Michael Mishak

« Older
Newer »

Story Archive

Bill Clinton leads the cheering section for Harry Reid: Sunday, June 13, 2010; Leave it to Bill Clinton to capture the political zeitgeist in an old Cajun joke. There he was, the former president and one-time Arkansas governor, doing his best Southern revival act, rallying a restive Democratic base for the embattled Harry Reid.
Bill Clinton rallies more than 800 for Harry Reid: Thursday, June 10, 2010; Nobody works a crowd like the Big Dog. Former President Bill Clinton lent Harry Reid’s re-election campaign some of his trademark fire and charisma Thursday night, arguing that Reid was hard at work turning around an economic disaster.
Sharron Angle’s angle: Keep the spotlight on Harry Reid: Thursday, June 10, 2010; While on the stump, Sharron Angle has often used the catchphrase: “Don’t read my lips, read my record.” Visitors to her website Wednesday — a day after she won the Republican U.S. Senate primary — would have found that impossible.
Iggy and the Stooges: Raw Power (Legacy Edition); Wednesday, June 9, 2010; When Iggy and the Stooges unleashed Raw Power in 1973, they cast the mold for a little something called punk rock.
Sharron Angle wins; Harry Reid gets race he wanted: Senior senator has shaped Nevada politics to slate a race he can win; Wednesday, June 9, 2010; After years of maneuvering, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid got the race he wanted. Sharron Angle emerged from Tuesday’s Republican primary, lifted to a landslide by a solid base of conservative supporters but carrying political baggage that experts say gives the embattled Reid a new lease on political life.
Voters don't find much to get excited about on the Republican Senate ballot: Sunday, June 6, 2010; Republican candidates seeking their party’s nomination for U.S. Senate in Tuesday’s primary face a staunchly conservative electorate, united by a desire to oust Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid but dissatisfied with the quality of the leading GOP contenders, according to interviews at polling places by Las Vegas Sun reporters in the final days of early voting.
‘No Child’ law not a hit with U.S. Senate hopefuls: Candidates agree act is flawed but differ on how to improve education; Tuesday, June 1, 2010; Whoever is elected to Congress in November will review the No Child Left Behind law, looking for ways to improve the landmark federal legislation that uses standardized tests to judge schools’ progress.
GOP’s feeble voter turnout exposes party flaws: Sunday, May 30, 2010; The Republican Senate primary is turning out to be a rather sleepy affair. There’s been plenty of media attention and advertising, but not much on-the-ground activity and fairly low turnout, according to last week’s early voting results.
Danny Tarkanian says making bad loan for horse resort an aberration: Friday, May 28, 2010; It was 2007, and the Southwest was in the grips of speculative fever. The land frenzy was particularly acute in Las Vegas, where major casino companies were in the middle of ambitious expansions.
Return of the ’90s?: STP and the Pumpkins can’t recapture their pasts; Wednesday, May 26, 2010; Here’s a piece of advice I wish I’d heeded in 1996: Kill your idols.
Sue Lowden making last-ditch effort to swing voters her way: Wednesday, May 26, 2010; Facing plummeting poll numbers and a relentless onslaught from the left and the right, Republican Sue Lowden is amplifying an old message to boost her fumbling campaign for U.S. Senate: Harry Reid is afraid of me.
Gov. Jim Gibbons' intense desire for privacy collides with holding public office: Sunday, May 16, 2010; Gov. Jim Gibbons’ turn as Nevada’s CEO has been among the roughest in state history. Certainly some of the suffering Nevada has endured on his watch — among the highest unemployment and foreclosure rates in the country — was largely beyond his control.
Republican Senate candidates eager to exploit Arizona sentiment: Conservatives willing to further alienate Latino voters on immigration issue; Sunday, May 9, 2010; A month before Election Day, Nevada Republicans are scrambling to capitalize on the conservative fervor surrounding Arizona’s tough new anti-illegal immigration law, in hopes of winning their party’s nomination for U.S. Senate.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio defends Arizona's new immigration law: Friday, May 7, 2010; Joe Arpaio, the freewheeling sheriff of Arizona’s Maricopa County, visited Las Vegas on Friday, defending his state’s tough new immigration law, saying that it will not, as critics have charged, lead to widespread racial profiling.
'This is all winging it': Chickengate notwithstanding, GOP Senate candidate Sue Lowden is charting an uncertain course between her party and the fringe; Thursday, May 6, 2010; Chickengate notwithstanding, GOP Senate candidate Sue Lowden is charting an uncertain course between her party and the fringe.
GOP Senate hopefuls unleash closing-time ad barrage: Wednesday, May 5, 2010; With less than three weeks until early voting begins, Republicans seeking to unseat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are taking to the airwaves in a closing-time ad blitz.
Danny Tarkanian looks to step from father's shadow, make name in politics: Sunday, May 2, 2010; Danny Tarkanian’s famous last name might be his Senate campaign’s biggest asset. Associated statewide with his father, Jerry, the legendary UNLV basketball coach, the Tarkanian name gave him instant recognition.
