New Nebraska Network - Recent Comments

Nah....

Lisa Hannah — Wed, 21 May 2008 22:40:20 GMT

If you mean Wes Clark, I'd suggest National Security Advisor. And Clinton on the Supreme Court would require one leaving, which wouldn't be soon. Unless, of course, that is the goal. No, she has too many supporters to be relegated to an afterthought. Any attempts to do that will disenfranchise a large voting block.

In the mean time, I still say Hagel would do well in the next administration.

Vic kicks ass

Jon Rehm — Wed, 21 May 2008 22:11:02 GMT

Sol,
I worked with Vic on the Caucuses in Lincoln/Lancaster County. Vic took the bull by the horns on the Lancaster County Caucuses and got the job done in the face of a fair amount of nay-saying. I think some of his work reflects in the legislative results from LD 29 and LD 27. I've also served with him on the Lincoln City Charter Commission and he's an asset to that board. Vic will kick Republic party ass and take names.

To paraphrase Lee Iacocca, if you find a better State Chair candidate than Vic Covalt, vote for them. I'm glad he's stepping into the ring for a bigger fight.

alternate

TomGreen — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:46:29 GMT

make it VP Clark and Supreme Court Justice Clinton and I'd agree. Though maybe keep Biden in the senate.

Soures checked

tomdorsch — Wed, 21 May 2008 19:46:32 GMT

Let's not intentionally mangle Luke's message. He is right in all the essentials.

The Rules Committee would make any changes relating to disenfranchisement of constituency caucuses ("affiliated caucus organizations"). Vic is an enormously influential member of that committee.

I don't know Vic's personal views on this issue (or on any others -- he has been almost inert in party activity over his many years since graduation from law school).

But there is no doubt that a significant group of party insiders, including Deb Quirk and other small-tent Democrats, has seized on the issue of making the State Executive Committee less inclusive instead of more inclusive.

And as far as conspiracies, anyone who thinks the affairs of this Party are conducted in sunlight is misinformed. All important decisions for the past seven years have been made by a small group, less than half-a-dozen, without input or approval from anyone. The "lesser bodies," the SEC and SCC, are apprised after the fact of everything from hiring of staff to implementation of electoral strategies, and everything in between. Just for one example (of many), the SEC/SCC is not even shown the operating budget of the organization. It is evident that input from the so-called democratic bodies of the organization is irrelevant and extraneous.

Check Your Sources

Fred — Wed, 21 May 2008 19:15:20 GMT

Vic Covalt doesn't sit on the platform committee. You should get your facts straight before dropping words like "conspirators" and alleging homophobia.

Also, you seem to be confusing the LCD Platform Committee with the State Central Committee. The platform committee has nothing to do with removing individual caucuses.

I've had the opportunity to work with Vic on several occasions, and I've found him to be very hard-working, inclusive, and motivated for ALL people in the party. He will be an effective State Chairperson when elected.

I'd prefer.....

Lisa Hannah — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:56:18 GMT

Maybe Secretary of Defense Hagel. Followed with Secretary of State Joe Biden, Attorney General John Edwards, and VP Hillary Clinton......

Constitutional change needed

Brian T. Osborn — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:04:36 GMT

The State Convention delegates to the Nebraska Democratic Party are the supreme governing body of the NDP. They are the ones that create, amend, and ratify our Constitution, Bylaws (the SCC can modify only Bylaw 5) and Platform. The State Central Committee is the governing body of the party in the interim between State Conventions. The SCC has the authority to create policy.

If those delegates decide, during the State Convention, to amend the relationship of the Affiliated Caucuses within the party, allowing them a vote on the State Central Committee but not on the State Executive Committee, that is their prerogative. The Rules Commitee has discussed such a move, allowing for one representative on the SEC to represent all of the Affiliated Caucuses.

Since the SEC can only execute those policies decided upon by the SCC, not create policies, the Affiliated Caucuses would really not lose any of their clout with the NDP. A smaller SEC that more truly represents a cross section of ALL of Nebraska's Democrats would certainly be more efficient and less likely to be stacked by any State Chair.

The State Convention delegates could also change the rule that the State Chair remains in place until the first meeting of the SCC following the general election in November (which usually occurs in December.) If it is the will of the State Convention that the newly elected State Chair take his position immediately, then that would be effective during our upcoming State Convention.

Vice President Hagel?

Paul Bachman — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:09:40 GMT

What do you'll think about that?

