Columnist Jon Ralston: Examining the Miers fallout, Malone’s case and Porter’s fundraising

Friday, Oct. 28, 2005 | 7:22 a.m.

Jon Ralston hosts the news discussion program Face to Face on Las Vegas ONE and publishes the Ralston Report. He can be reached at (702) 870-7997 or at ralston@vegas.com.

It's Friday, so it must be time to empty out the reporter's notebook with pithy thoughts and nuggets ...

Feeling the president's pain: How does it feel to have your nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court withdraw her name after you worked so hard to get her considered?

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid obviously is crushed after nominating her -- by proxy, at least -- and persuading President Bush to be the front man for the selection. And Reid is furious -- just furious -- that the conservatives forced her out. Just listen to him:

"The radical right wing of the Republican Party killed the Harriet Miers nomination. Apparently, Ms. Miers did not satisfy those who want to pack the Supreme Court with rigid ideologues. I had recommended that the president consider nominating Ms. Miers because I was impressed with her record of achievement as the managing partner of a major Texas law firm and the first woman president of the Texas Bar Association."

Oh, yes, Reid recommended her to Bush because of her record of achievement, not that he foresaw this implosion. That explanation is about as credible as, albeit much funnier than the president -- whom Reid once called a liar -- saying he based his decision on Yucca Mountain on "sound science." I only hope Reid called the White House to console the president on the loss of their nominee.

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Start counting the days: Dominic Gentile, ex-County Commissioner Lance Malone's lawyer, says he believes the Operation G-Sting trial will begin in Las Vegas next March. But, he said in an interview Thursday, not before he gets a new trial for his client in San Diego.

Gentile acknowledged that he has only been granted a new trial once in 3 1/2 decades of practicing law. But he believes that the failure of San Diego prosecutors to prove key elements of the corruption case in San Diego is so blatant that a judge will grant, perhaps as early as next month, a new trial. That would be something.

Gentile, a First Amendment expert who represents news media outlets, also had some trenchant words on the Judy Miller controversy and the ancillary issues during an interview that will air tonight on "Face to Face."

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He can be bought for three grand: Jon Porter comes cheap. Or so says the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in a fairly comical release issued Thursday.

Turns out that the GOP congressman has taken what the DCCC calls $3,000 in special interest money since July, including funds from tobacco companies and a gas and energy outfit.

First of all, this is patently false. Porter has taken much more than $3,000 in special interest money since July -- he's a fundraising machine and there is virtually no traditional GOP campaign contribution source he will not tap.

Second, why make an issue of such a pittance unless it's simply to capitalize on the mood of the moment? Does anyone think that similar charges of being in the pocket of special interests couldn't be made if someone combed through Rep. Shelley Berkley's campaign reports?

Methinks the DCCC, which also attacked Porter in another release Thursday, is auditioning for potential Democratic challengers, declaring: "Really. We will help you. We're happy to pound the guy for you." With no one willing to run against Porter -- Judge Nancy Saitta said Thursday she is not running -- the question for the DCCC becomes: Is anyone listening?

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Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman Quote of the Week: "They are definitely going to be a part of our downtown redevelopment. They indicated to me that they feel that the way we are going about it now is probably the most expeditious, efficacious methodology so far as far as developing that piece of property."

This is His Honor talking about a meeting he had this week with Related executives Marty Burger, the local guy, and Jorge Perez, the chief executive of the parent company. So Burger and Perez think the city is approaching the 61 acres in exactly the right way, and yet a couple of weeks ago declined to be part of it as the master developer?

As usual, nothing but the whole truth from the mayor.