Out west lives an eccentric old lady. Sometimes you can glance at her and see flashes of what she was when she was young and unspoiled, wild and free. But there is an old sadness in her eyes. Men came and violated her one night more than a hundred years ago. The fear is still there. Once in awhile, she still walks the streets of Washington, DC, and, occasionally, she still … [Read more...]
Ballotboxing ‘18: Maximum Confusions & Contusions
If you have not received your sample ballot, press the panic button and call the Washoe registrar of voters at (775) 328-3670. NOW. Nevada Republican Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske has employed Kansas SOS Chris Kobach’s bounced-postcard disqualification scam. Cegavske was the queen of voter suppression when she served in the state senate. She has not … [Read more...]
Great Depression 2.0: Sure Cure for What Ails Us
What, me worry about Mr. Justice Kavanaugh? It just means help is on the way. That bully boy’s transfiguration by the moonhowlers completes the parallel between today and 1929. The canonization of Animal House Kavanaugh, canons of ethics be damned, sealed the deal. If they make a movie of his life, it’s too bad John Belushi didn’t live to portray him. (Sen. Blutarski, call … [Read more...]
50 Shades of Rape: Tales of Future Past
Know any rape victims? Of course you do. Me, too. I almost married one when we were young and beautiful. Call her Vanessa. She closely resembled Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett, born with supermodel grace. Vanessa could don a burlap sack and make it look stylish. We met in college and soon learned that we were a matched pair from follytix to Beethoven. Vanessa was so … [Read more...]
Blacks Honor Whites with a Dash of Electric Pink
“Before you can preach, you must entertain.” - Director Frank Capra If you know somebody who has an extra seat for Saturday’s NAACP show, ask for it. You’ll be glad you crashed the gate. I should know. I’m producing it. I guarantee that it won’t be just another expensive boring sitdown with people preaching to the choir. You’ll get some of that but like a good marketing … [Read more...]
The More Things Change, the More They Remain the Same
A week from this Saturday, Nevadans commemorate how far we’ve come and how far we still must journey. Legends of the fall walk again on Sept. 29 at the Grand Sierra Hotel as the Reno-Sparks NAACP celebrates it 73rd Annual Freedom Fund Banquet. As fate would have it, the honorees are more than half a century apart but not separated at all. The inaugural Dolores Feemster … [Read more...]
Dim and Dimmer: Ghost of Jim the Dim Rides Again
I have not been alone among political pros in terming GOP U.S. Senator Dean Heller and Attorney General Adam Laxalt as narrow favorites this November. Heller’s race is not even included in Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee fundraising e-mails which tout close contests everywhere but Nevada. Donkeyite gubernatorial nominee Steve Sisolak has even generated letters to … [Read more...]
Good Reasons to Lie to Those Pesky Pollsters
Longtime Barbwire victims know that I’ve often advised people to lie when a pollster calls. It’s a way to keep campaigns responsive rather than making all their decisions via Madison Avenue marketing research techniques. Years ago, one of my idols, the late-great Chicago columnist Mike Royko, rocked the stodgy political establishment and the fake news media to their … [Read more...]