Could it be that Adam Laxalt and Joe Lombardo read the Tribune? Or at least their demonstrably inept campaign managers?
A day or so after the Trib hit the streets last week, both Republican candidates changed their spots, at least the TV variety.
As I noted (“Robbing Peter to Play Paul” 8/31), Laxalt supporters were broadcasting an ad imploring voters to tell Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto to “stop reckless Washington spending to stop inflation.”
Which made me wonder: If reckless Washington spending will stop inflation, why should she stop?
Laxalt’s minions proved neither slow nor fast, but rather half-fast. A day or so later, they reversed the onscreen graphics to read: “To stop inflation, stop reckless Washington spending.” But the voiceover announcer still moaned that Sen. Cortez-Masto should “Stop reckless Washington spending to stop inflation.”
Mr. Laxalt’s troubles did not end there. Last Thursday, the New York Times noted that “for months,” his campaign website “greeted visitors with a huge banner exalting his endorsement by former President Trump in all capital letters. Now, that information is nowhere on his home page.”
The Times posited that Laxalt and others could be feeling the heat from pro-choice women.
Legions are righteously enraged at the Roe v. Wade reversal at the hands of those Trump once termed “my justices.”
Meanwhile, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, like Laxalt in a dead heat with an incumbent Democrat, took down the TV ad mentioning his “detailed plan to cut Nevada taxes.”
As I reported, no such plan was even hinted at on his official gubernatorial campaign website.
Thanks for reading, gentlemen.
ADDING INSULT TO INJURY: Reno lawyer Joey Gilbert pulled a Trump, going to court and failing to prove that his lopsided primary loss to Lombardo was rigged. A local TV station ran a Lombardo story last week and cut to silent archival video of Gilbert, in front of Gilbert for guv signs, making a speech. A Joe is a Joe?
ACTING LIKE DONKEYS. Sen. Cortez Masto has a spot opening with her mugshot next to Laxalt’s as an announcer intones “Leaders find solutions. Politicians are part of the problem. Take Catherine Cortez-Masto and Adam Laxalt…”
Mme. Senator has thus stated that she and Laxalt are both part of the problem, or so the casual viewer would surmise. The ad finally cuts to Laxalt bashing but like all of the above stands as testament to inept media management by highly paid consultants so well-versed about Nevada that they probably couldn’t spell Winnemucca, let alone pronounce it.
JEFF GERMAN, A GIANT WHO WALKED AMONG US, LIES DEAD.
The veteran Nevada journalist was found stabbed to death near his Las Vegas home last Saturday morning, apparently after a Friday altercation. Monday evening, his employer, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, published a chilling photo of what appears to be a parking garage foyer or utility room with a large bloodstain on a littered floor.
Jeff would approve. The news is the news no matter who’s involved. The uncaptioned surveillance still is followed by several others, apparently of crime scene investigators.
Police released photos of a suspect, a skinny individual clothed head to toe — including gloves — out in 110-degree heat. Someone matching the description was recently seen in the area wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat like the person in the photos. The masked individual carries a dark colored shoulder bag and wears a bright orange reflective shirt with gray “duct tape” striping, blue jeans and gray shoes.
Detectives theorize it may have been a crime of opportunity with the suspect casing a neighborhood which has recently experienced vandalism.
A private service has been scheduled for Sept. 7.
German, 69, wrote books, columns and heavy duty investigative reports about higherups, lowlifes, dingbat pols and wiseguys. He hosted the podcast “Mobbed Up,” tracing the rise and fall of the mob in LV. Many of his stories carry lasting impact to this day.
Our paths crossed a few times over four decades. I regret that he stopped writing a regular column, some of his best work.
After the 1976 heart-attack death of North Las Vegas Valley Times/LVRJ writer Ned Day, I especially enjoyed several years of serious competition between German and Jon Ralston to see who best deserved to wear Day’s hardassed mantle. It was pretty much a tie.
I was introduced to Ned Day in 1982 by my old boss Bob Brown (1930-1984), former LVRJ editor and Valley Times publisher. Bob gave Ned his break at the Times and Ned was soon snapped up by the Review-Journal. Bob will join Ned in the Nevada Press Association Hall of Fame at the organization’s annual awards luncheon later this month in Las Vegas. Both Ned and Bob have long been enshrined in the much more exclusive Barbwire Molly Ivins Memorial Columniator Hall of Flames.
MORE TRANSITIONS. Mylan (Barin) Roloff Hawkins, mother of the prescient 1990 Nevada ballot question which wrote Roe v. Wade into the Nevada Constitution, died August 26 at 83. I supported her efforts in this newspaper and on my talk radio and TV projects. Awesome lady.
Eileen J. (Yrueta) Savage, matriarch of legendary (since 1893) Savage and Son Plumbing/HVAC, died August 22. The former Sparks High teacher was 90. My condolences to her son Len and her family.
You may access the formal obituaries of these two over-achieving Nevadians via the expanded edition of this column at NevadaLabor.com/
HELP MIKE GUERRA. The fundraiser for the ailing RTCRide bus operator is up to $2,865. Thanks to all who’ve donated thus far. Contribute at gofund.me/c1fed539/ or send checks or money orders payable to Mike’s mother, Olivia Baker, addressed to her attention at Teamsters Local 533, 1190 Selmi Drive No. 100, Reno 89512.
Stay safe and pray for Ukraine and 53 other currently war-torn lands.
Be well. Raise hell. / Esté bien. Haga infierno.
Andrew Quarantino Barbano is a 53-year Nevadan and editor of NevadaLabor.com. Barbwire by Barbano has originated in the Tribune since 1988. E-mail barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us
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