Fox News slanders of Las Vegas, the city is quiet

Fox News slanders of Las Vegas, the city is quiet

Class class = “credits”> Associated Press

class=”caption”> Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly appears on Fox News program “O’Reilly Factor” in 2007 in New York.

class=”byline”> By Jon Ralston (contact)

class=”bypubdate”> Friday, May 25, 2012 | 02:00

class = “photo-byline”> Justin M. Bowen

class=”caption”> Oscar Goodman swears his wife, Carolyn Goodman, as the new mayor of Las Vegas City Council during a meeting on Wednesday, July sixth 2011th

Shortly after took office in February 2009, in the unlikely maintenance of Elkhart, Indiana, Obama is attempting to Bombay Sapphire, Oscar Goodman:

“You can not go on tour in Las Vegas or go to the Super Bowl in the currency the taxpayer’s dime, “Obama said, referring to the travel companies that received government bailout.

Then Mayor Goodman, as I’m sure you remember, all but spit their olive bombarded in the media and did not stop in the coming years, more than two. When the president made the comments focused on other Vegas almost exactly a year later – “When times are tough, do not blow a lot of money in Las Vegas when you are trying to save for college,” even those who saw his comments as of 2009 there was a reasonable “time 02:00 deceive me” time.

But now, with one of the most horrible national television this week in Las Vegas, as we suffered a terrible recession, I wonder why the Goodman family are not outraged, threatening to hit people standing to honor the city and grabbing all the cable during Mayor Carolyn Goodman (and perhaps the first man ) can do.

Should not the last to save an endless list of national data given to the poor, stigmatized and traumatized Sin City, Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor, “spoke of a piece incredibly stupid and insulting to me ‘Las Vegas wine. The piece was aired on the night of the parody of journalism, and contained one of the most insulting phrase I saw in Las Vegas producer Jesse Watters O’Reilly.

foxnewsinsider.com promoted segment with this headline. “O’Reilly Factor” producer know why Las Vegas in the unemployment rate rose “

Hmm, I am optimistic thinking to yourself, maybe this turn the country into a devastating recession here, perhaps further why so many people are unemployed, and perhaps looking at the housing crisis (which was not too concerned with the inaccuracies title – the unemployment rate is falling here -. because I know little, and my producer is about grabbing the attent ion of the viewer).

Oh, no. When the shooting began painfully cliche side agreements “Viva Las Vegas” and the first interview with Robin Leach, I knew what time we go down – and it is paved with good intentions. Leach, the his credit, Watters said that Las Vegas is a “tale of two cities”, but Watters is only interested in a -. Unreal in a Las Vegas Boulevard South

Watters then interviewed by a mix of tourists, who, surprisingly, reported on the holiday and shopping in the Gaza Strip. This is better than Edward R. Murrow in London rooftop. innovative materials.

without thinking interspersed among the interviews were fragments of films they had no clear link to the piece (but may have occurred to the folk art Watters).

And after the segment was positive, and Fox.

Watters find someone who complains that the following “Obama said in Las Vegas is the place to be, died in three or four years.” Bingo. then played a clip of Obama’s 2010 Las Vegas and found a man in the president waste .

ridiculously bad journalism. However, a large of its kind for the Romney campaign.

Then grill for three minutes, complete with faux wisdom, and the Quick Edit, Watters appeared again in the study. This is where the real division in the parody and you could see what Ailes Fox. This part can not be paraphrased as:

O’Reilly ” Therefore, it does not work “

Watters:” There are around half a million people in Las Vegas (not at all, and he was a county’s population is four times larger), but $ 40 million to visit Las Vegas each year, making it drip economic situation. “

What? I trader David, please.

Watters more:” The conservative magnates Sheldon Adelson is running Gaza, Steve Wynn, and compete to see who can build a larger fiefdoms here. “. or Macau? And there are other companies? A spectacular view of the factors.

