It's always awkward watching kids throw temper tantrums in public.  It's even worse when it's adults:

Updated Jan. 14 at 9:00AM, see below

There’s been an uproar from the pro-recall effort and conservative radio in Omaha after news broke that the anti-recall group Forward Omaha was providing transportation to  citizens from homeless shelters to the county election commissioner’s office so they could exercise their right to vote.  

It's the first week of the 102nd Nebraska State Legislature, and Neal imagines "Wrong Way" Jon Bruning's already getting in trouble:

A new poll from Magellan Strategies that pits Jon Bruning against Ben Nelson is making national and local news.  The bad news for Nelson: in a hypothetical match-up, he trails Bruning by 14 points, 52%-38%.  The good news for Nelson: Magellan Strategies is a just a front group for conservatives.  

Its too bad national bloggers and political writers did not note this basic fact when they wrote their headline on the poll.  Shout out to the Omaha Reader for doing their job and citing the fact the poll is a right-wing job.

Chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party Mark Fahleson is a real piece of work.  Once again, Fahleson is sticking the party’s nose (or trunk as it were) where it doesn’t belong: local, non-partisan races.

Fahleson’s already been rebuked by the Hastings Tribune for interfering in the local school board race -- the NE GOP was making robocalls to Hastings residents about candidate (and our fearless leader) Jane Kleeb.  And nothing’s come of Fahleson’s public accusation that Jane was breaking state campaign laws (she wasn’t and repeatedly defended herself on facebook, twitter and before the NADC).

Jon Bruning announced his intent to run for Senate two days after midterm elections were over: this is why people hate politics.

Bruning’s announcement was just a symptom of a growing attitude amongst politicians and political operatives that it’s always Election Day.  There’s never time to govern anymore because everyone is focused on the voting booth.  And people hate us for that.

November 2nd was the end of a very long, and at times brutal, election cycle.  Progressives and moderates took hits across the country, and the GOP is celebrating a 60 seat gain in the House. Historically low voter turnout (only 42% in fact) across Nebraska seems to reflect a general distaste for politics and those involved in the process.  After a season filled with negative campaign ads and huge anonymous corporate donations, we feel exhausted and more than a little beaten.

But this is the moment, the moment when we are down that we have a choice: Do we moan over our war wounds, embrace apathy and disengage from politics?  Or do we pick ourselves up, grit our teeth and get back in the fight a little wiser and a lot tougher?

...for Trick or Vote!  Ghouls and goblins, the hour is finally upon us.  No, not the witching hour. It’s time to Trick or Vote!  In just two days, Bold Nebraska and Trick or Vote -- a national effort to get out the vote just two days before the midterm elections -- will knock on doors in Hastings, Omaha, and Lincoln.  If you haven’t signed up yet and still want to Trick or Vote, do not fear! 

Sign up here to join us.  

As a thank you for helping us get out the vote for November 2, we’re throwing a FREE after party -- if you Trick or Vote -- at the Red9 in Lincoln, the Blue Moon in Hastings and PS Collective in Omaha.   Sound good?  We thought so.  If you're already volunteering, grab some friends when you show up on Sunday, and bring them along to the after parties.  The more the spookier, we say!

To pump yourselves up for the big day, we recommend a few key songs:  Monster Mash, Ghostbusters and of course Thriller.

And if that’s not enough for you, try watching “This is Halloween,” because if no one makes it to the polls, November 2 will be a Nightmare before Christmas in the truest sense of the phrase.