Las Vegas Review-Journal - Steve Sebelius Slash Politics

New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner

And so, we come to the end of the Seven Holy Days of Reflection, the sacred time following the New Hampshire primary in which we ponder the meaning of the results and all states refrain from any other nominating contest of any kind. It was this insistence by New Hampshire’s prickly Secretary of State Bill Gardner — and the capitulation of Nevada’s GOP officials — that robbed Nevada of the chance to hold the nation’s third nominating contest last Saturday. You know, when it still matters.

Instead, our caucus will be held on Feb. 4, when we’ll be lucky to have Mitt Romney and Ron Paul still battling for delegates.

Before the final homily, let’s recap the previous lessons of the Seven Holy Days of Reflection:

• Day One: Voters in New Hampshire apparently don’t like Jon Huntsman that much.
• Day Two: Ususally, the winner of the New Hampshire primary is totally predictable.
• Day Three: New Hampshire is extremely white, and I’m not just talking about snow.
• Day Four: Not everybody can grow up to be president in America.
• Day Five: New Hampshire is not known for its cheese. That’s either Wisconsin or Vermont.
• Day Six: New Hampshire’s primary was almost totally meaningless.

And now, today’s final reflection: Next time, Nevada should insist on its rightful place as third in the nation, even if Bill Garder stamps his feet, holds his breath, cries like a little girl and threatens to build a time machine just so he can hold New Hampshire’s primary first.

Let’s face it, people: Nevada lost its standing this year because our officials decided to act like the adults in the room, and agree not only to let New Hampshire go first, but also to obey the stupid seven-day post-primary restriction, too. Nobody objects to letting the syrup sippers hold the nation’s first primary; but they have (or should have) no right to say when other states may hold their contests thereafter. (In fact, in 2008, the principled Gardner compromised, and Michigan held it’s primary exactly seven days after New Hampshire’s, thus violating the rule.)

But how did Gardner win the standoff this time? By specifically not acting like an adult. In fact, he acted like a petulant child, threatening to hold New Hampshire’s primary in December if Nevada didn’t agree to move its caucus. (I would have loved to see that happen, but the folks at the Republican National Committee didn’t, and pressured Nevada to knuckle under.) The lesson: Act like a petulant whiny child, and you will get your way.

Are you listening, Nevada officials? I hope so, because if not, we run the risk of again losing our chance to affect the national ticket by falling too far back in the calendar to make a difference. And that becomes all the more important if Barack Obama wins a second term, which will mean the presidency will be wide open in 2016.

So, stand strong, Nevada. Remember the indignity of 2012 in four years. Insist on our place in the calendar. Don’t give in, especially to ridiculous demands. Otherwise, all we’ll get are seven stupid holy days of reflection. And who wants that?

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