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Fear, Loathing, Anger and Rage in Nevada—
My 2006 Election Endorsements & Predictions
WELL, THE BLOODY primary is finally over and, had I been a betting man, I would have won across the board! Every one of my privately predicted candidates won, including both Democrats and Republicans! So, the following is my personal thinking, predictions and endorsements for everyone's edification and due consideration.
Many of the "professional pundits" were wrong, because, they all look at the stats and really don't spend a lot of time in the candidate's campaign and talking to supporters. Of course, "looking closely at the paper" is important—but, I'm convinced you have to spend enough time with "the people" to really get a feel of what is actually happening and accurately predicting the outcome desired by the democratic majority.
For me assessing a campaign is a lot like inspecting a military unit's readiness. You look at all the reports, closely, but you have to talk to a lot of soldiers (volunteers and supporters and the general public)—before, you can make a truly comprehensive assessment of what is really going on and the odds of a win or loss.
Jack Carter (Democrat) is favored amongst the people (over John Ensign, a first term incumbent Republican)—because Jack Carter is a genuine, affable and sincere All-American "country kind of guy"—and Jack is brilliant, yet very humble. On top of that he is blessed with a wonderful wife, Elizabeth (who is even more impressive than Jack in many ways), a great family and a broad base of "real" friends and solid supporters.
 Most have underestimated Jack so far—he knows exactly what he is doing, has an excellent position on all the major issues, doesn't just "spin and blow smoke" and is in touch with the majority of the people in Nevada. Jack listens a lot more than he talks—and people really appreciate that common consideration. His message is resonating in a broad and deep way—and, I'm sure, he will prevail with "the power of the people."
Jack's been all over Nevada, and will continue driving a very determined "ground game" slowly closing the margin, then, over-taking and winning in November.
All of us, complain "what we really need are some genuinely good people to run for office and clean up the culture of corruption"—well, that's finally happening this year! So, the only real question is how quickly "the people" will get off their butts, and volunteers will step up and give of their time and put their money where their mouth is!
Jack Carter is exactly the kind of good person we need running—so, I hope "the people" don't let Jack down. I'm betting Jack will win, maybe not by much, but, he will win in November—IF enough people vote and vote smart! Sure, Jack is the underdog, but, that is an advantage in 2006—and it doesn't hurt that he is clearly his own man (and the son of widely loved President Jimmy Carter). Go to www.carterfornevada.com for more information and sign-up to volunteer!
Jack Carter's opponent, John Ensign has only improved on one thing—his golf score (at taxpayers expense)—and his voting record reveals his radical, right-wing, blind loyalty to the Bush Administration and the Washington Lobbyists on "K" Street—not the people of Nevada. Ensign's campaign will fail on the facts!
Shelley Berkley (Democrat incumbent in CD #1)—Shelley is the "real deal" and her voting record, advocacy and activism proves it—you can not fake such a great record—this lady busts her butt working smart and hard for all of us. Everyone I speak with, regardless of party affiliation, loves Shelley! Veterans, seniors—it doesn't matter their demographic status—they know Shelley deserves to be the exception to the "Vote The Bums Out" rule. Shelley will be overwhelmingly re-elected to continue to serve—and she clearly deserves the support of everyone.
NOTE TO VETS: Don't let any other candidate tell you "they got the vets the VA hospital"—these "Johnny Come Latelies" are just trying to take credit they really do not deserve—it's been Shelley Berkley that has been the major force in fighting for our new VA hospital—and Shelley deserves all of this credit! Go to Shelley's re-election website at www.berkleyforcongress.com and, again, volunteer to keep this great lady in Congress.
Jill Derby (Democrat candidate in CD #2) I predict, will pull off the greatest upset victory in this heavily "red" district held by Republicans for so long. Call me a "wild and crazy guy," but, people in rural and northern Nevada are really frustrated and just plain fed up with the radical, right-wing nut cases that have made such a mess out of, nearly everything, in Washington—and Jill is seen as a fresh voice that can help clean up the mess the Republicans have created out of personal greed and incompetence.
The RNC and State Republican Party will try their same old "trash talking" game—but, it won't work this time around! Jill Derby's family roots run deep in Nevada—she comes from one of the truly great "founding families of Nevada" and her academic and business credentials are impeccable! She is a classy lady that knows all of the issues that affect Nevadans intimately and has the skills to decimate any opponent in a debate—and look great doing it! Jill is a mostly, a moderate, middle of the road, Democrat and has a very broad base of support in the Democratic Party, with moderate Republicans as well as Independents and Non-Partisans. It will be a hard fought, tough race to overcome the margin—but, moderate Republicans will, rightfully so, vote for the best qualified person in November—and Jill will win (again, maybe by not much of a margin—but, Jill Derby will clearly win). Go to www.jillderby.com to volunteer and get your voice heard!
