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Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Jim Rogers
Former chancellor Jim Rogers has been on a monthlong Twitter rampage against Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, the North Las Vegas Democrat running for Congress against Republican Danny Tarkanian.
Seemingly the No. 1 lesson from this tirade: Do not, under any circumstances, ignore a call from Jim Rogers.
Online attacks have been around roughly since newspapers began allowing comments on the Internet — we think the cool kids might call it “flaming.” But Rogers is no ordinary gadfly. He was the chancellor of higher education for five years and owns the NBC-affiliated television stations in Nevada, as well as other stations across the country. Rogers’ crusade started with this tweet, from @JimRogersNevada (which Rogers said he dictates a couple of weeks in advance) sent Sept. 10 and linking to this blog post: “Three years ago I was about to go out to dinner in Helena, Montana when I got a call from someone in Las Vegas who said that Steven Horsford would like to talk to me. I told that person I would cancel my dinner date and stay home. That was three years ago and I am still waiting on the call. Horsford is an arrogant ass.”
Geoff Mackler, campaign manager for Horsford, said: “Steven has an upcoming meeting with Jim Rogers scheduled. He has always had an open door and is willing to meet with anyone who wants to discuss moving Nevada forward.”
The Las Vegas Sun conducted a telephone interview with Rogers this week to talk about his demand for etiquette, his friendship with the Tarkanian family and just how good it is to own television stations in a battleground state before an election.
Jim, you call Sen. Horsford a “poster boy for arrogance,” a “con man,” “a fraud and an empty suit.” You call him a “terrible person.” His primary sin seems to be not returning your call. Why does that rankle you so much?
Here’s a little background. When I first heard of him, I was very impressed. I was so impressed, I would call him governor. I was that impressed. Slowly but surely, I found it was all a front. He was glib. He could talk pretty well. He was a mile wide but an inch deep. That is my impression.
He has this great sense that the world owes him a job. It seems to me, he thinks he’s a touch better than the rest of us. We’re there for his beck and call.
I’ve known his wife fairly well; she has a doctorate from UNLV, and I’ve had her on my show. Each instance, I asked his wife, “Why doesn’t Steven call me? I want to talk to him.” I never heard from him.
I’m really troubled by people who don’t respond to other people, whether he works for someone or not. As a legislator, he works for the whole state. He should be talking to people. That’s where I am.
But you say he’s a con man. You call him a “terrible person.” Isn’t that harsh?
I don’t say he’s a criminal. He leads people to believe he will do things for them and doesn’t.
You also criticize him for not being able to increase funding for education during his four years as majority leader in the state Senate. Passing taxes is a Sisyphean task at the Legislature. Is it fair to put that on him?
There’s no question it’s difficult to get the votes. But from what I understand, he didn’t even begin trying to get the votes until it was close to the end of the session.
I would think, somewhere at that time, he would’ve called me and said, “Give me your opinion,” or, “What was your relationship with (late Reno Republican Sen.) Bill Raggio?” “What are the problems in the higher education system I could help with?” I didn’t get a call.
You’ve been an advocate for increased spending at the Legislature, particularly on education. Tarkanian doesn’t seem to fit the mold of most of the candidates you’d support. How do you reconcile that?
It’s tough to reconcile. I admit that. Here’s the difference: I've known Danny since he was very young. He’s very smart. Some people question his judgment. People say to me, “He’s a (Tea Partyer).’” But anytime I wanted to talk with him, he is willing to listen. I found him to be smart enough, analytical enough to know what I’m talking about. I have a better chance of persuading Danny Tarkanian on my position than what’s his name (Horsford). I can’t ever talk to him.
Are you a fan of his father, Jerry Tarkanian?
I have to tell you that I have been a fan for a long, long time. I was not involved in bringing him here, but I was one of his biggest supporters when he was here. I always thought Jerry got a raw deal. We had short memories on the good things he did here.
You believe Southern Nevada has been hurt by the state’s funding formula for higher education by about $600 million over the past 30 years. You criticize Horsford for his handling of it this session. Why didn’t you change it when you were chancellor?
I tried. I talked about it until I was blue in the face. I was told by Sen. Raggio, very explicitly, that if I didn’t leave it alone, there would be repercussions about funding decisions being made.
Switching gears, with wall-to-wall political ads, everyone thinks it’s good to be a TV station owner right now.
I think that’s true. It’s very good. Percentage-wise, I think we are probably 20 percent over where we thought we’d be, which is certainly welcome in our business, which has really fallen off since the market plunged in 2008. It’s a welcome flow of money.
"I would think, somewhere at that time, he would've called me and said, "Give me your opinion," or, "What was your relationship with (late Reno Republican Sen.) Bill Raggio?" "What are the problems in the higher education system I could help with?" I didn't get a call."
