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Are YOU as FED UP with POLITICS as I AM?
BY THE TIME this article is posted, we will be just over a month from getting through the November '06 mid-term elections—Thank GOD, It's almost over! It seems like, every year, American politics descends to even lower levels in the decadent conduct of some unprincipled candidates, and the complexity of trying to just determine the facts on record from the fiction (and spin in the media)—and it becomes more, and more, time consuming!
 This year reminds me a great deal of the 1994 wave when we all got fed up with the Democrats and voted their butts out of office! Now, it is clearly and blatantly obvious, it's time for the people to return the favor to the radical, right-wing Republicans—and vote their butts out!
But, please don't make the mistake of thinking I'm just another "dyed in the wool" democrat—that's not true! In fact, I've been, often, at odds in the party and though I believe the diversity of the democrats represents all of us far better, I consider myself a "disappointed democrat" on most days I've volunteered to just help the "diverse" overcome the "dysfunctional."
The truth of the matter is, as I talk more and more with people (from all party affiliations), it seems almost all of us are fed up with both major political parties—and, really, we have become more and more independent in our thinking and voting, based on, the character of any given candidate and the factual merit of the issues—and we all loath the political process!
If we could change just one major thing in American politics, I would want there to be, at least, three major parties. America is the last Democracy on the face of the earth with only two parties—obviously this isn't working! Every party would have an equal amount of resources. Every party would be fully funded by public financing! All would receive equal media time—and all political campaigns would have much, much stricter laws on content!
The blatant misuse and abuse of the public trust, by any unscrupulous candidates utilizing misinformation and disinformation propaganda would be strictly outlawed—it would be a felony charge that would get their butts bounced off the ballot immediately! Isn't that a novel concept? We would justly not allow any lying, cheating or stealing from any of the candidates!
I'm not naïve—just trying to hold on to a few ideals! Of course, this probably won't happen in my lifetime. After all, neither the Republicans nor the Democrats would want to share truly equal power with any one else! It might result in a New Democracy and disempowering the American elitists!
We can't have the common, average American people sharing such power? That's reserved solely for the next generation of corporate children isn't it?
So, here's how I'm hoping the races unfold for 2006 in Nevada:
Senate incumbent John Ensign has proved to be a big disappointment! While Senator Harry Reid has risen through the ranks to become the Senate Minority Leader and garnered a great deal of recognition for Nevada, and a long list of accomplishments. Most notably Senator Reid's most recent goal of Nevada becoming a new presidential caucus state—this, alone, will now change Nevada politics, for the better (and worse), forever!
The only thing Ensign, really, has improved upon is his golf score at taxpayer's expense! I'm infuriated that Ensign, after having voted against our troops and the needs of veterans, time and again, would have the gall to misuse and misrepresent veterans in his advertising! Of course, Ensign is hoping that misinformed veterans and military personnel don't find out the facts regarding his lack of loyalty—please spread the word will ya?
Jack Carter, (son of former President Jimmy Carter) promises to be "Nevada's Voice to Washington"—and I'm betting he'll keep his word and do all he can to represent us well! I've gotten to know Jack Carter very well and one of the things I respect most about Jack is, though he is loyal to the party, he really is not a partisan—Jack wants to unite Nevada and America!
Jack Carter was the first candidate, this cycle, to come out and boldly state, "The Veterans Affairs budget is non-negotiable" and made the full funding of the VA Budget a priority in his campaign literature!
Congressman Jim Gibbons has proven to be generally ineffective and regularly uninformed, often incompetent and disconnected from the needs of Nevadans, especially our veterans—and, unbelievably, Gibbons is the only military veteran running! God, how that saddens me so much!
Gibbons has failed, from the beginning (and over a decade), to even garner the basic respect from his own Republican party! He actually said, "Running for Governor was his second choice"—he actually, publicly stated that he "would have preferred to get a House Chair appointment and stay in Congress"! But, the Republican National Committee leadership has sent him home packing!
Why? Because, truth be told, Gibbons just does not "play well with others"—and insiders say Gibbons is far too radical for even the right-wing of the Republican Party! It's also blatantly apparent, that this guy Gibbons' is not the "sharpest knife in the drawer" or, the "brightest color in the crayon box" (as I've heard a number of Republican veterans openly complain).
Well, only a total nut-case would want a second rate congressman in our governor's mansion—as a second choice! Outgoing Governor Kenny Guinn clearly does not support Gibbons—that should tell you a great deal!
It's time for Dina Titus to become the first lady Governor of Nevada! Dina has dedicated her life to teaching and public service, rising through the ranks of the Nevada State Senate to become the Senate Minority Leader—and she has a wealth of experience to lend in leading Nevada forward on a positive and progressive path into the next decade!
In Congressional District #1—Shelley Berkley has proven you can be a professional politician and represent the best interests of your constituents and deserve to be re-elected! Shelley has performed for all of the people of Nevada by just putting her nose to the grindstone and working smart and hard at just doing the right thing! She's a consummate lady, but knows how to be tough when need be, and stands on her principals of public service!
In Congressional District #2—Jill Derby is clearly the best candidate! Jill is a fourth generation rural Nevadan, and has dedicated her lifetime to public service in education, rising to the rank of University Regent. I like Jill because she is a very independent, and generally she's a moderate, in her political views—just what CD #2 needs!
In Congressional District #3—Tessa Hafen is challenging incumbent Jon Porter who has woefully performed as little more than a "puppet" and "rubber stamp" for the current administration—failing to represent Nevada time and time again! It's time to send Porter home to Boulder City!
Tessa Hafen represents the hopes of the next generation! I've been able to watch her campaign from the inside a great deal—and I'm totally impressed Tessa is in charge and knows exactly how to lead and win—and will work smart and hard to represent all of CD #3 citizens.
Ironically, Tessa Hafen has more actual experience in Congress, as a former key staffer for Senator Harry Reid, than Porter! No one will have to show Tessa Hafen "the ropes around Washington"—we just need to, first, show Porter "the door" back home!
It's time for the "pendulum of progress" to swing again—with just one caveat! I'm strongly recommending that everyone eligible votes for only one incumbent—that is our favorite Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, and for only one Republican, Under Sheriff Doug Gillespie.
Frankly, I was hoping we would get a chance to elect Laurie Bisch, and retain Doug Gillespie in the "second seat"—but, the primary numbers came up short for Officer Bisch, and just didn't wash out that way. But, a short talk with Laurie on why she so quickly endorsed Doug convinced me.
So, now the only common sense thing to do is promote Under Sheriff Doug Gillespie, the most experienced local law enforcement professional we have running, to the full Sheriff's position!
This year nearly 636,000 of us active Nevada registered voters have a simple choice, either—vote for the "challenger's and change," or, we vote for the incumbents and just "more of the same" and I'm talking some serious "political pain" from the culture of corruption! It's really a "no brainer"! 
Johnathan L. Abbinett is an honorably discharged, disabled, 22-year Army veteran that has served on Active Duty, in the National Guard and Reserves. He has been a political activist since he returned from Vietnam in 1972, and a veterans' advocate since leaving the Army in 1998. Johnathan, a former Republican, served three years in the Nevada Democratic Party and is the past State Chair of the Nevada Democratic Veterans and Military Families Corps Caucus. A highly respected member of many of the national veterans' organizations, he now writes, as a specialty reporter and columnist, only on political, military and veterans' issues from a non-partisan perspective. He can be reached at: jlabbinett@cox.net for commentary or consulting.
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