Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Angle says it is “myth” she wants to scrap Social Security; Sandoval: “I ain’t no senator’s son.”

Spent a couple of hours today at the state GOP convention at the Green Valley Ranch – listened to the major speeches (limited to 10 minutes each) and then decided to enjoy the weekend.

Some thoughts:

----Sharron Angle: The GOP Senate nominee, who had some of her DC handlers in town as well as at least one RNC official, stayed pretty much on script today. She said Dick Morris, the current FOX News contributor and RJ muse, told her “the fate of the nation rides on you.” Wow – with great power, Ms. Angle, comes great responsibility.

She unleashed familiar, crowd-pleasing lines: “Harry Reid is not too big to fail; he’s failed already.” She detailed the Obama “progressive agenda” and said Reid “has failed us, has failed America.” She invoked Ronald Reagan – I believe this is required at GOP conventions – and expressed admiration for the Laffer curve and asserted “Keynesian economics doesn’t work.”

On Social Security, she was at her most expansive yet. She called it a “little myth” she needed to dispel and said she does not “want to eliminate Social Security. I’m out to save it.” Huge applause followed from an apparently amnesiac crowd that forgot she recently said she wants to “phase out” Social Security But that was then (primary); this is now (general). Angle then went into the Reid-raiding-the-lockbox mantra and said the Treasury Bonds in the trust fund are “IOUs.” Then more of the standard stuff: Repeal Obamacare. Cut spending. It’s all about the economy.

She also said she would support the party’s platform, which drew the loudest ovation and a standing one. Candidates usually run from party platforms because they contain nutty things, as the draft GOP platform does – opposition to “one-world government,” for instance. Wonder if they will remove that for final version.

Found it interesting that Angle’s folks pushed back when I Tweeted that the draft platform talks about supporting storage (as well as reprocessing) of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, saying their candidate backs reprocessing but not storage. Note I said the draft platform says it, not her – and I got two pushbacks, one in person and one via email,

Two points: One, Angle finally has a rapid response team. Two, the issue is that the waste still has to get to Yucca, even if it’s reprocessed. Some folks might agree that the dump site needs to be used for something – some might even think reprocessing is a good idea – but no one can deny transportation could be an issue, despite the lack of any serious accidents transporting low-level waste.

----Brian Sandoval: The gubernatorial contender framed his speech around a “the Nevada I know” theme, a shining state on the hill attempt that did, well, shine at times. He accused Rory Reid of believing “big government is the only answer” and declared the state “needs a leader who won’t shy away from getting Nevada back on its feet…. someone who trusts you the people, not the government.”

Sandoval then went more directly at Rory 2010 by declaring, with the strains of CCR in his head, “I ain't no senator’s son.” And then this: “Unlike Rory Reid, I am not ashamed to tell you where I came from, who I am and who I’m related to.”

He did his best Jim Gibbons next, saying “raising taxes is the wrong way to go.” He said “we have to get Nevada working again…the Nevada we know.” Nice rhetorical framing, although he didn’t exactly stir the crowd with his relatively flat delivery. The CCR line, though, went over well.

Sandoval took time for a press gaggle afterward and said the reference to Rory/big government was “his experience as a county commissioner…he grew government and increased fees.” I asked him if he was claiming Rory is “a big government liberal.” His reply: “Yes.” Telegraphed that line of attack there. More conflation with Dad.

When asked about the teacher layoffs accusation that Rory keeps bringing up, Sandoval was unusually blunt: “That’s a lie.” He said his short-term budget plan never recommended layoffs, although one scribe (Steve Sebelius) pointed out if the unions didn’t agree to cuts, layoffs would or must result.

On debates, Sandoval said there will be three – North, South and rural. And he claimed within “weeks,” he will have a long-term budget plan to deal with that looming deficit. He said Gov. Jim Gibbons is allowing department heads to meet with him or his campaign and that he wants to take time, review the 68 recommendations from the Nevada Taxpayers Association. “It’s a very complicated issue,” he said. Indeed. So then how, I asked, can he Gibbonslike, reduce such a complicated issue to “no new taxes.” His answer: Taxes are bad, wrong for state at this time, etc.

Finally, Sandoval said Gibbons has not called to congratulate him, has not endorsed him and they have not spoken. He seems about as eager to get Gibbons’ endorsement as Harry Reid is to debate Sharron Angle.

---Joe Heck: The CD3 hopeful was easily the most rousing speaker at the event so far. He stirred up the crowd and showed real fire (anger, perhaps?) in responding to Rep. Dina Titus’ comments on “Face to Face” this week that he was “scamming” the health care system by having different government jobs. He truly seemed passionate and maybe irate and declared to her: “You will not be able to scam” CD3 residents.

Bottom line: Event was well attended – 550-plus delegates and no super-gaffes (pending final platform) to report from major candidates.

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