My never ending quest to bring truth (and clarity) to the people leads me to Pete Ricketts’ first campaign commercial.
In four separate scenes in his commercial, Ricketts appears in front of a typical house in rural Nebraska. A scene in which his mother tells him to put a “hat on or you’ll catch a cold” looks eerily familiar to the painting “American Gothic.”
There is one major problem with these scenes; that’s not Pete Ricketts’ current home.
In reality, Ricketts lives in the Fairacres neighborhood of Omaha. He resides in the $1.2 million home pictured below. In the commercial, you can see a windmill in the background. I think windmills may actually violate neighborhood covenants in Fairacres.
Before critics come out and criticize me, let me clarify one thing. I have absolutely nothing against wealth and success. This post is not about what type of house Ricketts lives in or how much money he has. When Pete Ricketts and his campaign consciously deceive people, I believe it’s my duty to point it out.
And that is exactly what Ricketts’ campaign is doing, deceiving people. Ricketts is trying to make people think that he is just like the average Nebraskan, but he’s not. Ben Nelson, David Kramer, and Don Stenberg are not average Nebraskans either, but they’re not running television commercials to suggest otherwise.
I’d really like to know how many times Ricketts has visited Nebraska City since graduating from college. Actually, Ricketts attended Westside High School in Omaha so it may be more appropriate to ask him how many times he’s been to Nebraska City since high school.
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Well done. Keep up the good work.
You are straining at knats and swallowing camels. I too am a Democrat and we need to focus on what are WE going to do to correct what is wrong.
This is trival. I recently interviewed the man for a newspaper. I don’t feel he is trying to portray himself as homespun.
I adore Ben Nelson, however, at times he plays to the Republicans and not the Democrates. There are more of them than of us. So that is what he HAS to do to keep going politically.
Maybe you are a tad niave.
gee i can’t spell today. smile
Rachel, I’m a Democrat and I hate to tell you but I can’t stand Ben Nelson. I think he’s a sell out. And although there are more Republicans in Nebraska right now, surveys are showing that the state is turning purple, especially in Lincoln and the Omaha Metro area. You are right, we do need to focus on what we are going to do to win elections and fight for this state and nation. The Democratic party is making a resurgence in this state and throughout the Nation.
Wow rachel, not too many democrats adore Ben Nelson. Have you seen Pete Rickett’s commercial. He is trying really hard to make it look like he is a homegrown “Nebraska Citian”.
Thanks for showing us Pete’s house. It doesn’t look too lavish for a multimillionaire. I guess they’re trying to play up Pete’s humble beginnings. His dad wasn;’t rich until Pete was in high school, per World-Herald. I know Joe Ricketts. He’s very thriftyand doesn’t believe in spoiling his kids. Joe’s dad was a carpenter and I remember Joe saving every penny for a bike as a kid in Nebr. City. Pete was in Nebr. City for a press conference about a month ago. Pete never has put on airs, dresses down and his wife is very plainly dressed. He’s up on the issues as you’ll see in the debates. At least he can’t be bribed with a measly hundred thousand or so. Sen. Nelson owes something to all his big contributors. Nelson is fairly rich, but not like the Ricketts. Joe looks like a retired railroader. I think Pete will win the primary, but will have a hard time beating Nelson, but it’s possible. People are mad at Nelson about the 150 mil he cost us in the nuclear waste fiasco. Pete is definitely more conservative than Nelson.
this is an accurate evaluation of Mr Rickettes. tiring of his commercials playing the God card, i emailed his site telling them what I thought. i concluded my post with the remark that I would be glad and wish for the day that God cleans house politically speaking, imagine my surprise (not) when I got a call back from one of his reps-tom, actually insinuating that it sounded like a death threat. pure nazi tactics disguising themselves a “born again Christians” what a joke, not the Jesus I know.
I don’t care what commercials are playing about Pete but the man scares me. I think I get visions of hell. I’m not a big fan of Ben Nelson but I would rather vote for him than for Pete. Anyone is better than Pete.
I agree with Elizabeth, The man scares the h*ll out of me. Could be his White Supremacist look. Oh sorry I forgot, he is one.
How is he a white supremacist?
Tell Pete that the red hat commercial is the dumbest yet. There is NO WAY he will get my vote.
Who cares how rich he is or where he lives. Who cares abour his commercials or what he wears. Doesnt anyone care about the issues? Has anyone on this blog actually read what he stands for? This is the problem with the general public. People care too much about who wear’s what, where they live and what they make and not about the issues.
Brett, has Pete Ricketts actually told anyone what he stands for? Does it matter to anyone on this blog, anyway? He’s poured $3 million of his own money into his campaign, and he’s trying to pass himself off in ads as a country boy with “Nebraska values.” He’s deceitful, and fake. That’s what the issue is about these commercials. He’s a phony politician, and he’s not talking about the issues, either.
Fact is, he can’t run on the issues, because no one would vote for him. We already have a conservative Senator with “Nebraska Values.” As it is, Pete Ricketts looks like a complete phony to most of the state. I would not be at all surprised to see David Kramer win the nomination.
No one appears to be less concerned about issues than Pete Ricketts himself. It’s one thing for candidates to run biographical advertisements so that voters get a sense of them as people, but Ricketts’ latest plays more like an ad for his mother. Seriously, what does her being a “Nebraska City farm girl” have to do with her son’s abilities and ideas?
To Brett, I say give the voters a break. Here, the problem isn’t with them - it’s with the candidate.
Arguably more deceptive than Ricketts’ “average-guy-running-for-senate”
ploy is the recitation of the Estate Tax bamboozlement. He’s using the classic far-right “death tax” term to con average Nebraskans into thinking that it is an unfair burden on them, when in reality the tax only applies to a tiny minority consisting of the very wealthy, among whom Ricketts and his family are counted. He stands to personally benefit if the Estate Tax is repealled, as he would inherit his father’s multi-million dollar wealth tax-free. Republican Teddy Roosevelt himself proposed such taxation, because he recognized that the ultra-wealthy prosper because of the function of government to protect wealth and property. Pete Ricketts isn’t a Nebraska farmboy, he’s wealthy businessman who’s willing to deceive Nebraskans to benefit himself politically and financially.
You obviously know nothing about Pete Ricketts. He grew up in a very middle class neighborhood….His family never experienced wealth until after Mr. Ricketts senior achieved success after many many years of hard work. Furthermore, he is an expert bottle rocket shot as any resident of Nebraska City can tell you. I am a Democrat for Pete Ricketts….You should check out the facts. Also, Pete Ricketts was the best paper boy Omaha ever knew.
P.S. I heard him speak in NYC last night and he tackled many issue related questions. He is anything but fake….and what’s the deal with “Nebraska Values”. Values are values…You either have them or you don’t.
