kerrey is a cowardly slimeball and therefore an unacceptable candidate. Run somebody worthy.
Curse the darkness- complain about the Democrats.
Light a candle- leave them and join with the Rocky Anderson for president campaign. Help build a Justice Party
There it is. Take your pick. I already have.
YeeeHAA! Ak-47 fo’ preznit!
Spammer.
How is that spam? I read it for what it was: don’t vote for Democrats, Kerrey included. Join the Justice Party. What’s the problem?
A vote for the Democrats (or the Republicans) is a vote for the Fascist Police State.