THE REPUBLICAN EXODUS
From the war in Iraq to poor leadership at the state level, the GOP needs an intervention
BY GEORGE HARRIS

George Harris is publisher of Liberty Watch: The Magazine. He is also a political activist and successful Southern Nevadan businessman. Reach Harris at gopgeorge@earthlink.net  Other stories by George Harris

Nevada just closed its latest legislative session and the only bright light was Gov. Jim Gibbons. The Democrats have for months portrayed Gibbons as weak and ineffectual. So bad was the war on Gibbons that even some Republican elected officials bought into the Democrats’ shell game. In the end, Gibbons used his experience as both a legislator and Congressman to rope-a-dope Speaker Barbara Buckley into submission, then embarrass the nay-sayers within his own party. Gibbons got everything he wanted while Buckley was left with table scraps. And according to the latest polls, Gibbons’ honesty toward taxpayers has given him a 50-percent approval rating up from a low of 23 percent. This just shows taxpayers appreciate a truthful politician. 

Some would say Republicans won. Or did we? 

The Republican Party faces massive problems going into the 2008 election cycle. First, the Republican Assembly is seen as weak and lacking leadership. They are viewed as followers of the Buckley Democrat machine. Comments from insiders show a caucus in disarray. As one put it, “It’s akin to being in an abusive relationship; you get so used to being hit that you become submissive to each strike and defend the abuser — Buckley.”

A major lobbyist from one of the state’s largest public relations firms shared with me: “I was amazed by the blatant betrayal within the Republican Assembly Caucus. I am amazed that the guy from Boulder City and the little girl from Summerlin call themselves Republicans. We would be sitting in the halls and they would come out of a caucus meeting and make a B-line to Buckley’s office. They looked like clowns.”

A financial benefactor to the caucus told me, “That’s it, George! The Republicans will never get another dime out of me. Mabey is a nice guy, but he couldn’t lead a class of first-graders to the playground.”

And my favorite report, sent to me in the form of an e-mail: “Georgie, How do you separate the Beers? Is it Beers or Beers light? Or do you just say Senator Beers and the other guy who is as dumb as a brick? The guy looks like a deer caught in headlights, which is being disrespectful to deers. He’s sponsored more Democratic legislation than the Democrats. Did I mention how stupid this guy is! How did this clown get elected? Oh yeah, he stole Bob Beers’ name. It’s true! I asked around; he went by Robert before he ran for office. Maybe he’s smarter than I think. Or is he an opportunist who cheated the people of his district by lying to them? Anyway, I’m in for $5,000 to anyone who runs against the accidental Assemblyman Bob Beers.”

I left out the really bad comments, but one thing is clear — it’s time for an intervention. 

The Republican Senate was then forced to become the defensive line for the Republican Assembly to stop Buckley’s agenda to spend Nevadans into bankruptcy. All that defense work kept Senate Republicans from forwarding their own agenda. Senators were at times visibly angry and they had a right to be.

Contributions to the state party are down drastically. And for the first time in memory, the National Republican agenda has affected fundraising for the state party. The two most commented reasons are the War in Iraq and the immigration issue. Well over 70 percent of responses we are getting from base Republicans is: “I’ll give you money when you secure our borders” and “get us out of the war.”

The things I’ve written above are the core problems facing the party. Our Republican elected officials are viewed by our base supporters as no different than the Democrats and that’s a catastrophic problem. We can no longer allow middle-left Republicans to tag fiscally responsible Republicans as extremists. Sure, we have a far-right wing in our party; however, a majority of Republicans are middle-right leaning and they are not extremist. And when elected Republicans ridicule them as extremist, they quit sending money. 

If Republican elected officials don’t change direction quickly, you will continue to see a mass exit of Republicans from the party and middle-right Republicans will stay home during the 2008 elections. And for the first time in history, third party candidates running on the immigration and war issues will pick up seats nationwide. So, yes, its time for an intervention.