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Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
Sens. John Lee, left, and Greg Brower talk before a meeting of the Senate Select Committee on Economic Growth and Employment during the 2011 legislative session, Feb. 9, 2011, in Carson City.
Sunday, June 17, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Sun coverage
By taking out a sitting Democratic lawmaker in last week’s election, progressives asserted themselves on the state’s political field, defeating a heavily funded incumbent lawmaker and taking on the Democratic Party establishment.
And they’re already looking to do it again.
Sen. John Lee’s defeat Tuesday by Patricia Spearman in the Democratic primary marked the first time that a lawmaker was targeted and defeated from the left.
“Our goal is to re-center the party,” said Erin Neff, executive director of ProgressNow Nevada Action, one of the groups involved in the effort. “We want to pull the party back from the right wing. To do that, we have got to replace the conservative Democrats with normal Democrats, Democrats who hold our values and vote with us.”
Specifically, Neff said she was watching http://www.marilynkirkpatrick.com/Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, and Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, who’s running for state Senate.
“I think there’s room for them to change next session,” she said, pointing to Kirkpatrick’s involvement in the late and ultimately unsuccessful tax debate last year and Smith’s bills changing work conditions for teachers. (Smith said she was surprised to be targeted. Kirkpatrick did not return a call for comment by deadline.)
Members of the coalition said they have no intention of working from within the Democratic Party structure. Instead, they intend to flex their newfound muscle in future Democratic primaries and in Carson City in 2013.
This is a contrast to anti-tax and Ron Paul conservatives, who have tried to work within the state Republican Party to gain influence — a task made easier by the lack of strong leadership within the party.
“We have no interest in taking over a party,” said Bob Fulkerson, executive director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. “It’s important we maintain ourselves as an independent political organization so we’re not seen as puppets or co-opted by the establishment of either party.”
Nevada Priorities formed as a political action committee to take on Lee. It was born, in part, out of frustration with his individual record. But it also came out of a larger unhappiness from the left with recent legislative sessions in Carson City, where budgets have been cut.
The coalition was made up of a previously untested collection of liberal groups, including ProgressNow Nevada Action; the Nevada Conservation League; Nevada Advocates for Planned Parenthood; PLAN Action; MoveOn.org and the Sierra Club. (The traditionally powerful Democratic supporters, like the teachers union and AFL-CIO, did not participate in the effort.)
Sen. Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, said the senate Democratic caucus will be balanced, with lawmakers willing to listen to all sides.
Smith said it’s too early to assess the impact of Lee’s defeat.
“It was one primary in a moment in time, and it’s one person,” she said.
She, too, has been unhappy about budget cuts, but there are political realities.
“Legislating is not a pretty process. It’s not a simple black and white process,” she said.
Neff said the Democratic Party establishment has listened to the grass roots on some issues, like civil rights legislation for transgender people. But now, “We want to be listened to on fiscal issues.”
Taxes, which take two-thirds to pass through the Legislature, is the most difficult arena of Nevada policy, especially for those who want more revenue for government. And it could be the biggest test of whether this budding political movement can be sustained.
Let's see.....if this was the Tea Party booting out a moderate RINO then the Sun would be whining all day about how extremists were taking over the Republican party and then moan about the lost of a member of chamber who help crafted compromises.
Please note the big difference when the kool-aid crowd does.
Please note for the nth time how big of hypocrite the left and their lame media are.
The Tea Party persistence vaulted extreme lawmakers into congress. So extreme, the Nation is gridlocked, not so by ideology, but more so to remove our President because of his race and the actions supported by a few billionaires, most notable two of our own top employers in the gaming industry.
What is certain, we need another side to be persistence. To buck the status quo, rock the boat, shake things up. Wouldn't it be great for democratic leaders to say, "hey, we can't do this deal because the progressive side of our party won't budge." You know, just like the Republicans leaders Boehner, McConnell, and Cantor say about the extreme 2010 elected congress! We already have gridlock in Washington! We now need another fed-up group to push back against the extreme law makers both state and federal. So let us invite the progressives from the Democratic Party to be that push back group and tell people like Harry Reid, we are fed-up and were not going to take it anymore! The status quo is no more, you will do it our way or we will put you on the highway!
Yeah! That sounds great! Just maybe the occupy movement has got it, and now know how to use their power!
FDR..........lives
Exactly what "race" is that, longtimevegan? Osama Obama is half white/half black. So which is it? Better yet, prove it. I'm happy to see the leftists come out in force and eat their own. It will give American's an opportunity to see the stark difference between those of us who value personal freedom against those such as Fulkerson who want to control just about evry aspect of our lives even down to how big the soda containers are. You wish to live under a system governed by the Fulkerson's of this world? You can always relocate to Cuba, North Korea or some Arab state. Me? I prefer the good old USA where we still have some semblance of freedom of religion, speeech and association. Now that the cockroaches are coming out into the sunlight, it's going to be easy to squash them like the bugs they are. Vote Mitt!
