Las Vegas Metro Recommends "No Charges" in Gibbons/Mazzeo Case

After 770 hours of investigation, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has turned Chrissy Mazzeo's battery complaint against newly-elected Governor Jim Gibbons over to the District Attorney's office with the recommendation that "no charges" be filed.

Citing over 40 individual interviews and the viewing of all available videotape, investigators concluded there was "no evidence to support the charge of battery" in the two's October 13th meeting.

Mazzeo had accused Gibbons of sexually accosting her in a parking garage after having shared drinks at a Las Vegas restaurant, McCormick & Schmick's. Gibbons denied attacking her and said he was just helping her to her car.

Reid Cold, Giuliani Hot in New "Warmth" Poll

Former New York City mayor, and possible 2008 GOP presidential contender, Rudy Giuliani was tops in a Quinnipiac University poll on politicians Americans feel "warmly" about, scoring a 64.2 (on a scale of 0-100).

Meanwhile Nevada's Harry Reid (D) finished 19th, edging out the "coldest" politician, Senator John Kerry (D), 41.2 to 39.6. Reid could take solace, perhaps, in the fact that only 39% of those questioned knew enough about the new Senate leader to have feelings either way. A full 95% had feelings about Kerry and, judging from the results, Americans still haven't warmed to the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee.

Also scoring relatively high, though on a straight grade (90% = A, 80% = B, etc.) one could argue Americans aren't too keen on any politician, were Senators Barack Obama and John McCain. Meanwhile, President Bill Clinton outscored Hillary, and President George Bush finished 15th.

1) Rudolph Giuliani - 64.2. (9)*
2) Sen. Barack Obama 58.8 (41)
3) Sen. John McCain 57.7 (12)
4) Condoleezza Rice - 56.1 (7)
5) Bill Clinton - 55.8 (1)
6) Sen. Joseph Lieberman - 52.7 (16)
7) NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg - 51.1 (44)
8) John Edwards - 49.9 (20)
9) Sen. Hillary Clinton - 49 (1)
10) N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson - 47.7 (65)
11) Sen. Joseph Biden 47 (52)
12) Nancy Pelosi 46.9 (34)
13) Gov. Mitt Romney - 45.9 (64)
14) Former VP Al Gore - 44.9 (3)
15) President George Bush - 43.8 (1)
16) Sen. Evan Bayh - 43.3 (75)
17) Newt Gingrich - 42 (15)
18) Sen. Bill Frist - 41.5 (53)
19) Sen. Harry Reid - 41.2 (61)
20) Sen. John Kerry - 39.6 (5)

* The number in parentheses is the percentage of people who did not know enough about a candidate to rate them.

Guinn to Gibbons Transition: A Rocky Road?

Is outgoing Nevada governor Kenny Guinn trying to make newly elected Jim Gibbons' job more difficult than normal?

That's the question posed by the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Molly Ball as she points to several actions that seem unusual in contrast to most gubernatorial transitions.

Whether it is some last-minute appointments or a surprisingly robust lame-duck budget, including proposals one doubts Gibbons would normally support (chiefly, all-day kindergarten for all children), it would appear to some observers Guinn is taking one last jab at someone he has been at odds with in recent years.

"It does look like Guinn is going out of his way to handcuff Gibbons," University of Nevada, Las Vegas political scientist David Damore told the paper. "That's what you might expect if there were a change in party, but this is two Republicans. It's personal."

Still, he doesn't think it is entirely being done just to stymie Gibbons.

"These are things that he definitely cares about," Damore told Ball. "Kenny Guinn sees the state as needing to go into a certain direction, and he doesn't necessarily see Jim Gibbons going in that direction."

For his part, Guinn defends his actions as just doing his job. "When do you stop (being governor)? A month ago? Two months ago? The law is very clear that you're still responsible."

Exclusive: KREN Taps "Mr. Jerz" To Cover Blogs For Newscast

Apparently the Fourth Estate does extend to the blogosphere, as Reno blogger Ryan Jerz (aka MrJerz.org) has signed on as an on-air community correspondent for the new KREN-27 newscast debuting in December.

His beat? Blogging, of course.

"I love his writing style and I have a feeling that it will translate well into a television/web show format,” explained Kassata Edwards. The KREN anchor/producer said she first discovered Jerz from the recent Reno News & Review (RNR) article on area bloggers, followed his work and, impressed, then approached him.

"Was I surprised?" asked Jerz as he prepared to tape his first segment today. "Yeah, I was. At first, I thought it wasn't serious. I was a bit guarded, talked with Kassata, and decided I would go for it. The most trepidation came from the fact that I wasn't sure about being branded an 'expert.' They have framed it as me being a 'community correspondent,' though, which fits much better with my philosophy of bloggers being reporters of real news, not just commentators on real news."

Although blogging is a world-wide phenomenon (industry expert Technorati currently tracks over 57-million blogs, with the total doubling roughly every 236 days), KREN and its newest correspondent plan on looking to the North State first.

