As the old saying goes, Democrats don’t win elections. Republicans lose them.
Every few years, Democrats take a shellacking and sooner or later some unoriginal commentator notes that the Donkeykongs don’t have a very deep bench. Witness the 2010 gubernatorial campaign of Clark County Commission Chair Rory Reid, Senator Harry’s kid. He was easily defeated by Gov. Veto El Obtúsè who at least did the body politick a favor by knocking out incumbent Gov. Jim the Dim in the GOP primary.
As I have oft-noted, the lobbyists who made Brian Sandoval a governor have followed a longstanding pattern. Their clients have waxed fat at the ledge as they’ve brokered their real and/or imagined juice over the executive suite.
Now going by three names on taxpayer-paid TV spots, accidental Republican Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt has served notice that he wants to succeed his grandpa, former Nevada Governor (1967-71) and U.S. Senator (1975-87) Paul Laxalt. Adam is the son of former U.S. Sen. Peter Domenici, R-New Mexico, and Paul Laxalt’s daughter.
Several unknown Democrats have declared for the 2018 gubernatorial primary. Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak has teased for years about filing. Garden-variety media award him credibility because of his $3 million bank account.
Barbwire spies report that the sour Sisolak probably couldn’t carry his own Las Vegas district these days. Local officials have a hard time making their case statewide.
The only ex-mayor to win Nevada’s governorship was Reno’s Richard Kirman in 1934, many years after leaving local politics. (See “Rory Rory quite contrary”, Barbwire 19 Sept. 2010.)
So what to do with a thin bench against Laxalt’s taxpayer-subsidized TV? How about Clark County Commissioner Christine Giunchigliani? Her credentials are far deeper than young Reid’s or Laxalt’s. “Chris G” was a teacher, union president and longtime legislative leader before running for the commission, the most powerful political body in Nevada. Which means she will have no problem raising money, as Sisolak and Reid demonstrate.
Is she hungry enough? Make some calls to whet the appetite of the G-Force.
KOCHTOPUS KAPERS. Laxalt the Lesser has already scared northern Nevada Congresscritter Mark Amodei (R-Carson City) out of the governor’s race. Amodei is still courting the moonhowler right as evidenced by his vote to cut off health care to tens of thousands of his constituents and worse.
Amodei reportedly delivered the keynote address to the local chapter of Americans for Prosperity in Reno on March 31. AFP is the Koch Brothers’ most overt among a plethora of dark money propaganda vehicles. All, alas and alack, are fully tax deductible, which means you and I are paying them to pollute the political pond with their own ill-gotten petroleum pusillanimy
86’D AT THE LEDGE, PART DEUX. After substantially expanding and cross-linking to most of my websites, the blow-by-blow expanded version of my April 18 column is now available at Barbwire.US. I have also proudly sent a notice to lawmakers and staff, any of whom may be carrying concealed cannon down Carson way.
Forewarned is forearmed. Don’t go down there unless absolutely necessary.
Be well. Raise hell. / Esté bien. Haga infierno.
Andrew Barbano is a 48-year Nevadan and editor of NevadaLabor.com. E-mail barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us> Barbwire by Barbano has originated in the Tribune since 1988.
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