The Irascible One

Democrat Caucuses --- Our spies tell us that Jim (I lost my wallet) Gibson, Mayor of Henderson, Gubernatorial Candidate actually showed up for a Clark County Democratic Party Caucus.  No one was more surprised than his opponent Nevada Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus.  There was nothing "down and dirty" but they did discuss the issues as they see them.  The former president's kid was there along with Congresswoman Shelley Berkeley.

Speaking of Berkeley, she is so upset that Republican U.S. Senator John Ensign was given V.A. information before her that she trembled discussing it.  Let's make sure I have this right, now.  This is a Republican administration giving a Republican senator who is running for reelection some information before they give it to a Democrat?  This is unusual?

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Lincoln Day Festivities --- Republicans had Lincoln Day festivities all over the state.  Candidates scurried from one dinner to the next, bringing bumper stickers, flyers, and grand smiles to all.  Questions have been asked why Secretary of State Dean Heller is not participating in candidate rituals like showing up at Republican functions.  It may be that he is waiting until the dust clears from the Eddie Floyd scandal that is ripping up northern Nevada.  Back in '01 Heller called Floyd a real patriot.

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Gibbons (Jim, that is) makes some sense ... again --- While Senator Bill Raggio didn't seem perturbed that he and others were being slammed for taking gifts, some from NASCAR people, some from a questionable mortgage company, Congressman Jim Gibbons, Republican candidate for governor of the Silver State stood tall and said voters have a right to know where candidates receive their support before they cast their votes.  It's safe to say that C&E reports for those seeking state and local offices will be screened by more than just snoopy reporters this year.

It's been said over and over, and sometimes we just have to believe that some politicians are not quite as great at thinking as we might like, if someone is giving you something that others aren't being offered, there is a reason.  They will call in their markers.  You are a mark.  Wake up. 

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White People's Hate Party --- The White People's Party, still trying to get enough signatures to be legitimate (there's a strange term to use with a hate group) has begun to make themselves known in northern Nevada.  Windshield flyers have shown up in a few neighborhoods around Reno.  The flyers have the Las Vegas address and phone number.  That guy that proclaimed himself the leader of hate groups in Reno is back in Federal Prison.  Sex related crimes (man-to-man), and he's still HIV positive.

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More from Pinky --- He said he didn't want a lobbyist to be his treasurer.  I guess not.  Senator Harry Reid has fired William Oldaker as treasurer of his Searchlight Leadership Fund.  He's still having trouble getting daylight, that is, distance between himself and Abramoff figures.  According to some reports, Oldaker has served as treasurer of at least 23 Democratic fundraising committees.  He raised funds for Edward Kennedy also.  There's that pairing again.

In the meantime the good Senator from Searchlight has said he never met Jack Abramoff.  Maybe, Pinky, but you sure did some good deeds for some of his clients.  Visits with his clients, "routine contact" with his firm and partners, and doing work for his clients is still a bit questionable.

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"What stays ..." is back --- As we go to press with another wonderful edition of The Nevada Observer, Federal Judge Larry Hicks is deciding whether or not "What Stays in Las Vegas" Should Stay in Las Vegas.  And the conjecture is somebody is going to fold -- probably the LVCVA -- and let that poor little old businesswoman continue with her T-Shirt business.  So far hundreds of thousands of dollars have been paid by LVCVA in attorney fees, and it's possible that R&R Advertising has been collecting royalties.  They bought the rights for a buck.  Some people say the best way to make money in Las Vegas is get a contract with LVCVA.  They have trouble spelling business.

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Quality of Life? --- Might not be much quality of life left in Washoe County if this huge development juggernaut continues.  Supreme Court Justice James Hardesty plans to more than double the population, which would make it about 665,000 by 2030, just a quarter century from now.  People can't get from here to there now, what's going to happen with twice as many cars?

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