O’Reilly:” Can not get a job there ( in Gaza) do not need the services of the people here? “

Watters:” They are hiring, but not so big-time. You are getting small jobs, menial jobs, a lot of illegal immigrants. We saw a lot of illegal immigrants on the street handing out cards strip club, the people doing the work of slaves. “

Finally some news! No jobs in Las Vegas, in exception of illegal immigrants! So the next pounces on Watters and O’Reilly asked how he knew they were illegal immigrants, right?

But … no. was finished. Maybe Watters knew they were illegal because they are grilled. Or maybe he knew, as he said. Or perhaps because, um, do not spea k English. never know.

and people say journalism is dead.

One question, though: Where is the outrage of the Goodman family. Or LHCV? Or Trade

waiting.

It is time to test a representative of Transparency

It is time to test a representative of Transparency

By Jon Ralston

(contact)

class=”bypubdate”> Wednesday, May 23, 2012 | 02:00

I have a test for contrast.

pedants or superficial or meaningless. Say: “No new taxes”, or be labeled a waste of money waste. Say: “More money for education,” or be branded an enemy of children.

This is all part of the devolution of political discourse, take advantage of today drapers Do you give what the public is eager to eat – a miraculous alchemy of turning what should be emetic in something that tastes better and is less filling. But both Therefore, a litmus test comes along that really will not turn something about the character of political intent.

thanks to the Assembly Republican leader Pat Hickey, one that we are about to be applied to each legislator to vote, and every candidate who comes from the 12 th June Primaries, who wants to be member number 63 of the banda I call the test of transparency, which reveal how lawmakers and legislators candidates to, think about pulling the curtain on campaign financing and influe nce peddling and will be a window if you want to protect the secrecy of the system or the right to information.

As I wrote on Sunday, the proposals Hickey is long and must be supported by someone who believes it is time to end the institutionalized corruption in Carson City Kabbalah. As the Secretary of State Dean Heller and Miller as Ross is specifically because these reforms are to enter the building, but not legally find their way to the governor’s desk.

It’s time to change that. Or at least try to get the record long before 2013, so when Hickey is a pack a day, can be transferred on Day 2.

I know what I’m lacking sleep. Or live in Polyanna planet. Or dip into my reserves of Glenlivet.

None of the above. What was out of patience with broken systems that inhabit the mediocre will do everything possible to protect the structure built on the foundations of the squalor and the only way out is a revolving door.

really do not care if Hickey is honest – I think – as I do on the fundamental wave of his plan. In case you missed the point, are:

• Reports in real time campaign contributions;

• Require candidates to tell how many were on hand after the election;

> • reported the news of intriguing and donors who give advice;

Secretariat • Empowerment of State to audit reports;

• cooling-off period for legislators before they can become lobbyists.

My guess is that there are a lot of condescending smiles on the faces of legislators and intriguing that they heard these things before and just calculate the challenge is to find a way to kill the idea, probably during the closing rush. Good.

I have a challenge in mind . And that’s why he sent the test of transparency, all Members voted in this series, looking for places in these principles. Long before the hammer comes down in the ’13 session, we know that members of the crew 63 (I will send proof of transparency imposed on non-game winners in major 12 June) will be occupied by institutionalized corruption and that they will not. And, yes, the lack of response or some mouth-floury ” I want to see the written proposal “to” no “votes.

I will post all results on my blog, so I’ll update the list as new sites come If you want an indication of how transparency is like sunlight to vampires that suck blood out of the system, consider what happened when conservative think tank, the NPRI of Nevada Press Association and the issues of these people on similar issues. few employees responded .

I would say that we should be ashamed, but shame is home to 120 days every two years in the state capital. I know some Democrats are back due to stupid Hickey said the ethical failures of democracy during his press conference on Monday. But I have three words for them: Get over it. And if Hickey and Republicans want to upload your high horse theft policy, I have five words for them . Jim Gibbons and John Ensign

I know how difficult it is to get voters interested in this issue, which is what those in power bank. So I do what the consultants tell candidates that make the its empty sound bites to ensure the least idea sink in vacuum:

keep talking about it again and again, until we know that passes the test of fire and conducive to corruption.

