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Letter to Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska

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Soapweed

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To Whom It May Concern:

Being busy with cattle shipping and other fall work, I was negligent in getting recent mail read. I just saw a letter from your organization dated October 3, 2014. Replies were needed by October 15th to make a difference, so this is too late. However, I would like you to hear my thoughts.

It seems that ICON (Independent Cattlemen Of Nebraska) is considering endorsing Democrat candidate Dave Domina for U.S. Senate and Democrat candidate Chuck Hassebrook for Nebraska Governor. As a lifelong proud Republican, this potential happening rankles me quite significantly. I don't want my dues money supporting something or someone I don't personally support.

Here is a little refresher of information and a flashback in time. In the fall of 2006, Ben Nelson was Nebraska's senator and running for reelection on the Democratic ticket. Pete Ricketts was his Republican opponent. I was disheartened to realize that two worthy organizations were endorsing the Democrat, Ben Nelson. These were the NRA (National Rifle Association) and the NFIB (National Federation of Independent Businesses). Nelson won over Ricketts, possibly because of these endorsements. If you will recall, Senator Ben Nelson sold Nebraska and the entire United States down the river when he was the final deciding vote for Obamacare to pass. Had Pete Ricketts been our senator, this would not have happened.

It is supposedly honorable and noble to "vote for the person, not the party." Through a lifetime of observation, it seems to me that it is in the best interest of a citizen to vote a straight party ticket. No matter how a candidate comes across as planning to "do the right thing," when the chips are down and they get to Washington, their loyalty always seems to go to their political party. Whichever party is in the majority ends up holding the key chairmanships, and gets to run the show. Republicans aren't perfect, but there are darned sure too many Democrats in key positions as it is. Democrat Harry Reid is a major clog in the arteries of the Senate, and if Democrats get the majority again, he will remain in power.

It has always seemed to me that ICON "leans to the left," even though they portray being "Independent." If they are going to blatantly support Democrats over Republicans, you can count me out. There are far more Republican ranchers than Democrat ranchers. You are only shooting yourselves in the foot to go out on a limb to endorse those of the wrong party. If you endorse Democrats instead of being "Independent," will you change your name to Democrat Cattlemen of Nebraska, or "d-CON"? Somehow this doesn't have the same glamorous image.

Have a glorious day,

Steve Moreland
Spearhead Ranch POB 188
Merriman, NE 69218
 
The first vote a democrat senator will make, is to elect Harry Reid majority leader of the senate to protect Obama from facing legislation that his veto will expose him for the socialist he is. This is an all or nothing election, and we can't afford any more socialism.
 
Great letter, Soap. Unfortunately, it will more than likely go un noticed by the powers that be. You are spot on about Ben Nelson and the rest of his ilk. When push comes to shove they are in lock step with their party, constituents be damned. The people of our great state didn't need a second dose of Bob Kerrey and his wooden leg and sent him packing two years ago. Ricketts should win the governorship and Sasse the Senate seat quite handily. I would hazard a guess that there will not be a Democrat in the Governor's mansion in Lincoln or one representing Nebraska in DC for at least the next 20 years.

I would withdraw my membership from "ICON" so fast their heads would spin, and not give them one more dime. Maybe their acronym should be Idiots Conning Other Nebraskans.
 
I can't figure out our good friends on the Great Plains to the north of me. Nebraska and Kansas seem so conservative and level headed but look what Nebraska gave us with Nelson and now look at all the wringing of hands in Kansas politics.

What gives?
 
Nelson was a decent Governor and a likeable person. We thought (erroneously) that he would actually represent us in Washington. For a time, he did, but was seduced in the end and sold the whole damn country down the river. Rat bastard.
 
Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka/ Lowrents are liberal hot beds.... and this commie "independent" who is a closet democrat running against Roberts is a piece of work...
 
littlejoe said:
Nice political letter.

Perhaps deserves a place on political board?
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If it gets put on Political Bull visiting ranchers cannot see it. You have to be registered to see Political Bull. Besides, I figured it to be at least ninety percent pertaining to ranching. :wink:
 
So, Soap, who do you endorse and why? Not trying to get personal, I respect your opinion and knowledge on the subject. On the Senate ticket, I like what Jim Jenkins has to say. I met Jim this summer, I had no idea he was running and he never led up to it, I found out about a month later. That tells me that he has humility, something I have not found in the few politicians I have met.
 