"My focus, if I can do it, will be entirely local," he hoped. "We have access here to city councilmen, legislators, lobbyists, and reporters. Bloggers using that accessibility have the opportunity to become just as relevant as the media companies around here."

With his views featured prominently in the RNR cover story and some well-known (at least in the Truckee Meadows blogging world) dust-ups with other bloggers over "honest discourse" and their sometimes suspect standards of reporting, one might be tempted to think controversy may always be lurking just around the corner. And you may be right, at least occasionally.

"It's been argued that communities thrive on controversy," said Jerz. "Communities may like controversy, but it ultimately dismantles the community. My initial response to this would be no, I will not court controversy. It serves no purpose for what I want to accomplish. But as I think about it, maybe it'll make it in some time. If the most important thing on the local scene is controversial, then it might get a mention."

In the end, though, it's about people becoming more involved in the process of discussion that the Reno blogger wants to foster with his reporting.

"I hope that as a result of me being on TV, more people start blogging and taking part in the conversation," Jerz told us. "Old media wasn't a conversation. It was people telling you what you needed to know. Now we have the ability for someone to pass information along, then others can get involved and make everyone taking part more knowledgeable as a result. I love that it's now recognized that groups hold more knowledge collectively than any one or two 'officials' or 'experts.' Society will be better off because of group knowledge. If I can play any role in fueling that here, I'll call it a success."

Reno Blogger To Make On-Air Debut?

Has blogging finally cracked the world of television in Reno?

A highly-placed source has told Dullard Mush that a certain local firebrand blogger has recently inked a deal with a Reno TV station for a weekly insider look at the world of blogging.

Details to come.

Reno TV Market To Gain New Local Newscast

Late-night news watchers will have one more choice come December as Reno's KREN-27 takes the plunge with its first entry into the local news market. And, you won't have to wait for the "News at Eleven" either.

Slated for a 10 p.m. start, the Pappas Telecasting station hopes to take advantage of the hour jump on the other newscasts in town. Plus, with the unique "community correspondent" as part of the regular telecast and webcast, KREN officials are hoping to develop a true local niche.

We caught up with anchor and executive producer Kassata Edwards for a quick email interview where we discussed the nuts and bolts of the broadcast as well as how the staff are hoping to reach a demographic not usually targeted by local newscasts -- the under-30 set.

I saw your webcasts, how long have those been airing?

“News Around The Clock”, our news webcast, has been airing for a week now. I’m anchoring two a day right now (11/15), around 4 p.m. and then an evening edition. By next week we’ll have three a day with the latest headlines, local and national.

When is the debut date of the over-the-air version?

Sometime in early December.

Thirty minutes or an hour?

An hour.

Any tag line (e.g., "Action News", "The news you can trust")?

Northern Nevada’s only primetime news.

Is it a full staff of weather, sports, co-anchor, etc.?

Yes, we’ll have two anchors, weather, a Technology segment hosted by myself, and community correspondents.

I'm assuming it's all local, not like Channel 11 taking San Francisco's KTVU feed.

That’s correct. We are extremely hyper-local, there’s nothing like us around right now. We have our hands in New Media ventures. Our station is state of the art and located in the Meadowood Mall.

I've seen KREN's community correspondent page. How big of a part will it play in the on-air program?

Our community correspondent page will play a huge part in our newscast. That’s a place where if you see something, you can take pictures/video, post it there and we’ll go on air with your story and give you the credit. It’s News of the People, By the People, and For the People. We also have “expert” community correspondents from the Reno community who will be in our newscast.

I'm guessing you are pretty excited about this, so what do you think KREN's newscast will offer that's different from the current local news (besides being the only real local 10 o'clock news)?

I’m super excited about KREN’s webcast and newscast. You don’t see media like this in Reno. Quite honestly, news here is boring, the local newscasts don’t pull me in to watch on a regular basis. Our news will be young, fast, and energetic!!

Maybe It Was The Accent After All

Was it the southern accent that helped doom Democratic Dina Titus in her quest for Nevada's governorship?

That's the interesting question posed by the Las Vegas Review Journal's Paul Harasim in a recent article. While long panned by a few bloggers, apparently Titus' Georgia drawl struck at least some voters and media experts as grating too.

"Her Southern accent took a beating," said one Titus supporter, while an expert noted that "Too often a Southern accent is associated with negative images, including that of the slow-talking, slow-thinking, gum-chewing redneck."

Lending some credence to those thoughts was word that an internal poll done by Republicans had "found that the nasal Southern accent of Titus was her second highest negative, after her position on taxes." Perhaps it was this information that helped prompt the "I'm Not Happy" ad (featuring Titus' voice) the Jim Gibbons camp released in the final days of the election.

