Pete and Repete were brothers...

The unofficial motto of the national Democratic Party is "Bush-McCain." And while the three special elections for U.S. House this year suggest that linking Democrats to Obama or even the word — gasp! — "liberal" isn't working at all, there is every reason to expect that mean-spirited but honest linkages between War Party extremists can be put to marvelously effective use in all sorts of candidate-specific ways.

For instance, voters in Nevada's third congressional district, likely as not, have grown extremely weary of "Bush-Porter." And they're flat-out disgusted by "Bush-Gibbons-Porter."

But why stop there? Associations that are as every bit as politically poisonous as they are well-deserved should work beautifully further down the ticket as well.

In other words, if anyone knows anyone who knows Allison Copening, the Democrat who is challenging Bob Beers in state Senate District 6 in what is the highest-profile down-ballot race in the state this year, could you please tell them to tell her to quit telling the media that she knows jack all about anything but should be elected anyway because she's a self-starter who works well with others? (RJ)

Whether she knows it or not, the point of Copening's candidacy is not to win the seat to give the Democrats a majority in the state Senate. It's even more basic than that: thwarting the state's foolish and harmful march backwards by halting the disastrous Gibbons-Beers agenda.

If and when Copening ever shows some sign of understanding that, somebody send an email or something, because then the race might be worth watching.

Comments

[theo]

I'm no fan of Beers, but her quote in that article makes me wanna cry. "Um, I'm not sure what the issues are, but I'll get in there and fix 'em!"

Here's an issue for ya: THE BUDGET. If that one slips your mind, then I've lost all hope for Beers' ouster.

[Michael Green]

I don't question that Copening needs to get or be or seem more up to speed. I do think part of the idea right now is just not to be Beers, which should work for people with an ounce of common sense. That leaves 99% ....

More seriously, I think part of Copening's problem will be that Beers may strike many reporters as a loon, but he's very quotable. And being quotable gets you extra phone calls and attention, and Beers seems to figure the worst publicity is no publicity.

[The Penguin]

She will not beat Beers.

[Bob Beers]

Ah, Theo, she addresses the budget in that article, stealing my quote:

"The last thing you want to do is tax people at this time, the economic situation being what it is,"

Sorry, Professor Green.

[IronJawed]

Mr. Gleaner, good use of the "lowering expectations" tactic.

[dave404]

Beers in the R-J article; "Beers criticized Copening for being a public employee. She was employed by the Las Vegas Valley Water District...public employees serving in the Legislature violates the constitutional separation of powers."

It is my understanding that LVVWD is not a public employer (public employees retirement system-PERS).

Oh, here it is from the LVVWD job benefits page:
"Defined Benefit Retirement Plan: 100 percent employer paid; vested after 5 years; percentage of earnings based on years of service. Note: Not PERS"

So Beers will knowingly and willfully lie about his opponenet? I'm shocked.

Unfortunately Copening doesn't seem to know that Beers is lying about her employment status! Her defense should not be "I don't see any problem with that", but that, "Again, Senator Beers is factually challanged, as I, unlike his wife, am not a public employee, and never have been.

She could then go on to say, truthfully, that Senator Beers has been a member of the Nevada Public Employees Retirement System for the past ten years now.

Copening is finally quoted stating,
"When I get in office, I can look at making decisions about those things."
BUT THEN IS NEXT QUOTED BANGING ON BEERS
BY SAYING "I have yet to see him offer any solutions, rather than just tell us what the problems are," she said.

Well fuck-all, you better get your nose in some committee minutes and the budget otherwise YOU, Ms. Copening, have NOTHING to offer, and as screwy as Beers may be, at least he isn't an empty suit!

I agree with Penguin, this race is already looking to be over days after filing. Who the hell is running her campaign?

NEXT!

[IronJawed]

Bob's wife is a public employee... Hypocrite!

[Michael Green]

Senator Beers, I am at a loss to find where in my comment I said anything that it would make it sound like I would find her statement to be something that would depress me. Perhaps your renown at reading charts has extended to reading English sentences.

[KidFromVegas]

Nice convention Bob...

Isn't Ronni Council running Copening's campaign?

[KidFromVegas]

Oh and speaking of conventions, and off-topic, I guess Mike Zahara's bid to become State Party Chair, complete racist charges, didn't work out. So much hot air, so little support. Oh well, we'll always have that scatting email to remind us of just how much of a jerk you truly are...

[Juice]

Technically Copening is not a public employee in the manner that Beer's wife is. LVVWD is quasi-municipal. They used to participate in PERS but after the incident in the 80's the employees voted to exit that plan and establish their own.
What would Copening's PAST employment history do with what she does now? I hope she can buck up and get tough on Beers.

[Wolverine]

Too bad we don't have a Steve Novick
(D-Oregon Senate candidate)type candidate to run against Beers. Novick would could give Beers the hook.....literally.

[Goldy]

Beers/Gibbons logic:

Hypothetical with small, round number so we can all easily understand:

100 teachers serve 3000 students for $100;
100 cops serve 10000 citizens for $100;
100 prisoners in prison for $100.

60,000 people move here in a year, therefore,

150 teachers serve 4,500 students for $125;
150 cops serve 20,000 citizens for $125;
125 prisoners in prison for $120.

Gibbons/Beers say:

"300 State employees grows to 425, a 41% growth in government.

$300 budget grows 6% annually. This is TWICE THE RATE OF INFLATION.

The people that moved here pay taxes, so growth pays for growth."

If you cannot see the implicit fallacy in the above logic, you are qualified to vote in Nevada. If you cannot articulate why this is inherantly destructive to the citizens governed by this logic, you are qualified to run for office as a Democrat!