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Scott Kleeb Live Blog

2548622695_9e55544d8d_mUpdate II: We're Live!

Update: Scott is posting now and we should get started momentarily.

Quick announcement. Tomorrow This morning we're continuing our Thursday live-blog series. We'll be joined by Nebraska Senate candidate and Netroots favorite Scott Kleeb.

Scott will be here at 11:30 Eastern, 10:30 Central time, and he'll be here for 45 minutes to an hour.

You can read previous live-blogs in this series here:

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June 18th, 2008 5:49pm
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I Need Your Vote!

Submitted by Scott Kleeb on Thu, 2008-06-19 11:31.

Something special is happening – a once in a lifetime movement is building behind a new brand of politics. I don't need to tell people on this blog that young people are changing the electoral map. You've known that for years.

My wife Jane, who many of you have worked with on lots of projects targeting young voters, reminds me every day of your electoral power. Without people like her and many of you on this blog, we as candidates may not understand how to target young voters. So before I go any further, thank you for keeping candidates accountable to targeting your generation as voters and not falling into the trap of simply using your power to help us knock on doors.

Now, unlike ever before, people everywhere are involved in a dialogue about how to change this country for the better. Your continued interest and enthusiasm will propel us to victory in November. We have a tough race ahead of us, but you have the electoral power to help us win.

Typically, I'd only be asking for your vote on Election Day. Now, thanks to Russ Feingold and the Progressive Patriots Fund, I ask you to vote today. Russ Feingold wanted regular people to have just as much a say as the well-funded special interests so he developed the Progressive Patriots Fund. The money is given to the candidate with the most votes cast by you. After you've voted, get at least 5 of your friends to do the same.

To cast your vote for us, please visit http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/,

We can't keep sending the same people back to Washington and expect different results. Change comes from expecting more of ourselves, our government, and our communities.

Every time you get frustrated with the lack of time you have to run your voter registration drive, or every time you get frustrated that you ran out of vote pledge cards at the bar you are canvassing, remember it's our time now to change the electoral map and we won't do that without young voters. So please, keep taking that one step to get your peers to the polls.

I'm happy to take your questions.

Economy

Submitted by Michael Connery on Thu, 2008-06-19 11:42.

Hi Scott! Thanks for joining us.

My question is about the economy. As I'm sure you know, the economy is the #1 issue for young people. We may well be the first generation to NOT do better than our parents did.

What are your ideas for fixing the economy and helping "Generation Debt" get a leg up into the middle class?

You're right, Mike

Submitted by Scott Kleeb on Thu, 2008-06-19 11:49.

The economy is number #1 for all people, young people included.

If you ask any business person what challenges them most right now in their business, 9 time out of 10 (or more) they will say some variation of "energy" and "health care". Both have become new and ever increasing "taxes" on their business. We have to do more on both fronts. And the great thing about this, again, as I know you know, is by doing so we can actually create new jobs, new research facilities, new opportunities for each. Here in Nebraska we know what "green collar jobs" look like...they are the pipelines that we will build, the transmission lines we will erect, the windmills we will construct, the cellulosic ethanol plants we will develop...we know this is our state's and our country's greatest challenge and greatest opportunity in over a generation.

The War

Submitted by Michael Connery on Thu, 2008-06-19 11:53.

After the economy, the war is an issue always on people's minds (even as it fades out of the nightly news).

Can you talk about your position on the war? Are you a supporter of the Responsible Plan?

Yes, is the short answer

Submitted by Scott Kleeb on Thu, 2008-06-19 12:18.

The best part about the Responsible Plan is that it recognizes that what needs fixed is more than just our Iraq policy. What broke down was the checks and balances between federal branches, the willingness of some to distort and abuse media coverage, the unwillingness to use the full means of American power -- military, economic, diplomatic, cultural power -- to advance American national security goals.

Sandhills

Submitted by Merici on Thu, 2008-06-19 11:54.

Scott! I am so excited for your Senate run.

As a Sandhills native, I was wondering how you plan on representing rural Nebraska while a Senator. Don't forget about us!

Cheering you on from Chicago-
Merici

Never

Submitted by Scott Kleeb on Thu, 2008-06-19 12:14.

And in large part because I live in rural Nebraska! And my family still ranches in the Sandhills. That part of our state and our country has made me the person I am...and the lessons passed on for generations, from the earliest settlers through the Depression-era stalwarts through the modern inhabitants that we are all in this together, that community is more than just a word, that our individual success demands attention to our neighbors success, is what we all value...it's who we are, ultimately. That will never leave, I promise.

Election Reform

Submitted by blueflame on Thu, 2008-06-19 11:51.

I'd like to get your thoughts on what policy changes you think could improve our democratic system. What do you think of same-day-registration? Abolishing the electoral college? Making election day a national holiday or moving presidential elections from Tuesday to the weekend?

Anything that will increase

Submitted by Scott Kleeb on Thu, 2008-06-19 11:58.

