J. Patrick Coolican

Blog Post Archive

McCain's 'rich' definition new fodder for Obama attacks: Monday, Aug. 18, 2008; Waiting for a second Obama event, and I notice Sun partner Politico's blogger Ben Smith has posted a new line of Obama attack I just witnessed but didn't include in my report.
Obama focuses on women's issues: Monday, Aug. 18, 2008; ALBUQUERQUE --Illinois Sen. Barack Obama just addressed an intimate crowd of mostly women at a library here, focusing on equal pay for equal work.
Getting ready for Obama: Monday, Aug. 18, 2008; At the public library here, getting ready for an Obama event. Traveling press has arrived. Non-Vegas style celebrity sightings: Howard Fineman. Jake Tapper. Mara Liaison.
Arriving in Albuquerque: Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008; We've arrived in New Mexico to cooler weather and political ads for Obama, McCain and Republican Senate candidate Steve Pearce, all in fairly heavy rotation as we watch the Olympics.
Names matter in presidential pairings: Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008; Some of my favorite journalism has come out of presidential campaigns and political conventions, especially since 1960, with Theodore White's "The Making the President 1960." As we make our way to Denver and St. Paul, I beg your forgiveness for sharing some of my favorites.
Entrepreneurial spirit in the creepy lane: Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008; A quick interlude from politics and policy in the Intermountain West to report on the amazing entrepreneurial spirit of Americans and how creepy it can be.
Politics, driving and déjà vu: Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008; For the eight people reading our nascent blog, and for the two of those interested in Coolican and his lam-o life-story (mom, dad), here's a fun thing I found on the Internet Archives Wayback Machine.
ASU president makes a difference: Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008; ASU president Michael Crow is a controversial figure here, but for whatever people think of him, there’s no question he’s hard-charging and dynamic.
Compare and contrast: Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008; I heard Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano on the radio the other day. I gather she does a fairly regular appearance on the local NPR affiliate, taking unscripted questions from callers. She was articulate, thoughtful, savvy, on message without being annoyingly so.
Taking the long view: Friday, Aug. 15, 2008; Nevada could use its own Grady Gammage Jr.
Playing through Peoria: Friday, Aug. 15, 2008; More people live in Peoria, Arizona, than in Peoria, Illinois.
Take a foreclosure thrill ride on the Web: Friday, Aug. 15, 2008; A few places had real estate markets as crazy as Vegas the past few years, and Arizona was one of them.
More insights on immigration: Friday, Aug. 15, 2008; A few more interesting insights from David Plane, professor of geography at University of Arizona.
Democrats and demographics: Friday, Aug. 15, 2008; Our trip is really showing the prescience of Thomas Schaller's book, "Whistling Past Dixie."
This bowler favors taxes and McCain: Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008; PHOENIX -- We went to a bowling alley to meet some transplated midwesterners. Arizona is filled with them, and unlike years past, when they were mostly snowbirds, a younger crop of people is moving here.
Sheriff Joe's busy broom: Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008; We waited for a phone call Wednesday from Sheriff Joe Arpaio's press people. It never came.
A city in need of retrofit: Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008; Fans of urban planning, let me warn you: Phoenix is not for you.
The West, as Jim Kolbe sees it: Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008; I talked to Jim Kolbe Wednesday. The former Republican congressman is a true libertarian, a limited government conservative who was also the only openly gay Republican in Congress. Kolbe retired in 2006 and a Democrat won his Tucson district.
Arizona's looming political clash: Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008; I've had two fascinating interviews here in the Phoenix area, one with professor David Plane, a university demographer, and Harry Garewal, who heads up the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Getting to Phoenix the old fashioned way: Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008; As we made our way from Las Vegas and the Mojave into the Sonoran Desert on U.S. 93 toward Phoenix, we noticed the greener, more interesting vegetation and the redder and softer hills, and we cursed the gods -- and feds -- for giving Nevada such a paltry offering.
Nevada political update: Judicial quiz, Hispanic vote: Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008; Back from the Oregon Coast. Why would anyone want to live there? There are very few slot machines and I couldn't get a payday loan.
