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Johanns wins Journal Star endorsement

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Friday, May 09, 2008 - 11:32:59 am CDT

Mike Johanns is well-suited to represent Nebraska’s interests and values in the U.S. Senate.

Nebraskans, especially Lincoln residents, are familiar with Johanns’ blend of talent, temperament and political philosophy.

He survived, learned and flourished in the spotlight of local government, where he served on the Lancaster County Board, the Lincoln City Council and at the mayor’s office. He did the same when he moved several blocks east to the governor’s office.

Story Photo
Mike Johanns

Nonetheless, there were no guarantees that Washington, D.C., wouldn’t chew him up and spit him out when President Bush plucked him from the Statehouse to put him in his cabinet as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

His Beltway start had a jarring note when the president referred to him as Yohanns in a White House introduction.

By the time Johanns left, however, he had won positive reviews from such unlikely sources as the New York Times, which referred to his farm bill proposal as “remarkably promising.”

The Washington correspondent for Feedstuffs magazine described his departure from the agency this way: “Three years ago, at Johanns’ introduction, the applause had been courteous and somewhat cautious as he first stepped forward to succeed Ann Veneman.

Last week, though, as he walked in to say his goodbyes, spontaneous applause rocked the roof.”

The seasoning that Johanns experienced as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture should help him be more effective as a senator. Johanns’ assignments as ag secretary included stints as a trade negotiator, for example. He won’t be a newbie. He’ll know how to get things done.

Obviously Johanns will have expertise in representing Nebraska on agricultural issues.

Throughout his career, Johanns has earned a reputation for fiscal responsibility. After an era in which the Republicans running Washington ran up huge deficits, a return to tight-fisted spending policies would be welcome.

Johanns has a sensible perspective on the future role for the United State in Iraq. He rejects a timetable for troop withdrawal, noting that pulling out troops prematurely could lead to devastating turmoil in the region.

But perhaps the best reason to expect Johanns to do well as senator is his track record at other levels of government.

Johanns was an effective problem-solver as a local county board member and in the president’s cabinet. That’s a strong predictor that he could do the same in the U.S. Senate.

Nebraska Republicans should not have to think twice about filling the oval in front of Johanns’ name for advancement to the general election. The Journal Star has no reservations about handing him the Journal Star’s editorial board endorsement.


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Scott wrote on May 9, 2008 1:22 am:
" Well, there's a surprise! "

 Hahahahaha wrote on May 9, 2008 2:11 am:
" "Nebraska Republicans should not have to think twice..." Yeah, that says it all right there. Come on Republicans, you can do better than Johanns. Johanns is an old school politician who will not change anything for the betterment of our state and nation. Johanns has left every single political office he has filled. His ideas are not new, just more of the same policy. Sure he has the money and name recognition, but to vote for him for those reasons and the conservative platform he runs on of wedge issues is no reason to support this man. Please think twice when filling in that oval Republicans! "

 Locke wrote on May 9, 2008 6:09 am:
" My only concern with Johannes is whether he will stick around to get the job done. At least if we elect him to the Senate, there aren't too many jobs he would be tempted to jump to before his term is over. "

 Dave wrote on May 9, 2008 6:31 am:
" What's his position on the Illegal Alien problem? "

 LJS blows it wrote on May 9, 2008 7:13 am:
" Johanns is the most do nothing politician to have hit the state in many years. Never finishes what he starts cos he's always looking for that next feather in HIS cap. People, don't be fooled by Johanns and LJS, shame on you for endorsing someone who really cares so little about Nebraska "

 Another stellar endorsement wrote on May 9, 2008 7:42 am:
" Wow! After endorsing Bush TWICE, the Journal sticks to its roots of ignorance and pandering and endorses Johanns. What a worthless endorsement. Horrible job, Journal Star. "

 To Dave wrote on May 9, 2008 8:13 am:
" I can answer your question. In 1998-99 the INS ran an "Operation Vanguard" to round up the illegals in the meatpacking industry. After vocal complaints from Johanns (and Sen Nelson and Hagel), the Feds backed off. Johanns had a study done which showed that Operation Vanguard hurt NE farmers. (I don't know who did the study). But I will tell you that my friend worked in meatpacking in 1970 in NE and made over $14.00 per hour. What would that be today? $60-$80 an hour? And now that same job starts at $8.50 an hour. And I don't remember that beef was more expensive then. Please go and Google this and you will see just what Johanns did. "

 MarkyMark wrote on May 9, 2008 8:43 am:
" Has this man ever finished a job? "

