Sen. Ben Nelson: Crazy Stones Fan
Just how big and crazy a Rolling Stones fan is Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.)? So big and crazy... that he's linking to the legendary rock band's European tour schedule on his official Senate web site.
The Benator, as his staff calls him, has one of the more fun-for-Congress Web sites. (Don't worry, traditionalists, it's still staid enough.) It has a "Benformation" news ticker, where you can plan your Summer trip to the nation's stinking hot capital. Or learn about the "Budget Vote-O-Rama" on the Senate floor. Or... keep up to date with the Stones' concert schedule.
The Benator's ticker provides a hyperlink to the official Rolling Stones Web site touting its "A Bigger Bang" summer tour through Europe. (Click here to see Mick announcing the tour schedule.)
Nelson's site also features a 10-second riff off Keith Richards's acoustic lead-in to the Stones' hit song "Factory Girl" off the band's 1968 "Beggars Banquet" album. For the record, Nelson spokesman David DiMartino assures us "no music is illegally downloaded for this feature."
DiMartino says the Benator (non sequitur alert: please see our footnote on how President Bush tried to change his nickname to something more feminine) won't be a roadie on the Stones' European tour. A borderline conservative like Nelson isn't about to be mistaken for a Europhile like the French-speaking Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).
Nelson did, however, manage to score tickets to the Stones' first show in Omaha in close to 40 years last January. (Yes, it was Nelson's first live Stones' concert; He's not exactly a live-music kinda guy.)
Nelson aides seem very proud of the Benator for being a Stones fan, and psyched for the possibility that he could be mistaken for hip, though they try to keep it all perspective.
"Senator Nelson is doing his part to strengthen the trans-Atlantic partnership between the U.S. and our E.U. allies through diplomacy by recognizing the cultural significance of the performing arts in Europe," DiMartino explains. "And, he wants the Stones to come back to Omaha one more time. Slane Castle and Dublin are nice, but there's nothing like the Quest Center and Omaha in August."
Footnote: President Bush, famous for doling out nicknames to members of Congress, years ago gave Nelson the nickname "Nelllie." But Nelson was smart enough to get the president to renegotiate, and the president agreed to drop "Nellie" for "Benator."
By Mary Ann Akers |
March 23, 2007; 4:55 PM ET
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Posted by: The Fool | March 23, 2007 5:26 PM
I would classify this column under the folder "Who Gives A Flying F**K?"...sorry, but with all the incredibly important things going on these days, this is gossipy diddling while Democracy in the US goes down for the count...
Get serious Mary Ann!
Posted by: wagonjak | March 23, 2007 5:36 PM
I'm always amazed at the poor, sick puppies like the commenter above who lack any ability to relax and enjoy a fun column like the sleuth.
Lighten up, wagonjak. The Post does a great job covering serious stuff. They also do a great job giving us a healthy dose of humor, snark and levity to make the day a bit brighter. Sheesh.
Posted by: Max | March 23, 2007 7:31 PM
Mary Ann I always enjoy reading your articles. They always seem to show the human side of the Members and their staff. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Matt | March 23, 2007 10:09 PM
I would classify this column under the folder "Who Gives A Flying F**K?"...sorry, but with all the incredibly important things going on these days, this is gossipy diddling while Democracy in the US goes down for the count...
Get serious Mary Ann!
Posted by: wagonjak | March 23, 2007 05:36 PM
Lighten up, wagonjak. The Post does a great job covering serious stuff. They also do a great job giving us a healthy dose of humor, snark and levity to make the day a bit brighter. Sheesh.
Posted by: Max | March 23, 2007 07:31 PM
I agree with Max. Besides, the very fact Wagonjak bothered to post here negates his message. He really needs to get his ya ya's out
There is a cultural war being waged in this country and Democrats will win it by being hipper and funnier than the Republicans.
Posted by: sonofabastard | March 23, 2007 10:59 PM
Wagonjak has got to be some kind of Monkey Man. Dont read the Slueth for your hard news Satisfaction. Instead of a 19th Nervous Breakdown, lighten up, be Happy. Mary Ann gives us a Lovin' Cup full of behind the scenes Washington. Hey, its only rock and roll but I like it. I'm Free to do what I want any old time, including including trying to Gimme Shelter from Wagonjak's ignorance. Sometimes life delivers Rough Justice, especilly to Sweet Neocons lik jak. Well Im gonna walk Before They Make Me Run.
Posted by: DD | March 24, 2007 10:39 AM
Posted by: DD | March 24, 2007 10:39 AM
What DD wrote. Can't type now I've got sticky fingers.
Posted by: sonofabastard | March 24, 2007 12:28 PM
I always thought the Presidents nickname for Nelson was "Benny". That's what I call him, when I am not calling the Senator other names for supporting the President every step of the way in his disaster that is Iraq.
Is there any other "Democrat" more responsible for enabling George W Bush? Wait I forgot about Joe.