Anything that will increase the ability of more Americans to participate in the political process should be considered…so long as it is legal, of course. The internet has been remarkably successfully in doing just that, by the way. The fact that I and Darcy and Jared and others have been communicating with more people just this way is wonderful…the bar for involvement has changed and people are responding to the call in remarkable ways. Just look at what has happened this year with the primary election.

Nebraska?

Submitted by Democrats Work on Thu, 2008-06-19 11:56.

Hey Scott, I've had friends outside of Nebraska ask me why this race should get the attention I think it deserves. I suspect folks in the state understand the changes that are happening within Nebraska, but what do you say to folks you encounter in D.C. or other places that may be skeptical that a pragmatic progressive like yourself can win in Big Red country?

Similar Question

Submitted by Michael Connery on Thu, 2008-06-19 12:03.

I have a related question - Being married to Jane, you are no stranger to youth organizing. How is the wave in youth turnout changing the map in Nebraska and what are you doing to capitalize on it?

Sorry, a former Congressman just saw me and said hi

Submitted by Scott Kleeb on Thu, 2008-06-19 12:09.

I was at the computer and he tapped me on th shoulder...apologies for late blogging.

But, Michael, I answered some of your question in the last post...watch Nebraska, we are going to have one of the most aggressive youth voting outreach programs this state has seen in perhaps 3 decades, and yes, it's all because of Jane.

It's easy

Submitted by Scott Kleeb on Thu, 2008-06-19 12:06.

Something is happening across the country, and you know it as well where you live! Just last night, in a town of 34 people we had 68 show up for a fundraiser in Belvedere, Nebraska and raised several thousand dollars. At our county convention in Lancaster County I spoke before 800 people who had convened to discuss Rules and Bylaws! And earlier Warren Buffett has agreed to help with a fundraiser in Omaha...and he has a pretty good record of choosing winners.

I can go through the stats: that our success last cycle projected out statewide translates to a 54% win margin, that 20k new Democratic voters joining the process have made this even more attainable, that there are still 200k unregistered young people that we are targeting this summer, that Obama is essentially tied with McCain in Nebraska, on and on...but you know that this year is different, that this year is special, that we are living through and defining this moment in our nation's history.

New Energy Nebraska

Submitted by Michael Connery on Thu, 2008-06-19 12:16.

In your earlier post, you mention green collar jobs. We've seen strange, exciting new coalitions springing up in the mountain west (environmentalists and hunters, for example). Coming from a big farm/ranch state, I'm wondering if you're seeing similar unlikely coalitions form around environmental/energy issues. What will it look like for Nebraska to embrace a new energy economy? Is it windmills and solar? Is it in producing crops for ethanol? What's the best way forward for Nebraska and the US on a clean energy economy?

All of it!

Submitted by Scott Kleeb on Thu, 2008-06-19 12:22.

And so much more...we have no idea what next big idea we will discover if we invest in the research and technology of unleashing new sources of energy. And on the other part, the new coalitions, yes...until the Presidential Caucuses this past February, the largest "political" gatherings anywhere in the state of Nebraska were the Ducks Unlimited banquets across the state. Read up on DU's single objective and you will see why we are in a new era of politics when it comes to the economy and environment.

Technology

Submitted by Michael Connery on Thu, 2008-06-19 12:19.

Technology is at the heart of what we do and the revolution we've seen in politics the last year. Yet that's threatened by corporations who want to tier the internet and censor content. What are your positions on Net Neutrality and expanding broadband access to the internet in rural and low-income areas where it's hard to get access?

One fact

Submitted by Scott Kleeb on Thu, 2008-06-19 12:25.

America used to lead the world in Broadband access...now we are 21st in the world, just behind Estonia. Can we do more? Must we do more? You tell me...the internet is to the 21st century what electricity was to my grandparents in rural Nebraska in the mid 20th century.

Thanks to Scott!

Submitted by Michael Connery on Thu, 2008-06-19 12:23.

We're getting to the end of our hour with Scott. I want to thank him for dropping in and ask everyone to go vote for him at the Progressive Patriots Fund if you liked his answers to our questions (I voted for him yesterday).

Please also check out his website and become a supporter on Facebook.

Next week we will be joined by George Colli, who is running in the 7th Senate District in Connecticut.

If you have feedback on how we can make these chats better, please let us know. Maybe a different time works better for folks (at night instead of mornings), or maybe the comments section seems buggy or difficult. Please let me know how we can do better.

Thanks all

Submitted by Scott Kleeb on Thu, 2008-06-19 12:27.

I'm off to a luncheon with a great Nebraskan...Ted Sorenson.

Thanks!

Submitted by Sarah Burris on Thu, 2008-06-19 12:24.

Hi Scott!

Thanks so much for live blogging this Thursday! You are a wonderful candidate regardless of the age!

A question I frequently ask those who come on here is how do you think your youth contributes to your candidacy - and how could you bring something different to the table when elected as a young elected official?

Thanks!