Saturday, November 29, 2008

New DC Police Radio 10 Codes

With the arrival of a new administration, and many new Congress members in Washington, the D.C. Police Department has done a little "Change" of it's own.


10-4 Change Message received, understood
10-6 Switch channel-Fox news is listening
10-7 Looking for lost Obama dog, again.
10-17 Patrol Car out of electricity-need to plug it in
10-28A Democratic Congressman with a prostitute
10-28B Republican Congressman with a male prostitute
10-28C Rep. Dean Heller with a Victoria's Secret catalog
10-30 Rumsfield attempting another coup
10-32 Zeke is in town. Hide the Scotch
10-33 Alien ship has landed on White House lawn.
10-39 Obama needs two more for basketball game
10-50 Willie Nelson smoking pot in Rotunda
10-53 Began nationwide gun confiscation program
10-56 Faked Suicide
10-59 Hopeless Republican Senate filibuster in progress
10-61 Obama honeymoon ending in () days
10-64 Ted Stevens entering Reagan airport bathroom
10-66 Suspicious person protesting Change
10-70 Prowler in DNC headquarters
10-72 Bill Clinton in town. Hide the women
10-76 Ron Paul acting crazy on Meet the Press
10-85 Iraq war over. Flowers all around!
10-89 Reagan's ghost haunting Lincoln bedroom
10-91 Rush Limbaugh eating Barney Frank on sourdough
10-95 Madonna running for Senate

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving is a Good Thing

Now, I'm not gonna get all emotional about this holiday, but Thanksgiving to me, is an example of what is right with America.

Now I know there are people who say "Thanksgiving really didn't happen that way back at the Plymouth colony", or that it is just another example of lazy gluttonous American behavior, eating too much and then sitting around to watch TV. But those people are idiots.

Consider this: try as they may advertisers and greedy storeowners have never been able to make a dent in getting us to go shopping on Thanksgiving. We rather spend it with our family and friends. It might be the only non-commercial holiday we have left. And that says something.

And even if, back in the day, Thanksgiving was just the "last nice thing anyone ever did with the Native Americans", it was something that was done with an open heart. People, maybe even Zeke, will spend this day helping those strangers might need help. We spent it with our often spread out families and friends enjoy the blessings we have.

It's a knee-jerk reaction to be cynical these days, and God knows bloggers could kick field goals with their cynical reactions, but not me on this day.

Happy Thanksgiving readers. Thanks for listening.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

5 Other Things Out to Get Lt. Guv Krolicki Besides the Attorney General

My Old Man always told me "it ain't paranoia, if they're really out to get you".

Here are some of the other critters that are out to get our poor embattled Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki besides Evil and mean Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto.
I mentioned she's Evil and mean, right?
Upholding Law and Order
: who does she think she is, anyway?

  • The One Armed Man
  • Chupacabra (means "Krolicki-sucker" in Spanish)
  • The Raven
  • The Liberal Media (of course)
  • Those Meddling Kids and Their Dog Too.
In all seriousness, I would sincerely like to thank our Nevada State Attorney General on behalf of all of Nevada's political bloggers, for opening the Grand Jury investigation on Krolicki.
We were all running out of things to talk about.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Colbert: Racism is Over


Sunday, November 23, 2008

Letter to Zeke From Henry Paulson

November 20th, 2008

Dear Zeke Reno,

I appreciate your interest in our ongoing credit crisis, but from reading your blog you might want to stick "to the funny". We here at the Treasury take our business very seriously.

And in so, we will not be able to give you ANY of the $690 billion we stole Borrowed from the US taxpayers to finance "Big Zeke's Econo-Strip Bar And Buffet". The funds will be directed to reputable sources like buying toxic derivatives year-end bonuses for investment bankers the automobile manufacturer bailouts.

So please don't write back. I am a Republican and therefore am allegedly good with money so let me handle it. (However if you do get your establishment up and running, me and Gates would love some VIP passes to the Champagne room.)

Sincerely,
Hank Paulson
Secretary of the Treasury

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Will Hillary Get Beat Up During the Senate's Vetting?

I would say no. In most cases this would never happen. But then again we're talking about a Clinton here.

Consider this:
Hillary and Bill have never needed to be "voted on" by Senate or House Republicans for any office. This will be the first time, in her appointment to Secretary of State, that she will have to go under the microscope.

