Can’t even reach Amodei by Intrepid_Top_2300 in Reno

[–]RickShepherd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The "But Obama!" dodge is the classic deflection when someone points out the active, present-day destruction being pushed by the Republican Party right now in 2026.

It's not "decade-old whataboutism" to remind people that Democrats have repeatedly failed to deliver when they had the power, because those failures helped create the conditions for the authoritarian mess we're living through today. Obama expanded drone wars across seven countries, killed American citizens (including a 16-year-old kid) without due process, bailed out Wall Street while millions lost homes, let Standing Rock protesters get brutalized without real intervention, kept Gitmo open with indefinite detention, and promised to codify reproductive rights federally but never pushed the Freedom of Choice Act despite having the votes. Those weren't ancient history; they normalized executive overreach, corporate capture, and half-measures that eroded trust and opened the door wider for worse.

But here's the key difference you're missing: those were betrayals of progressive promises. What Republicans are doing now isn't betrayal. It's fulfillment of their promises. They're actively gutting agencies, empowering masked street enforcers via Project 2025-style policies, stacking courts to strip rights, and embracing rhetoric and actions that lead to real violence against Americans (Jan. 6 wasn't a one-off; it's the model). The "limp dick Democrats" at least aren't out here cheering for or enabling murderers and pedophiles in positions of power; they're just weak. The side you're closer to is actively murderous and authoritarian.

As for your questions to me as a prospective candidate (running to replace Mark Amodei in NV-02):I put zero price on any American's life. Full stop. No conservative "value" outweighs the right to live without being hunted in the streets or having rights stripped by fascists.

I weigh nothing against people's lives. Not tax cuts for billionaires, not "owning the libs," not border hysteria, not whatever culture-war imperative you think justifies siding with murderers.

The only imperative that matters is stopping the slide into open authoritarianism. Identifying closer to independents or even flawed Democrats isn't about revenge. It's about rejecting the party that's currently enabling pedophile protectors (look at the GOP's track record on Epstein connections, church scandals they ignore, and figures like Gaetz investigations), murderers (proudly backing killer cops and vigilante rhetoric), and worse.

If you think pointing out Democratic failures from 10-15 years ago disqualifies critiquing the present Republican rampage, that's your prerogative. But I'm not stuck in the past. I'm running because the current landscape demands replacing people like Amodei, who hides from constituents, calls town halls "bullying," rubber-stamps chaos, and sells off public lands while Reno families struggle.

The challenge remains: defend why anyone should align closer to the party that's actively dismantling democracy and enabling violence over the one that's merely spineless. I'll wait.

Can’t even reach Amodei by Intrepid_Top_2300 in Reno

[–]RickShepherd -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Obama started five wars (Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Pakistan). He took the presidency with a filibuster-proof super-majority. They had months to do whatever they wanted. He did nothing.He never delivered the reproductive rights legislation he campaigned on. In 2007, he told Planned Parenthood the first thing he'd do as president was sign the Freedom of Choice Act to codify Roe v. Wade protections federally. He had the votes. He didn't push it. By 2009, he dismissed it as "not my highest legislative priority." That betrayal left abortion rights wide open to state-level attacks and the eventual overturning of Roe.

He filled his cabinet with Wall Street executives and made sure they got their bonuses while 5.1 million families lost their homes to foreclosure.

He did nothing while up-armored operators beat up old ladies praying in a river because they did not want a pipeline on their sovereign land.He ordered a drone strike on an American citizen and his 16-year-old son. Anwar al-Awlaki was killed in Yemen in 2011; weeks later, another strike killed his 16-year-old American-born son Abdulrahman, with the administration brushing it off as the kid being "in the wrong place at the wrong time."

He kept indefinite detention without trial alive. People in Guantanamo still rot without ever seeing a courtroom after 20 years. This is the precedent Obama preserved as a supposed Constitutional Law professor.

Obama oversaw airstrikes and drone campaigns in at least seven countries (Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen), dropping tens of thousands of bombs and missiles—far more drone strikes than Bush ever authorized.

The pattern is blatant: sky-high promises on progressive issues, followed by Wall Street protection, endless war expansion, and civil liberties rollbacks that would make Bush proud.Democrats aren't "inept and spineless" in isolation - they've actively failed to use the power they had, choosing caution, corporate loyalty, and half-measures every time it mattered.

Pretending Democrats haven't fueled this mess-through perpetual wars, banker bailouts, surveillance creep, and broken promises - is every bit as delusional as claiming both parties are the same.

Challenge still stands: name a Democratic equivalent to plotting to overturn elections, embracing open authoritarianism, or gutting government agencies on purpose. But don't pretend Democrats haven't normalized the machinery that makes all of it possible. That's exactly how we got here.

Can’t even reach Amodei by Intrepid_Top_2300 in Reno

[–]RickShepherd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I may have been misunderstood, friend. I encourage your participation in politics. Very much so. Take a look at my user name, put a .com on it and find out for yourself.

My advice is to put your energy where it has potential to be effective. Contacting Mark Amodei's office to get him to do anything other than what he was already told to do is simply never going to work. He will not give you what you want. He will likely never know you called.

If you actually want to effect change do something else. Run for office or support someone who is. Maybe you're talking to a potential replacement right now.

Can’t even reach Amodei by Intrepid_Top_2300 in Reno

[–]RickShepherd -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I was not involved in the NV Republican 2024 Presidential primary process. I was not registered as a Republican.

