Quick Clips: Shoot Out Tuesday

** The Nevada Water War heats up today in the “Snake Valley Shoot-out” during which State Engineer Tracy Taylor will be called upon to decide if the Southern Nevada Water Authority can drain Snake Valley. [LV Sun]

** The results of an OSHA investigation into the deaths of two workers at the Orleans last year hasn’t yet been released, but this excerpt indicates some highly questionable coziness between Nevada OSHA and the Boyd Gaming Group: “…a former federal OSHA official said a draft of the findings calls into question the use of state resources to provide training and consultation services to Boyd Gaming Corp., owner of the Orleans and one of the state’s largest employers.” [LV Sun]

** The Nevada Republican candidates are apparently as eager to try slapping the “Flip Flop” label on any and all Democrats as they were in 2004. Incumbent Congressman Jon Porter (R-NV3) is trying to assert that his opponent State Senator Dina Titus (D-LV) is a flopper because she is supporting the concept of offshore oil drilling subject to state approval. [LVRJ]

Porter may not know that he has already been the recipient of one Sunday Deck Bass in September 2006 for his outstanding performance on the House Floor, where he voted in favor of a $1500 bonus for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan – then got button-holed by Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and immediately changed his vote. [DB] Porter earned a nomination for his performance during a junket with power industry promoters [DB], and he was a second runner up for his support of the President’s veto of the Military Appropriations bill. [DB] Titus, on the other hand has not accumulated any such critters in her creel, and her stance on the drilling issue is insufficiently spun to even get her a nomination.

** GOP Presidential candidate Senator John Sidney McCain III (R-Absent) will quietly drop into another exclusive Nevada location for donations on July 29 for a luncheon at the Incline Village home of software developer Bob Davidson. The noon VIP reception is open to those who raise or contribute $33,100; attending the luncheon 30 minutes later will cost $1,000, or $2300 for a photo op with McCain. The Las Vegas Review Journal article also provides a glimpse at the funding strategy the McCain camp is using. “The maximum amount an individual can contribute to a presidential candidate under federal law is $2,300. However, the invitation states that money raised at the Tahoe event will be split between McCain's campaign and several other Republican Party committees.” Translation: The other GOP committees will be free to run anti-Obama ads, and McCain will whine softly, as he has done before, [Atl] [Reuters] that he objects to them, but can’t do anything about them because they are independent of his campaign.

** Erin Neff looks at Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons’ all-too-cute-tax-deal in Elko County, compares the Governor’s actions to NRS 281A.400(2) and finds the Governor coming up short. “A public officer or employee shall not use his position in government to secure or grant unwarranted privileges, preferences, exemptions or advantages for himself, any business entity in which he has a significant pecuniary interest, or any person to whom he has a commitment in a private capacity to the interests of that person.” NRS 281A.480 lists the penalties for violations, including impeachment and fines.

** The Huffington Post provides a transcript of Senator Barack Obama’s speech today on Iraq and Afghanistan. Senator McCain offers the usual “I know how to win wars,” (an example to support this contention would be helpful?) and “Obama has it backwards,” i.e. the Bush line – “Iraq is the central front on the war on terror.”

Overnight Express: Whining Edition

Term limit amendments were all the rage in the 1990’s and Nevada adopted limits in its 1994 and 1996 elections. Now the Nevada Supreme Court is hearing a case that pits counsel for the State Legislature against the Secretary of State about the implementation of the limitations. A decision should be made quickly; Nevada has a primary election on August 12^th. [KLAS] Inside Nevada Politics provides more detail.

The story of Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons’ rural tax bill has leaked over the border. The San Diego Union Tribune has picked up the story.

The McCain Campaign has come out with another new (old) theme: “Obama would swap Iraq War loss for election win.” [AFP] “Sadr’s Militia may live to fight again” [IndpUK] Senator Obama’s campaign is emphasizing the need to deploy more forces to Afghanistan. “Deadly Taliban attack on U.S. bases raises concerns” [LAT]

The Bush Administration still can’t seem to get alleged terrorist prosecutions right: “Detainee’s lawyers make claim on sleep deprivation.” [NYT]
“Lawyers want detainees to testify in terror trial” [WaPo]
“Judge allows testimony by Guantanamo detainees” [LAT]
“Bin Laden driver want 9/11 braintrust as defense witness” [MiamiHrld]
Some problems in Great Britain too: “In ’06 bomb plot, a question of imminence: testimony shows little evidence of immediate attack or links to Al Qaeda” [NYT]

Take it to the Bank? “IndyMac reopens, halts foreclosures on its loans” [WSJ]
“Plenty of blame to go around for Fannie, Freddie” [WSJ]
“Scramble led to rescue plan on mortgages” [NYT]
“Washington Mutual’s decline wipes out most of TPG’s investment” [Blmbrg]
“Washington Mutual plans more layoffs” [EBBT]
“Regional banks take it on the chin as fallout spreads” [WSJ]
“Citigroup: Appointments with red ink” [NYT]
“Economic crisis called worst since 70s” [Reuters]

