Katie Duncan for mayor ?

The campaigning never ends in Nevada. A little more than a month after Harry Reid triumphantly won re-election, all the yard signs and billboards have come down, only to be replaced by by those running in the Spring 2011 municipal elections. Katherine "Katie" Duncan held a press conference today to announce her candidacy for mayor, and its to her benefit that no press showed up.

The Aruba Hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard is just south of Charleston and sandwiched between Downtown Las Vegas' ubiquitous wedding chapels and cheap motels. Pictures inside the lobby remind you of the boom period of Old Vegas, when the mob ruled, money and liquor flowed freely, girls were fast and loose and Negroes had to find somewhere other than the strip to spend the night.

The building itself was colder than the 30 degree weather and unforgivably brisk wind outside. The press conference was held in the hotel's nightclub that was so dark that yes, I'll admit it, I ran into a support beam. I don't think this is the impression Duncan would want to leave our political press corps with: less than a dozen supporters in a dark room, huddling together for body warmth.

Duncan is not the only candidate in the race. Commissioner Larry Brown and Councilman Steve Ross also want to replace our garish and termed out mayor, Oscar Goodman. Unfortunately for Ross, some voters think of him as just another "union hack". He's claimed his union ties and city hall job don't pose a conflict of interest, but even bleeding-heart union-loving Liberals like me think his situation is shady.

Larry Brown has problems of his own. As commissioner he recently voted "NO" to approve changes to the Coroner's Inquest process. Changes that would give victim's families more rights and access during the inquest process and create the position of an ombudsperson. He voted no, even after telling Hispanic's In Politics meeting attendees he'd vote yes. I don't think a vote to protect police officers from the families of the victims they've killed will go over too well with Latino and Black voters.

Duncan would be the first first African American elected mayor of Las Vegas. Her name is synonymous with Ward 5 which covers most of the predominately Black and Latino historical West Las Vegas. She didn't mention her race, in her speech she stuck to palatable topics like homelessness, Veterans, neighborhood revitalization and "green projects" to create jobs.

Interestingly, she claims she wants to "continue the vision" of Mayor Goodman. The same mayor she's bumped heads with for wanting to build a wall through F and D Streets, essentially closing the the West Side off (Berlin style) from the rest of Las Vegas. And who could forget Mayor Goodman attacking President Obama going so far as to tell him he's not welcome in Las Vegas. While the "vision" may be about the revitalization of Downtown Las Vegas, part of the F and D Street project was part of Mayor Goodman's revitalization. But, Duncan's cloudy message and unspectacular press conference isn't the least of her worries: she's tapped Aloha Consulting to help her with her race.

Aloha Consulting is headed by Johnny Jackson, the blond haired, blue eyed former boxer who claims to be a native Hawaiian and representative of their government. Jackson says Duncan would be the 77th Aloha Consulting candidate to win. That is impressive for someone who says they've been in Las Vegas for only four years. However, his website only lists 23 candidates under "Nevada clients" and his list of "our candidates for the 2010 election" is different from the list of "Aloha Consulting candidates who won their races in 2010".

Jackson's biggest transgression: he is a birther.

In an email I've obtained Jackson claims President Obama wasn't born in Hawaii and his birth certificate is forged. Jackson's Positions on Issues PAC unsuccessfully tried to retire Senator Harry Reid. Members notoriously showed up to several Reid events in 2010 with his Aloha Consulting crew dressed in Sharron Angle t-shirts.

This is who Duncan thinks can help her win the Mayorship in an overwhelmingly Democratic city?


ETA: Thanks to Ms Duncan's correction below regarding Jan Jones. The mistake has been fixed. In response to Mr Jackson, it's not libel when you're repeating what someone says.

And I want to make it clear, I have nothing against Ms Duncan. I have admired her since I moved to Las Vegas in 2007 and I was excited to see she's be running for mayor. I was disappointed in her choice of campaign consultant and by how poorly put together her press conference was. She deserves better.

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Laura
laurakmmartin@gmail.com

Obama, Vick and journalists with nothing better to do

This morning Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein tweeted his disapproval of President Obama's phone call to the Philadelphia Eagle's owner. For background, check my post on This Week in Blackness.


It's hard to tell what Klein is upset about. His tweets and blog aren't too clear. Most of the anger directed at him was due to his garbled logic and lame defense. Klein seems to think that President Obama called the Eagle's owner to talk about Michael Vick, and the White House is lying when they say the president called to talk about the Eagle's move toward a clean energy stadium.

