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Opinion
Jul. 19, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: The political process

State GOP cans their convention

Political parties are private outfits. They are free to conduct their business any way they see fit. Members who don't like the way current party leaders do things are free to promote a new slate of officers, or take their support to another existing party, or even launch their own.

All that said, neither state Democrats nor Republicans did themselves proud in this spring's convention cycle.

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    • Last fall, spokesmen for both major parties were exuberant about the high level of interest and new registrations flowing from their decisions to hold presidential preference caucuses in Nevada. Then the parties' leaders convened their Clark County conventions -- and stood there like deer in the headlights as the crowds that showed up swamped the rooms and facilities available.

    Hadn't they been reading their own press releases?

    To their credit, the Democrats -- whose process mattered more, in the late months of the spring, since they still had a contested race -- sorted out their differences and came up with a consensus delegate slate to their national convention.

    And then there's the Republicans.

    At their state convention in Reno, a committee report was brought to the floor, recommending the slate of delegates who should attend the national convention. But remember all those newcomers, anxious to participate in the political process -- the ones party leaders were welcoming last fall? They insisted the party platform be amended to include some mention of sound money and an end to the Federal Reserve -- the Ron Paul plank -- and proceeded to insist additional delegate nominations be accepted from the floor.

    Oh, dear, said the established party leaders as the supper hour approached. We're out of time. Sorry. We'll adjourn and reconvene in July.

    Except that last week Party Chairwoman Sue Lowden said the convention won't reconvene this month, at all -- the 12 members of the party's executive board will chat by telephone on July 25, selecting the delegate slate to go participate in the anointment of Sen. John McCain in Minneapolis on Sept. 1.

    All perfectly legal, no doubt.

    But so much for "welcoming all that new blood."

    Yes, the result in Minneapolis is a foregone conclusion. But can we, perhaps, be subjected to substantially fewer expressions of puzzlement the next time we hear that Americans are giving up on the political process, expressing doubts that partisan activism "is any way to change things"?

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    R. Holloway wrote on July 19, 2008 07:06 PM: In the last few days the true story of the stealing of the April 26 elections (at the convention) is getting out. There is a four page article in Time that accurately discusses the convention and then this editorial.


    Nappy headed Hobo wrote on July 19, 2008 06:58 PM: I know this story isn't about Jesse Jackson, but why is has there not been any forum for discusion on this site.
    Does anyone else find it amazing how this whole N word incident has been swept under the rug by the media?


    ABOLISH THE SENATE wrote on July 19, 2008 04:03 PM: It's past time to ABOLISH the Senate. The reason we need terms limits is that the entrenched morons ruining our country with their stupid programs, polices, laws, etal, have rigged the "system" to make it almost impossible for the average joe to run for office. The DNC and GOP have put a lock on the proces and have unfair advantage over all comers.


    Anoinette wrote on July 19, 2008 03:39 PM: I think it would be fun and joyous to turn on the telly one day soon and see that people all over this once-great nation have spontaneously started lopping off the heads or shooting in the face, politicians EVERYWHERE. No love lost here.


    Common Sense wrote on July 19, 2008 02:22 PM: Herb says: take the money you save on prisoners food and give rebates back to the overtaxed wealthy in this country.

    Okay weirdo. The rich afford creative accountants to find them tax shelters so they don't have to pay as much tax. The common person is the one suffering.

    In case you haven't noticed, under the watchful eye of the republican run, gas has risen over 300% Tourism in the whole U.S. is down. People aren't eating out as much...etc, etc..SOunds like a recession to me. But you know what, I got my stimulus check as a common person, while the republican gov't spends $10 billion a month in a war to find weapons of mass destruction. Halliburton and "rich" big businesses including big oil are showing record profits, while I drive down the street and see family businesses going down the tubes. All while passing foreclosed homes everywhere.

    How can anyone blame the democrats for this?


    Herb wrote on July 19, 2008 01:19 PM: Nuevo Americano, if Republicans are for the country club members why do many rich people vote Democrat? Why do so many middle income people vote Republican? I'll tell you why, they can't afford any more tax increases. Make no mistake, Democrats consider anyone who has a job "rich".

    Besides the rich pay more than their fair share of taxes. One of my dreams is that we could drastically cut the food budget at prisons across the country. Why do predators who have harmed and violated innocent people deserve to eat well? Prisoners should get nothing but bread and water. Then take the money you save on prisoners food and give rebates back to the overtaxed wealthy in this country. They will then invest the funds in business, it will help the economy.


    timinator wrote on July 19, 2008 12:11 PM: The Republican Party leadership is broken, both in Nevada and nationwide, by design, in order to destroy any conservative hope still remaining.

    Over the last two decades, Republicans have continued to embrace the socialist agenda, always giving lip service to conservative ideals, but never actually returning to them.

    Ron Paul tried to bring a resurgence of true conservatism to the national limelight, but was always stifled by the entrenched party leadership. The Neo-Cons have their McPain now in position to continue the travesty of Bush/globalist policies.

    Obama-Nation is also set to continue the socialist/globalist agenda, with just a new face gussied up to excite the Democratic electorate.

    Socialist Party A and Socialist Party B still march lockstep with their globalist-bankster controllers.

    "Here's the new Boss! Same as the old Boss!"


    hilobomacaine wrote on July 19, 2008 09:28 AM: it will be a good thing when the dems get a majority then,when they raise taxes on the average person instead of corporations (just like the Republicans) people will realize ,finally that they are not the savior that so many people make them out to be


    Nuevo Americano wrote on July 19, 2008 09:28 AM: Republican party: private party for country club members only.


    Lawrence Hyde wrote on July 19, 2008 07:35 AM: Realizing before I say it that I am not politically correct. But when what Spanking Time says becomes true, (and I have no doubt that it will) GOD HELP US!!!! Because the average people will be screwed big time.


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