However, one person who wasn't buying into the theory was Titus campaign spokeswoman Hilarie Grey. "It didn't play a part at all. People in Nevada have accents from all over," she told the paper. And, to whether Titus should have worked on her accent, "It's a nonissue. It's stupid. Senator Titus is dynamic. People love her."

Nevada KFC Logo Visible From Space

With Nevada politics in a lull, I figured I would fill space with a completely useless story that, nevertheless, features the Silver State.

After weeks in the making somewhere in a Nevada desert, KFC officially unveiled their new corporate logo with an 87,000 square foot sign visible from space, or at least a friendly spy satellite.

Read the details here, if you must.

Local Bloggers Go Nutzoid Over News and Review Story

Now that the election is over, local bloggers have found another topic to fight and call people names over -- themselves!

In what can only be classified as ironic, it was a story in a local member of the oft-ridiculed MSM that started it all. Okay, so maybe the alternative weekly Reno News and Review (RNR) isn't exactly mainstream, but it is newsprint and ink which makes it part of the dreaded "Old Media" most bloggers like to complain about.

RNR's Peter Thompson started his cover story, "Up All Night," innocently enough with a brief, though humorous, introduction to what exactly is this blogging phenomenon. However, it was the actual interviews that have caused a "firestorm" to erupt on various Reno blogs (i.e., more than two comments).

In particular, or actually in its entirety, were the published statements made by Ryan Jerz (aka Mr. Jerz) that struck a chord with the apparent Queen of Reno Blogs, Myrna the Minx, and it wasn't a Joe Strummer one either. Calling Jerz's arguments "illogical," the Minxter goes off on the Reno man and his quest for "honest discourse" by bloggers.

Joining in on the flogging were the old Discontent standbys, a previously unknown (though not inactive) blogger and, not surprisingly, Jerz's arch-enemy the CobbGobbler.

But what may have been missing in all the hand-wringing and finger-pointing is what Jerz meant. Through discussions with him in the past, my take on his statements in the RNR was that he was probably speaking almost exclusively about political blogs or those that occasionally dabble in them.

Time and time again we hear from bloggers claiming to want respectability or a place at the table of media makers, but few if any follow the rules required for legitimacy. Calling opposition candidates derogatory names, spreading rumors without vetting and never, ever, under any circumstances saying anything bad about your party no matter what they have done isn't what respectable outlets do. It's one thing to be just another shrill partisan machine eating up bandwidth while preaching only to the choir, but to then whine about blogging not being taken seriously is either the height of hypocrisy or just plain stupidity.

Common sense says that no party or candidate will always do the right thing, yet that world apparently doesn't exist in the political blogosphere. It's that one-sided view that ticked Jerz off. Always complaining about one person or party no matter what they say is just opinion, and a myopic one at that. But too often bloggers confuse their partisan opinions with being some sort of news outlet, and that's where the problem lies. The general public will never look to blogs as another source of true, objective and original news as long as it blindly clings to its extremist viewpoints.

Kathy Augustine Story Getting National Interest

It should have tipped me off something was going on with the Kathy Augustine story as today I had a bunch of Google search hits with her name.

And, sure enough, the sad tale of Nevada's controller, and 2006 GOP candidate for state treasurer, was working its way across the country. With a mysterious death, shady husband, quickie marriage, a prior death in need of exhumation and the story had the makings of Lifetime television movie. Indeed, at the time of Augustine's passing, Geraldo was already pointing the finger at her husband Chaz Higgs. It turns out he was right.

While we will probably have to wait for the movie, Greta Van Susteren takes first crack with the Fox News special "Crime Scene: Gambling on Love" which aired November 11.

Also adding to the mix was today's (11/12) story in the L.A. Times where reporter Scott Gold examines Augustine's political career and the events surrounding her death.

UPDATE (1/17/07): NBC's Dateline covers Augustine story.

Libertarians Lose Ballot Access In Nevada

Unlike the Green Party, which rode gubernatorial candidate Craig Bergland's showing to ballot qualification (the Holy Grail to third parties), Nevada's Libertarians came up short this election season.

Needing one percent of the total number of votes for Nevada's congressional races, which this year would be 5,725, the Libertarians missed with their top candidate Brendan Trainor and his 5,265 total.

The Libertarian Party of Nevada will need to collect signatures for access in 2008.

What Happened To Gibbons' Coattails in Washoe?

For years the conventional wisdom was Washoe County Republicans always helped balance out Clark County's Democratic advantage. Yet that didn't happen Tuesday night.

While Jim Gibbons gubernatorial hopes were saved by a 15,000+ advantage in the supposedly GOP-friendly confines of Washoe, his wave of support didn't carry over for most of the other Republicans (even the scandal free).

Except for some healthy Washoe margins for John Ensign and Brian Krolicki, both candidates expected to blow out their opponents (and did), Republicans lost to Democrats in the rest of the major races, costing them at least one office.

