State Democratic Party Chair (and uncommitted superdelegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention) Jill Derby has scheduled a press conference for Wednesday afternoon to announce whether or not she will tie up Rep. Dean Heller's campaign warchest in NV CD2 (The Bumpkin District) by running against him again so that he can't contribute as heavily to other War Party congressional candidates as he otherwise might.
If Derby does take another go at Heller, and if she raises enough money, who knows, she might even make the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee spend money on Heller that they would prefer to spend elsewhere, like, say, on career politician Jon Porter in NV CD2.
I think Jill has more of a chance against Heller than any other candidate. It was close last time and she has name recognition.
Posted by: | 02/19/2008 at 05:03 PM
I don't see anyone else stepping up to take on the empty suit Heller - and, I agree, Derby has a far better chance, now that she's a national level political veteran, with her experience from her previous congressional campaign.
Even if she loses in CD #2, as Hugh points out, she will force Heller and the RNCCC to spend funds they would have used to support the other empty suit Porter - and that will help Robert Daskas win in CD #3!
I just hope more of the people who are registered as Democrats, and call themselves Democrats, in CD #2 get off their butts and volunteer to do the field work required to win this time!
Posted by: Johnathan L. Abbinett | 02/19/2008 at 05:13 PM
I'm willing to get off my butt and make damn sure voters in CD2 know Jill Derby is under multiple investigations by state and federal authorities at this very moment.
The LV Sun has a new article on the shape Derby has left Nevada Dems in except that the figures are grossly underexaggerated. It may be closer to $1,000,000 than what they are quoting.
And for this Derby and the Douglas Drunks think she should go to Congress? I'm willing to let the voters decide once they understand Derby currently faces possible criminal charges for conduct as NSDP Chair.
btw, Derby running will hurt Daskas a lot as they compete for very limited funds.
Posted by: texexnv@gmail.com | 02/19/2008 at 05:35 PM
Hmm JLA. It seems as though you are the one this time who does not understand, or maybe dose not appreciate, what people have done. Jill Derby won Washoe County, but she lost North Las Vegas. She is not going to do well anywhere else in the state except those two places. That is just how it goes, not even with the right of center policies that she supported in her 06 campaign advertisements.
She needed the North Las Vegans to get off their buts and vote. We Democrats supported the crap out of her up here and gave her Washoe. Your turn.
Posted by: OldScratch | 02/19/2008 at 05:39 PM
Just wondering why there is support for Daskas when he is just the next Harry puppet? Why continue the problems in this state with putting another Reid anointee in office? I don't believe it is a good move.
Posted by: OldScratch | 02/19/2008 at 05:46 PM
Dear "Old Scratch" I don't live in NORTH Las Vegas - I'm one of the "little peasant peoples" that's been doing the hard field work in CD #3 to close the margin and turn it blue!
So, you need to direct your remarks to the inhabitants, occupants and so-called citizens of CD #2 (as THEY are the only people that can actually vote for THEIR candidate) - hoping somebody else will do the work others are responsible for is probably not the best plan - I know, I know, then, there's the "able to respond" responsibility thingy!
I have no idea where you get the "Harry puppet" or "annointed" idea about Daskas - you got somebody better qualified in mind?
Posted by: Johnathan L. Abbinett | 02/19/2008 at 06:00 PM
First, Well the Clark County Democrats who live in North Las Vegas need to get off their butts and volunteer and vote.
Second, Oh my god JLA! Have you looked at the hand card? MMM it has Harry right there on it. I don't live in CD3. That is your job to find someone who qualified. I just didn't understand why folks bitch and moan about how the party is this or that or the way things are going in this state and continue to support the politicians that are trying to keep it that way.
Posted by: OldScratch | 02/19/2008 at 06:17 PM
OH! Okey-Dokey then - that explains everything!
Posted by: Johnathan L. Abbinett | 02/19/2008 at 06:23 PM
The party ignored Andrew Martin and Harry Reid's handpicked guy is Robert Daskas. Took him around in DC, gave check. Dan Hart is on board and Rebecca Lamb; all Harry Reid Inc people. Daskas was Harry's 8th choice.
