GOP discord evident in primary outcomes

In show of strength, party’s right wing tests incumbents

Thu, Aug 14, 2008 (2 a.m.)

The penthouse of the downtown Reno resort had all the cheer of a funeral Tuesday night, though one with an open bar.

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Primary Election 2008

The Republican Party establishment had gathered to watch election returns for state Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio. What they witnessed was a punch from the right in the Nevada Republican primary that knocked out several incumbents and almost took down one of the state’s most powerful legislators for the past quarter-century.

Raggio won, but by a scant 500 votes, over former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, who had pounded away at him for not being conservative enough.

Veteran Republican Assemblyman John Marvel, seeking his 16th term, was defeated, largely on the back of a campaign highlighting his 2003 vote to raise taxes.

Republican incumbent Assembly members Francis Allen and Bob Beers fell to opponents who attacked them for being too cozy with Democrats. Don Chairez, a former District Court judge and conservative, came within a couple of thousand votes of taking a spot on November’s runoff for the state Supreme Court.

Each race, of course, had its own dynamic. But it became clear that the party’s most conservative members asserted themselves in a combination of Ron Paul fever, President Bush fatigue and malaise in the moderate wing.

“The right wing of the party is making a rear-guard action,” said one veteran consultant at Raggio’s campaign party. “They’re throwing out those who would compromise, who they thought didn’t have pure blood. That leaves a lot of moderates for the Democrats.”

After hours of watching results trickle in and his lead dwindle, Raggio was called to one of the suites at the El Dorado to give a champagne toast. He looked his 81 years.

Asked whether this felt like a victory, he paused and said, “I’m just glad to get it behind us. It’s important for us to close ranks now.”

Interviews with Republican operatives show that may not be an easy thing to do.

Greg Ferraro, a Republican consultant who advised Raggio, said some are trying to shift the Republican Party, as demonstrated in the Raggio-Angle race and the one between Marvel and former Assemblyman Don Gustavson.

“The two races show that in the Republican Party, there’s a struggle,” he said. “Voters went different directions. But the struggle is apparent.”

“What you found in Republican primaries, the more conservatives — those that lean libertarian — want more representation in the Republican Party,” said Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert.

Wayne Terhune, a Ron Paul supporter and Sparks dentist, said a lot of anger stemmed from the failed state party convention in April, when Paul supporters felt the establishment tried to manipulate the process. The convention adjourned after the former presidential candidate’s libertarian supporters threatened to take it over.

Even some who, like Angle, were not involved with the Paul movement benefited from its anger.

Not that the entire Republican establishment had to sweat. James Smack, a Paul supporter whose campaign Terhune managed, got just 14 percent of the vote against one-term incumbent Rep. Dean Heller.

Some of the other races that Republican incumbents lost had other significant factors. (Weeks before the primary, Allen was alleged to have stabbed her husband, though a judge later dismissed the charge.)

At the Raggio campaign gathering, after the victory was in hand, political consultants gave variations of this line: “You know what you call a senator who won by one vote? Senator.”

And former Gov. Kenny Guinn said, “An election isn’t like horseshoes. Close doesn’t count.”

But the jokes were followed by questions about whether the party would be unified before the general election: Would the Paul supporters and hard-line conservatives work with the Republican Party establishment? Would they rally around presidential nominee John McCain, whom many see as a moderate?

Gansert considered those questions carefully.

“It’s important to recognize he (McCain) is the choice,” she said. “For many, that task has been more difficult than in the past.”

Discussion: 22 comments so far…

By connieboyd

8/14/08 at 7:47 a.m.

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It's fun watching the Republicans self-destruct.
By Judy

8/14/08 at 8:27 a.m.

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And the RJ reports that mcCain has a tiny lead over Obama in their poll. Yea right, they must have polled the GOP conventioners.
By KDR81

8/14/08 at 8:49 a.m.

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Democrats went through the same thing in 2000-2004 when they were trying to find their identity.

The destruction of the Soviet Union left capitalism as the ONLY model for an economy to be organized leaving Democrats scrambling to figure themselves out. Clinton became a low tax, deregulatory, balanced budget, free trading Democrat, something the hard-line far-left feared.

After Clinton left the moderate free trading wing and the far left wing battled it out.

The Republicans swung into action in the 90s based on Goldwater and Reagan but once another Rockefeller got into office (Bush) the identity battle began for them.

The Republicans far right (low tax, free trade, deregulators) were ousted or changed into Rockefeller republicans (big government). Now they are widely hated and the far right is trying to get back the principals founded by Goldwater and put into action by Reagan.
By casinokid

8/14/08 at 9:21 a.m.

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More of the same is coming
By jfnance32

8/14/08 at 10:27 a.m.

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What will happen in November if McCain wins the Presidency?

When will the Democratic Party learn to stop nominating leftist pols that have a ton of leftist baggage and friends?

Of course ...you could have picked a Bill Clinton moderate type...a white popular southern governor....you would have crushed the Republican Party.

Nope....you again shoot yourself in the foot and pick a person who has the highest liberal voting rating in the US Senate and who says "people who do not vote for me are bitter folk who cling to guns and religion" and "we should raise taxes on power bills" and "high gas prices are good" and who has friends like Rev. Wright who say "God Dam America" and "US government created AIDS to kill blacks" and "US government gives crack to blacks".

If the Democrats lose the Presidency in November then I bet there will be a ton of crazed people running naked, crying, screaming and rolling in the streets saying, "Why? Why? Why?"
By Gordon

8/14/08 at 11:42 a.m.

