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In the Senate, it nowadays apparently takes a self-appointed, biparitsan "gang" of senators to get past the partisan gridlock. For instance, there was the Gang of 14 group of senators who helped the Senate get beyond an impasse on judicial appointments a few years ago. Today, a new group of senators calling itself the Gang of Ten, announced that it had arrived at a compromise energy proposal meant to break the partisan logjam that exists on the issue. The group's members are: Sens. Kent Conrad (D-ND), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Mary Landrieu...

In a state that has seen its share of electoral problems this decade, Florida’s senior Sen. Bill Nelson made a rare appearance before the state Senate Thursday to unveil sweeping federal election reform legislation that would eliminate the Electoral College. As the state now wrestles with the national Democratic Party to find a solution to seat its 210 delegates at this year’s presidential nominating convention, Nelson noted that “the solution is very elusive,” but that, “If nothing else, this election has provided further evidence that our system is broken.” The Democratic senator, who sued the Democratic National Committee and Chairman...

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In an ironic vote, Senate Democrats led a fight against an amendment to the SCHIP bill on Thursday night that would have helped poor pregnant women and their unborn children obtain prenatal care. They voted against restoring a program that allows states to provide help for pregnant women in difficult financial circumstances. The reasons for the vote likely had more to do with the politics of abortion. In 2002, President Bush authorized a change in the SCHIP program that allowed states to cover pregnant women and their babies -- and many states such as California, Rhode...

WASHINGTON -- Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has teamed up with a Democratic colleague in drafting legislation to force a halt to U.S. combat missions in Iraq. Collins and Ben Nelson of Nebraska said their binding amendment to the defense policy bill would order the U.S. mission to focus on training the Iraqi security forces, targeting al-Qaida members and protecting Iraq's borders. The Maine senator said her goal is "to redefine the mission and set the stage for a significant but gradual drawdown of our troops next year."

As Nebraska tries to work out its gun laws, Senator Ben Nelson is trying to ensure your concealed weapon permit is good in all other states. Nelson is calling for a national standard for the right to carry a concealed weapon. Nelson is one of the sponsors of a bill requiring states to recognize each others concealed weapons permits the same way driver's licenses are recognized. Under the bill, the laws of each state restricting where concealed firearms can be carried would still apply. According to the National Rifle Association, 48 states have laws allowing some form of concealed carry.

WASHINGTON - Congressional Republicans pushed back Monday against President Bush's decision to deploy additional troops in Iraq, some voicing opposition while others called for the administration and Iraqi government to be held accountable. In the Senate, three GOP lawmakers joined one Democrat in unveiling nonbinding legislation expressing disagreement with Bush's plan and urging him to "consider all options and alternatives" to the planned increase of 21,500 troops. In the House, members of the leadership drafted a series of what they called "strategic benchmarks," and said the White House should submit monthly reports to Congress measuring progress toward meeting them. The...

Nelson wants to fence off Mexico BY HENRY J. CORDES WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER There's a growing consensus in Washington that before Congress can address comprehensive immigration reform, it must first crack down at the nation's borders, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson said Friday. Sen. Ben Nelson Nelson this week introduced a new border security bill, one that would go even further than the proposal he first outlined in September. Among the provisions added since September is the construction of a $5 billion, two-layer reinforced fence that would stretch from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico along the 1,900-mile U.S.-Mexico...

See for example this thread first. Ben Nelson wants to build a wall Mexican illegals to stallIndia did it first But that's not the worst Chuck Hagel don't want it at ALL!

Today: January 18, 2006 at 5:26:11 PST Democrat Nelson Says He'll Back Alito ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska on Tuesday became the first Democrat to announce he will vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. Nelson, one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress, said in a statement that he had made up his mind to support Alito "because of his impeccable judicial credentials, the American Bar Association's strong recommendation and his pledge that he would not bring a political agenda to the court." The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote next Tuesday...

Ben Nelson of Nebraska on Tuesday became the first Senate Democrat to announce his support of conservative Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, who is expected to be confirmed later this month by the full Republican-led Senate.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to serve as the 110th Justice of the United States Supreme Court now completed, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson issued the following statement: “I have decided to vote in favor of Judge Samuel Alito to serve as the 110th Justice of the United States Supreme Court. I came to this decision after careful consideration of his impeccable judicial credentials, the American Bar Association's strong recommendation and his pledge that he would not bring a political agenda to the Court.”