Has anyone noticed that some of his earlier commercials were focused on saying things like, “Hi i’m pete ricketts, and i beleive we need to focus on the issues, stronger defense against terrorism, stronger border patrol against illegal immigration.. etc.”
Then only after Tom Osborne began running ads about how we need to cut taxes by making an effective decrease on state spending, did his commercials primarily focus on how he wanted to do the same thing, as well as did every other candidate who’s put out a commercial, i swear it’s like everyone’s copying osborne, he’s the man to beat.
Aside from all that, i don’t care if you knew him or not, I think he’ll swing whatever way he needs to, to win; and, i’m pretty sure that means that he’d do anything he needed to, to advance his career: I’m pretty damned sure that if someone like that is running for office, whether you’re democrat or not, one should try and do something to keep them from being elected.
So he grew up in Nebraska city, but he was Omaha’s best paper boy? It’s also quite reassuring to know that the state will be in good hands, since he can fire a bottle rocket. Whew!
And the issues! That’s exactly my problem with him. Why is he so intent on preventing gay marriage? Has anyone noticed that we queers CAN’T GET MARRIED ANYWAY? Any further ‘protection of family values’ is basically just a slap in the face. Besides, the real threat isn’t gays, it’s all the priests, ministers, and conservative politicians who have coke problems, extra-marital affairs, pedophilia problems, etc.
Ok. I just would like to pose a hypothetical question. If Pete Ricketts is a billionaire then he doesn’t owe favors to campaign contributors, right? So in effect he would be one of the few people in the Government that would be able to represent the state without owing big favors. Am I right or am I missing something? Could someone help me out with this?
He is corporate interests. It’s the same backwards logic that elected an oil man President and VP. Pete Ricketts will only represent his own best interests, not the best interests of the people of Nebraska.
Ask yourself one question and all other things will fall into place.
Ever met a politician, or “wanna be” politician who is honest, loyal, trust worthy, or truthful?
Politicians are nothing more than band wagon jumping, tell you want you want to hear to get elected, self serving people who just so happens to have enough money to buy elections. Very few actually do any good.
First, all you need to do is see one of Pete’s CONmercials to see that he is like all other politicians. If your going to play on the “grass roots”, BE grass roots.
Born in Nebraska City but does not live there…you couldn’t tell from the CONmercials. University of Chicago? What’s wrong with University of Nebraska? Wait, that’s a different blog…but it points out something I’m sure.
Pete sure has a connection to the farm…because his Grand Father was a farmer? Gee, Nebraska is a farming state…isn’t it?
He believes in faith (surprising as over 90 percent of Ne. has religious affiliations), family (unless your gay, apparently he thinks you shouldn’t have a family), and hard work. Hmmm.
Pete was the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Ameritrade Holding Corporation…founded by Daddy. Sure he had to “work hard” by working the phones and giving quotes and confirmations…for Daddy’s company. Oh yea. Boy he sure had it hard.
To keep Ameritrade afloat during the “Dotcom bust” they eliminated everything except what they needed to make the all mighty penny…and how many jobs were lost? Did a exec. take a pay freeze…or OMG a pay cut to keep others employed? I bet one exec. bonus check equaled more than the yearly pay of a dedicated hard working employee. Shame shame.
Pete says the highest priority for his campaign is to control spending? (1) Spending over 1.59 million of his own money by the end of March, and bombarding us all with CONmercials and being labled as the biggest spending Senate challenger in the entire country shows me he’s willing to buy a election, not that he’s able to control spending. Yes, it’s his money, but come on. How about spending that money on something noble? (2) Pete backed a anti-gambling organization which insured that other states made money(lots of money). Don’t you have to make money to spend it? They go hand in hand.
Pete is (like many others) against gay marriage. Why is this a issue, well after NE passed bills against this already? Guess your entitled to happiness and health as long as you play by others rules. I bet if someone gave Pete a dollar bill with the words GAY MONEYon it he’d take it. BTW, I’m not gay, nor homo phobic, but believe in the right to be HUMAN.
I wish a politician would just come out and say they will look at every and all issues and DO what is best for ALL who live in their area, without prejudice or alterer motives. Why can’t we find a politician who simply states what we all hope they do…think of the people who voted them into office above all?
Rachel…An interview is nothing more than canned, standard questions, followed by canned, standard answers. Never take away what you hear as absolute truth. Case in point; remember the worlds most highly gifted and prolific speaker, and politician…Adolf Hitler.
Wendy, Wendy, Wendy. You make me laugh out loud (lol). Remember, unfortunately there were followers of the worlds most highly gifted and prolific speaker, and politician…Adolf Hitler.
wow…way to point that out. i’m glad there are still people out there who will find the most irrelavant ideas to post. but i guess that’s what these liberal blogs are all about
How is it irrelevant that he portrays himself as something he isn’t? Just like our “Joe-Everybody” “Texan” president…
I remember Pete Ricketts from Omaha Westside High School. He was a hard working, very smart, and genuinely nice person. He did NOT wear expensive clothing, drive a nice car, or take luxurious trips. I’m not 100% sure of this, but I believe Pete worked at a Burger King in Omaha during High School. Not exactly a “silver spoon” Republican. Maybe your crack reseaarch staff can verify this. Who is paying your tuition, oh young Democratic bloggers? IF it is your parents, you are hypocrites. If it is the government, via Student Loans or UNO, guess who pays the taxes to support these important and needed programs. If you are working to pay for college, you should support Pete, as he has done the same. To be honest, I haven’t spoken to Pete since about 1982. So I cannot vouch for who he is today. But the Pete Ricketts I knew in High School would be a great representative for our state. By the way, will the UNO Democratic blog keep track of Ben Nelson’s spending, and which groups and/or individuals are putting up the cash? Or will you continue to obsess over the wealth that Mr. Ricketts has accumulated over many years of hard work? Gee, let me guess…….
Jeremy - I’m trying to figure out why you’re calling the Dems on this board hypocrites if the bloggers here are on free tuition from mumsie and daddy or the government? Don’t you know that if it weren’t for the democratic party we wouldn’t have programs like public education and tuition assistance? Do a little research on FDR and see what you come up with - funny how Republicans are happy to take the assitance but gripe about the taxes (and find loopholes to get out of paying)!
i think the majority of uno dems are actually working full time while going to school in order to work their way through college. I can think of about 7 doing it that way off the top of my head, a few more that are financed by their parents, and a few more who get by on a combo of scholarships. But I can’t think of too many hyprocrites.
Hey Jeremy, how about a nice cup of shut the fuck up? You don’t know a damn thing about anyone in the UNO Dems, so why don’t you just do everyone a favor and get bent.
