Free Republic

Energy: The further review the administration said was needed is done, with a Nebraska environmental agency saying it's safe to build the pipeline that will bring oil, jobs and revenue from our friendly northern neighbor. After kicking the Canadian oil barrel down the road, the Obama administration may soon be forced to approve the Keystone XL pipeline or come up with another excuse to block it after a report from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality declared it would have "minimal environmental impacts" on the state and its sensitive aquifers. Friday's report triggered a 30-day deadline for Nebraska Gov. Dave...

Chuck Hagel, who was nominated on Monday by President Barack Obama as Secretary of Defense, dismissed allegations that he is against Israel. The former Nebraska senator said in an interview that an accurate assessment of his record will demonstrate "unequivocal, total support for Israel" and endorsement of tough international economic sanctions against Iran. Critics have "completely distorted" his record, the former Nebraska senator told the Lincoln Journal Star, a local newspaper based in his home state. At last, Hagel said, with his nomination announced by the president, he has an opportunity to set the record straight. He added that there...

Former Republican Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel may no longer be President Obama’s favored pick to run the Defense Department, sources told the Free Beacon. Hagel immediately drew a frosty reception from observers who criticized him for advocating in favor of direct unconditional talks with Iran and for backing sizable cuts to the defense budget.

Stopping veteran Dem retirements is top priority for Reid, SchumerBy Alexander Bolton - 11/25/12 06:00 AM ET One of the highest immediate political priorities for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Democratic political guru Charles Schumer (N.Y.) is to persuade veteran colleagues not to retire in 2014. Democratic sources identify four senators as most likely to retire: Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). Another possible veteran retirement is Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who has yet to announce his decision. But Democratic aides expect him to run...

LINCOLN, Neb. — Gov. Dave Heineman announced on Thursday that he has submitted Nebraska's choice to participate in the federal health insurance exchange. Heineman said implementing a federal health care law is the most efficient and cost-effective for Nebraskans. State officials said in a release that the cost of a state exchange to Nebraska taxpayers is $470 million more than a federal exchange. All citizens will still have the option to purchase insurance policies through an exchange regardless of the state's decision, officials said. Heineman said while there were diverse and emotional opinions on this issue, his decision is based...

Peacefully grant the State of Nebraska to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.As the founding fathers of the United States of America made clear in the Declaration of Independence in 1776: "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should...

Fischer, 61, a state legislator, easily won in a state that has trended more conservative in recent years. Elected to the Nebraska legislature in 2004, Fischer upset two better-known opponents to win the Republican primary. She will succeed retiring Democratic Senator Ben Nelson. Fischer has said she favors repeal of President Barack Obama's healthcare reforms and supports passage of a balanced budget amendment. She also supports more oil drilling and construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would go through Nebraska. Kerrey was elected governor of Nebraska in 1982. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1988, re-elected in...

Get-R-Done!!!!! GO FISCHER!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YuQIiUDI_4

Television ads aside, Omahans might be feeling a little neglected these days as the presidential campaigns bear down with a laser focus on the remaining handful of swing states. Just across the river, Iowans have been awash in campaign rallies with the candidates themselves and top-level surrogates such as former President Bill Clinton. Ohio, seen as ground zero, has gotten special attention. Even Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., flew to the Buckeye State to stump for Republican Mitt Romney last month.

Republican Chuck Hagel is going to endorse Democrat Bob Kerrey. That's the word from the Kerrey camp this evening, as they prepare to make a "major" announcement tomorrow. A spokesman with Kerrey's campaign says Hagel – a former Nebraska U.S. Senator and a Republican – will back Kerrey in his race against Republican Deb Fischer. Hagel's endorsement comes as polls have shown the race between Kerrey and Fischer tightening down the home stretch. Hagel's backing could go a long way with independents. And, it clearly underscores Kerrey's contention that he is the person in the race who can win Republican...