Now I'm not a Hillary hater, but most Republicans are. Big time. And think of how mad they must've been when after six years of "getting ready" to run against her, Barack Obama came out of nowhere to be the nominee. They are steaming, hopping mad.

And this might be their chance, their only chance, to use all of that nasty material against her. As a bonus, anything they dig up on Hillary or Bill can indirectly be used as an attack on Obama.

The Senate Republicans, of course, ultimately want Hillary in the Obama administration as they will have a punching bag for eight years with her addition. If for some reason she didn't get Senate approval, I really pity any Senator that gives her a hard time at the hearing: because whatever your opinion of Hillary is, you have to admit she is a bad ass.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Hey Elko! Get Blogging Sucker.

Look Nevada. We got more than enough bloggers holding down the fort here in Reno and Vegas. Even Pahrump is covered.

We need some loudmouths out in Elko, Fallon, Carson City, Minden and hell even Ely needs to represent. And what I mean our POLITICAL bloggers. I don't give a crap about your grandchildren, and nobody else does either.

But with the lack of any kind of newspaper of record, and alleged Republican majority in each of these cities, we need somebody, anybody, to stay on their butts and keep them honest.

When I started blogging in April, Washoe County and Reno had a Republican majority. I'm not in gonna take credit for the Blueing of Reno, but I don't doubt that the heavy presence of Reno blogs like Reno and Its Discontents in general helped turn the tide, and at least help organize the new Democratic majority.

So here's what I'm offering:
If you want help making a sexy looking blog, I am here for you. No charge.
I may not understand budgeting or policy, but obviously I know how to build a kick ass blog. And if you want to get one to cover your local corrupt politician's activities, I will help you.

This offer expires whatever the hell I want it to, so act fast.

What you waiting for? Contact me at the top link of this blog.

Wild Horses Over The Auto Industry

My bartender tells me that I stretch metaphors too much, on occasion. But this time I think I'm on the money.

Right now, right here in Northern Nevada people are all fired up about the idea of euthanizing hundreds of wild horses. In holding pen's down by Empire, these wild beasts sit in limbo for what should be a fateful decision relatively soon. The BLM says they can't afford to continue to feed these animals, and if they let them go they will be so overpopulated that disease and famine from their overgrazing is inevitable. Damned if they do, and damned if they don't.

As a side note, and I know some crazy person will spam up this blog for me saying it, but horses don't belong roaming around in the wilds of the Great Basin. These animals are domesticated animals that have gone feral. truely "wild" native horses in North America went extinct a long long time ago. These beasts, even with their overpromoted and fictitious importance in the West, are not supposed to be here. They have no predators, and in so will run up to an overpopulation situation every time, unless humans intercede. They're like pets, with a huge backyard.

Of course everyone I know looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooves the wild horses and thinks, like some kind of afterschool special, that the evil government forces are on a mission of doom every time they conduct a round up.

The automobile industry, on the other hand, is responsible for more than 3 million people's livelihood in this country. 3 million. One out of a hundred Americans. Everyone I know thinks that we should let the automobile manufacturers go bankrupt. Like "the principle of the free market" is more important then kickstarting the Second Great Depression.

And like usual I have no solutions for you. I just think it's funny pathetic that people round here care more about smelly freeloading animals, than human beings. That's just not right. And what else is new?

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Upcoming Presidential Pardons

Oh we all know it's coming. "Get Out Of Jail Free Cards" for anybody that ever attended a Bush BBQ.
And in the great tradition Of American Presidents pardoning their friends in their last month in office, here are the likely suspects:

  • Scooter Libby
  • Donald Rumsfeld
  • Hannibal Lecter
  • Dick Cheney yes really
  • Alberto Gonzales
  • Simon Cowell
  • Ted Stevens
  • Hurricane Ike
  • Joe Lieberman
  • The Hamburgler
  • Trent Lott
  • Zeke (yeah right)
  • Himself

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Potential Palin Book Titles

In case you haven't heard, ex-Great White Hope a2012 Republican Presidential Nominee Sarah Palinnd Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is supposedly in the final rounds of negotiating a $7 million book deal.

And don't roll your eyes at me, Mister, I know you'll buy it.

The Big Question; What will the book's title be?

