Paul, welcome to FDL. I know you’re sitting in with us while Scott finishes speaking at a fundraiser. How you likin’ Omaha? Is it different from Oakland?

Omaha is great. 1100+ people showed up to Obama’s Omaha office opening here on 76th and Cass. That was amazing.

Old Market is a great place to hang out. And the Dundee neighborhood is also a cool place to spend an evening. I recommend the Dundee Dell and Mark’s Bistro for all those visiting Dundee.

People here are friendly and Scott’s staff is great. Full of young, smart, dedicated folks.

Paul — welcome! Best of luck to Scott — he’s a fantastic candidate, and just what Nebraska needs. Coming from WV, I know a little bit about a more conservative constituency, but Scott’s really solid on heartland upbringing and the sort of guy that folks can depend on, and I’d bet that goes a long way on the campaign trial out there.

Welcome Scott!! What do the people of Nebraska see as the most important issues? Has Nebraska’s most famous resident talked to you at all(I’d think Tom Osborne is # 2)?

Cool! I hope you get back to the West Coast all refreshed and healthy. Are there any issues that are foremost in peoples’ minds there that are uniquely Nebraskan? I mean I’m sure people are concerned about Iraq and the price of gas and unemployment and health care, just like they are everywhere else, but are there issues there that have more salience than they do in other parts of the country?

I am from Omaha and very excited about Kleeb. One because he has been tapped into the blogger world from the start. Two because of his education and clear intelligence. Three, because farmers don’t have to be uninformed hicks today with the advance of computers. It’s time to change Nebraska’s image.

Go Scott…Have donated, have encouraged folks to work for the campaign and encourage all I can to read about your stand on the issues.

Thanks, Scott’s visit to Harrison, Nebraska, a town of 270 people was emblematic of Scott’s appeal in rural areas.

50 people showed up, half of them Republicans, and many left ready to vote for Scott.

Welcome to FDL Paul (and Scott when he gets here!)

Do the folks in Nebraska appreciate an honest progressive over a dishonest, R rubber stamper?

Welcome to the Lake soon to be Senator Kleeb (D-NE)!

That was a wonderful answer you gave in the debate, would love to hear more like that from other candidates and elected leaders.

Howie, thanks for asking, the recent announcement of the closing of the DeWitt Vise-Grip plant, leaving over 300 Nebraskans without jobs and health insurance on 60-days notice brought home just how powerful economic issues, in particular in rural areas, are this year.

Scott has been a leader in bringing the DeWitt plant closing to the public’s attention.

Those jobs are going overseas. The Vise-Grip was invented in Nebraska and has been manufactured here for nearly 100 years.

I really thought Scott was going to pull off the upset win with the House race in the last election cycle, frankly. He had such a huge positive response from so many voters in that district — young and old alike. To pull in that response from a district that was that overwhelmingly conservative was huge.

Here’s hoping that builds to November for you all.

Oil is a big issue in nebraska because we are so spread out. We have to find more efficient green energy and I think there is a hope for many progressives that some of the answers to the problem can be found in Nebraska. I don’t think Corn is it…but there are other answers.

Also Nebraska sits on the largest under water acquifer in the country, this is going to become like gold at some point in time and as a Nebraskan I want to know we are being good custodians of it.

Domestic violence: I am a counselor helping women, men, families who have been traumatized by sexual and domestic violence. We cannot heal as a nation until we recognize the damage of violence on families. It happens in big cities and small. It’s not a rural or urban issues, its a national epidemic when you consider that the number one cause of death for pregnant women is domestic violence.

Domestic violence, sexual assault, mental illness and substance abuse have increased following every war since world war I. May I suggest that it’s extremely important that we take care of our vets as they come home so that the trauma of war expands no further than is necessary.

Those are my concerns as a proud nebraskan!

Go Scott!!

Oh wow, Paul — I had no idea that plant was closing and moving. My dad was a mechanic, and I’m familiar with those tools from years of handing them to him when he was working on the family car when he was home from the plant. Is it the whole Irwin manufacturing that is moving or just their vise grip operations?