By the way, I probably come from one of the most affluent families of the UNO Dems, and I work upward of 50 hours a week for a Fortune 500 company. So Jeremy Dillon, go fuck yourself. Actually, I have a better idea - just keep blowing Pete Ricketts you shit head.
Stop picking on poor Pete Ricketts. The guy says he’s got Nebraska City roots. Which would be nice. I spent three years there myself and the folks are real friendly. I just can’t find any Nebraska Citians who have a single memory of anyone from the Ricketts family. Funny, Jeremy remembers Pete from Westside High School. Didn’t see any pictures of Westside in those commercials where Mom Ricketts was talking about living on a budget.
Real classy Tyler. Way to argue the points.
Is Ben Nelson a millionaire? If so, will he mention this in his ads? Will he show himself being carted to his mansion in a limo? Or will he show himself wearing blue jeans and shaking hands with farmers and ranchers? Read carefully, oh Young Democratic bloggers: Most, if not ALL politicians running for state or Federal office run campaign ads that focus only on the positives, and the “image” they are trying to package and convey. Republicans, Democrats, and other affiliations alike. The point I was trying to emphasize was the waste of blogosphere attacking Rickett’s commercial about himself. Why don’t you address his policies and political positions? (oops, I said position, both hands on the keyboard some of you respondents). And by the way, at this time I don’t know if I will vote Ricketts or Nelson next Fall. I try to avoid simply reading the “D”, “R”, and “I” on the ballot, especially BEFORE the election.
that’s very admiarable of you jeremy
here on this blog we get into policy debates quite often. the thing is, most of us UNO Dems know where we stand on policy issues. Min Wage = good thing. Prolife/Choice - we all know who is what or which people have carefully crafted “middle” positions.
But we never get talking about how unreal, hypocritical, and downright foolish many republicans, and a few democrats, are. This post is quite a nice piece of political reporting by our Mr. Renner. He showed that Pete Rickets was deliberatley lying about his roots, in multiple ways, in one of the first chances he was able to have with Nebraska’s voters (or rather gave himself with a check). Only a very bad person, or a very sloppy politician, or both perhaps, would think nebraskans are dumb enough to fall for lies in the very first commericials.
In so far as this sets the tone for the rest of the election, I think ‘ole pete should be ashamed of himself, and there’s no chance I’ll think about voting for him unlless he comes out and says “yes I lied in my commercial, I deliberatley misstated the facts to make myself look better”
Wow you guys are grasping for some unbelievable straws. Pete is good, you all know it and it is scaring the h.ll out of you!! I haven’t seen such panic so early in a long time!!! This is great!!!
By the way who is Tyler and if you can’t make a point don’t expose your ignorance by dropping the f-bomb. Scratch that advice Tyler it’s people like you that keep the conservative machine buzzing, Keep up the good work Tyler, republicans nationwide thank you for your support!!!! and if you are so proud of your familys money why don’t you include your last name so we can see your “maxxed out contributions” to Nelsons campaign. My guess by your language you are just a big talker.
Ann,
Do you know what a “Ponzi Scheme’ is? Look, morally and ethically Social Security, the Great Society, and all the rest of them are the right thing to do. I openly admit. However, the looming retirement crisis is (largely) the result of 1) eevelopemtns in medicine, such as heart surgeries, advanced medications and MRi’s which are expensive, and subsequently 2) people living longer. Again, Social Security is a good thing, and our society should support it. But remember, when FDR created the program, average life expencancy was arount 62-65 years, coincidentally, the age when seniors were to begin receiving their benefits. I know that there are many other factors involved, and we could spend weeks talking about it. And that is exactly what you should be doing: Researching and debating facts, policies, even opinions if you can document them with even some data.
And John,
If Ben Nelson is re-elected with a Republican house and senate, he will continue to vote with the Republicans on many issues. I don’t know this, of course, but if he is re-elected with a Democratic house and senate, his votes will suddenly change. What does that tell you about his character? I would like to see a listing of all the times he has parted ways with the Young Dems, and voted republican. Then, tell us why you support Nelson, instead of trying to rally support for a Democrat who will stand up for what you believe? Yes, in politics you sometimes have to hold your nose and vote anyway. But if your group is truly above the fray and beyond reproach, then again, post Ben nelson’s voting record, and explain to your readers why they need to support him? Go beyond the labels and stereotypes. You will probably still oppose Rickets, and that is fine. But get past the “who grew up where” and “who lokks like a —”, and do some actual research.
Yeah yeah, I was drunk when I wrote that. Here’s a link I think you bitchy cry-baby conservatives might find helpful:
http://www.johnsonsbaby.com/products/shampoo/baby-shampoo
Ann, (and others)
One last thought. While you are pondering the reluctance of ‘rich” Republicans to pay taxes, ask yourself this question: When tax time comes around, does Teddy Kennedy, Christopher Dodd, et. al. simply take out their checkbooks and cough up, or do they have small armies of tax attorneys and accountants to make sure they max out every deduction possible? Gee, let me think……..
Am I saying that we should not pay taxes? Of course not. But one of these days, you kids will enter the real world (even Tyler…by the way, Tyler, you are better off drunk). When you do, you will see the difference between compassion and reality. It is rather unpleasant. As much as we (in the middle class) would love to be “liberal”, we have obligations like work, children, a mortgage, bills, and yes, our taxes. Most of us cannot afford to itemize our taxes (Tyler notwithstanding). Hence, we are looking for ways to make our tax dollars go farther. You don’t through a child out onto the streets and say “pull yourself up by your bootstraps!” That is ignorance fostered by a radio entertainer. But at the same time, we cannot say to that child’s parents, “Hey, do whatever you want, because no matter how selfish and irresponsible you are, the tax revenues from the middle class will take care of it”. Tough medicine. BTW. If any of you young Democrats are single parents going to school, my hat is off to you. I know how hard you are working, and yes, as you are working to improve your life and that of your child(ren), I don’t mind seeing my tax dollars go to help programs that support you and your endeavors. I wish you well.
Jeremy, you’re under the mistaken assumption that conservatism is better for middle class individuals. When, in fact, the tax cuts that Republican Congresses pass are incredibly slanted toward the wealthy. Liberalism isn’t about raising taxes on everyone - that’s simply a talking point of the right wing. It’s about helping those in working class and middle class families to make things easier. The right wing somehow believes that a $300 tax cut is going to make things easier - while gas prices go up, college is more and more expensive, and 40 million Americans are living without healthcare.
I will never stop being a liberal, because I don’t buy into the lies - universal healthcare and better financial aid for our schools will go much further than a miniscule tax cut that does nothing more than placate voters in an election year.
