Coffee and the Papers

Let the Horse Race Begin? [RGJ] Damon takes a look at Northern Nevada Democrats getting organized for the upcoming 2008 caucuses. In addition, Nevada's getting "squeezed by New Hampshire's threat to reschedule its primary, and more populous states looking at the prospect of rescheduling theirs. [LVSun]

The numbers weren't all that good for sales tax revenues in northern Nevada, and now the numbers show growth in southern Nevada slacking enough to put a pinch on public services. [LVRJ]

Quote of the Day? Reid "is soft-spoken and polite and is a deeply religious Mormon," Schumer writes. "He will also kneecap you if you cross him." - Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) [LVRJ] The President might want to remember this as his spokesperson Tony Snow tries to explain why Mr. Bush dropped the "-ic" off his congratulations to the Democratic Party for their wins in the 2006 elections. "Snowjob" explains that the President "didn't mean anything by it," and therefore any criticism is just "making three mountains out of a mole hill." Note Standard Response by GOP when others are insulted -- It Ain't No Biggie? [WaPo] This could be the "Rush Limbaugh Defense?" "I was just kidding... or, I didn't mean anything by it...., or those (fill in the blank) are just too sensitive." All of those sound suspiciously like the cad who pats Lulu on the fanny down at the garage, and then wonders why he got slapped.

Who's winning? The Iranian ambassador to the Iraqi Government outlines Iranian plans to expand its economic and military ties to Iraq. [NYT] Iran is willing to assume a major role in the reconstruction of Iraq's economy, "an area of failure on the part of the U.S. since American led forces overthrew Saddam Hussein nearly four years ago." The Bush Administration response: Rattle the Sabers. [MH]

McClatchy's Washington Bureau posts "Should America return to the draft?" noting the strain on the U.S. military placed by four years of fighting in a two front war. [MWB]

Dullard Mush gets mail -- from ReputationDefender Inc. asking that information critical of former state treasurer candidate Geoffrey VanderPal be scrubbed. [LVRJ] Observation: Those who have to hire a firm to scrub their reputations on the internet are asking for more trouble than it's worth. DB will now pay more attention to Mr. VanderPal than ever before.

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) hosts a house party for a Congressional Meet and Greet with Nevada Gaming representatives. [LVRJ]

The Los Angeles Times reports that Air America Radio has reached an agreement with SL Green Realty Corp. to assume ownership. Al Franken is reported to be leaving on Feb. 14, and is said to be seeking advice about a Senate seat run in Minnesota. Franken's replacement will be Portland based host Thom Hartmann. [LAT]

And, the RJ's Jane Anne Morrison finds out that Ford's Theater is still there, still staging plays...and that Lincoln's still dead? [LVRJ] I've had the privilege of attending a play there -- great play, but one has this spooky tendency to look to the right from the audience, over toward the box with the flag draping and wonder what it was like "that" night.

Update: previous publication had VanderPal as a Republican... as commenter noted GV is a Democrat. Post stands corrected.