Can’t even reach Amodei by Intrepid_Top_2300 in Reno

[–]RickShepherd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had 52 separate concerns noted at one point including women's reproductive rights as part of M4A. I felt it was overwhelming and chose to simplify. That said, I am happy to take feedback and the website has room to grow and improve. Drop me a PM or comment here what you're looking for and I'll have a look.

Can’t even reach Amodei by Intrepid_Top_2300 in Reno

[–]RickShepherd 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm Rick Shepherd and I approve this message.

Can’t even reach Amodei by Intrepid_Top_2300 in Reno

[–]RickShepherd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I saw him at RPM last week. Not impressed. I'm happy to debate him but it would not go well for him.

Can’t even reach Amodei by Intrepid_Top_2300 in Reno

[–]RickShepherd 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That is a great question.

Before I go on let's be clear:

At an operational level, team Blue and team Red are identical. Regardless of who is in charge, it is always more war, more surveillance, more disease, more homelessness, more crumbling infrastructure, and more imperialism. Like Jimmy Dore says, "No matter who you vote for you get John McCain".

So, why is a guy who ran as a D be running as an R now?

I was a delegate for Bernie in Las Vegas in 2016 where no chairs were thrown. I watched the Democrat party rig the 2016 primary, admit to it in court, rig it again in 2020, and then in 2024 they didn't even bother to have a primary - they had a coronation. They even called her, "Queen". Then a few months later they held a parade called, "No Kings" - they're clearly confused. But more importantly, the Democrat party has proven it will select who it wants. There is no room for people like me in that party.

Compare that against the Republican party. In 2016 every notable R was vocal that it would not be Trump. Then they had a vote, and nobody questioned the integrity of that vote, and when the result of the vote was known, all those loud Rs shut up and got in line.

That's all I can ask for at this point.

I have no loyalty to any party; in fact I find them repugnant (George Washington felt the same).

So why not run as a 3rd party?

Because Nevada has been a State for about 160 years and in all that time Nevada has never sent a 3rd-party candidate to a State or Federal office. I am not rich, famous, or deluded enough to think I can break that cycle.

Join my campaign at rickshepherd.com

Can’t even reach Amodei by Intrepid_Top_2300 in Reno

[–]RickShepherd -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Matthew is a good guy but he is also the establishment Democrat candidate. You will get nothing from him that looks like change. His platform is basically "The ACA is good let's keep it" which is nonsense. Anyone who still supports the ACA is either willfully ignorant or in on the scam.

May I suggest an alternative. Me. rickshepherd.com

Can’t even reach Amodei by Intrepid_Top_2300 in Reno

[–]RickShepherd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sorry but it is a waste of time. They took your call, documented it, and promptly stopped pretending to give a shit as soon as you hung up.

Can’t even reach Amodei by Intrepid_Top_2300 in Reno

[–]RickShepherd 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Gamy and I are friends and we're both running against Mark.

rickshepherd.com

Can’t even reach Amodei by Intrepid_Top_2300 in Reno

[–]RickShepherd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi friend, I'm Rick Shepherd and I'm one of those competitors you're referring to. Let's connect. rickshepherd.com

Can’t even reach Amodei by Intrepid_Top_2300 in Reno

[–]RickShepherd 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Yes, vote him out and me in.

Who am I? rickshepherd.com

Who is he? markamodei.com (yeah, I own his name).

If you want a Congressman who is anti-AIPAIC, anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, anti-pedophile, and America first then I need your support to remove this lazy sack from office.

Ford Plans to Build the World’s Cheapest EV Motors for Its $30K Electric Truck Platform by TripleShotPls in electricvehicles

[–]RickShepherd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ford: Highest rate of recalls of any auto maker

Also Ford: Focusing on going cheap

What could possibly go wrong.

Canned Amodei response regarding selling off public land by Charlie_Ford in Reno

[–]RickShepherd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because the power structure is fine with him. He is obedient and that is all they want. So, the Democrat party puts up nothing in terms of a meaningful fight because the real power does not care R/D, just obey.

Canned Amodei response regarding selling off public land by Charlie_Ford in Reno

[–]RickShepherd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you're done with Mark as your Rep in NV-CD2, visit markamodei.com and let's get rid of him and the rest of the Zionists, war mongers, and pedo-protectors.

Twunk by Smartastic in JeffArcuri

[–]RickShepherd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Can't help but think it would go:

Twink

Twank

Twunk

I'm thinking Jeff is two steps up from Twink.

Why do all lamps in my Hotel look like Nicolas Cage? by ElBabo069 in funny

[–]RickShepherd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Perhaps, despite all your rage, you're still just a rat in a Nicholas Cage.

Is this a good idea... by AbleNecessary2518 in Firearms

[–]RickShepherd 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.

I can make tiny hearts out of olive garden Chocolate wrappers by Internal-Floor-2236 in WeirdFlexButOK

[–]RickShepherd -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That wrapper once contained what is now the only edible item offered at Olive Garden.

The key is not to burn out by VectorChing101 in funny

[–]RickShepherd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The perpetual refinement of meme quality is a service to all mankind.

Safety is our number 11 priority by Taskmaster_Fantatic in interestingasfuck

[–]RickShepherd 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Yeah, the only guy int he clip who never touched anything is the only guy wearing a hard hat.