Take appointed Controller Steve Martin's battle with Democrat Kim Wallin. Little if any campaign spots or mailings were done by either, and both candidates were without any known baggage, so why would Martin lose Washoe by a thousand votes? This lack of coattails from Gibbons and the usual Washoe GOP bump, cost Martin as his election loss was by less than 7,000 votes.

While Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto was expected to romp statewide in the Attorney General race (and did), that doesn't explain how a county with an almost 17,000 GOP voter advantage didn't go for Dean Heller in CD-2 or the rest of the constitutional offices.

So why would a GOP area opt for a candidate that was buried by scandals the final weeks, but break Democratic for the other competitive races? Was Dina Titus that big of a boogeywoman?

Nevada Green Party Gains Ballot Access For 2008

Although Nevada's gubernatorial race didn't go the way Craig Bergland wanted (he endorsed Democrat Dina Titus two days before the election), the first-time candidate can draw solace in the fact that he single-handedly qualified his Green Party for ballot status in 2008.

Needing one percent of the combined number of votes placed in Nevada's three congressional races (572,533), Bergland garnered 1.17 percent (6,731).

Gibbons, Porter and Heller Win

If Clark County's election site is correct, all 1,083 precincts have reported in by 11 p.m. thereby sealing the fate of Democrats Dina Titus and Tessa Hafen.

Titus, whose strength was Clark, was trailing Jim Gibbons (R) by around 17,500 with just a few rural counties to go. Hafen, meanwhile, was trailing incumbent Jon Porter (R) 48.44% to 46.59% (or 3,900 votes) in CD-3.

Republican Dean Heller has pulled away from Jill Derby in CD-2 and had a 50.12% to 45.44% lead with just a handful of precincts left (mainly rural areas favoring Heller).

It appears Democrats will take all but Lt. Governor in the rest of the constitutional office races (though Controller may yet go GOP).

Douglas County First In

It only took Nevada's Douglas County 25 minutes to have 100% of their precincts reported.

No real surprises in the conservative county as Jim Gibbons (R) scored a 63-31 victory over Dina Titus (D) in the gubernatorial race. Dean Heller (R) had a 20-point edge on Jill Derby (D) for Congressional District 2.

And in some bad news for Republican Attorney General candidate Don Chairez, he lost to Catherine Cortez Masto, 52-44 (he was the only Republican to do so). Also losing in the district was current Supreme Court Justice Nancy Becker to Nancy Saitta, 45-39.

Where To Watch Election Results

Besides Reno's TV stations (or at least 2,4 &8) running election results shows tonight at 10 p.m., there are also the following web sites for up-to-the-minute numbers for Nevada and the Nation.

Nevada:

Official Nevada Secretary of State Results Site -- All results by county are listed.

Clark County Results -- Sometimes posts quicker than state site.

Washoe County Results

Nation:

CBS News

CNN

Fox News

Will There Be Spoilers Election Night?

With most of the major political races this year considered toss-ups, it might be time to start considering the role of the spoiler.

Though polling between one and five percent, this year's assortment of third-party candidates and an independent may actual affect the outcome of a handful of races where victory could be decided by as little as a point or two.

While the most obvious one is the gubernatorial race where Jim Gibbons (R) was last seen leading Dina Titus (D) by just four points, and the two other candidates are polling four percent, consider the Secretary of State race where only one point separates the top two, or the campaign for Treasurer which is knotted at 35-35. Even the Controller race can be affected as the Independent American (IAP), Floyd Fitzgibbons, is garnering five percent in polls.

Leading the third-party pack, is the IAP which is fielding candidates in all the major races. Their presence on the ballot presents somewhat of a conundrum for determining their true effect. Although their political philosophy is very conservative and would appeal to people more inclined to normally vote Republican, the fact that their ballot name is "Independent American" leads many political observers to believe their vote total mainly comes from people thinking they are a more mainstream "independent" candidate. Adding to the confusion is the belief of current IAP chair and gubernatorial candidate Christopher Hansen that his party "normally take(s) more votes from disenfranchised Democrats than frustrated Republicans." Still, if a voter is even marginally informed, one could view the majority of IAP votes as taking from the GOP column.

Although fielding only a handful of candidates this season, it is well known that Libertarian candidates draw votes from Republican candidates. In a race where this could come into play is Congressional District 3, where the battle between incumbent Jon Porter (R) and Tessa Hafen (D) is considered close. Joe Silvestri (L) was polling one percent. Making the waters even more murky is the IAP's Joshua Hansen who was drawing four percent in the last poll.

Another party famous for drawing votes away from a major are the Greens. And, with the recent tightening of the governor's race, this year it could have had some ramifications for the Democrats. But the lone Green candidate, Craig Bergland, announced his support for Titus this weekend weakening any effect it might have had.

Also entering the fray is the lone, true "independent" candidate, Daniel Rosen. His campaign is currently drawing about one percent in the hotly contested Congressional District 2 which is thought to be close.