Tribal Clients And Associates Of Jack Abramoff Have Contributed Over $3.1 Million To Democrat Party Interests Between 1997 And 2004. (Campaign Finance Analysis Project Website, www.campaignfinanceanalysisproject.com, Accessed December 2005; Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed December 2005) National Democrat Party Affiliated Committees Received Over $1.2 Million From Indian Tribe Clients And Lobbying Associates Of Jack Abramoff. (Campaign Finance Analysis Project Website, www.campaignfinanceanalysisproject.com, Accessed December 7, 2005; Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed December 7, 2005; Internal Revenue Service Website, www.irs.gov, Accessed April 21, 2005) The Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Received Over – $430,000 The Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)...

would seem that few in Florida politics suffered through a more miserable 2005 than Katherine Harris. The Longboat Key congresswoman's attempt to replace incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in the 2006 election was impeded by her own Republican Party leaders, who engaged in a public attempt to find another candidate. Polls show her trailing Nelson badly. She failed to meet her own fundraising targets, and the caricatures from her role in the 2000 presidential election were resurrected. Worried? Not her. "It's been a great year," she said, rattling off a list of accomplishments in Congress and praising a re-energized...

The writer, of Omaha, is Nebraska's junior U.S. senator.During his confirmation hearings, John Roberts said that judges should judge each case on its own merits. They need to weigh matters, not approach their work as ideological automatons.Those words were recounted in a Oct. 28 World-Herald editorial that recommended U.S. senators keep Roberts' considerations "firmly in mind" as they consider the next nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court and fulfill their obligation in considering appointees.With one successful and one unsuccessful Supreme Court nomination behind us, the Senate now is considering the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to replace retiring Associate Justice...

WASHINGTON - A centrist Democratic senator complimented Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito Wednesday as a moderate jurist who won't "hammer away and chisel away" existing law.While Sen. Ben Nelson did not endorse President Bush's latest nominee for the high court, he did say he was impressed by what he heard from Alito during his introductory visit.The Nebraska Democrat, who was Alito's first senatorial host Wednesday, told reporters that he got assurances that Alito would not be "judicial activist" or "take an agenda to the bench" if confirmed to succeed Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who is retiring."He assured me that...

Earlier this month, my wife Sue and I embarked on a 2-day 12-city tour across Nebraska to formally announce my candidacy for the United States Senate. Prior to this month’s tour, I spent the past 5 months traveling the state listening to Nebraskans. The overwhelming message I heard was it is time for change in Washington – and I couldn’t agree more. The leadership of the national Democratic Party has been captured by the “blame America first” crowd who want to take America in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, at the same time, many Republicans in Washington have abandoned basic Republican...

Don Stenberg lit a fire under his Senate campaign last week. First came a declaration of conservative principles that disassociated him from the Republican record in Washington and effectively erased any image of him as a rubber stamp for President Bush. Next, Stenberg sent letters to 525 Republican leaders and activists throughout the state addressing the question of “electability” that has been used against him. Stenberg lost an earlier challenge to Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson in 2000. However, it was “the closest U.S. Senate race in Nebraska history,” Stenberg wrote members of the GOP’s governing state central committee, delegates to...

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Stenberg blamed Democrats Tuesday for liberal judges, gay marriages, abortion and other social ills, but he reserved his harshest criticism for fellow Republicans in Washington. Former Nebraska attorney general and now an official Senata candidate Don Stenberg Stenberg blamed Republicans in the nation's capital - including President Bush - for the growing federal budget deficit, for "confused" border policies and for increasing federal control over local education. "Republicans in Washington need to be reminded why they were sent there in the first place," Stenberg said as he kicked off a 12-city tour of the state....

All 55 Senate Republicans are expected to vote for John Roberts' confirmation as Supreme Court chief justice next week. The 44 Democrats are less unified. Democrats who have announced their support for Roberts (8): Bill Nelson of Florida, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Max Baucus of Montana, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Kent Conrad of North Dakota. Democrats who voted for Roberts on the Judiciary Committee (3): Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Herb Kohl of Wisconsin.

OMAHA, Neb. — Ameritrade executive Pete Ricketts (search), describing himself as anti-abortion conservative, launched an election campaign Saturday to unseat U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson (search), the only Democrat in Nebraska's congressional delegation. "I grew up with great values and tremendous opportunities," said Ricketts, Ameritrade's chief operating officer and son of its founder. "I want my three kids and other's people's children to have the same opportunities that I had." Ricketts, 40, faces two other candidates in the Republican primary: former Nebraska Attorney General Don Stenberg (search) and former state GOP chairman David Kramer (search). Nelson is up for re-election to...

