Why Nevada’s GOP caucuses were a jackpot of embarrassments

SFGate: Politics Blog ^ | 2/5/12 | Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer

[SmithL]

Nevada state GOP chair Amy Tarkanian boasted this week that her state will turn Republican in the next presidential election. Not likely if her state GOP runs that show like it ran the Nevada caucuses, which were an embarrassing display of bad planning and execution on multiple levels.
Aside from the scheduling, the choice of caucus locations, and the decision to shut out thousands of workers on the Las Vegas strip which we’ve detailed here, let’s now clue you all in on the litany of other problems:

1. The GOP couldn’t deliver results in a timely manner.

An all-night count — in a state where just about 50,000 cast votes? We’ve seen developing countries where folks lining up to vote with purple thumbs do better. ‘Nuf said.

2. Confusion reigns: There were eye-opening protests and confusion at the evening caucus set up for “religious” voters (and uh, one casino magnate billionaire) at We saw frustration and anger when voters were turned away after some balked at signing an affidavit required by the Clark County GOP; it asked voters to declare under penalty of perjury that they couldn’t vote in the regular 9 a.m. morning caucus because of “religious reasons.”

Some complained the whole process was designed to restrict voters there to Jews and Seventh Day Adventist who both observe Saturday as the Sabbath.

[RIghtwardHo]

Interesting.

I am NO fan of the Caucus.

[zerosix]

Don’t know much about the NV Caucus.....but wasn’t the larger than expected turn-out smaller than 4 years ago, and wasn’t the predicted “Romney enthusiasm surge” a bit less than expected, considering he won a large percentage and all that?

[newzjunkey]

AP has Romney at 47.6%, he won 51% in 2008.

In 2008, Ron Paul was 2nd with less than 14%, Newt is showing at 22.7%.

[erkelly]

That is not all. There was no publicity about these caucuses to speak of. Nothing was ever mailed to party members about when and where the caucuses weer to be held. If it were not for the fact that I am on-line a lot, I would have had no clue as to when to caucus. Four years ago, I got plenty of information in plenty of time, but this time, NOTHING! I had to contact the registrar of voters to get the information I needed, who referred me to the GOP headquarters. Calling the republican headquarters just got an answering machine to leave your name and number for a call back, which did not happen. I finally reached someone and found I had to register on-line, and then the website didn't work the first few times I tried to access it. I don't know what to think of all of this. I am told the reason is that the GOP does not have any money; perhaps if the GOP wants our money, they had better just stop playing favorites with Romney, and perhaps they had better start disciplining candidates who would campaign the way Romney has done. The truth is, he IS destroying our party in his quest to win the nomination, and nothing is being done to stop it! I am looking at third parties at this point, the constitution party looks good to me. Wake up RNC!

[CharlesWayneCT]

Some complained the whole process was designed to restrict voters there to Jews and Seventh Day Adventist who both observe Saturday as the Sabbath.

I'm confused. I thought that was exactly the reason they had the night caucus, for those two particular religious groups. Everybody else was supposed to go to the caucus for their home address.

[VicVega]

"Chairwoman Amy Tarkanian's resignation took effect at 12:01 a.m. Status of the chair up in air."

Bizarre.

[editor-surveyor]

Mafia caucus!

[redhead]

bump ta da moon!!

[Repub4bush]

I happened to see it in the new paper, or I would have never known any details.

I don't know about your caucus place but most of ours here in Henderson, were a joke! I have heard even more stories at a Super bowl party tonight. They are all in line with my personal experience yesterday.

The Mitt chair people were demeaning anyone not for Mitt. Mitt's lawyers were at all our caucus places. As with mine, others saw ballots handled improperly and blank ballots floating around on tables that should have only been handed out to voters. Ballots not sealed in the envelopes, just laying semi open on tables.

All the same stuff I saw at my caucus!

It was like a huge Joke, except it was serious! No one and I mean no one cared, when people reported all these problems. Inexcusable!

As anyone who read my posts on other threads... Yes, after 24 hours, I am still as mad as hell, just as I was yesterday morning!