'Cornhusker kickback' Ben Nelson will not seek re-election

Senator Ben Nelson who delivered a crucial vote for Obamacare in exchange for special treatment for his state, will not seek re-election.

Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska has told supporters he will not seek re-election. His decision was first reported by Politico.

In his statement, Nelson said: "Simply put: It is time to move on."

Nelson, 70, was facing a tough fight for a third term. His retirement improves the GOP's chances of picking up the Nebraska Senate seat the Democrat has held since 2000, and it enhances the odds of a Republican takeover of the Senate in 2012.

"It looks like he didn't have the stomach for the fight, and it was going to be one," said Jennifer Duffy, a non-partisan election analyst for the Cook Political Report. "Keeping the majority just got a little harder for (Democrats)."

Oh, About Those Special Deals Obama Wanted Removed from Health Care Reform

President Barack Obama has said he wants projects helping specific states removed from the health care bill, but political reality is taking over. The "Cornhusker Kickback" may be removed because Senator Nelson has requested it be taken out. Senator's Landrieu of Louisiana, Dodd of Connecticut, Baucus of Montana and Nelson of Florida want to keep their special deals. We can guess the UAW is keeping their special exemption for Michigan too. As part of Obama's 'whatever it takes' strategy, these special deals may be left in the legislation.

FOX News reported:

Axelrod also indicated the White House was backing down on an attempt to get senators to rid the legislation of a number of lawmakers' special deals.

Taking a new position, he said the White House only objects to state-specific arrangements, such as an increase in Medicaid funding for Nebraska, ridiculed as the "Cornhusker Kickback." That's being cut, but provisions that could affect more than one state are OK, Axelrod said...

Ben Nelson asks for "cornhusker kickback" to be removed from ObamaCare bill

Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson is throwing in the towel on the bribe he got for voting for Obamacare. He now has nothing to show for his traitorous act except being down 31 points in the polling of a hypothetical 2012 match-up. Oh, he was also ran out of a Nebraska pizza parlor.

AP via Yahoo News:

Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska is asking Senate leaders to eliminate a controversial Medicaid deal for his state in the health care bill.

Blue Dog Battle: Blanche Lincoln Rips Ben Nelson for ObamaCare kickback

Senator Blanche Lincoln is probably just angry she was too stupid to demand a kickback. Now, she is ripping Ben Nelson for the 'cornhusker kickback.' If it was so wrong, why did she vote for it? .

Terrified Ben Nelson Tells State AG's "Cornhusker Kickback" Will Be Extended to Everyone

Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson actually used the term “call off the dogs.” I guess Nelson has seen this poll.

Politico reported:

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) reached out Thursday evening to South Carolina GOP Attorney General Henry McMaster, the leader of a group of 13 Republican state attorneys general who are threatening to file suit against the Senate health care bill, and urged him to forgo any legal action, POLITICO has learned.

According to a copy of a memo sent by McMaster’s chief of staff to other GOP state attorneys general detailing the call, Nelson asked McMaster to “call off the dogs,” a reference to recent threats by the state AGs to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a Medicaid provision in the bill that benefits Nebraska at the expense of other states. . . .

Extending the "Cornhusker Kickback" to every state would be prohibitively expensive and likely eliminate the 'thin veil' of deficit reduction. Harry Reid has been silent on Nelsons memo.

Oh my! Rasmussen Poll Has Ben Nelson Down 30 Points to Heineman After Health-Care Reversal

A new Rasmussen poll has Senator Ben Nelson down 30 points in a theoretical race against current Republican Governor Heineman. Nelson's health care vote seems to be the reason. Sixty-four percent (64%) of Nebraska voters oppose the health care legislation Ben Nelson voted for, including fifty-three percent (53%) who are strongly opposed. Only 17% of Nebraska voters approve of the deal Senator Ben Nelson made to sell his vote for a special Medicaid deal. An April 2006 poll by Survey USA found him to be the Senator with the highest popularity rating, 73%, among his own constituents. Senator Nelson has committed political suicide for Harry Reid and President Barack Obama.