flyingS said:
So, Soap, who do you endorse and why? Not trying to get personal, I respect your opinion and knowledge on the subject. On the Senate ticket, I like what Jim Jenkins has to say. I met Jim this summer, I had no idea he was running and he never led up to it, I found out about a month later. That tells me that he has humility, something I have not found in the few politicians I have met.
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flyingS- I have no real horse in this race- but I didn't know who you were talking of so did some searching on the net... I like what I see of this Jenkins...Like some of his quotes:

"Nebraska doesn't belong to a political party; it belongs to our people."— Independent U.S. Senate Candidate Jim Jenkins
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"The true spoilers are the Democrats and Republicans who are clearly unable to govern, unable to lead, taking the country to a place that is much worse than where we are and where we've been. If you sign on to this herd mentality, we'll fall over the cliff." – Jim Jenkins
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Just like George Washington believed- I too believe political parties/partisan politics will be the downfall of this nation- and he spoke often of the "baneful effects" of political parties:

"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages & countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders & miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security & repose in the absolute power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty." — George Washington, September 19, 1796
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Just as info- about 25 years ago the Montana legislature appointed a committee to study the possibilities of doing away with parties in the elections... The committee reported back that they found by a large percentage that the voters would like to do away with parties in all elections-local, state, and national... When the legislative/party leaders heard this they quickly realized the loss of power/income they and the parties would have if that happened and quickly quashed the report and disbanded the committee... Nothing more was ever brought up about that idea again ... :wink:

When I ran for Sheriff I ran as an Independent because I had never been a straight party follower- and I didn't believe law enforcement should be tied to partisan politics... I won-- and many in the county liked the idea so a couple of years later the local government study committee put the idea of having all city and county elections be non-partisan on the ballot... And it was passed by over a 2-1 margin.... We now vote for the person-not the party... And I hear many that wish the same were true statewide...
 
FlyingS - Don't listen to Oldtimer. He'll fall for anything and has no political moral convictions. All he wants is free "Stuff".

Please don't allow him to sway you..................
 
Right now, any vote for an independent or libertarian is essentially a vote for a libtard Democrat. We don't need any more of that kind representing Nebraska.
 
flyingS said:
So, Soap, who do you endorse and why? Not trying to get personal, I respect your opinion and knowledge on the subject. On the Senate ticket, I like what Jim Jenkins has to say. I met Jim this summer, I had no idea he was running and he never led up to it, I found out about a month later. That tells me that he has humility, something I have not found in the few politicians I have met.
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FlyingS, we need to vote Republican for two reasons. Republicans are more responsible on conservative and ranching issues, and because we don't need more Democrats tipping the scales so Democrats rule the House and Senate. Admittedly there are probably a few good Democrats (darned few), but when they get to either Lincoln or Washington D.C., they always put their votes with the other Democrats, and our side loses again.

Check out all the issues and decide if Republicans or Democrats more closely think like you do. You are an intelligent common sense sort of guy, so I am betting the conservative way is your way, like it is my way. Republicans more closely go along with that philosophy, so that is the way I am going to vote. You do what you like. What I don't like is for my ICON dues going to support candidates I don't support myself. Why would I keep my ICON membership under those conditions?

loomixguy said:
Right now, any vote for an independent or libertarian is essentially a vote for a libtard Democrat. We don't need any more of that kind representing Nebraska.
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flyingS said:
Loomix, please explain. I am not sure I agree, but don't want to be missing a valid point.
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FlyingS, I think what Loomixguy is alluding to is that a vote for a third party is basically just throwing away your vote. Decide if you like the Republican or Democrat philosophy the best, and vote accordingly. Even if a Democrat sounds good for a moment, don't forget what Ben Nelson did to us. Like is nearly always the case when "voting for the person, not the party," the "person" will side with the other birds of his feather when the chips are down.
 
Loomix guy is right. The democrats figured out that the tea party is a reflection of the mood of the country right now. So in order to capitalize on that they started running spoiler candidates. They run candidates as "independents" that they know have absolutely no chance of winning, the only reason they are running is to siphon votes from the republican candidate. Think about it, do you think that anyone that was going to vote for Domina is going to vote for Jenkins instead? That isn't the natural constituency of the democrats. Jenkins runs as an "independent" knowing that he doesn't have a prayer of winning but the hope is that he will take enough votes away from Sasse so that Domina can win. The game was given away when the local democrat activists put up signs for both Jenkins and Domina.

The same is true in Kansas. The democrat dropped out of the race in order to give the "independent" a better chance at winning against the republican. A vote for an "independent" or a democrat is a vote for Harry Reid to remain majority leader. I sure don't like Mitch McConnell either but with him we might have a chance of slowing down this train wreck. With Reid in place it is full speed ahead.
 

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