Thanks Elliot,

Many folks in the Netroots aren’t familiar with Scott’s stance on Telecom Amnesty. Scott believes that we are a nation of laws and no one is above the law. Those aren’t just Nebraskan values, those are bedrock American values.

I would think NAFTA and CAFTA-type trade legislation is a double-edged sword in Nebraska because the state exports so much food. Does Scott make an issue of Bush-Clinton trade policies?

Fact: Wall Street Bonuses Hit Record $39 Billion for 2007

Now many of the firms are in trouble, during the good times executives are paid enormous bonuses and during the bad times, they want the US Government or some Saudi Prince to bail them out.

Does future Senator Kleeb believe that gains should go to the top one percent, but losses to the taxpayer?

Hey all,

Scott is here and busy answering his first question…the comment will be up in a moment.

Thanks for all the responses.

Paul

For folks who want to hear Scott talk about that, do watch the YouTube that Howie included. Scott is quite clear on those points. *g*

Welcome, Scott — great to have you here at FDL!

I will say this about the immigration, Nafta, Cafta. My husband is a union electrician. So far his field has not been affected by the huge number of mexican immigrants to nebraska. However, I know of two carpenters, one dry waller, and one roofer completely put out of business by other small businesses hiring illegals and paying them very little.

I feel very torn about the solution. I don’t think it’s fair to pay an immigrant an unfair wage, so that someone else can pocket the excess.

But I think…the solution is to fine businesses who abuse these workers and the bottom line. I think we need to increase the minimum wage. I think if we went to universal health care (gov’t funded)…(My medicaid clients literally have the best health care of any one I know), then small business could afford to operate. I’d have a practice of my own if it weren’t for health care. I think taking care of health care will create a flood of opportunity and make starting a business less expensive and risky.

Hello, it’s great to be here on FDL, the community that held Alberto Gonzales’ feet to the fire. Before we get going, I want to note that the 2006 race was a hard fought contest over health care, energy, and the environment, not about personal attacks.

As for your comments on energy, wavpeace, you’re right that there’s no one silver bullet to this issue, we need to be investing in everything. I still think that corn-based ethanol has an incredible potential in developing the infrastructure for a new energy economy, one that includes investment in both corn-based and cellulosic ethanol, as well as wind, solar, biomass and even algae-based energy technologies.

You’re also absolutely right that we need to be investing more in mental health, for our returning veterans especially. It’s profoundly disappointing to me personally that this administration would ever talk about cutting veterans benefits at a time of war.

Hey Howie, thanks for having us.

All trade needs to be fair trade. As Paul mentioned above with the closing of the Vise Grip factory in De Witt, bad trade policies have hit our rural communities especially hard. Nebraskans understand that trade isn’t just about exporting our products, it’s about exporting our values - on worker and human rights and environmental protection.

Scott, thanks for doing this on such short notice and between two campaign events! People here relate to your politics– over and above your policy positions– because the wat you approach electoral politics is so grassroots and netroots based. Many of us are curious to know if there are actual issues in Nebraska that could be game-changing and shake people loose from the GOP habit.

We’ve lost sight of one of the most basic principles of our nation: equality before the law. That means a fair tax code that rewards hard-working middle class families, not just the top 1%. You can read more about my tax plan here: http://www.scottkleeb.com/abou.....e_economy/

Wavpeac

Thanks for your question

We have not focused enough on employers who break our immigration laws. It goes back to my telecom amnesty response above, we are a nation of laws and no one is above them.

As for health care, experts have a name for the situation you are facing, it’s called “job lock.” Too many Americans are afraid to switch jobs or start a business because they don’t have access to quality, affordable, portable health care.

We can fix this.

Welcome Scott Kleeb.
Nice to have you join those of us who don’t buy into the “just a G$#*#Da**ED piece of paper” brigade.
I just do NOT have one iota of patience with those who react to facts like Johanns. That was a traitorous response, PERIOD.
You have my support and I’ll toss in some bucks to the campaign too.
Thank you for running for office.