My tax cut was $2. I don’t live with my parents. I go to college. I do take care of myself. I still want my taxes to go to people who need help because I was there.
I will NEVER stop being a compassionate liberal, no matter how much money I make.
Abbey… you’re my hero!
And yes, you have a point. Liberalism has always been better for the working class, the middle-class, the lower-class, oh, and also the disenfranchised of all classes (these days african-americans, latinos, the french?, and also GLBT Americans)… which makes liberalism in the best interest of about 90% of America. But, as we’re starting to see with people like Buffet and Gates, even the rich are starting to see that a just and free america, even at the expense of some of their taxes, is in their best interest. An america where talent rises above (like gates or buffet), an america- a Great Society, fostered by liberal policies, is in the best interest of American.
Good for Buffet and Gates. But you never answered my question about Kennedy, Dodd, et. al.
Remember, being compassionate doesn’t make you a liberal, nor does it make you a Democrat. Radio talk show hosts, and a few actual politicians aside, conservatives are every bit as compasionate as liberals. We don’t want people to suffer. We want to help. The questions are, what is the best way to help, and how can we make sure that the money is going to those in need and not being wasted? You see, once we get past the name-calling and accusations (I am compassionate, hence you are not; liberal=good, conservative=bad), we see that we really are not too far apart. And yes, I will concede that the stupid name-calling is a two-way street, and I am also guilty as charged at times. But the bottom line is this: If two people want to help the needy, but they dissagree on HOW to do it, does it necessarily follow that one person is good and the other is bad?
Jeremy Dillon makes a good point - being compassionate doesn’t make you liberal or Democrat. It certainly doesn’t make you the brand of “compassionate conservatives” we see in Congress and the White House today. The Republicans in Congress recently voted down a minimum wage increase. Every one of the Republicans voted against the increase! They have also tried to put an ammendment into the federal constitution banning gay marriage. I thought these guys were for states rights and keeping the feds out of local matters. What’s it to Texas if Massachusetts wants gays to be married? Also think of the mouthpieces of the Republican party and what they are saying. Ann Coulter calling for the death of Murtha and Rush Limbaugh who says something racially insensitive practically everytime i’ve heard him. Or O’reilly wow there’s a shining example of compassion. Hey, how about Abramoff, that guy was a top fundraiser for the party of “compassion”. He raised money by ripping off Native American tribes promising things he never planned to deliver on. If those are examples of what republicans stand for i’m Proud to be a Liberal!
‘Tis truely a pity, what you children are being taught in school today.
Social Security was mentioned several posts back, but I guarantee that not ONE of you ‘liberal’ students knows the first thing about the system, beyond the ‘fact’ (so called) that the Republicans would ‘loot’ it.
Permit me to enlighten you just a little bit on that important part of American life.
When Social Security was first set up, the legislation directed the Treasury Dept. to set up two special accounts. The first was to contain only enough money to pay out the following year’s projected benefits, and would receive on deposit all contributions to the system. At the end of each fiscal year, any monies in that account over what was needed for the following year’s pay-outs was to be moved to the second account. The money in that account was to be invested in interest bearing instruments (city and state loans ie. ‘municipal bonds’). That continued to be the standard method for decades, and the Social Security system had a huge surplus which would have kept it solvent without a single problem.
The politicians in Washington D.C. saw that huge surplus and decided they had to spend it, so they rewrote the laws to allow them to do so. The Social Security Reform Act allowed the Congress to put all Social Security monies into the ‘general’ fund. They replaced the interest bearing instruments with interest INCURRING instruments, which is why we have the problem we have now. Unless something is done, Social Security will be completely insolvent long before any of you have a chance to draw upon the money you will have put into the system.
Who were the scoundrels and rogues who plundered the Social Security system?
The President who signed the legislation was Lyndon Baines Johnson, a Democrat from Texas. The Congress which passed the legislation was controlled with a Veto-proof majority by the Democratic Party.
But, it’s the Republicans who will destroy Social Security???????????
How do you contact this guy? His website is a useless heap of photos and I can’t find an e-mail address anywhere. I really think he likes playing the camera rather than going up against anything hard hitting (God forbid he’d have to talk to one of us people he’s trying to represent). I actually expected something…my bad.
To contact Pete Ricketts, go to his website (Google Pete Ricketts) and click on contact us. His political director’ s e-mail is nathan@petericketts.com.( Nathan Mick.) Pete has answered many hardball questions at forums and debates. I don’t like some of his or Sen. Nelson’s ads. Too negative and banal, don’t deal with rthe real issues.At least they ought to call a moratorium on this asinine use of each other’s unflattering pictures on their TV ads. Nelson’s ad shows Ricketts talking in fast motion, so Ricketts looks like a fast talking blowhard, a la Joe Biden. Ricketts puts Nelson in slow motion so he looks sinister or wierd, exagerating every little scowl. In Mexico judges force egegious lies and distortions off the air.We need to do that here. These TV ads are manily just crap.
Let’s quit with the false equivocation between Ricketts and Nelson. With the exception of Nelson’s one ad which took Ricketts to task for campaigning against Ted Kennedy rather than the issues important to Nebraska, Nelson has released an entire series of commercials demonstrating his record of bold and independent leadership serving the people of Nebraska from his days as Governor to the present. From border security to cutting taxes, Nelson has paid more than lip service and has put his record front and center. Ricketts can’t compete with that - he has nothing to offer but slogans and scary pictures of Hillary Clinton.
Yes, this race has become too negative, but that’s been a one-sided development courtesy of the Ricketts campaign. And, I expect they will continue with their pathetic attacks because their boy’s got nothing else to run on.
Where’s Mama Ricketts when we need her? The poor lady still has to tell Pete when to wear a stocking cap. It’s pretty clear he also needs his mother to scold him for playing dirty and tell him to run a more honorable and honest campaign that isn’t going to shame the entire family.
She should probably remind Pete not to swim for at least 15 minutes after eating just to be on the safe side.
The absurdity of some of these attacks is just laughable. “Nebraska values” evidently means digging up ten year-old Chuck Hagel quotes and equating your opponent with Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton in the minds of the voters. Really insulting to the intelligence of Nebraskans.
This isn’t really local, but attack ads are coming hard and fast in the CT Democratic Senate Primary. Lieberman’s opponent Ned Lamont fired off a clever attack ad - on himself: “Ned Lamont Has a Messy Desk”
This is one Republican who wished Ricketts was running against Hagel instead of Nelson. Nelson, while far from perfect, is very levelheadded and unlike Hagel, is not making a career of posturing….while standing for nothing. Don’t know Ricketts well enough to know whether we’d be better off with him. But there should me more Democrats like Lieberman and Nelson.