Rasmussen reported:

If Governor Dave Heineman challenges Nelson for the Senate job, a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey shows that Heineman would get 61% of the vote while Nelson would get just 30%.

Nebraska Governor Tells Senator Ben Nelson to Give Back His Bribe and Vote No on Cloture (video)

Democrat weasel Senator Ben Nelson tried to claim he asked for the 'special' $100 million Medicare bribe because Nebraska's Governor wanted it. That was flatly denied by Nebraska's Republican Governor Dave Heineman.

"Nebraskans did not ask for a special deal, only a fair deal," Heineman said in a statement Sunday.

Senator Ben Nelson's spokesman then fired back that he would give it back if Governor Heineman asked him too.

"If Gov. Heineman contacts Sen. Nelson asking to have that provision removed from the bill, the senator will do so," Thompson said.

Nebraska's Republican Governor is calling Senator Nelson's bluff. In an interview, yesterday, with Greta Van Susteren, Gov. Heineman called on Senator Nelson to give the money back and vote no on cloture.

Video: Nebraska Governor Tells Dem Senator Nelson to Give Back His Bribe to Harry Reid

Two New Obama Jokers Spotted

Obama's joker Claire McCaskill


Obama's joker Ben Nelson


I hope they enjoy their joker images. They have earned them.

Has Senator Nelson Committed Political Suicide for Obama and Reid?

The willingness of democrats to commit political suicide to appease their party leaders never ceases to amaze me. It is much more understandable among the liberal 'true believers,' but even moderates like Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) are willing to throw themselves on their swords for Barack Obama, Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi. When fifty-seven percent of voters nationwide oppose Harry Reid's health care bill (likely more in Nebraska), how can Senator Nelson rationalize voting against his constituents on such an important issue? Republicans aren't passing up this golden opportunity. They have launched a Give Ben The Boot website.

My Way News reported:

The chairman of Nebraska's Republican Party declared Nelson's decision to be the end of his political career in Nebraska, and within hours of Nelson's announcement, the state GOP launched a Web site, , to collect funds to oust the Democrat in the 2012 election.http://www.givebentheboot.com

Updated: Looks Like Senator Nelson Has Sold His Obamacare Vote Too (video)

Remember the $300 million in our tax Harry Reid is spending to buy Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana's vote on Obamacare? It is being reported that Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska is falling in line after being offered his own $300 million in Medicaid funds deal.

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Fox News reported:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., ripped the compromise bill, accusing Democrats of trying to deceive Americans by "jamming" a bill full of special deals to win over reluctant senators....

Democratic leaders offered Nelson a deal similar to the $300 million in Medicaid assistance Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana got for her support, numerous sources told Fox News.

Update: Looks like the rest of the country's taxpayers get to pay Nebraska's Medicaid expansion expenses forever. :(

White House is now threatening close Nebraska's Offutt Air Force Base if Nelson doesn't vote for health bill

There is nothing in Washington to match raw naked politics. If you can't bribe them for votes, threaten them.

From the Weekly Standard:

While the Democrats appease Senator Lieberman, they still have to worry about other recalcitrant Democrats including Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson. Though Lieberman has been out front in the fight against the public option and the Medicare buy-in, Nelson was critical of both. Now that those provisions appear to have been stripped from the bill, Lieberman may get on board, but Nelson's demand that taxpayer money not be used to fund abortion has still not been met. According to a Senate aide, the White House is now threatening to put Nebraska's Offutt Air Force Base on the BRAC list if Nelson doesn't fall into line.

Both Lieberman and Nelson Say They'll Vote No On Harry Reid's Current Health Care Bill

It looks like the Medicare "buy-in" option for those aged 55-64 isn't working for two key Senators. Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) both said they would vote no on the bill.


The Hill reported:

"I'm concerned that it's the forerunner of single payer, the ultimate single-payer plan, maybe even more directly than the public option," Nelson said on CBS's "Face the Nation."