Here are some suggestions:

  • Shoots at Wolves, the Sarah Palin Story
  • Burn Witch Burn! The Religious Revelations of Sarah Palin.
  • The Earth is Flatish, Don't Cha Know?
  • How to Spend $150,000 on Clothes, and Still be a Hick.
  • Hope Freezes
  • To Build a Fire... to Burn Books on.
  • How to Divide a Nation in Six Short Weeks.
  • Fear and Loathing in Wasilla.
  • A Few Good Men on Snowmachines.
  • The Miseducation of Mrs. Palin
  • How to Make Enemies and Influence People Not to Vote for You

Colbert: Soup Wars


Monday, November 17, 2008

Nevada GOP Continue to Bumble Along

Don't you love when leaders screw up, refuse to take the blame and stay in their office? Even reneging on promises to step down after a predetermined length of time?

Well, surprise surprise! The Nevada GOP's leadership is at it again! The dynamic duo of Executive Director Zac Moyle and Chair Sue Lowdenhave certainly won the trust (of the Democrats) by pulling off such a stunning series of disasters that it makes perfect sense that the incompetent, dead and buried Nevada GOP would think of letting them continue in their posts. Not that either of them want to leave. How easy is a job, if there are no repercussions for doing a shitty job?

Considering that since they've been in their positions:

  • Democrats out registered the GOP by 140,000.
  • The Democrat's Caucus had three times the GOP turnout.
  • Nevada State GOP Convention never happened, failing three times.
  • State GOP party was publicly criticized by the RNC for appointing delegates to St. Paul.
  • Their Own Delegates sued them for breaking party rules.
  • Jon Porter lost his congressional seat.
  • State GOP lost control of the State Senate.
  • Assembly Dems now have vetoproof majority.
  • Nevada overwhelmingly voted for Barack Obama.
  • In 2010 all signs point to a Democratic Governor being elected.
So whatever you do, Nevada Republicans, please please please please keep your leadership in place. May I suggest "appointments for life" for the two of them? Like the Pope.

Big Zeke's Bail Bonds Closes

All good things must come to an end, and the fat money flow from from Big Zeke's Bail Bonds Fitshas been fantastic. As a Bail Bondsman, and just marketing to Republicans has been a fantastic business model for the past couple years. It seemed like for awhile there, every Republican is under investigation, in jail or awaiting trial.
But the Times they are a changing.

With the recent election, the vast majority of my clientele have been voted out of office. Or about to be thrown out.

So today will be the last day For Big Zeke's Bail Bonds.

Down here at the home office, we'd like to thank all of our clients for their patronage, and remind them that even though we're not taking new business, they better show up for any hearings/trials/sentencings they are scheduled for or Milo and Tony will be looking for them. And they don't want that.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Us Against Them

And just when you thought it was safe to go back into society, we get Proposition 8.

Religious leaders, still operating under the wedge tactics of the NeoCons, have manged to succeed where both GOP Presidential and Congressional candidates have failed: they've restarted the "Us against Them" program in America.

Over the boneheaded Proposition 8 ballot question in California, protesters are now standing outside of churches across the country and yelling at parishioners. Most of whom could care less about the vote, and many actually are against it.

But because of the furor and "otherness" of the protesters, the whole congregation moves closer together. They feel as if they're under attack by a force that means to destroy their group. They become single-minded, and may even change their once open minds, in groupthink, to reflect what they're leadership tells them. And if it's anti-gay... you can guess the rest.

Remember 9/11? That's what happened to our Country.

I'm not saying that Proposition 8, having received massive funding by religious organizations, especially the Mormons, is not a huge leap backwards in the progression of Individual Rights to our Citizens, I'm just saying the results that protesting will achieve might just be the exact opposite that were intended.

And by the way Nevada, the Mormon Church was behind the referendum that banned gay marriage in Nevada in 2000. Mormons like Dean Heller and Jim Gibbons were certainly part of the mix in promoting that fateful decision. If you'd like to do something productive, why don't you start working on unelecting both of those two, and create a petition to reverse our own laws. The last time I checked, Reno and Las Vegas were not in California.

Waving signs and lighting candles does nothing. It might be fun and seem important, but people, it's a waste of time and energy. Laws are changed by legislators and referendums, not by chanting in the streets.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Obama is a Gen Xer. Sorry Boomers.

I know there has been a debate over which "Generation", President-elect Barack Obama belongs to, but I think the answer is clear now.