UPDATE: Nevada political update: Court rules on term limits: Friday, July 25, 2008; We were collecting our daily roundup of political stories when Sun columnist Jon Ralston's flash delivered the biggest nugget of the day thus far: The State Supreme Court unanimously has ruled that term limits are constitutional, meaning longtime County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury and 20 other incumbents statewide cannot run for re-election.
UPDATE: Nevada political roundup: Dems' new numbers, group targets Reid: Friday, July 18, 2008; Early Liners: We're reporting remotely from the old homestead in Connecticut, where there are mosquitoes and high taxes, and what they say about heat vs. humidity is true.
Nevada political roundup: Dems target local race: Friday, July 11, 2008; House Democrats are set to spend $35 million on television in 31 targeted races, including Nevada's Third Congressional District, held by incumbent Rep. Jon Porter, the Henderson Republican. His challenger, state Sen. Dina Titus, raised more than $500,000 since getting into the race in May, and this could bring her near even with Porter financially.
Governor's property tax break questioned: Friday, July 11, 2008
Titus passes the half-million mark: Wednesday, July 9, 2008; J. Ralston reports state Sen. Dina Titus has raised $570,000, a decent haul. She's been in the race for about two months. Still well behind Rep. Jon Porter.
Obama names his Nevada campaign director: Thursday, July 3, 2008; Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has chosen a Nevada state director: Terence Tolbert.
Budget crisis has UNLV slashing staff: Monday, June 30, 2008; UNLV today announced significant staff reductions.
The latest on Gibbons' office reorganization: Friday, June 27, 2008
Gaming industry opposes tax provision: Friday, June 27, 2008
Top Gibbons aides quitting: Friday, June 27, 2008; The governor's top two aides will announce this morning they are leaving the Gibbons administration, according to a source close to the administration.
In the political ad business, let’s not forget Tony Schwartz: Monday, June 16, 2008
Titus, getting down to business: Monday, June 16, 2008
Guess who got a text message today: Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Clintons’ enemies list: not too exclusive: Wednesday, June 11, 2008; Here’s a genius story by The New York Times’ Mark Leibovich (one of the best in the biz) on the Clintons' enemies list.
On Gibbons, the woman, and McCain: Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Trey gives Phish-heads hope: Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Jim and Dawn turn down the volume: Monday, June 9, 2008; Gov. Jim Gibbons and wife Dawn, in the middle of an ugly divorce proceeding, have called a truce. No more filings, no more talking to the media, according to a joint press release from their lawyers.
McCain, wallet in hand, heading to town: Monday, June 9, 2008
Brace yourself, here come the ads: Friday, June 6, 2008; As Sun columnist Jon Ralston first reported, Arizona Sen. John McCain is up on TV in Nevada.
A Florida fundraiser that offers a cut to Nevada: Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Ensign to McCain: Take a risk on Veep choice: Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Titus: Gas prices are too high: Thursday, May 29, 2008; State Sen. Dina Titus, who's challenging Rep. Jon Porter in Nevada's Third Congressional District, appeared at a gas station to tell the world gas prices are too high. She blamed Porter for voting for tax subsidies for oil and gas giants.
Obama's in town, and the housing crisis is on his lips: Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Parks wants Titus' seat: Friday, May 2, 2008; Assemblyman David Parks, a Las Vegas Democrat, will announce today he'll run for the seat being vacated by state Sen. Dina Titus, who's running for Congress.
Gibbons at the fights: Monday, April 21, 2008; Seen: Gov. Jim Gibbons, at Saturday's big title fight between Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins. Right up front ringside.
On George Will and rich men: Thursday, April 3, 2008; George Will's column this morning, a paean to Las Vegas Sands owner Sheldon Adelson, brought to mind a long-forgotten episode involving Will and another controversial rich man: Conrad Black.
Gibbons names three to Medical Examiner's Board: Wednesday, April 2, 2008; Gov. Jim Gibbons made some health care appointments today.
Reid wants deadline for Democratic delegates: Tuesday, April 1, 2008; Sen. Harry Reid says superdelegates should make up their minds by July 1. This is in line with DNC Chairman Howard Dean's view.
Republicans' rocky road: Monday, March 31, 2008