Monday Musings: July 18, 2010

Is the world abuzz over the Sharron Angle feature in Sunday’s Reno Gazette-Journal? I’d be deeply concerned if it was, but I at least hope Nevadans are abuzz - atwitter - all shook up.

This was as fine a piece of recent political journalism as the RGJ has done for a while, and I commend them for their efforts. It may be too little, too late to pull print back from the precipice of irrelevance, but I’d like to think they’ll all go down fighting the good fight. This type of in-depth reporting is where print journalism shines a big bright light. This you can take out in the hammock under a tree and peruse, mull it over good and hard.

This is where I’d normally give you the link to the RGJ story. If I could. If the RGJ could put the big story on the website for all to see - since it was important enough to emblazon the front page with -  without my fiddling around with passwords or a useless ‘search’. A boss of mine in the advertising agency back in the day, used to tell me “never put barriers in the way of a customer getting to the product.”

Okay. Now I’ll quit ranting.

If this story doesn’t give you - the rational person - pause, then nothing will. But the RGJ makes the good point that we’d all be very unwise to underestimate the grandmother from Tonopah, as she goes door to door selling grandmother-hood, the flag, a dash of Second Amendment hysteria and a pinch of that old timey delusional religious fever thrown in. When even the most stalwart of GOP, pro-business types can’t sign on to her wagon train, that should tell everybody sumpthin’.

Unfortunately, it only tells the true believers that guys like Mayor Bob Cashell have been converted to the dark side of the Harry Reid force, and soon, Che GuevAra’s likeness will be up at City Hall.

Sheesh. The lunatics are loose.

The inconsistencies in her history mount as quickly as her gaffes. Trying to find out where Angle did what when is like trying to step on smoke. This much is true, with just the experience of being a School Board member in ‘BF Nevada’, then the lone ‘No’ vote in the Assembly, why would anybody think she could do anything of substance in the Senate?

Just how do you connect those dots?

Angle just can’t understand why nobody has made an issue of Reid’s membership in the Mormon church. Well, apparently she hasn’t been paying attention. But Reid, himself, has never played the Mormon card, nor would he. He’s much too canny for that. On the other hand, Angle can’t keep her select status as gawd’s chosen ‘One’ to herself.

That’s why we’re all paying attention to the Angle religion stories, Sharron.

But, I learned a few things from the article. I had the idea, Angle was a real teacher. Now, I’m up to speed, and know that her teaching experience was mostly in the one room schoolhouse at the churchofwhat’shappingnow, teaching little ones to be unquestionably obedient to the almighty. I wonder how the math and science scores came down. What do you want to bet that Geography class was pretty much a study of the ancient holy-moley land and little else?

Whoa! That’s gotta be a solid resume builder.

UNR political science professor, Erik Herzik, tells us the obvious - that Angle has received more scrutiny in the press than Reid. No. Do you think? We have decades of easily referenced public information to draw upon for Harry Reid. Uh, Angle’s past is a bit less well documented, and becomes muddier the more anyone looks at it. Maybe that’s one thing that worries us.

When even Jon Ralston comes out calling a Republican’s rhetoric bizarre, then we should all be worried. Take a look at Ralston’s ‘How the race has turned sour for Sharron Angle’.

Here’s something to ask your neighborhood anti-government type about: Elder Fraud.

The RGJ also ran a piece, ‘Threats to seniors’ finances, well-being rise’. The paper recounts how kindly grandmother types were swindled out of life savings and homes. Gee. What if they didn’t have Social Security as a fall-back because Sharron Angle ‘personalized’ it? Would church folks be willing to take Granny in? Would Sharron Angle?

What should happen to older people when they have no family left, and perhaps their mental state isn’t as sharp as it once was? What would happen if there were no government to step in, to investigate and catch the bad people who stole Granny’s money? What would happen if Sharron Angle really could get rid of Medicaid, which is the fall-back for a lot of these elderly victims?

Has Angle, or any of her followers, thought any of this through? No. They’re too busy burying their nose in the bible. I get to watch this on a daily basis here at Rancho Maven lately. Sigh.

Ah, it gives us all something to ponder.

We’ve had an interesting time this weekend. Some friends from New York state have decided to make Reno their permanent home. It’s about the skiing, not the politics. They put together a deal, with earnest money, on a house up the street. Unfortunately, the house was owned by a particularly loathsome local attorney. Long story short, our friends came back to town all ready to move in, and Mr. Badass, Esq. was such a jerk that the deal is off, and they’re trying to find another house.

We’re storing some of their stuff, and were out helping look for a short-term furnished apartment until they can find and seal the deal on another place. They’re getting an education on Reno. I’m glad that the skiing is that good.

The big day - wedding wise - is getting closer. I’ve offered the ‘borrowed’ item, a pair of diamond earrings. We’ve still got to nail down the ‘old’ item. Hmmm. Anyway, we’re all getting excited.

The cycling - at 0630 is terrific. Yes, you read that right. Those who know me, realize I’m not much of an early bird. Ladybird, yes. Early bird, no. For some reason my little eyelids went wide at 0530 this morning, and I was actually out on the road at the aforementioned 0630 for my 15 miles. It was so good, I think I’ll do it again tomorrow.

We’ll see. But I’ve gotta tell you, everybody is remarking very positively on my looks lately. The more I ride, the more those who know me are telling me how well rested-younger-livelier I look or asking “have you lost weight?” (the answer is no, nada). That’s a powerful incentive to keep doing what I’m doing. And you can’t beat the price of the membership for that daily bike ride.

Can you say “Free”?

Ah, well. Back to work, boys and girls. Have a pleasant week.

-maven