OMAHA, Neb. -- Calling himself a conservative, pro-life Republican, Ameritrade Chief Operating Officer Pete Ricketts Saturday joined the Republican primary race for the U.S. Senate. He said he grew up with great values and tremendous opportunities, and he wants his three children and other people's children to have the same opportunities he had. Ricketts said issues important to him include tax reform, national defense, international trade and modernization of Social Security. Ricketts, 40, faces two other Republicans: former Nebraska Attorney General Don Stenberg and former state GOP Chair David Kramer. The primary winner likely would face Democratic U.S. Sen. Ben...

If J. Peter Ricketts runs for the U.S. Senate, he and the wealth he acquired through Ameritrade could shake up the race. Ricketts, son of the founder of Ameritrade and worth at least $218 million, could become the third Republican to enter the 2006 race in hopes of unseating Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said several people active in the Republican Party.

Many argue that communism will never be possible because of "human nature". The essence of this false argument is the belief that a communist society would consist of an all-powerful central government that would tell everybody what to do--and would therefore undermine the creative initiative of individuals and the search for happiness. • This argument is based on two false assumptions: (1) It assumes that a communist society will look like the former Soviet Union, or the current China, North Korea, etc (ie: corrupt police states with a feudal-style ruling class) (2) It assumes that people will only work in...

Senator Tommy Franks? Trails by 2 points! By: Trupolitik · Section: Diaries I have been urging General Franks to run for the US senate for months now. It appears I am not alone. According to the latest poll he is behind Democratic incumbent, Ben Nelson, by 2 points and he has not even announced his candidacy! His Admin continues to tell me that Gen. Franks is not seeking an elected office. I think we should convice him otherwise. What Red Stater would prefer Ben Nelson or Katherine Harris over America's General? Please let him know America needs him. [b]Email:[/b] http://www.tommyfranks.com/Contact.asp...

Nelson says he leans toward approving Roberts for court BY JAKE THOMPSON WORLD-HERALD BUREAU WASHINGTON - Sen. Ben Nelson said Tuesday that he is edging toward voting for President Bush's Supreme Court nominee, John Roberts, with whom he will meet Thursday. The Nebraska Democrat staked out a neutral stance last week when Bush announced Roberts' nomination. But Tuesday he said, "I'm not undecided. I am leaning toward him." Nelson repeated that he won't make a decision on Roberts' nomination until after meeting him and until the Senate Judiciary Committee holds its confirmation hearing, expected in early September. "At the present...

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/cmp/20050715/tc_cmp/165702500 UN Panel: No Single Nation Should Control Internet Addresses Aoife White Thu Jul 14, 9:38 PM ET BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP)--A U.N. panel created to recommend how the Internet should be run in the future has failed to reach consensus but did agree that no single country should dominate. The United States stated two weeks ago that it intended to maintain control over the computers that serve as the Internet's principal traffic cops. In a report released Thursday, the U.N. panel outlined four possible options for the future of Internet governance for world leaders to consider at a November "Information...

Here is the list so far for sponcers to this hate America fest: ANSWER Code Pink UFPJ NION Al Awda World Workers Party Ruckas Revolutionary Communist party Moveon.org ACORN Campus Antiwar Network International Socialist Org Greens Party Muslim Student Association CPUSA

Senators from both sides of the aisle competed on Monday to extol the humane treatment of detainees whom they said they saw on a weekend trip to the military detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. All said they opposed closing the center. "I feel very good" about the detainees' treatment, Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, said. That feeling was also expressed by another Democrat, Ben Nelson of Nebraska. On Monday, Senator Jim Bunning, Republican of Kentucky, said he learned while visiting Guantánamo that some detainees "even have air-conditioning and semiprivate showers." Another Republican, Senator Michael D. Crapo of Idaho, said...

Yesterday the Senate reached a Compromise on confirmation hearings on certain judicial nominees. But “compromise” normally means an agreement between opposing parties where both make concessions and commit to keeping the bargain. By that standard, this is no compromise. It is, as Shakespeare wrote in Macbeth, “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Allow me to prove the point. The 14 signing Senators committed to vote to close debate on the nominations of Priscilla Owen, Janice Brown, and William Pryor for various Circuit Courts. They made no commitment on nominees William Myers and Henry...

Former Attorney General Don Stenberg appeared poised Wednesday to jump into the 2006 Republican Senate race and seek a rematch with Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson. Stenberg Stenberg, who served as attorney general for 12 years, will hold a news conference today at Republican state headquarters to make "an important announcement about his future political plans." All signs pointed to his third bid for a seat in the Senate. Stenberg, who left the attorney general's office in 2003 to enter private practice in Omaha, lost to Nelson in 2000 by 15,000 votes. But Stenberg supporters are quick to point out that...

