| Nevada GOP: Divided, but kicking major ass By Jimmy Boegle
At their state convention last weekend at the Suncoast
hotel-casino, Nevada's Republicans showed the state what a flourishing, healthy political
party looks like.
There were candidates everywhere, some of whom are running
against each other in primaries. Folks attended from throughout the state. There was
healthy (although not necessarily civil) debate over important issues, such as Yucca
Mountain, abortion and the so-called Protection of Marriage Initiative. And there was a
true feeling of confidence - these people knew that they have the political momentum in
this ever-growing state.
Compare this to the Democrats' state convention the week before,
and the difference is astonishing. The Democrats have few candidates for many of the
state's top offices. It seemed like only Clark County was represented. There was little
out-in-the-open debate on the issues - in part because there was seemingly little spirit.
Deep down, many of the Democrats know their party is in serious trouble - and it showed.
But the Republicans are flying high. They've held most of the
statewide political power for the last four years, and they'll be keeping it come
November.
The state must be in great shape, right?
"We're very weak," said Gov. Kenny Guinn at the
convention's May 18 afternoon session. "We're very fragile right now."
He then went on to talk about the economic trouble that's
crippled the state's tax revenues before and after Sept. 11, the potential energy crisis
this state is facing because one company (Sierra Pacific/Nevada Power) runs all the power
in the state, the weak health programs for Nevada's seniors, the medical malpractice
insurance crisis and the deplorable condition of the state's public schools.
Waaaaait a second. The Republicans have held five of the six
constitutional offices and the state Senate for the last four years. All this crap has
happened (or deteriorated) under their watch, and this is the party that is growing in
strength?
Ponder THAT one for a while.
Anyway, back to the GOP convention, which was highlighted by the
various battles between delegates over what would eventually become their party platform.
The biggest battle was over the proposed nuclear waste dump at
Yucca Mountain. On May 17, the platform committee was moving toward completely ignoring
the dump, accepting the project as inevitable. The sentiment: It's coming, so let's
negotiate.
Jane Ann Morrison, the Las Vegas Review-Journal's veteran
political reporter, understandably felt this was big news, and it was the top story in the
May 18 issue.
"The Yucca Mountain Project is not a priority for the
Nevada Republican Party," she wrote.
This, of course, had the potential to make fools of the top GOP
candidates and officials, all of whom have been unanimous in the fight against Yucca. In
his remarks to the assembled loyalists on May 18, Guinn said negotiating - at this point -
is out of the question.
"I understand that question if you don't have the
information that I do," Guinn said.
Brian Sandoval, who is seeking to replace the retiring Frankie
Sue Del Papa as attorney general, also joined the choir of Yucca naysayers.
"There are those who say Yucca Mountain is inevitable. I
disagree," Sandoval said. "There are those who say that we should negotiate for
benefits. I disagree. There are those who say [the project] is safe. I disagree."
In the end, the delegates approved a platform plank in
opposition to the Yucca project. It reads: "We support Nevada's elected officials'
fight against the Yucca Mountain project, but in the event the battle is lost, we urge
Nevada public officials to work with the Bush administration for the maximum benefit for
Nevada."
Another controversy erupted over a possible anti-abortion plank.
In a move that was somewhat of a surprise, considering the stranglehold the right wing has
over portions of the party, Republicans eventually voted down such a plank. The platform
includes no mention of abortion whatsoever.
A much quieter struggle emerged over an adopted plank that
supports the so-called Protection of Marriage Initiative. The GOP also approved planks
advocating school vouchers, a balanced budget without new taxes, the death penalty,
restrictions on frivolous lawsuits, President Bush's energy resource policies, gun rights
and English-only programs.
Parts of that platform could be viewed as a preview of four more
years of Republican domination. Yet other parts seem somewhat silly - especially the
balanced budget without new taxes part, considering the platform was officially announced
just after Guinn said that budget cuts were damaging the state.
"You cannot cut yourself into prosperity. We owe the people
of this state services," Guinn said.
It'll be interesting to see how Guinn and his fellow Republicans
iron out their differences over the next four years. It'll be a healthy debate, for sure.
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