Nevada
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The third rail of Nevada politics was completely off-limits tonight on either side of the aisle. I was right. Jim Gibbons tells us that we Nevadans will need to take more personal responsibility. I guess that’s because he and the state legislators refuse to act like grownups and spread the pain evenly. Filed under: Economy, Nevada, Politics [...] ...
Blue Lyon - Mon 8:06 p.m. - 4 clicks 
If "lower taxes" were the fulcrum on which to lift an economy out of a recession, then Nevada ought to be booming. The state has the second lowest tax level in the nation: " Nevada's state and local tax burden has consistently ranked among the nation's lowest. Currently estimated at 6.6% of income, Nevada's state/local tax burden percentage ranks 49th highest nationally , well below the national ...
Desert Beacon - Mon 8:46 a.m. - 2 clicks
Think again. From a sidebar to a Reno Gazette-Journal article discussing the risks of cutting firefighting services we find out that those cuts that may very well raise homeowners’ and business owners’ insurance rates. How the fire changes affect your insurance With a shrinking depth of resources, Reno fire operations chief Joe Durousseau said the Insurance Services Office could review...
Blue Lyon - Mon 5:25 a.m. - 3 clicks
Glenn Greenwald: In sum, Sarah Palin loyally supports virtually every policy that defined the uniquely disastrous Bush/Cheney first term. The ”tea party movement” depicts itself as some sort of novel and independent force in American politics, and the establishment media — which patronizingly equates far right extremists with “real Americans” and is petrified of accu...
Blue Lyon - Sun 3:30 p.m. - 2 clicks
Once upon a time in Nevada (and several other states) there were Ameriquest offices ready and most willing to make mortgages for prospective homeowners. However as of January 2010 the situation was entirely different, the LA Times explained: " Agreeing to settle 29 class-action lawsuits alleging predatory lending, the Ameriquest group of subprime lenders has pledged $22 million to repay aggri...
Desert Beacon - Fri 12:26 p.m. - 6 clicks
David Sirota: Judging by Tim Tebow’s much-hyped Super Bowl ad, “choose life” remains conservatives’ favorite abortion shibboleth. But really, the phrase better captures the stakes in the Great Budget Wars of 2010. Plagued by deficits, communities everywhere must now decide between tax reform and public spending cuts—between economic life and death. And thanks to two Western bellwether [...] ...
Blue Lyon - Fri 5:48 a.m. - 7 clicks
We now have "the plan" for balancing Nevada's budget: " Gov. Jim Gibbons’ senior staff released recommendations Wednesday evening to eliminate 235 jobs, close Nevada State Prison, and cut funding for school districts and higher education by 10 percent each ." [ LVSun ] There's just one problem. The deficit is about $881 million, the Governor's staff is proposing $328 million, and the accumulated ...
Desert Beacon - Thu 8:08 a.m. - 6 clicks
OK, Nevadans get a bit touchy about comments referring to our gaming (Heaven Forfend We Call It Gambling) industry, and yes, Las Vegas is one of the cities hit hardest by the bursting of the housing bubble and the credit meltdown. For a bit of perspective, try the Las Vegas Sun article on the latest flap between the President and the Nevada Congressional Delegation. We, like all other communit...
Desert Beacon - Wed 8:28 a.m. - 10 clicks
While citizens in Nevada, California, Arizona, and Florida watch their homes decline in value such that many are “under-water,” and small businesses are finding it difficult to get lines of credit from banks that still have an abominable load of toxic assets on their books, Frank Luntz is back – to tell the GOP how to fight financial reform efforts. Luntz begins with the establis...
Desert Beacon - Feb 1 - 6 clicks
Nothing would please Republicans inside the Beltway more than to see health care reform legislation tabled for eternity. To that end, they've made it abundantly clear from the outset that efforts by Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to get such legislation enacted would be met with a stall ball game, a four-corner offensive in which the GOP says "we all want to refor...
