“Softshoe fascism is loose in the land.”- Travus T. Hipp, 1990
The late Tribune columnist and radio legend correctly forecast corporate control of government. With the militarization of our police departments, the jackboots have hit the ground.
At least the Washoe legislative delegation mostly held firm against the greed of Gomorrah South last week. Kudos and congrats to hyper-conservative Sen. Don Gustavson, R-Sparks, who voted with newly-appointed Sen. Julia Ratti, D-Sparks, against Sheldon Adelson and Al Davis’ blackshirted traveling tax pillagers.
In the lower house, Assemblymembers Mike Sprinkle, D-Sparks, Teresa Benitez-Thompson, D-Reno, and Amber Joiner, D-Reno, voted no.
Republican P.K. O’Neill (south Washoe, mostly Carson), defrocked in the primary for supporting last year’s $1.4 billion tax hike, doubled down for Adelson on his way out the door. Ditto freshman Jill Dickman, R-Sparks, and two Reno one-shot Republican replacements.
The strongest voice in dissent was that of former Tribune columnist Ira Hansen, R-Sparks.
Ira and I disagree on just about every issue, but when it comes to corporate welfare tax giveaways, we have always been peas in a pod.
INVASION OF THE POD PEOPLE. Donald Trump, Jr., is scheduled to speak before the Washoe Republican Men’s Club at an Oct. 18, luncheon at the Atlantis-Reno.
According to BuzzFeed News, on a 2013 talk show he “was asked about women who complained of sexual harassment in all-male environments like men-only golf clubs….
“He (said) that if women feel harassed by the comments men want to make, they should just leave their jobs. ‘I’m of the mindset, and I’ll get in troubleŠIf you can’t handle some of the basic stuff that’s become a problem in the workforce today, you don’t belong in the workforce….You should go maybe teach Kindergarten. I think it’s a respectable position. You can’t be negotiating billion-dollar deals if you can’t handle, like you know.’
“He didn’t elaborate on what he meant by ‘like you know.’”
I assume that all Atlantis foodservers will be pre-screened and forced to sign affidavits allowing their asses to get pinched.
PODCAST, PART DEUX. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, will campaign for Mrs. Clinton in Reno on Oct. 19 at an undisclosed time at an undisclosed location. Reservations are required for the great unwashed and separately for media-types. Unlike Bernie, the Clinton campaign screens out undesirable writers. I proudly made that enemies list earlier this year. My only question: Who is this guy coming to Reno and where have they stashed the real Bernie?
STRANGE BEDFELLOWS. According to the Reno paper, three self-styled conservatives were staying at Moonlight Bunny Ranch guest (ahem!) houses east of Carson City when fire wiped out brothel owner Dennis Hof’s estate in Washoe Valley. All were in the capital to support Sheldon and his Oakland shysters.
The most surprising was moonhowler Chuck Muth, an Adelson-funded acolyte of anti-tax DC guru Grover Norquist. (Yes, the moon was full when the ledge was voting.) Madcap Assemblymember John Moore was among the guests, as was my fantasy fiancé Michele Fiore. (See the online Barbwire of 10 March, 2015, for lotsa lascivious laughs – with photos.)
Be well. Raise hell. / Esté bien. Haga infierno.
Andrew Barbano is a 48-year Nevadan and editor of NevadaLabor.com/ E-mail <barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us> Barbwire by Barbano has originated in the Tribune since 1988.
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