Courtesy of the very left-leaning Nevada Independent:
Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), the House Republican leadership-connected super PAC dedicated to growing the GOP’s majority, announced its initial fall ad reservations Wednesday — a sizable $141 million buy across the nation.
But Las Vegas, a media market that it has poured millions of dollars into in prior cycles, was left off the list. The decision reflects national Republicans’ increasing belief that the three Democrat-represented seats in Southern Nevada are not worth the return on investment.
There are probably a few reasons.
First and foremost, in the last state legislature, Nevada became as gerrymandered as other Democratic states like California and Illinois. Gerrymandering kills competition and while everyone talks a great game about competitive elections, neither party actually wants them.
Gerrymandering is a huge bane on our democratic process and a huge threat to the republic.
Second, the Nevada Republican Party leadership stinks. They are there for themselves, not for candidates. They set up a non-competitive Presidential primary to guarantee Trump would win. Trump probably would have won anyway, but the way it was set up was silly.
There is one legislative seat that could be tipped and that is Susie Lee. She’s unimpressive. Hard-core left-wing Democrat in a district that is more centrist. The Senate race in Nevada is similar.
When it is a gerrymandered district, it’s hard to raise money to get great candidates to run. We have several running and I will vote for Drew Johnson. He’s more of a logical policy person.
In our Senate race, the best candidate is Tony Grady. US Air Force Academy grad and businessperson. But, he’s had trouble raising money.
When you think about Republican candidates of Nevada’s past, they are out of step with the way things are today. Brian Sandoval, Adam Laxalt, and the Tarkanians are more John McCain/Mitt Romney types than they are true conservative free market give power to the people small government Republicans. They will wilt in any fight.
I have said, the only thing that will get me to leave Nevada is total Democratic control. The Republicans have two statewide offices and are hanging by a thread against a supermajority in the legislature. The one thing I am banking on is that people like me left California to come here.
Added:
I am voting for Victoria Seaman for Las Vegas Mayor. She’s running against Shelley Berkely. I know Shelley. She’s been around a long long long long time which is a nice way of saying she is old. She was the Congressperson here for years and a part of the Harry Reid Machine.
Depends on what the pac does with the money, and if it will commit some support down the line. A really good, energetic candidate working hard can change minds. But your concerns would be better placed at the state legislature level. Congressional seats are just too expensive and can't be won without selling a bit of one's soul. A state house seat can still be won with very limited resources and hard work over a long period of time. Good candidates are hard to find but with lead time and just enough money seats can be flipped. Don't give money to republican organizations. Give it to good candidates who are willing to challenge incumbents.
You hit the nail on the head with this one.
In the way back when the Tea Party was around they worked and got the R's control of both the House and Senate. The R's promptly betrayed them (and we are all surprised by that). They got disgusted and left, at least until Trump came along. Some R's just looked at it as "now's it's our turn to feed at the trough, oink oink." some actually despise the people who vote for them. Not mentioning any names, but ahem....Romney and Cocaine Mitch, the Bushes, etc... If they ever remake Gilligan's Island Romney could play Thurston Howell III. Perfect for the part.
The R's also have a fundamental weakness. They don't seem to realize that politics is a ground game and you make progress in inches. Their playbook seems to consist only of Hail Mary Passes. Sometimes works, sometimes intercepted, or fumbled. They have prima donna's who if they don't get what they want and everything they want they would rather get nothing. Boy, that will show them...!! I'll hold my breath until I pass out!
The Founding Fathers created Congress to be the most powerful part of the government. It controlled the purse and the only branch that could pass laws. Both the D's and R's seem to be more than happy to fritter that away to both the Executive (Imperial Presidency anyone?), the Courts and the Administrative State. D's because the get what they want. R's because?? Maybe they are afraid if they do something they might not be reelected.
Should I write a letter to my Congressman?
A Congressman has two ends.
A thinking end and a sitting end.
And since his whole success is dependent on his seat.
Why bother friend.
Same thing when Trump was elected. The R's had both houses also. And they did basically nothing. Part of the blame is Trump's. Looking at things from the sidelines or the outside and looking at things from the inside is different. But still, he was the man in charge and made a lot of bad decisions. Terrible judge of character, or lack of it. Still Mitch and Ryan were more than happy to see him flail around. He might upset their apple cart or break their rice bowl.
The other, other problem is doing the work. It's not just money. The Washington Examiner had a piece about will the people who attended Trump's rally in NJ also go out and do the work. Attending a Trump Rally will not get him elected, or anyone else.
OK I've vented.
Great piece.