Of course, this speculation can all just be moot as, traditionally, third parties do worse when races are considered tight (to avoid the classic "throwing my vote away"). Plus, with the number of undecided voters in a lot of the races, there's also the chance some of these won't end up close enough for a spoiler to take place. But it's something to consider if results go late into the night before a call is made.

More Final Thoughts From Nevada Candidates

With the election finally at hand, we decided to ask Nevada candidates for some final words. Yesterday we heard from Bob Beers (both of them), Shelley Berkley and others. Today it's Don Chairez, Dina Titus and Danny Tarkanian.

"In my career as a District Court Judge, I stood up for the property rights of Nevadans against oppressive government. Now I have co-authored the Property Owners' Bill of Rights, which will put an end to government abuse of eminent domain. If you agree with me that property rights need to be defended, then vote Yes on Question 2, and vote for me, Don Chairez, for Attorney General."

-- Don Chairez (R), Candidate for Attorney General


"My experience – both in the classroom and in the legislature - makes me the best candidate for governor. While I’ve been on the front lines in Nevada, my opponent has been on the back bench in Washington, D.C. I know the budget, the issues and the players and am ready to hit the ground running. I’ve served on numerous statewide committees and have first hand experience with the issues of greatest importance to Nevadans – like health care, education and the environment. I have the skills, the experience and the commitment to lead this state into the future.

Rather than viewing Nevada through a microscope – where just a privileged few “insiders” are heard - I think we should view Nevada through a kaleidoscope, where all the faces of our state are reflected and represented. I pledge to represent all Nevadans as one people, and one great state."

-- Dina Titus (D), Candidate for Nevada Governor


"The Secretary of State's office is a very important position for the State. The office not only oversees several important business departments, it also oversees the elections law.

I am the most qualified candidate. I have both a legal and a business background.

I have run my campaign based upon positive proposals to help improve the Sec. of State's office in each area it oversees. My main proposal would restore the integrity of our election process by eliminating voter fraud. The proposal would require people to show proof of citizenship when they first register to vote and then a Photo ID, like a driver's license when they actually vote.

My opponent is not only against this, he is in favor of same day voting which would open up even more avenues of voter fraud.

While I have made positive substantive proposals to improve the Sec. of State's office my opponent has run a campaign based upon malicious personal attacks that are untrue.

The citizens of Nevada will have a choice on Tuesday. They can choose a candidate that will make positive changes to the Sec. of State's office or they can choose a candidate that can only try to tear down his opponent with lies and deceptions."

-- Danny Tarkanian (R), Candidate for Secretary of State

Ralston Posts Predictions For Tuesday

Nevada's top political pundit, Jon Ralston, made his predictions for tomorrow's elections and the recurring theme is -- it will be close.

With a lead-in of "the quintet below could go either way - thus the onset of self-pity - but here's what I think," Ralston laid out his picks.

Governor
Jim Gibbons (R) -- 46%
Dina Titus (D) -- 44

Secretary of State
Ross Miller (D) -- 49%
Danny Tarkanian (R) -- 47

Treasurer
Kate Marshall (D) -- 48%
Mark DeStefano (R) -- 46

CD-2
Dean Heller (R) -- 49%
Jill Derby (D) -- 46

CD-3
Jon Porter (R) -- 48%
Tessa Hafen (D) -- 46

Others picked for victory include John Ensign (R) for U.S. Senate, Shelley Berkley (D) in CD-1, Brian Krolicki (R) for Lt. Governor, Steve Martin (R) for State Controller, Catherine Cortez Masto (D) for Attorney General and Michael Douglas and Nancy Becker for Nevada Supreme Court (though Becker's will be close).

As for some of the ballot questions, Ralston thinks 4 will beat 5, and though 7 will go down to defeat, "it will be close."

Some Final Words From Nevada Candidates

After months of fundraising, political forums and pressing the flesh, Nevada candidates finally have the finish line in sight. As such, we decided to ask them for some final words on the election.

"I’m voting Republican."

--Bob Beers (R), State Senator Clark Co. No. 6


“I want to encourage all registered voters in the State of Nevada to exercise their right as an American citizen to vote for the candidate that will best represent the people of Nevada. This election is very important for the future of our state and our nation to bring about needed change. I encourage every citizen to join me on November 7th as we vote for a new direction for America.”

-- Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D), District 1


"I have long believed that those of us who are able to serve should do so to the best of our abilities. I was pleased to answer the call from the U.S. Defense Department for civilian volunteers in Iraq in 2003, and now that I have returned home, I am honored that I have garnered extensive support to now serve Northern Nevada in the Assembly. I appreciate the support of the Republican Party in Assembly District 26 and hope to have the support of all other voters as well. Please be sure to exercise your vote on November 7. Thanks!"

-- Ty Cobb (R), Candidate for Assembly District 26


"We have an opportunity to change the direction of our country on November 7th. Let's not waste that chance. Apathetic non-voters certainly have the right to decline to participate, but they give up the right to complain about the results.