Desert Beacon - Feb 1
Nevada, this is what happens when your senator is the majority leader. For Immediate Release Sunday, January 31, 2010 REID STATEMENT ON ELIMINATION OF YUCCA MOUNTAIN FUNDING Obama Administration to Announce it will Eliminate Funding, Withdraw [...]...
Reno and Its Discontents - Jan 31 - 7 clicks
Happy Anniversary Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act -- it's one year old today! The Nevada State Democratic Party reminds us: " The act is another step toward ensuring equal pay for equal work. The legislation ensures that if a worker discovers disparities between his or her salary and another worker who performs the same work, that worker has 180 days from the most recent paycheck, not the date they a...
Desert Beacon - Jan 29 - 8 clicks
Somehow, some way, according to Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons, it's Senator Harry Reid's fault (notably not the "other Senator's) that the Silver State wasn't included in high speed rail funding from the federal government: “ If Jim Gibbons wants to know why maglev didn’t get any of the $8 billion in stimulus money announced today for high-speed rail, he should look in the mirror,” Reid spokesman Jo...
Desert Beacon - Jan 29 - 4 clicks
Representative Dina Titus (D-NV3) issued this statement on Monday, January 25, 2010 concerning the Obama Administration Middle Class Task Force . " Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District applauded the efforts of President Obama’s Middle Class Task Force, which today previewed elements of their recommendations. The full report will be released in February. The Ta...
Desert Beacon - Jan 28 - 9 clicks
From the In Box: Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV1) issued this statement concerning the appointment of a panel to study alternatives to the controversial Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump -- I wish I shared the Congresswoman's optimism that we're finally going to be rid of this potential toxic project for as long as radiation can make the counters go tickety-tickety. " Calling the decision a...
Desert Beacon - Jan 28 - 6 clicks
The Great Basin Water Network issued this press release today, reprinted here in its entirety: "The Nevada Supreme Court today issued an opinion striking a serious blow to the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s planned rural Nevada water grab, effectively sending the pipeline project back to the beginning of the State Engineer’s hearing process. Dozens of rural Nevada landowners joined nonprofi...
Desert Beacon - Jan 28 - 10 clicks
Timing is everything?" Reactions from leading Nevada Republicans to the State of the Union speech: " "In Nevada, Republican Danny Tarkanian, the former UNLV basketball star who is among those running in the Republican primary for the chance to challenge Reid in the November election, said, "We heard some good lines, but overall, what we heard from the president tonight is disappointin g." What,...
Desert Beacon - Jan 28 - 3 clicks
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is facing serious opposition to his renomination from several quarters, and now Senator John Ensign (R-NV) has aligned himself with Bernanke's opponents: " Sen. John Ensign plans to vote against awarding Ben Bernanke another four years as chairman of the Federal Reserve, saying the appointee has become "far too political" to be effective ." [ LVRJ ] There ar...
Desert Beacon - Jan 27 - 13 clicks
No Surprise Department: With the State of Nevada looking at $1 B in the red, one of our nation's least administratively skilled governors is calling for a special session of the state legislature. " Gov. Jim Gibbons will make a special State of the State speech at 6 p.m. Feb. 8 to address the state's budget problems. He has not announced a date for a special session to deal with the budget, thoug...
Desert Beacon - Jan 26 - 2 clicks
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) offered conditional support for Ben Bernanke's continuation as Fed Chair: " I made it clear that to merit confirmation, Chairman Bernanke must redouble his efforts to ensure families can access the credit they need to buy or keep their home, send their children to college or start a small business,” Reid said in a statement late Friday ." [ LVSun ] For his part, Bernanke ...
Desert Beacon - Jan 25 - 6 clicks
With the FBI currently interviewing associates of Sen. John "plead the fifth" Ensign , some speculation has been made as far as what cool prison nickname he might have when you get sent upstate for his alleged crimes. Here are some thoughts: Johnny "Two-Timer" Ensign John "The Bull(shitter)" Ensign John "Nevada Gigolo" Ensign John "The Checkbook Don" Ensign John "Sings ...