There is nothing compassionate about stealing from one group and giving to another. ChrisA sounds like he’s reading from the Howard Dean school of wackoism. The minimum wage gives opportunity to unskilled workers who otherwise would be unemployable. As an employer of upstarts, your “compassion” would render about a third of my staff unemployable. Not because I’m not compassionate, but because an unskilled worker is only worth so much to a business. A person I hired 5 years ago at 25c above minimum wage has been running one of my locations for 3 years and being paid well above the “poverty” level. If you looked beyond the wackos you apparently listen to, you’d realize virtually no breadwinners are minimum wage earners and over 80% of minimum wage earners are students. The minimum wage represents an opportunity for an unskilled worker to learn skills and work their way up. It’s also a way for unskilled workers to learn to advance by seeing people who have advanced rather than holding their hand out to their parents or the taxpayer. (I paid my way through college working upstart jobs without borrowing a dime from anybody. It can be done.) Or listening to the epitomy of “those who can, do….those who can’t, teach” college economics professors.
About 80 percent of you liberals will change colors as soon as you become taxpayers in earnest. It’s very disheartening to see how dumbed down the education system has become.
ChrisA gives us the regular stuff we’ve all heard before. Here’s your response:
- A minimum wage is a moral imperative. Every argument against it assumes the best in employers and illogical assumptions about workers. No worker would ever choose to work for less than the minimum wage, so the argument that they have the “right” to work for as little as they choose is simply false. The minimum wage protects employees from abuses by employers. Frankly, expecting anyone to live off of $5.15 an hour is just wrong.
- Tell me what, exactly, about my taxpayer status will change these things:
* I believe a $40 a year tax cut is less important than national healthcare, better education, and many other things that benefit all of society.
* I believe that equal rights are for everyone.
* I believe that war should not be waged for profit, that it should only be used to protect the nation.
I resent the implication that I am somehow dumber or less realistic than you because I am young and a liberal. That the cold, hard, reality of the real world will smack me into believing tax cuts are good, the environment is bad, gays don’t deserve equal rights, unbridled capitalism is good for all Americans, and anyone who opposes any war is a traitor. I’m not a child of privilege, though I know as an American I have it better than a lot of people. But my opinions are not to be taken lightly just because I am young. I know what I believe.
That was a response to Iowa Plowboy, not ChrisA, sorry.
When has government done anything better than the private sector? You can look to Canada and England to see people die waiting for basic operations. Get the government out of health care altogether and the average wage earner will be able to pay for their own. Keep increasing government intervention and nobody will be able to get it or pay for it. Exactly how does taxpayer funded anything benefit all of society.
Again, research who the minimum wage earner is. A moral imperative? If it’s a moral imperative, what should it be?
Most people can’t live on $10 per hour. Should we raise it to $20-30-40?? I’m not criticizing your opinions because you’re young. I’m criticizing them because you’re wrong. Nobody expects someone to “live off” minimum wage. Costs on everything will go up proportionately with a minimum wage increase. Thus the increase would cancel itself out while making more upstarts unemployable. A liberal’s assumption that corporations are inherently abusive reeks of ignorance….and way too many leftist college professors.
Better education? Are you for vouchers or privitizing, or both? Why do parochial schools give three times the education for a third the money? I just watched the closest thing that our local high school has to a validictorian (because our brilliant school board decided that having only one validictorian made things too competitive) unable to read his own speach…..helluva of a football player, though. Problem with “education” right now is that there’s way, way, way too much money thrown at it with way, way, too little accountability.
Who is profiting from the war? How many more attacks have there been on our shore? You’re profiting because your country is safer.
Who isn’t for equal rights for everyone?
What the college professor who is unemployable in the real world doesn’t tell you is that tax cuts raise more tax revenue. If your difference from the tax cuts were only $40, you aren’t paying any taxes to begin with. When you get into the real world and you’re paying 4-5 figures in income tax…..only to do your return and realize you owe half that much more…..and your property tax goes up 15% just because….you’re probably going to second-guess your opinions a little.
When has government done anything better than the private sector? Social Security. Federal Deposit Insurance. Parks & Recreation. Public Works. The military (you did say anything).
Again, research who the minimum wage earner is. A moral imperative? If it’s a moral imperative, what should it be?
Most people can’t live on $10 per hour. You’re wrong. $10 an hour for one person is above the federal poverty line of a family of four of 20,000. It’s not a great wage, but it’s not bad, either. Inflation occurs whether or not wages are $5.15 or the proposed raise of $7.25. What sectors would be affected by that raise? Mostly food service industries, fast food, grocery stores, as you said, unskilled labor. But what happens if we don’t raise the minimum wage? What if, ten years from now, the minimum wage is still $5.15 an hour, and those jobs still pay at or near that level? The purchasing power of that wage will have decreased even more dramatically in the next ten years. In the last ten years, the minimum wage has dropped more than a dollar in terms of real money.
Better education? Are you for vouchers or privitizing, or both? Why do parochial schools give three times the education for a third the money? Not all private schools are created equal. The best have strict admissions standards and most offer little to no financial aid. The cost of sending a student to Creighton Prep is almost $5,000 to the parents of the student. I did attend Prep, and it cost my parents more to send me there than it will for all of my college education. That cost, however, is not the whole story. Schools like Creighton Prep receive millions in donations that allow them to reduce the cost of tuition. Not all private schools are as good as Creighton Prep, though. Many, many public schools provide an educational experience far better than most private schools offer. My opinions on many of these subjects were not shaped by liberal college professors, but rather thought-provoking discussion at a Jesuit high school.
Vouchers would only increase the cost of public education for most Americans, while only a small number would benefit from private education. Privatization would leave a huge number of Americans without any education whatsoever. There would be no tax savings from eliminating the Department of Education, because the federal government is already operating at a deficit. No private industry could undertake the task of educating tens of millions of young people every year, which is why the government must.
Who is profiting from the war? How many more attacks have there been on our shore? You’re profiting because your country is safer.
This is a logical fallacy and you know it. Just because there have not been any attacks on American soil since the war in Iraq began does not mean we are safer, or that the war in Iraq is the reason that we are “safer.” In fact, over 2,500 Americans are dead because of a war that has no just cause, no purpose, other than remaining in the country for the oil. Iraq presented no imminent threat to the United States. The reports from weapons inspectors in 2004 confirmed that there were not any WMDs in Iraq. Iraq had no connection with the 9/11 attacks. This was a war with no reason. It was a mistake.
Who isn’t for equal rights for everyone? Republicans? Let’s give a few examples, shall we? Republicans just a couple weeks ago blocked passage of a renewal of the Voting Rights Act. They routinely have tried to write discrimination against gay people into the United States Constitution.
