FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK: Week of decision offers no choice at all

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

This should have been a week of decision for Nevada. The Silver State has successfully procured the coveted first-in-the-west status in choosing its candidates for the presidential election in November. But for such a sought-after status, there seems to be a sad lack of any real choice this week.

Of course, the party faithful on the fringes of both sides are entirely content. They don’t really want a choice. For dyed-in-the-wool Democrats, there is not anyone else to vote for in the Presidential Preference Primary (PPP) today except the President. Why look any further? Meanwhile, the deep-red Republicans seem to be content with, once again, choosing Donald Trump as their candidate.

As is often the case, though, the GOP side is much more complicated and confusing than it should be. Republican voters can participate in the PPP today. But on that ballot, the only remaining candidate is Nikki Haley. And although those votes will be counted, they won’t really “count.” That’s because the Nevada GOP has insisted on its tradition of holding a caucus to choose its candidate. The state party leadership has been adamant that only the caucus will count.

The caucus won’t take place until Thursday (Feb. 8). It will be held at Virgin Valley High School for residents of Mesquite and Bunkerville; and at Moapa Valley High School for Moapa and Moapa Valley residents – 5:00-7:30 pm for both. But be forewarned, the sole remaining candidate on the caucus ballot is, of course, Donald J. Trump.

But what about the huge group of voters who are stuck between what they feel are two rotten choices?

What about the Democrats who have had quite enough of bungling Biden? Believe me, they are thinking of the monumental embarrassment in Afghanistan in 2020 that has emboldened all of the worst rogue leaders around the world to act out in ways seldom ever seen before. They are also thinking of the wallet-squeeze felt from runaway inflation crafted by Biden’s extravagant spending, all in the name of “COVID relief.” They are even wondering whether Biden’s health and mental capacity can hold out for another term. And perish the thought if it doesn’t!! These moderate Dems are thinking all of this and wondering if Biden is really fit for office. Rest assured, they are wishing they had better choice.

On the other hand, what about the many mid-line Republicans who have quietly declined climbing aboard the Trump train? In the days after the 2020 election, these folks looked intently for any real evidence that the election had been stolen, as Trump adamantly claimed. But there was no evidence ever produced – only conspiracy theories. Then, in the weeks following, these moderate Republicans watched Mr. Trump use the Oval Office to influence, manipulate and shame anyone he could; even his own people – even the Vice President, for heaven’s sake! – to ignore his clear loss and force it into a win for him – whatever it took, Constitution be damned! Finally on Jan. 6, 2021, they watched in horror, as Trump organized and incited an armed mob and sent them to the Capitol to, in his own words, “Fight! or you won’t have a country.” Trump then disappeared into the White House while the violence occurred. He tweeted a few incendiary remarks to the mob from his private dining room. But he didn’t emerge until it was clear that the uprising was not going to successfully exalt him as emperor.

This was something that had never happened before – not in the United States, anyway. And it scared moderate Americans everywhere! Moderate Republicans and Democrats alike honestly can’t comprehend why the GOP establishment is taking Mr. Trump back after that! ‘He is not fit for office,’ they are thinking, ‘nor is he deserving of it.’ The thoughtful political center of America has recognized that the former President doesn’t give a fig about The People, the Country or the Constitution. Mr. Trump only cares about Mr. Trump! And you can bet that all of these folks are definitely longing for another choice.

So who are all these people that quietly occupy the vast center across both parties? They are all around us. For an easy example, just look at the 43 percent of New Hampshire voters who chose Nikki Haley over Trump. Don’t think for a second that a lot of those weren’t Democrats jumping party lines to vote on the Republican side, just to procure a choice. For them, any viable and respectable option would do! Make no mistake, there are huge multitudes of voters just like them in every state of the union feeling disenfranchised this year by a lack of choice.

The two political parties have just one job to do: provide candidates who are capable, worthy and fit for office. Either party that provided a good choice this year could have exploited this middle ground and easily won the election. But both have failed miserably by every possible metric.

This should have been an important week of decision for voters in Nevada. Instead, a large part of the electorate across both parties is feeling like there is no good choice at all. Rather, their only choice is between the ‘horrible’ and the ‘even worse.’ And it’s every man for himself on which is which.