Democratic

CARSON CITY – Nearly 250 capital city Democrats took time out today to participate in the party caucus, supporting President Barack Obama in a process that held no surprises for the party faithful.

The caucus at the Carson City Middle School was one of 118 held around Nevada today as the state Democrat Party gears up for the 2012 election.

Nevada Democrats will caucus on Saturday to reaffirm Barack Obama as the party's presidential candidate and organize for the general campaign.

Carson City Democrats will meet at Carson Middle School, 1140 West King Street. Registration begins at 11 a.m. The caucus is open to all registered Democrats. For more information, call 841-3367.

CARSON CITY – Reno Republican Assemblyman Pat Hickey was unanimously elected today to be the new GOP Assembly Caucus Leader.

The former minority Leader, Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, stepped down because of his intention to run for the Nevada State Senate in District 19.

Assembly Republicans currently hold 16 seats in the 42-member Assembly, while Democrats control 26 seats.

Hickey, who represents District 25 in Reno, returned to the Assembly in 2010 after an absence of several years.

Back when I used to write staff editorials for "the newspaper" some years ago, there was a requirement that you had to actually know something about the subject matter before you started writing.

After reading this editorial about the DREAM Act, I can see this standard no longer applies.

People can have different opinions, but not different facts. This editorial fails to accurately describe what the DREAM Act is, and instead suggests it would give amnesty to every illegal alien in the country.

CARSON CITY – Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., said today he opposes the earmark process used to fund various projects around the country, advocating instead that state priorities for federal support go through a regular budget review.

“The problem with earmarks, when you look at them, it’s symbolic largely, because it’s not that it’s a huge part of the federal budget,” he said. “But a lot of them appear at the end with absolutely no hearings and they are in bills.

The Carson City Democratic Women's Club will hold its monthly meeting at Grandma Hatties . Please be there from 11:15 to 11:45 to order off of the menu. No food or beverages will be served once the meeting starts at noon. Featured speaker is Sara Jones, Director of the Carson City Library who will talk about the planned Knowledge and Learning Center and the BRIC. We will also be evaluating how we are doing as a club and discussing plans for the Fashion Show March 17, 2012. Please call 841-DEMS for more information.

The Carson City Democratic Women's Club invites all interested residents to attend our annual Holiday Party on December 10th, 2012 starting at 11:30 AM. There will not be a business meeting in December. Instead for $17.00, John, at Grandma Hatties is putting on a wonderful festive buffet. (If you need help with this cost please call). We will play games for prizes and otherwise have some good cheer. Please RSVP at 841- DEMS or call Donna at 884-3037 for questions.

Film buffs will recall the terror with which the young Vito Corleone’s friends talked of The Black Hand, an invisible but palpable organization whose wrath was universally feared.

Far be it from me to suggest Godfather Harry Reid helms a criminal enterprise as Don Fanucci did in “The Godfather: Part II.” But recent events only reconfirm that the Senate majority leader’s unseen hand controls all within the Democratic Party with a ruthlessness and efficiency that La Cosa Nostra would envy, striking terror into all Democrats within his domain.

Potential Democratic candidates for the Nevada Legislature are continuing their game of musical chairs.

First, Assemblywoman Dina Neal, D-North Las Vegas, announced in an email Friday that she had changed her mind and will not run for the soon-to-be vacant Senate District 4 seat now held by congressional candidate Steven Horsford.

The most unsettling observation of "A Man of His Word," the biography of former state Sen. Bill Raggio, is how politics in Nevada over the past 40 years has dissipated from friendly partisanship into all-out warfare.

When Raggio, now 85, started as a state senator in 1973, many Democrats and Republicans were friends who usually accomplished legislative goals through compromise.

By the time he resigned in January after his Republican colleagues ousted him as their party leader for the sin of endorsing Democratic U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, compromise was a dirty word.

He doesn't smoke or drink or swear. He was an Eagle Scout and the state PTA president. His priority is being a good father for his five children and a good husband for Susan, his wife of 28 years.

And at a time when the ethics and credibility of politicians seem to be waning, this man is a politician who espouses principles, a politician rising quickly in clout in Nevada.

State Sen. Moises "Mo" Denis, D-Las Vegas, is the shoo-in to become the Democratic leader and probable majority leader of the state Senate during the next legislative session in 2013.

The Carson City Democratic Women's Club will meet at Grandma Hatties. The main topic of discussion will be participation in the January 21, 2012 Caucus. Holiday plans will also be decided. All Democrats are welcome to attend. Please come at 11:30 AM to order off the menu or at noon for the start of the program.

The Nevada Republican Party made a nominal gain in voter registration during October, registering 1,819 new voters - almost twice as many as the state Democrats' 926.The Nevada Democratic Party sti...

By CRISTINA SILVAThe Associated PressLAS VEGAS - Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley is accusing Republican Sen. Dean Heller of vowing to protect seniors while voting against their pocketbooks, the lat...

