Political Insiders Report wrote a piece several months ago about how the 2014 Nebraska Governor’s Race was shaping up and how State Senator Mike Flood would impact this race. That article can be viewed by clicking here. Political Insiders Report, Editor in Chief, Chris Scott was also on KFAB 1100 with Crash Davis last week discussing this race. That interview can be heard by clicking here. We also wanted to get the take of a former Nebraska Gubernatorial candidate. Below is former candidate Mike Meister’s thoughts on the 2014 Nebraska Governor’s race.
The 2014 Governor’s Race by Mike Meister
The dust has barely settled on the 2012 Presidential race. We have idiots running around pushing for secession because they can’t accept that their side lost. In many circles, and particularly among my fellow veterans, this constitutes treason. All of this is going on and I have been asked to look at the 2014 race for Nebraska’s Governor as a “former” candidate for the position. At the outset any person who is considering a run for Governor would immediately ingratiate himself to the majority of the Nebraska electorate by shouting these nut balls down. Unfortunately, not one Nebraska leader or would be leader has the courage to do so for fear that they might lose a vote or two. Is this really what the state of our elected politics has come down too? Ah well… The number one issue facing Nebraska is what will happen to our Congressional representation in the next census. In other words, how do you grow the 3rd Congressional District in order to keep Nebraska’s votes at the Federal level? We will hear the same tired slogans about “cutting taxes.” Infrastructure costs money. Speaker Flood wants to build roads and make sure K-12 education is supreme yet he wants to cut taxes. Perhaps the Speaker should go back to fifth grade and relearn that subtracting from the bank account doesn’t leave you money to buy the things you need. Perhaps Lt. Governor Sheehy can explain for us how the foster care system collapsed under his and Governor Heineman’s tenure. Perhaps he can explain how the call centers have lined the pockets of donors with taxpayer money while degrading service to those Nebraskans that need it most. Maybe, at long last, we will find out why this administration allowed the tragedy at Beatrice State Development Center to occur. Maybe, but I doubt it. On the Democratic side of the equation we have, drum roll please, no one. Leading contenders are former Regent Chuck Hassebrook, State Senator Steve Lathrop and Mayor Chris Buetler. What many do not realize is that history does not favor a Democratic candidate for an open seat. In fact, at no time in Nebraska history has a Democrat won an open seat for Governor. I am not sure I see any of these gentlemen stepping up to the plate and perhaps they should keep their powder dry until 2018. Talking about the governor’s race in 2014 just seems a tad premature. Check with me next July and let’s see where we are then. 
SO, no opinion then. Could I get the last 5 minutes of my life back please? I thought you were supposed to be a Democrat insider. Please explain yourself.
Mike, you say that those who are pushing for secession are involved in a treasonous action. I’m sure there are just as many of us who consider what the left is doing to this country as treasonous. And I know veterans who feel and *think* the same way I do so you have no exclusivity when one considers what constitutes treasonous behavior. As for “our side” losing, you are suggesting that there is a winning and a losing side. Well, you are wrong, Mike, because there is no winning side. Both sides lost. Our entire country lost. America lost the last election, all 300 plus million of us.
For those of you who are socialists or Marxists, or simply unable to recognize the truth of our country’s direction, I’m sure you are pleased. But would you point out one socialist/Marxist country anywhere in the world that has survived long term under that form of government that ever come close to creating what America did, and from nothing, in a brief 240 years?
We all anxiously await your response. We won’t hold our breathes, but we anxiously await your response.
Mike Meister likes abortions. he is not to be trusted in the least bit. Pretend this article never happened. I’m sure Chris will take it off eventually.
Not surprised this guy lost his race.
Maybe he has Assburgers disease?
Mary what opinion do you expect me to have? There are no declared candidates on the Democratic side of the ledger and only two declared candidates on the Republican side of which I discuss. In my world until you actually throw your hat in the ring to be studied (raped may be more apt) you do not warranat having your life dragged through the court of public opinion.