In the past few days, questions have been swirling on Bob Kerrey's (Dem NE Senate Candidate) claims that he's only 3 pts behind his opponent, State Senator Deb Fischer (Rep). His pollster, Pharos has been cited for numerous "red flags". ================================================= (snip) Pharos claims to have conducted five polls this month alone, all of them showing the race increasingly tight. While Republican Deb Fischer’s U.S. Senate campaign has disputed this, Pharos’ results were close to that of the Omaha World-Herald’s recent poll calling it a 3-point race. The Daily Kos saw red flags, such as Pharos reporting results to the...

The Nebraska Board of Education is taking the advice of a historian who considers “American Exceptionalism” too political of a term to include in Nebraska social studies. Removing this concept from the curriculum, educators have instead added climate change to the list of geography topics. “I personally would be wary of the term ‘American Exceptionalism.’… It has become extremely politically charged in recent years, and could convey unintended baggage,” Jeremy Stern wrote in an email to the staff at the Nebraska Department of Education, according to World-Herald staff writer Joe Dejka. Dejka reports that “[Stern] suggested something more neutral, such...

An Omaha police officer shot and killed a dog on a public sidewalk. The officer’s report claims the shooting was justified; however, the owners call the incident an execution of a friendly, family pet. Mike McKnight obtained surveillance video of the incident for a Fact Finders exclusive. On October 7th, after midnight, police blocked a street in the area of 35th and Vinton to look for an armed suspect. They say Chris Schulte, who lives in the area, ignored orders to stop and walked the family dog toward the search area. He was arrested and his dog, Teela, shot. Chris...

BREAKING: KFAB (10/30/2012....5:28pm) Fischer: 56% Kerrey 44%, 1168 Likely Voter Sample, 2.9 MOE (Gravis Marketing and North Star Campaigns)

From: Aaron Trost, Deb Fischer for U.S. Senate, Campaign Manager To: Interested Parties Date: Sunday, October 28, 2012 --- Today, the Omaha World-Herald (OWH) released a survey that shows a drastically different result than what our internal polling shows. The OWH commissioned a poll of 800 registered voters from Tuesday, October 23 through Thursday, October 25. The result of the OWH survey showed Senator Fischer leading Bob Kerrey by a margin of 3 points – 48% to 45%. The margin among likely voters was similar – 49% to 46%. Read Below for interesting info:

LINCOLN, Nebraska, October 27, 2012 - The Deb Fischer for U.S. Senate campaign released an internal poll today showing Deb Fischer with a commanding 55%-39% lead over Bob Kerrey. Public Opinion Strategies surveyed 600 likely voters from October 23 to October 25. The margin of error for the survey is ±4.00%. Report link is listed below: http://www.scribd.com/doc/111322657/NE-Polling-Memorandum-10-27-12

Deb Fischer continues to hold a commanding lead in the race for U.S. Senate. Our Tuesday through Thursday track showed Fischer ahead of Bob Kerrey by a 16-point margin (55% Fischer–39% Kerrey). She also has a solid edge among committed voters. 46% of likely voters say they are definitely voting for Fischer compared to 32% definitely voting for Kerrey.

Ranchers and farmers in Nebraska aren't responding too kindly to Democrat Bob Kerrey's lastest smear tactics against Republican Deb Fischer. With the campaign in the final stretch, Fischer still enjoys a double-digit lead while Kerrey throws mud with the hope that something sticks. The Nebraska Farm Bureau reports on Kerrey's latest smear and that of local ranchers and farmers coming to Fischer's defense.

Nebraskans are fortunate this year to have two serious, qualified candidates seeking their votes for the state’s next U.S. senator. Democrat Bob Kerrey and Republican Deb Fischer have offered voters a robust, intelligent, largely on-point debate of the critical issues facing the nation. We recommend Fischer, a Valentine rancher and two-term state senator.

An internal poll released by the campaign of former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D) showed him within 5 points of Republican nominee Deb Fischer for the open Nebraska Senate seat. (snip) The Fischer campaign cast doubt on the poll, which interviewed 600 likely voters over the phone between Oct. 14-16 and included calls to land lines and cellphones. The campaign cited a Politico story that ran at the beginning of the month about Kerrey pollster Harrison Hickman, who is said to have admitted under oath that he issued polls in the waning days of John Edwards’ 2008 presidential primary bid to...