Jon Bruning Drops Out Of The U.S. Senate Race

A Senate candidate steps down. Attorney General Jon Bruning pulls his name from consideration a year before the election takes place. Bruning wanted people to focus their attention on what many think is the front-runner of the race, former US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. Bruning announced his withdrawl tonight in Omaha. He's been in the race for 5 months, and has raised more than $1 million to win the seat. He's the second man to drop out after Hal Daub ended his short Senate bid. Bruning says Johanns is a good friend with similar views, and he gives Johanns his endorsement.

read::: NTV

Left-wing blogger mis-labels Jon Bruning's tax pledge

Opinion

It is well-known that liberals need new words and a new language for almost everything. Why? It is rather simple, they are simply incapable of telling the truth. Additionally, the liberal truth scares people and does not generate votes. Thus, the electorate must be fooled.

Our example for today is New Nebraska Network (NNN) - the self styled "New and Improved - Nebraska's premiere source of progressive online political commentary."

First lie - this isn't "progressive online political commentary" whatsoever - as the blog claims; it is the same old worked over tax-and-spend socialistic agenda that has been around forever.

NNN recently posted a Jon Bruning hit piece entitled: "Jon Bruning Joins Ben Nelson in Signing Right-Wing Tax Pledge." Read it if you must.

Beyond numerous factual errors and socialist slandering, what it comes down to is that NNN is displeased with anyone, ANYONE who is interested in holding taxes the same or decreasing them. This is a socialist agenda, not a progressive one. Take it to the bank.

BTW, NNN is operated by Kyle Michaelis a left-wing law student at the University of Nebraska. Kyle writes on his website that his "mother is quite worried about his job prospects." So sad. So cute.

If Hillary is elected president, we are sure that Kyle will be able to get work handing out tickets for patients that need to see a doctor in Nebraska when socialized medicine becomes law.

Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning talks at the Nebraska Minutemen November meeting

OMAHA, Neb. -- Republican Senate candidate and Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning answered questions about U.S. immigration policy on Tuesday night.He spoke at the Nebraska Minutemen November meeting.Members asked the Nebraska attorney general about border security, employment and law enforcement.

read more::: KETV

Jon Bruning for U.S. Senator

Click To Play

DREAM Act Fails Senate Test Vote

WASHINGTON (AP) --

Legislation to give children of illegal immigrants a path toward legality failed a crucial test vote in the Senate Wednesday, likely putting a final stamp on major immigration measures for the year.

Supporters needed to get 60 votes to advance the DREAM Act, which would have allowed illegal immigrants who plan to attend college or join the military, and who came to the United States with their families before they turned 16, to move toward legality.

The final vote was 52-44.

Nebraska
Aye NE Hagel, Charles [R]
Aye NE Nelson, Ben [D]

Bob Kerrey says he will not run for U.S. Senate

read story:::Action 3 News


Bob Kerrey says he will not seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate next year.

The former governor and U.S. senator from Nebraska and 1992 presidential candidate says he made the decision not to run for the seat being vacated by Republican Chuck Hagel after discussions with his family. Kerrey says he has unfinished business at New School University in New York, where he is president.

blogger comments...

Speaking of New School U, I wonder if Norman Hsu is still on the board, and if the school ever returned his donations? (joking) We have learned that the two U.S. Senators from New York (Hillary and Schmuckie) did get the New School a federal grant of nearly $1,000,000. It's for the children.

RE the U.S. Senate Race: "Let Nebraskans decide"

Jon Bruning:

“The party’s chances are not improved by these heavy-handed attempts from Washington to clear the way for their guy. There are clear differences between me and Mike Johanns, and Republicans deserve a positive campaign based on the issues.”

Jon Bruning on the Laura Ingraham radio show

The Paxalles blog summarizes comments made by Jon Bruning on the Laura Ingraham radio show today.


read::: Paxalles blog

Attorney General Bruning Awards Husker Tickets to Bancroft Elementary Student

Attorney General Jon Bruning awarded two Husker football tickets to a Bancroft Elementary student today at an all-school assembly. The ticket presentation highlights the importance of education.


read::: Southwest Nebraska News

Chuck Hagel: Out

"I said after I was elected in 1996 that 12 years in the Senate would probably be enough, and it is," Hagel said.

