Remembering Brad Ashford
CORRECTION: Brad Ashford’s dad, Don Ashford, was a World Wat II veteran. Some how I dropped off a few words and said Brad was a veteran when he was not.
As both political parties hype up the Second Congressional race here in Nebraska, I find myself unmoved. Yes, the Democrats are feeling optimism in the air with Tony Vargas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Vargas1), but they are so myopic as to what Nebraska is. Vargas is not only an empty suit, but he is also as thin as a paper doll. At the same time, Republicans should have more confidence in Congressman Don Bacon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Bacon). This race is Bacon’s to lose and I hope he is alert to this.
Many keep going back to Congressman Lee Terry’s (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Terry) defeat by Brad Ashford (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Ashford). Republicans want to blame other Republicans, but such critics forgot why Ashford mattered and won, and why Vargas is not Ashford. Omaha knew Ashford well for a reason. Ashford was born in Omaha (not Vargas). His dad was a World War II veteran and military hero (not Vargas). Ashford attended an Omaha high school, Westside (Vargas is not from Omaha). He was not a left-wing partisan person (Vargas is as partisan as can be). Ashford not only walked across the aisle, he turned the aisle into a roadway (Vargas turned the aisle into a wall). Ashford changed party affiliation from Democrat to Republican and back to Democrat.
Years ago, he ran for Congress as a Republican in the primaries but lost to Jon Christensen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Christensen_(politician)), a staunch conservative. For those who think the Second Congressional is purple, it does not have to be that way. But you can all scream back at me, “But that was over two decades ago.”
Republicans need to know when to set the past aside as well as when to remember it. However, there are those Republicans who are in vengeance mode seeking the scalps of other Republicans. The vengeance mode is what shrinks political parties. Yes, bipartisanship can be a good thing as can factionalism, but it does not give you license to seek vengeance against those within your own party.
Vargas is a paper doll and he needs to be revealed as such. His smile is made of the wax of a Crayola crayon. You should see it as his immaturity and lack of experience.
Vargas should be easy to defeat. I would simply point of his human ownership mentality along with his penchant to support violence. He thinks he should be the decider in what we are allowed to buy and sell. He supported mask mandates, in fact he wanted to let local health directors issue their orders without state approval. https://omaha.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/bill-would-eliminate-state-veto-power-over-local-nebraska-pandemic-prevention-measures/article_631a31be-5b31-11eb-9ede-17ba13f9ea32.html
Nearly every idea he has requires government sanctioned violence to force compliance. Of course the problem is Bacon is on board with many of these acts. The Libertarian Party is a force that is invisible even though last time I talked to a active member he claimed their were 10k registered Libertarians.
We have been hitting this all wrong in my opinion. I did it for years also. I have found over the last year that asking these people how their ideology/ideas get implemented. Of course pass a law and associated penalties. I then ask simply what if one decides to not comply no matter what? Of course this exposes their soft underbelly, as ultimately men with guns will come to your house or hunt you down and if you still refuse said guns will be used on you. So everything they want to do entails using violence, state violence is no different - in fact it is worse that individual violence as it is writ large. This really throws a wrench into their minds as they think of themselves as peaceful people. I then ask what do my ideas entail for enforcement? Blank stares, and I say none, their is nothing I am advocating that requires violence to implement. My ideology is one of peace and voluntary associations.
It may not turn them immediately but it is much like that song you can't get out of your head, it just keeps working
The problem with Bacon is that he's a pompous elitist twit--and he's alienated those who might otherwise vote for him. According to my friends who are Republicans and who live in Omaha, he's done that repeatedly. He needs to stop alienating voters and start taking actions in Congress and elsewhere that change him from a major thorn in everyone's sides into someone useful to his voting constituents. He isn't, however, going to be able to do that unless and until he gets his priorities sorted out.
Is he in D.C. to benefit the big donors? Or is he in D.C. to promote and support the needs and interests of the average Nebraskan? If it's the former, then--he ought to step down and let someone better run instead.