Joe Lombardo is a Trump Wannabe and a Traitor to his State’s People

If you’re not a resident of the Silver State, you probably don’t know who Joe Lombardo is and was. He is currently the Governor of my adopted state of Nevada. Prior to his winning the office of governor in 2023, he was the Sheriff of Clark County. He is also a Trump ‘suck-up.’

Lombardo is now appearing in television ads supporting his plan to release more land to developers who want to build more homes and apartment complexes in Nevada. He claims that if more living quarters are constructed, the cost of a home and the prices of rentals will be lowered. He ignores the increases in raw materials, land values, newer and more expensive codes, etc., etc., etc.

He is a liar and a fraud. He is working for developers who are greedy millionaires and wannabe billionaires. Like all “Republicans,” or more accurately the “American Fascist Party,” Lombardo is owned by special interests.

Nevada is one of the poorest states in the west. I worked in the casinos for about 20 years as a dealer and games supervisor. I made just enough money that it was difficult to leave a job I learned to hate. However, it was worse for people in the restaurants, slot department, etc. They were paid minimum wage without the benefit of large enough ‘gratuities’ which would compensate for the small wages, and minimal benefits.

Like Trump, if Lombardo’s lips are moving, he is lying. Also like Trump, he is not smart enough to hide reality.

This situation is very sad. In 2008, 20012, 2016 and 2020, the Democratic presidential candidate won our state’s Electoral College votes. I thought that the majority of Nevadans had learned its lessons about failed Republican presidents.

I felt the same about our governors. Lombardo’s predecessor, Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, led our state through Trump’s failure to lead during the pandemic. However, voters lost their collective minds and rejected the Democratic hopeful, incumbent Steve Sisolak.

I am an Independent voter and will remain so as long as I live. Between 2011 and 2019, our state chose Republican Brian Sandoval to be our governor. He was the best man for the job I have ever known since I could first vote in 1967. However, the men and women who call themselves “Republicans” today have no resemblance to the Party of Lincoln. They are fascists who support Trump, not the people of their state or our nation. They believe in the right-wing fascist manifesto, Project 2025.

Life is a series of successes and failures, of good decisions and bad, and learning new things from past mistakes. Over 78 years I learned that most of what I believed about my beloved country was an illusion created by ambitious politicians and wealthy men and women who receive special treatment from government officials which they do not deserve.

Politicians like Lombardo and his master, Donald Trump, disgust me. When I was young, I was taught to believe that the reason men and women became politicians was to serve the American people. By the time I was in my 50’s, I realized that most of our elected officials were frauds. They are in politics for their own reasons, usually wealth and power.

If I sound pessimistic, I am. I trust no one who possesses great wealth and power over my future.

Op-ed by James Turnage

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