Bob Kerrey and Norman Hsu

Former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey, according to a Wall Street Journal article today, is a long time friend of the recently arrested Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu.

According to the article:

"Bob Kerrey ... who is president of the New School in Manhattan, met Mr. Hsu through a mutual friend a few years ago. Mr. Kerrey declined to say who the mutual firend is. Mr. Hsu endowed a scholarship in his own name at the New School's Eugene Lang School and joined its board. Last year, he became a trustee of the university. He resigned last week, before surrendering to California authorities. Mr. Kerrey says he enjoyed talking about the fashion business with Mr. Hsu and appreciated his Asian roots. "I thought he would be a great addition to our community."

Many in Democratic circles and the news media are actively encouraging Bob Kerrey to enter the 2008 U.S. Senate race in Nebraska.

It will be interesting to hear of the various Democratic responses regarding Norman Hsu on an official and unofficial basis in the weeks ahead.

According to many, a "don't ask, don't tell" position with respect to Democratic political campaign fundraising will continue into the future.

Chuck Hagel will announce the end of his career in the U.S. Senate next week

BREAKING NEWS: Chuck Hagel is calling it quits

Omaha.com | JAKE THOMPSON

WASHINGTON - Chuck Hagel will announce Monday that he is retiring from the U.S. Senate and will not run for president next year, people close to the Nebraska Republican said Friday.

Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel plans to leave the Senate after two terms as a Republican Party maverick, people close to him say.Hagel plans to announce that "he will not run for re-election and that he does not intend to be a candidate for any office in 2008," said one person, who asked not to be named.

Chuck Hagel likely to announce retirement next week

Hagel to announce his future plans next Monday

The Political

Hagel to announce his future plans next Monday

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), who is up for re-election next year, will be making an announcement on his political future Monday morning at 11:00 EST in Omaha, Nebraska.

Jon Bruning Puts an End to a Gas Pump Pricing Scheme

“What is happening here is an absolute travesty and I don’t think it’s happening by chance,” AG Jon Bruning said.

After receiving many complaints to his Attorney General Office in Lincoln, Jon Bruning has talked to and inspected several gas stations in the state that many feel are using bait and switch marketing tactics to lure consumers in thinking they are receiving low prices at all available gas pumps. This is not the case. Just say no to BP and Conoco!

Related articles-

NE StatePaper

KETV

Hagel and Godot - How Long The Wait?

What do Bob and Mike and Mike have in common with Estragon and Vladimir?

They are waiting.

Estragon and Vladimir are French tramps, endlessly Waiting for Godot in the play by Samuel Beckett that gave rise to the term “Theater of the Absurd.”

Bob Kerrey and Mike Fahey and Mike Johanns are politicians from Nebraska, but it only seems like they are endlessly waiting for Senator Chuck Hagel. The situation has become an overlong example of politics of the absurd.

read::: Nebraska StatePaper.com

Jon Bruning: Justice prevailed today

Thirty-year-old Patrick Schroeder of Dubois has been sentenced in Pawnee County District Court to life in prison for first degree murder for killing his former employer.

Schroeder was also give 20 years in prison for use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and 30 to 60 years in prison for forgery as a habitual criminal. All three sentences will be served consecutively.

On April 14, 2006, Schroeder murdered Kenneth Albers of Pawnee City, while robbing him at his home. Albers died of blunt force trauma to the head. His body was later found in an abandoned well on his property southwest of Pawnee City.

“Justice prevailed today,” said Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning. “Mr. Schroeder brutally took a man’s life and now he’ll pay by spending the rest of his life in prison. I hope this helps bring some closure to the Albers family and to the residents of Pawnee City.”

WOWT news

Nebraska AG says student-loan pay-out will help lawyers for homeless

by Rob Luke

LINCOLN -- Nebraska attorney general Jon Bruning came to praise a local student loan provider and bury New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo in an interview last week.