Zeke Says So - Jan 22 - 4 clicks
As noted in previous posts, while we sit out in Nevada's sage and sand bemoaning the fact that we have the highest foreclosure rate in the nation as The Big Bankers or The Little Wall Street Wizards collect from their Golden Parachutes and bonuses, the House of Representatives has passed H.R. 4173 which at least in part addresses those juicy bones of contention. As in the case of the attempts to ...
Desert Beacon - Jan 21 - 2 clicks
Look I know it's not his fault. Harry Reid is neither responsible for, nor should feel guilty about the ridiculous upset yesterday in America's worst state, Massachusetts. The results which featured the crime of a right wing unqualified wingnut, winning Ted Kennedy's former seat, are neither a referendum on Barack Obama or healthcare reform. And you know it. But so what? Like every crime, someb...
Zeke Says So - Jan 20 - 3 clicks
Senator Harry Reid, (D-NV) on the Massachusetts election results: “ While Senator-elect Brown’s victory changes the political math in the Senate, we remain committed to strengthening our economy, creating good paying jobs and ensuring all Americans can access affordable health care. We hope that Scott Brown will join us in these efforts. There is much work to do to address the problems Democrats...
Desert Beacon - Jan 20 - 3 clicks
So, a person is sitting in an "upside down" house in Las Vegas or Reno, Nevada, contemplating what the Congress might do to mitigate the circumstances that created the housing bubble bursting - credit meltdown creating - financial mess in which we find ourselves. Part of the answer lies in H.R. 4173, which passed in the House of Representatives on December 11, 2009 on a 223-202 vote. [ roll call 9...
Desert Beacon - Jan 19 - 4 clicks
As of 2006, Nevada had 14,834 elementary school teachers, a number expected to increase to 19,973 by 2016. There were almost the same number (14,939) registered nurses in the Silver State, with projections of 20,430 for 2016. We had 19,432 security guards, projected to increase to 23,364 during the decade; and, 40,343 waiters and waitresses, a number expected to increase to 54,341 by...
Desert Beacon - Jan 19 - 5 clicks
Tomorrow, the good people of Massachusetts will vote for their new US Senator. And the bad ones too. I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that this is going to turn out badly for Democrats. Unfortunately, fivethirtyeight.com also feels this way, explaining that there is better than a 70% chance that the Republican Scott "I hate health care” Brown will beat Democrat Martha "dropping the b...
Zeke Says So - Jan 18
The Las Vegas Review Journal article published today, it is revealed that candidate for Senate Sue Lowden is afraid to fly on airplanes. First of all, what? This is some kind of joke, right? Are you seriously telling me that an adult, one that wants to be in the upper chamber of the Senate of the most powerful country in the world, is afraid to get on a commercial airliner? Over the years I...
Zeke Says So - Jan 17 - 3 clicks
Well, I've said it many many times before; Gov. Jim "Mormon Recluse" Gibbons hates Reno. He never comes here. He never has Townhall meetings here. He doesn't attend parades or fundraisers, and he didn't even show up at my birthday party last year. Jackass. But now, he's gone even further. Apparently Jim Gibbons hates Sparks Nevada as well. In one of the biggest fundraisers of the year, one that ...
Zeke Says So - Jan 15 - 7 clicks
Not Danny Tarkanian January 13th, 2010 The Honorable Harry Reid U.S. Senator 522 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Fax: 202-224-7327 775-883-1980 702-388-5030 775-686-5757 Dear Senator Reid, As you are undoubtedly aware, the American people are clamoring for negotiations on health care reform to be fully open and transparent. By having these hearings in closed back rooms full ...
Zeke Says So - Jan 14 - 2 clicks
Harry Reid's Racist Comment www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy ...
Zeke Says So - Jan 12 - 4 clicks
In the year 2010, Nevada's got the chance once again, to exchange their Senator Reid for a Con. But with Tarkanian and Lowden the choice, many Republicans raised their voice, and screamed out "better first then the bottom". As the November election neared, educated people statewide feared, is it possible that Nevadan will get bombed...
