Nevada Legislature: Who’s the RINO now?
The 2015 session of the Nevada Legislature has ended, and it produced enough drama and comedy to keep us political junkies fully entertained for 120 glorious days.
But the comedy continues as the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party are busy casting aspersions against the very popular Gov. Brian Sandoval and the majority of the Republicans in the Legislature who approved a $1.1 billion tax increase. The favorite friendly-fire insult of the far right is to call them RINOs, short for Republican In Name Only.
There was a time when this label could seriously hurt a GOP office holder. But as those who strive to purify the party have pulled it so far to the right, they have veered outside of where the mainstream of the Republican Party has traditionally found success.
It’s endless hilarity to listen to the likes of Chuck Muth and his radical right-wing rabble rousers fire shots at their own party leaders for supposedly not being right enough, all while worshiping at the mantle of their hero Ronald Reagan.
What this gang seems forget is that in their perfect world, Sir Ronnie would be considered a RINO, too. Reagan raised taxes 11 times while president, and also instituted the largest tax increase in California history while governor.
But of course, this crew pays far more attention to ideology than actual facts. That makes them a source for endless comedy, and a headache for those trying to govern.
While the RINO is charging at the so-called establishment Republicans, maybe it’s time they grab that beast by the horn, turn it around and send it back where it came from.
When a majority of the party’s legislators and the governor stand firmly behind something — and seem to be supported in doing so by the voters — it’s the critics who are the real RINOs. After all, these radical conservatives have far more in common with the Libertarians and the Birchers than they do with the traditionally pragmatic party of Lincoln.
The establishment Republicans invited the radicals into their party after getting trounced in 2006 and 2008. Fueled by their hatred of Barack Obama, they breathed life back into the GOP.
However, these idealogues have worn out their welcome, steering the party in directions that are as illogical as they are unpopular. They have created litmus tests forcing candidates to swear that tax cuts solve all problems, climate change is a hoax, and a host of other radical positions that will prove to be their unmaking.
Perhaps this is the moment when the establishment Republicans rejoin the reality-based world and take back their party. Maybe Sandoval can use some of his political capital to help lead the rest of his party back from the edge. Saddle up the RINO and let the crazies ride it back to their basements where they can trade conspiracy theories about Obama’s birth certificate, far from the levers of power.
If that happens, the Nevada Legislature will be a more boring place. But it’s time we leave the comedy to the professionals.