Final thoughts before the Republican caucus

Republicans are a zany bunch, and the events of this presidential nominating contest get wackier by the day. It’s starting to feel as though we aren’t watching a nominating contest as much as we are feeding quarters into a game of political Whack-a-Mole, and few see fitness for the office, electability, or mental clarity as reasons for picking a presidential candidate. There isn’t any rhyme or reason left in this contest, and I’m not just talking about the candidates.

It tickles me that a man who has spent is his entire life making gobs of money in the private sector is considered the “establishment” guy while a man who has been a creature of the Beltway since the 1970s is considered some sort of crusading outsider sweeping in on his trusty steed to deliver us from Obama and his big government cronies.

None of this makes any sense, and no matter how many times I shake my head, close my eyes and stick my fingers in my ears, I still feel like I’m immersed in some odd fairy tale as Frothy, Horny, Dopey and Boring sway in unison to some song I don’t know the words to.

Gingrich’s rise from the ashes has had an unexpected effect on the Silver State, however. Thanks to Newt’s resurgence, Nevada’s caucuses are at least semi-relevant again. Our votes are going to count for something to someone, but what Nevada really needs to insert in this process is a bit of a history lesson.

This is a show we’ve seen here in Nevada. The 2010 U.S. Senate race also saw a well funded, sufficiently liked frontrunner with money to burn, facing off against a political has-been who had long been written off as too goofy to actually win the nomination.

She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named rose from the cheap seats like a rocket, tarring and feathering former casino executive Sue Lowden as some sort of moderate establishment hack who was secretly doing the bidding of Harry Reid because 25 years ago she donated a few bucks to his campaign. She rose to promi- nence backed by a tremendous amount of tea party hubris and between chants of “socialism!” and “Saul Alinsky!” she never once stopped to notice that her campaign, with all its cheap gaudy parlor tricks and little bags of red, white and blue jelly beans, never really got off the launch pad.

Democrats from sea to shining sea watched with glee, because with every point Lowden slipped in the polls, they were one point closer to reelecting their kingpin, Sen. Harry Reid. I can’t help but think the same thing is happening this time. Obama, although not in the same trouble as Reid was at the time, is breathing a little easier knowing that Newt Gingrich might actually get the nomination.

Is Newt Gingrich the same creature as She-Who-Must-Not-BeNamed? Not exactly. Newt so far has been smart enough to pay people who play politics for a living to advise him, but that only goes so far. He never shies away from a microphone, and when he’s not bashing the “liberal media” for asking questions he doesn’t feel like answering, he has a tendency to wander a bit out into the weeds.

I’ve said before that few—if any—have a healthier knowledge of the workings of the United States government than Gingrich, but this isn’t a secret. The PR wizards propping up President Obama are looking for a two-fer, and if it’s Gingrich, they will make sure the conversation has little to do with the issues. Can you blame them, really? Open marriages, divorces, poor kids cleaning bathrooms—who really wants to talk about policy?

Remember, kids, the Republican caucus is Saturday, Feb. 4. By hook or by crook, get there, cast your vote, and let’s prove to the country that we have the stones to play in the political big leagues. Ω

Friends aid library with $100k

A lot of public institutions have suffered during the recession. The states’ higher-education budget—down by about a third—is often cited as a particularly egregious case.

So the cuts endured by the Washoe County Library—more than 40 percent in five years—have to stand as among the more severe. Its budget in the current fiscal year is $7,851,000. That compares with $12,587,517 in 2006-2007.

The library has a private group formed to support its functions and last week Friends of Washoe County Library rode to the rescue with $100,000. Never was the money more needed. Friends is the group that holds huge book sales a couple of times a year to raise money. In fact, its next sale is Feb. 11-12. Details are available at www.washoelibraryfriends.org. Since providing the library with $4,000 in 1991, Friends has given $1.4 million.

Food for tax

The Nevada Tax Commission is rejecting casino claims that comped meals for preferred guests should be free of sales tax.

The commission decision at its Jan. 23 meeting came on agenda item 4e, in which Boyd Gaming sought a refund of taxes its casinos had already paid. Boyd argued that because the meals are not sold, sales tax was inappropriate. But the state countered that there is no such legal requirement and that only gamblers who pay money to a casino while playing can obtain the free meals.

The decision could have wide impact because most of the state’s casinos have put in similar claims amounting to millions.

The sales tax on comps has considerable political support. Even Jim Gibbons, who as governor pursued “no new taxes” policy, wanted the casinos to pay the tax on comps. Boyd is expected to go to court to overturn the commission decision.

Local girl goes to the big city

Actress Dawn Wells, a Reno High School graduate and former Miss Nevada, is about to begin work on a play in New York, Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Village Voice columnist Michael Musto last week ran an item seeking a sublet for her “in the West 40s area, near the theater she’ll be performing at. … Serious respondents only. Come on, you can dine off this for years!”

Wells was also scheduled to play Sarah Palin in last month’s Sheep Dip show in Sparks. She was forced to cancel her appearance in because she was working on a movie, It’s Our Time, that did not wrap on schedule.

Sheep Dip is an annual show that pokes fun at the previous year’s events in Nevada and elsewhere.

Wells has recently finished a book, What Would Mary Ann Do?

She describes it as “a conversation between Dawn and Mary Ann,” her wholesome character on Gilligan’s Island, about “today’s world, Mary Ann and Dawn’s values, etcetera.”

Hickey takes reins

Republicans in the Nevada Assembly have turned back to the urban areas for leadership. Washoe’s Pat Hickey will be the new GOP floor leader—assuming he is reelected—at the 2013 legislature.

Hickey, a painting contractor is now serving his second term. His first term was in 1996-1998, but he did not seek reelection because his business had suffered from demands on his time.Hickey is author of a memoir, TahoeBoy, about his experiences with the Unification Church.

He replaces Pete Goichoechea, whose district included part or all of seven small counties and a sliver of Washoe. Hickey’s district runs from the Mayberry area through south Reno to the Storey county line.

—Dennis Myers