Then he slapped the company with a bill for the $1 million in settlement money from a student-loan agreement he'd earlier waived.

LegalNewsLine

Nelnet to Give Nebraska $1 million for Need-based Aid and Legal Aid Loan Forgiveness Program

August 10, 2007 -- (Lincoln, NE) Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning today announced Lincoln-based student loan provider Nelnet has agreed to give $1 million for student loan assistance programs in the state of Nebraska.

“Defending Nebraska’s taxpayers is my foremost priority,” Bruning said. “If there has been a misunderstanding by anyone about the nature of the state’s agreement with Nelnet, I want to fix that. Out of an abundance of caution, I re-approached Nelnet about our agreement. Today’s action eliminates the opportunity for political gamesmanship by those who may want to create the perception of a conflict of interest.”

Half of Nelnet’s contribution, or $500,000, will be placed in the already existing Nebraska State Grant fund for need-based scholarships, which is distributed by the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education. The other $500,000 will be placed in a trust fund established on behalf of Legal Aid of Nebraska at the Omaha Community Foundation. The interest from the trust will fund a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) to enhance recruitment and retention of Legal Aid attorneys who serve indigent Nebraskans.

“This agreement is even better for Nebraska students and their families,” Bruning said. “Instead of sending $1 million to finance a national education project, we’re keeping the money right here in Nebraska for student aid.”

“We are pleased to support these two worthy organizations with a contribution that fulfills the commitment we made in our voluntary agreement with the state of Nebraska,” said Jeff Noordhoek, Nelnet president. “Nelnet has led the education finance industry in an effort to increase transparency in the financial aid process. Our mission has always been about helping students and families plan and pay for their education with our products and services.”

“The contribution to LRAP will serve impoverished Nebraskans like no other program. We’re very grateful to be considered in this settlement,” Doug German, Executive Director of Legal Aid of Nebraska, said. “The longer our lawyers can stay in their positions, the more experienced they become, and the better they’re able to serve Nebraskans who have nowhere else to go for legal aid.”

Source: Nebraska Attorney General

Washington Post: Chuck Hagel keeps you guessing

Hot September for Senate Races

read::: The Fix blog

Flynn joins Jon Bruning in the Nebraska race for U.S. Senate

Pat Flynn, 48, founder of the investment firm Flynn and Associates in downtown Schuyler will announce his U.S. Senate candidacy on Tuesday. In our humble opinion, this appears to be more of a public relations and business development move than a serious political effort.

Meanwhile, current Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel remains open to:

a). running for a third term as senator
b). running for the president of the United States of America
c). running for vice president with Democrat Joe Biden
d). voluntary retirement
e). forced retirement
f). some of the above
g). all of the above

J.A.R. comments about the US Senate races

J.A.R. comments about the situation in Nebraska:

Because Hagel looks unlikely to seek reelection, even if he does, there's a credible Republican challenger in Jon Bruning (who also raised credible sums last quarter), and it's a very red state in a presidential year.

More competition? Hal Daub is testing the waters in Nebraska

Sensing that something is happening in Nebraska politics, former City of Omaha Mayor Hal Daub continues to travel the state and "listen to the people."


read::: Daub Says Folks Tell Him U.S. Should "Stick with it" In Iraq

The Hal Daub running for Senate record -

1. failed to gain the GOP nomination for Senate in 1988.

2. won the party's Senate nomination in 1990. He lost the general election to Democratic incumbent J. James Exon by a 59%-41% margin.

The Senate 2008 Guru blog reports ...

Nebraska: Republican Hal Daub is making the rounds as he considers a Senate race. I don't know how well it's going. He stopped in Columbus, Nebraska's tenth most populous city (between 21,000 and 22,000 residents), for a two-hour issue discussion (we're not talking a 20-minute grip-and-grin) and only got "about 35" people to come. It's not quite so early in the process anymore. Perhaps his crowds should be bigger than three dozen at this point.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics: Hagel: I'm not a flake

The Leavenworth Street blog examines some comments Nebraskan Senator Chuck Hagel made to the New York Times recently.


Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics: Hagel: I'm not a flake

Hagel in a Hell of a Battle

“Cut & Run” Senator Chuck Hagel, who is still considered a possible GOP candidate for president next year, should probably be focusing a little more on his Senate re-election campaign.

read::: Michael Illions at the CWA-NJ blog

Nebraskans Receive $1.9 Million in Ameriquest Restitution

July 12, 2007 -- (Lincoln, Neb.) Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning and the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance announced today that 2,403 Nebraska consumers are eligible for $1.88 million in restitution from Ameriquest Mortgage Company and its related companies. The payments result from a $325 million national predatory lending settlement reached in 2006.

THOMPSON SENTENCE TO BE APPEALED TO STATE SUPREME COURT

Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning asks for a review of the sentence of a child molester.

KOTA News

Hagel, Warner Announcing Exits Soon?

The two common strengths of my guests at lunch July 3 were 1) they know Republican politics in their respective states well and 2) they concluded that the Republican senators from those states, Chuck Hagel (Neb.) and John Warner (Va.), will announce sooner rather than later that they will not seek re-election in ’08.

“[Hagel] is doing some stupid things lately,” one source told me ...

read::: Human Events

Chuck Hagel: GOP hijacked; no run for president as an Independent

Chuck Hagel loves to meet the press. Today he said the following to a national television audience.

"But I have no plans to change parties or run for president as an independent."

Later (hedging): "You try to keep as many options open for yourself in life as you can. And you try to be in a position where you've got some opportunities."

"I also have said and said this when I first ran for the Senate after I got elected in 1996 that 12 years, two terms may be enough and that's another option."

"And then if there might be a place for me along the presidential road somewhere to try to have some influence and change the course of this country, then I'll look at that. But the decision needs to be made soon and I'll make it soon."

In May, Hagel said Republican Party had been led astray by some and it might be time for an independent presidential ticket.

To Hagel, the GOP is longer the party of "Eisenhower, of Goldwater, of Reagan," but instead has been hijacked by "single-minded, almost isolationist insulationists, power-projectors."

Hagel was interviewed Sunday on "Meet the Press" on NBC.

Hagel: "Ah…no. I think that was unfortunate."

Hagel: Libby shoulda gone to jail

U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel was asked on Omaha's KMTV whether he agreed with President Bush on the commutation of Scooter Libby’s thirty-month sentence. Hagel’s answer:

"Ah…no. I think that was unfortunate."

read>>> Leavenworth Street blog


MSNBC's Chuck Todd commented: "I used to joke that I thought Hagel was doing a great job campaigning to be the Democratic VP nominee. Maybe I should stop joking."

Jon Bruning Statement on the Hagel Town Hall Meeting

This week Senator Hagel spoke before 300 people at a "Town Hall Meeting" at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. Hagel said he thought the Iraq war would prove to be the greatest foreign-policy mistake in U.S. history.

"We're in a mess, we're in a huge mess," Hagel said. "We've got to get out of the mess, but we've got to do it the right way."


Jon Bruning reacted to Chuck Hagel's comments:

ON IRAQ:
Actions speak louder than words. Regardless of what Sen. Hagel says, conservative Nebraskans are frustrated that he has repeatedly voted with Harry Reid and the Democrats in favor of strict timetables for early surrender. They’re also frustrated with his comments that this country is engaged in an all-time “foreign policy blunder” and that the administration is “playing ping-pong with American lives.”

While I agree that diplomacy and international mediation are needed to help ease the burden on our troops, Senator Hagel’s plan does nothing to defeat the terrorists in Iraq or stop the sectarian violence that has slowed our progress. Security must be established before diplomacy can succeed. We must give General Petraeus a fighting chance to complete his mission before we talk about redeployment from Iraq.