Baby boomers, people that were born between the years 1946 and 1960ish, who make up a large spike in population, whereas Generation Xers were born in the "hole" between the Boomers and their kids, 1960ish-1980. Gen Xers are noted for technological skill and innovative often nonpartisan thought processes.

Baby Boomers, are known as often technologically-phobic, and usually very politically partisan. 1968 Democratic Convention Hello?

Two of the main features of Barack Obama's campaign were his nonpartisan approach, and his advanced use of technology to organize and "spread his word". Textbook Generation X behavior.

With the upgrade of the Presidential "Weekly Radio Address" to a multimedia digital presentation, I think we can all rest assured that Obama, although on the cusp of the Boomer Generation, is clearly one of those "slackers" that Baby Boomers think are shiftless bums. How ironic.

The Baby Boomer's kids, often called Generation Y or "Flip Boomers", are still inventing themselves, having apparently a combination of Boomer "activist" stylings, and the technological skills of the Gen Xers. It does seem to me, that these under 30 somethings, also share the tendency to partisan beliefs like their parents, and also have the numbers to make it count.

If you look at the numbers, Flip Boomers turned out well in the election on both sides of the aisle. They voted much more often for Obama, but there were plenty of Republican activists as well. I would bet that this "Generation" was more actively opinionated than any other age group. There wasn't very much middle ground.

And I bet that many of the Flip Boomers will get a bit of a shock when there "Champion" Obama actually turns out to be even less partisan than they thought he was.

But I'm a Gen Xer, so I don't really give a F@#%.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Hey Hey We're the Mormons!

(Sung to the tune of "Hey Hey, We're the Monkeys")

Here we come,
walking down the street,
taking marriage rights away,
from every Gay we meet!

Hey Hey, we're the Mormons!
People say we're monkeying
around,
With that horrible Proposition,
that makes all the liberals frown.

We're just trying to be Moral,
and support the idea of family,
'cause the thought of gay marriage,
is worse than polygamy.

The Five Things Obama Should Do On Day One

Everybody else is doing it so here are the five things President Obama should do on the first day in office:

  1. Close Guantánamo Bay
  2. Reverse Bush Stem Cell Policy.
  3. Sign Kyoto Protocol.
  4. Require oil companies with existing leases to start drilling by October 1st or they lose the contracts.
  5. Reverse Bush's Alaska and Poland missile defense plan
There is a lot of stuff he needs to do. There's also a lot of stuff that he can work out in a compromise "with the other sides", and if he's the guy we think he is, I hope we see some of the latter right away.

The 40th Straight Bad Holiday Year for Retailers

I know you've heard it: "retailers are expecting a horrible Christmas shopping season this year...". The story is on every news station before Thanksgiving, and sometimes before Halloween every year. Does the media actually fact check this, which is take the retailer's press releases at face value?

They do it every freaking year. Like clockwork.

How dumb do they think we are? It doesn't matter whether we're in a Boom or Bust, they always say Christmas profitability will suck.

Who is setting the sales "expectation level" for Christmas season at these gigantic retailers? Were they thinking that they'd make $100 trillion while our country wallows in a recession, retirement funds dwindle to nothing and unemployment rising?

It's got to be some kind of ploy to trick people into thinking that Macy's will have lots of "bargains" this fall. I can't remember one year that retailers were happy with their sales. Not one year.

What a bunch of bull crap. I'm not buying it.

Merry Christmas.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Comedy Writers Planning Immediate Wildcat Strike

© Faux News November 12th 2008
New York City -
Citing "impossible work conditions" television writers from Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, Late Night with David Letterman and Zeke Says So Blog have called for an immediate strike. Union leaders stated in a press release earlier today that "the expectation levels of these brave men and women is impossibly high. How can anyone expect them to be funny at this moment in history?"

Bill Goulds, Union Steward for Local 328 said "First, the economy is in ruins. Second, there are no more Bush jokes that haven't been written already. Third, Sarah Palin, Ted Stevens, Larry Craig and John McCain generate their own jokes, by speaking in public, without the need for comedy writers. And lastly, the USA just elected a Pope. You can't make fun of the Pope in Italy. And the US is now Italy. It's just not going to happen. Nobody laughs at Obama jokes."

The strikers are demanding Bush stage a keg party on the White House lawn and the immediate appointment of Mitt Romney to Vice President "so that we'll have something to write about. That guy is a doofus: a bottomless comedy pit."