Las Vegas Sun columnist Stories:

Dean Heller budget gimmick is silly cynical

Dean Heller budget gimmick is silly cynical

class = “credits”> Steve Marcus

class=”caption”> Senator Dean Heller (R-NV), looks on during the process 9/11 commemoration ceremony at Memorial Park police on Sunday, 11 September, the 2011th

class=”byline”> By Jon Ralston (contact)

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 | 02:00

Senator Dean Heller “no pay no budget” dumbest idea of ​​the bill to come in a while.

And perhaps more intelligent.

Heller, who spoke about his stupid temper in the Senate Tuesday proposing a placebo to hide the electorate, cynically exploiting voter anger to advance their own interests, but certainly not the country. As the scenes of an election year to go, this is not enough to call this a gap, because that would mean it is not harmful.

n. This is because it is not designed to fix or improve, but the Barbarians at the Gate, while Heller, hidden inside their Trojan horse “ideas” become DC, but DC

When Heller was first proposed this idea to cut the salaries of Congress if the Senate and House approved a budget, I thought it was obviously a trick that you meet the qualifications of the value of local news cycle. But in the last year, as I’m sure his interviewer said, people were eating the “idea” and so has become more emboldened. “There is no budget to pay” is a symbol of the worst in politics – an empty phrase, without weight or substance. The Democrats are an expert in such madness – they want to “preserve and protect Medicare,” but few have any idea how to do it

Your face, the idea that adherence to their members of Congress reward the best response is ridiculous .. Heller has not known that almost half of the millionaires and the other half probably come near the office? Absolutely.

Yes, many would feel the blow of a couple hundred grand. But if so, why stop at a budget? Why not force them to lose their reward when they vote for a budget that will “end Medicare as we know,” or create a “death board” for the elderly?

Or go further: If Heller is really serious – and it does – why not suggest that if you do not pass the budget that each should give up? I bet the audience goes crazy for this, Senator.

Finally made me rethink this heavy political ploy, Heller was a seven-minute floor speech Tuesday. I was surprised that none of his colleagues was slower.

Senator, that shows no sense of irony, gave this speech as Capraesque that Heller only come to the Capitol, Polyannaish maker of good works that simply can not believe my colleagues are doing .

Heller began to speak of non-coincidence, but as the law is ridiculous to speak a “serious debate about the future of our nation …. The American people do not think today is serious debate. ”

Really?

Heller then went on to indirectly insult the majority of the Senate Harry Reid, suggests that inclusion of the 100 Business Club “can be regarded as a political comedy, if the game is not that great.” I think he called you a fool and Senator Reid.

But then Heller went on to indicate their level of self-knowledge is even smaller than I thought.

“is nothing less than a political show,” said Heller, a budget speech and debate, but may be related to the measures he was about to talk about it.

And then, the senator asked, “Have you ever wondered why the Congressional approval rate is so low?”

Actually no, Senator. But I guess I s ay: It is unnecessary because of tricks like this

Heller acknowledged, however, that the law “is not a magic solution.” Really? The way we talk about it …

Legislative truck after discovering that he managed to get 10 – cuéntelo – co-sponsors for his trip to nowhere-bill, I pulled on my calculator is the tenth in the U.S. Senate. Impressive.

Ah, I understand: When the proposed revocation of the counterparts of wages, which will meet to access your account. Therefore, only helps members Heller forward – yes, three-term congressman, former secretary and former Assembly member, not a politician, but a rare bird that rises above the rest of the birds crime political

Sun “Our nation is literally can not afford to survive, sound bites and press releases about the importance of the budget,” concluded the man who sent more than two dozen my news on “The budget payment” from July. (Hey, “unlabeled” accepted!)

