Bungled Briefing and more — #NebDems News

Well, we somehow made it through the week without President Trump blundering us into World War III, though we’re not out of the woods yet.

The White House briefed key members of Congress on the drone strike Trump ordered that killed Iranianian Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani.

Some lawmakers who attended the briefing were understandably dubious — after all ,Trump had made 15,400 false or misleading claims since taking office as of Dec. 10, according to the Washington Post’s database tracking all of his suspect statements.

“It was probably the worst briefing I’ve seen at least on a military issue in the nine years I’ve served in the United States Senate,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said. “I find this insulting and demeaning.”

On Thursday, President Trump told reporters that other senators disagreed with Lee, saying that those unnamed attendees referred to the briefing as the greatest presentation they’d ever seen.

Late Show host Stephen Colbert had a little fun with that.

[Imitating Trump] ‘Yes, numerous people — real people — told me that. Like who? Uh, Senator Guy True-Person and Congresswoman Not-A-Lie Actual-Lady.’ ”

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Back in Nebraska, NDP staffers on Monday delivered over-sized baby bottles full of toy rattles to Gov. Pete Ricketts and Reps. Don Bacon and Jeff Fortenberry after a GOP fundraising email showed they were rattled by the hard work Democrats are doing to turn Nebraska Blue.

The event was spurred by a GOP fundraising email plea before Christmas about “the creep of socialism in Nebraska.”

“They are building a progressive machine to … turn out the progressive left in an attempt to defeat Congressmen Bacon and Fortenberry and win the Omaha electoral vote,” Ricketts said.

The NDP sent out an email asking folks to make donations to help elect more Democrats and promised that if we raised $1,500, we’d deliver a surprise to Ricketts, Bacon and Fortenberry at their offices in Lincoln and Omaha.

We raised more than $2,500. And on Monday, we delivered on that promise. It should be noted, however, that Fortenberry refused to accept the delivery!

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The 2020 Session of the Nebraska Legislature kicked off this week, and we’d like to salute the 18 Democratic senators who are helping row the boat:

Sens. Carol Blood, Kate Bolz, Machaela Cavanaugh, Sue Crawford, Wendy DeBoer, Matt Hansen, Sara Howard, Megan Hunt, Rick Kolowski, Steve Lathrop, Mike McDonnell, Adam Morfeld, Patty Pansing Brooks, Dan Quick, Tony Vargas, Lynne Walz, Justin Wayne and Anna Wishart.

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Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics weighed in this week on Nebraska’s CD2 race:

The Omaha-based NE-2 supported Republicans in the past two presidential elections, but by decreasing margins, and could feasibly vote blue in 2020.

In a close national election, Maine and Nebraska’s respective second districts could provide potentially decisive electoral votes.

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Monday, Jan. 13, is the first day to request your Vote-By-Mail application if you want to vote from home in the May 12 Primary Election. We have all the links to the forms and dates for voter registration and more on our Voting Center.

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We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at our State Central Committee (SCC) meeting Jan. 17-19 in Norfolk. The Disabilities Caucus will be featured.

The SCC is the governing body of the NDP. We have four SCC meetings a year, where Democrats gather to conduct the business of the state party.

Democrats and Independents are welcome to attend as guests. Only SCC Members can vote on agenda items.

Get more information.

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We have two Delegate 101 trainings this Saturday in Fremont and Omaha.

CD1, Fremont, Jan. 11, 3-4 p.m.
–Keene Memorial Library, 1030 N Broad St, Fremont

CD2, Omaha, Jan. 11, 6-7 p.m.
–NDP Office, 5418 S. 27th, Suite 1, Omaha

The NDP will send 33 delegates to the national convention in Milwaukee.

Find out more and see the full schedule here

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The NDP is looking for a Finance Director!

If you or someone you know might be interested, here’s how to apply.

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Thinking about becoming a candidate? The NDP can help!

The Nebraska Democratic Party is here to help you navigate all the forms you need to file if you are running for office. Our team can meet with you to answer questions and help you get started.

Just email info@nebraskademocrats.org and a team member will get back to you.

Read more here.

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We leave you this week with a rendering by Mike Luckovich on the aforementioned mess in the Middle East.

–By Kevin O’Hanlon/NDP Communications Director

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IMPORTANT DATES

Jan. 11: Delegate 101 Training in Fremont

Jan. 11: Delegate 101 Training in Omaha

Jan. 14: Delegate 101 Training in Kearney

Jan. 14:  Seventh Democratic Presidential Debate

Jan. 15: Buffalo County Young Democrats meeting with NDP Chair Jane Kleeb

Jan. 17-19: SCC Meeting in Norfolk

Jan. 21: Harvest the Vote book release

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