The $40/yr figure I quoted was from the Nebraska tax cuts, for an average family in Nebraska making roughly $50,000 a year. Now, you want to fucking tell me a “real world” family makes a hell of a lot more than that, then your condescending ass just fucking told half of all Americans that they don’t live in the “real world.” I spent the first half of my comment being nice about my disagreement with you, but you know what? I’ve had enough. Don’t call me ignorant because I’m young or liberal. Because every time you do, it is only your ignorance that shows.
As I look at Pete Rickets, he seems like a phoney who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. What are Nebraska Values? What is his views on Educating our children across the state. I have seen conservative values now for six years and what I have seen that what that means is screw the middle class and leave more money for the wealthy. Let oil companies, prescription drug companies, and big business load up on the profits. My question to Pete. Who is going to pay for the war in Iraq? Have you seen the deficit for the war as well as the trade deficiets? These debts are going to hurt our kids and grand kids in the middle and lower class. But not for Pete and his kids. He can afford heatlh care and his children will not be sent off to war. Conseravtive values only include his people not all Nebraskans. Bill Clinton, whether you like him or not, made a great statement at Democratic Convention. The republicans need a divided America. Pete I have never seen a more divided America than now and larege deficiets. Cut taxes? How much more do you need?
Mike,
You have been fooled….Pete Ricketts shared his bedroom with his siblings through high school. His father, who built Ameritrade from nothing, made his money after Pete was out of college.
Republicans don’t need a divided America. In the first mid-term election of the Bush 43 presidency, gains were made in the House and Senate, going against historical trends and what the media wanted.
Why? Because the post-911 unity was still strong nationwide.
DJ
Dave,
Like most of your friends, you are slow on the draw. Early this morning the House passed a minimum wage increase.
Additionally, it was the party of Lincoln, known mostly as the Yankee Republicans, who fought the Civil War over slavery. It was the Democrats who wanted to continue slavery.
Get it straight, sir.
DJ
Early this morning, the House passed a minimum wage increase, which doesn’t make my previous statement untrue. Nor does the fact that Republicans forced the bill to include a poison pill - an estate tax cut - that not only will ensure it does not pass the Senate, but also is against the entire spirit of the bill.
Secondly, last time I checked, it was 2006. If you want me to start listing Democrats who were racists and assholes, and Republicans I respect, I will. But none of the Republicans I respect would look at todays Republican Party and say: “There is the party of Abraham Lincoln,” and none of the Democrats who were racists would look at the Democratic Party, which has a large minority constituency, and think it’s the same Democratic Party which fought to keep slavery. I can respect the accomplishments of people like Abraham Lincoln and Dwight Eisenhower towards equal rights, and independent Nebraskans like George Norris, but they are long gone, and the Republican Party that exists today cares for none of those things. If your simple mind believes that I am defending all Democrats, you are wrong. But there are people in the Democratic Party who believe in what’s right. They are a dying breed in the Republican Party.
Dave,
Does the name George Wallace ring a bell? How about Strom Thurmond, who really turned more towards a pro-civil rights stance when he switched parties.
Nice try, but your Dem plan of spreading fear and hate doesn’t work. Bill Clinton said “Republicans need a divided America”, but that is incorrect….Dems need it because Dems thrive on hatred, class warfare, and fear.
Did you read what I just wrote? Those men would not be Democrats today. Strom Thurmond switched to Republican in 1964, and remained a Republican until his death. George Wallace ran for President as a member of the “American Independent Party,” and certainly had no love for the national Democrats, who wanted equal rights. Read my comment again, and you’ll see no denial that these men existed. But they do not represent the Democratic Party. And, as in the case of Strom Thurmond, the Southern Democrats of yesterday are Republicans today. If you want to talk history, bring it on. I’ll readily admit that the Democratic Party failed to live up to its goals as the party of the people. But you better believe that the so-called “Party of Lincoln” has long since abandoned its original aims.
So did the party of Kennedy. Who’s partys “ideals” have been replaced by his barely coherent despicable brother (who should be in prison) , the more despicable Tom Harkin (Mr pork barrel) , Howard Dean (about 21 cards short of a full deck), Barney Frank (He of a gay prostitution ring running out of his apartment) , Hillary Clinton (too many inproprieties to list), etc etc etc. “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” has been replaced by 40 years of stealing from those who do and giving to those who don’t. JFK would be disgusted…..and should be. And so should Ben Nelson, who’s ideals seem much more suited to JFK than the party he represents.
Pete Ricketts reminds me a lot of Michael Huffington, oil millionaire and former husband of Ariannna Huffington. He bought himself a seat in Congress in the Central Coast area (California 22nd District) of California back in 1992. Back then he spent 5.6 million of his own money in what was the most expensive House seat in history. In the Republican primary, he beat of the best congressman we ever had in Central California, Robert Lagomarsino. Called him everything but a child molester just to win the primary. He divided the Republican party and we found out what a loser he was after he was elected.
Huffington went on to run against Diane Feinstein for the California Senate seat in 1996 and spent $28 million of his own dough on that campaign. Thank God he managed to lose. He came out of the closet and admitted he was gay in 1998. It continues to amaze me how many conservatives out there are gay or have gay members in their own family (Dick Cheney is a good example, so is Newt Gingrich), and yet they continue the war against tolerance and acceptance of their fellow man by remaining Republicans.
In the case of Pete Ricketts, I distrust people who use their wealth to try a and buy influence or a seat in Congress, but it is becoming the American way. I know they do not identify themselves with the common man, because they have lost touch with them long ago. He’s an elitest and an idiot besides. His ads are far from the truth and his scare tactics are so typically Republican. He has no answers for any of the current problems plaguing this nation, he just points fingers and blames someone else for them. He can’t really do that now, since the Republicans have been in control for quite awhile and have only themselves to blame for the mess we are in in Iraq and spreading our resources and military too thin around
the world. None of Bush’s family are serving overseas, but he and his gang had little or no compunction about sending other sons to die for a less than noble cause. I supprt our troops to the hilt, but not the war hawks and idiots squandering our youth in an inexplicable and stupid war in Iraq.
Lest you think I am a total dove, we do definitely belong in Afghanistan and should stay there until the job is done. Too bad we are in it up to our armpits elsewhere in the world. Bush has taken his eye off the prize. Time for him and his cronies to go. They have cost us enough needless loss of life and respect around the world.
I know Pete personally, and he is a very honest man, far more honest then Nelson. Did anyone watch the debate last week? Nelson couldn’t even look at the camara. That is indication of a lier!
Those damn liers. I can’t fucking stand “liers.”
