Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Bill Raggio
Sig Rogich
Sun coverage
Sun archives
- Ex-Gov. List to national GOP: Don’t let Reid-lover Rogich host event; Rogich to List: You’re a failure and a sell-out (10-8-2010)
- NV GOP chief says Raggio endorsement threatens his leadership post; refuses to say he’d support Ensign in 2012 (10-8-2010)
- Raggio: I’m with Reid, against Angle because she’s so extreme, but still against Obama’s agenda (10-7-2010)
- Republican leader Bill Raggio endorses Harry Reid (10-7-2010)
It seems having a polarizing, high-profile Democrat as their top target would unite Nevada Republicans. Instead the state GOP finds itself engaged in internecine attacks over the candidacy of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
The intraparty feuding peaked last week with state Sen. Bill Raggio, the Reno Republican and longest-serving state senator in history, endorsing Reid over Republican challenger Sharron Angle.
Angle’s campaign dismissed Raggio, saying it didn’t want the support of a politician who would vote to raise taxes as Raggio had. And the Clark County Republican Party asked its state Senate candidates not to support Raggio’s re-election as the caucus leader, a position he has held since 1987.
That was followed by Sig Rogich, long a party kingmaker and a prominent member of “Republicans for Reid,” exchanging fusillades with former Gov. Bob List, who is Nevada’s Republican national committeeman.
Democrats, to be sure, have had their own share of infighting. But the Republican civil war underscores what the party lacks and Democrats have: an undisputed head of their party, such as Reid, who can impose order.
Republicans, by contrast, have Gov. Jim Gibbons, who was defeated in June’s primary, and Sen. John Ensign, tarnished by his affair with a former employee and his parents’ gift to her family.
Thus, Nevada’s U.S. Senate race is featuring an unprecedented level of Republican infighting.
Although the rancor is unusual, the divisions aren’t. Every two years in Carson City, there’s a simmering tension in the Republican Party over taxes and fiscal issues, as libertarian wing clashes with more centrist members.
Of course, sometimes it just seems personal.
Raggio and Angle may have been divided over taxes and the role of a legislator initially. But by 2008, when she challenged him in the state Senate primary, it seemed more personal. (Raggio will mention occasionally that Angle never called to concede the race to him.)
And List and Rogich’s letters dragged into the light of day the type of accusations that politicos mutter over drinks.
List started with a letter to the Republican National Committee, criticizing it for having Rogich co-host a Las Vegas fundraiser for California U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorino. Rogich is an adviser to Reid’s campaign.
“Rogich has burned virtually every bridge to our party and to the Las Vegas business community,” List wrote in letters first reported by the Las Vegas Sun’s Jon Ralston.
Rogich responded by calling List a failed politician who sold out the state as a pro-Yucca Mountain project lobbyist.
List wrote another letter, stating that Rogich was selfishly motivated in supporting Reid.
“No one is buying your rhetoric about your support for Harry Reid being driven by ‘what is best for Nevada.’ It is patently clear that your support for Sen. Reid is all about your personal economic interests, as every knowledgeable political observer and operative in this state knows.”
Both Rogich and List downplayed the conflict in interviews with the Sun.
“I don’t think it has long-term effect,” Rogich said.
List called it “sideline noise.”
Some Republicans say that the party is less fractured than it appears and the Reid campaign wants the public to believe.
Robert Uithoven, a Republican who ran Sue Lowden’s unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid, said outside of a few well-known, longtime insiders, there has not been a wave of defections.
“They’re all people who have financial interest in Sen. Reid’s success, or have long-term relationships with the senator,” Uithoven said. “It’s not as widespread as you think. Republicans are remarkably unified around Sharron Angle.”
A classic case of the LV Sun actually attempting to make news rather than report on it. Such is the life as a partisan news rag.
Bill Ragio...The Bill Ragio who was the subject of people wanting him to get out of office??? THAT idiot... Like anyone should give him the time of day with his political record! Who cares what he thinks or endorses. Bad REid... Bad Senator.. http://aBadReid.com
There are no fractures in the GOP. Those you mention are simply the Benedict Arnolds coming out of the closet.
