In what can only be described as fallout from the 2010 midterm elections, Nebraska senator Ben Nelson is set to announce his retirement!

Nelson, who was long seen as a moderate democrat, often leaning to the right much to the concern and angst of liberals, changed all that with the Cornhusker Kickback in 2010.

By first accepting before ditching a kickback in return for his vote in favor of Obamacare, Ben Nelson seal his fate as a Nebraska senator.

Nelson, whom I know personally, was a two tern Nebraska governor before running for the U.S. Senate and was successful in that respect as he garnered not only the democrat vote but the quiet yet respectful vote of many Nebraska republicans.

Nelson, during his years as Governor, often bucked his own party’s line by supporting conservative issues.

Then, he shot himself in the foot.

He took the Cornhusker kickback.

Nebraskans were FURIOUS.

So upset were Nebraskans, shortly after the kickback, Nelson returned to Omaha and went to one of his favorite restaurants, Spaghetti Works, in Omaha’s Old Market. As he entered, he was BOOED. Booed so vigorously by Nebraskans who once greeted him enthusiastically, that he had to leave the restaurant.

Now, with republicans hot on his heels for his senate seat, Nelson will announce his retirement.

I suspect he’ll provide the stock answer…He wants to spend more time with his family and wants to sit back and relax away from the public spotlight.

Bullcrap.

He’s running away from his own ill fated fiasco. He’s in trouble politically and he knows it. I suspect the DNC has as much as told him so and has rejected any notion of financial aid to his campaign so as to distance themselves from those who knuckled under to an atrocious scheme of bribery.

Currently, State Treasurer Don Stenberg, State Senator Deb Fischer and State Attorney General Jon Bruning are running on the GOP side of things. With Nelson “Retiring” it leaves the door open for someone from the left side of the aisle.

Here’s the problem.

Nebraskans are now SO peeved at Nelson, ANY liberal who gets IN will get TROUNCED.

The Nebraskan Republican Party has been trying to get Governor Dave Heineman to run but, so far, he has declined. Heineman would be a GREAT presence in the U.S. senate but, for that matter, so would Bruning, Fischer or Stenberg.

Anyway you look at it, the senate seat once occupied by Kickback Ben is going GOP RED!!!

Democrats in the Husker Nation would be wise to let the seat go, unchallenged, as with or without Ben Nelson in the race, this was always going to be a GOP landslide.

Once again, either today or tomorrow, Ben Nelson WILL announce his retirement leaving only 22 senate seats up for grabs!

UPDATE!!!

Indeed, today, Ben Nelson DID announce his retirement.

Perhaps lacking a desire to face in person Nebraskans who have written his demise on the wall, Nelson resorted to making his announcement via letter.

Part of that letter stated;

“It’s time for me to step away from elective office, spend more time with my family and look for new ways to serve our state and nation. Therefore, I am announcing today that I will not seek reelection.”

What a surprise huh? He wants to spend more time with his family.

Nelson effectively ended his political career the day he took the Cornhusker Kickback. His written announcement today was little more than a recognition of his downfall nearly 2 years ago.

Nebraskans will, in 2012, elect a conservative to fill that seat. A conservative, not a libertarian or some other moderate democrat but a republican and Huskers tend to have a long memory when it comes to politics. Liberals should write off this seat for many, many years to come.