A Republican House Divided
Two inexplicable events happened this past weekend here in Southern Nevada.
First, a heavily-armed mob numbering more than a thousand gathered just outside the small town of Bunkerville, which is about 80 miles from Las Vegas. The mob gathered in support of an outlaw rancher who admits he owes the national treasury more than a million dollars in fees and back payments. He’s openly defied several court orders and continues to ignore federal laws which presumably govern everyone else, but obviously don’t apply to him.
About the same time, a similar number of Nevada Republicans held their semi-annual convention at the South Point Casino, in Las Vegas. Delegates and party loyalists met on Saturday and Sunday to hammer out a new state platform and endorse a slate of candidates for the upcoming primaries.
While these events might seem unrelated, the two groups that assembled a little more than an hour’s drive apart have essentially come to define today’s conservative movement — not just here in Nevada, but across many western states.
The ranching protest was organized by the so-called “Tea Party,” a misguided group of political misfits held together by a few common paranoias — like the federal government taking away their assault weapons combined with fears that America turning into a giant Marxist-Leninist commune. Among those who gathered in support of the tax-dodging rancher who’s been breaking the law for the past two decades were several militia groups, based out of state. According to reports, several of those present were “dressed in camouflage and carried rifles and sidearms.”
Incredibly, the armed mob ended up winning — at least for the time being. They openly declared victory on Sunday, after the federal government (specifically the Bureau of Land Management) backed down from an apparent standoff. Initially, the conflict stemmed from a local rancher who allowed his cattle to graze on federal lands for more than two decades, while not paying the customary fees for such access. The BLM rightfully stepped in and recently tried to stop the freeloading. The BLM also demanded back payment. Of course, the Tea Party saw this dispute differently (how exactly, I don’t know — they’re apparently against a lot of stuff that makes society function).
Perhaps the dispute is now over. We shall see. Still, I wonder what the reaction would have been if things had been slightly different. For instance, what if the protesters had been black or Latino, instead of white? Imagine those protestors “dressed in camouflage and carried rifles and sidearms.” I wonder — what do you think the public (and government) reaction would have been? Care to venture a guess?
Here’s another thought — what would the protestors say if I let my dogs wander into the rancher’s living room and shit all over his nice new rug? Or, let my pets wander anywhere else that doesn’t belong to me to relieve themselves. Would they come to my rescue if the government stepped in and tried to enforce the law?
Ponder those questions as we move on.
Which next brings us to the Nevada Republican Party, a house now seriously divided. Republicans are split into two major factions. The majority is made up of the old-guard establishment, which is the traditional power base of the Republican Party (this wing includes the sour-smelling albatross named Sheldon Adelson). The opposite faction is the Libertarian-leaning, much younger group of political activists who formed the so-called “Ron Paul Revolution,” back in 2008 and 2012. Libertarians appear to be gaining support, especially here in Nevada where it doesn’t take many additional votes to create a tipping point.
The trouble for Republicans is — these two factions appear to have irreconcilable differences. They’re bitterly divided on foreign policy, and virtually at war on social issues. Old-guard establishment Republicans, who are much more closely in line with the national party, want to maintain the traditional sacred language that’s been the party’s foundation for many years — mostly notably longtime Republican opposition to abortion and gay marriage. However, Libertarians tend to strongly favor legalized abortion and government-sanctioned gay marriage.
Surprisingly this past weekend, the Libertarian wing prevailed here in Nevada. They were able to successfully remove language in the state party platform which had previously voiced opposition to abortion and gay marriage. While this isn’t likely to happen at the GOP’s national convention, the shift does illustrate an emerging transformation within the conservative movement. One has to wonder how much longer Libertarians will continue to try working within the Republican Party sandbox, which isn’t likely to embrace these new ideas so long as Christian fundamentalists continue to stranglehold the party on most social issues.
Nonetheless, for those thinking that a new form of Republicanism is emerging, there was at least one ugly reminder at the Nevada state convention which pretty much sums up who’s still in charge. In what can only be described as a mind-boggling decision that openly squashes equal opportunity for average people to run for public office, the state party collectively decided to endorse its own “official slate” of candidates, even before the state primaries are held. In other words, before Republican voters have a chance to go to the polls and vote for themselves who they prefer to run for office in the November general election, political hacks who gathered at the South Point Casino got to make their own narrow selections in advance and post “official” endorsements. So much for democracy. So much for the average Republican influencing the political process, at least until the time comes when the party will start begging for donations and ask for volunteers.
Indeed, while it’s nice to see more Republicans finally coming around to 21st Century thought on social issues, make no mistake about who’s still in charge of the party. The Republican ship continues to be driven by a rudder of gun nuts looking for any cause to pick a fight and party hacks who have no interest in letting the electoral process play itself out. And, Nevada is on the front lines of the conflict.
The rancher claimed his family was there before the feds
The native americans were there before he was.
Spot on commentary about the reality of political life on the right. They are desperate and flailing about for solutions. Just wait until the November election when we show them the real mood of the country. I’ll loook forward to your analysis of our victory. FORWARD!
I too watched with dismay as those freedom loving infidels were allowed to disrespect the government. I suspect that Janet Reno would have dealt with them in a different and more efficient manner. It seems that every 20 years or so we need a show of force to keep the patriots in line.