Ah, I see the "traitor" argument in the comments again. If you're not in 100% agreement with us, you must be 100% against us. Bush used that argument to great effect in getting us into a war with Iraq.
Homogeneity. The Republican platform.
"List called it 'sideline noise.'"
No. I wouldn't downplay it and pooh pooh it away by calling it "sideline noise."
I'd call it that the Republican Party has morphed into an unmanageable mess.
In Nevada, as well as nationally, they say they are united. But they are not. You have the nutball lunatic fringe way off the scale neo-conservatives taking over. And when the moderates try to institute rationality, they get slapped. It's so bad within the Republican Party that even when someone is to the center or just a bit right of center says something halfway reasonable, the other nutballs all dogpile on them and call them leftists!
But this is what they get. They had a President for 8 years that had no clue what he was doing, how to run a country and even could not tie his shoes without someone advising him. President Bush will go down in history as the most incompetent President we've ever had.
Mix in with that history the fact that after President Obama and his administration started, the Republican Party didn't address any problem at all. They sat there. And when someone actually tried to produce a direction for them, it was the wrong people. The Republican Party actually let Rush Limbaugh, Fox News and a total of over 400 nut case right wing radio and television media do their talking for them. They sat there and nodded, looked at each other and said, sounds way over the top, but what the hey, we'll go with it, this scorched earth policy of not working with anyone and voting no and obstructing sounds like a plan.
They don't need to be in power. They need to sit it out on the sidelines for quite a while. What they really need to do not only here in Nevada, but nationally, is they need to clean house. And fix things to show some unity.
I actually could care less if Republicans get anywhere soon, but that's the way I see it. And those that disagree with this estimate probably are looking at it with a horse-with-blinders approach. The simple fact is that the asylum has busted it's doors wide open...and the inmates are in charge...the wards of it are held hostage. It's so bad, they have absolutely no wiggle room for compromise they have went so far to the right.
I am very glad that I am not on the same side of Sig Rogich.
The Democrats are good little puppies.
No public option...they are happy as bees.
No single payer.....they are happy as bees.
Obama appeals "Don't ask, Don't tell"....they are happy as bees.
No investigation of Bush by Reid....they are happy as bees.
Reid did not fight much any of those Bush appointees to the courts....they are happy as bees.
Reid supported Nevada's ban on Gay Marriage....they are happy as bees.
Reid/Titus/Pelosi/Obama give 110% support to Israel....they are happy as bees.
Democrats are good little puppies. They just follow their masters and get led by the lease.
It's interesting to watch the Nevada GOP. They outed Ensign for a wandering willy but not their other attractive male rising stars for the very same thing.
In fact, they helped cover up the illegitimate child of one and the long and ongoing affair of another. Both mistresses were employees for these then "young guns" that keep getting pushed upwards.
Maybe it's because the grey hair was starting show in Ensign's rug and not the rugs of the other two ...yet.
And the NV GOP thinks nobody know what they did and how the Bush administration has covered things up by helping move one of the former state employee/mistresses with her illegitimate child to an overseas assignment and the other got a federal job when she followed her boss/lover.
As the stomach turns in Nevada.
Nothing will be, or is, perfect or absolute in either Party. The Independent, Tea Party, Libertarians and non-partisans will be the deciding factor in this election thus causing Reid to loose his Seat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u42wzteBF...
It would be nice if the debates were about sanity and civility and the issues instead of figuring out how to sling mud that will stick! It appears that these muckity muck republicrats at least have some of the interest of the public in mind!
Is it a fracture when a Republican does not support an insane candidate like Angle who they KNOW would be bad for Nevada?
Bill Raggio looks like Arlen Spector and is going to end up like Arlen Spector if he doesn't start flying straight.
All that this article proves is that Both Republicans and Democrats are controlled by the INSIDERS.