Apr 20, 2005 DNC Chairman Howard Dean Statement On the Retirement of Senator Jim Jeffords Washington, DC – Democratic National Committee Chairman, Governor Howard Dean, issued the following statement regarding the retirement of Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords: "People all across America owe my good friend Jim Jeffords a debt of gratitude for dedicating his life to public service. An extraordinary man of great integrity, Jim's career exemplifies the very best in public life. From defending the environment and education, to his staunch support for the arts, to advocating for Americans with disabilities, Jim has distinguished himself as a courageous public...

Once the No. 1 target of Senate Republicans in 2006, Nebraska Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson has seen his political prospects brighten considerably since the start of the year.

"You're like Zell Miller without the crack," Jon Stewart once told Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson. Lately, though, it looks like Nelson may be taking hits from the pipe.Nelson, the Senate's most conservative Democrat, is drafting legislation to give bipartisan cover to Bill Frist's plan to outlaw the filibuster of judicial nominees, known as the "nuclear option." Nelson's proposal would bar the use of the filibuster and allow any Senator to call an up-or-down floor vote on any judicial nominee, even if the Senate Judiciary Committee blocks the nomination.Essentially, Nelson is doing Frist's controversial bidding for him, at a time when...

All Crystal Ball junkies know the drill. Every election year, most Senators skate by, especially the venerable elders who well fit their states. Meanwhile, a handful of Senators are vulnerable, and those are the contests we watch like hawks. In last week's Crystal Ball email ( http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/article.php?id=LJS2005032401), we examined seniority and the 109th Senate, as well as the seats that are currently open and those that might open between now and 2006. This week, we've brought you the 14 seats out of the 33 up for election that appear to be moderately to very vulnerable. In alphabetical order by state,...

Republican insiders say their fears have been realized that Sen. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina would not be sufficiently aggressive as Senate Republican campaign chairman in recruiting candidates for 2006. Rep. Candice Miller, the strongest Republican to challenge Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow in Michigan, has ruled out making the race. No strong candidate has been found to challenge Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson in overwhelmingly Republican Nebraska. Sen. Hillary Clinton appears uncontested in New York. The Republicans face potentially messy primary races in Florida and Tennessee, without a winner in sight. Dole's Democratic counterpart, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, has...

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Don Stenberg, who lost to U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson in a squeaker in 2000, is considering a rematch. Stenberg said Saturday that he would spend the next few weeks talking to people in the Republican Party, in the state and in Washington, about a possible bid. "I've been approached by a lot of people asking me to consider a run for Senate in 2006. I've agreed to consider it," said Stenberg, who worked the crowd Saturday at a gathering of the Nebraska Republican Central Committee. Stenberg, who was state attorney general for 12 years, would come...

Q: You are now the only Democratic senator who has said he will entertain the president's Social Security reform plan. Are you the new Zell Miller -- the Republicans' favorite Democrat?Well, I might be some of the Republicans' favorite Democrat. But no, I don't see myself that way. I'm going to continue to go to the Democratic caucus. Zell chose not to. I just think it's common sense to see a plan before you criticize it. It must be tough for Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, who is also a Democrat, don't you think? People probably get confused, and he...

Democrat Backs Supplemental Social Security Accounts (Update1) Check out - Bloomberg Omaha On Bush AgendaBush To Make 6th Visit President plans sixth stop in metro Details are slowly emerging about the president's trip to Nebraska next week. He's expected to be in downtown Omaha, at a location yet to be announced. This will be President Bush's sixth visit to the metro since taking office. The president was here three times in 2001. First, to push his tax cut, next to throw out the first pitch of the College World Series, and he was then briefly at Offutt Air Force Base...

Sen. Ben Nelson finally has succeeded in getting President Bush to stop calling him by the nickname "Nellie." Bush had been referring to the Nebraska Democrat as "Nellie" since 2001. Nelson disliked the nickname and had asked the president to stop using it. The president likes to give people nicknames. He has called Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, "Pootie-Poot," while aide Karen Hughes gets "High Prophet." But Bush heeded Nelson's request to scrap his moniker, and at the recent White House Christmas party, the president referred to Nelson as "Benny." "The president had a twinkle in his eye when...

COLORADO SPRINGS - James C. Dobson, the nation's most influential evangelical leader, is threatening to put six potentially vulnerable Democratic senators "in the 'bull's-eye' " if they block conservative appointments to the Supreme Court. In a letter his aides say is being sent to more than one million of his supporters, Dr. Dobson, the child psychologist and founder of the evangelical organization Focus on the Family, promises "a battle of enormous proportions from sea to shining sea" if President Bush fails to appoint "strict constructionist" jurists or if Democrats filibuster to block conservative nominees. Dr. Dobson recalled the conservative efforts...