I hope you'll choose to support your democracy by voting. We can strengthen our families and our communities by electing candidates who have the ability and will to do what's right. Help us create the change we want to see in our community, our state, our world."

-- Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie (D), District 27


"I encourage Nevadans to vote. I encourage illegals not to vote. I do not know if the votes cast will be counted because Nevada is a known voter fraud state. The first vote you cast is your registration and party selection. If you register in one of the Twin parties (Republican or Democrat) then you are a part of the problem so I am not talking to you). If you are a non-partisan then you should join a minor party. When minor parties get 10% of the total number of registered voters then they become major parties and we can get into the debates. If you want change then do something more about it than voting. Be active. Contact the IAP if you want to be active. The freedom you save my be your own."

-- Christopher Hansen (IAP), Candidate for Nevada Governor


"Even as a candidate, I've been able to help a few folks, and that feels good. I've meet new friends, and that's rewarding. And if I lose, God has something else in mind for me, and I'm okay with that."

-- Randi Thompson (R), Candidate for Assembly District 31


"Let's not blame politicians for their corruption. Let's blame ourselves for participating passively in a system that guarantees and requires corruption. Government is corrupt because government must necessarily be corrupt when two conditions are met: first, the existence of a privileged and disproportionately wealthy elite; and second, a backward technology of politics. We are suffering under the limitations of horse-and-buggy political technology. I have demonstrated a new way of applying technology to politics, in order put citizens directly in control of their representative in Congress, and so to cut off corruption at the source. I'm not asking you to trust me. I'm asking you to take charge. There is nobody better qualified to decide the questions that you care about than you are yourself. My pledge: I will vote in Congress EXACTLY as you direct me to vote through your participation at Nevada Vote Direct - no ifs, ands, or buts."

-- Daniel Rosen (Ind), Candidate for Congress (CD-2)


"Hi, this is Bob Beers. I want to thank you for your support in my State Assembly race and ask you to please continue that support when you vote tomorrow. As I have campaigned in Green Valley over the last few months, we have talked with each other about the things that are important in our lives. I hope I have earned your vote and as you look at your sample ballot tonight please mark Bob Beers for Assembly District 21. Thank You and I hope to see you at the polls (Tuesday)."

-- Bob Beers (R), Candidate for Assembly District 21


"Thanks to everyone who worked with me to make this campaign journey one of the most exciting that Douglas County has ever seen.

Nevada is at a crossroads. There are hard decisions to make about the future of this state. I have made many discoveries since the start of my campaign. The most important one is just how important it is to me to be a part of the decision making process for this state's future.

Over the last months I have listened to the concerns of the people in District 39. I have heard their sincere fears about growth, health care, education and fiscal responsibility. I know that my experience as a banking executive can help resolve some of these issues. My years in the business world have taught me how to solve problems, how to plan for the future and be prepared for a 'rainy day.' I can be A Voice for All and share these skills while representing the people of District 39.

This election is key to the future of Nevada. We need the most experienced legislators we can elect to bring Nevada a positive future. I ask for your vote!"

-- Jo Etta Brown (D), Candidate for Assembly District 39


"This election could be a watershed election in which the Republican Party is a major loser because of its war in Iraq, its violations of civil liberties, its failure to consistently defend federalism, its out of control spending and its
corruption scandals.

The Democrats voted for the war, do not have a history of protecting federalism, protect civil liberties except for those they don't protect (gun owners, Christians, constitutionalists, etc. ) and certainly know how to tax and spend.

It is true that Libertarians have never been elected to Congress. Our track record there depends pretty much on the record of one Congressman, Ron Paul (R) of Texas. On the local level, we do have a record of consistently fighting for less government, while protecting civil liberties.

That is my platform. If elected, I will work for a new foreign policy of non-intervention with retaliation for any terrorist attacks on our soil. I will work to reduce the power of the federal government and return powers it should not have to the States and the people. I will work to repeal and mitigate the Real ID Act, the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, the NSA wiretaps and other civil liberties abuses. I will work for tax reform and tax cuts and sell unconstitutional federal assets to reduce the debt. And I will work to cut federal spending across the board.

A vote for Brendan Trainor is a vote for a new direction in Washington, DC. I ask for your vote."

-- Brendan Trainor (L), Candidate for U.S. Senate

Green Candidate Bergland Endorses Titus For Governor

In a campaign filled with 11th-hour surprises, another was added Sunday when Green candidate Craig Bergland told Dullard Mush he was supporting Democratic opponent Dina Titus in Nevada's gubernatorial race.

"I spoke with Ms. Titus this morning, and am supporting her for governor," said Bergland. "My fears of a Gibbons Governorship far outweigh my personal political ambitions. She is the major candidate who is real about alternative energy, and since you know my personal thoughts on the importance of kicking our oil habit, perhaps you understand my support for her. I think it will do the Green party good to get Dina in office. It will serve us poorly if Gibbons gets his way."