My opinion is that the Senator wasn’t looking into the television camera the entire time because he was trying to be conversational with Pete. Pete was rehersed and treating the debate like it was just an extention of his ads.
Jen-
“I know Pete personally…far more honest than Nelson”
Kidding right? Unless you know the Senator and Wall-Street Pete on equal terms, then claiming you know that one is more honest than the other is downright rediculous. What exactly makes you think that the Senator is not an honest man? Frankly, I think he’s a bit too honest at times. I happen to know the Senator (more of an aquantance really), maybe not as well as you know Pete, but I’ve never had the impresssion that he was a dishonest man. I don’t think that Pete is a dishonest man. I just think that Pete is a self-serving man who will look out for nobdy but himself if elected. And I think he’s been fairly honest about that platform.
For all the lefties:
For all of you who bemoan Ben Nelson for being more centrist than partisan, you should know only 32.5% of Nebraskans are currently registered Democrat. 32.5%…and yet Ben Nelson leads in the polls by 25%. Gee, this Ben Nelson must be a complete idiot.
I completely understand your heartfelt desire to win on the issues and stances you so ardently embrace. But the reality: the pary of years past is a party that “fights the good fight” and then pats itself on the back for “fighting the good fight” after election day losses.
If you want to form a recognizable party, get with the times. Highlight the state-wide good and don’t emphasise the liberal leanings. Be always hopeful, but less stupid.
I recently watched the new commercial for Pete Rickets where he portrays Ben Nelson as a hillbilly, I can only say that I believe it totally backfired! Had i even considered voting for Pete Rickets in the past, I would have abandoned ship today, I think the commercial is distastful, rediculous, and the comment about “pete’s high morals’ make me believe all of the republicans that produced that commercial are lyers. I would hope that he is probably quite embarassed this evening, or else has his head in the clouds.
Marcus, the party of years past is a party that doesn’t fight, that puts up a sacrificial lamb candidate every year, forgets about its base, and then claims that it fought the good fight the morning after, getting 30% of the vote because we didn’t mobilize. We’re all about changing that, here. We will not settle for just Ben Nelson. We’d like to give Ben Nelson some company so he doesn’t have to be so conservative all the time.
I couldn’t agree more with these people. How stupid is this latest political commercial cartoon of Ben Nelson playing a hillbilly. Did the Rickets campaign people put any thought into the way it portrays Nebraska people. It’s bad enough that we are thought of as Hicks by other western and eastern states but to advertise it in a political cartoon tells me there wasn’t much thought put into it. If they didn’t THINK of how STUPID and RIDICULOUS it sounds how could they think for Nebraskans. It seems like the Rickets campaign has gone past mudslinging and just plainly gone stupid. I was a registered Republican but that has now changed. The Rickets campaign was the final straw. I have never heard of such slander and lies. But more thenever with what the Republicans have done to this country again the Stupidity of the Rickets campaign put it over the top and has made me a believer in the Democratic Party. Rickets you don’t have this vote!
Is it simply a coincidence that the ad came out around the same time that Karl Rove paid a visit to Ricketts?
I am sick and tired of the smear campaign I have seen between both Pete and Ben. I do not like to see one putting down their opponent in anything. I think it is very immature and I think it sends a bad message to our children. Both Pete and Ben do it and I don’t want either one in office if they can’t act like a mature adult .
While,
Most people know where I stand on Sen Nelson. I will say this.. Sen Nelson’s first commercials were very positive and only highlighted his voting record and his accomplishments. (whether I agreed with most of them or not)
It was Wal street Pete Ricketts that came out swinging first. If Nelson had taken what some would call the high road and this race were much closer people would be bicthing about how weak Democrats are and whining about how Nelson didn’t even defend himself.
I think all candidates should sign an oathe to run a clean issues based campaign. I also think the first one who goes negative in a not pointing out the issues sort of way but a distraction from the fact that I have no platform sort of way, should be fined for breaking the oathe and the candidate being smeared should then be allowed airtime to defend themselves.
I’m an independent that was thinking about voting for Ben Nelson until I saw his add that tried to paint Pete Ricketts as a bad guy for wanting a national sales tax. Talk about miss leading and full of implications. I have no Idea if Pete Ricketts has any interest in a National Sales Tax but I sure hope he does because the one that is before the house and senate (HR 25, S 25) would replace all income tax including Social Security and Medicare. You would receive all your wages each pay period with nothing held out. You would also receive at the beginning of each month a check that would cover any taxes you would pay on food and such items up to the poverty level. You would not file any reports. Taxes would be paid at the cash register at about 23% which is about the same rate you are already paying in embedded taxes when you currently make a purchase. Products over all prices would not change. The IRS would be gone. This is what Ben Nelson tried to use to make Pete Ricketts look bad.
By me understanding what the National Sales Tax (fair tax) is has helped me be able to see just how dishonest Ben Nelson is. I figure if he is lying and misrepresenting the national sales tax (FairTax.org) in an attempt to make Pete Ricketts look bad, what other things is he misleading about. You can learn more about the Fair Tax at http://www.FairTax.org
A national sales tax would be a disasterous policy that would severely punish the lower and middle class while significantly lowering taxes for the wealthiest Americans. It would produce a further disparity in wealth. The percentage of income that the most wealthy members of society would pay would be far less than the percentage of income that the lower and middle class pay.
You are misleading everyone else if you believe this would be a “fair” tax. By no means. It is a terrible policy, and a horrible idea. It would raise taxes on the vast majority of Nebraska at the expense of the few (such as Mr. Ricketts and Sen. Nelson) who don’t have to worry about everyday expenses.
Think of what you’re saying. Everyone’s expenses would go up 23%. Consider that for just a second.
Great, more ads! And I bet they flood the airwaves November 4, 5, and 6th.
Looking for an alternative - check out my website. No ads, no hype, I’m just a real person who’s willing to listen to the voters.
Dave Sund said
“Think of what you’re saying. Everyone’s expenses would go up 23%. Consider that for just a second.”
I did….for a second. Your 23% increase is based on what? Do you think it’s fair that many pay no tax at all???…While the top 10% (the evil rich according to the liberals) pay 90% of all income taxes? According to my figures, what has been proposed would help virtually everyone….except people who pay no tax at all….if it abolishes income taxes….Sadly, if we get a national sales tax, and God forbid we get a Democrat majority, the income tax would come back with the national sales tax still intact….so we could further steal more from those who do and give more to those who don’t…..the Democratic party’s mantra.
Iowa,
What the %%% who are these many who pay no taxes at all? Can you give a percentage and how much does this translate into dollars?
no liberal has ever said that rich people are evil. Exploiting people and not paying your fair share in taxes is evil. Newsflash there are wealthy liberals too.