Also, the name of our fabulous arena in Downtown Omaha is the "Qwest Center". (QWO)
Ricky From Omaha
Posted by: Ricky | March 25, 2007 12:14 AM
I guess the dearth of comments here makes my point pretty well. Not one else but the few posters criticizing me actually give a F**K here either...
Check out the hundreds of wonderful replies on the political blogs. Especially the angry ones the DC Pundits get to their ridiculous posts.
Have fun kids!...
Posted by: wagonjak | March 25, 2007 9:05 PM
Check out the hundreds of wonderful replies on the political blogs. Especially the angry ones the DC Pundits get to their ridiculous posts.
Have fun kids!...
Posted by: wagonjak | March 25, 2007 09:05 PM
Actually Wagonjak, I noticed one of your comments on The Huffington Post and I thought it was well written and the tone was appropriate for the subject.
Posted by: sonofabastard | March 25, 2007 9:32 PM
reading comprehension 101: what is the point of this blog?
to provide stories that are fun/funny that are not often reported.
this column does nothing more than complete its stated purpose. if you cant understand that then go read something else.
Posted by: will c | March 26, 2007 10:04 AM
RE: "fun column like the sleuth."
Are you kidding me?
Posted by: John | March 26, 2007 12:34 PM
"If his Stones listening doesn't include listening to Her Satanic Majesties Request while stoned, then he's a wannabe."
If you remember the '60s you were't thare.
Posted by: James E. Fish | March 26, 2007 2:47 PM
Fellow Americans,
When voting for a president you should vote for someone that will challence the FALCON PLAN, ULTIME GOAL TURN U.S. IN POLICESTATE ** Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally ** is not a member of or has ties with: Scull and Bones. -- Tri-lateral commission. -- Bilderberg group. -- Any Secret Service. -- A military rank of officer.
Not be pushed by this presidency !!! -- Have bloody hands from the 9-11 2001 cover up !! Interests in oil,weapons or real-estate/houses. The candidate should not have ties or dependencies with the financial world. This candidate should not accept large sums of
money from belligerent corporations and should not embrace the thoughts behind the program NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.
(This program brainwashes children not to learn facts but to become a good global citizen, i.e. government will tell you what is good for you (it actually replaces god or the natural laws), a very dangerous development). This so called SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT has been set up
to make zombies of the larger parts of the American population. Things like arithmetic of math are no longer necessary as long as you are a good global citizen and know to push which
button, that means phony education for you and your children. Examples of what is gonna happen with you and your families are right under your nose. Your
current president tramples your very American Constitution and the Amendments. He appoints a CIA director named Gates whom made up false intelligence to start a war and put your children
in harms way. This president is using you and your children as toys... and when he has done playing,your children might and up death. This behavior is also part of SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT. But be careful because today your government calls it SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT but tomorrow it might just have another name.. You should download this movie via Emule 9-11 Guilt {The Proof Is In Your Hands By Jim Hoffman Don Paul}[2005]Eng-Divx5.avi. AND FINALLY DONT LOOK AT THE APPEARANCE OF THE PRESIDENT CANDIDATE BUT FIGURE OUT WHO GAVE HIM THE MONEY TO GET THAT FAR !!!
Posted by: JWH | March 26, 2007 6:29 PM
The Senator's Stones primer (or remedial re-education, possibly) needs to include several continuous plays of Beggar's Banquet, Let It Bleed, Exile on Main Street and Sticky Fingers, along with a liberal dose of Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out. THat should clear his head for those difficult floor votes.
Posted by: MJ Delaney | March 27, 2007 12:58 PM
-President Bush, famous for doling out nicknames to members of Congress-
Funny, I thought he was famous for driving our military into a ditch, trashing our constitution and the esteem we once enjoyed in the world, and willfully creating the conditions for the entirely foreseeable deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people, including women and children.
Isn't he cute?
Posted by: Anonymous | March 27, 2007 6:50 PM
Boy will it be nice to know that the stones have a link to someone in congress. We should all try to find some way to have fun. It is great to have music that means something and people that live what they sing.
Go Omaha that beats D M, IA
Posted by: reececonrad | March 27, 2007 8:09 PM
There are creeps everywhere so I shouldn't be surprised that they are here too. wagonjak needs to seriously lighten up. I bet he's a lot of fun to take to a party. Not! He probably isn't invited anywhere very often assuming he does have friends. Yes, we are all well aware of the huge problems we face as a country. No one needs you to remind us of that either. Least you forget, this is a free country after all. I might not agree with the politics of The Benator but you better believe that I'll fight for him to put whatever the hell he wants on his official website. It's pretty cool and pretty brave of the Senator to have such a link on his website. I admire him for doing so. But I also have to add that too bad the link isn't for the best band the world has ever seen. The Beatles ! They of course haven't toured lately so the link could just play a host of their songs !
Posted by: Juanita McKenzie | April 4, 2007 12:25 PM
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If his Stones listening doesn't include listening to Her Satanic Majesties Request while stoned, then he's a wannabe.