when is he up for reelection?

And just what are his purposes?

I'm all for standing for or against something on principle. But this ain't principle. This is straight from the Republican playbook. Ben Nelson is one of those folks who needs to just join the Republicans. It is an embarrassment to have this guy caucus as a Democrat.

I'd rather have 57 or 58 reliable Democrats--defined as not wavering or voicing opposition terminology and rationales for issues that are no-brainers if one were truly a Democrat--than have 60 Democrats with asterisks.

Ugh. Can we swap him for one of the Mainers? Or both of the Mainers???? Pleeeeeease?

Right now, Nelson holds the balance of power-- so he's perfectly happy where he is. But one day in the future, he's going to need a friend and there won't be any volunteers.

Another argument for getting rid of the filibuster, a disgusting, undemocratic relic of the segregation era. By filibustering every single bill and appointment, the republicans are making an extra-legal change to the constitution. There is no constitutional basis for the filibuster, it's just a senate rule. If you get rid of it, Ben Nelson just becomes an insignificant pest.

This weasel is using high profile issues to extort benefit on other issues. By making himself the "pivotal" Dem, he can always blackmail the party to get favors. He is a pig and needs to be replaced.

This has nothing to do with abortion or national security. It's merely a way to deflect attention away from the government health insurance option, where he really, really wants to preserve the status quo.

Guess the President is doing things right---as in correct. Seems he is pissing everyone off!

"he'll betray his allies whenever it suits his purposes"

Hmmm, 12 so-called Democratic Senators vote against protecting homeowners from bankruptcy; Cantwell, Murray, Testor, Baucus join with the two Wal*Marters from Arkansas to protect the Uber Rich on their canard called "death" tax; many join to defeat Sanders' cap on credit card interest rates - And, just now, you realize there might be a problem with achieving a filibuster proof Senate? We have many of the finest Blanche Dubois Senators on the Democratic side of the aisle. They all just get by on the "kindness of strangers".

I believe that Senators Cantwell and Murray are representing the Nordstrom family interests here in Washington State.

We need a little party discipline. There are always a few jerks like Nelson and they need to be kept in line by party officials sending a better candidate up in the next primary. Nelson is no Democrat.

Before your emotions get all knotted up, think for a minute how party-loyal Republicans feel about Arlen Specter.

I'm just saying, is all.

Calling these guys "moderates" is a serious misnomer.

To be moderate means to be thoughtful and researched on each issue... It does NOT mean "to be a Democrat but act like a Republican" or vice versa.

Reporters should stop calling them that...

Nelson's pissed off because he thinkgs that the reforms to student loans will hurt business for the lending weasels at Nelnet down in Lincoln.

I believe that Senators Cantwell and Murray are representing the Nordstrom family interests here in Washington State.

More likely the Blethen family that owns the Seattle Times.

Nebraska voted for McCain 57-42. Only four counties went for Obama (though they did include Lancaster (Lincoln) and Douglas (Omaha)).

If a Democrat is going to win in Nebraska, they have to be perceived as different from national Democrats, and they aren't likely to be so perceived unless they are different.

Reading Nelson out of the party is as dumb as reading Powell out of the other party.

The best thing that could happen is if Ben Nelson left the Democratic Party or got voted out of office. Unfortunately, considering the voters of Nebraska the former seems more likely than the latter. Personally, I would gladly say good riddance.

PaulB - The Nordstroms really are The Family that the pols want to curry favor with here. They aren't true old money, and they aren't nuveau riche either. And both they and the pols like the high-profile lifestyle scene.

"Ben Nelson...[will]...betray his allies whenever it suits his purposes."

You're catching on, Mr. Benen. Nelson will also, for a few dollars more, betray the fundamental precepts of human dignity that until eight years ago comprised the foundation of America's ethical and moral status. Nelson is a frightened little weasel, a quivering momma's boy who wets his pajamas in a thunderstorm. America is particularly ill served by this particularly repulsive bottom feeder.

