Ben Nelson won't seek re-election in '12

[jimmy olsen]

If Kerrey runs the Dems have chance, if not it'll go GOP no matter who they nominate.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/27/9744407-ben-nelson-wont-seek-re-election-in-12

Ben Nelson won't seek re-election in '12
By NBC's Mark Murray

First Read has confirmed, per a high-ranking Democratic source, that Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson (D) will NOT seek re-election in 2012.

Due to some tough polling numbers for Nelson, Democrats already had a pretty good chance of losing this seat next year. But Nelson's decision not to seek re-election makes it harder to keep the seat in the red state of Nebraska.

*** UPDATE *** That is, if the Democrats can't find a top-notch recruit. The same high-ranking Democratic source tells NBC News that former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey (D) is considering a run with Nelson's seat open.

And the source sends this shot at the conservative Nelson, who often voted with Republicans: "He will be the least missed member of the Democratic caucus next year."

[Eddie Teach]

Did you lose track of the other half dozen threads you've started about the impending GOP landslide?

[jimmy olsen]

Did you lose track of the other half dozen threads you've started about the impending GOP landslide?

This is specific news that is new, it deserves its own thread.

As for a GOP landslide, that's assured in the Senate due to geography, but the House and the Presidency are up in the air.

[Zoupa]

The Presidency is not really up in the air.

[Eddie Teach]

This is specific news that is new, it deserves its own thread.

What is there to be said about Nelson's retirement specifically? The primary newsworthiness of this article, as even your comment states, is as a bullet point on the subject of how the Dems are going to have trouble keeping the Senate.

[Ideologue]

Not in the slightest.  Nor is Congress.  The GOP is finished.

Nelson may be gone, but this is your Trafalgar, bitches.

[jimmy olsen]

The Presidency is not really up in the air.

Depending on how the economy goes in 2012, it's definitely up in the air.

[Ideologue]

The Presidency is not really up in the air.

Depending on how the economy goes in 2012, it's definitely up in the air.

The economy will continue to collapse but everyone knows whose fault it is.

[Capetan Mihali]

Nelson may be gone, but this is your Trafalgar, bitches.

[Caliga]

The economy will continue to collapse but everyone knows whose fault it is.

Bush's?

[Ideologue]

Actually, I don't blame any party for the recession itself.  I blame the GOP for the wholly inadequate measures used to combat it.  I blame Obama for not shifting leftward and leading instead of misevaluating his opponents utterly, but what are you gonna do?

Now I do blame Bush for making our obscenely low tax burden the new normal and then prosecuting two underfunded wars, leading to the huge debt that the GOPpies are now using as a political bludgeon for stupid people who think that government debt is in any wise the same as household debt.

[DGuller]

If Democrats had to lose someone in the Senate, I'm sure Bill Nelson would be at the top of their wish list.  Wasn't he the main "Blue Dog" who held out for a bribe when Democrats actually had the 60 votes to pass healthcare law?  Of course they still only had 4 votes in the chamber that matters, but that would come later.

[Valmy]

Did you lose track of the other half dozen threads you've started about the impending GOP landslide?

Furthermore who the fuck cares if the GOP wins a landslide?  They had control in from 2000 to 2006 and what did they do?  Disastrous bullshit mostly and they hardly look more competent now.

So why should I give a crap Tim?

[Habbaku]

A GOP House/Senate with Mubarak Obama would be pretty interesting to watch. 

[DGuller]

A GOP House/Senate with Mubarak Obama would be pretty interesting to watch. 

How so?  Maybe if Republicans were interested in cutting deals rather than doing their best to sabotage a Democrat's presidency, then something good could be ironed out in a compromise.  But we know this isn't really the situation right now, and won't be in the near future.