Democratic senators in the states that President Bush won will face a tough road to re-election in 2006, Republicans say, with their sights set most eagerly on two Democrats named Nelson — Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Bill Nelson of Florida.     "They have something to worry about, and they need look no farther than Tom Daschle," said Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, referring to this month's defeat of the Senate minority leader from the red state of South Dakota, which Mr. Bush won by 22 percentage points. [snip]"For Democrats who were hoping the worst was over in 2004,...

SNOW REMOVALThe Bush Administration has never liked its Cabinet secretaries to be the flashy, spotlight-seeking type, Donald Rumsfeld and Colin Powell aside. Most agency leaders in the first term tended to disappear into the background, toe the Administration line, and keep the trains moving on time. Now most of the higher profile Cabinet folk are jumping ship (or are being pushed), and replacements are being brought on line. Again, the Administration isn't surprising anyone. Low profile types, who will do a serviceable job, and keep out of the Administration's way for the most part. But in the case of one...

Nebraska U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson will not comment on a CNN report that he has been asked by the Bush administration to be the new secretary of agriculture. Sen. Ben Nelson Anne Veneman has announced her resignation from the post. A representative for Nelson said the senator doesn't discuss private conversations between him and the president. Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel sent out a press release that said: "The White House would be wise to consider Sen. Nelson for secretary of agriculture. It would be good for Nebraska. I have let the White House know of my support for Sen. Nelson."

WASHINGTON - While rumors continued to circulate that Sen. Ben Nelson was under consideration to be the next agriculture secretary, Sen. Chuck Hagel said Thursday that he doesn't think Nelson is in serious contention. The Nebraska Republican said he and a senior aide had spoken with White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and President Bush's senior political adviser, Karl Rove, since CNN first reported Wednesday that Rove had talked with Nelson about taking the job being vacated by Ann Veneman. "No job offer has been made to Senator Nelson," Hagel said on his weekly conference call with reporters. "I...

THIS AM...on Fox News, Podesta was being interviewed about the library. When asked about the extend of the displays about shillery, he said that...she was important..."as the vice president." He didn't say, "as was the vice president."

Judy (hmmm?) Woodruff just had a report that Karl Rove had offered Nebraska Sen Ben Nelson the post of Secretary of Agriculture. Nelson is up in 2006...and facing a hard race from popular GOP Gov Mike Johanns. Nelson is among the most conservative of Senate Dems..Does this make sense, because Nelson votes with the GOP on most of the key issues..?

Hey there, GOP-activist Freepers - This is no time to rest on our laurels and take it easy! Let's start going for that filibuster-proof 60+ vote majority in the Senate in 2 years. (Who knows how many Soopreems might retire after the midterm elections?) Here are the Democrat Senators facing re-election in 2006: In states that Bush won: NM: Bingaman, Jeff WV: Byrd, Robert (are his longterm plans to die in office?) ND: Conrad, Kent NE: Nelson, Ben (is he a possible party switcher?) FL: Nelson, Bill In states that Bush lost: HI: Akaka, Daniel WA: Cantwell, Maria DE: Carper,...

...President Bush has won a clear mandate for his big second-term agenda, including the giants of Social Security reform and tax overhaul. Yet his ability to do anything still rests with the Senate.... Republicans [picked] up Democratic seats in both Carolinas and Georgia, as well as Louisiana and Florida. They weathered storms in Kentucky and Oklahoma, and even held Alaska. But the big daddy came with the overthrow of Mr. Daschle. That ouster... was as much a repudiation of obstructionism as it was Mr. Daschle's own record. [C]onsider not just the Republicans' numerical gains, but their ideological ones. With the...

Oscar Rios Pohirieth dreads the conversation he's had again and again with some of Lincoln's Hispanic high school students. Lucero Satamaria, a UNL senior psychology major from Columbia, South America, shows her support for the DREAM Act at Broyhill Fountain Wednesday evening. They step into his office and ask how they can go to college. If his first question -- "Do you have a green card?" -- is met with a no, the Lincoln Public Schools bilingual liaison must tell them that high school graduation may be the end of the line.Not, mentioned are the ESL classes supported by the...

THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY Sen. John Kerry probably didn't gain any votes while traveling through parts of Florida on Friday. The candidate walked through ravaged trailer parks and decimated neighborhoods, and attempted to comfort some of the people who were returning to rebuild their lives. Kerry, in speaking with reporters, called what he was seeing "inspiring." "Not sure what's so inspiring about me not having help," said a resident of a trailer park Kerry visited. "He wasn't offering anything. He just wanted to come here because the president came here." Kerry did travel with Sen. Ben Nelson, some of...