Sgt Crock...
So extremism is fine for righties, but when when lefties respond in kind, then they should be ridiculed?? hahaha
overheard in a room at the tea party...
"Them dang progressives are stealing back all our stolen ground"...
"Yeah, and they're doin' it OUR way!! ...WTF?"
Thanks Ivfacts for sharing your views. More to your point, the Tea Party is doing exactly what you say the leftlists are doing, eating their own. The Tea Party has replaced many long time Republicans, most recently, Richard Lugar from Indiana. If I have offended you, I apologize. Base on you comments, I doubt it!
You sound as if your familiar with the meaning of the word Racist based on your use of words like Coachroach, and Good Old USA and most notable, Fulkerson (to be fair, you didn't state which Fulkerson). You know something about Cuba, North Korea, or some Arab State? If not, please do not reference areas of the world where people are suffering and you have not experienced. You live in America, what do you know of real suffering? Huh? Really my friend, take the remote our of your hand and put the beer can on the table...Really!
The world is changing my friend. If you were in service to the country at some point, you have helped with this change. If you are receiving any financial assistance from any Federal, State or Local entity, you are part of the system you talk of. You like most people in America are benefiting from the government in some way. I guest you want your country back? ....Well, who took it, and where did it go! Come on my friend, really!
Look, I am sick and tired of the Tea Party demonizing. The left took and made a power shift in 08, scared the livin H..out of people and the movement was to correct that. How many households in this country are trying to just put food on the table and gas in their vehicle and know, that all of it has sky rocketed. How many know what has happened to the cost of Health Care in anticipation of what will happen to Health Care. How many love their new Power Bills, water bills, gas bills. This is "the progressive" outlook. We are being shammed and we will never be able to make this correct. We must try..Sad, there used to be "center of the road" dems and r's. Right now, there is nothing that we should be spending on, we are broke...and need to understand that. People, 4.2% unemployment in the Public Sector, those that work for us, is not acceptable when we have 8.1% Private Sector nation wide. Stop and think about this, and the "jobs bill" only promotes more "Public Sector" employment. (Continue the thought process, these people make more, retire with more, and we pay for it.) NO MORE PROGRESSIVES..the tank is full.
"..., especially for those who want more revenue for government," is another way of saying taking more money from the taxpayers.
The Progressive Party in an americianized way of say european socialist party. Socialism leads to a tryannical government, loss of liberities and governmemnt control of individuals lives. And it doesn't work, never has..never will. It doesn't sprend the wealth, its sprends poverty. Just look at Cuba, North Korea, et al... this is where we are heading. For Progressives, the ends justify the mean - lying, cheating, stealing is their way of life if it means changing US into their utopian society.
Where the 1% brings boatloads of cash for influence, the Progressives use legions of citizen activists. Which one do YOU think the Founding Fathers would approve of?
Of course "progressive" is just a euphemism for hardcore, leftwing socialist extremists.
Progressives and liberals, the left is not your problem, Mr. Henry. We did not "take over" in 2008. We tried to correct the course of the nation which had gone terribly off-course in the previous administration. Those who created the mess use your fear of the left in order to keep all of us in the middle class slipping backward toward the bottom. We've lost rights and purchasing power, the equity in our homes and much of our 401k's. The left did not do this, Mr. Henry. Until the Tea Party and progressives understand that we both have a common foe, we'll continue to lose to those who really own the country, and our decent down the economic ladder will continue.
Longtimevegan, black, white, brown, yellow or any other skin color or race, anyone who's done what that imbecile has, needs to get a size 13 up the backside. Obama hasn't done nothing positive for Americans, he has worked for a select few, those people make a career sucking off the system and we're sick of paying for their lazy pathetic life's.
I am also sick people of people using the infamous race card; racism only exists today because of the liberals, nobody else but them. The only ones I see working in crop industry today would be the illegals, is that slavery and are we expected to pay for their choices?
I don't care what color their skin is or their nationality, if they're productive members of society and stand on their own two feet, they earned it, if they have an honest disability then they need our help and money. On the other hand if it is one of the drummed up disabilities used by the liberals so they don't have to hold their trolls accountable, they deserve nothing. If they use the color of skin or nationality for not succeeding or being poor, they deserve nothing. They need to get off their lazy butts and do something about and stop expecting everyone to take care of their lazy butts.
I for one hope the liberals and the progressives duel it out, it doesn't matter because Americans won't stand for either of them. They have Obama and clan to thank for that, he has sealed the fate for them for generations to come and that makes me happy -- happy -- happy!
John Lee was the one Representative who continued to veto the State Lottery as the bill came by him. Good riddance. I made a special effort to show up and vote him out. Return Nevada to it's citizens and kick the thieves out.