Bergland was garnering around one percent in recent polls, the number needed to automatically qualify the Green Party for ballot status in 2008. As of an October 26-30 poll, Titus was trailing Gibbons 44-40, with Independent American Christopher Hansen at three percent.

Ross Miller's Unusual Gambit

In what may be a first this election season, Democratic Secretary of State candidate Ross Miller is sending mailers to Republican households.

Though the word "Democrat" is conspicuously absent, Miller's endorsement from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and his lifetime membership in the gun rights organization isn't.

In a close race, and this one has been back-and-forth, spending money on mailers to voters of your opponent's party can viewed as either a brilliant last-minute move or a waste of valuable resources. But, if there is still one certainty left in politics, it's that gun owners vote. Rather they vote Democratic remains to be seen.

Latest Poll Numbers Show Masto Pulling Away, Others A Toss-Up

Besides Brian Krolicki's apparent lock in the Nevada's Lt. Governor race, only Democrat Attorney General candidate Catherine Cortez Masto has a sizable lead in the state's constitutional office campaigns.

Thanks to an aggressive TV campaign and a 10-to-1 fundraising advantage over the GOP's Don Chairez, Masto has pulled out to a 10-point lead, though there remains a large 22% undecided vote.

The race for Treasurer, Secretary of State and Controller are all within the margin of error, much like the recently tightened gubernatorial race.

The Las Vegas Review Journal-commissioned Mason Dixon poll took place October 26-30 with a four-point margin of error.

Attorney General
Catherine Cortez Masto (D) -- 40%
Don Chairez (R) -- 30%
*Chris Johnson (IAP) -- 4
None of These -- 3
Undecided -- 25
* Johnson passed away in August and will not be on the ballot.

Secretary of State
Ross Miller (D) -- 39%
Danny Tarkanian (R) -- 38
Janine Hansen (IAP) -- 4
None of These -- 3
Undecided -- 16

Treasurer
Mark DeStefano (R) -- 35%
Kate Marshall (D) -- 35
Mark Andrews (IAP) -- 2
None of These -- 3
Undecided -- 25

Controller
Steve Martin (R) -- 36%
Kim Wallin (D) -- 30
Floyd Fitzgibbons (IAP) -- 5
None of These -- 4
Undecided -- 25

Saitta Beating Becker in Justice Race, Douglas Leads In Other

The hotly-contested race for the Nevada Supreme Court (Seat F) currently has challenger Clark County District Judge Nancy Saitta with a five-point lead over sitting Justice Nancy Becker.

Although there are plenty of undecided voters (37%), Saitta has the 31-26 advantage over Becker.

In the race for Seat G, current Supreme Court Justice Michael Douglas holds a comfortable 16-point lead over Clark County Family Court Judge Cynthia "Dianne" Steel.

The poll was taken by Mason Dixon on October 26-30 for the Las Vegas Review Journal. There is a four-point margin of error.

Nevada Supreme Court: Seat F
Nancy Saitta -- 31%
Nancy Becker -- 26
None of These -- 6
Undecided -- 37

Nevada Supreme Court: Seat G
Michael Douglas -- 36%
Cynthia "Dianne" Steel -- 20
None of These -- 5
Undecided -- 39

Latest Poll Numbers on Propositions

While it appears PISTOL, Education First and the minimum wage are headed for victory, the picture remains a little smoky for Questions 4,5 &7, according to a Las Vegas Review Journal Poll taken October 26-30.

Question 1: Education First
For -- 54%
Against -- 29
Undecided -- 17

Question 2: Nevada Property Owners Bill of Rights
For -- 54%
Against -- 25
Undecided -- 21

Question 4: Responsibly Protect Nevadans from Smoke (industry backed)
For -- 42%
Against -- 45
Undecided -- 13

Question 5: Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act (American Lung Assoc. backed)
For -- 44%
Against -- 42
Undecided -- 14

Question 6: Raise the Minimum Wage
For -- 63%
Against -- 25
Undecided -- 12

Question 7: Regulation of Marijuana
For -- 35%
Against -- 53
Undecided -- 12

Heller and Porter Increase Leads

Both Dean Heller and Jon Porter were buoyed by the latest poll showing them increasing their leads in their hotly-contested races for Congress.

Republican Heller had an eight-point lead (47-39) over Democrat Jill Derby in CD-2, while GOP CD-3 incumbent Porter leads Democratic newcomer Tessa Hafen 46% to 39%. Both races, though, had undecided voters in double digits (a full 19% of independent voters in CD-3 still haven't made up their minds).

The Las Vegas Review Journal poll was conducted by Mason Dixon from October 26-30. The margin of error is four-points.