This is Harry trying to handpick CD03 again. 0-3 with one guy in federal prison. Harry supports Defense of Marriage, hates reproductive choice and really hates gay people so he went with Robert.
Robert's now carrying the torch of all of Harry's hatreds.
Remember the Harry Reid Inc cheerleading for Dario? He's doing the exact same thing with Robert, poor guy.
You either lose or go to federal prison with Harry Reid behind you in CD03.
Posted by: MikeZ | 02/19/2008 at 06:26 PM
Hey Mike, I'm just saying anyone and everyone trying to run for office would probably take any sort of help they could get from their political parties current State Senators and Congress critters - wouldn't you?
I can not imagine Daskas being worse than Porter - so, who else you got? With all due respect to Martin (and I do like the guy) - he's not even in the same league with Daskas when it comes to being able to fight the good fight!
So, who else do we have? No one - AGAIN!
Hell, I'd take money from anyone that I legally could take money from - and I'd only promise them that I would keep their contact info at hand nearby and would return their calls (and nothing more) - then I'd report every damn dime!
But, then, candidates like that rarely get elected and it's even rarer that they get re-elected!
Posted by: Johnathan L. Abbinett | 02/19/2008 at 06:39 PM
Mike - are you saying Daskas is not pro choice?
Posted by: Just wondering | 02/19/2008 at 06:45 PM
Harry asked Daskas to run. That is a bit more than taking money from Harry. He has a commitment to Harry. Harry anointed him. Prays for the same team even.
Posted by: OldScratch | 02/19/2008 at 06:45 PM
So what if Harry asked Daskas to run "Old Scratch" - so, WHAT?
Every cycle the party tries to recruit good candidates and, inevitably, we go through the "A" list and "B" and "C" lists quickly getting nothing but "No Thankyou" err, "No Way" and "Do you really think I'm THAT crazy" and "Who in their right mind would want to spend that much time traveling and trying to work in a dysfunctional and corrupt environment with lousy weather like D.C." - so, then, we wait to see who steps up and volunteers...
...enter Andrew Martin - and almost no one got excited or was overly impressed...
...finally, we get a guy like Daskas whose both willing and capable to run the gauntlet!
Well, I sure as hell would not recommend anyone trying to run without the support of Harry and Shelley!
Did Shelley ask Jill Derby to run? Did Shelley ask Daskas to run? It really does not matter to me - what's important is that we get behind the best candidates we do have running!
Remember the two basic goals: Elect progressive candidates AND win on issues!
Posted by: Johnathan L. Abbinett | 02/19/2008 at 07:00 PM
I'm just saying Daskas is a Reid recruit and carries all of Harry's baggage.
I would run for the hills if I were Robert. Voters in CD03 will be casting those votes just as much against Harry Reid this year as Jon Porter.
Harry's blessing is political poison in this state. He is a political pariah.
The guy at the bus stop would be a better choice than Porter---but you are known by the company you keep, and your political patrons and sponsors.
I don't know if Robert is pro or anti choice...I do know he's got a 170 yr old ton of baggage with him now.
He can't win being Harry's boy in this state
Posted by: MikeZ | 02/19/2008 at 07:05 PM
I am looking at a bigger picture. If you run into a wall over and over trying to get some "progressive candidates" elected or "win on issues" and continue to loose, or the so called progressive candidates turn out to be not that progressive then maybe you should look at that wall you keep running into. Figure out why the wall is there. Harry is that wall JLA. Oh, I know how difficult it is to get somebody to run. Try to get it done when your part of the state is republican as hell. It is not just about getting your Democrats to vote when you have a majority. Maybe the problem with our candidates are who is asking and who holds all the purse strings. Get the control of the purse and maybe we could encourage a few real progressives to run and not just be discouraged by the reality of a campaign with no money. Take on the bigger fight and quit being satisfied with the crap Harry feeds you.
Posted by: OldScratch | 02/19/2008 at 07:15 PM
Mike I must respectfully disagree - as I really doubt if very many voters would even make any connection with Reid and Daskas - so, the "baggage" factor is a red herring.
I've been working CD #3 for several years now and I know what my neighbors want - CHANGE! They are fed up with Porter and with the numbers in our advantage this cycle Daskas should win - regardless of the hard-on you've got for Harry!
