Just in case you ever thought that either Hal Daub or the Omaha World-Herald had any credibility, whatsoever, here’s a friendly reminder from just about ten years ago.

When Brenda Council challenged Daub in 1997, and directly attacked his credibility about police manipulating crime stats in the city. Daub said he was being honest, and to prove it, he would take a polygraph test.

The Omaha World-Herald willingly obliged this political stunt, having the audacity to claim they were doing it in the name of journalistic integrity. In the words of World-Herald publisher (and major Republican donor) John Gottschalk, “Our job here is to seek the truth, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Ignoring whether or not it was right to call Hal Daub a liar (though when dealing with a Republican, it’s best to assume that they are being less than forthright), the sheer hilarity of this stunt is another in a long line of Hal Daub’s woefully bad political tactics. It may not have cost him that election - he won by a razor-thin margin - but it was certainly a sign of things to come, and a reminder of his rabidly partisan and underhanded tactics during his career in Nebraska politics.

When the NSEA endorsed Tom Cavanaugh over him in a Congressional race, Daub was offended that they dare endorse a Democrat. He came to the conclusion that shockingly! - the teacher’s union was primarily comprised of Democratic activists, and wrote a letter feigning his outrage at losing the endorsement.

We saw this throughout his six years in office: Hal Daub wants things exactly his way. If he does not get things his way, he will blame everyone else for things not going his way. He will become outraged that anyone could possibly have any other opinion than his. And when someone questions his judgment, or his integrity, he will point to a political stunt as proof that he is honest and trustworthy.

It was clear in 2001 that Nebraska - Omaha in particular - had tired of this brand of politics. That was made all the more clear by Pete Ricketts’ disastrous showing at the polls in 2006. One of the most refreshing things about our potential candidates in 2008 is the potential to make that distinction:

Do you want politics as usual from the Republicans? Or are you ready for real leadership?