Nebraska and Indiana

Not a football post.

I tossed this in the headlines today but I really wanted to come back to it because I really wanted to come back to it. This is how I make posting decisions, an arduous process involving what I'd like to do and how I hope it's interesting to the morons.

Jon Bruning and Don Stenberg joined Nebraska state senator Deb Fischer at a "unity rally" the day after she clobbered them in the primary to offer their support and demonstrate their commitment to defeating Bob Kerrey in November.

Bruning and Fischer both looked bleary-eyed and even teary-eyed at times during the press conference – with Bruning looking off to the side during most of the press conference, avoiding eye contact with the roomful of observers and reporters. He and Fischer embraced at one point. Asked what he thought of the election results, he declined to comment, saying everything was water under the bridge and “This is Deb’s day.” “I’m 100 percent behind her,” Bruning said. “This is about how we can get together and beat Bob Kerrey.” Fischer credited Bruning for being a tough campaigner whom she looks forward to campaigning with and credited Stenberg for being a public servant for many years. “He serves his state with his heart and his soul,” she said.

I find this refreshing, and admirable. Some may attribute this to my naiveté. I say, "and don't you find my naiveté refreshing?"

Contrast this with the response of 6 term crybaby Dick Lugar, who got his ass kicked in Indiana a week ago by state Treasurer Richard Mourdock. Instead of appearing with him to provide support in his upcoming race, this "elder statesman of the senate" pitched a 1400 word bitchfit on why conservatives suck.

Unfortunately, we have an increasing number of legislators in both parties who have adopted an unrelenting partisan viewpoint. This shows up in countless vote studies that find diminishing intersections between Democrat and Republican positions. Partisans at both ends of the political spectrum are dominating the political debate in our country. And partisan groups, including outside groups that spent millions against me in this race, are determined to see that this continues. They have worked to make it as difficult as possible for a legislator of either party to hold independent views or engage in constructive compromise. If that attitude prevails in American politics, our government will remain mired in the dysfunction we have witnessed during the last several years. And I believe that if this attitude expands in the Republican Party, we will be relegated to minority status. Parties don’t succeed for long if they stop appealing to voters who may disagree with them on some issues.

Reminded me a little of Nixon's nemesis, political consultant Dick Tuck, and his famous comment after losing his 1966 primary race for the California senate. "The people have spoken, the bastards."

I realize there's a difference between two Republican contenders vying for their first shot at the Senate and a senior Senator with 6 terms behind him getting taken down by a rookie, but genuine leaders know better than to cry like a bitch and unless it's not all about them they show a little class. So the hell with you Dick. And thank you Jon and Don. Well played gentlemen.

article via stephenkruiser

posted by Dave In Texas at 07:55 PM

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