ON IMPEACHMENT:
Conservative Nebraskans were outraged with Senator’s Hagel’s suggestion that impeachment was a viable option for President Bush. When asked today how he would hold the administration accountable, Senator Hagel changed his tune and said that wasn’t his job. The voters won’t forget his careless remarks and will hold Senator Hagel accountable.

ON IMMIGRATION:
I was surprised to hear Senator Hagel suggest today that border security has nothing to do with immigration reform. Illegal immigration costs taxpayers billions of dollars every year, and many continue to break our laws by flooding over our southern border. Border security is an urgent priority and must be a part of comprehensive immigration reform.

Jon Bruning is off to a strong financial head start

It more than appears that Nebraska and friends of Jon Bruning have stepped up to support his challenge to Senator Chuck Hagel. It has been reported that Jon Bruning has raised over $700,000 to date in his race for U.S. Senator.

“Raising the money needed to challenge an incumbent is very difficult. But our campaign to defend America and restore conservative leadership to the U.S. Senate has generated tremendous early support from Nebraskans. We’ve worked hard, we’ve discussed the issues people care about, and the response has been amazing.”
- Attorney General Jon Bruning

Southwest Nebraska News: Bruning Campaign Tops $720,000 in Receipts

KTIV: Bruning Says He's Raised $721,200 For Senate Campaign

Newsweek: Rumbling on the Right

Newsweek says:

"Chuck Hagel's antiwar stance could make him a serious Republican candidate for the White House in 2008. But it's causing him headaches back home."

Jon Bruning says:

"Nebraska is more conservative than the nation as a whole. Senator Hagel, however, has become more liberal. And for some reason he has an anger to George Bush that is not particularly productive."

Read the full Newsweek article

Bloggers blogging about Jon Bruning this week

Hagel Running Scared
California Conservative

Taking On Chuck Hagel
Townhall

What The Hell Are They Smoking Over At Newsweek?
AnkleBitingPundits

He Was Just As Sloshed as Schlegel
ShotintheDark


It is very interesting to read how bloggers are now talking about Jon Bruning from California, to Washington and to Minnesota.

Wake up Nebraska! Only One Senator is Listening

Today, the United States Senate blocked the much publicized immigration bill.

The bill's supporters fell 14 votes short of the 60 needed to limit debate (and to clear the way for passage of the legislation)

Critics of the bill assailed it as offering amnesty to illegal immigrants. The vote was 46 to 53 in favor of limiting the debate.

Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel (R) voted AYE (the pro amnesty position) while Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson (D) voted NO (the no amnesty position).

The vote was a victory for those who strongly criticized the bill's provisions that would have established an easy and unfair pathway to lawful status for many of the estimated 10-20 million illegal immigrants.

Opinion polls in Nebraska and throughout the country overwhelmingly disapproved of the amnesty features this bill would have allowed.

The affirmative, pro-amnesty vote by Senator Hagel (R) was anticipated. Senator Hagel has had a very open and liberal position on immigration over many years. A selection of Chuck Hagel's recent votes:

• Voted YES to kill the establishment of the border fence in 2006
• Voted YES on establishing a Guest Worker program. (May 2006)
• Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. (May 2006)
• Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship. (May 2006)
• Voted YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work. (Jul 1998)

Despite the calls and requests of the voters from Nebraska to vote against this illegal immigration (amnesty) legislation, only one Senator listened (Nelson).

Today, one of two senators voted according to the wishes of the voters of Nebraska.

Wake up Nebraska!

Bruning Disappointed in Hagel Vote on Amnesty Bill

Jon Bruning is quoted as saying the following in the Southwest Nebraska News:

“I am terribly disappointed that Chuck Hagel would support any measure that prevents our immigration and custom officials from enforcing the law,” Bruning said.

What kind of suckers does he think Nebraskans are?

That is the central question for Bob Kerrey to answer according to the Plains Feeder blog.

The money quote of the article is:

"He [Kerrey] is thinking about running for the Senate again. This makes two mixed-up, Viet-Nam tainted dunces sitting on that fence. Jon Bruning looks smarter every day."

And that pretty much sums it up for a Monday!