This is where both sides of the "extreme" miss the point of how to exercise Democracy. Senator Lindsey Graham said today on Face the Nation, that "Revenues" must be part of the solution to our debt crisis. John McCain said today on Meet the Press that the Republican presidential candidate must address emigration and offer suggestions for a solution to the problem.
If these two Republicans can see that one must be reasonable, why can't the Republican Leadership like Boehner, McConnell and Cantor say the same like-kind statements?
Will the extremes target McCain and Graham for reaching out to the other side? Or more likely, will the billionaires target them for removal or submission?
Eventually the "progressives", if allowed, will attempt to suspend the 1st and 2nd amendments of the constitution. That will be when true patriots step up and take the country back. That day is not far off.
@it2shot:
Before we can address our problems, reasonable people who are in power must first come to the table. Saying the word---Race, makes people uncomfortable. If your uneasy, that is understandable. Race is a long unresolved issue in America. We have never seem the extreme disrespect of our government and to our President as we are seeing in today's America.
Senator John McCain said today on Meet the Press, the decision by the Supreme Court on Citizen United is very bad of our country. Unlimited amounts of money pouring into US campaigns. We don't know where the money is coming from. Do "you" have millions of dollar to pour into a Presidential campaign? I don't think so! Who has millions of dollars to pour into a presidential campaign? You know who, people that want "their" interest represented! Stop being naive! Or better yet, stop being stupid, and open your eyes to the larger picture of who wants power! A lot of this has to do with details, like color and race, spreading fear at the lower levels of society.
Many do not agree with all that Obama has done. I would bet you, you have benefited from the decisions coming out of the White House. I would bet you, like many others, you have gone against your own interest just to be on the other side of Obama, or more to the point, against President.
More to the point, are you on any kind of financial assistance from Federal, State or Local entities or government? Are you on any kind of heath care plan? Do you vote or participate in Local Government? You all need to stop biting the hand that feeds you. Be part of the solution, be reasonable.
We all need to start being Americans, if your one that haven't been in past. Or start learning to be an America!
"Look, I am sick and tired of the Tea Party demonizing. The left took and made a power shift in 08, scared the livin H..out of people and the movement was to correct that."
------------------------------
And Sarah Palin and Sharron Angle grifted good coin off you republican rubes, i can have a Las Vegas respect for that.
Selah..
The reason progressive and socialist policy fails is they don't require any responsibility or accountability from anyone. Europe is about to collapse from those policies followed by california, illinois, michigan and new york, although I'm sure the taxpayer will be forced to bail out those states, until the federal government collapses as well.
If the progressives really take over the democratic party, true conservatives will leave the right in droves. Progressive values and conservative values overlap in a much higher percentage of issues than republican values.
Conservatives know you want to be able to hunt and live forever. Republicans want to put an immediate price tag on everything in sight, and want to have authority over womens vagina's via legislation, among other sins.
Conservatives are busy people, but they know the truth when they see it. This is a good start to repairing America
Re Sgt Rock: "if this were the teaparty booting out a moderate RINO...". Lee was "booted out" because he was a right wing ideologue posing as a Democrat. Just as the 'baggers booted out any "moderate RINO", the dems are attempting to do the same in their party. What's the problem? Don't worry, the piece of crap Lee will finally do what he should have done years ago: switch parties.
1) In Wisconsin the Senate is in the hands of the Democrats.
2) In Arizona, the tea party candidate loses to the Democrat in the race to fill the seat vacated when a self-proclaimed "anti-government" activist shot a Democratic Congresswoman.
3)In North Dakota voters voted to keep property tax by a huge margin.
The teapots are washed up.
Hopefully the Greeks will vote in socialism and dump the Euro.
Re mred. Are you "Red" politically? Your three numbered observations were astute. The comment about Greeks voting in "socialism and dump the Euro"; simplistic, and would not bode well for Europe in general, and the United States as well.
Longtimevegan, why don't you take the time to "preview" your comments? You are nearly incoherent in your comments and you have trouble with spelling, as well. Apparently you skipped school on the days grammar & spelling were taught. BTW, you're no friend of mine. If you were, you'd know I never drink alcohol. It's a personal preference as I've seen the havoc alcohol can cause.
It certainly looks like Jerry Fink skipped school when grammar and spelling were taught. His 7:09 post is a mess of sentence construction and missing commas. The plural of American isn't American's; "Every" is misspelled; and the plural of Fulkerson isn't Fulkerson's.
Thanks Jerry for validating the posted comments based on your standards. (Your comments pretty much explain your standards)
Bottom line, the comments were in response to your comments which you did not reply. Maybe you had no answer because the comments were true as to who you are.
By the way, I used voice recognition software because of several physical challenges. What's your story!