CBS spokesman Rico Zalewski when asked about the strike said "Have you seen the new Survivor? We actually kill someone in this episode! Thursdays at 8 p.m. Must-See TV!"

A spokesman for Jay Leno said "A comedy writers strike will not affect our show, as we are not funny. We never tried to be. It's a big inside joke. Get it? Ha ha ha!"

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Zeke for Governor! Of Alaska!

It's pretty clear that good old Sarah "Africa" Palin is going to appoint herself Senator in the next week or two: and they are going to need a new Governor up there.

I volunteer.

Look, I know it's a backward state full of knuckleheads, criminals and dying polar bears, but I'm prepared to suck it up and put on a cammo hat with earflaps for the good of The People.

And don't worry I have plenty of Executive Experience. I was a cocaptain of the bowling team in junior high school, and once I sat in the emergency exit row on an airplane; that's some real in-your-face life or death experience. It's even better than the PTA!

And I bet if I pass my new hat around, some of our wonderful (although fewer) elected GOP Representatives would be happy to pay to pack up my extensive bottlecap collection and ship my butt off in Anchorage.

And I'm not saying I'm sick of Reno, but I think Alaska may have better weather, and better roads. I recently read in one of those newspaper things that the Mayor of Anchorage is at least a Democrat, so that's a good sign.

So you Washoe Republicans, get the "envelope money" ready for me, and I'll call my parole officer and make sure he's cool. If not, what the hell. I hear Alaska is nothing but criminals anyway. I'll fit right in.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Derby Campaign Autopsy

Yeah, it was ugly. Jill Derby got beat by incompetent, incumbent ignoramus Congressman Dean Heller by a lot. A whole lot. And not just in the rural counties, she lost in Democrat majority Washoe County as well.

But why? How could a Republican, any Republican, beat a Democrat this year?

Well before we get too deep, keep in mind that CD2 in Nevada is a Republican stronghold: PVI R+9. It should be tough in most years for any Democrat to win. Derby, if you remember did a better against the same person in 2006. Heller, being an incumbent congressman, does have the added value of being recognizable, even with his horrendous power ranking while in office.

Derby should've won though: Democrats all over the country had pulled it off. Why was her campaign unsuccessful, certainly less successful than just two years ago?

Here's why:

1. Derby campaign tactically decided to "avoid" Obama. By not openly endorsing Obama at the beginning of her campaign (or when the presidential primaries were over), she lost a massive opportunity to co-brand with the popular campaign. Although this action may have lost some votes in the rural counties, the fact that she lost Washoe County, after winning it in 2006, is a pretty strong argument that Obama supporters didn't identify with her.

2. Many key Derby core volunteers were "ex-Hillary" people. And many of them still held a grudge with Obama. Although Obama's Campaign for Change didn't institutionally reject Derby, certainly the animosity felt between the campaign staff on either side was obvious. Nobody went out of their way to contact each other, and in so Derby's campaign flopped about in the wind like a bedsheet, with very little synergy between the operations.

3. Derby's campaign had very little grass-roots efforts. The campaign could have mobilized a massive Obama volunteer base and easily swept into office, but instead relied on paid canvassers. "Free" is good, and much more passionate. The active choice to "go it alone" and rely on "professionals" to get the word out was a fatal error in this election year. Obama canvassers were given very little Derby literature to hand out, and absolutely no training as to why she was better than Heller. In fact, many local candidates including David Bobzien and Robert Townsend had larger presence with the Obama volunteers then the Derby campaign. At one point, some County Party Leadership even wondered off the record, if Derby was still actually running for office. I'm not sure if the campaign actively planned to avoid using Obama's volunteer base, or it was just mismanagement. Either way, it was a bad decision.

And so, if you ask me, this was Jill Derby's election to lose. And she did.

But at least I get Dean "Drill Baby" Heller to make fun of for two more years.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Poem: Proposition 8

To Nevada the Californians Did Flock,
To Canvass for Their Man Barack,
But on Election Night,
The Gays Screamed with Fright,
Prop 8 Passed? WTF!?
-Zeke

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Colbert: Change


Sarah Palin for President 2012!

Obviously Sarah Palin ain't going nowhere.

And since she is probably planning many different possible careers right now, from Fox news pundit, Senator of Alaska and QVC bejeweled firearms pitch meister, I think we need to steer her in a more productive option.

