Nevada’s State Democratic Party establishment, with master parliamentarian, Harry Reid, at the tiller, never came close to losing control of the Nevada State Democratic Party Convention apparatus. Consequently, there was never a chance that the apparent gains, won by Bernie Sanders’ grassroots supporters, in Nevada county conventions, would survive the final stage of the Nevada delegate selection process. Hillary’s allies used undemocratic, but nevertheless valid, rules and procedures to create the outcome they wanted.
Of course, Bernie’s delegates, skewing younger and more neophyte, never imagined things would turn out that way. They naively thought that more state convention delegates would mean more control of the State Convention. But finding themselves stripped of democratic power through the nimble use of parliamentary power, many delegates got angry. Some displayed no respect for the titles, trappings and forms of address traditionally allowed with high ranking establishment Democrats. Afterwards, many cry foul. Others gloat. Some clutch pearls. The two campaigns continue to scramble toward the finish line, scrapping for delegates one by one. Time to move on.
‘Nuff said?