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The far right 'neocon' era of Republicans is coming to an end. Nationally and locally the people have had enough of these extremists. If it wasn't for McCains Iraq position he'd have my vote, he's more of a democrat than Lieberman. McCains positions on many issues changed only in the last 60 days to rally the republican 'core', but I'm sure his old stances would come through if he won.

I believe most Americans are tired of the extremists on both sides contolling government. Obama would be a left of center President and barring any major scandals he'll get my vote. But either way I believe America will be much better off with King George out of office and the Neocon movement over.
By jfnance32

8/14/08 at 12:11 p.m.

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Gordon.....you do know that Obama has committed to Israel a certain number of troops in Iraq.

In fact, his key advisor in a memo to Obama has recommended up to 80,000 troops staying in Iraq.

I am sure you are aware that Obama recently changed his mind and voted for FISA, too.

Obama has said that he would attack into Pakistan without Pakistan's permission, too.
By thebs

8/14/08 at 12:58 p.m.

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After the years of war, failed social and environmental policies, and a near economic-collapse, even the neocons won't support their own.

The apathy among the far right is evident when their incumbents lose in primaries.

Whether it's the knife-wielding newlywed or the love Gov, Republicans have begun to revolt against their own. The disillusionment among the far right is readily apparent.

Now the fractured party can't seem to agree on it's own platform. The base is unenthusiastic about their presidential nominee and Obama's 6:1 edge on donations from military deployed abroad spells doom for the Republicans come November.

If an honored war veteran can't even get them excited, what will?
By That_Anonymous_Guy

8/14/08 at 2:07 p.m.

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jfnance,

Let me see if I understand you correctly.

If the president receives information that Osama bin Laden is in a specific location inside Pakistan, you believe we should hold off on a military strike unless we're able to secure Pakistan's permission.

And if we're unable to secure that permission, you would pass on the opportunity to take out bin Laden.
By jfnance32

8/14/08 at 3:59 p.m.

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I thought you guys have said that would be an impeachable offense.
By FastTracker

8/14/08 at 4:19 p.m.

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The true conservatives and genuine progressives across this nation need to have a pow-wow.

Smoke the peace pipe, and sort out the points of agreement and disagreement.

There may well be more common ground than most would expect.

If these two elements can unify - wahlah - we have a viable THIRD PARTY!
By That_Anonymous_Guy

8/14/08 at 4:36 p.m.

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Nah. We only impeach presidents for sex-related stuff.

But I'm sure Congress would be so outraged at a president who just sent bin Laden to hell that they'd make an exception and draw up articles of impeachment immediately.

And I'm sure you'd be more than ready to support impeachment in that case, as you've previously suggested it would be inappropriate to launch a military strike against bin Laden in Pakistan without Pakistan's prior authorization.
By jfnance32

8/14/08 at 4:41 p.m.

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I thought FISA was an impeachment offense, too.
By thebs

8/14/08 at 6:29 p.m.

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Ha ha!

What do all of these GOP senators have in common?

Pat Roberts (KS)
Ted Stevens (AK)
Elizabeth Dole (NC)
Gordon Smith (OR)
Susan Collins (ME)
Larry Craig (ID)
Chuck Hagel (NE)
Wayne Allard (CO).

They're all so ashamed of their own party they're refusing to go to the Republican convention!

If the Republicans can't even count on the support of Larry Craig, how on Earth do they think they're gonna win anything in November?
By renomuse

8/14/08 at 6:46 p.m.

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Not only is it fun watching Republicans implode but it is fun watching the old farts gathering around their old fart king, Grampy McBush.
By thebs

8/14/08 at 7:13 p.m.

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A bit from Steve Friess' article in WaPo:

"The scandal-plagued Republican governor is so politically toxic that few of his party's prominent candidates will be seen with him. The GOP's most powerful state senator survived a tough primary after 36 years of never even facing a credible opponent. And the party may quickly be losing its grip on a state that could be critical to the outcome of the presidential election."

"If Republicans are hurting nationally this election year, there may be few places where the pain is quite as acute, or has arrived as quickly, as Nevada, where a confluence of problems has left a once-potent state party in tatters. Just two years ago, Republicans occupied all six statewide constitutional offices. Today, they hold only the posts of governor and lieutenant governor."

"Democrats now enjoy a 60,000-voter registration edge in a state where the parties were virtually tied a year ago. The state GOP raised less than one-third of the $1.3 million the Nevada Democratic Party's central committee took in during the first half of 2008. And the Republicans who hold two of the state's three U.S. House seats are in danger of losing them."

Things aren't looking too grand for the war party in NV.
By That_Anonymous_Guy

8/14/08 at 7:42 p.m.

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Ha! Confusing Obama with Osama bin Laden because they have similar names! You could totally win any schoolyard argument with your skills. You'd have third graders quaking in their shoes at your approach.

You guys are great at changing the subject when you can't figure out how to answer, so I'll ask you the same thing I asked nance: Would you support or oppose a military strike to take out Osama bin Laden in Pakistan? You claim someone else screwed up, so would you take that shot?
By jfnance32

8/15/08 at 3:18 a.m.

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I wonder if Obama drag will occur in Red and perhaps Pink states in November.

It seems it is already occurring now.

Senator Mary Landrieu is avoiding Hussein.

I bet that people in Nevada challenging the Republican candidates will not mention Obama's name that much either.

They are going to say, "Obama Who?"

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008...
By thebs

8/15/08 at 1:11 p.m.

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"Small minds are much distressed by little things. Great minds see them all but are not upset by them." - Francois de La Rochefoucauld