Zeke Says So - Jan 11 - 2 clicks
With our internationally infamous Sen. John Ensign making an appearance this week at UNR's Jot Travis Student Union, he is doing something that no other prominent Republican has managed to do in Nevada since the creation of this blog nearly 2 years ago. Hold a town hall meeting in Reno Nevada. I know what you're saying, certainly Gov. Jim Gibbons, Lieut. Gov. Brian Krolicki or Congressman De...
Zeke Says So - Jan 10
The function of Blue Sage Views has been more than amply taken by other Nevada blogs, and the time necessary to keep Desert Beacon, the mothership, keeps expanding. Something has to give. So, BSV will be jettisoned, and its posts will be published on Desert Beacon from here on out. It's been a pleasure to have you follow, and here's hoping you'll bookmark Desert Beacon and keep reading. Thanks!...
Blue Sage Views - Jan 4 - 2 clicks
After mounting disgust with typepad, the now past host for Vote Gibbons Out, this blog has moved to votegibbonsout.com. This will entail thousands of broken links and hundreds of missing pics and the virtual disappearance of the blog in search......
Vote Gibbons Out - Jan 2 - 2 clicks
© FauxNews December 31st, 2009 Reno, Nevada - In an amazing exhibition of psychic powers, Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons astounded law enforcement and media yesterday by declaring "This airport is cleeeeeeean". The Governor had taken an extensive nearly 20 minute tour of the baggage claim area of the recently remodeled Reno-Tahoe International Airport Wednesday before making the amazing statement. Sourc...
Zeke Says So - Dec 31 - 2 clicks
Looks like it's just a matter of time before Elmer Fudd Robert Olmer becomes the 4,356th member of the Gibbons' team to face an ignominious firing. At least the Gube bitch-slapped his mouthy campaign manager for making a Gibbons-worthy gaffe,......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 28 - 4 clicks
Opening the path for a Jim Gibbons, um, resurgence, Dawn has agreed to a divorce settlement and allowed the Gøøber to avoid a no doubt grotesque and utterly embarrassing public trial. (AP,INP) So, how much was it worth the Gube......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 28 - 3 clicks
Ah, as we wallow and wallow and wallow in the Gibbonses "date" with the divorce court, it's time, once again, for the most despised of all year end retrospectives: the year in Gibstory! Yes, it's time again to relive the......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 28 - 6 clicks
I've had the displeasure of meeting a whole bunch of "wild horse advocates" lately, and I'm still scratching my head over what trauma they suffered in their life, to care so much about these animals. First, I thought it might just be that girl/pony routine we all know and love. But that type of relationship doesn't explain the paranoia and hostility so often expressed by wild horse advocat...
Zeke Says So - Dec 26 - 2 clicks
Nevada's own Nightmare is either out trying to prove he's a loyal member of the No-party for the Incline Village core, or he's been partaking of a little too much of that pre-holiday liquid cheer his putative religion says he......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 24
And the award for most ironic attempt at headline grabbing by a desperate politician facing imminent election loss goes to: Jim Gibbons, for his remark that Harry Reid "should move to Nebraska where he can do less harm to Nevada."......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 23 - 3 clicks
Was Gibbons' first misuse of state property that state phone on which Gibbons sent hundreds of texts to a paramour? Or was it the multiple swearing-ins on the first day of the Gøøbship when only one was really necessary? Well,......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 23 - 3 clicks
"O, O!" Nevadans did cry out: "Who's the Anointed One, destined by our Mining, Casino, and Construction Overlords to be the One True Governor in 2010? "O! Woe is Us", they did cry! "Last time it was all so Clear......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 17
Divorce December finds the crack Re-elect Nixon Gibbons' team in full featured panic/goofball mode. Consider: The childish offer to our handicapped-parking-challenged State Senate Majority Leader to join a state board for the handicapped. (Sun) The threat by the Gube for......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 15 - 2 clicks
I couldn't believe it either. Why would a state need to have two CSI shows in it? Well, first of all, Nevada is a very violent state. Oh sure, we have your basic garden-variety gang and drug related murders, but we also have some fantastic high-profile murders and also certainly lead the nation in serial killer captures. I also heard once that Silver Springs (or maybe it was Sun Valley) leads t...