The American people are not aware of this and continue to make a Hobson's choice, as explained in http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/....
The only Tea Party Candidate who is NOT nuts is Scott Ashjian. I hope people who really want change vote for him and not Angle, who wants to grow government to the point where it can prosecute any woman who has an abortion and forces every woman who becomes pregnant to have the child. Talk about the ultimate in nanny-state, THATS Sharon Angle.
Tony, the only split going on right now is how far Southern Democrats are running right to try to remain electable.
This paper endorsed Harry Reid now do you really think that those of us with any brains are going to believe anything this paper has to say about politics unless it is a possitive spin for the dems.
The Nevada state GOP is screwed, because you got republicans like me voting for Reid instead of Angle.
Gibbons, Ensign, now Angle?
Congrats on getting re-elected Senator Reid, you getting another term is exactly what the Nevada state GOP truely deserves..
The Republican Party is nationally throwing away a golden opportunity to regain some lost seats in Congress. Why have they selected/endorsed such a radical slate of candidates in so many states that are ripe for the picking?
Some? We're going to regain a bunch and take the House back. Not so bad.
Also, speaking of Republican fractures, GOV Gibbons now can only get government heath care since he has a pre-existing condition. Like Angle he complaints about government health care while he gets it.
The days when Republicans stood for good old-fashioned common sense have slipped away. As a Christian, I find that Democrats more closely demonstrate my values than the GOP does. Dems believe in helping the poor and the sick, protecting the planet, and equal rights for all. The GOP hijacked the Christian right with their rhetoric on abortion, which they never did anything about when they were in power anyway.
Today's GOP believes in beating up on the poor, the sick, and the unemployed so that they can give tax breaks and financial support to people who don't need them. They inspire hatred and fear.
I am eager to see a Republican politician who wants to bring back the ideals of common sense, Christian values, and fiscal responsibility (lowering taxes for wealthy people is irresponsible).
Until one shows up, I'm voting Democrat.
This is amazing to see Republicant party exposed for what it is. The party is well on its way out, too long in coming the the good of the citizens of Nevada. They think that no one else can look ahead and see what is going to happen if they can regain power. They think that everyone has forgotten about John Ensigns little fiasco or Jim Gibbons outstanding success as a Republicant Governor. The national party of the Republicants can not afford to throw stones either, with their promiscuity with campaign funds.
They try and blame Senator Reid and President Obama for the problems and think that the public will forget what caused all of the economic turmoil in the U.S.A.. Their strategy is to lie until confronted and then change positions. It has been sickening to watch the Republicants in inaction the past year. If anyone votes for them I am sure their blinders will be worth a fortune. If they do vote for the Republicants all I have to say is you haven't see anything yet. If you are fortunate enough to have a job you will see your taxes increase in one form or the other. If you do not have a job, as Sharron Angle puts it, TOUGH LUCK.
I think what we are looking at is the start of the exodus from Nevada. If you have a vacancy or so in your neighborhood now in a years time it will be much worse. The more vacant house the greater the drop in home values.
Markey: "The Nevada state GOP is screwed, because you got republicans like me voting for Reid instead of Angle."
In another post, you said you stopped being a Republican in 2000.
LOL....can't keep your story right.
No100: " As a Christian, I find that Democrats more closely demonstrate my values than the GOP does"
What kind of Christain are you?
I doubt that Christ would have said, "remember that stevem is a republican, and therefore is incapable of any thought that includes compassion".
Oh...you are one of those Obama Liberation Theology Christains who hate everbody that is not an Obama Liberation Theology Christain.
Way to go....score two points for No100.
Richard Princess Bruin: " The party is well on its way out".
First....great handle name...LOL.
Second....so which party do you think will pick up senate seats, governorships and congressional seats this fall?
Both parties are fractured and with the mess we're in they both better learn to figure out that it's no longer "business as usual". That doesn't work anymore and people are tired of the bs that comes out of their elected officials. I think all incumbents should be tossed out on their butts.
Raggio has been around long enough - time to spend more time with the family.