J. Patrick Coolican

Story Archive

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.
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.
In grim present, election is uncertain: Five hacks walk into a bar. They drink a few beers, have a few laughs. But their topic is no joke, and they agree on those two points; Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008; There was beer, there was betting, there was obscenity. To discuss the electoral landscape and to look forward to the November elections, the Sun met at a local pub with five esteemed political operatives — campaign consultants, former elected officials and so on.
Obama builds booming Nevada force: McCain camp dismisses the effort, saying it doesn’t guarantee victory; Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008; The campaign of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama is building an organizational juggernaut here. With fewer than 90 days before the election, the upstarts are building on the impressive grass-roots operation they built for Nevada’s early presidential caucus, and it is paying dividends.
McCain’s attacks on rival fall flat with vets group: Republican offers plan to let some get care outside VA; Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008; Sen. John McCain, speaking to disabled veterans Saturday in Las Vegas, attacked his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, for his foreign policy record, while also proposing a program that would allow veterans to acquire health care at private hospitals and not just through the Veterans Affairs Department.
Clinton: Buck up, back Barack: Some former supporters need more persuasion to work for her ex-rival; Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008; In a visit to a state that treated her well this year, Sen. Hillary Clinton allayed fears Friday about her commitment to working for the election of the Democratic presidential nominee, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.
Clinton urges party unity in Henderson speech: Friday, Aug. 8, 2008; In a visit to a state that treated her well earlier this year, Sen. Hillary Clinton allayed fears Friday about her commitment to working for the election of the presumptive Democratic nominee, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.
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.
Even Elko sours on governor: Jim Gibbons led his opponent by 40 percentage points in this rural area, whose pro-business, anti-tax sentiments he shares, but now ...; Sunday, July 27, 2008; When Gov. Jim Gibbons hunted for land here to build a retirement home last year, he chose wisely.
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.
‘Back to basics’ isn’t likely to work well for the right: Sunday, July 20, 2008; Rep. Dean Heller, the Republican representing Nevada’s Second Congressional District, caused a Beltway kerfuffle last week when he said the Republican class of 1994, the revolutionaries swept into power with Newt Gingrich, had betrayed their principles.
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.
Public tax break, private leak?: Governor’s ally suggests Dawn Gibbons revealed details of Elko land decision; Wednesday, July 16, 2008; Gov. Jim Gibbons had hoped for a fresh start, but another damaging story has emerged, this one about a questionable tax break the governor received after putting pressure on a county tax assessor.
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.
Could speaker be the next governor?: Buckley’s rare resume an asset, but she’d have to widen appeal; Tuesday, July 8, 2008; Barbara Buckley was a freshman assemblywoman in 1995 when legislators and lobbyists were trying to hammer out a law related to the Navy “Tailhook” sexual assault scandal in Las Vegas.
A compromise reached in the state Senate nearly collapsed in the Assembly
How much does poll position matter?: Experts in polls lend advice on how much to read into their findings; Sunday, July 6, 2008; Given the dramatic Democratic primary campaign between two strong, equally matched candidates, the population of politics junkies has soared, likely comparable to what happened to the population of actual heroin junkies after the release of the film “Trainspotting.”
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.
Gibbons had chance to silence his critics: But his actions in days leading up to Friday’s session left some furious; Sunday, June 29, 2008; Gov. Jim Gibbons came close, tantalizingly close, to getting the fresh start he so badly needed.
Lots of answers, all of them wrong: Despite the candidates’ wide-ranging solutions, gas prices are beyond our control; Sunday, June 29, 2008; A few weeks ago, state Sen. Dina Titus stood at a gas station and blamed high gas prices on Rep. Jon Porter, whom she’s challenging in the Third Congressional District.
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.
Our change politician?: Connected Democrat has ambitious state vision; Saturday, June 21, 2008; When he was just 18 years old and finishing his first semester of college in Reno, Steven Horsford returned to Las Vegas, took his three siblings from his mother, who was a drug addict, and got a job.
In the political ad business, let’s not forget Tony Schwartz: Monday, June 16, 2008
Titus, getting down to business: Monday, June 16, 2008
As troubles mount, Gibbons disengages: Observers, including current and former officials, say the governor has become more isolated and his administration more dysfunctional as he faces state and personal crises; Sunday, June 15, 2008; Gov. Jim Gibbons called an emergency budget meeting with elected officials last week, but he and his staff failed to notify key legislators, who learned of it from media reports.
Solutions elude state Senate candidate: Democrat knows what’s important, but can’t; Sunday, June 15, 2008; I ran into Shirley Breeden recently at a Democratic picnic in Henderson.
Guess who got a text message today: Thursday, June 12, 2008
Opposition to room tax hike building: MGM Mirage, Sands want county to keep issue off the fall ballot; Thursday, June 12, 2008; MGM Mirage and Las Vegas Sands, two of the state’s biggest private employers, are lobbying the Clark County Commission to keep an advisory measure about raising hotel room taxes for education spending off the November ballot, a county official said.
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
Early supporters of Obama stand to gain: Political favor could be the long-lasting thank you; Sunday, June 8, 2008; With Illinois Sen. Barack Obama having sewn up the Democratic nomination, we can call the winners and losers in Nevada. It seems like forever ago, but Nevada was an early state, and early support for Obama or New York Sen. Hillary Clinton won’t be soon forgotten.
State GOP recruits strong ﬁeld of hopefuls: Assembly candidates count on appeal to independents; Saturday, June 7, 2008; When Heidi Gansert took the job as the leader of Assembly Republicans, she must have felt as if she’d been named coach of the long-suffering Washington Generals to Speaker Barbara Buckley’s Globetrotters.
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.
Ensign fielding lackluster lineup: Top-notch Senate candidates sitting out; Friday, June 6, 2008; John Ensign has a terrible job, and it got worse this week.
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.
With the dirt flying, party backing away: GOP support for Gov. Jim Gibbons erodes after wife’s allegations revealed in filing; Thursday, May 29, 2008; Gov. Jim Gibbons’ political future turned bleak Wednesday as prominent Republicans said his support in the party is quickly disintegrating in the wake of the latest court filing in his divorce.
Obama targets home issues in Vegas visit: Wednesday, May 28, 2008; Barack Obama returned to Las Vegas on Tuesday to shore up his weaknesses in Nevada, which is in the heart of a must-win region if he is to take the presidency in November. The freshman senator from Illinois lost the state’s Democratic caucus in January by 6 percentage points.
Obama's in town, and the housing crisis is on his lips: Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Dems target Adelson’s politicking: Ads attack Las Vegas Sands kingpin’s largesse to GOP causes; Monday, May 26, 2008; Sheldon Adelson is being taught some blunt lessons about politics after aggressively inserting himself into state and national races this year.
Conservative rise: It came from the ’60s: Sunday, May 25, 2008; The liberal historian Rick Perlstein has just published his second book on the rise of the conservative movement, and if he isn’t exactly like the fox guarding the henhouse, he’s the fox who’s been invited in, shown a plush sofa and bathed in effusive praise.
Vegas' White House hope: Libertarian underdog takes his pro-wealth philosophy to the limit; Saturday, May 24, 2008; Wayne Allyn Root, the Las Vegas oddsmaker, will seek the Libertarian Party presidential nod at the party’s convention this weekend in Denver, a city whose government has violated Libertarian principles by outlawing drugs and guaranteeing fast-food workers a minimum wage.