Handicapping the Dems in the CD-2 Race

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Suddenly, the West Dodge Expressway has been pushed aside as
the most congested spot in town by the Democrat race.
To be your next representative in Congress, Crystal Rhodes, the
social worker who found elected office to be a lifestyle choice,
has jumped in, making an even half dozen Democrats running

(00:22):
to replace retiring GOP Congressman Don Bacon. So far just
two Republicans. The Democrat race is worth buttered popcorn to
watch this show. County Clerk Roads. She enjoys the sharpest
elbows of anybody in town. Forty nine years old, has
been on the public dole almost her entire adult life,
first as a social worker and then elected to the

(00:44):
Metro College Board, then Public Service Commission, and now this.
She is smart, tough, and tireless. Expect her to knock
on every Democrat door in the district at least once.
She also has a talent for irritating people, even political allies.
She's disruptive, which is a quality I personally admire, but

(01:04):
in politics can act like barnacles on a ship's hull,
slows you down. For example, she challenged procedure for processing
metal health patients in Douglas County roiling even her supporters
on the county board. Crystal is so hard left on
every issue, even making a right turn on a red
light makes her blood boil. Think Debbie Wasserman Schultz, John

(01:30):
Cavanaugh state Senator. If there is a political dynasty in Omaha,
it's the Kavanaughs. Eighty year old dad John one was
a congressman in the seventies. Sister MICHAELA is in the
unicameral with John. Two cousins, uncles, shirt tail relatives have
all won elections around town for nearly two generations. He's

(01:51):
a healthy liberal. The hard left would prefer Crystal, but
we'll have little problem with this guy. Democrat political operative
Denise Powell has spent most of her last ten years
getting other people elected, mostly women to local offices, school board, OPPDMUD,
but a couple of state senators too. Her donor list

(02:11):
is long, and recent FEC filings show that she's raised
more than Kavanaugh. Though, try to suppress your laughter next
time Denise claims she isn't a politician. Kishla Askins, a
retired Navy nurse, only been in Omaha a year. Nobody
under the Democrat tent has ever heard of her. If

(02:32):
there were only two others maybe, but six. She's also
deep state serving in the biden Va. Not sure that's
a plus these days. Mark Johnston, new Englander, retired lea
Vista ophthalmologist, moderate Democrat, pretty much opposes anything Trump's administration
is doing. Has his own money, he'll need it. And

(02:53):
then perennial candidate Van Arjirakis, the disbarred attorney best known
for a no contest please to knowingly and intentionally abusing
a vulnerable adult. Quite a collection, huh. This bunch separates
into three categories. The real ones Roads Cavanaugh and Powell,
the dreamers Askins and Johnston, and the punchline are jerakus.

(03:17):
If we zero in on the big three, this is
what we see. Each has a political network. Cavanaugh and
Rhodes have earned a lot of votes over the years
they've organized winning campaigns. Powell has two for other people.
She's the outsider, which is a misnomer, but by comparison, yes,
history is not Powell's friend. The last time a rookie

(03:39):
Democrat scored a big election night win mayor Congress, Senator,
Governor Ben Nelson nineteen ninety before him, Bob Kerrey for him,
JJ Xon three and fifty six years, and none were
as far to the left as this trio is now.
So it'll be a sprint to Red Square for these

(04:00):
three and I don't mean the Husker Nation pavilion. How
extreme will the message have to be to win Democrat
votes in the primary. My suspicion is Rhoads will quietly
remind Democrats that if Kavanaugh wins, we lose a seat
in the unicameral Governor Jim Pillen will appoint a lockstep
Republican who will have two years to rubber stamp his stuff,

(04:23):
including big cuts to social programs and property taxes. Powell
will let the two of them swing haymakers at each
other in the media, while making the case that she's
the moderate but reliable Democrat vote who won't have to
strain to return to the center by November. Get your
tickets now.