Maybe it's just me, but the way that is written it makes Mr. Rogers sound a bit like an arrogant himself. That might have been a good place to remind readers he was chancellor of higher education at the time. He wasn't just sitting at home broadcasting telepathic messages for Horsford to call him like so many of the rest of us do. Oh no, the scope of Mr. Rogers telepathic messages are far more focused than that. He doesn't need to broadcast, so much as aim.
Jim Rogers sounds like one of my grade school children. A bit of advice, Jim. The world doesn't revolve around you. Get over it.
Oh Jim Rogers, how you show your bias and contempt!
Wow! Is this a confession or a reachout for help from Jim Rogers!
Wow! Is the hate so great, that the so called "entitled" will shed their sheets and tell everyone who they really are!
Wow! Like roaches that scurry about when the light is suddenly turned on, Jim Rogers and the elite will say, I will run no more! Danny Tarkanian? ...is that you behind Jim..?
Wow! The 47% are now seeing the 0.1% lying, saying anything, saying anything about anybody....Especially saying anything about people of color---people in the 47% that Jim Rogers and Mitt Romney do not see, nor care about!
From this stand point, the Sun didn't call Jim Rogers a liar! Jim Rogers ran from each question and pretty much did a Mitt Romney. Run and Lie when confronted with the Truth.
Good piece David McGrath Schwartz, well done!
Las Vegas politics is so corrupt. I really have no use for any one of them. Horsford, Berkely, Gibbons, Tarkanian, Collins. It's a good ole boy/girl network of people who have their personal agendas front and center. Jim Rogers? Never heard of him and could care less that a "senior" has taken to twitter (really?) to air his personal grievances.
Oh, Jim doesn't have any policy differences with Steven? Really just personal. Got it.
These are extremely unfair characteristic of senator Steven Horseford by jim roger, its seems to be jim roger needed to get over himself,one time i send a meassage to steven horseford asking him advice how i could market my business to culinary members, I knew Steven Horseford was busy with his campaign, My expectation was 50/50 that i would get a answer back from him but to my surprise I did get an answer back from him, I know and Mr. Horseford knows i dont even live in his district, so i cant even vote for him. Jim roger is the 1% , he thinks the whole world evolves around him, these are the most nastiest comment from a guy like him, i am surprised he owns NBC affiliated tv station, he is more suitable for fox noise tv.
Imagine what Rogers would have said if Horsford had called.
Another cranky old white guy coming to grips with shared power.
Get over it.
I wondered about all the hostility Rogers was displaying. Now it is apparent it's all about ego. Horsford didn't kiss the ring. Too bad because Rogers isn't a stupid man. But he sure is arrogant and petty.
Rogers is right, Horsford is a fool.
Horsford ignored this megalomaniac and his ego?
Horsford deserves my vote!
What a petty, petulant man you are, Mr. Rogers.
Grow up!
It never fails to amaze me, how so many people can completely miss the point of a message. Rogers says Horsford is a flim-flam man who talks a good game but ultimately does not and/or cannot deliver. Rogers has unparalleled knowledge and experience in life and in Southern Nevada, and his words ought not be taken lightly. To the best of my knowledge he has always had the best interest of other at heart and is measured (and accurate) in his criticisms. We ought not dismiss Jim's assessment of Horsford uncritically.
sounds to me like jimbo has made a hard right on his politics...
bye bye jimmy...
i used to respect you...
NO MORE!!!
Why doesn't Rodgers run for an office??
Speaking of arrogant asses...Lordy Lou! Rogers sounds like a jilted lover. I don't know if Steven Horsford - a.k.a. "what's his name" - is a flim-flam man, but I know that the legislature, the business community and the history of Nevada are filled with them. Nevada is all about flim-flam!
I'm with Birdiedreamin. I've generally thought Rogers to be a reasonable, tempered man, but conducting a public vendetta is strange behavior and causes me to reconsider my view of him.
I hope their upcoming meeting will be productive. Steven Horsford, please buy Jim Rogers that dinner he missed three years ago. Be sure it includes a healthy serving of prunes.
Oh, the left winger Jimmy got his liberal boob in a progressive wringer because Steve, I park in handicap parking because I'm special, Horsecrap would not kiss his ring. They are made for each other.
Horsford parked in a handicap spot an entire day.
All that Horsford cares about is Horsford.
Horsford is an empty suit in an empty chair. I won't reward incompetence with my vote. I honestly don't know if Tark will be any better, but I do know that he can't be any worse. I will take my chances and vote for someone who has yet to tick me off.
I have never cared for this man Jim Rogers, since he canned Sue on the evening news, and hired those poor excuse for a newscasters he has now. He seems sort of shifty to me,
The line in the article containing the words "his (Rogers) friendship with the Tarkanian family" pretty well sums it up.This attack and criticism at this time begs the question: Where was this outrage tucked away for the last three years?
I like Jim Rogers, but this is not one of his highlight moments.