As Heller said it would be funny if the stakes not so high. They are, so it is not. In fact, takes advantage of the naivety of the public to get an exorbitant rate (), which has to do with solving the budget crisis.

I’m sure many people reading this will be outraged by what looks like my condescension with the average voter. If so, I have a mitigating news: I have no lack of respect for you Dean Heller

. Las Vegas Sun columnist Stories:

Skybridge Alternatives Conference will return year, a prestigious presence in the industry in Las Vegas

Skybridge Alternatives Conference will return year, a prestigious presence in the industry in Las Vegas

class = “credits”> Sam Morris

class=”caption”> Mayor Oscar Goodman was interviewed by Maria Bartiromo of CNBC anchor spread over the site in the Skybridge alternative news conference on Thursday, 20 May 2010 at the Bellagio.

class = “caption”> Richard N. Velotta Former Mayor Oscar Goodman was in his element last week of the stage in a major conference of financial services industry, martini in hand and dancers in each arm.

Goodman as President of the Organizing Committee of Las Vegas, was the key to the city and managing partner Anthony Scaramucci of Skybridge Capital, which produced the Skybridge alternatives (salt) held in Las Vegas four years ago and returned again the following year.

Scaramucci was very surprised when pavoneaban Goodman is on stage, because the presentation was not the SALT program.

“We just wanted to welcome you and thank you for coming,” said Goodman before a crowd of over 1000, which began to gather waiting to hear the speech of the former vice president Al Gore.

For about three minutes, Goodman had been Santa Claus in a three-piece suit, spread joy and happy memories of Las Vegas for the industry group in the ci ty always wanted.

Skybridge, research-driven investment firm with U.S. $ 6.2 billion in assets, was founded in 2005, a conference of the Sun was born in the midst of a recession in 2009. The event includes an analysis of macroeconomic trends and geopolitical events, and other investment opportunities in the context of a dynamic global economy.

Over the years, the conference was presented at the Bellagio, I had some heavyweights are saying. The former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, the Republican Party’s favorite president, Mitt Romney, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Colin Powell, as the stage of salt. This year, he joined Al Gore and former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and 2008 vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, as speakers of the conference.

The first conference, in the presence of 500, the event this year were sold in February, the 2,000 tickets

.

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors of Congress Sales Executive John Schreiber has worked with his partner Victor Oviedo Skybridge from the first event was scheduled in Las Vegas.

“We sit and talk about how he could surprise my boss with some light between the speaker,” said Schreiber.

hope is that fund managers attending this event not only remember the impressive speaker, but to have a good time.

“When the participants at home and someone asks:” Why did you do in Vegas? “We tell them: ‘For us, the price of Vegas,” said Schreiber.

Chris Meyer, vice president of sales LHCV, said the organization should pay special attention to the event, representing the business sector that the city wants more.

“The organizers of this event are great supporters face to face contacts and meetings business,” said Meyer. “And that’s exactly the message we try to present, we are all business during the d ay, but we have fun at night.”

Oviedo, the main organizer of Salt, a fan of Las Vegas.

“When you look objectively at Las Vegas, this is the ideal place for conferences or events,” said Oviedo. “We will have this conference and the facilities first class hotel in the world.”

Oviedo said that the common experience of Las Vegas is perfect for business.

“When you meet someone for the first time and wants to continue this relationship, if the field, are less likely to get the phone call,” said Oviedo. “But if you call back in New York and says,” Hey, do not forget the conference, when we sat down and we had this conversation? And you have a shared experience, is more likely to maintain this relationship and build an event. “

And if you think that these executives are looking for wild and crazy time, because what happens here stays here, think again. Skybridge made fun of the participants.

One night company hire Maroon 5 to perform a private concert to launch an initiative called philanthropic nonprofit foundation to Aspire.

Another night, was not in the pool for “under the stars at the party San Gennaro “tasting Italian food chefs offer Bellagio.