More whining: “GM’s Wagoner may cut salaried jobs, update cash strategy today” [Blmbrg] “GM: Up to 305 layoffs possible when Powertrain Flint North stops building V-6 engine in August” [TFJ]
“Panasonic, Lifeline Armor announce layoffs” [KnxvlSntnl]
“Sun Microsystems announces 29 Dallas layoffs” [DBJ]
“Hard times a boon to repo men” [MiamiHrld]
“Jobless rate for youths is increasing: competition fierce for low skill summer positions” [WaPo]

South of the Border, (where McCain didn’t go):
“Haiti’s Toto Constant goes on trial in NYC” [CWN]
“Unusual mortgage fraud case: founder of Haitian death squad is defendant in a mortgage fraud case that opened yesterday” [NYS]
“Guatemala prosecutor shot dead” [BBC] “Gunmen kill prosecutor probing Salvador murder case” [Reuters] “Guatemala joins Petrocaribe” [PrLtn]
“Pacific Rim (gold) suspends further drilling in El Salvador until mining permit granted; local staffing reduced” [CNN] “Communities hit by floods in El Salvador” [Reuters]

Energy Alternatives: “3 solar plants for FPL weighed: Public Service Commission to take up solar energy proposal” [MiamiHrld] “Canada: Ontario to protect forest” [NYT]

Overnight Express: Quick Edition

** There’s one subject on which the entire Nevada congressional contingent can agree – the need to promote tourism. So, score another one for Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) who’s holding the one, and possibly only, bill Nevada members of the 110^th Congress all want, a measure creating a public-private corporation to promote the American tourism industry. Both Rep. Jon Porter (R-NV3) and Rep. Berkley (R-NV1) have signed on, as have Senators Reid and Ensign. [LV Sun] We can only hope they dump the proposed slogan?

** High school chums and cousins attempt to dig the Nevada Governor out of his self inflicted political quagmire. [LVRJ]

** And, then there’s Assemblyman John Carpenter (R-Cimarron Station) saying the statute concerning agriculture use tax breaks, à la the Governor’s Lamoille property, should be tightened up. [NV Appeal]

** Nothing like greasing the outstretched palms? “Money, was anything said about money? [WaPo] …As in securing promises of cash in exchange for access to Bush Administration officials, documented by the Times (UK). The Houston lobbyist who once raised more than $300,000 for Bush’s campaigns in 2000 and 2004 is now being called a “bit player” by the White House. But, then, the White House said Bush didn’t really know Jack (Abramoff) either?

** CNN must be having a tough time finding people willing to make fools of themselves denying human contributions to global warming – CNN News on Sunday evening featured former Rush Limbaugh ‘reporter and producer’ Marc Morano as the spokesperson for the Deniers. Morano is perhaps best remembered as the reporter for Cybercast News Service who was among the first to write about the Swift Boat Veterans, and who questioned the Purple Heart awards earned by Rep. John Murtha. Morano is now the communications director for Senate Republicans on the Environment and Public Works Committee, working for Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the ranking member.

** Not a wonderful life? Analysts aren’t predicting anything like the Savings & Loan debacle of not so long ago, but the New York Times reports several are predicting more small and regional bank failures, as “lagging indicators” of the nation’s current financial mess. “How bank failures happen and what they mean” [USAT] “The Fannie Mae Scandal: A History” [WSJ]
“Treasury, Fed take bold steps to back Freddie and Fannie” [Reuters]

** Lockheed’s CEO calls the Tanker contract bidding brouhaha “not a trade issue as much as an acquisition issue.” [Reuters] “EADS takes aim at U.S. defense business” [BusWk] “Tanker contract protest sounds familiar in Tri-Cities” [TCHerld]

** MessO’Potamia: “US pleased, worried, by newfound Iraqi confidence” [NwsWk] “Iraq improves, but what’s the plan?” [USAT] “U.S. Iraq scale down negotiations over forces, long term agreement will fall to next president” [WaPo] “Iraqi election law still incomplete” [LAT] “What journalists should be asking about the no-bid Iraqi oil deals” [Salon]

** Politics as usual: “Defections rattle GOP” [Roll Call sub req] Medicare is the first major crack in the Republican ranks, as “loyal colleagues defected in the face of political headwinds.” “Medicare bill nearly law but lobbies stay focused” [The Hill] “Bush likely to lose on Medicare” [The Hill]
“Gramm’s role reduced” [WaPo]

** Mine safety: “State (Utah) gets first coal mine safety director” [SLTrib] “Mine operators appeal citations, thwarting MSHA safety efforts” (June 17^th) [SLTrib]

** Post Katrina: “New Orleans to begin citing residents of FEMA trailers” [USAT]

Overnight Express: Gaffes and Goofs

Lest we denizens of Nevada’s desert lands be thought ill-informed, or prone to obsess on AUMs and how to emulate the governor’s avoidance of taxes on retirement property in lovely Lamoille (and that canyon IS very pretty), we can spot a Friday document dump and Saturday newsprint fodder when we see it. To wit:

** The FEC may have additional information on Rep. Dean Heller’s campaign fund sources on July 14, 2008 – if the 2^nd District Congressman maintains the same schedule he did for the past two report filings. He filed on 7/14 in both 2006 and 2007. In the recent past Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Adelson have been very interested in Rep. Heller’s election, each donating $4,600 on March 31, 2007 and April 18, 2007 respectively.

