Maxfield Parrish illustration

Knickerbocker's History of New York (1899)

The Irascible One

Ticketgate, get your Ticketgate --- Politicians from one end of the state to the other have been found to be accepting "gifts" from those who want something, and then not listing these gifts on their financial reports. The Secretary of State says it isn't his responsibility to look at the reports. Says if there's something wrong, report it to the Ethics Commission. And then says reports in the press don't count for documentation. Excuse me Secretary Heller, we wouldn't know about the Rolling Stones freebies or the NASCAR Sky Box goodies if it weren't for the free press.

It's time for this silly game to come to an end. City and County Clerks are not disposed to look at financial statements from politicians, and even if they look, there are no rules, laws, or suggestions on what to do if discrepancies are found. The Ethics Commission, supposedly the agency that should oversee the reports doesn't get them. The SOS does.

As long as this travesty continues we will have less than ethical politicians delving into our pocketbooks.

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The line forms on the left --- First our ever delightful State Controller says being impeached, pleading guilty, being fined, and being censured seemed to hurt her political career (DUH!) and desperately wants to run for another statewide office, along comes former Las Vegas city councilwoman Janet Moncrief wanting to run for Lt. Guv.

Moncrief was fined $5,000 by the Ethics Commission for fudging on her financial statements and the voting public threw her out of office in a recall. As Kathy Augustine, Moncrief pleaded guilty to the ethics charge, and as with Augustine, says the public just didn't get it. Oh, my!

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Speaking of not getting it --- There are 535 members of the U.S. Congress, 435 Representatives and 100 Senators.

Of those currently:

• 36 have been accused of spousal abuse.
• Seven have been arrested for fraud
• 19 have been accused of writing bad checks
• 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least two businesses
• Three have done time for assault
• 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
• 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
• Eight have been arrested for shoplifting
• 21 currently are defendants in lawsuits, and
• 84 have been arrested for drunk driving.

Now, doesn't that make you feel secure, cozy, and warm?

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Suggest? More fun to complain --- We've read many reports coming out of the Democrat gatherings recently, and none of them were filled with ideas, just bashing. It's one thing to not like what is happening currently, but the better way to get things changed is to suggest a better way. Politicians must be responsive to the voters, and that means come up with ideas, present better programs. Until that happens Nevada's democrats will always be in second place.

Speaking of second place, some polls recently have Jim Gibson gaining on Dina Titus in the Democratic race for the governor's mansion. Losing your identification seems to be a new way to gain supporters.

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Nevada, a state full of carpetbaggers --- And a full-bore carpetbagger has joined the lists of those wanting to feed at the public trough. Ed Hamilton they say has run for every office available in Michigan, to no avail we might add, and now wants to try his hand at winning something in Nevada. Get in line, Pard.

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End-Note --- This little piece of fun has been making its way around the Internet during the last couple of weeks. Vice President Dick Cheney has been nominated for the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian commendation for his act of bravery in shooting an attorney. Texas is thinking of putting attorneys on the list of regular "game," and issuing hunting tags.

Who says there's no fun left in the world of politics?

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