Should I run for Congress? (Nebraska)

[enjerth]

I think I have a good mind for politics. I have the funds at my disposal to apply for the office, but not enough to fund any kind of campaign. Our current congressman Adrian Smith is somewhat unpopular, but he's unopposed. I have virtually no recognition, but I am willing to go door-to-door to campaign.

The deadline for filing is March 1st (or March 3rd, depending on which form you look at). That would mean I would have to file tomorrow, to be safe.

I would most definitely need support from you guys. I have no committee or staff, but I will make the move to start a campaign if I see much support for it here. I'm not asking for donations at this point. I'm just asking for feedback.

I know it's awfully late to be asking this, but I had been bouncing this idea around off and on for a while and I just I picked it up again today, taking it a bit more seriously this time. I've always been a last-minute kind of guy, and the filing fee is not nominal for me.

What do you guys think?

 

[driller]

You need to be willing to move to Washington DC. The congress meets 169 days a year. If you are on any comitties add more days to tat. With about $170,000 a year salary can you afford housing in DC?

Now, what party are you looking to run under? If you change parties to run it is late and that will be used against you. If you run the same party as the incumbant it wil be hard, but can be done.

Good luck.

 

[enjerth]

I'm sure I could find housing in DC with that salary. I don't have an extravagant lifestyle and won't require first-class housing.

I'm a registered Republican, always have been. The incumbent is a Republican also. I realize that would be difficult, but the difficulty is not what concerns me. I'm not afraid of losing (or winning). My greatest concern is having good direction and advice. Most of the advice I've gotten from people at work, friends and some of my family is simply, don't run. Not that they wouldn't vote for me (some of them wouldn't), but they think it's an enormous waste of time and money.

They're probably right. But that doesn't discourage me. What discourages me is the direction this country is headed.

 

[driller]

The next question would be, why run against this person? You need to have a real good reason for this because you will get asked it alot. You need to look at where the most people are and find ways to reach them. Getting supporters to help you reach them is the hardest part.

Most candidates have at least 6 months prep work before they announce candidacy. They do alot of talking to business leaders and campaign HQ to get them on their side before running. Some say the winner is determined before the election starts.

 

[Nate K]

Do it. If you have AIM IM me at CelGos.

 

[enjerth]

The next question would be, why run against this person? You need to have a real good reason for this because you will get asked it alot. You need to look at where the most people are and find ways to reach them. Getting supporters to help you reach them is the hardest part.

Most candidates have at least 6 months prep work before they announce candidacy. They do alot of talking to business leaders and campaign HQ to get them on their side before running. Some say the winner is determined before the election starts.

I'm doing it because I'm sick of the direction our country is headed and I believe Adrian Smith is a part of the problem. I don't think he was representing Nebraskans when he took a trip to Antarctica to "study the effects of global warming".

I have to admit, most of my reason is regarding monetary policy, which Adrian Smith has shown he's with the borrow-and-spend crowd. While he may support tax cuts, he doesn't support financial accountability which will tax us in the end.

His support for going "green" is the same that is driving this state's grain markets crazy. Farmers are getting a premium for corn and it's killing off wheat farming, because the government's interference with the market by making an artificially high demand for corn that is paid for by the nation's tax dollars (or borrowed from our children's future). The markets are re-balancing to create a shortage of wheat, bringing the price up to match the profitability of corn farming. All the while, the government pays people to sit on land and NOT farm it. It doesn't make sense and it's screwing things up.

I admit, it's a small platform for opposing Congressman Smith, but I feel very strongly about it.

I know that most candidates take 6 months and have business connections and support from the GOP and all that. That has never discouraged me. This country is turning itself inside-out and upside-down, I really think that anything can happen.

 

[driller]

That's awsome that you have good convictions. The reality is that if you win a primary you will have party support.

 

[forsmant]

I don't think you should run for congressman. You should run for state legislature. We just passed a smoking ban and various other local laws that affect Nebraska's economy negatively. There is also an affirmative action debate that has begun. I think we need to change the states mentality before we can get anywhere with federal elections. We should focus on gaining a local foothold within the local party first. I feel it would be a waste of your energy and resources to run against an incumbent republican who really hasn't done anything to piss the people off. You will not win because you won't have the parties support.

Besides, it is the democrats year. The economy sucks and the democrats are going to win more handily than the republicans this year.