Bloggers blogging about Jon Bruning this week

Nebraska Note - Bruning on the radio
Plains Feeder

Round Two?
College Democrats blog

Unexpected Republican Primaries
Senate 2008 Guru

Attorney General to suit up for Neb. GOP Senate
Legal Newsline

Reason: Chuck Hagel Delenda Est!

For the record, you can now count on The Reason blog and David Weigel to provide an unreasonable defense of Senator Chuck Hagel. (btw, they don't call it "Hit & Run" for nothin!)

Hagel and the Immigration Bill of 2008

THE SELLOUT SEVEN * Graham (R-SC) * Hagel (R-Neb.) Lugar (R-Ind.) Martinez (R-Fla.) McCain (R-Ariz.) Specter (R-Pa.) Voinovich (R-Ohio)

Ted Kennedy on Immigration

1965: "The bill will not flood our cities with immigrants. It will not upset the ethnic mix of our society. It will not relax the standards of admission. It will not cause American workers to lose their jobs."
1986: "This amnesty will give citizenship to only 1.1 to 1.3 million illegal aliens. We will secure the borders henceforth. We will never again bring forward another amnesty bill like this."
2007: "Now it is time for action. 2007 is the year we must fix our broken system."

Nebraska Republican Enters Senate Race — Hagel or Not

CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY | Greg Giroux

Jon Bruning, a Republican who serves as Nebraska’s attorney general, is waiting no longer for incumbent Senate Republican Chuck Hagel to make up his mind about 2008. Bruning announced Thursday that he is seeking the GOP nomination for the seat presently held by Hagel, a prominent Republican opponent of President Bush’s Iraq war policies.

Hagel, nationally known as a Republican dissident, has created an air of mystery about what path he will take next year. Though he may well decide to pursue a third Senate term, he has left open the possibility of running for president — perhaps as an independent candidate — or retiring from politics altogether.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...

Jon Bruning officially enters Senate race

omaha world hearald

Published Thursday | June 7, 2007 Jon Bruning officially enters Senate race BY ROBYNN TYSVER WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

It's official: Jon Bruning entered the 2008 Senate race today.

Jon Bruning announcing his run for the Senate in the rotunda of the State Capitol.The second-term Nebraska attorney general said he will run for Senate whether fellow Republican and incumbent Sen. Chuck Hagel runs or not.

"I am a candidate without reservations," Bruning said at a news conference in Lincoln today. "I'm running hard and I'm running to win."

Hagel, who has angered many rank-and-file party members with his criticism of the Iraq war, has not announced whether he will run for a third term. He plans to make his decision in the fall.

Bruning said he is disappointed in Hagel's vote for early troop withdrawal from Iraq and Hagel's support of President Bush's immigration bill.

Bruning said he believes he can beat Hagel and former Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns if either get into the race. He tried to paint Hagel as an out-of-touch Washington lawmaker who is not a Nebraskan.

He referred to Hagel - who currently lives in Virginia - as a carpetbagger. Bruning said that if former Sen. Bob Kerrey got into the race he would also portray him as a carpetbagger.

Bruning noted that his supporters include former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne, Omaha businessman David Sokol and state Treasurer Shane Osborn.

Bruning made his announcement with family and about 75 supporters in the rotunda of the State Capitol.

Bruning United States Senate Website

http://www.jonbruning.com/

Jon Bruning

Jon Bruning bio

AGE: 38. Born April 30, 1969, in Lincoln to Roger and Mary Bruning.

RESIDENCE: Lancaster County

EDUCATION: Graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School in 1987. Graduated with a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1990. Earned law degree from UNL in 1994.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: General counsel for Vital Learning Corp. in Omaha, 1994-1997. Attorney in private practice.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Vice president of University of Nebraska student government, 1989-1990. Elected as a state senator in 1996 and re-elected in 2000. Elected attorney general in 2002 and re-elected in 2006.

RELIGION: Methodist

FAMILY: Wife, Deonne Niemack, two children.

Bruning 4 Senator in Nebraska!

It's official: Jon Bruning entered the 2008 Senate race today.