Only one day until 2011. We want to thank you all for making 2010 such a memorable year for Bold Nebraska. From protesting the pipeline to Trick or Vote, we’ve met some amazing activists across the state that we can’t wait to work with more in 2011. That’s really our only resolution for 2011. We’d love to hear what yours is. Here’s your Roundup:
Goodbye KodaChrome: The last rolls of KodaChrome film are being developed at Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas. Starting today, Dwayne will no longer develop the iconic medium that Kodak retired in 2009. It’s a bittersweet moment as the days of slide film end, and we all switch to digital photography and facebook albums. Check out NPR for the last KodaChrome roll Kodak had produced by photographer Steve McCurry. View Here
It’s My Party: The NY Times is exploring the rocky path new governors are facing because of their inaugural balls. While inaugurations are a great time to thank all your supporters, there’s also the complication of appearing too ostentatious when your constituents are pinching pennies. It’s public image problem we don’t think Gov. Heineman has considered too thoroughly. While we appreciate that he’s celebrating with the entire state, doesn’t two days and four partiessound a bit… flashy? Even if anonymous donors are footing the bill, when we’ve got a $1 billion budget shortfall should we really be throwing lavish parties? View Here
And the Beat Goes On: Did you miss the immigration fight in Fremont this summer? Need a quick refresher on the ordinance and it’s current court battle? The Fremont Tribune has a good rundown of the ordinance’s fight over the last year. We still can’t believe the city hired an attorney who’s linked to a nativist hate group (FAIR) and was just elected Kansas’s Secretary of State to defend this thing. How can an elected official do all these jobs and be fair? View Here
2010 Lists: Every outlet on TV and online has their “lists” for 2010. We won’t bore you with doing one of our own. But we just saw this “yo-yo” expert on MSNBC has their “sportsman” of the year and had to pass the link around. View Here
Thursday, December 30th
Have you missed any of Sarah Palin’s Alaska? Not to worry, you can preorder the first season now on Amazon. It’s not released until April 5, but you can sleep better knowing that you won’t be running to every supermarket and media store in town on that day, desperately trying to find a store where it’s not sold out. Yeah… we don’t really imagine ourselves in that scenario either. Here’s your Roundup:
The Best of Omaha 2011 has been released! We’ll reserve our comments on nominating national chains in a local competition (really? PF Chang’s for best Chinese?) and just congratulate all the winners. We’ll stop by next time we’re in the Big O.
Big Secret: The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has announced its top 5 targets for 2012. On the list: our own Senator Ben Nelson. It’s certainly no shock that the GOP’s targeting a centrist like Nelson. Of course, in outlining Nelson’s prospects, the Hill forgets to mention that Obama won an electoral point in Omaha in 2008. We’re just crossing our fingers for a gaffe-prone tea party candidate like Christine O’Donnell in 2012. View Here
Little Bird Goes Statewide: We’ve embraced the Meadowlark in our latest pipeline campaign, but now the little bird will be seen on cars all over the state. Starting Monday,we’ll all start to slowly switch over to the new state license plates which feature the state bird perched on a piece of Goldenrod (the state flower). Of course, there will be the requisite grumbling and bellyaching about the new design. Might we suggest an inter-state competition between graphic designers for 2016? We know a few people with a knack for branding and art. View Here
Mark Fahleson’s War: The NE GOP will choose it’s state Chairman next week at the state central committee. Current Chairman Mark Fahleson has announced that he will seek the seat once again. Best of luck Mark. We know how much you value competition, so we hope you get a challenger who likes to play as dirty as you. View Here
Wednesday,December 29th
The Northeast continues to be hammered by snowstorms, and CNN reports that 10,000 flights have been cancelled. Meanwhile, we’re enjoying a cool 40 degree day in Lincoln while we ignore the reports of snow for the New Year’s weekend. Here’s your Roundup:
Greenhorns: TransCanada may talk tough about their tar sands oil pipelines, but it bears repeating that the Keystone I, which is currently pumping tar sands through our state, is their first foray into oil pipelines. TransCanada primarily runs natural gas pipelines. So our skepticism at their ability to run an oil pipeline certainly has its grounds. TransCanda’s new chief, Russ Girling, thinks the Keystone XL is necessary because Americans don’t have the willpower to break our oil addiction. We find his lack of faith disturbing. View Here
Hope in 2011: According to David Leonhardt of the NY Times, Washington and the private sector have shown reasons to hope for better economic times in 2011. Reports on consumer spending and jobless claims have been good even if the housing market is still struggling. Health reform is expected toslow the increasing costs of insurance which have been ballooning faster than inflation. The only issue Leonhardt predicts to struggle: climate change. View Here
