The east coast owners of KRNV TV-4 (NBC) and KRXI TV-11 (FOX) continue to pervert and pollute the public sphere. Sinclair Broadcasting operates more than 200 stations across the country which makes it by far the biggest telecaster. They control at least a dozen signals in northern Nevada and have put into practice their profit-envy of the Aussie Murdoch family’s Fox Noise … [Read more...]
Gov. Giuseppe Lumbago: Pie in the Sky
“I think I’ve just seen a one-termer so keep your powder dry” -- Paul Laxalt Thus advised the former Nevada governor and then-U.S. Senator to Ronald Reagan after President Jimmy Carter’s first state of the union address in 1977. Monday night’s state of the state speech by newbie Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo showed signs of instant replay. The precedent lies much closer to … [Read more...]
RIP Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid
“The federal government is basically an insurance company with an army” -- old economics zinger Rep. Mark Amodei has a target on his back. In a good way. The longtime northern Nevada Republican congresscritter is potentially one of five or so GOP lawmakers who can save the republic and perhaps the global economy. Mark and his Carson High classmate Dean Heller were good … [Read more...]
RIP GOP: 2000 prediction coming true
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” -- George Santayana, 1905 In 2000, author Kevin Phillips published a prescient piece I’ve since quoted many times as the Republican Party repeatedly attempted suicide. Herewith, déjà vu all over again from “Dismal democracy under Dubya the Dumber,” the Barbwire of January 21, 2001: Those searching for … [Read more...]
Who’s the boss?
The word “hope” starts with an “F” in Nevada. For the third session in a row, the hidebound Silver State legislature will open next month with a female majority. I’ve carped that the initial installments of the history-making hat trick accomplished not much major. This year, 13 of 21 senators and 25 of 41 in the assembly are women. One seat in the lower house remains … [Read more...]
Giants great and small
My longtime friend Jean Stoess was a tiny giant. Barely five feet tall, the former Washoe County Commissioner built a leviathan career of public service that many of the more exalted could not hope to approach. She died at her Reno home on Dec. 3 at 85. If ever there was a hall of fame for community involvement, Jean would have been awarded the key to front door on the day … [Read more...]
Law & Order Special Victims: Nevada’s Disposable Cops
If you watch the longest-running TV drama in U.S. history, you are acquainted with New York Special Victims Unit Capt. Olivia Benson. We had somebody that good in these parts for 16 years but her employers -- us -- destroyed her. Stingy low-tax Nevada is a leader in screwing over our first responders. In October, I related the story of disabled Washoe Sheriff’s Deputy Kim … [Read more...]
Geekonomics for fun & prophet
The authors of the 2005 bestseller “Freakonomics” noted that the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision accurately forecast that the crime rate would dip starting 15 years later. Presidents Bush the Elder (1989-93) and Clinton (1993-2001) both pushed expensive and extensive tough on crime legislation which they trumpeted as successful when crime diminished -- just as it was going to do … [Read more...]