McCain said “Social Security is a disgrace” because current workers pay for current retirees. Since it has worked for 73 years, has your opponent said anything that stupid?

The issues that matter most to Nebraskans are the same that middle class families are dealing with all over the country. We’ve seen where the failed leadership of the last eight years have gotten us, and people are ready to try a new approach. Nebraskans understand that when we talk about expanding health care, investing in renewable energy, creating a more equitable tax system… what we’re talking about isn’t more government, just smarter government. These are Nebraska values: working together and looking after your neighbor. That’s the change we want to see in Washington.

Hi Scott,

You seem to have found the secret to selling true liberalism to small-town middle America. Care to share?

Thanks.

Hi Scott,

Thank you so much for hearing the hundreds of people who urged you to run and running.

What do you think the hardest part about winning this race and how do you think bloggers like us can help?

Thanks!

Thank you so much for your support. Our campaign absolutely depends on the hard work of grassroots supporters like yourself. For more information on how you can get involved in this effort, please visit our website: www.scottkleeb.com

It’s not about what my opponent has said, it’s about what he’s done and hasn’t done. Remember, my opponent was actually in the Bush Administration at the time these policies were being considered. On this issue and on many others, Mike Johanns had a seat at the table, an opportunity to speak up for Nebraska’s interests and chose to remain silent. Nebraskans understand that’s not the kind of leadership we need in Washington.

Populista

Your support of this campaign is really appreciated.

There’s lots of ways folks can help.

If you live in Nebraska, you sign up to volunteer.

If your are going to be in any of the cities I am visiting you can join me for one of my Boots and Beers fundraisers: Chicago 9/17, New York 9/18, San Francisco 9/22, Boston 9/25 and Washington D.C. 9/26

And for all of you online, you can visit my website and make a contribution to this campaign.

Populista, changing the status quo is never easy, but I’ll never through the towel in and give up because the things we are fighting for are too important.

(…and yes, Paul helped me with those hyperlinks.)

Also on a policy note. What do you think of public financing of the elections like they have in Maine and Arizona?

Nebraskans understand that this isn’t about moving left or moving right, it’s about moving forward. When you pay to fill up your tank, the gas pump doesn’t ask you if you’re Republican or Democrat. These issues affect us all, and solving them is going to require that we work together. That’s what Nebraska values are all about.

Thanks! I don’t think I’ll be able to make it down to Chicago. If you ever come to the Twin Cites I’ll be sure to come and raise lots of money for you :)

The influence of special interest money on our elections is overwhelming. We’ve got to make politics about people’s interest again.

Scott - what do we do with a public who’s interest seems to be so captured by celebrity rather than issues? Not that you’re not a rock star here in Nebraska - but you’re the rock star with the credentials and smarts… How do we make the real issues relevant and bring them back into the discussion?

Populista, I appreciate your offer. By being a part of the netroots, you’re already making a difference in this campaign. But I want you and everyone online to know that we do need your help. If you can’t make on of our events, you can create an ActBlue page and have a fundraiser of your own!

hi all (a little off topic), but if you are in DC, NY, Chicago or San Francisco, we have some Boots & Beers events that Scott will be at in your town. You can check them out here: http://www.actblue.com/page/kleebbootsandbeers

my opponent was actually in the Bush Administration . . .

How is that playing out on the campaign trail as an issue? Are Nebraskans looking at that as a plus (”he’s been there before on our side as Ag Secretary”) or as a minus (”he’s a part of the BushCo machine that drove our economy into the toilet”)?

Scott,

I have a predatory lender. I did not get much help from Bruning on this issue at all. They did stop the lenders behavior of refusing to answer faxes, letters and calls for a short time, but whatever the remedy, a warning what have you, the behavior started back up again shortly thereafter.

Do you have a ideas about how Nebraska can better respond to predatory lenders. I am a woman who got my first loan, by myself, was steered into the sub prime market with a credit rating of 750 and no delinquencies on my credit. I bought the house I had rented for 7 years from my landlord.