Anti-Recall Effort Shows Diversity: A wide array of individuals and organizations donated to the anti-recall committee in Omaha including Joseph Moglia of TD Ameritrade, Steven Silver (the president of International Nurtrition), Union Pacific, Local Ironworkers 21 and Cox Communications. It goes to show that just because 8% of voters signed the recall petition, doesn’t mean the majority of the city wants Mayor Suttle recalled. View Here
What Deserves a Flag?: We’ve promoted the new “Flag on the Play” blog in a couple of Roundups, and we’re doing it again. One of the drawbacks of starting a blog right before the New Year is that you can’t do a “Year of..” or “Year in Review” post which everyone finds easy to crank out the last week of December. So Preston (the blog’s writer) is soliciting your input. Add your thoughts on what political people or events deserve a flag from the past year. Share Here
Tuesday, December 28th
Well, it is a slow political news morning. It seems like the only major stories are the East Coast being pounded by Snowpocalyspe 2.0 and the return of “Rugrats” to Nickelodeon. So we’ve added a few off-beat stories from some unusual sources. Here’s your Roundup:
Flood Makes WaPo: Nebraska’s legislative Speaker Mike Flood made the top line of the Washington Post’s four page story on the pro-life movement’s new tactics. Flood’s getting national attention for pushing through a bill in the state legislature that bans abortions after 20 weeks without an exception for the mother’s health. The bill is based on the fluid concept of “fetal pain” rather than the viability of the fetus to live outside the womb. View Here
Recall Money: Nebraska Watchdog has dug up the details on who was funding the recall efforts in Omaha. It looks like most of Hal Daub’s 2008 backers chipped in the biggest donations to the recall committee. And Dave Nabity, who did much of the committee’s fundraising, has expressed an interest in running if Mayor Suttle is recalled. In our book, using a budget crisis to further your political ambitions under the auspices of a recall is pretty despicable. View Here
Brits Pan Fox News Parent: It seems the Brits are none too pleased with Rupert Murdoch’s growing media empire. Murdoch is the chief of News Corp which owns Fox News, and News Corp is attempting to take over 61% British broadcaster BSkyB. In a recent public poll, 63% of the British public said there should be an independent investigation into the purchase. View Here
Twitter Done Right: We’ve always held a sense of awe about Newark, NJ mayor Cory Booker’s Twitter feed. Booker’s managed to master Twitter rather than letting Twitter master him. His tweets are personal, and he promptly responds to his constituents’ messages. When Snowpocalypse hit Newark, the mayor tweeted while he dug out cars, bought diapers for a trapped mother and fielded snow plow requests. Mayor’s of the world take note — this is how leadership looks in the 21st Century. View Here
WSJ Picks Team Michelle: The Wall Street Journal slammed Sarah Palin in a recent editorial for her criticism of Michelle Obama’s “Get Moving” campaign. Palin’s been ragging on the First Lady, saying she’s fostering a nanny state by encouraging kids to eat healthy and be active. The conservative-leaning WSJ editorial board expresses it’s disgust with Palin’s overly simplistic approach to politics and policy. A head’s up, you do need a WSJ subscription to view the full editorial. View Here
Monday, December 27th
Congress may be out and the state legislature doesn’t convene until Jan. 5, but politics never sleeps. We’ve dug up a few hot stories during this governmental lull. Here’s your Roundup:
For the Kids: Slate magazine recently published a disturbing story about low Medicaid enrollment numbers. One of the issues appears to be that states are actively trying to dissuade or bump eligible citizens from the rolls. In a move that will hopefully counter some of this trend, the Obama administration announced today that they are giving out $206 million to 15 states so they can sign up children who are eligible for Medicaid but have failed to enroll. There are 4.7 million children who are eligible but not covered. Nebraska is not one of the 15 states. But what’s worse is that we may be one of the 32 who did not even apply for funding. View Here
Keystone XL Places 6th: The AP voted the state budget shortfall as the number one story in Nebraska during 2010. With a nearly $1 billion deficit, it’s one of our concerns as well. The Huskers’ move to the Big 10 was 2nd. The June flooding and Fremont ordinance tied at 3rd. In 5th place was all things Ndamukong Suh. And rolling in at 6th is the Keystone XL pipeline. A big thanks to all of you who kept this story a priority! View Here
Nelson’s New Role: The 111th Congress is over, and a new 112th Congress will convene in early Jan. With a much more closely divided Senate (53 Dems, 46 Repubs and 1 Indep), there’s a lot of speculation about the role of moderate senators. Senator Nelson has a reputation for reaching across the aisle and is expected to assume a larger role in the new Congress. Compromise will be crucial for this new Senate to be effective, and Nelson could be key in negotiations. View Here
Heineman’s Big Party: Gov. Heineman is looking forward to his expanded inaugural celebration this Jan. Heineman will have four receptions over two days across the state. Heineman made news earlier this month when state newspapers ran stories about the anonymous funders of Heineman’s big state bash. View Here