Ted a war was fought in the 1860s by Mr. Lincoln over the legality of secession. Perhaps you heard of it it was called among other things the U.S. Civil War, The War between the States, The War of Northern Aggression, Mr. Lincoln’s War, etc. The point is secession is illegal. As for your histronics and name calling you live in a representational democracy which is the form of government we have had since Ben Franklin came out of Independence Hall and dared us to keep it. We’ve done pretty good for quite a long while. If you would like to give concrete exampes of where you think this country is moving to socialism please put it out there and let’s talk about it.
B2 – at least I was willing to get out there. You sit behind your computer screen and denigrate those that disagree with you. In my book, that makes you a coward. Have a nice day!!!
Mike we live in a representative Republic or at least we used to. Most entitlement progams like Social Security and Medicare are socialist in nature as well as a single payer health care system. Govt now controls student loans, most home loans, the automotive industry, would like to control the health insurance industry through a single payer system. Also wants to mandate what health services are provided by faith based entities. Oh lets not forget that the United Nations agrees with the path we are on and they are CLEARLY our allu. Boy that sounds like more freedom to me.
As an independent, I don’t see that it makes any difference who is in charge. The Democrats will redistribute wealth through social programs, the Republicans will do it through unneeded give-a-ways to business’. Like LB 775 which has produced little to nothing, read the state report, but cost us $500 million dollars. Or the millions being given to millionaires through the Angel Investors act. (Which Pete Ricketts called dumb.) In either case, they use tax monies not for the state’s benefit but for their own misguided ends. What if they gave all those tax breaks back to the tax payers so we could spend it and stimulate the Nebraska economy. Forgive me, I forgot, capitalism is just a word not an actual action. At least we know who the Democrats are. There seems to be no true Republicans in the sate. They are just pink, not red.
Mike, first off a couple of quick comments; while there is a difference between law and morality, which do you find more egregious, countrymen who would consider secession when government has gotten out of control (that’s why our country was founded), or a dictatorially-behaving government passing legislation when over 60% of their fellow men are opposed to it (Obamacare)?
Our country was founded on the principle that government works for the people. More and more we are becoming a people working for the government so it can achieve its goals with little regard for ours.
When asked if the Founding Fathers had created a republic or a monarchy Ben Franklin said, “A Republic, if you can keep it”. I offer for your consideration the following;
socialism —
1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.
3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.
Most of us understand what those words mean, so to paraphrase Thomas Aquinas: “for those who understand no explanation is necessary, for those who don’t no explanation is possible”.
In ending, Mike, I re-submit my earlier challenge: point out one socialist/Marxist country anywhere in the world that has survived long term under that form of government that ever come close to creating what America did, and from nothing, in a brief 240 years?
We are waiting!
Increasing insurance premiums, increased cost of goods and services to help businesses pay for obamacare costs, loss of jobs, loss of small medical practices. You can’t suggest that the middle class isn’t footing the bill for Obamacare already. And the worst is yet to come.
Mike? Mike, are you there?
What socialist/Marxist country/ies created what America did in its brief 240 years and survived long term?
Mike, perhaps you need to go back to the fifth grade so that you can identify when numbers increase. about two years after the Bush tax cuts, if you actually go to the U.S.Treasurers web site and look at the revenue collected actually went up.
Then you could try to explain how $716 Billion cut from Medicare only counts as a savings if it supports your view. Pres Obama seems to have the same problem that you say that Sen Flood has. Subtracting $716billion in funding doesn’t leave money for Medicare, yet after the $716 billion in cuts, he wants to say that it will extend the life of Medicare eight years. My question to you then is if $716 in “savings” extends Medicare for eight years, then how much of a cut would extend Medicare indefinitely.
BkDodge42 — interesting, don’t you think that Mike seems to have disappeared? He’s been asked two simple questions: yours and mine — I wonder why he won’t answer? No, I really don’t wonder. We all know why he’s suddenly silent!!
