Why Does the National GOP Hate Nevada? Part Dos

OK. I assume you've read yesterday's "background" of this issue. No? The go read it HERE first.

Here are some theories we've been kicking around down at the Bar:

• All About Harry - Since the Early Caucus was Reid's idea, the GOP is avoiding the State and it's huge Swing State Prize in an attempt to crush Harry's dreams. GRADE: Possible
• The GOP Are Dumb - Although many down here at ZSS Inc believe this, their is NO WAY the GOP thinktanker have not noticed the need for Obama to win NV to be reelected. GRADE: Not Likely.
• Market Driven Grassroots - God knows the supply-sider conservatives think markets can do anything. But do they really think a successful Caucus and organized volunteer base will simply manifest itself magically, without SOME kind of planning? GRADE: Probable
• We Hate Mormons - In Nevada, bet on the Mormon. Mitt Romney is gonna win here again. There is no doubt. Does the heavy Evangelical oriented RNC leadership want to downplay the enviable LDS-led outcome in Nevada? GRADE: Smells true
• Viva Nevada! - Is it possible that the GOP ThinkTankers are simply looking down the road at an unwinnable Latino heavy Nevada, and preemptively writing off the Silver State usefulness? GRADE: Posssible
• Slow Advisers At Play- Conservates don't like change. That is literally why they call themselves that. Is it possible that their base political orientation is disallowing them to move on a clear opportunity like building a groundswell on the cheap in a swing state? GRADE: Might be part of it.
• Fear of Pronouncement Errors - Are the GOPers afraid of accidental mispronouncing "Nevada" and being ridiculed by pitchfork wielding locals? GRADE; No, This is The Joke at the End of the Post™.

Why Does the National GOP Hate Nevada? Part Uno

Been paying attention lately? If ya have, ya know what I'm talking about.

A little background first.
In 2006ish Democrats, led by Harry Reid made a move to make Nevada an "Early" Caucus state along with South Carolina, adding to the well established early voters' Iowa and New Hampshire. On the surface an Early voting designation allows a state to "Have a voice in who gets nominated" by "making the candidates aware of OUR issues" blah blah blah.
That's what you have been fed. And it sounds great. Us Nevadans love hearing our name on national news stories. We love to feel special and unique just like everybody else.

However, the REAL prize of an Early Voting status is: Candidates come here. They show up at parades and BBQs and Town Halls and everything else, in a courting process in hopes of winning over those Caucus voters. They energize the base, create passionate (unpaid) volunteers and set the stage for victory in November. And of the 4 early voting states, NV is the ONLY swing state. Obama won Nevada so easily in 2008 BECAUSE the Democrats pushed their Caucus so hard, and successfully mined the results of an army of supporters.

Where was the GOP during this? Good question.

And mores the point, where are they today? Other than the free pro-GOP bombardment from KOLO web page and the RGJ/AP feed, the GOP seems to be blowing off a huge opportunity to organize this cycle. And this seems to be ignored, if not encouraged by the RNC in the recent CaucusGate where the entire GOP Universe ganged up on NV and threated a boycotte while blaming us 'cause FLORIDA moved their Primary up against GOP rules.

But why? Why does the GOP side with New Hampshire, a solid voting Democratic Stronghold instead of a freely swinging and until 2008 GOP stronghold Nevada? I understand why the GOP wouldn't want to say even one bad word about perennial swing state Florida (and lose at the least some serious campaign donors),

Well, I have some theories. And for that, tune in tomorrow.

The NV GOP Drop the Caucus Ball. Into a Snakehole.

We all expect the Nevada Republican Party to screw up. It is, after all, what they do best.

But they are taking it to a whole new level this cycle. There is plenty of coverage over New Hampshire-Gate, but not much has been made about the whole Idiotic GOP Caucus plan. So here goes...

For those of you unfamiliar with how a successful Caucus works, the idea pioneered by the Nevada Democratic Party in 2008 was: get as many people to turn out as possible, especially non-partisans. Register as many people on Caucus day as possible, especially non-partisans. Make the attendees socialize in a big, noisy hall and force them to literally "stand" for their candidate. A little disorder is OK in exchange for excitement and relevance on a national scale.

The Nevada Republican Party has managed to set up a Caucus Program that will achieve NONE of those points. For example, if you want to be part of the NV Caucus, you will need to be a Republican for 30 IN ADVANCE of January 14th, and you better be prepared to prove it buddy! Stupid, paranoid decision.

The NV GOP rules require a secret ballot: they again will be using voting machines. No Noise. No excitement. No "standing" for anything. Stupid, missing-the-point-of-a-Caucus plan.

And best of all, by not coordinating with the National GOP and other states, the Nevada GOP has set itself up and given "poorer" GOP candidates a way to avoid the cost having to campaign in Nevada, while "sucking up" to vain, egocentric, New Hampshire voters.

The lack of campaigning by potential GOP nominees in the run up to the Caucus will absolutely hurt the Republicans in November, in both a missed opportunity to build a base of volunteers, as well as missing the chance to dominate the local headlines with free newsprint with stories about visiting candidates.

Ironically Nevada is the only one of the 4 Official "Early Primary" states that is also potential swing state in November. The prize of an early voting status, is to parley that status into a win on Election Day. The GOP botching the Caucus may cost them any chance at a Red Nevada in 2012.

I used to think the NV GOP, and maybe the National GOP tried to downplay the 2008 Caucus on purpose to keep NV from being relevant that year. It was the DCCC's big plan to "Win the West" after all. Now I think the GOP are just horrible at what they do. Their "Market-based" election plan demonstrates exactly what can go wrong with markets: when left in the hands of idiots they tend to crash.

Is Zeke a Fossil?

Seriously.

I mean, who READS a partisan political blog in 2011? Liberal Loonies? Conservative Wingnuts? Both?

Well, not me. Anymore that is.

I think the partisan back and forth has effectively dulled us all into submission. It is just a droning noise now when blasting out of a radio or TV or Wall Street Journal, something that most people now just turn off.

So is Zeke Says So a throwback to an old time? A Dinosaur tooth? An Australopithecus afarensis jawbone? A Dot Com stock certificate?

Probably.

But I do know this; bad things happen in the dark.

And I have a big flashlight.
Ahem.

So yes, Zeke Says So IS a fossil, but like the Crocodile a LIVING fossil. And like a croc, I am still pissed off. And I have teeth.

See you tomorrow.