Republicans' U.S. Senate debate devoid of substance: Sunday, May 2, 2010; The level of discourse at a Senate debate Friday was foretold by three words: “Harry Reid Sucks!” Written on a white board, it was part of moderator Heidi Harris’ attempt to push five Republican candidates beyond their party’s talking points in the race to oust the Senate majority leader.
Sue Lowden, Danny Tarkanian take off gloves at Republican Senate debate: Friday, April 30, 2010; Five Republican candidates in the race to oust Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid shared the stage at a debate Friday night, but it was the top two contenders — Sue Lowden and Danny Tarkanian — who stole the show. They took the opportunity to toss barbs and draw contrasts as the campaign enters its final month.
Arizona immigration law sparks conversation in Nevada: Senate candidates offer varied opinions on range of immigration issues; Friday, April 30, 2010; Nevada politics are suddenly being reshaped by Arizona, where Gov. Jan Brewer signed a tough anti-illegal immigration law last week. In doing so, she awakened the immigration debate that had gone dormant in recent years in the face of the economic collapse.
Sen. Harry Reid seeking votes on hostile turf: Powerful nationally but unpopular at home, Sen. Harry Reid ventures onto campaign trail in places much more friendly to his opponents; Sunday, April 11, 2010; When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s campaign tour stopped at a Minden coffee shop last week, he met rancher Nancy Park, who leaned toward him and said: “I respectfully disagree with what you’re doing for Nevada.” Ursula McManus, who stood next to Park, shook Reid’s hand silently, her lips frozen in a grimace.
Howard Dean vs. Karl Rove at UNLV debate: Wednesday, April 7, 2010; Howard Dean has been chairman of the Democratic National Committee, a governor and presidential candidate. Yet the physician has had some unflattering things to say about his party’s health care reform bill.
Gibbons positions himself as warrior against health care reform law: Wednesday, April 7, 2010; New federal health care legislation seems to have breathed more life into Gov. Jim Gibbons’ re-election campaign. He announced Tuesday that Nevada will join 14 states challenging the law — a move that will surely appeal to conservative voters.
Harry Reid kicks off campaign tour in Searchlight: Monday, April 5, 2010; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid kicked off his re-election campaign this morning with a speech to supporters in his hometown of Searchlight, before embarking on a statewide bus tour. He capped off his day in Las Vegas. Reid argued that Congress has worked to turn around the economy.
Many fronts in Sue Lowden's fight: Before she faces formidable Reid, she must prevail in big primary field. So she's reaching out to disparate voter blocs; Sunday, April 4, 2010; Having just charmed voters at a gun show, Sue Lowden, the GOP’s next great hope to unseat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is ensconced in a leather captain’s chair, feet up, waiting on an aide to run an errand at a clothing boutique.
Many Tea Party attendees felt compelled to rally: Sunday, March 28, 2010; While fractious, the Tea Party movement is united by the overwhelming sense that government has overstepped its bounds, that President Barack Obama and the Democratic Congress are marching the republic toward socialism.
Sarah Palin rallies thousands in Harry Reid's hometown: Police estimate 8,000 at rally in protest of Democrats, health care overhaul; Saturday, March 27, 2010; SEARCHLIGHT -- Sarah Palin told thousands of tea party activists gathered in the Nevada desert that Harry Reid will have to explain his votes when he comes back to his hometown.
Harry Reid's tiny town bracing for Tea Party 'showdown': Friday, March 26, 2010; Diane Kendall signed on to scout a location for what could be the largest political event in Nevada history. But right now it’s just a dirt lot with a dozen Porta Potties. And Kendall is feeling the pressure. The local real estate agent volunteered to help the Tea Party Express find a venue for its “Showdown in Searchlight."
Harry Reid continues attacks on Sue Lowden: Thursday, March 18, 2010; Another day, another attack from Harry Reid's re-election campaign on Republican Sue Lowden. This time, the mud-slinging centers on the Lowdens' Summerlin estate.
Titus bill adds oversight to state worksite safety programs: Wednesday, March 17, 2010; Rep. Dina Titus introduced a bill Tuesday that would give the federal government more flexibility in its oversight of state workplace safety programs, including the agency charged with ensuring the safety of Nevada workers.
Dina Titus introduces worker safety oversight bill: Tuesday, March 16, 2010; Rep. Dina Titus introduced a bill this morning that would give the federal government more flexibility in its oversight of state workplace safety programs. The legislation is important to Nevada because of the state's poor track record when it comes to keeping workers safe on the job.
Harry Reid takes on Sue Lowden early, hoping labor is listening: Sunday, March 14, 2010; The headline was tough and blunt: “Lowden’s Casinos a Dangerous Place to Work.” Its origins were a little surprising — the re-election campaign of Sen. Harry Reid. Surprising because Republican Sue Lowden is widely viewed as Reid’s strongest challenger.