So where is the proof that your taxes will increase under democrats?
For the last six years the republicans haven’t met a spending bill they didn’t like!
Will people please quit talking about taxes as if they are a bad thing! Republicans have cornered the market on that one and all it does is appeals to the most selfish part in all of to the left right and middle, to get something for nothing.
Taxes pay for things that we as individuals can’t ie roads, national defense, schools. They are a necessary evil not some obsolete idea that we should be trying desperatly to get rid of!
I see both candidates’ commercials and they both smear. Rickett’s last commercial have swayed me from voting for him. Then my next choice is Nelson who ran an ad about Ricketts laying off employees while taking bonuses. Did anyone notice the dates he took the bonuses (disclaimer on the bottom of the screen)? One bonus was taken 12 months before the second layoff. Should he have taken one during a lay-off period? I don’t know everything about it, but the appearance doesn’t bode well. That leaves Nelson out. Now I have to trudge through the crap and pick the lesser of two evils.
Also, not all Reps suck because Ricketts sucks and not all Dems suck because Nelson sucks. Both are business men and will do what they need to do to survive. If only we can get them to see that their survival is directly tied to the people they are supposed to serve.
Taxes are a way-of-life. They need to occur if the government is to run. Better management of those funds is required. One vote against the minimum wage was because it was incorporated into a bill with approximately 80 other line items. No wonder it didn’t go.
There is another option, Jim. Don’t choose the lesser evil; choose a better candidate. Try an Independent write-in; they don’t usually win, but at least your vote will count - you’ll be telling the other candidates you didn’t approve of their campaign.
There is one thing I cannot unerstand after reading all the comments. Why do conservatives write or even visit this website? Get a life people. Republicans are obviously not going to like what we have to say and vice versa. I am pretty sure that no minds will be changed. And if you are going to call a Democrat a “lier” you better know how to spell it (Jen). She must be a product of leave no child behind.
lier?, lyer? lyier? liere? Im so confused
I think investigation on what both parties stand for should be the issue and not what one has to say about the other. If your decision is based off of what the opposing party “says” than you will only see the negatives and not the benifits.
Taxes pay for a lot more than what basics have been mentioned before. They pay for programs that help people make a living for doing nothing and make people dependent on the government (ie welfare, social security, and other social programs where most of the tax money goes towards the beuracracy of the programs rather than the individuals it claims to help). It is not the taxes that I don’t like, because I also know, like Jim, taxes are a way of life, but rather I hate the areas in my life that they tax. To tax your income, and then your spending while taxing your property and to tax your vehicle is total control over the “free” individuals life. What happens when taxes are not paid on property or vehicle or social security? They will take both away and you will be fined with a possibilty of being arrested. The more government programs that are installed, the more of a communist society this will be and people who would be dependent on the system won’t want to succeed and the people who want to live individually cannot live without contributing on a regular basis.
The reason I know that the concept of tax is closely related to control over an individual is because of the FACT that you cannot pre-pay your taxes. Example is that a wealthy person CANNOT buy modest land to live on and pre-pay property taxes (calculating inflation), pre-pay social security or to sign a contract disallowing them to benifit from future social security, and live off their land with their family. It is total control.
So much for being free to live by one’s self….unless your homeless, car-less, and occupation-less.
I think social security is a joke the way it is now (I like to call this the thumb tax), and I think that property tax is screwed up.
Personal experience:
My family bought a nice piece of land close to the metro in the 80’s that was totally raw (no road, water, electricity, phone, etc) and it was purchased for $35,000. For over 15 years, we worked and slaved over this land while building a house on it making it a nice living space and today the whole estate is worth about $400,000. We did the work, not the state. However, now the state taxes us for what price they estimate the land at now. How fair is that? What did the state contribute to my land to make it what it is today? Nothing more than what they did before we originally bought it. The state wants control because they now are dependent on property tax for “feel good” policies and programs that create more dependancy.
If one wants to contribute money or work into a society, that is good and that person should recieve the benifits that it ensues. However, do not make it obligitory for the entire population to do the same, cause a lot of us want to live by ourselves and we should have the freedom and right to do so.
In closing, I want to say this:
Success in life comes with personal sacrifice and responsibilty,
not waiting for others to pick you up when you fall or fail.
Stand up for what YOU believe in,
and only for what others do.
Yo, pete you need to start fund raisers. You will become more popular with the people and it will help a lot.
Dude you also need to give to a lot of different charities and this will also help. Give to soup kitchens so they can help the poor. Also give to charities so the can get a lot of different things.
Mr. Ricketts please consider my earlier replys as a helper and a comment.
The FairTax is actually the only tax proposal that completely untaxes the poor, and also taxes WEALTH.
Those of you who think otherwise it does not surprise me because you’re likely listening to what Ben Nelson or the other misinformation that re-writes and distorts the FairTax plan.
Why don’t you guys READ about this proposal as it’s written rather than the opposition to a plan that’s not the FairTax!
http://www.FairTax.org - Americans For Fair Taxation
http://www.FairTax.net/1.htm - FairTax tutorial
By the way, Ricketts is not even a FairTax supporter. If he was he would easily have been able to fight back against Nelson’s attacks. FairTax supporters in NE will probably vote for an independant.
We have the same situation in FL now where Katherine Harris appears to be a FairTax supporter and now BILL Nelson is starting to smear it with misinformation. That’s why the FairTax supporters in FL will be voting for an independant named Belinda Noah (http://www.noah2006.com).
If your going to hang your hat on the picture above then that is a good reason to vote for pete, he could be at his moms or it could be anywhere who cares. The picture to me depicts that he has a family just like me, if you read more into it then maybe you should look closer is he actually fondeling (sp) one of his kids? Pictures are worth a thousand words and interpretation. I think you added to much content.
Numbers mean a lot, Nelson seems to convey he has the pulse of the nebraska people. What about the millions spent on that low level nuclear dump? Did he not see that a state who is moderatly pro earth would say not in my back yard, we set on one of the biggest aquifers in the world if nebraska allowed comtamination to that we would have $$$ to pay.
I ask you to review the unemployment fund which is almost broke. Not Ben’s fault directly but as a true liberal he raided that fund at 20% to set up traning for a choosen few to get better jobs in the 90’s. Sound familiar, like social security. I have seen my rate for my business go up 600%, and now I am out of business not b/c of the rate but b/c that I am a framer and housing is dead in this state. If you don’t believe then call a builder not the state they are the true indicators where we are heading, better yet take some time to drive through a couple of new and old neighborhoods.
Nelson actually didn’t allow the waste dump in Nebraska - and the decision got him attacks from the right for “costing taxpayers millions.”
Ben Nelson is a stud!