Ben Nelson Retires

There were many agonizing moments for Democrats when it came to passage of Obamacare.  There was a core of about 4 or 5 senators who were on the fence.  About 20-25 House Democrats straddling the fence also.  All of them eventually caved for one reason or another.  Most were threatened, intimidated or politically bribed as was Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska.  Known now as the "Cornhusker Kickback," it essentially was that the federal government would fund Nebraska's new Medicaid recipients forever. As you may remember, this was not popular with the GOP or even in the state of Nebraska. Nebraskans were outraged with Senator Ben Nelson for taking a political bribe, even though it granted favors to their state, to secure his vote.  It was just systematic of the Obama Administration in securing Obamacare votes regardless of the legality or morality.  From that point on, Senator Ben Nelson had a bulleyes on him from the GOP and, most importantly, the people of Nebraska.


Yesterday Senator Ben Nelson stated he was retiring from office.  He cowardly took a bribe (not in the traditional sense of the word, but a bribe nonetheless)  to secure his vote for Obamacare.  Of course, it only stands to reason he took the coward's way out to avoid defeat.  Reports were that many in the Democratic Party tried to talk Senator Nelson out of retiring.  Democrats are now putting on a brave front by trotting out an old liberal warhorse, former Senator Bob Kerrey, as a potential Democratic nominee.  Most likely, it is too little too late with the election less than a year away.  Democrats are fearful of losing the Senate to Republicans.  Ben Nelson was the latest domino to fall in that direction.  Senator Nelson was extremely vulnerable in his reelection bid.  But, he was by no means the only Democrat that is vulnerable.  Senators Joe Tester of Montana, and Claire McCaskil of Missouri are also in dog fights for reelection.  The one factor they all have in common that has them in trouble is their votes for Obamacare.  I hope President Obama is happy with his "signature" piece of legislation.  It is possible it will cost his party greatly.  But, you know what I find odd?  President Obama and the rest of the Socialists rarely, if ever, discuss Obamacare.  Wonder why that is?

Perry's Do or Die Debate

It is do or die time for Rick Perry.  The one time right-wing favorite and darling is barely holding on after two lackluster debates and his seemingly out of touch with reality position on illegal immigration.  It did not help Rick Perry when he told a Republican audience they were "heartless" if they didn't agree with him on providing instate tuition to children of illegal aliens.  Since that comment, he has gone from front-runner to a candidate who is taking a standing eight-count.  Tuesday night's debate in New Hampshire is going to decide if Rick Perry remains in the campaign...or falls out gracefully.  There is simply no room for margin of error in the debate Tuesday night for Rick Perry (author note:  this post is being typed up just prior to Tuesday night's GOP debate).  There can be no "heartless" comment in the GOP debate Tuesday night.  Perry simply can't sit idly by and watch Romney and Cain tear him to shreds on illegal immigration and his economic polices as governor in Texas.  To do so would be political suicide.  The Romney and Cain campaigns smell blood in the water.  I suspect both will try for an early knockout punch in this debate. 

I'll make a prediction here (really going out on a limb here);  I think Rick Perry will give another lackluster performance Tuesday night.  Perry will forever be known as an inferior debater.  It will be a moniker he will never be able to live down.  If he blows up in the debate Tuesday night, I suspect it will forever kill any presidential aspirations by this Texas governor.  Really, Perry has no one to blame but himself.  He should not blame his campaign people, he should not even blame his campaign manager who many will criticize.  Perry went downhill when he started making it known he is a big supporter of illegal aliens and their children.  What Perry, and people like him, fail to recognize is that the American people have to foot the bill for these children of illegal aliens.  Why should we do that?  Don't we have enough problems trying to care for our own children?  Perry took a calculated gamble that his support of instate tuition for these children of illegals would go over well.  It did not work.  As much as he has made a fool out of himself in the debates, his position on illegal immigration has been his downfall.  To their credit, Herman Cain and Mitt Romney have taken advantage of this weakness.  I think they will go after him again Tuesday night on this same issue of illegal immigration to the USA.  Perry will stumble and fumble again on this issue.

Perry started out with such great promise.  Many of his positions on spending and tax cuts are very popular with Republicans.  He seems to have the charisma that many people seek in a presidential candidate.  But, every presidential campaign will reveal a weakness if a candidate has one.  Perry's weaknesses of being a poor debater and coddling of illegal aliens has proven this point.  Now, Rick Perry could prove me wrong.  He could turn it around to have a great debate performance. But, he can't make himself into something he isn't overnight.  He poor performances in the debates aren't going to magically change Perry into Abraham Lincoln.  He can't backtrack on illegal immigration.  Perry would be doing the one thing that is a weakness for Romney right now; he would be characterized as a flip-flopper.  Perry simply doesn't need that accusation at this point in the campaign.

Orlando GOP Debate

 
Thursday night Fox News held the latest GOP debate among Republican Presidential candidates.  I had some lasting impressions that I came away with after watching this debate.  The first and foremost impression I had was Rick Perry mortally wounding himself in defending illegal aliens in Texas.  When Perry stated "You don't have a heart" if you don't want to help children of illegal aliens in this country, he was roundly booed by the crowd.  That is a rather simple indictment on Rick Perry's immigration policy (or lack thereof).  Perry also stated, "We need to be educating these children, because they will become a drag on our society."  Here's a news flash for you, Governor Perry;  Illegals are already a drag on our society.  The notion they take jobs Americans won't do is no longer accepted.  They take up slots in public schools which in turn creates classroom crowding.  They do take social services such as Social Security and Medicare.  If you don't believe it, let me know.  I'll be glad to explain it in more detail.

Michelle Bachmann, I'm sorry to say, is probably finished.  Her poor performance was only made worse when she tried to explain away her remarks  on vaccinations.  She seemed exasperated at times.  Herman Cain made good points, especailly how Obamacare would have killed him when he stated, "Getting treatment on my timetable, not the government’s timetable, saved my life."  Herman Cain is a good man and someone I would feel no hesitation to support if he could possibly win the nomination.  Unfortunately, presidential nominating processes are all about personality and not substance.  Witness the clueless wonder we have as president right now.  His greatest appeal (and still is) is his personality.  Rick Santorum  did well, especially when he was nailing Perry on instate tuition for children of illegal aliens.  He had a good night.  But, again, he just doesn't have the personality that people are searching for in this era of political horse and pony shows.  Ron Paul did well and I personally felt was the winner of the debate.  The problem is that Paul doesn't get many questions in the debates.  He seems a flake and a bit weird at times.  But, overall, he has some good points, especially about supporting the Tenth Amendment.  I was not aware previously he was a states rights supporter.  Romney performed well at times.  But, he spent most of the night on just two issues, social security and illegal immigration.  I might just have to hold my nose and vote for him some day.

Overall, there was nothing earth shattering that came out of the debate.  I do think Perry continued his recent downward trend.  Did he hurt himself enough to lose the Florida primary?  Last reports were that he held a nine-point lead over Romney.  If Romney cuts that in half, after this debate, it spells serious problems for Governor Perry.