Station Casinos workers seek refuge with Culinary Union: Saturday, March 13, 2010; For more than a decade, Station Casinos has dismissed the Culinary Union’s efforts to organize its employees as a waste of time, a fruitless search for more dues-paying members.
Broken Bells: Broken Bells; Wednesday, March 10, 2010; At its core, Broken Bells is the ultimate soundtrack for lazy Sundays.
Harry Reid makes campaign official, says 'much work to be done': Monday, March 8, 2010; Sen. Harry Reid made his candidacy official Monday morning, filing to run for a fifth term in what experts say could be the most expensive and hard-fought race in the country.
Session sets the tone for 2011: Carson City lawmakers preparing to tackle bigger revenue shortfall; Monday, March 1, 2010; As the Legislature settled on a painful prescription of cuts and fees, lawmakers were not so subtly laying the foundation for the great tax debate of 2011, when the state will be staring into a much deeper abyss.
Cultivating conservatives: GOP candidates seek embrace of small-town Nevada by touting their ideological zeal, bashing Harry Reid; Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010; Carolyn Mering can’t believe the news: Harry Reid is coming to town.
At least that’s what the local airport operator told her a minute ago, calling to organize the opposite of a welcoming party. See, the Senate majority leader will be using the airport’s sole loaner car when he lands — and workers want to cover it in anti-Reid bumper stickers.
Treading political tightrope at session: Legislators play to competing interests — voters, business lobby; Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010; As legislators and the governor negotiate a deal to balance the state’s battered budget, they are playing to two audiences: their fellow insiders in Carson City, who represent the state’s powerful interests and fund their campaigns, and the voting public.
Please, sir, may we tax you more?: Nevada history repeats at special session — lawmakers hesitant to tax industries that are reluctant to pay; Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010; Gaming lobbyist Billy Vassiliadis stepped to the microphone Friday and forlornly said this to state legislators trying to close a massive budget deficit: “I’m sorry to say, this year, for the first time, we just can’t help.”
Gibbons: Meeting 'good start' to solving budget problems: Governor says sticking points include K-12 and higher education reductions; Friday, Feb. 26, 2010; CARSON CITY -- Gov. Jim Gibbons emerged from a meeting with legislative leadership this afternoon, saying it was a "good start" to solving the state's $887 million budget crisis.
Bipartisanship emerges in anger at Gibbons over session deadline: Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010; For all their differences over cuts and fees, Nevada’s Legislature has found an unlikely unifying force: Gov. Jim Gibbons.
Gibbons’ budget plan risky in an election year: Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010; Gov. Jim Gibbons’ shifting budget plan is complicating his re-election bid, tarnishing his conservative credentials and eroding support among the Republican base.
Rory Reid reaching out to rural Nevadans: Voting bloc is historically hostile to big-city candidates; Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010; Rory Reid knows a few things about cows. He once helped save three dozen of them with a garden hose and a knife. The story is designed to show the Clark County Commission chairman knows something about Nevada's rural life.
Obama presses his economic message in troubled times: Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010; President Barack Obama bounded to the stage at Green Valley High School to cheers. He’s rail thin and has a grin as wide as his head. He seems to feel most at home on the road, in front of what remains of his still-adoring Obama Nation, mixing it up, speechifying and cracking wise. At a series of stops Friday in Southern Nevada, he must have felt nostalgic for the 20-plus times he came here as a candidate, when all he had to do was fire up a crowd.
Obama touts Harry Reid's efforts, says stimulus 'right thing to do': Friday, Feb. 19, 2010; President Barack Obama was in full campaign mode today at Green Valley High School, delivering a wide-ranging speech followed by a town-hall question-and-answer session that touched on health care reform, the economic recovery -- and even the importance of flossing daily.
Domo arigato, T-Bird: Early-morning transgressions in a perfect suburban dive; Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010; T-Bird Lounge has led to ugly mornings, late arrivals and two words ringing: Goddamn T-Bird.
Unions fighting to reassert relevance: Electrical workers, joined by Culinary allies, slam NV Energy’s cap on beneﬁts; Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010; Northern Nevada electrical workers brought a contract fight with NV Energy to Las Vegas, picketing the utility’s corporate headquarters to draw attention to the protracted negotiations.
Liberal base demands action from Democrats on state budget: Union leaders decry party’s response to Gibbons’ insistence on heavy cuts; Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010; Nevada Democrats, already facing a daunting electoral landscape this year, are in danger of losing their base, including organized labor.
Gibbons: Time to reinvent state government: Monday, Feb. 8, 2010; In his State of the State address Monday night, Gov. Jim Gibbons said Nevada could cut its way out of an $881 million deficit -- and "reinvent" the role of state government in the process.
Prospects for organized labor's legislative agenda rapidly fading: Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010; When Richard Trumka ascended a stage in Pittsburgh last year to accept the presidency of AFL-CIO, he vowed to reinvigorate a flagging labor movement beset by globalization, corporate power and union infighting.