Haven’t disappeared had Thanksgiving to attend to. Family to see friends to spend time with. Seems that some of you have nothing better to do than sit in front of your computers and lambaste me, I’m truly sorry for that and hope you at least hed some family time during this holiday of Thanksgiving.
Taking you in order:
Denise – I don’t like abortions and I don’t no anybody that does. Pro-choice does not equate to pro-abortion. Rather than try to expalin to soemoen who is obviously so blind to reasoned discussion on teh point I will leave it at that – particularly since this post has nothing to do with abortion.
Jared – the programs you cite are “socialist in nature” you are correct but that is not socialism as a form of govenrment. The government does not control the means to production. The government has infused cash into the private sector to save it from itself but the government does not direct how the money is to be used. The government subsidized the middle men on studet loans to the detriment of the students. They have cut out the middleman and freed up cash to let citizens go to school – not seeing how that is a problem. You have a single payer health system now except it doesn’t work. They collect your premium, deny your claim and pay CEOs bonuses for not giving you health care. Great system. As to directng faith based institutions t provide certain types of health care most of tehm were already doing it and only started crying foul when they thought they could make political hay.
BT – Where do I line up for some of that wealth distribution you talk about? Feeding and housing people who can’t support themselves what a concept. You remind me of Scrooge – “Are the poor houses closed? Better they should lie down and die than take my money.” The rest of your post is spot on. The republicans line up for corporate/Agrarian welfare and decry that poor people get what they get.
Ted – you need to go back to school and reread your revolutionary history. The reasons this country were formed were far more than your assetrtion – I suggest you read the Declaration of Independece – which is not the same as secession by the way. (Since you felt it so necessary to give me an English lesson I will suggest that you do the same.) As to your challenge there have been no countries like the United States in history so there is no way to answer your question. Many Eurpoean countries have been doing quite well for centuries under various forms of social/capitalism Sweden and Switzerland to name two. What is being advocated by the democratic party is not Marxism and if you think it is maybe you ought to move out of teh country – where would you go… Oh that’s right no where because every other edeveloped country in teh workd opeartes its goevrnemnst more restrictive thn we do.
B2 – the Little Red Hen ran around screaming that the sky was falling too. Not going to happen – only time will determine which of us is correct.
Ted reread my first paragrpah above.
Have a nice day everyone!!!
BKDodge42 sorry I somehow missed you earlier. I really need to go ack to school and learn to type. My speling is atrocious. My math, howeevr is spot on. Going all the way back with out the cherry picking form World War II to present at levels of highest GDP we had teh highest tax rates on teh wealthy. If I’m not mistaken under Eisenhower they were almost 90% on top wage earners. Trickle down economics and bloated government spending – ala President Bush lining the pockets of many of his corporate cronies does not equate to increased GDP. Cherry picking is inherently dishonest.
Good morning, Mike. Glad you had a good Thanksgiving with friends and family. My family was out of town, but had a wonderful day with friends and their families. I fell short of thanking God adequately for all that He has given to me, but then I fall short in that regard every day.
Your response, “. . . there have been no countries like the United States . . . .” made my point. While all countries in the world survive (if you can call some of them surviving), there are various levels of survival. Socialist and even Marxist countries have some level of survival, or success, but America is the stand-alone example of the greatest ever and the engine behind that is inarguably the freedom and individuality availed to us by the foundation laid out originally by our Founding Fathers. My first reaction to your final sentence “. . . operates its government more restrictive than we do . . . . “ was “because others do it, does that makes it right?” We were exceptional because of who and what we were. That is being taken away from us. Washington is telling us more and more what we can and cannot do. How arrogant does one have to be to think that 535 people in Washington can compete with the combined genius of over 300 million independent and motivated free people?
Why the rush to join all the European countries in mediocrity?!