The Irascible One

Don't Forget The Hottie Factor; There's More To Politics Than Money

Chanos Part Of "Developer Heaven"? Oscar Now Hanging By Other's Thumbs

Hotties on Parade --- Money buys lots of things, some are good things, some are more than questionable, but they are bought and paid for. Many of those questionable items too often are politicians. In Nevada there are the two major political parties and then several that will not bring statewide candidates or federal candidates to office in the near future, but it isn't the workings of the political parties that are responsible for many of our local "leaders."

Some of our leaders are in office because their candidacy was approved by the money people and they in turn saw to it that "their" candidate not only had barrels full of cash but that anyone running against him or her had as little as possible. But there's another type of politician in Nevada, one we see and read about way too often. The "hottie."

The hottie has a reputation outside the norm, is more than flamboyant, and often works outside the parameters of whatever office he or she is seeking. Yes, Virginia, think Oscar Goodman. He promotes gin drinking to nine-year-old children and people swoon over his lack of political acumen. He wants to tear the thumbs off graffiti artists and publicly cane them too, and he is vilified for his outbursts. But those same people swear they will vote for him no matter what office he may seek.

He has flirted with running for governor and now a couple of newsies in Las Vegas seem to be touting him for a run against Senator John Ensign. Goodman is registered as a Democrat. Jack Carter is working on his campaign against Ensign. Carter is a Democrat, son of former president Jimmie Carter, nephew of Billie. Oh, oh. It would be Billie Beer vs Bombay Gin in a primary. Now there's a progressive party.

Harry Reid on the other hand might be considered the antithesis of a hottie. He's not quite as flamboyant as Oscar, but he can be just as politically vicious, has had his ethical judgment questioned more than once, but can't get away with the misguided misdeeds of the mayor. While Goodman thrives on the controversy he himself helps to create Reid thrives on the political manipulation of events regardless of the consequences.

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Follow the Money --- Our new (never before a politician) Attorney General certainly has learned the art of politics. Protect that $10 million land deal that's about to conclude, and let the cards fall where they may as far as doing your job. Mr. Chanos, sir, why are we spending money for an outside law firm to investigate the golf course land deal in Clark County when your own office has Gerald Gardner sitting twiddling his thumbs? Why haven't you taken this case to the Grand Jury with Gardner leading the charge? That is what he's paid for, isn't it?

You know, the sad thing here is, the state Board of Examiners must still OK the Senn Meulemans deal, and if they don't, you've just about wrecked the case. Oh, did I tell a tale out of school? Maybe. The governor sits on that board and he is waffling as usual, or playing coy depending on your point of view. As we go to press the guv is saying he hasn't decided how he'll vote.

You know what? He should excuse himself from the vote. He received campaign funds from Bill Walters. The board is Guinn, Chanos, and Secretary of State Dean Heller. Chanos called for an outside investigation in order to protect his own land development deal, the governor received campaign funds from one of the people at the head of the investigation, and for all we know Heller will send a memo to former AG Brian Sandoval reminiscent of the Kathy Augustine affair.

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King Ken on Parade --- Did you try to make sense out of the stuff written about the reign of Kenny Guinn and that he should go down in history as being the guv that gave back? It wasn't mentioned often, but if there hadn't been the largest increase in taxes in history he wouldn't have had anything to give back.

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The Campaign Trail --- Or, more to the point, what campaign trail? My goodness it's quiet out there. Fundraisers are taking place, we must be aware of that, but those running for office have certainly clamed up recently. PR people love to inundate e-mail boxes with stuff, and even they are being quiet.

The quiet one that surprises even the Irascible One is Dean Heller. We know he is running for Congress because he said he was and he's gathering the coin of the realm, we can see that in the FEC filing, but it isn't like El Papagallo to be this quiet. His upcoming vote, as a member of the State Board of Examiners on December 12 might not be something he's going to want to talk about during the upcoming campaign. That nasty little golf course investigation could come back and bite in a tender place.

Dawn Gibbons had a nice interview with the Pahrump Valley Times but even that wasn't picked up by the Clark County press or AP.

Dina Titus is fighting to get back on track. It appears likely that the moneybags in southern Nevada gaming are filling Henderson Mayor Gibson's campaign chests. Now Titus has to fight Gibson on his territory while trying to defend so many years of indifference she has shown to northern Nevada. Ah, Karma.

Jim Gibbons is doing the right thing despite cries from Bob Beers that he's not campaigning. Gibbons is working in Congress, something many in the state hired him to do. During summer recess he just might have a few things to say. The primary is in August, and the polls have Gibbons well ahead of Beers at this time. You're right, Congressman, just smile and continue on.

Harry Reid and his Searchlight Leadership Fund (Harry isn't even running for anything this election cycle) has reportedly received some $66,000 from interests represented by sullied lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Ethics questions will be raised over this according to Washington sources.

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School Holiday? --- If it happens it won't be before the 2008 General Election, but here's an idea that hasn't been thoroughly thought out. Close the schools on Election Day and use the schools as voting precincts. Luckily elections are held on Tuesdays not Mondays. Even so we already lose two thirds of the electorate on Election Day, let's give 'em another reason not to go to the polls. It's a holiday. School is out. Let's go to the lake for the day, who cares about electing a bunch of thugs?

The Washoe County School Board has voted in favor of the plan. Washoe registrar of voters Dan Burk is all in favor. How long will it be before someone suggests moving the election to Monday so it can be part of a three-day holiday?

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