When my ex sued for custody and lost and had his child support increased, he quit his 150k a year job (computer analyst) and moved to council bluffs IA. He quit paying child support suddenly which left me with a sudden bunch of check fees. I fell two months behind and I can’t tell you the number of illegal behaviors that Homecomings Financial engaged in. I was able to repay my back payments by the third month but by then they had increased the pay off by a third so that I was unable to repay it. Plus they put me in foreclosure at 60 days late, and would offer no solution other than my borrowing the delinquent amount at 24% interest. During the 6 months in foreclosure they returned my checks and charged exhorbitant fees for each month I did not pay. (and wasn’t allowed to pay). They refused all calls, did not return messages, or faxes. All documented by me.

The whole thing has been a mess. The point I want to make is that there is still a lot in the media about the wrong, high risk folks getting the loans. Very little talk about the illegal behaviors of these companies.

I have gone to at least 10 lawyers in Omaha. None want to mess with figuring the accuracy of my payment applications, fees etc…unless they know they will win a significant amount of money. I am in Chapter 13, but this company is reporting a payoff that is inaccurate. I have never missed a payment but they have hauled me into court twice. I started in bankrupcty owing 8300, but they say I owe 13k AND I have never missed a payment and am paying an extra 46 a month on top of the payment they ask for.

They accused me of non payment and hauled me into court but I proved my case and they were threatened with punitive damages but as my lawyer warned they would likely take all the fees the judge told them they couldn’t charge and simply put them on the end of the loan. This is what they did.

How can we fight back against this illegal behavior? The FDIC is busy with too many complaints. I have become part of several class action suits that failed due to loop holes.

It’s very scary. It feels like dealing with a loan shark, but instead of my life on the line it’s my house. They lie. They misapply payments. I am not talking about legal behavior here, and they seem unafraid.

HELP!! Do you have a plan? Have you given this issue any thought?

Crossing nebraska last week I noticed the feral hemp is still frlourishing. Will you push to allow farmers to again cultivate this versatile crop?

You know, as the father of two beautiful young daughters, I completely understand your concerns. We face some big challenges today and they deserve a real debate. I remain committed to a debate about the real issues facing Nebraskans every day.

Scott, somewhat related to wavpeac’s story. WHere to you stand on:

-regulation of fincial markets?
-enforcemnt of existing anti trust laws?
-media consolidation?

Scott assuming you are elected (and I do) what committee’s would you hope to join and what would be the focus of you maiden piece of legislation?

Hey guys, it’s been great talking to you.

I’ve got to run to get to my next event. Having a picnic with members of the local SEIU to talk about good paying jobs and retirement security. Thank you so much again for inviting me to have those same discussions with you here today.

I’m going to hand the mic over to Paul and my campaign manager, Joe Zepecki.

Thanks Scott! We’ll talk to you again soon. Glad you could join us, Joe. What’s the most formidable obstacle that Scott is facing? Also, are you getting much help from Ben Nelson?

New Christy upstairs on the Lying Liars of Palin/McCain

Hey lhp

I’m here with Scott’s campaign manager Joe Zepecki, and we’d like to respond to you and wavpeac here.

All around the country we hear stories about citizens faced with foreclosure on their homes. Scott is committed to putting an end to predatory lending that takes advantage of homeowners and will close loopholes on foreign corporations that violate U.S. laws.

Scott knows we need to be vigilant enforcing our anti-trust laws.

Hey Howie, Joe Zepecki here…

Name recognition in Omaha is our greatest challenge…and the only answer to that is more fundraising. (You knew I’d get around that response…;)

Scott remains well-known and well-liked in the Western 2/3rds of Nebraska due to his ‘06 run. Senator Nelson has been helpful to our campaign as has Senator Menendez, D-NJ, Energy Committee, who visited Omaha and toured an ethanol plant with Scott.

No one said this was going to be easy, but with 51 days to go till the election this campaigns knows that the road to 60 seats in the US Senate runs right through Nebraska.

My heart goes out to you, my idea was to contact the local paper and/or TV station, they might be very interested in publiching the story.

Is there a local legal aid group in your county?