The arrogance and conceit of Nebraska Republicans is really quite disturbing sometimes. Asked if he could beat Bob Kerrey in a general election, Bruning responded that yes, of course he could, because “I don’t believe Nebraskans want another carpetbagger,” and “his record would be so easy to assail.”

That’s a record, by the way, that starts with Kerrey’s service in Vietnam before Jon Bruning was even born. As governor of Nebraska while Bruning was still in high school. And as a popular United States Senator while Jon Bruning was a young, arrogant liberal law student at the University of Nebraska.

Though Bruning has taken a 180-degree turn in his positions in the last dozen years, the arrogance remains, which is why he apparently felt the need to say that it would be “so easy” to beat Kerrey.

Since Bruning knows no other insult than “carpetbagger,” (one wonders what he’ll say if Jeff Fortenberry gets in the race), it’s clear he’s going to be out of his league if he tries to take on Bob Kerrey head-to-head. Kerrey gave us a sampling of the kind of smackdown Bruning can expect in today’s Lincoln Journal Star:

“I don’t think gratuitous insults are necessary,” Kerrey said. “I’m not a candidate. I’m a taxpayer in Nebraska, paying my fair share of Jon Bruning’s salary.”

As for Bruning’s suggestion that Hagel is not a Nebraskan, Kerrey said: “Chuck’s not a carpetbagger. He’s working like heck for Nebraskans.

“It seems hypocritical to whack him for not supporting the president on Iraq and whack him for supporting the president on immigration.”

It appears Bruning wants to “be with the president when it’s popular and not be with him when it’s not,” Kerrey said.

Course, Kerrey means popular among Republicans, because, let’s face it, Bush isn’t very popular among anyone else these days.