Zeke Says So - Dec 15 - 2 clicks
Ever hang out with a criminal? Of course you have. We all have. Especially if you hang out with me . But I digress. The other night Lieut. Gov. Brian " Dead Man Walking " Krolicki made a statement in front of a courthouse in Vegas, after some goofy judge dismissed felony charges against him for acting like a Wall Street banker with Nevada's Millennium Scholarship Program funds. He didn't rea...
Zeke Says So - Dec 11
Now that Dave Berns has been given the boot from KNPR's State of Nevada cuz he wanted it, you know, to remain a news show instead of the typical public radio/tv sop for rich pseudo-intellectuals who like animal shows and......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 11 - 2 clicks
Now, us'n Nevada Republicans supporting Jim Gibbons are ever so proud of the Guv's sudden spurt of interest in the state budgetary process. (RJ) No doubt there's a bunch of Sandovalistas out there wondering why the Gube couldn't have called......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 9
No doubt everybody's breathing a sigh of relief over the news that Nevada's reduced its emission of toxic crap by 10%! Those of us who can still breathe, anyways. Which probably is fewer than you'd think given that Nevada still......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 9
The Las Vegas Sun seems to have a new business plan. The idea is to fire most of the staff and then fill the now empty pages of the hard-copy version with reprints of Reno Magazine's interview with Dawn Gibbons.......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 6
If'n anybody had any doubts about the Gube calling a special session of the Legislature in the next month or so, reading the exposé of the horror that was the Gøøber marriage should remove all doubts. (RENOmag) Geez, is this......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 3 - 2 clicks
Gibbons will decide to decide--or not to decide--on special session as soon as he assesses damage from Dawn's RENO Magazine interview and the divorce trial. (RJ) Meanwhile, governor will reprise his role as Captain Queeg from "The Caine Mutiny" for......
Vote Gibbons Out - Dec 2
Holy crap! There was a huge fight last night down at the Dive Bar. It was about The War. It seems that Barack "Peace Prize" Obama has decided to attack this little country called Afghanistan. And nearly everyone in the joint was pissed off. The peacenik liberals were mad that we didn't flat out withdrawal completely the day after inauguration. And bloodthirsty conservatives were mad. For some r...
Zeke Says So - Dec 2
Boy, oh, boy, oh boy! Now, could you possibly picture Brian Sandoval or Wazzisname from North Las Vegas--you know, the guy who signed over a $337,000 golden parachute to the city manager up there, you know, the guy against government......
Vote Gibbons Out - Nov 30
Scores of Nevada's best and brightest teens say they'll be voting with their feet and getting out of the quagmire we call Nevada. (Sun) Gube candidate Rory Reid has asked the existential question: why stay in Nevada? Nevada's youth have......
Vote Gibbons Out - Nov 29 - 4 clicks
©FauxNews November 22nd, 2009 Homewood, New Jersey - With a sigh of relief, Nevada Tourism Officials announced that Nevada was somehow not listed on the Annual 10 Worst States in the USA. "Apparently going Blue saved us from the shame of The List this year" said Jeremy Homenger from the NV Tourism Council and Day Spa. "I hope we can do something equally as impressive this year to keep us off....
Zeke Says So - Nov 22
Yeah, she's everywhere. Soon even in Reno again. Palin. And although she has recently topped many lists as the 2012 GOP front runner, all I can say is: Who cares? If you can remember the news from 2 weeks ago, ABC/Gallop reported that only 20% of Americans are reporting themselves to be Republicans. And of them, 20% report they think she is qualified to be President. So the math of that mean S...
Zeke Says So - Nov 20 - 2 clicks
C lick on any of the pictures for the full-size images During the weekend of November 6-8 members of the Las Vegas Industrial Workers of the World , in conjunction with Food Not Bombs Las Vegas and Southern NV ALL , a ttended the L iving Without Borders encuentro sponsored by the United Coalition for Im/migrant Rights ( U.C.I.R. ), which was held at UNLV. On the final day...
EyeM4Anarchy - Nov 17 - 2 clicks