** The General Accounting Office has a report dated June 13, 2008 titled “FCC needs to improve performance management and strengthen oversight of the High Cost telecommunications program,” posted to its web page on July 11^th. One conclusion isn’t at all surprising: “The high-cost program's structure has resulted in the inconsistent distribution of support and availability of services across rural America. The program provides support to carriers in all states. However, small carriers receive more support than large carriers. As a result, carriers serving similar rural areas can receive different levels of support.”

** Peter Orszag, Director of the Congressional Budget Office, and Jeanne Lambrew, senior fellow, CAP associate professor, University of Texas, will testify on “Getting Better Value in Health Care,” to the House Committee on the Budget. The hearing will be held next Wednesday, July 16^th, at 10:00 a.m.

** The New York Times reports on some possible ramifications Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae’s problems for consumers and small businesses. Everyone seems to have taken a deep breath and calmed down about those two. [Forbes] However, the IndyMac Bank failure could cost the FDIC between $4 and $8 billion. [CNN] The Office of Thrift Supervision shut down the Pasadena, CA based bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco will work with the FDIC to administer the assets and liabilities. [MrkWtch]

** The McCain campaign may wish to put a muzzle on well meaning supporters of “Dr. Phil” Gramm. Amity Shlaes, economic historian and a recent speaker at a Mercatus Center event in conjunction with the Texas Public Policy Foundation which is chaired by Dr. Phil’s wife Wendy “Enron Loophole” Gramm, is on the Washington Post op-ed page declaring “Phil Gramm is Right.” (We ARE a nation of whiners!) One of her lines: “Social Security and Medicare also need rewriting -- and Gramm put forth one of the better proposals on Social Security in the 1990s.”

You can’t describe privatization any more clearly than Gramm’s bill. That “better proposal” would have been the “Social Security Preservation Act of 1998” sponsored by Senator Gramm and Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM). Gramm’s plan was to convert Social Security into an investment based program that would supposedly ‘fully fund people’s retirement by the year 2042. Taxpayers would have had the option to invest 3% of the 12.4% Social Security tax into “a broadbased portfolio of stocks and bonds.”

“To regulate the program, a governing board called the Social Security Investment Board would set guidelines and ethics codes for investment companies and individuals to abide by, Gramm said.” [LubbockTX] And this from the husband of the woman who was on Enron’s Auditing Committee?

There is nothing like being flung onto the Third Rail of American Politics by an enthusiastic supporter of your campaign co-chair? And here I was thinking that only Representative Dean Heller was infected with Ungula-Intra-Orem-itis?

** Pro Publica is currently headlining “Five Scandals of the Week.” Steve Benen has now documented 61 McCain Flip Flops, thus making for a very easy week to compose the Desert Beacon Sunday Deck Bass.

Coffee and the Papers: National We Shot a Bear Week?

** There’s no calendar in the house designating this “WE shot a bear!” week, but it surely must be. First, Nevada’s Governor Jim Gibbons issues a statement saying how pleased he is that the Legislature bailed him out saying, “the agreement lawmakers reached was very similar to my recommendations.” [KTVN] Perhaps this was because the “lawmakers” had already hammered out most of the package before the Governor made up his mind about what to do?

** No sooner does this executive message come forth than the President of the United States issues this message on the signing of the New G.I. Bill: “I want to thank House and Senate leadership and leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. I am particularly grateful to Congressmen Boehner, Hoyer, Obey, and Lewis. And I want to thank members who worked hard for the GI Bill expansion -- especially Senators Webb and Warner, Graham, Burr, and McCain.” [WHPR] Uh, it’s already been remarked upon that Senators Graham, Burr, and McCain were opposed to the New G.I. Bill. [NYT] And, what happened to Senator Hagel, who helped draft the bill?

** If Senator John McCain would like voters to believe that he has the credentials to be the President of the United States it would be very helpful if his campaign staff was a bit more careful about vetting associates. Last month five people left the McCain camp because of lobbying ties. [HuffPo] Also during the merry month of May McCain staffers told the press that the controversial endorsements from Reverend John Hagee and Patriot Pastor Rod Parsley resulted from poor vetting. [TP] [ABC] June begins with the McCain campaign launching its Truth Squad, and who shows up on the roster? Col. Bud Day, who still claims, “The Swift Boat attacks were simply a revelation of the truth,” has been welcomed as a member of the newly established McCain “Truth Squad.” [TP] [HuffPo]

** Better yet, McCain who once said of the Swift Boat ads: “In an interview with the Associated Press, McCain called the ad "dishonest and dishonorable." Asked if the White House was behind it, McCain said: "I hope not, but I don't know. But I think the Bush campaign should specifically condemn the ad." [WaPo August 6, 2004] Of the top twenty contributors to the Swift Boat group, 9 donors and members of their families have donated $69,100 to the McCain campaign. Bob Perry and his wife have each donated $4,400. Sam Fox and his family have donated $11,000. [USAT]

** People might be more impressed with Senator McCain’s foreign policy credentials if he were to stop confusing nations, sects, and issues. During a March visit to the Middle East he confused Sunnis and Shiites. [WSJ] On April 8^th he confused Al Qaeda with a Shiite sect. [TP] All in all, the candidate managed to make the same mistake five times in five months. [Dem.Org] Further evidence that the Senator is geographically challenged came on June 30^th when the GOP presidential candidate confused Somalia with Sudan. [TP] It’s tempting to suggest a trip to “Google Earth,” but the candidate has already admitted he’s “computer illiterate.” [HuffPo]

** The New York Times has picked up on the story of Senator John Ensign’s (R-NV) blockage of the housing bill, “The bill was expected to pass, but the vote was derailed by petty politics. Senator John Ensign, Republican of Nevada, for example, demanded that the Senate add a multibillion dollar package of tax breaks for renewable energy.” […] “This sort of delay achieves political ends, like denying Democrats the chance to campaign on the accomplishment during the recess, but it’s exceedingly poor policy.”

