Pete Ricketts

In today's edition of The Public Pulse, readers weigh in on donations to Dan Osborn and Denise Powell, Pete Ricketts' support for Donald Trump, and whether Osborn was really responsible for the closure of the Omaha Kellogg's plant.

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More evidence that Democrats can't be trusted

Democrats and their progressive allies fail to grasp why they are not trusted. Concerns about unlawful payments through ActBlue, a donation platform for Democrats and progressives, surfaced in 2022.

Many assumed the issue would be fixed quickly.

Yet journalist Matt Johnson of the Plains Sentinel recently showed, per federal records, Elizabeth Waffle of Michigan was listed as donating to Democrat congressional candidate Denise Powell and independent senatorial candidate Dan Osborn.

Waffle has said she did not make those donations and was not the only person who has disputed donations attributed to them. If donations were made in someone else's name without that person's authorization, they could constitute illegal straw donations under federal law. Does the law matter or is to be disposed of for partisan purposes?

Local media ignored the story, resulting in wider distrust of media in general. When I posted the Plains Sentinel article on NextDoor.com, it was flagged and hidden a day later as “not a local issue.”

Where is free discussion to take place on this matter? Such censorship of voices fuels public cynicism.

When integrity fails, everything fails. Democracy needs civil discussion; a republic needs informed leaders. Reform delayed is justice denied.

Andrew L. Sullivan, Omaha

Was Kellogg's closure really Osborn's fault?

Russ Plott’s recent Public Pulse submission, “A Song Called Osborntown,” was cute, to say the least. But was it also a bit short-sighted?

Was Dan Osborn really the driving force behind the Kellogg shutdown? If so, would it be possible for Mr. Plott to pen an equally clever parody regarding candidate Osborn’s role in Skylark Meats’ recent closure? Better yet, how about songs dedicated to Tyson’s closures in West Point (2004) and Lexington (2026)? I am sure that sticking up for workers’ rights and fair wages was the “devil in the details.”

One more, and I am out of here! I would love something to the tune of “Stuck on You” that would illuminate Osborn’s role in Cabela’s jumping ship in Sidney as well.

Mike Moody, Omaha

Ricketts makes excuses for Trump's failures

When I voiced concerns to Sen. Pete Ricketts about reckless tariffs on low-income developing nations like Cambodia, Laos and Bangladesh, policies that destabilize global supply chains and inflate local costs, his office sent back a canned response: Americans elected President Donald Trump because prices were too high and our nation was viewed as weak abroad.

Sen. Ricketts insists Donald Trump is doing great. But numbers prove otherwise.

Despite political promises, overall price levels remain higher than they were during much of Joe Biden's term. Inflation, too, is higher since Trump took office. Squeezing vulnerable developing nations with heavy tariffs hasn’t lowered gas or grocery bills in Nebraska. It has simply driven up consumer costs at home while straining relationships with international partners.

Meanwhile, foreign relations are fracturing, global conflicts continue to escalate and peace remains nowhere in sight. Claiming we are "respected" while isolating allies, sparking unpredictable trade wars and failing to quell foreign conflict is pure political theater.

It is insulting for Sen. Ricketts to excuse failure with empty talking points. Sen. Ricketts was elected to represent Nebraskans, not to act as a cheerleader for an administration that is failing on inflation, failing on foreign policy and failing on basic economic reality.

It is time for change in Nebraska. We deserve better than Rep. Adrian Smith, Sen. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts.

Tom Gdisis, Kearney, Neb.

Memo to pet owners: Clean up after your pets

So nice to have the Keystone Trail only a short distance from home. Too bad I have to dodge numerous piles of dog poop during my walks.

These irresponsible pet owners should be made to clean up a section of the trail. It has been surmised that an owner resembles their pet in many cases. I would sure hate to see the inside of the homes of these careless, lazy pet owners.

Please clean up your pet's mess.