Don Walton: Caucuses prompt questions

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Lots of questions about the Democratic presidential caucuses on Feb. 9.

Let’s answer a few we’ve received.

No way of knowing what impact Nebraska results might have until Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton go head to head in nearly two dozen states on Feb. 5.

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Nebraska’s Democratic national convention delegation size is about the same as Nevada’s. But Nevada’s early vote on Saturday commanded national attention.

Nebraska Democrats will compete for attention on Feb. 9 with a Louisiana primary and caucuses in Washington state.

Yes, you can vote absentee at the Nebraska caucuses.

You must be a registered Democrat to participate in the caucus, but you may complete a mail-in registration form to become a registered Democrat at your precinct caucus site.

And, yes, you would have time to change your registration to Republican in advance of the May 13 primary election and also participate in Nebraska’s GOP presidential derby. But that’s not recommended.

For more information, see www.nebcaucus.com

Bruning for Huckabee

It’s Jon Bruning calling.

He’s in Rock Hill, S.C., and “having a blast.”

Just wanted to share the energy and fervor of a Mike Huckabee campaign rally at Winthrop University.

In the background, you can hear the PA system and the noise.

Bruning, who is state chairman for Huckabee in Nebraska, headed to South Carolina last Thursday “on my own dime” to lend a hand in advance of Saturday’s Republican presidential primary election.

“I came out because I wanted to help,” he says.

Bruning rode the bus with Huckabee Friday to campaign stops in Greenville, Spartanburg, Columbia.

Lots of time for talk in between.

“He is authentic,” Bruning says. “He is genuine. Kind-hearted. Easy to talk to.”

Huckabee came close on Saturday, but it was John McCain’s night.

Bruning says he’ll probably do some other states as the GOP battle moves on to Florida and then to mega-Tuesday on Feb. 5.

Frivolity and trivia

Is the media too frivolous?

That, in effect, was the question posed by one student during a classroom discussion at UNL one cold night last week.

Yes.

Absolutely.

No doubt about it.

Frivolous, trivial, tabloid, take your pick.

The question was asked in the context of Britney Spears. But it could have been Anna Nicole Smith or Paris Hilton or that old media standby, O.J.

Or the latest missing person or lost traveler, elevated to celebrity status on TV for a week or two.

Or, for that matter, the latest remark by a presidential candidate or surrogate that’s lifted out of context, sensationalized, rendered inaccurate and given new meaning.

The media says, hey, all of that is what viewers and readers are interested in, that’s what they’re talking about.

But who fed the chatter and created the attention?

And sometimes the misinformation.

Taxing truths

Lots of imprecise, and often misleading, talk about the comparative level of taxes paid by Nebraskans.

Some recent stats on Nebraska’s ranking among the states:

* 2006 state tax revenue: 30th in terms of per capita taxes; 31st in terms of percentage of personal income; source: www.taxadmin.org.

* 2007 combined state and local tax burden, as defined by dividing total tax payments by total income; ninth; source: Tax Foundation.

* 2007 combined state, local and federal tax burden, as previously defined; 22nd; source: Tax Foundation.

Although on the high end in terms of local taxation, Nebraskans appear to be somewhere in the middle in terms of total taxes paid.

That’s not what you hear — and read — virtually every day.

Finishing up

* In the single-digit cold, there’s this ray of hope: Pitchers, catchers report in 24 days.

* Without winter, there would be no spring.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com.