** If one reads the ‘presser’ in the New Jersey Blog from Congressman Jon Porter concerning the "Fostering Connections to Success Act of 2008" a person might get the idea that Rep. Porter (R-NV3) originated the measure? (H.R. 6307) There were 27 co-sponsors of the bill, including Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV1). The bill passed on a voice vote, June 24^th and is now in the Senate Finance Committee.

** A court says the Bush Administration cannot rely on evidence comparable to “Twas brillig, and the slithey toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe,” when seeking to keep detainees at Guantanamo. [WaPo] The Administration must therefore find another ‘vorpal sword’ to take in hand against the frumious Bandersnatch? Actually, the poem in question was "The Hunting of the Snark," as in, what I tell you three times is true...

** MessO’Potamia: “Wounded Iraqi forces say they’ve been abandoned” [NYT] “After deaths, U.S. inspects electric work done in Iraq” [NYT] “Iraq opens oil fields to global bidding” [WaPo] “RAND releases delayed Iraq History” [NYT] “Factbox: Security developments in Iraq” [Reuters] “Iraq: 10 American casualties identified” [LAT]
“Many killed in Iraq bomb attacks” [BBC]
“Pentagon announces new deployments to Iraq” [Army Times]
“Wartime contracting commission members named” [GovExec]

“June is deadliest month for troops in Afghanistan war” [LAT]
“Civilians killed in Afghanistan” [BBC]
“Factbox: Security developments in Afghanistan” [Reuters]

** “Oil trades above $140 on concern Iran may face military attacks” [Bloomberg]
“White House mum on alleged covert ops in Iran” [AFP]
“U.S. supports PKK linked separatists against Iran, report” [Hurriyet]
“Iran exiles back armed opposition” [BBC]
“Iran Contra’s Lost Chapter” [Common Dreams]

** How can we expect the Department of Energy to keep the Yucca Mountain site safe when they’re having demonstrable problems with Hanford? GAO Report “DoE lacks critical information needed to assess its tank management strategy at Hanford.” Another GAO release isn’t going to make people feel much safer either, “NRC’s oversight of fire protection at U.S. commercial nuclear reactor units could be strengthened.” This GAO report doesn’t make a person feel all warm and fuzzy either: “Homeland Security – First responders’ ability to detect and model hazardous releases in urban areas is significantly limited.”

** “The GOP’s December Surprise? Is the GOP cooking the books to avoid recession till after election day?” [MJ]
“UBS clients may ‘come clean’ to IRS in U.S. tax evasion probe” [Bloomberg]
“UBS introduces new governance rules, board members depart” [MrktWtch]
“Florida sues Countrywide over mortgages” [Reuters]
“Mortgage insurers slump again, defaults stayed high in May” [MrktWtch]
“Chrysler shows $300 million loss through April, plant to close” [Bloomberg]
“Global profit warnings could be next shoe to drop” [Reuters]
“Expanding Medicaid a less costly way to cover more low income uninsured than expanding private insurance” [CBPP]

** Remember the Big Easy? “New HUD chief says New Orleans public housing is back on track” [NOLA] “HOPE worldwide mobilizes 1,300 students to help rebuild New Orleans on July 4^th” [Earth Times]

Legislature tackles problems, Gibbons claims credit

The Nevada Legislature finished its business last night – approving the budget slashing proposals hammered out by Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley and Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio. The Las Vegas Review Journal provides a list of the funds transferred and the reserve funds drained. However, a person has to be at least a bit amused at the following statement by Governor Jim Gibbons: “Except for three or four items, Gibbons said, the compromise reached by the Legislature was no different than the solution he advanced. The governor said he did not favor cutting textbook spending, but quickly added: "Politics is the art of compromise."

The “solution he advanced?” Would that be the speech which was advertised as a 21 point plan, but changed in light of the compromises reached by Buckley and Raggio? And, “art of compromise?” The paper his budget chief Andrew Clinger handed out? [LV Sun] How could Gibbons pontificate, or even comment, on the compromising necessary when both Buckley and Raggio have acknowledged that Gibbons played little or no role in the earlier deliberations?

In short, the Governor appeared to contribute two major items yesterday: (1) A draft plan that hewed closely to the work already accomplished by legislative leaders; and (2) Continuous recitation of his ideological “No New Taxes” mantra. Neither was particularly useful.

If his suggestions for the 2009 session of the legislature are to be taken at face value, spending caps and a no growth budget, then we can likely expect a repeat performance of the governor’s futility. While Gibbons does in office what he did during the 2006 campaign (spout bumper sticker slogans and offer vague generalities), it will be left to the legislative leadership to administer the state by proxy.