Caucuses

TomGreen — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:35:51 GMT

Luke,

Just to clarify what I was posting about I was refering to Vic's role in the presidential caucuses in Lancaster county. Not in regards to any interest group caucus that are part of the state party. I am not a state central committee member and admittedly am not well versed in the operations of the state central committee and executive board.

Sorry for any confusion.

I am not sure about Vic Covalt....

J. Williams — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:10:21 GMT

I do not know him and I have not met him. I will however say that given the state of our NDP, anyone standing up and saying that "I am willing to take on a leadership position" after the sear destruction of the Party with the current leadership; deserves credit for just having the courage to step up.

I am not just speaking of the current chair, but I am also speaking of several of the members of the Executive Board and the Staff of the NDP.

We have a very weak Executive Director, we have a weak Finance Director and we can't even fill the DNC positions that we need to be successful.

Now we have a chance to bring in new leadership on the Executive Board...although I do support Vince Powers as Committeeman. We need strong leadership and get rid of the sheep. I read Pierce's column last Saturday in the OWH and I see that it is also on this blog. (I think everyone should read it). He is stating the facts of the successes that the Democratic Party is having in Douglas County. We should have the same successes in other areas of the state. If we are...then Democrats at large need to know these things, just as Pierce did in Omaha. How can Democrats get excited about being a Democrat if the State Party doesn't show any excitement.

The NDP should be a voice for the membership and a voice TO the membership.

We need strong leadership...(I can't say that enough). If Vic does become Chair, then he does need to "clean house" in the NDP Office. I would recommend that he hire Pierce as Executive Director and bring not only his fighting spirit and his focus on the large picture, but I also think that he can bridge the frustrations (and bickering) between Douglas County and NDP.

Now I have heard that Pierce has stated that he is focused on Douglas County and is not looking at the NDP, but how can we go forward with a New Chair, new Energy, new Party, with the same old staff that is responsible for the day to day operations and functions of the party and its membership.

This is the year of "CHANGE" and that is exactly what the NDP needs now, FULL CHANGE. On June 21st when we elect a new Chair of the State Party, the new Chair should take over immediately...(I know that isn't how it works...but should). We cannot wait around for a lame duck Chair to bide his time and destroy this party any further.

I know that many here will disagree, but the sooner we "CHANGE" and bring new ideas, new energy, new hope, the sooner the Nebraska Democratic Party will unite as one party.

J. Williams

At the last State Central Committee Meeting

TedK — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:52:34 GMT

I recall a proposal to eliminate the exec board vote of all caucuses, not just certain ones. This wasn't to silence anyone or push any groups or persons from the party. The point was to keep the exec board from growing too large and unwieldly. There may have been a concern that a state chair could gain too much power by approving caucuses and appointing caucus chairs that would align with him or her. Kyle spoke against removing the YD vote, and I believe Janet Steward spoke in support of the Women's caucus. Don't recall Vic having anything to do with this, or platform changes of which I've heard nothing. Vic is on the Rules Committee, not Bylaws or Platform.

USDA

Voice of Reason — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:50:59 GMT

Why wouldn't Iron Mike be a part of this? It comes with being a puppet of big business, and spending too much time with Bush Light. Wake up Nebraska!! Can't wait to hear what healing the spin doctors put on this one.

I've heard differently

Luke P. — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:04:13 GMT

From my sources, apparently there is a group of members, that includes Vic Covalt, in the party that want to be rid of some "offensive" language in the party's constitution that would eliminate some "special interest" caucuses (otherwise known as some minority caucuses). Now, I have never been to these meetings where this discussion has supposedly took place for the party but from what I've been told....this is all done in a behind the scenes kind of way. Essentially, these group of conspirators want to eliminate the platforms of the State Party's constitution because they don't like certain types of people being involved with them (i.e. me). If the speculation is true, then I would say that this State Democratic party is no better than the Republican party because I believe our party was big enough for all persons, gay or straight.

I've meet Vic once at the NYD State Convention, he seems like a nice guy and wants to put in a lot of effort into being the state chair if elected. That's what I want to see as a Democrat but as me being openly gay....I'm sorry if I offend you with my presense.

Vic

TomGreen — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:45:34 GMT

Vic organized and made the Lancaster County Caucuses a success. He made sure that it was organized on a precinct level (rather than a LD level as in Omaha). His goals have been to take the success of the caucus and expand on it to organize the county, and now the state.

He's done a great job helping out Lancaster County. I think he would make a great state chair. I've not heard of anyone else who is seriously considering running. If anyone does they have better get started.