When Dan DeQuille wrote for the Territorial Enterprise of Virginia City fame, back in the 19th century, he used this depiction of a braying, angry, miner's burro. He always called it, as did most of the prospectors of the day, "A Washoe Canary." Below are some of our brayings, that is, Washoe Canary Songs.

September Is Months Away

Raised Voices Already Loud

Can You Hold On 'Til November?

by Johnny Gunn

Most of the elections in Nevada during this cycle will involve local races, some high court seats, all the Assembly, and some from the Senate.  Statewide officers will be dealt with during 2006.  The big noise right now is at the national level, and with television spots for republicans running back to back with spots for democrats, and with so much time left before the November General Election, will our sensibilities remain intact?

In April, both parties, both candidates, and many of the Political Action Committees (PACs) have said some of the nastiest things, and we have months to go.  At this level of vindictive trash talking already, what on earth are they saving for our ears in September, in October, for heaven's sake, in July?

The concept of political campaigning being an offering of a candidate's or party's philosophical thoughts and ideas has gone down a different path, I'm afraid.  Today's ranting doesn't mobilize the troops, but rather polarizes the population.  We can't have a discussion on philosophy, or ideas.  We are told we must hate the opposition. 

There's always been the thought of "don't discuss religion or politics at the bar."  That unfortunately has now moved into just about any public place.  A coffee shop discussion over the pros and cons of a public official deteriorates into slime and garbage, and people not even in the discussion will put in their two cents worth of trash. 

My grandfather was a California State Senator during the forties and fifties, and that's where I earned my political education.  I can remember grand discussions, yes sometimes rather heated, but usually concerning a thought, a plank on a platform, or a general point within a philosophy.  Today, rather than discuss an issue, we denigrate an individual.  We are unable to discuss issues because those around us can only think to smear a person or his reputation.

Is this part of the dumbing down of America?  Have our civics teachers given up the idea of teaching how our system works?  Is the electorate so unsophisticated that it can't accept debate on an issue?  Have special interests become so much a part of the program that issues don't matter, that the only thing that matters is spending enough money to get their candidate elected, no matter the cost?

For the sake of a good old fashioned argument, debate, commentary, The Nevada Observer will stick to the issues as much as possible.  It is our belief that the electorate is educated, intelligent, and sophisticated enough to not be swayed by gallons of pigsty refuse.  If you are a candidate for a public office in Nevada, and you want your message heard, your personal philosophy delivered, we welcome your letters to the editor.  Try to keep your letters under novel length.  Around 250 words will do fine.

This might very well cost us advertising dollars, but if you as a candidate are willing to discuss the issues, not make personal attacks on your opponent or engage in other trash talk, write to me.  Send a letter to the editor to johnnyg@nevadaobserver.com.

Let's bring the level of intelligent campaigning up a notch or two, put aside the vitriol, and engage in some serious dialog. 

Well, of course, you're also most welcome to place your political advertising in our pages, as well.

Long Time Nevada Media Leader Johnny Gunn Passes

 by Johnny Gunn

(Ed. Note:  That headline and the byline seem diametrically opposed, but in reality, they aren't.  For more than 40 years, Nevada has been a two-Gunn state, and in the south, the Gunn of this report was well known and loved)

Nevada lost a long time southern Nevada media leader recently with the passing of Johnny Gunn, 64.  Back in the early 90s I was senior editor of AdNews, a monthly magazine dedicated to the advertising interests in Nevada while Johnny was owner operator of Five Star Group, an advertising agency.  I did a feature article on us headlined, "Nevada: A Two Gunn State."  We both got a kick out of it, primarily because of how we got our names.

I took my pseudo back in 1958; Johnny took his about 1962.  I was working for United Broadcasting at KEEN in San Jose, California in 1961 when I got the call to arms from Uncle Sugar.  United also owned KVEG in Las Vegas.  They hired Johnny, liked my name so much, they gave it to him.  It was after the army service that I ended up in Reno, working for McClatchy.

As with all of us who use other names in our lives, generally the family sticks with what we call our legal name, and in Johnny's case, he was born Howard Trelstad in Red Wing, MN in 1939.  He leaves two sons, Harry and Howard II, and three grand children.

Johnny was a member of the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame and took part in many city and county functions as well as community humanitarian organizations.

He will be missed.