NEVADA NEWS & VIEWS
by Chuck Muth:

HARRY DOESN’T WISH OSAMA ANY “HARM”

“Is Senator Harry Reid all that swift when it comes to U.S. Intelligence matters? Last Wednesday, the Minority Leader appeared on KRNV-TV’s ‘Nevada Newsmakers’ program and dropped a stunning revelation. He had been informed just that day that Osama bin Laden was killed in the giant Pakistan earthquake last month. ‘I heard that Osama bin Laden died in the earthquake, and if that’s the case, I certainly wouldn’t wish anyone harm, but if that’s the case, that’s good for the world.’

“Intelligence analysts tell me that the only proper action by a top U.S. Senate leader who has been given such information is radio silence. If the report is true, such information is best released at a moment of the U.S. government’s choosing. For one thing, as long as the information is tightly held, it can be used to sift out electronic intercepts that might lead to other Al Qaeda leaders. On the other hand, if Mr. Reid’s public speculation proves groundless, it only embarrasses the U.S. and contributes to enemy morale.

“Here’s hoping Al Qaeda figures aren’t soon appearing on Al Jazeera television chortling about the clueless Mr. Reid.”

– John Fund of the Wall Street Journal, 11/29/05

THE WAR ON CHRISTMAS

Every year it gets worse and worse. Stores and even friends opting for the politically correct route of taking “Christmas” out of Christmas by wishing folks a “happy holiday” instead of a “Merry Christmas.” Indeed, many public officials have bowed at the altar of political correctness and treat “Christmas” like it’s a four-letter word. Even President and Laura Bush put out a “Christmas”-free “holiday” card this year.

Bah-humbug.

But here in Nevada, traditionalists can take pride in this quote in the Nevada Appeal today from First Lady Dema Guinn:

“We all grow older, but I don’t think Christmas ever grows old. It makes people feel young. Just the spirit of Christmas. It comes at a time when it brings us all together as a family. It is one of my most favorite times of year.”

Harry Potter would be proud. Daring to call the “holiday-which-must-not-be-named” by its actual name. But please, don’t anyone show this quote to my good friend Gary Peck over at the ACLU. I don’t want to get Mrs. Guinn in trouble.

Alas, Nevada’s state capital itself has fallen under the “holiday” disease. Mrs. Guinn is scheduled to participate tomorrow night at the Carson City “Silver and Snowflakes HOLIDAY Tree Lighting” (my emphasis) ceremony on the Capitol grounds. How sad. City officials here should be ashamed of themselves. Perhaps Carson City Mayor Marv Teixeira could be persuaded to right this wrong in time for next year’s “Christmas” festivities.

The Mayor’s email address is: MTeixeira@ci.carson-city.nv.us

WHAT WASHINGTON REPUBLICANS HATH WROUGHT

Just how bad has the Republican White House and Republican-majority Congress been over the last few years in power? Lousy enough to give Nevada’s leading leftwing liberal an almost credible opportunity to paint herself as a “conservative.” From an email fundraising pitch today from Democrat gubernatorial candidate Dina Titus (D-Berkeley):

“(Nevadans) know the nation’s Governors are the last line of defense against White House and Congressional leaders who promised limited government and compassion but gave us record deficits and the most intrusive, big-government policies any of us has ever seen.”

It’s hard to argue with that statement, even though it comes from Hillary’s soul mate.

Titus adds that, as governor of Nevada (heaven forefend!), she’ll “work to take back our education priorities from over-reaching bureaucrats and put more decision-making in the hands of parents and teachers.”

Good grief. If you didn’t know better, you’d swear from such rhetoric that Titus was running for the REPUBLICAN gubernatorial nomination.

Her point, however, is well taken if she’s referring to the bureaucratic over-reach of the federal government into education via the Bush/Kennedy No Child Left Behind law. But the notion that Titus wants to put education decision-making into the hands of parents and teachers rather than in the hands of her financial backers over at the teachers union is laughable on its face. Titus simply has no credibility on this issue of parental choice whatsoever.

Nevertheless, the dumb-and-dumber Republicans in Washington have allowed Democrats such as Titus to plausibly articulate rhetoric such as the above. Fortunately, she’s such a flawed messenger due to her long and documented liberal voting record in the Nevada Legislature that no one with an IQ above room temperature will buy this load of flapdoodle. But if a moderate Democrat such as Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson would pick up on these issues – instead of flailing away at Jim Gibbons and the pharmaceutical industry – HE could actually pick up some traction.

Again, all thanks to those wonderful wishy-washy, big-government Republicans sipping Potomac River cocktails in our nation’s capital.

ATTENTION: LIBERAL MELONHEADS

For you hard-core Democrats just dying to throw good money after bad, today’s your lucky day.

Jimmy Carter’s kid – the former president’s son who got thrown out of the Navy for drug use – has opened up a campaign website soliciting donations for his possible challenge to incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. John Ensign next year. Jack Carter says the site is part of his “listening tour” and not a declaration of candidacy. Yeah, right.

And in a further sign of Carteresque disingenuousness, Jack explains on the site that “By mutual agreement, I and the Navy decided we were not meant for each other and I was released at the end of 1970 with an administrative discharge.” Mutual agreement? They tossed the dope-head out on his can.