 

[mediahasyou]

Go for it. Dont let anyone say no to you. Try not to use radical sounding language such as "911 conspiracy, revolution, or even ron paul. Just tell them the issues you stand for. I know it sounds bad, but people already have a sub conscience biased against those words. Go door to door. Make sure they feel a "connection" with you. Don't spend a penny out of your pocket. get donations. I would not even suggest running with the libertarian party as you might be labled as a radical or heretic of some sort. Obviously if you tell them the issues they will find out this revolution is far from that.

I support your campaign. However, i am not in nebraska. pm me if you need information.

What do you have to lose if you don't spend any of your money?

 

[Yom]

"If you run for it, they (donations & support) will come."

Just ask around to get help in finding campaign managers and experienced politickers in Nebraska to help your campaign out. Everyone here will definitely help you monetarily, but only a few of us can help run your campaign.

 

[jasonuher]

I live in omaha, but I know some liberty minded folks in the 3rd district who definitely vote for a RPRepublican; I say go for it.

And when people ask you why, stick to Ron's platform.

 

[enjerth]

I don't think you should run for congressman. You should run for state legislature. We just passed a smoking ban and various other local laws that affect Nebraska's economy negatively. There is also an affirmative action debate that has begun. I think we need to change the states mentality before we can get anywhere with federal elections. We should focus on gaining a local foothold within the local party first. I feel it would be a waste of your energy and resources to run against an incumbent republican who really hasn't done anything to piss the people off. You will not win because you won't have the parties support.

Besides, it is the democrats year. The economy sucks and the democrats are going to win more handily than the republicans this year.

I really thought about running for state legislature. My biggest problem is I wouldn't be able to provide for my family on the salary they offer. I'd do it if I thought I could balance sessions and my current job. But I don't think my employer would let me go for 18 weeks to serve during the legislature sessions.

On the note of "it's the democrats year", there is no democrat opposing Adrian Smith, to my knowledge. No record on FEC of any candidate besides Smith in this district. I could run as an independent and get that vote, rather than running against him in the primary. It would probably be a better deal.

 

[runderwo]

Bite off what you can chew. Take on a Democrat in your state legislature or some other lower office. You can run against an incumbent slimeball of the same party when you have made a good network within the party.

 

[enjerth]

If I run for office, can I campaign door-to-door while I walk the precinct for Ron Paul as a precinct leader?

 

[MRoCkEd]

Run
and go to every house in your destrict, twice

 

[bucfish]

Go for it I would have I better positioned myself.

 

[nate895]

I don't think you should run for congressman. You should run for state legislature. We just passed a smoking ban and various other local laws that affect Nebraska's economy negatively. There is also an affirmative action debate that has begun. I think we need to change the states mentality before we can get anywhere with federal elections. We should focus on gaining a local foothold within the local party first. I feel it would be a waste of your energy and resources to run against an incumbent republican who really hasn't done anything to piss the people off. You will not win because you won't have the parties support.

Besides, it is the democrats year. The economy sucks and the democrats are going to win more handily than the republicans this year.

I think we can reverse the Democrats' tide if we can get our message out to enough voters, maybe even enough to regain a majority for Republicans (something they'd be forever in debt to us for, and we'd have tons of control within the party). He'd be unopposed if he won the primary

 

[forsmant]

I really thought about running for state legislature. My biggest problem is I wouldn't be able to provide for my family on the salary they offer. I'd do it if I thought I could balance sessions and my current job. But I don't think my employer would let me go for 18 weeks to serve during the legislature sessions.

On the note of "it's the democrats year", there is no democrat opposing Adrian Smith, to my knowledge. No record on FEC of any candidate besides Smith in this district. I could run as an independent and get that vote, rather than running against him in the primary. It would probably be a better deal.

If you win a state legislature seat you could vote in a pay raise. I think that we need to get more liberty minded people in the state legislature. We are supposed to be a republican state yet 12% of our state population works for local governments directly.

The amount of laws they pass is ridiculous. Nebraska is also a tax me state. We just passed a state wide smoking ban, how much more can you take? They are way too many state agencies that do god knows what with our money. Plus there are term limits so you senator may be forced to retire.

In order to win a US congress seat a little experience can go a long way. If your in it for the money then go for it.

http://nebraskalegislature.gov/web/public/indexes

 

[forsmant]

The third district elected Tom Osborne twice with 80% of the vote. I don't think that district is politically aware unless it has to do with farm subsidies.

 

[enjerth]

The third district elected Tom Osborne twice with 80% of the vote. I don't think that district is politically aware unless it has to do with farm subsidies.

Tom Osborne was a hero. It was like voting for Davy Crockett... except Crockett actually had experience as a congressman.

Who else can win an election in a district that is 65,000 square miles, with such a low population density? The largest city has a population of around 45,000.