The Washoe GOP County Convention is over. I chaired the Credentials Committee, and given the record turn out we’re seeing everywhere this year, that caused a few sleepless nights, I can tell you.

Good news is that I had a great crew of dedicated and hardworking volunteers and we were able to get everyone registered and in the door by 10:30 a.m. Prelim credentials report at 11:30 - final report before lunch. Over 1,200 people at the Peppermill in all.

The more libertarian-minded Republicans in the room tried hard to get a platform that was a little more “hands off” in terms of government dictates, the platform ended up being adopted pretty much as written.

Even though 52% of Republicans in Nevada describe themselves as “pro-choice,” the County Party’s platform completely ignores the wide range of views party members have on this issue. What was it Ronald Reagan used to say about “the big tent?”

Getting prepared for the County Convention here … reading up on the Convention in Vegas.  The great news is that we’re still seeing record crowds — what an amazing political year.

I was sorry to see that John McCain’s representative ridiculed the Democratic presidential candidates.  “Even the names Barack and Hillary sound liberal.”   Really?  Disappointing.  Their voting records and public statements are fair game.   Do we  really have to call people names?  Kind of juvenile.  And not exactly inspiring.

I don’t like it when either side calls the others names.

Feels like the political scene has been all consuming.  On the Dem side, it still is.  No rest for the weary.  On the GOP side, at least Team McCain can take a breath and gather their strength. 

I will be curious to hear if the GOP county convention in Vegas runs smoothly, after the challenges the D’s faced. 

This morning, I took my son to McDonalds for breakfast.  I know - not the healthiest start, but we don’t do it very often.  I couldn’t help but notice a woman sitting there with a cup of water.  Her clothes didn’t fit well …  but I wasn’t sure if she was just having a bad morning or if she was homeless and hungry. 

I hate to say it, but I had to debate for a while about offering just to give her some money.  As I walked over to give her $5, I noticed she was wearing men’s boots but no socks.  Just said, “hey, you look like you could use a cup of coffee or something.”  So simple to do.  She thanked me several times.  Which just made me feel worse.  How hard was that?  Why is it so hard for people like her to get help?  You can help by donating to the Food Bank.  Or the Committee to Aid Abused Women.

Then off to work …. catching up on e-mail.  I’ve gotten about 10 updates from the 40 days for life vigil.  (They pray outside abortion clinics during Lent - and I greatly appreciate their Statement of Peace.)  Today’s update was “don’t you have something better to do?”  (The feedback they get from some people in the community.)  And I thought of the woman I talked to this morning.  Yes, there is plenty to do.  Right here. Right now. 

Many, many women decide to have abortions because they want to be good mothers, and know they aren’t capable of doing that now.  Or because they are doing all they can to take care of the kids they have now, and know that one more will plunge their whole family into poverty.  There are lots of reasons women have abortions. 

Here’s my wish: let’s all work together to end unintended pregnancies.  And, let’s all work together to help women take care of the families they do have. 

If there’s one thing I know about water, it’s that hydrology is an exact science, but to really understand it you have to know a whole lot about the studies and assumptions that went into the modeling in the first place.  Still, I hope the latest study reporting that Lake Mead could go dry gives us all pause. And instead of panic, may we turn to PLANNING!

Lake Mead during the 1951 drought:

Apparently (I haven’t verified this - so someone may correct me), Nevada is the only caucus state Senator Hilary Clinton has won.  Which is only to be expected, she notes.  So what does it mean?

One more reason to keep the caucus:  Nevada’s results mirrored the Super Tuesday results … we do look like America.  (At least on the Democratic side.)  On the Republican side, having Nevada and South Carolina on the same day meant that, well, those two contests together look like America.  One thing is for sure, the longer we go without “presumptive frontrunners,” the more people in more states have a chance to weigh in.

No matter what else you think about the contest, you’ve just got to be impressed with a system that hands the reins of power over in a way that includes so many people.

When Truckee Meadows Tomorrow asked people to list an example of a community innovation that represents or exemplifies “quality of life” and has made a profound difference here - #1 on the list is the downtown Reno Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield.  My friend Jim Litchfield, of Fluid, deserves a lot of credit and every single award he earned for turning this dream into a reality.  Myrna the Minx thinks so too!

Catch the 12 Horses Podcast with (some of) the story behind the park.

For next year’s Community Well-Being Report, I’m going to have to nominate the Presidential Caucus as one of the most significant innovations of the year.  Record turnout!  Presidential candidates in Nevada for weeks!  Voters paying attention!  Can’t beat it!

What would you nominate?

It’s been fascinating watching the letters to the editor, after the Jan. 19th Caucus in Nevada. It’s very clear most folks aren’t aware that for the last two decades we’ve had ZERO say in who each of the parties nominated for President. And they were plenty unhappy with the craziness we experienced. So to me - the messy and chaotic RECORD TURNOUT that was the caucus was a massive improvement.

For the record, here are our three options for having a say in the presidential nominee:

1. No say at all. (Which is what we’ve had for the last two decades.)

2. Tax payer funded statewide primary election. (That asks only one question: Who would you vote for for President. And was held in March, pretty much after the nominee had been determined.) And FYI - the first (of two) presidential primary Nevada had in 1976 was projected to cost $100,000 but ended up costing taxpayers over $200,000. Click here for EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about presidential primaries in Nevada.
3. Messy caucus process that is run by each party and its volunteers. (And let’s all agree that many of the problems could be worked out - absentee ballots, military voting, etc.)

I vote for the caucus. Let’s also remember the side-benefits we got out of this: Presidential candidates actually visiting Nevada and sometimes talking about our issues, bonus celebrity sightings, and amazing party building opportunities.

Explore the majesty of ancient Egypt, the mysteries of the human heart. Experience some of the world’s most breath-taking music as this beautiful tragedy unfolds. This is what opera is all about.

If Reno is America’s Adventure Place … it is also America’s arts adventure place. Don’t know if we still can claim the title, but one upon a time, we had the highest percent of musicians, dancers and artists per capita in the U.S. (At least back in the day when casinos had house bands and elaborate local shows. “Hello Hollywood Hello” anyone?)

We might not have the numbers anymore, but we make up for it in diversity and quality. Nevada Opera is a real gem of a company. And this production of Aida promises to be spectacular. And just think — this is where Dolora Zajick got her start!