A sweep for the Bureaucratic Party

The radioactive "R" that carried Democrats to wins across the country also spread its toxic gamma rays across Nevada.

At the national level, Republican 3rd District Congressman Jon Porter -- who attempted to run to the center rather than embrace a limited government agenda -- failed to hold his seat, losing to liberal, double-dipping UNLV professor Dina Titus.

Faced with a choice between "Leftist" and "Leftist Lite," voters again chose "the real thing."

On the campaign trail, Ms. Titus professed some moderate tendencies. Perhaps. But it's more likely that hyper-leftist Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a new ally.

In the state Senate, GOP Sen. Bob Beers -- probably the best friend taxpayers have in Carson City -- lost to a virtually invisible candidate after the state Democratic Party launched an expensive direct-mail and television smear campaign against the incumbent. That gives Democrats their much-coveted majority in the upper chamber -- assuming former PurchasePro public relations specialist Allison Copening is now ready to come out of hiding.

Let's hope Mr. Beers doesn't wander too far from the political scene. The state would be the poorer for it.

Meanwhile, the seven-member Clark County Commission will be an-all Democratic body after Larry Brown and Steve Sisolak defeated their GOP opponents and incumbents Lawrence Weekly and Tom Collins were easily re-elected.

Perhaps we remain hopelessly optimistic that this board will still be able to tackle the rising public sector personnel and retirement costs that must be addressed if the county hopes to remain solvent in the long run.

Finally, voters cast their lot with the status quo when it comes to the Clark County School Board, thumbing their noses at potential reformers and instead embracing candidates who will likely be rubber stamps for the Democratic-dominated teacher union and the current administration. That's something wise Southern Nevadans should remember when district test scores and achievement levels remain below par four years from now.