Sloganeering will not fix a shortage of health inspectors, not alleviate over-crowded public school class rooms, repair worn roads, hire state patrol officers, or keep open our public parks and libraries. Unfortunately for the citizens of the state of Nevada, its governor has adopted the elitist notion that those who have must be protected from spending on behalf of those in need; and, that the function of government is to encourage the delusional privatization of any common enterprise on the theory that individual or corporate gain necessarily yields public benefit. We’ve had nearly 8 years of a national administration example proving the exact opposite. The more the Bush Administration privatized, the more expensive everything became.

If the political situation isn’t likely to improve by the opening of the 2009 session, it isn’t any more probable that Nevada’s economic situation will either. We tax tourists; tourism is down. We tax real estate; property values are dropping. We tax sales; spending is declining. And yet, our population keeps growing. [LVRJ] So, how does the governor propose to address this situation – with Churchillian aphorisms and bumper sticker slogans? And, most likely of all, leaving the Legislature to clean up the mess.

Assembled Wisdom near Sine Die

Thanks to the fine efforts of the Reno Gazette Journal’s Anjeanette Damon, we find out that Nevada Senate Republicans have voted not to process a bill that could save the state $100 million in tax refunds to casinos on the sales and use tax on comped meals.

However, Sine Die is Nigh, “The Assembly has passed the bulk of the bipartisan plan to cut $275 million.”

Nevada Republicans behaving like Nevada Republicans?

Gibbons-ville: Nevada’s not-very-special-Governor gave a “major speech” last evening about the Special Session of the Legislature he’s called to deal with the state’s budget crisis. From the “You Know You’re In Trouble When” Department: When the Democratic Assembly Speaker profusely thanks the Republican Senate Majority Leader for his cooperation and collaboration, and then pointedly adds the same cannot be said of the Governor. [KLAS]

The Gleaner posts on yet another example of Governor Jim Gibbons “being chivalrous to a woman who isn’t his wife in a parking lot.” The Nevada Appeal has the photo-documentation. The Governor has his usual explanation – “I was helping.” His Helpfulness has also made the Talking Points Memo today.

Meanwhile back in the Governor’s office, Gov. Gibbons two top aides announced this morning that they are leaving (Mike Dayton, chief of staff and Dianne Cornwall, chief of operations). The Las Vegas Sun notes: “The tenures … have been marked by infighting and charges of cronyism, weak appointments and incompetence.”

Governor Gibbons’ Climate Change Advisory Committee managed to draft a report that doesn’t recommend controlling emissions from the two largest sources of pollution in the state – automobiles and electrical utility plants. Six other western states that have climate change committees suggested controls and have signed on the Western Climate Initiative. Five have adopted California fuel standards. Somehow, this news is no more surprising that finding the Governor being “chivalrous” with another BFF not his wife. [full story LV Sun]

The Nuclear Energy Institute offers to buy out Nevada’s budget deficit IF Nevadans will stop being so fussy about the transportation and storage of nuclear waste under the Battle Born flag, or to put it more bluntly – they’re will to suggest that the Bush Administration pay the state $1 billion per year to be the Nation’s Toilet. [KLAS]

Nevada Senator John Ensign (R) is drawing fire from the National Association of Homebuilders for his hold on the Housing Bill. [CBS] full story [Politico] At least one editorial writer hasn’t been fooled. “And here's a clue as to his motives: Ensign is chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. In short, his priority is to advance the strategic interests of his own political party, even if it throws a monkey wrench into a bipartisan plan to help the nation's imperiled homeowners.” [TimesArgus]

Nevada 3^rd congressional district Representative Jon Porter is venturing into another alliance with the K Street Crowd. Porter has been named an honorary co-chair of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. “Cal Dooley, co-chair of ITIF and president of the Grocery Manufacturers Association / Food Products Association, praised Congressmen Davis and Porter, stating, “ITIF is looking forward to working with Congressman Davis and Porter to ensure that ITIF continues to help advance pro-innovation public policies.” Nancy Johnson, co-chair of ITIF, and senior public policy advisor at Baker Donelson commented, “With their significant background in and interest in technology and innovation policy issues, we are thrilled that Representatives Davis and Porter will be serving as honorary ITIF co-chairs.” [EGOV]

The ITIF is a branch of the Information Technology Industry Council, which is pleased to include on its banner a quote from the National Journal that it is “One of Washington’s most effective lobbying groups.”

Quick Clips: Sounds of Silence - Gibbons Text Messages, Pentagon Deployments, Iraq Base Negotiations

While Nevada Governor Jim “Twinkle Thumbs” Gibbons has been texting the object of his infatuation, the press and blogs are saddened by the lack of retained information – and by the notice that there will be no more public comments (or release of juicy court filings) as the “parties negotiate.” There may be more revelations of a slightly different kind as the Trepp Case continues in federal district court.

Republicans do seem to have a problem with releasing all manner of relevant information: “U.S. officials have refused to publicly discuss details of the negotiations. But Iraqi politicians have become more open in their descriptions of the talks, stoking popular anger at American demands that Iraqis across the political spectrum view as a form of continued occupation.” [WaPo] This would be about the 58 permanent bases, the breaches of Iraqi sovereignty (which the Bush Administration would defend to the hilt of our last combat knife, until it’s inconvenient to have the Iraqis actually be – sovereign), and a treaty process bypassing the ratification procedure required by the U.S. Constitution.

