Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.
Gov.-elect Brian Sandoval, making good on a transparency pledge, released partial transcripts of some of his Washington, D.C., meetings during a three-day sojourn in the capital:
President Barack Obama
Sandoval: “Mr. President, it’s an honor.”
Obama: “Pleasure, governor, and congratulations. But I must say I kicked your butt with the Hispanic vote in Nevada. I got 70 percent. What did you get — 5 Latino votes or something?”
Sandoval: “Well, Mr. President, I did support that Arizona bill. And Hispanics generally support Democrats, even though you take them for granted and haven’t done a thing on immigration reform. I say that with all due respect.”
Obama: “I do admire your ability to be for SB1070 but say it’s not applicable to Nevada. That’s quite a threading of the needle. But no matter. What’s on your mind?”
Sandoval: “Are we still good on Yucca Mountain, Mr. President?”
Obama: “Well, don’t tell Harry I said this, but I almost wanted Sharron Angle to win for two reasons. First, that would have meant the Republicans probably took the Senate and I could run against both houses of Congress in 2012. But, second, I could find some excuse to revive Yucca and get that annoyance off my plate. I only did it for Harry.”
Sandoval: “Understood, Mr. President. So long as it’s still dead.”
Obama (chuckles): “At least until January 2013 when the Palin administration begins.”
Sandoval: “Bite your tongue, Mr. President.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Sebelius: What parts of the health care bill are so offensive to you, governor?”
Sandoval: “Well, I haven’t read the bill, of course.”
Sebelius: “Then why oppose it?”
Sandoval: “I had to support repeal. I was in a tough primary with Jim Gibbons.”
Sebelius: “Didn’t you win by almost 30 points?”
Sandoval: “Yes. But for a while, it was close.”
Sebelius: “Governor, do you have any idea all the goodies for Nevada that Sen. Reid stuffed into that bill?”
Sandoval: “Better than the Cornhusker Kickback or the Louisiana Purchase?”
Sebelius: I’m not sure why, but Harry took to calling some of the stuff for Nevada embedded in those 2,700 pages the Nevada Lode. He said something about it being bigger than the Comstock.”
Sandoval: “Hmmm. I better get to reading.”
Incoming Speaker John Boehner
Boehner: “I want to see if you can help me, governor.”
Sandoval: “Help you? How?”
Boehner: “I have this problem with selling tax cuts for millionaires — the Democrats are killing me with the messaging like we killed them with the stimulus and health care reform during the campaign.”
Sandoval: “But why me?”
Boehner: “You might think all people in D.C. can talk about is Harry Reid’s amazing campaign. No. What they are talking about is how a guy with arguably the biggest budget crisis in the country avoided talking about it. We need to harness that talent.”
Sandoval: “Just takes discipline, Mr. Speaker. And just smile a lot. I’ve seen you in action, Mr. Speaker. You are a natural.”
Boehner: “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush
Bush: “So when do my royalties start coming in, governor?”
Sandoval: “Excuse me?”
Bush: “Well, you stole your entire education plan from me, Brian.”
Sandoval: “I prefer to see it as an homage.”
Bush: “I’m sure Hitchcock saw it that way, too, when all those directors copied his stuff.”
Sandoval: “But I am sure you are proud that you don’t spend much and still get high marks?”
Bush: “You spend even less than we do — about $1,000 per pupil less. Ever give any thought to increasing education funding, Brian?”
Sandoval: “Good one, Jeb.”
Sen. John Ensign
Sandoval: “Hi, senator. I don’t have much time for you. And I really don’t want a picture, either.”
Ensign: “I understand. I just need a few minutes of your time.”
Sandoval: “OK. What’s on the agenda? Health care? Spending reform? Tax cuts?”
Ensign: “Hell — I mean, heck — no. My re-election, of course.”
Sandoval: “What re-election?”
Ensign: “Funny, Brian. Seriously, I need to do what you did. It’s my only chance.”
Sandoval: “Well, you’re not Hispanic. You’re not liked in the Republican Party. You can’t raise money. Wait, you can’t possibly mean …”
Ensign: “Yes. I need to know how I can run against Rory Reid.”
Sandoval: “But, John, Harry wants you to lose. He won’t put his son in against you.”
Ensign: “But what if we get the R-J to run a poll showing Rory beating me?”
Sandoval: “Have they ever shown a Democrat winning?”
Ensign: “Exactly. That’s why people might believe it!”
Sandoval: “Hmm. That is genius. I will get back to you, right after I decide whether I want to run against you. Have a good day.”
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