Tessa Hafen (Democrat in CD #3) against Republican incumbent Jon Porter "The Puppet"—this is my district and Porter has betrayed veterans (and everyone else in the district, except the rich, radical, right-wing nut-cases)—so, since "all politics are local and personal" I'm taking this race personally! It is time for change and Tessa will win!
Why? Not because Tessa is a former staffer of Harry Reid—that, only gives her the inside experience necessary to run a great campaign (and a lot of strong support up front)—Tessa will win because she is the better person and the best candidate! Porter is a salesman that lacks the substantive soul to maintain the loyalty of the people. I know a lot of vets in Boulder City (Porter's hometown) who demonstrate an attitude of "buyer's remorse" when talking about how poorly Porter has performed—and most of them are staunch republicans fed up with their own candidate.
Tessa is, also, "the real deal"—that's what everyone is looking for, and a good look at Tessa is all it takes to be convinced. Tessa comes from another good Nevada family, she's sincere and genuine and her honest approach is resonating with the people.
Vets love candidates that are simply candid—and Tessa has that "no nonsense" attitude and approach to issues—she's pragmatic, practical, well informed, committed and ready to serve in Congress (in truth, she's far better prepared than most candidates running for Congress across the country). Tessa will "hit the ground running" and, I expect, you will see her perform dynamically in her freshman year—and she won't make excuses. Tessa intends to take full responsibility for everything she does—and fails to do—and you just can't ask for anything more than that! Go to www.tessahafen.com to do your duty and volunteer to help her win—for the sake of all of us!
Dina Titus (Democrat, and Nevada State Senate Minority Leader, running to be the first lady Governor of Nevada), as I predicted (against the voices of a few, far more, experienced pundits) would win by a landslide over Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson.
Why? Because, though I had to remain neutral, (at least publicly), as the State Chair of the new Nevada Democratic Veterans & Military Families Corps Caucus—some of our best (namely, Air Force Veterans, Wayne and Valerie Smith) volunteered to help head up "Team Titus"—and help build the most dynamic grass roots ground force in the history of Nevada—and Dina is a fantastic "people's politician"!
Again, the opposition made the classic mistake of really underestimating Dina and "Team Titus"—who is the envy of every other candidate's campaign this year. Well, like Dina, they had the vision to start building early on—and most of the "top tier" activists signed on, early on, and have built a solid base of volunteers. Go to
www.dinatitus.com to join this winning team—you'll be glad you did, and your help will be sincerely appreciated.
I've got to be a gentleman and, so, I'm not going to say "I told you so…," BUT, to all the people who kept repeating the mediocre mantra "Dina can't win, and Dina can not beat Gibbons in the general election"—it's obvious they were totally wrong, because their candidate could not even win the primary! I never believed that—especially, since most of the Henderson vets were telling me they had just help re-elect Jim Gibson as their Mayor and wanted him to stay and serve his term. I just can not help myself, and, I just have to say "Who's YOUR Momma NOW?" "Dina IS her name—and our next Nevada Governor—is going to be the same—D-I-N-A!" I know, shame on me, and enough of making our opponents "eat crow"—now is the time to UNITE ALL NEVADANS! To include, those who may be ultra-conservative, or, D.I.N.O. (Democrats In Name Only)!
PLEASE NOTE: I'm purposely not even going into Republican Jim Gibbons—as I intend to dedicate a great deal of time exposing his lousy legacy of not "Supporting Our Troops" and not helping meet the needs of our veterans—in up coming columns! There is nothing that will incur my wrath more than a veteran that gets elected—then forgets the "Band of Brothers and Sisters and Families" and betrays our troops and vets!
Gibbons' days of showing up at the local chapters of the American Legion, or the Veterans of Foreign Wars, now and then, and passing out medal sets and certificates (you know, the simple stuff, just for a political photo-op), and pandering to vets, by telling his "war stories" to vets and what he thinks they want to hear, playing us for fools, blowing smoke and spinning the facts—are over! Gibbons' decade of deceit will be factually and clearly disclosed in this race! Dina led the way, as just one example, in getting a program established for Women Veterans in Nevada! So, well informed vets, regardless of their party affiliation, especially our lady vets, should vote for Dina Titus! 
Johnathan L. Abbinett is an honorably discharged, now disabled, 22-year Army veteran that served on Active Duty, in the National Guard and Army Reserves. He's been a long-time veteran's advocate and activist since returning from Vietnam in 1972. He's also a veteran's chaplain and is a member of many national veterans' organizations. Now, a well respected columnist writing on Political, Military and Veterans Issues, he can be reached at jlabbinett@cox.net for commentary.
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