The BBC is reporting that a U.S. gag order is preventing discussions into “how much some private contractors have profited from the conflict and rebuilding.” About $23 billion may have been “lost, stolen, or just not properly accounted for.”

And, now we find out that 10% of the soldiers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan had medical problems sufficiently severe to “significantly limit their ability to fight.” [USAT] The full report is titled, “Military Personnel: Army needs to better enforce requirements and improve record keeping for soldiers whose medical conditions may call for significant duty limitations.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports on unemployment may have been underestimating the problem: “Economists said the Labor Department figures were probably underestimating unemployment in the months leading up to yesterday's report. Gault said the April unemployment rate -- 5 percent -- was probably an underestimate of the underlying trend, while the May rate of 5.5 percent was probably an overestimate. "We expect to see the rate ease back by a tenth or two in the next couple of months -- but make no mistake, the trend is up," he said.” [NJSL]

Coffee and the Papers: Ensign subsidizes own committee

The National Republican Senatorial Committee’s report for the first quarter shows that among the three top contributors to its coffers are Senator John Ensign (R-NV) donating $300,000; former Senator Trent Lott donating another $300,000; and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) donating $200,000. [SLT] The FEC listing of donors to the NRSC can be found here.

House Minority Leader John Boehner is combining the resources of eight state GOP parties with the thin reserves of the NRCC to counterbalance Democratic Party resources in Congressional races in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington. [Roll Call sub req]

If the State Department’s contribution to the so-called war on terror could be compared to a military operation it could easily be that of the fictional F-Troop? The GAO’s report charges that the Department provides minimal guidance to prioritize Anti-terrorism Assistance recipients, and does not “systematically align ATA assistance with U.S. assessments of foreign partner counter-terrorism needs.”

“Glenn Greenwald: ‘NYT circulates fearmongering claims on FISA debate’” [Salon] “Biden issues statement on McCain’s support of Bush wire tapping” [AAP] “FISA measure tests relationship between Rockefeller and Bond” [The Hill]

The FBI’s system for checking names of immigrant applicants is experiencing an “overwhelming backlog” and “questions about the reliability of the information were raised by an internal audit by the Department of Justice’s Inspector General. [WaPo]

Now, he figures it out? President George W. Bush has requested another $275 million for U.S. food and drug safety efforts. [Blmbrg] The latest salmonella issues have promoted restaurants and markets to pull tomatoes off the shelves. [SJMN] “Florida tomato industry in complete collapse” [Reuters]

Just when things were really beginning to get interesting: “Gibbons divorce on pause – Governor, first lady agree to negotiations.” [LVRJ] “Nevada governor’s messy divorce is a gossip jackpot” [LAT] However, never fear there’s more gossip in the offing: former Florida Representative Katherine “Hangin’ Chad” Harris is the subject of a new book authored by her former campaign manager. [Roll Call, sub req]

“An alliance of ironworker unions from four states including Nevada is asking federal OSHA officials to rescind directives that removed penalties for a pair of safety standards the union claims are crucial to steel workers' safety. "We were shocked and disappointed that OSHA would issue compliance directives that remove safety provisions for the steel erection industry," District Council of Iron Workers President Joe Standley said. "These compliance directives continue to be a source of regulatory confusion, costly job site delays and unnecessary litigation." [full story at LVRJ] [NV Appeal]

Shovel Brigade Redux? The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated a ‘truce’ reached in 2001 concerning Elko County’s South Canyon road (to the infamous outhouse). The decision sends the case back to the district court because the DoJ is held to have acted without taking environmental studies and a public process into consideration. [LVRJ]

The Bush Administration wanted 58 permanent bases in Iraq. “The points that were put forth by the Americans were more abominable than the occupation," said Jalal al Din al Saghir, a leading lawmaker from the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq. "We were occupied by order of the Security Council," he said, referring to the 2004 Resolution mandating a U.S. military occupation in Iraq at the head of an international coalition. "But now we are being asked to sign for our own occupation. That is why we have absolutely refused all that we have seen so far." [McClatchy]

A McClatchy article argues that the Bush Administration could take two steps to put downward pressure on oil prices, but has declined to do so. “OPEC chief appeals for calm over oil prices” [Reuters] “For lobbyists, high gas prices are good news” [The Hill]

The Sunday Deck Bass: National Frustration Week Edition

The Desert Beacon Sunday Deck Bass, northern Nevada’s least coveted, most utterly unwanted award for flipping and flopping takes a slightly different course today, in honor of National Frustration Week. Surely, this past week must have been designated to promote frustration and elevate aggravation? Why else all the following items?

The Japanese spend $1 billion to build an 11.3 meter space lab complete with 23 racks of experiments, its own hatchway, and a pair of handy robot arms. [CTV] The “Lexus” (Cadillac, Rolls Royce, etc) of space labs is launched perfectly, BUT what is everyone talking about? The International Space Station toilet broke [CNN] and NASA rushed to deliver a pump for the space-potty. [AP]

The Bush Administration, trying to squeeze Congress into passing retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies that spied on American citizens, a Colombian Free Trade Bill rewarding the anti-labor Colombian government, and appointing a Loyal Bushie to the Council of Economic Advisers, (note the omission of the FEC appointments?) [WHPR] instead spent the past week dusting off the talking points concerning people who leave the Administration (Clarke, O’Neill, etc.) and write books like Scott McClellan’s (disgruntled, dismaying, saddening) telling what went on (just to make a buck) when they should have spoken up sooner (and been subjected to this treatment faster).

