Bob Kerrey Changes His Mind, Will Run For NE Senate

[RandySF]

The Washington Post reports that former Sen. Bob Kerrey will run for the Senate after previously indicating that he would not run. This is good news for Democrats, who felt that with Kerrey they have a chance of maintaining the seat being vacated by retiring Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson. Nebraska's filing deadline is this week.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/report-bob-kerrey-changes-his-mind-will-run

[cthulu2016]

1. Any man that dated Debra Winger

must have something going for him.

(Yeah, he's too conservative but by Nebraska standards a DINO is better than nothing.)

[spartan61]

13. Kerrey dated Debra Winger???

I thought it was Jerry Brown who dated her.

[grantcart]

17. he dated her when she was filming 'Terms. .' When asked about it

He famously said "She swept me off my foot" (he had the lower part of one leg amputated in Vietnam).

[joeybee12]

20. Jerry dated Linda Ronstadt...nt

[Brickbat]

31. She lived with him in the governor's mansion!

He joked that she had a higher approval rating than he did.

[Hawaii Hiker]

14. He can't possibly be any more of a DINO

than Ben Nelson...Nelson might as well have an R after his name, there is NOTHING Democratic about him...

[TheWraith]

30. You might want to check his actual voting record.

You'll find that your impression is wrong.

[earthside]

2. Well, good ... maybe.

This turnabout is kind of the problem with Bob Kerry.

He's kind of a 'Hamlet' politician.

He was very independent-minded when he was in the Senate previously.

I like him, but he has never reached what I thought was his political potential because of his "to be or not to be" persona.

[DallasNE]

19. This Is A Good Summary

The biggest risk Republicans run in this race is overplaying their hand. Both major Republicans running will support the bill by Sen. Blount and will be certain to play the abortion/contraception card to the hilt so Kerrey needs to be well prepared for this assult.

Kerrey's big break in politics came when he was running for Governor and they hit him hard and often for anti-war views on Vietnam. After awhile Kerrey came out and said "I never said that and I have never held those views". Republicans pounced, calling Kerrey a liar. Since that was a serious charge the media asked for the proof. (They did that back then). Repubicans had the quotes right, there was just one problem. The remarks were made in Grand Island but by John Kerry speaking on behalf of Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

Historically, this seat has been the Omaha seat, dating back to at least Sen. Hruska, and the other seat has belonged to an out-State Senator. Both Republicans are out-State. Will this make a difference in a tight race? Who knows.

Frankly, I think Kerrey changed his mind because the prospects have changed over the last month or so, thanks to Republicans self-destructing nationally, and Obama's improved prospects. It will still be an uphill struggle for Kerrey because Nebraska has moved to the right since Kerrey was last in the Senate.

[Major Hogwash]

3. Wow, that made my day! Thanks RandySF.

I remember when the rightwingers vilified Bob Kerrey for being a Vietnam veteran.
Man, I hope this guy gets in to the Senate.

[Bandit]

11. Even Republicans might have trouble vilifying a Medal of Honor holder..

He is very conservative, but not nearly as much as Ben Nelson.. We could do worse.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. Good

Having a DINO will be better than having a completely nutty teabaggin' Republican in the Senate to replace Nelson. Between this news, Hoekstra's meltdown in Michigan, and that one Republican candidate's gaffe in NY about overturning Roe V. Wade ("nobody will miss it&quot , the Republicans seem on course for another "seizing defeat from the jaws of victory" moment in November. We may find holding the Senate a little easier than it looked initially. *fingers crossed*

[Old and In the Way]

5. As good as we can expect from Nebraska.

It will be interesting to see how Kerrey votes in the Senate...he might be marginally better than Nelson. Assuming, of course, he gets elected.

[Aviation Pro]

6. MOH receipient, SEAL, ex-Governor, ex-Senator, university president....

...yep, he's getting a donation from me.

[Drunken Irishman]

7. Good. This should make it more winnable.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

8. At least Kerrey has some conviction

Ben Nelson just said "Aw crap, Nebraska Republicans will call me a commie, I better not vote with Democrats on any high profile issue".

[joeglow3]

9. Here come the Swift Boaters

Will be interesting to see how this is handled, since it originally came out after he left office. Regardless, I am guessing we will see millions of right wing dollars coming into Nebraska:

http://brillwebsite.com/writings/kerrey.html

[New Yawker]

12. Nah, all the right-wing dollars are tied up on Santorum

and Walker.

Kerrey should have a easy time getting his seat back.

I just hope he will turn progressive and help the working class and join the Progressive Democrats of America.

[joeglow3]

16. Karl Rove's group has been dumping money here for a month now

He has already been flooding the radio and television waves with anti-Kerrey ads.

[hibbing]

18. ugh

Hi,
I admire him personally, and like others have said, can't expect much from the state I love. However, he is going to get slammed by so much outside money it is going to be crazy. I'm dreading this campaign and him having to deal with all the fucksticks.

Peace

[LibDemAlways]

10. He participated in the sham known as the 9/11 commission. However, as

most everyone here has pointed out, a DINO is marginally better than a Repuke, so I guess this is a good thing.

[Aviation Pro]

26. He confronted a couple of pajama clad...

...Freepfucks if I remember correctly and walked out of the commission because he was so pissed off.

A pissed off SEAL is not something you want.

[grantcart]

15. This is as big an indicator of how bad the Republican brand is

Doing as any poll.

[joeybee12]

21. He's better than Nelson, not by much, though...

I suppose he's the best we can hope for.

[emulatorloo]

23. He's better than a Teabag Zealot, so that's worth something.

Seem smarter than Ben Nelson.

[DefenseLawyer]

24. My couch seems smarter than Ben Nelson n/t

[emulatorloo]

29. . . .

[mahina]

27. He's the guy who first said, "Santorum is Latin for asshole".

I liked him for that. Good luck buddy.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

28. not a big fan, but better than a teabagger getting the seat

and he wouldn't be any worse than Nelson.

Status quo is preferable to a Republican pickup.