Oh, and Jack somehow fails to mention his world-famous father even once on the entire website and completely avoids any mention whatsoever of Peanut Man’s presidential years. I guess even Jack is embarrassed by his father’s presidency.

Please, please, PLEASE Democrats. Give generously to this man. Reach down DEEP in your pockets. Make SURE Jack jumps into this race. Please given Nevada the unique opportunity to hand a second overwhelming and embarrassing defeat to the Carter clan.

The website address to cough up your dough is: http://www.carterfornevada.com

NOTABLE QUOTE

“What enables ex-President Jimmy Carter to be taken seriously is that millions of people are too young to remember what a disaster the Carter administration was. He lost his bid for re-election in a landslide for a reason.” – Columnist Thomas Sowell

TAX CAP FEVER

“A legislative committee agreed Tuesday that Nevada’s property tax system needs repair,” reports Geoff Dornan in today’s Nevada Appeal. “But several on the panel made it clear they don’t think California’s Proposition 13 is the answer.”

Now, to be honest, I haven’t yet taken a definitive position on the proposed Nevada version of Prop 13 which is currently gathering signatures to be placed on the ballot next November. Some legitimate questions and concerns about the measure have been raised. But when I read that the “several” panel members expressing opposition to the measure noted by Dornan included Democrat Sen. Mike Schneider, Democrat Assemblyman David Parks and Democrat Assemblywoman Peggy Pierce (but no Republicans) – plus Carole Vilardo, the pro-tax head of the pro-tax Nevada Taxpayer’s Association – well, the benefit of the doubt swings decidedly over to the “favorable” position.

Add to the mix the absolutely ridiculous reason Schneider gave for opposing the property tax-cap: “If Proposition 13 was the perfect solution, why are all these Californians moving in here?”

Hello? As if people are fleeing California to escape low property tax caps rather than an ever-intrusive, anti-business, anti-freedom, nanny-state government run by the public employee unions and filling fast with illegal immigrants who can’t speak a word of English but can get a free education and free health care all at taxpayers’ expense.

No, according to Schnieder, it’s those darn low property tax caps which are driving Californians over the border. When you hear ridiculous, vapid arguments such as Schnieder’s against a similar measure here in Nevada, you just have to know there MUST be something good about it.

And with someone who thinks like this actually serving in the Legislature for as long as Schnieder has, is it any wonder our property tax system is in need of major repair in the first place?

ANOTHER PLEDGE SIGNER

Ty Cobb, Republican candidate for Assembly District 26 in Washoe County, is the latest to sign Americans for Tax Reform’s “Taxpayer Protection Pledge.”

That means all three of the leading GOP candidates vying to replace outgoing Assemblywoman Sharron Angle® have now “taken the pledge.” All three leading candidates for Congressional District 2 have taken the pledge. GOP gubernatorial candidates Jim Gibbons and Bob Beers have taken the pledge. And GOP Secretary of State candidates Danny Tarkanian and Brian Scroggins have taken the pledge.

This is probably the largest number of candidates in Nevada to have ever taken the pledge…and the campaign season really hasn’t even started. Amazing the effect competitive Republican primary contests – where GOP candidates actually have to COMPETE for conservative votes – appear to have on candidates, isn’t it?

Perhaps we need a few more Republicans to challenge some Republican incumbents in the Legislature, especially in the state Assembly, before filing ends next May.

Either that, or those incumbents might reconsider and take the pledge themselves…as we asked them all to do last April. None took us up on the request back then. Perhaps a spirited primary race is just the thing we need to get them to put their “John Hancocks” on the dotted line.

EDUCATION FORUM

Parents for Quality Education will present their third public discussion forum of the year next Tuesday, December 6th, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Carson Middle School library in Carson City. “Raising the Performance Expectations in the Classroom” will be discussed by a half-dozen folks – including yours truly.

It should be noted that it was at the last PQE forum where I met Carson High School history teacher Joe Enge and learned of his travails. And the rest is, as they say, is history.

Also, and it might just be a coincidence, but a school principal who had originally agreed to serve on the panel for this forum suddenly backed out without explanation. Now, I’m sure she didn’t get any pressure from the teachers union or school officials not to participate. Well…pretty sure. OK, I smell a rat.

In any event, for more information please contact Ann Bednarski at (775) 882-3854

CAMPAIGNS ON THAT THING AL GORE INVENTED

Bob Beers (Governor): http://www.beers4nevada.org
Jim Gibbons (Governor): http://gibbonsfornevada.com
Lorraine Hunt (Governor): http://www.huntforgovernor.com
Brian Krolicki (Lt. Governor): http://www.briankrolicki.com
Brian Scroggins (Secretary of State): http://www.scrogginsfornevada.com
Mark DeStefano (Treasurer): http://www.destefanofortreasurer.com
Steve Martin (Controller): http://www.martinforcontroller.com
Sharron Angle (CD 2): http://www.sharronangle.com
Dawn Gibbons (CD 2): http://www.DawnGibbons.com
Richard Disney (AD 26): http://www.richarddisney.com

Attention candidates. If you want to be included on this list, you need to email your URL and race you’re running for to me at: chuck@chuckmuth.com

CAMPAIGN HOT TIPS

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COPAC Nevada
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