The Clinton Campaign seeking to extend its viability through the seating of Florida and Michigan delegations got a Solomonic “Divide the Baby” decision from the Democratic Party’s Rules and Bylaws Committee [NYT] that extends the ‘magic number’ of delegates needed to secure the nomination, only to have the press focus on rowdy supporters heckling the Committee [NYT] and a threat to take the fight to the Credentials Committee – on which the same two chairpersons, James Roosevelt and Alexis Herman, will be presiding. [DNC]

Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons, seeking to “castaway” his current spouse and resident of the Governor’s Mansion, in a quiet ‘record-sealed’ proceeding, [LVS] instead gets her 33 page filing published from one end of the Silver State to the other. [LVS pdf]

Nevada’s very own Sheldon Adelson, grudge holder extraordinaire, has decided to have his Freedom’s Watch organization launch robo-calls against Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV1) for not supporting funding the occupation of Iraq – a measure she’s already voted for. [LVS] Since Adelson has already wasted his organization’s funds in Louisiana and Mississippi Congressional races, why not initiate another fact-free and frustrating exercise? Could Adelson be miffed because his anti-tax petitions failed to comply with statutory and constitutional requirements? [NVA]

In short, there are no winners this week…just a whole batch of very frustrated people.

As always, do check for Minnesota Eel Pouts, and McCain Memorial Sunday Crappies.

Coffee and the Papers: Deals and More Deals

** Wonder what the “No Tax Grab” folks in Nevada are going to do now? The NSEA announced that it will drop efforts to raise the gaming tax by 3% in exchange for support from Wynn Resorts, Harrah’s Entertainment, and Station Casinos for an advisory question on the November ballot that would increase the room tax by 3%. Sheldon “Freedom’s Watch”Adelson has, no surprise here, not signed on, and continues his efforts to “divert room tax money from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.” [LV Sun]

** The fallout from real estate foreclosures in Las Vegas means that even renting can be a dicey proposition. [LV Sun] The Center for American Progress does some fact checking on the Bush Administration’s handling of the mortgage meltdown. When the President says he won’t sign a bill that “rewards speculators” or “bails out bankers” someone needs to remind him, “Speculative real estate investors who purchased homes purely for profit, not shelter, and did not live in them are not eligible for program participation in any legislation now under consideration by Congress. Arguments that this legislation rewards speculators are specious.” [CAP] (emphasis added)

** Best line from the Nevada Democratic Convention: Dina Titus – “Jon Porter spends a lot of his time back in Washington playing in a rock 'n' roll band," Titus said. "I say we've heard enough of his same old song. It's time to change the music." [Erin Neff, LVRJ]

** Timing is everything? This week the EPA is defending agency guidelines for radiation health rules that remain incomplete, in preparation for submitting a construction application early next month. [LVRJ] The current occupant of the Governor’s mansion has filed a motion to remain ensconced during the D-I-V-O-R-C-E. [RGJ] “Waning tax revenues, withering housing markets, soaring gas prices, and shrinking employment” are combining for grim economic numbers in Nevada,” [RGJ] The Department of Administration ought to be awash in bill draft requests for the 75^th session because the deadline for submission was May 1^st. [BDR] And…The governor decides this is the best time to meet and greet members of our National Guard in Iraq? [LVRJ] Certainly, the men and women serving there deserve support from the homefront – however, the timing of the Governor’s trip certainly does bring questions to mind.

** What about the other McCain 2008 national finance co-chair? One has resigned already under the ‘new’ campaign rules about lobbyists, the other is Wayne Berman of Ogilvy Government Relations which represents Chevron-Texaco, the American Petroleum Institute, Reliant Energy, AIG, AmeriChoice, AT&T, Verizon, VISA and Motorola. [link] What better way to say “Bush III?”

** If you were thinking that a GOP administration might keep you safer, consider what could result from being swept up in Main Core during a period in which Continuity of Government operations were in place. Digby explains. Combine this bit of news with the mailer sent out by Charter Communications to 2.7 million customers announcing a new “web tracking program” that is essentially “the ultimate third party tracking network,” [SourceWatch] and Big Brother can track your every little cookie. Phom tried this in Great Britain and the consequent outrage over the privacy violations prevented ISPs from implementing the system.

** “Once more, with feeling,” a GAO study confirms that health savings accounts primarily benefit high income individuals. [CBPP]

** “Wages fall behind inflation for seventh month” [Economic Policy Institute] Home Depot reports a first quarter net income loss of 66%. [MrkWtch] Something to watch: “Pension funds and other institutional investors are driving commodity prices to the moon by allocating massive amounts of money to energy and agricultural investments and sidestepping regulatory limits on big speculative bets, according to research expected to be presented to Congress on Tuesday.” [MrkWtch]

** “The Bush administration is illegally withholding the details of its offer accepted by the European Union to bind more sectors of the U.S. economy to World Trade Organization (WTO) jurisdiction as part of a settlement relating to a WTO ruling against the U.S. ban on Internet gambling, Public Citizen contended today in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.” [May 19, 2008, full story at Public Citizen]

** While the Republicans focus on the relatively impotent figurehead Ahmadinejad in Iran, the real power is held by the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is the subject of a new Carnegie Report.