So, Sarah Palin for President 2012!

Honestly, Zeke didn't get anywhere enough time to make fun of her and her cartoonish lifestyle. I have literally five posts, that I never even published about her wardrobe, lack of geography understanding and wingnut political views. And I want her back!

And of course tactically, she is a wet dream for Democratic strategists to run against. She is divisive, uninformed and seems to have something called "emotions" that will be easy to invoke. If she's a presidential nominee for the GOP, they will lose. Enough said.

So send Governor Palin and e-mail
HERE: MooseKilla@gmail.com
and encourage her to run. I'm sure you can think of something to say to encourage her. Guns, God or hockey are good topics.

We really need this woman! Don't let her get away!

Wanna hear NPR or Air America Live Web Streams?

In case ya never noticed, the buttons on the left sidebar of this blog will get you in on the fun! Just click away.

KJFK ain't up and running yet, but feel free to email the thesolutionzone@yahoo.com and "suggest" they webcast, too. Or don't.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Washoe County Election Wrap Up

Well, I was planning on talking about "Dancing with the Stars" from now on, but Roscoe in the UK has insisted that I wrap up all of the goofy local elections I was covering since April. So here goes:

Turnout
Washoe County had a 77.8% turnout. Not too shabby.
56.2% of the turnout voted early and 11.8% used a Mail-In Ballot.
This is a massive change from previous elections, which resulted in relatively short and often nonexistent lines on Election Day. If you still live here at the next election, make sure the registrar of voters keep pushing the early vote program. It certainly saved Nevada from becoming a "Florida", in spite of our record-breaking turnout.

Washoe County Election Results (just Washoe Counties votes)

President
Obama 55.2%
McCain 42.6%
Yeah, it was a beat down. Obviously there was a massive swing to Obama, in a County that is about a 50-50 Dem/GOP

Congress
Heller 47.2%
Derby 46.2%
Berglund(G) 1.9%
It looks like Derby couldn't even secure the Democrat vote in the County. More on this pathetic campaign on another day.

AD24
Bobzien 68.7%
Gwaltney 31.3%
In a McCain-like election plan, Gwaltney went super nasty with horrendous results.

AD30
Smith 65.2%
Baldwin 28.6%
Carpetbagger Baldwin was unable to make any impact. Good news for the Baldwin family, as Daddy can move home now.

AD32
Gustavson 60.3%
Deal 34.4%
Since Democrat Marc Deal had actually dropped out of the race before the primaries, this race wins the Homer Simpson "Doh" award for the Democrats. Imagine if someone had actually run against Gustavson?

County Commission
Schmidt 42.4%
Boss Hogg Larkin 49.1%
And with Larkin retaining his seat, watch Washoe County remain in the 19th century until the next election. Oops.

NV Supreme Court
Pickering 35.5%
Schumacher 49.2%
Somebody should've mentioned to Pickering that appearing with Sarah Palin at a rally might do more damage than good.

You can look up the rest of the Washoe County results HERE

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Another Result From Tuesday's Election

I've written about it in the past, but now it looks like it's more of a fact than a theory.

Americans are no longer seeing politics as boring, or "something that other people care about". In fact, inspired by Obama's innovative campaign, I have met more than a dozen non-crazy Northern Nevada 20 and 30 somethings that are seriously planning to run for office in two years.

And the funny thing is, they may win.

Washoe County, Reno and Sparks has a typical "old boy and girl network", as well as a healthy group of perennial candidates. On top of that, the GOP primary has more or less filled the role of General Election for 25 years in many seats. Since the Democrats now enjoy a majority in the County, things are bound to get interesting.

For example, Myrna the Minx has jokingly pretended that she will run for Reno Mayor in 2010: a funny joke - a progressive Democrat becoming the mayor of Uber conservative Reno.

Guess what? It's not a joke anymore. In fact I'll take bets at 3 to 1 that current mayor Bob Cashell retires after this term. He's a smart guy, and the writing is on the wall. The writing is on the wall.

Remember that Chris Rock Movie from a couple years ago, about a black man becoming President? That was supposed to be a joke, too. No Joke now my friends people.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

OBAMA WINS

Obama Wins Washoe and Nevada

Watch The Vote Report Live!

