Today we hit the road to visit the family that lives about twenty miles north (as the crow flies) of the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, and again I was reminded of The Real Nevada: Desert.

Much of the Battle Born State is like these pictures: open ground covered by sagebrush with clear air and blue skies interrupted by occasional clouds. There’s no humidity to speak of, and the days are hot and the nights can be frozen, all within the same 24 hours, but this dust is in my blood and it is my home.

As Doc Graham said in Field of Dreams: “This is my most special place in all the world, Ray. Once a place touches you like this, the wind never blows so cold again.”

Amen, Doc.

I’ve worked on four IT help desks and here’s the secret truth about putting you on hold:

• Eight times out of ten: we’re doing research or checking with colleagues to get you the best answer.
• One time out of ten: we’re sneezing and/or belching, and we don’t want to do it in your ear.
• One time out of ten: you’re so ****ing hilarious and/or stupid that we don’t want you to hear us laugh out loud. In other words, try turning on your computer or power strip before calling us next time.

The “Sharron Angle for Senate” story is gathering attention throughout the country: a former GOP state legislator pitted the most powerful politician Nevada has ever produced (apologies to Pat McCarran, Paul Laxalt, and Howard Cannon). Harry Reid’s patronage has directed millions of federal dollars towards our same state due to his time in Congress and to his position as Senate Majority Leader.

Many people disagree and feel he hasn’t not done enough back home, and there may be some truth to this. On the other hand, things could be worse. Much worse. In fact, the “Harry-Haters” and the mainstream media are missing the true danger to Nevada if Sharron Angle defeats Harry Reid. If she is elected, here’s the most likely chain of events:

- Sharron will be sworn into office in January and will become the Junior Senator from Nevada. Having no time in elected office on a national level, she will be a very junior senator due to her lack of seniority. She certainly will not get committee assignments dealing with the federal budget, homeland security, and defense. These committees and others like them lies the true power of a United States Senator because important committee assignments give them the power to direct pork barrel projects to their states. Love them or hate them, these projects usually involve millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs.

- She will be further isolated by the mainstream Senate Republicans due her views on welfare programs, jobless benefits and the Department of Education. If you’re not familiar with her plans, take ten minutes on Google. No GOP politician seeking reelection will share a stage with someone who wants to dismantle Social Security (long known as the “third rail of elective politics”). This would slow down her appointment to those cherished Senate committees, too.

- Nevada’s other senator, John Ensign, is under investigation for ethics violations and most likely will resign in 2011 to avoid prosecution. His probable successor, Dean Heller, won’t be elected until 2012 and won’t take office until 2013 (unless appointed earlier).

- No matter who takes Ensign’s place, Sharron Angle would become the Senior Senator upon Ensign’s resignation and would stay in that position for remainder of her tenure in the Senate, until she retires or is defeated in an election. We’re probably talking four years, minimum.

- Senior senators have a few traditional powers, such as nominating federal judges who serve in their states. Despite this, a senior senator without committee assignments and influential friends in the Senate chamber is almost as good as having elected no senator at all.

If you think Harry Reid screwed over Nevada, then vote for his opponent. But if she wins, I am certain the Silver State will get minimal federal dollars for many years to come because of the political isolation and non-influence of Senator Sharron Angle.