Quick Clips: Kids say the darndest things?

** Nevada’s chief executive, quite possibly the worst governor in the nation, Jim Gibbons, left his chief of staff Mike Dayton to field questions about educational funding from students representing the Clark County School District Student Advisory Council. The results weren’t pretty. Could a person venture that they might have been worse had the Governor himself faced the kids – and their grasp of the statistics and consequent implications? Full Story at Las Vegas Sun. Perhaps we could encourage the kids to ask the governor about northern Nevada’s bleak numbers in the last economic quarterly reports? [RGJ]

** Molly Ball reminds Nevada Republicans that if they lose one more seat in the State Assembly the Democrats will have a veto proof majority, and one more seat in the Senate will give Democrats control of the Legislature. [LVRJ]

** If this comment concerning the influence of lobbyists on John McCain’s president campaign isn’t replete with elitism, it’s hard to image what would qualify: “Asked today if questions about potential conflicts-of-interest might be affecting the choices of average American voters, Black responded bluntly: "Hell, no." He was careful to say that Senator McCain is committed to maintaining the integrity of the campaign -- hence his commitment to the re-vetting process. But, Black added, "I do not believe that average voters out there care." [MSNBC] The Great Unwashed, Hoi Polloi, Little People, have noticed that the campaign staffers weren’t vetted in the first place – had this not been the case “re-vetting” would not be necessary. What the “little people sitting out there in the dark” understand perfectly well is that executives who are tied to lobbyists (Jack Abramoff anyone?) have ethical conflicts of interest, and conflicts of interest all too often result in scandals, jail sentences, and other scenarios played out during the Bush Administration. Black’s had ties to the Mobutu regime in Zaire, Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos (on whom Reagan pulled the plug), Nigerian dictator Ibrahim Babangida, and the brutal regime controlling Equatorial Guinea. [HuffPo] What was McCain saying recently about not talking to brutal dictatorial regimes?

** We could do this for another hundred years? “The Army said today that it is "increasingly a challenge" to provide troops for the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and to reach its goal of allowing soldiers at least 12 months at home between combat tours. The experience of the 25th Infantry Division is typical. It just returned last October from a 15-month deployment in Iraq and will spend barely 12 months at home before its new deployment. The division served a 12-month deployment in Afghanistan in 2004 and 2005.” [Baltimore Sun] Or this? “The Pentagon plans to send 39,000 soldiers to Iraq to replace troops scheduled to leave the war zone and to hold the total U.S. force level steady over the next year.” [Reuters] When is a “Surge” a permanent escalation?

** Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) noted that President Bush would be the first chief executive to veto a benefits bill for veterans. [TP] Meanwhile, the Philadephia Inquirer, the Denver Post, and the Seattle News Tribune weigh in with support for the Webb Bill.

** Bomb Bomb Iran: Senator John McCain is upset that Senator Barack Obama is “downplaying” the danger from Iran [CNN] which, in turn, yields the question: Who wants the danger played UP? The list includes Michael Ledeen, James Woolsey, and Norman Podhoretz [TWN] and where have we heard those names before? Neo-conservatives one and all. Ron Paul caught them at it in 2006. Conanson picked up on the implications of a McCain presidency in a Salon article last March, “The danger of a McCain presidency is not only that he would prolong our presence in Iraq but that he would seek to fulfill neoconservative dreams of a war expanded from Iraq into Iran and Syria, leading to a regional conflagration. With his campaign already sowing the arguments for a wider conflict, we will not be able to say we weren't warned.” For what it’s worth, McCain endorser Rev. John Hagee would be delighted to see the promotion of Armageddon. “Hagee, who has a radio and television ministry with a global reach and is the author of more than 20 books, views the Israel-Hezbollah conflict as a warm-up to a confrontation with Iran.“[RtWebWtch]

For Whom the Roads Toll

** The privatization fad has come to the Nevada Transportation Board. [LVRJ] Additionally, it offers the Governor cover for his “No New Taxes” incantations: “The governor feels this does conform with his pledge not to raise taxes," Gibbons' spokesman Ben Kieckhefer said. He added the fee would be optional, and that's different than a "blanket" tax or fee that everyone has to pay.” Put another way, road tolls are another method by which to tax Nevada citizens. If a person wishes to use a public thoroughfare that individual has to pay for the privilege. Since when did travel, and the means of travel, get to be a privilege? Unencumbered travel is something that citizens of a state should share in common, and not seen as a “privilege” for those who can afford it. However, this isn’t the worst that can come from the privatization of public roads, and Unbossed has a thorough and well documented series of articles on the toll road scam. A list of the topics covered in their articles is located here. Unbossed also analyzed the “Hidden Costs of Toll Roads,” and evaluated the situation in “Part 1: Toll Roads, Privatization, and Taxes – Connect the DOTs,” and “Part 2: Toll Roads, Privatization and Taxes…” These articles should be enough to get a serious student of the privatization fa