By CRISTINA SILVAThe Associated PressLAS VEGAS - Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley is accusing Republican Sen. Dean Heller of vowing to protect seniors while voting against their pocketbooks, the lat...

Some things seem so obvious after they've been pointed out to you. I was pointed to a Web file from a Boston writer, Glenn MacDonald, a quantitative analyst using quantitative statistical methods, that has a fascinating study of Boston area public schools. After much study of Boston Magazine's ranking of 135 schools, he came up with a load of mistakes that no publication should ever make.

Incumbent Rep. Joe Heck's congressional seat would have more Democrats than Republicans and one central Las Vegas congressional district would be almost 43 percent Hispanic, according to maps released by the Nevada District Court today.

The 2nd Congressional District would cover Washoe County and Northern Nevada. That seat, held by Republican Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, would be 35 percent Democratic and 42 percent Republican.

"The Ides of March," currently showing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, is a welcome change from the summer fare of bare-chested shoot 'em ups. It's a serious film about American politics with a fine cast headed by Ryan Gosling as Stephen Myers, a sleazy press secretary to George Clooney's Mike Morris, seeking the Democratic nomination for president at a hotly contested Ohio vote.

Clooney is almost just a supporting actor but even in his shorter screen time manages to impress. He also directs, produces and co-writes the script, which is tight and intelligent.

The Carson City Democrats meet on Wednesday, October 5, in the AFSCME building, 709 East. Robinson Street, the corner of Robinson and Roop Streets.

Our speaker will be Mr. Ron Norton, President and Development Director for ComputerCorp, a non-profit organization which recruits and trains volunteers, operates a recycling center, and sponsors the grassroots project "Every Home 'A' Classroom".

Pizza and more will be available from 6:30 (donations welcome).

News, opinion and notes for your future Dems activity are likely to be shared.

The Carson City Democratic Women's Club will meet at Grandma Hatties Restaurant at 11:30 AM to order lunch. At noon, Brenda Silis of Capital City Initiatives will present a family who has worked their way out of poverty through this program. There will also be discussion on progress with the Nevada Day Float and preparation for the February 2012 Presidential Caucus. All women are welcome to attend

Mayor Bob Crowell was on hand Friday evening to help cut the ribbon for the Carson City Democrats' new headquarters on Each John Street.

CARSON CITY – Racial gerrymandering, fracturing, packing, nesting – a three-hour hearing today in Carson City District Court over how to draw Nevada’s new political boundaries was full of arcane concepts and obscure terminology.
The much anticipated ruling from Judge James Todd Russell on guidelines for drawing those new districts will have major ramifications, however, for the state’s voters and its two major political parties.

The Carson City Democratic Central Committee and the Carson City Democratic Women's Club cordially invite you to the Grand Opening of their new headquarters at 502 E. John St, Suite G, on Friday, September 23 from 5-7 p.m.
Mayor Bob Crowell will be on hand to cut the ribbon. Light Refreshments, No Host Bar, Good Company!

For more information: 841-DEMS (841-3367) or carsoncitydems@sbcglobal.net .

Backed by a lot more money and national support than his Democratic opponent and a 30,000-plus edge in voter registration, Republican Mark Amodei swept to victory Tuesday in the special election...

CARSON CITY – The results of the vote in the special election in the 2nd Congressional District went the way that most pundits had predicted: Republican and former state Sen. Mark Amodei will assume the seat vacated with the appointment of Dean Heller to the U.S. Senate.

The Carson City Democratic Women's Club monthly meeting will feature speaker Ryan Costella who will introduce his "Empowerment Nevada" Program. This should be a lively discussion. The Open House for the new headquarters September 23rd from 5-8 PM will be planned as well as the design for the Club's Nevada Day Float. All wishing to know more about local Democrats are invited to attend. Contact Donna at 884-3037 or 341 DEMS for details.

Kate Marshall resorted to an unusual tactic this week in her long-shot bid to become the first Democrat to win Nevada's most Republican congressional district in the Sept. 13 special election: She publicly acknowledged that she's a Democrat.

After spending much of the election running away from public displays of her party affiliation, she openly campaigned with the No. 2 ranking Democrat in the House, Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

Republican congressional candidate Mark Amodei's campaign is accusing Democratic opponent Kate Marshall of attacking his mother.

Marshall's new ad, which began airing on Reno television stations Tuesday, uses footage from a previous Amodei ad showing his 79-year-old mother, Joy, while a narrator states: "Only a mother could defend what lobbyist-politician Mark Amodei has done: supporting an end to Medicare to give tax breaks to millionaires."

School just started and every Republican state lawmaker has already received a failing grade from Nevada’s teachers’ union.
The Nevada State Education Association (NSEA) has released its 2011 legislative session report card and the 16 Assembly and 11 Senate Republicans all earned an F, according to the statewide association.

Helmuth Lehmann and Tim Fasano were caught in the crossfire last night as Mark Amodei and Kate Marshall threw rhetorical punches at one another during an hour-long debate between the four candidates for Nevada’s second congressional district.