So, speaking of Harry, who you got lined up to run against him in 2010? I'm betting, given the track record of the NSDP, no one will step up and be willing and able to unseat him?
So, whatcha' 'gonna do - who ya 'gonna call?
I'd rather spend my energy, time and talent focused on going after Ensign, Porter and Heller!
Posted by: Johnathan L. Abbinett | 02/19/2008 at 07:16 PM
"Maybe the problem with our candidates are who is asking and who holds all the purse strings."
Same problem with the legislature.
Posted by: Just wondering | 02/19/2008 at 07:21 PM
Ensign is never going to have a real opponent, unless they can self fund, as long as your buddy Harry is around.
Posted by: OldScratch | 02/19/2008 at 07:22 PM
Dear "Old Scratch" - I've never been one to eat crap - let alone be satifisfied by eating crap - from ANYONE!
When I started the Vets Caucus and first spoke with Harry Reid he was very humble about not being a veteran himself and asked me what I wanted him to do - that was very refreshing...
...I said, "Harry, I want you to do two things: one, do NOT create anymore veterans unnecessarily, and two, get the V.A. fully funded for our Disabled Vets - so, I am working on some "bigger fights" within the "bigger picture" - thankyou very much!
Harry knows he's failed at meeting both of my requests - I don't have to tell Harry where he failed in allowing America to get into an unnecessary, unethical, immoral and Unjust War in Iraq - believe me he knows AND he knows specifically where we are STILL falling short in funding the VA and taking care of our Disabled Vets!
And I can NOT say that about Ensign, Porter or Heller - they obviously don't even really care!
Harry will be remembered for his successes and failures and being a transitionary SML with a very slim margin - so, stick to the facts and be fair in your criticism will ya?
Yes, we have some serious problems in the NSDP - but, the enemy are Republicans - especially those Republicans that are doing exactly what Bin Laden wants them to do! Which is to say, fall prey to the taunting of a bully, pre-emtively invade Iraq, and set up America to become bankrupt (which is exactly how we beat the Soviet Union and ended the Cold War) - Bush and his buddies are just FOOLS!
Posted by: Johnathan L. Abbinett | 02/19/2008 at 07:28 PM
Old Scratch, here's the latest county by county registered voter tally. Don't think you will find one county in CD2 that is blue including Washoe. Most of the rurals are 2:1 red including Derby's home court Douglas County.
As Mike says, carrying Reid's baggage is an awesome liability and probably nowhere in the state like up north and the rurals. If there is a bullseye on anybody's back up here it is Reid as he is equally despised by Dems and Repugs. If Derby is going to use Reid all she can like this weekend in Clark County she is toast before she even starts.
You can count on a LOT of talk about the investigations and the finances of the NSDP which she keeps trying to sweep under the rug. By November these will have fermented into quite a stench.
Posted by: texexnv@gmail.com | 02/19/2008 at 07:36 PM
"Harry anointed him. Prays for the same team even."
He's Mormon? Guess that answers the question on whether he is pro choice.
Posted by: Greg | 02/19/2008 at 07:37 PM
What I am saying is if you want change why be happy with pennies? Go for the whole dollar and change Harry too. 2010 should not have Harry M Reid on the ticket. He has been there long enough.
Posted by: OldScratch | 02/19/2008 at 07:43 PM
Andrew Martin can't even hold a normal conversation let alone run a cohesive congressional campaign.
Poor guy is one of the most awkward people I have ever met.
Reminds me of that weird chick who ran in the primary against Hafen in 06.
Posted by: | 02/19/2008 at 08:02 PM
Tex, I think that if there ever was a year that Derby running wont hurt the candidate in cd3 it is this year. There should be plenty of money for any legitimate Democratic candidate (givin' Pinky's Blessing). And regardless of what the truth about Derby is, she is legit.
Posted by: OldScratch | 02/19/2008 at 08:09 PM
Daskas is not Mormon and he's pro-choice. I've known him for years in a professional context (he was a prosecutor and I'm a defense attorney) and I have no reason to believe that he'll blindly follow Reid. Daskas is bright, hard working and sincere. He shouldn't be discounted simply because he was recruited by Reid.
Posted by: defense attorney | 02/19/2008 at 08:12 PM