If you've never seen Twitter in action here is your chance:

CHECK THIS OUT

Ready, Steady...

And Go!

Ah Election Day!
Well, it's election day for the half of Nevada's voters that had "something important to do" during the two weeks of Early Voting. But I digress...


Here are a couple things to remember when voting today:

  • You cannot vote by phone. Ever.
  • If you have your absentee ballots still, don't mail it. Take it to your polling location and use a machine.
  • College students, by law, cannot lose financial aid, out-of-state residency, or dependent status by voting where they go to school.
  • Election Day is November 4th FOR EVERYBODY.
  • Take your sample ballot with you, and know you're voting for ahead of time. Read the ballot questions. They are hilarious.
  • If you're in line by 7 pm, you are allowed to vote.
  • Check your poll location before you go. Some have changed. Mine did.
  • The race in Nevada is very tight. Your vote may decide the election.
  • If you vote for John McCain today, your hair will fall out, bank account will be emptied and your personal karma will be brown in the short time you will have on Earth, before you die from a slow, painful disease. Just kidding. Obama '08

Krolicki Robo Calling for Pickering

And it appears that the McCain campaign's Nevada Chair, Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki is targeting Democratic households in this nonpartisan race for the Supreme Court Justice seat against Deborah Schumacher.

Kris Pickering had of course appeared at the Sarah Palin rally in Reno a couple weeks ago, establishing to the public her right wing extremist credentials, she certainly would continue on the bench of Nevada's highest court.

Obviously the GOP are counting on a lack of knowledge by the Democrats, while actively courting the Republican voters in an attempt to win this closely fought seat.

It's amazing that Krolicki was able to tear himself away from the fantastic job he's been doing, losing the election for John McCain here Nevada. It's also amazing that Kris Pickering would want to have Krolicki "help" at this late moment, considering his weak leadership in the GOP's Presidential Campaign effort here in the state.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Nevada: Check Your Polling Location

This is a crazy thought.

Washoe County has changed polling locations since the 2006 election. New schools and other sites have been added in the assumption of a massive turnout tomorrow.

You may need to vote in a different location than years past.

Check your location HERE
Enter your birthday MM/DD/YYYY

Another benefit to the massive Democrat Early Low Turnout is that 52% of Democrats have already booked their vote and won't potentially be confused by the switched poll locations. The GOP on the other hand, having only turned out 39% will be more affected by the switcheroo.

Oops. Again.

The real problem is that people may wait in long lines tomorrow, only to find out there at the wrong location. Checking in now, might be the smartest thing you do this year.

Especially with the snowstorm coming.

CNN Says Nevada No Longer Battleground. Idiots.

Yes really. Look at this map:
http://www.cnn.com

And so ends any credibility that CNN has the slightest idea about what it's doing. Do they not have reporters that are following the candidates around?

Am I imagining that Barack Obama was here on Saturday, his wife is in Vegas tonight, and both McCain and Palin are making multiple stops in the state today?

Don't worry people, Nevada is a Battleground State, and as the McCain campaign points out if they lose New Hampshire and Nevada, it's over.
All Over.

Sounds to me like that is about Battleground State.
Nice job CNN. You suck.

Can Jill Derby Win?

It seems like Nevada blogosphere is split right down the middle on this question. Can Jill Derby, a moderate Democrat, beat the NeoCon, incumbent, loyal Bushie Dean "Red States R Us" Heller in the rematch election this Tuesday.

You probably can figure out where Zeke stands on this race. And God knows we all know Tex-Ex thoughts as well, but if you look at the facts, instead of the rants, is it possible to figure this one out?

Here are some fun facts:

  • Derby lost to Heller in 2006 by less than 16,000 votes.
  • The Democrats had made up that difference in registrations by January 2008
  • Heller has recently alienated the 20% Latino vote base in the district by proposing "English only ballots"
  • Heller had been ranked at or near the bottom in Congressional Power Rank for most of his first term.
  • Washoe and Clark County, both Democratic majority counties, are both seeing dramatic increase in voter participation during the Early Voting period.
  • Heller is the anti-thesis of Change, in this Year of Change, and has run an old-school 100% negative campaign against Derby.
Now conventional wisdom will throw out the idea that an incumbent always has a built-in advantage. Name recognition. And also that little "Rep" tag in front of their name.