Before your emotions get all knotted up, think for a minute how party-loyal Republicans feel about Arlen Specter.

At least Specter was honest enough to change parties and didn't spend all of his time working against Republican policies from the inside on "principle."

Nelson holds the balance of power

Nelson only holds the balance of power because Reid has decided to preemptively capitulate to all filibuster threats - and apparently won't even use the powers of his position to keep members of his own party from blocking legislation.

Nelson should be perfectly free to vote against any bill. But by threatening to vote against cloture he's attacking his own party.

Never did think there'd be a senator who made Holy Joe look good, but Nelson's the man.

Ben Nelson is not a Democrat. Come January 4, 2011, after we've taken the xeven Senate seats that Cornyn says we will, Nelson needs to get the boot.

Nelson only holds the balance of power because Reid has decided to preemptively capitulate to all filibuster threats - and apparently won't even use the powers of his position to keep members of his own party from blocking legislation.

The way the filibuster rule works at present makes it so that an "actual filibuster" is more onerous for the people trying to secure cloture than for those opposing it.

And what exactly are the "powers of his position" that would allow him to control Nelson? The Senate isn't the house. The majority leader really only has the power to set the Senate's agenda - he has very little power over how individual members vote. What exactly should he do?

Reid has certainly not been the most effectual leader the Senate has ever had. But, basically, it's almost impossible to lead the Senate effectually. Reid's problems are mostly the result of problems with the Senate itself, rather than his own leadership problems. Not that he's been particularly good, but Senate Majority Leader makes just about everyone look bad.

Nelson only holds the balance of power because Reid has decided to preemptively capitulate to all filibuster threats

This is exactly right, I think. Nelson is a problem because Harry Reid is an idiot of a majority leader and lets it be a problem. Look, Nelson represents a bloody red state and if he honestly represents his constituents, he's going to have to take some conservative positions on things. But that doesn't mean the tail gets to wag the dog.

AFAIK, abortion rights is a smokescreen re: the johnsen nomination. the real problem is she's decisively anti-torture.

Not that I WANT him to caucus with the Republican'ts but tell me again, just why is Ben Nelson a Democrat?

Ben Nelson is a dick.

This man has also expressed his determination to stop healthcare reform. (His state is home to lots of insurance companies and he is more worried about them than the people of this country.

I have emailed Nelson's website and strongly voiced objections, perhaps if everyone did the same we would get through to him.

He is some pissed about the changes to student loans that Obama is making. I'd bet a bunch of money that there are skeletons in this Ben Nelson's closet.

"and he'll betray his allies whenever it suits his purposes."

And I'd hazard a guess that the tension that 60-vote majority creates will prove downright irresistible to Senators (who are generally over-convinced of their own importance anyway) like Nelson and Bayh who don't have the fire to make a political impression on their own, and thus make it a point to piss on everyone else's.

Apparently the Money Party doesn't want a liberal supreme court appointee.

They surely don't want Al Franken to be seated in the senate.

keep your pants on guys.

There is no serious prospect of replacing Ben Nelson with a more liberal Democrat, even if he were willing to retire gracefully.

This has nothing to do with abortion or national security. It's merely a way to deflect attention away from the government health insurance option . . .

Danp on May 25, 2009 at 9:45 AM

So --- everytime Ben Nelson appears in public the first and last question he gets should be "Why don't you support a single-payer public health care option? What will you do to lower costs and increase access to health care?"

Every time his staff answers the phone.

Everytime he holds a photo op. At every last presser. At every church supper and on every blog, he should get that question.

Imagine his fury at having his red-herring of the moment totally ignored.

Nelson should be perfectly free to vote against any bill. But by threatening to vote against cloture he's attacking his own party.

Posted by: Jinchi on May 25, 2009

Well put!

I guess Bennie Boy has forgotten the rallying cry uperdown vote..uperdown vote...uperdown vote, just give 'em an uperdown vote. I would like to know which senators went out of their way to help him out in 2006. Scumball