Columnist Jon Ralston: How far will they go to win?

Friday, April 26, 2002 | 5:12 a.m.

No one enjoys illuminating the black arts of politics more than I. But, occasionally, I long to find the Glendas and Merlins among those who try to bewitch the masses. These days, though, the manifest lack of principles by various poseurs and the dearth of outrage by a benighted public can blot out the sun.

Look at three recent examples:

For instance, the fact that congressional contender Jon Porter took cash from Yucca Mountain proponents does not indicate he's soft on the dump -- that's just silly. But what it does show is where he is willing -- or in this case, unwilling -- to draw the line on campaign contributions.

It's one thing to argue that he should take money from the House leadership, which is pushing the project with the ardor of an 18-year-old in heat, because he will need access to them on a panoply of issues should he be elected. But not all campaign cash is equal, so when do you say no?

How about to Bob List, the ex-governor who took the contract with the industry to soften the beaches here and sell inevitability? And how about taking money from one of the most vehement dump supporters in the history of the project, Rep. Joe Barton, who helped invent interim storage and expressed only disdain for the state last week? What's more, Porter took that money March 30, on the eve of the veto override debate.

Why not draw the line somewhere and say this is something I cannot do? It's the same reason why Sen. Harry Reid, friendship and courtesy aside, should never have accepted money from Screw Nevada I author Bennett Johnston. If these folks, who are bleating about this being a do-or-die fight and imploring the public to pony up, are willing to accept money from those most responsible for Yucca Mountain, what message does that send?

So now the teachers have their seat at the table. But it's like the little children's table at Thanksgiving, where the adults -- the governor and his advisers -- intermittently yell at the kids to pipe down or they'll go to bed without any turkey. My guess is the teachers will continue to scream -- and will go hungry.

I did, however, get a kick out of NSEA boss Terry Hickman's quote: "As governor, Mr. Guinn has committed to raising per pupil expenditure to at least the national average."

So Guinn, who can be governor for only two more sessions, has thus pledged to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes by the time he leaves. That's what that commitment means, folks.

Forget whether it should happen -- it should. Thanks to NSEA, Guinn is out of the closet with his true feelings. Now it's time for the media -- and voters -- to start asking all other Republicans (and Democrats, too, for that matter) if they agree with the governor that within four years, hundreds of millions in taxes should be raised to bring per pupil expenditures up to the national average.

He is telling the public that there should be no national or in-state search, that he should be able to pick someone without any interview process and that no one else on the council should have any say.

He simply offered the job he cannot offer (the council does have a say) to Nellis Maj. General L.D. Johnston. Johnston has no experience in local government, no apparent qualifications for the post. But Goodman likes him, so we should just listen.

The mayor won't even consider qualified internal contenders, respected community members who might want the job or non-natives who might be better than the military man. Speaking of principles, let's see if Councilman Michael Mack will stick by his commitment to put an item on the agenda next week to do a search -- a search a majority of the council believes should occur.

Goodman the maverick? More like Goodman the charlatan, who seems to believe not only in the monarchy of King Oscar but in the oldest principle there is in Las Vegas government: If you have juice with me, you're in.