Oviedo, said the salt a great success and would recommend to go to bat for the industry conference in Las Vegas.

And if the former mayor and his chorus can also convince a bank to meet this case, the effort worth it

Michael McDonald is a city becomes more and more curious

Michael McDonald is a city becomes more and more curious

By Jon Ralston

(contact)

class=”bypubdate”> Friday, the fourth of May 2012 | 02:00

No money. He has no experience. All Michael McDonald is one of the sweetest deals of the evolutionary history of the local authorities.

When you win, no-risk contract with Las Vegas, perhaps foreshadowing “We love corporate welfare” of the wood this weekend at the state convention of the Republican Party chairman (and former councilors from Las Vegas) McDonald signed.

I know what you think: is the city actually sign a contract? Who knew that the formal Roundheels say?

However, despite having no experience in the development of extensive experience in the juice, McDonald scored a deal that includes $ 4 million in funds from the City only Bob Coffin opposition. But he had to sign a paper saying that when the contract was executed with the city for the country, had reached nearly $ 140,000.

I was curious where McDonald could get to a difficult brief, which appeared after less than two years before the bankruptcy, his house was saved only tha nks to the generosity of the Walters developer / player Billy, who bought all of McDonald’s house in a short sale and exregidors grateful stay. But where to get this many McDonald, said that the contract was paid “to the execution of leases of land in the city …”

It is not. McDonald did not provide verification when he came to the City Council this week to sign documents. I guess his eyes and head are fine with Goodman II Council.

Unfortunately, some employees may be considered annoying new partner must follow the agreement. “So now, if not paid, the city attorney will review the situation,” said city spokesman said Wednesday afternoon.

A few hours after it went public this situation, at 5:43 pm on Wednesday, I saw the bill), McDonald came to the office of economic development and left a check for $ 141,692.81 . Paid in full.

But not McDonald.

This is where the story gets interesting: McDonald, when he made his co urt before his Council, presented the man defeated in the race for council for 17 years as his “assistant” – or more no less than Frank Hawkins, who had success with affordable housing projects in Las Vegas and is clearly led by McDonald for credibility. That is, he has built something. McDonald, not both

Hawkins told the council that he was just a “consultant” and can invest in the development stages in the future.

In fact, the contract is signed twice in two McDonald LLC, a call-Vegas1 Decatur (city) Ltd and others were asked to fight in Ireland (as the developer is a fan of Notre Dame).

According to the publication, provided that no other investors in McDonald LLC. Only him.

The two organizations were formed in February, according to Secretary of State. However, no McDonald will deliver the check to the city late at night.

Check out the National Construction Providers Inc, located in Reno. Yes, not in Las Vegas and Atlanta, or even anywhere near South Bend. Reno.

Why? Again, the site offers an emergency response at hand. The company president Luther Mack, a well known businessman, northern Nevada, and its director, Frank Hawkins.

You know, the “advisor” who was in charge of the hearing, McDonald, who is now in charge of the money to ensure their good treatment becomes sour. I think we all have to thank to all Reno to Las Vegas with economic development. Very generous of our northern brothers, no?

Apparently, there is nothing illegal in this transaction, and the only real thorn McDonald would have paid in full when the contract was executed, or that it agreed to pay the money, not a “consultant”. But if you believe there are some people healthy and sober on Stewart Avenue in those days, must be wondering why the Council came out of his way to lavish $ 4 million to the recently bankrupt man who has never built anything in his life and is funded by the Reno-based work that his “advisor” directs.

We like to call: This is the draft Hawkins – presented to the Council, and he was, and while federal aid coming to the city, the money behind it, too

remains unclear. If you really need two McDonald LLC, and if there are other investors in these companies, why should Hawkins? Why not a city signed an agreement with Hawkins in his place?

I’m still trying to figure out exactly what McDonald’s has earned $ 4 million of taxpayers money in Las Vegas.