CD-2
Dean Heller (R) -- 47%
Jill Derby (D) -- 39
James Krochus (IAP) -- 1
Daniel Rosen (I) -- 1
Undecided -- 12

CD-3
Jon Porter (R) -- 46%
Tessa Hafen (D) -- 39
Joshua Hansen (IAP) -- 4
Joe Silvestri (L) -- 1
Undecided -- 10

Question 7: Not Just For Stoners

Maybe that's not the best headline to go with (that and do people still say "stoners"), but it is still pretty accurate.

With support from all parts of the political spectrum (the people, not politicians), Nevada's Question 7 would legalize marijuana for sale (in government-regulated stores) as well as beef up penalties for driving while under the influence and pour money into drug treatment programs and the general fund through a per-ounce tax.

From the Las Vegas Review Journal to the Reno News and Review, from conservative pundit Chuck Muth to liberal columnist Erin Neff, people of all stripes are supporting it. Heck, even some pastors called a press conference to voice support for it.

It seems the only part of the political world that appears to be universally against it, or just aren't talking, are the actual politicians. Except for Green gubernatorial candidate Craig Bergland, the list of politician endorsements is empty.

But in the age of 30-second character assassinations, a voice of support for marijuana is still considered political suicide (I can already envision the TV spot featuring a smoke-filled room, empty Little Debbie wrappers and a glassy-eyed dude in a Black Sabbath shirt with the voiceover warning "Is this the Nevada you want? Senator Joe Blow does.") And, despite support from most media outlets and pundits, there is no guarantee that the voter is so inclined either (past attempts have failed).

But in a world where people pop open a couple cold ones nightly, or drain a bottle of Barefoot at dinner, take a daily dose of Valium, Xanax, Prozac, etc., and puff their life away with nicotine sticks, why in the world would it matter to add one more substance to the list. Especially one that a lot of people are already doing.

If people could get past the "stoner" image, almost every political demographic could find something to like about Question 7. The fiscal conservative can embrace the voluntary sin tax to fund capital improvements (without raising general taxes) and the savings in legal and incarceration costs, while the liberal can embrace the personal liberty aspect of it and the reduction in arrests that tend to hit the poor more. About the only demographic that could have a beef would be the hardcore libertarian who would object to the government regulating it. But even he is probably voting "yes".

An example of how people you wouldn't think would endorse it, but do, is Reno blogger Northern Nevada Conservative. Besides supporting it, he also has a 10-question interview (dang, I should have trademarked that) with Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana campaign manager Neal Levine. It's a good read. Check it out.

Krolicki Big Over Unger in Lt. Governor Race

Republican Brian Krolicki continues to dominate the Nevada Lt. Governor's race with a 16-point lead over Democrat Bob Unger.

Despite the promise of a large influx of his own money, Unger has yet to be seen in recent days in the Reno television market. As a result he is polling only 29% to Krolicki's 45%. The poll, commissioned by the Las Vegas Review Journal, was taken October 26-30 with a +/- of four points. A still large 18-percent remain undecided.

Lt. Governor
Brian Krolicki (R) -- 45%
Bob Unger (D) -- 29
Thomas Jefferson (IAP) -- 4
None of These -- 4
Undecided -- 18

Despite Problems Gibbons Still Leading In Latest Poll

Though it seems a new problem for Nevada Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Gibbons pops up on a daily basis, he still is leading Democrat Dina Titus according to the latest poll from the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Taken from October 26 through October 30 (which would be in the aftermath of Chrissy Mazzeo's press conference) the Mason-Dixon poll of 625 likely voters showed Gibbons with a four-point edge over Titus (44-40). With a four-point margin of error, the race could either be a dead heat or in line with results from a month ago.

Helping Gibbons is Nevada's apparent lack of faith in Mazzeo's charges as only 15% believe they are true (42% are not sure). Likewise, its effect on voters' decision at the ballot box appears to be small with only 5% saying they "will definitely not for Gibbons because of the accusations" and another 10% telling pollsters they are "less likely to vote for Gibbons, but will still consider it."

Although with eight-percent still undecided, another factor that may be coming into play is the Independent American candidate Christopher Hansen. A strong conservative, Hansen's 3% could help tip the scales in a toss-up.

Meanwhile, Craig Bergland continues to poll the one-percent needed for making the Green Party ballot eligible in 2008.

Governor
Jim Gibbons (R) -- 44
Dina Titus (D) -- 40
Christopher Hansen (IAP) -- 3
Craig Bergland (G) -- 1
None of These -- 4
Undecided -- 8

A Look At Who Is Blogging Out There

Apparently they're under 30, living in the suburbs and like to write about themselves. Go figure.

That and more interesting stats about bloggers are in a poll conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, which interviewed people from July 2005 to April 2006.

Titled A Portrait of the Internet's New Storytellers, among the findings in the July 19, 2006 study were that 37% of bloggers cited "my life and experiences" as their topics, while politics ran a poor second at 11%. It also found that 54% of bloggers were under 30, 55% used a pseudonym and only a third considered what they do as journalism.

For the complete study, click here to view the PDF file.