 Grundle wrote on May 9, 2008 9:14 am:
" Not unexpectedly, the Dems are already in attack mode, hurling insults towards the LJS for their past endorsements...all this just a day after the LJS endorsed DEMOCRAT Scott Kleeb. So, it begs the question...was that endorsement horrible as well? Or is it just that any Republican endorsement is bad? "

 I cannot believe wrote on May 9, 2008 10:06 am:
" LJS would endorse this "man". What good has he ever done for this state? Thanks LJS for supporting politician who will accomplish nothing in the position of a US senator. "

 Question wrote on May 9, 2008 11:24 am:
" How can the LJS endorse BOTH parties with Kleeb and Johanns? It looks like the LJS is riding the fence on this one. "

 Bill wrote on May 9, 2008 12:07 pm:
" In a state chock full of republicans this is the best there is? Truely sad. "

 Don wrote on May 9, 2008 12:38 pm:
" Good to see the Lincoln Star endorsing someone from both parties. I was beginning to think the Lincoln Star only endorsed liberal democrats. "

 Grundle wrote on May 9, 2008 12:48 pm:
" To answer your question, recomending any politician with a track record of failure is bad. "

 Moral Beacon wrote on May 9, 2008 1:24 pm:
" Why does the Journal Star endorse anyone at all?! What happened to attempts at a biased media? I think a respectable media outlet should not endorse anyone at all in an attempt to present un-jaded information free of political bias. Does anyone else agree with this concept? Am I alone in this? It seems so obvious to me... "

 Who cares wrote on May 9, 2008 2:08 pm:
" Who really cares who the LJS endorses, cann't we make up our own minds "

 Former NE Resident wrote on May 9, 2008 3:34 pm:
" If I had vote for Johanns, I would not vote. "

 MarkyMark wrote on May 9, 2008 4:17 pm:
" Don. You don't remember the Journal Star endorsing George W Bush? TWICE! "

 What wrote on May 9, 2008 8:48 pm:
" Has the Washington correspondent for Feedstuffs talked with any USDA employees? He did not walk away to spontaneous applause. The department is horribly antiquated in many ways. Many tasks are still done by pen and paper when they could be automated. There is also a tremendous amount of deadwood in the agency's workforce. "

 Rhodesia wrote on May 9, 2008 11:27 pm:
" Despite his televisn commercials, which borrow the Obama "change" theme, Johanns in the Senate mean more of the same Republican stances that haven't worked during the past seven years. I base this on the positions Johanns has taken in his debate, his e-mails and his web site. Jobanss' record in his previous political positions is undistinguished and I would expect more of the same if he were elected to the Senate. Nebraskans deserve better. "

 JpS wrote on May 9, 2008 11:46 pm:
" Get use to it.....U.S. Senator Mike Johanns!!! He is a good man and the
best candidate for the job!! I need not say more...I am satisfied!! "

 Tod wrote on May 10, 2008 7:17 am:
" Johanns at least has a track record and filled out the VoteSmart.org position survey. It's neither long nor difficult to complete, but most candidates obviously don't want their stands on several issues to be known until after the election. The only other candidate to do so was Steve Larrick (Green Party). My congratulations to them. The rest have no courage to make a stand and obviously no ability to lead. "

 Tom Paine wrote on May 10, 2008 9:02 am:
" I find it confusing to read that your paper is endorsing both Scott Kleeb and Mike Johanns.I realize that,in effect,the endorsement is for the best candidate for the Democratic Party and then for the Republican Party.I think that it would have been better to plunk for one candidate,explain why and go all the way to the general election with him.
Johanns belongs to an administration which has been entirely discredited because of the war,the debt and the dishonesty.I would suggest that Scott Kleeb is a refreshing and honest candidate who Nebraska should be proud of. "

 Eric wrote on May 10, 2008 11:20 am:
" The journal star is a puppet for Johanns. Johanns never cared for Nebraska he only wanted to promote himself. I think we should give someone a chance that could give us good values and change in politics. Flynn will give us a voice that means something for the people of Nebraska. He is a great guy and we should vote him in office. "

 JB wrote on May 10, 2008 1:11 pm:
" Why start something if you can't finish it! He could have help the state more in the Ag Dept. Would be a "No Brain, Yes Man" for the Bushmen who paid for him. "

 Bea wrote on May 12, 2008 4:42 pm:
" Would this be the sam man that caused the melt down of the mental health system in Nebraska! "

 Working wrote on May 13, 2008 12:17 pm:
" What has Mike done for the State. Hmmm!!
Interesting question. Maybe the JournalStar has some insight that the rest of us don't. "

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