In most states, however, and in nearly every "special election" leading up to November 4th, incumbent Republicans have been getting voted out nearly 100% of the time. CD2 in Nevada, is one of the most conservative Congressional Districts in the Country. For Derby to win here, she needs to find basically every single Republican and Nonpartisan that voted for her in 2006, and get them to do it again. She also needs a strong turnout in both Washoe and Clark counties to override the expected strong rural turnout.

My thought is that since Washoe has had a fantastic Early Vote, if it continues on Tuesday, Dean Heller can go back to selling cars or whatever it was he did before becoming our Congressmen. Also if that snowstorm actually appears on Tuesday, because of the heavy Democratic turnout in early voting, it will be a lock for Derby.

Are you a Democrat? Pray for snow.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Washoe GOP Extremely Confident. Or Crazy.

All right, check this out.

I was sitting in the bar today, alone, watching The Game. The first quarter hadn't ended yet, when some guy walked into the bar.

Even though it was before noon, two days before the freaking General Election, the neighborhood canvass this guy had been on, had been canceled because of rain. That's right, I said rain.

He told me that the group he was going to canvass with, for McCain, Heller and Gwaltney had gotten off to a late start and had only knocked on a dozen or so the doors when they were called to come back because it was raining. Yes I said raining.

My new friend told me that the campus organizers, apparently paid staffers from the Nevada GOP, had explained that "we already have the numbers we need to win", and re-collective all of the walk packs they just handed out half an hour earlier, and sent everyone home.

I'm not exactly sure what drugs they are passing around over at the Washoe GOP HQ, but I bet they're hallucinogens. Either that, or they know they're going to lose across-the-board. Or maybe they have no idea what they're doing. I'm going with option three.

And by the way, my team won today. Yay Zeke.

REPORT Your Voting Experience on E Day

This cool program will allow people to report in real time, what is happening at their Polling location on E Day! You can Txt Msg or use Twitter. Voter Suppression Groups will be watching to jump on any problems EVERYWHERE. Very Cool. Check it out:

TWITTER USERS

It’s simple. We voters are using Twitter and other texting tools to report on how the vote is really going during this election, and we’re urging everyone to use the common word (or “hashtag” in Twitter lingo) of #votereport as they do so. If that happens, we’ll all be able watch on maps and graphs how the election is going across the country.

Including “#votereport” in your tweet is enough to get your report tracked by Twitter Vote Report. But the more details you can stuff in, the better. So, for example, include in your Twitter post:

  • #[zip code] to indicate the zip code where you’re voting; ex., “#12345″
  • L:[address or city] to drill down to your exact location; ex. “L:1600 Pennsylvania Avenue DC”
  • #machine for machine problems; ex., “#machine broken, using prov. ballot”
  • #reg for registration troubles; ex., “#reg I wasn’t on the rolls”
  • #wait:[minutes] for long lines; ex., “#wait:120 and I’m coming back later”
  • #early if you’re voting before November 4th
  • #good or #bad to give a quick sense of your overall experience
  • #EP[your state] if you have a serious problem and need help from the Election Protection coalition; ex., #EPOH
TEXT MSG or PHONE

Sure thing. Our team of crack developers have come up with all sorts of ways for you to make your vote report known:

  • Send a text message to 66937 and start your message with “#votereport”
  • Download and use the iPhone app
  • Find the “votereport” app in the Google Android marketplace
  • Key in a report by calling (567) 258-VOTE/8683

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Gov Gibbons E Day Checklist




Opie and The Fonz Go For O

In case you somehow missed this Classic...


Final Washoe County Early Voting Results

Okay. It's all over. Well the beginning of it is over. Here are the final results for early voting in Washoe County (Reno) Nevada.

After 14 days of Early Voting here is where we stand:
DEMS: 52.0%
of registered Democrats voted
GOP: 39.1% of registered Republicans voted
Other: 37.0% of other Party's voters voted
All: 43.8%
of all registered voters voted

What does this mean? Well one thing is that if we do have a blizzard, or some other kind of disaster the Democrats already have a massive lead with more than half of their votes booked.

Also, if the GOP tries some kind of mass voter disenfranchisement program, the impact will be much less. Because of the news coverage of the incredible turnout by the Democrats initially, the GOP also started pushing the Early Vote Program.

So in the end, Washoe County broke its early vote turnout record by nearly 10%, which will take a huge load off of the election Day turnout. Good stuff.