Candidate Obama promised innovation when it came to energy and the environment, but he's had a tough time building up Congressional support for his Cap and Trade energy proposal. President Obama has found an ally in Eagles owner Jeffery Lurie, and Lincoln Financial Field will be energy efficient by fall 2011; when Obama's re-election campaign comes to life. He'd be a fool not to reach out.

What evidence does Ezra have that he feels comfortable calling President Obama and the White House liars? It's a mystery he will never answer, but he managed to Google a few charts and is now thinking Obama should have fought to pass legislation to give felons a second chance.

Village Groupie (I can't remember who came up with that but *golf clap*) Ana Marie Cox weighed in on the faux controversy and provided an "anybody but Vick" argument. She claims that Vick isn't the best example to use for a rehabilitated criminal. Really? He's one of the most high profile dog fighters who has served his time and is successfully completing his process of rehabilitation. He's the perfect person to be made an example of.

Then Ana breaks off into a weird direction, claiming essentially that Black people love Michael Vick. Then gets a little wobbly, says Michael Vick's story means different things to different communities (translation: white people hate Vick, Black people love him. I hate when Obama reminds us that he's Black). Then she just gives up on the conversation.

Finally, Yunji de Nies of ABC News provides this banal report. She says the president "is a big believer in (Michael Vick's) comeback". She has no evidence that that claim is true. She reported President Obama has long been a supporter of giving felons (not just Michael Vick) second chances. Obama condemned the crimes Vick committed but praised the Eagles owner for allowing a felon to contribute to society again, despite his heinous crimes. It was an effort on her part to gin up controversy on an otherwise newsless holiday with the president in Hawaii.


ETA: How did I miss this dumbass tweet?



So now she's got a problem with people who don't have shelter dogs? Excuse Obama for seeking out a breed that won't cause his child to have an asthma attack. What is this bullshit? Is this real life? In the words of Obama "That's just how white folks will do ya"

The cultural arrogance is staggering.

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Laura
laurakmmartin@gmail.com

THIS WEEK ON THE SAUSAGE FACTORY

THIS WEEK ON THE SAUSAGE FACTORY! December 4, 2010
www.vegasallnetradio.com

This week we’re on twice in one day! We’re LIVE from 7am-10am and rebroadcast from 10am – 1pm. (Times are West Coast)

We would love to have your questions answered. If you see someone in the line-up that you would like to ask about something, drop us an email at derekisademocrat@gmail.com / chrisisademocrat@gmail.com / or Twitter to @LauraKmm


07:23am Sue Fulton of Knights Out will give us an update of the battle to repeal DADT

07:43 JD Smith gives us the view of DADT from the inside by a service member currently serving

08:12 Rob Smith is a great writer and Veteran who writes for The Huffington Post, After Elton amongst others and is working on a book about his time in the Armed Forces

08:27 Dave Schwartz is the go to guy when it comes to the potential for the legalization of Marijuana in Nevada

08:42 Ari Ezra Waldman is our “Legal Eagle” and he’ll be updating us on all of the latest LGBT related legal issues

09:00 Rock & Roll Marathon is coming to Vegas on Sunday and we’re leading TEAM BATTLE BORN! We’ll give you all the info about this annual charity event

09:14 Mallory Cyr will discuss her activism in matters of immigration reform and issues affecting college students, especially the DREAM ACT

09:28 Michael Flores of Progress Now Nevada will tell us what he’s doing to help people in need and talk about his work on the DREAM ACT

09:43 Steve Walker is a co-chair of the Organizing For America LGBT working group. Steve will be talking to us about the Obama administrations work on LGBT issues and what’s going on in DC these days.

We would love to have your questions answered. If you see someone in the line-up that you would like to ask about something, drop us an email at derekisademocrat@gmail.com / chrisisademocrat@gmail.com / or Twitter to @LauraKmm

SHOE ON THE OTHER FOOT

By Chris Miller


I’m white. Yep, I was born Caucasian. That is the way God made me. All of my youth spent lying in the sun cannot change my skin tone… it just fades back to white. It also doesn’t matter how many Black or Hispanic friends I have, I will never know what it was like to grow up or live today as a non-white citizen.

Airline flying in the United States, and around the world, is a privilege, not a right. After the attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001, the security process required for anyone to fly was forever changed. It has evolved over time as other breaches in security have occurred. Thankfully, nothing to the extent of that horrible September morning has been repeated.

Because of different events, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) last week answered the call for increased screening of passengers as they embark into the friendly skies. Problem is people, mostly Caucasian, are upset. Why are they upset, because they are now learning how it feels to be searched, patted down, or touched in places that another person should not touch someone unless they are partnered… all while they have done nothing wrong.

Ask any Black man, he will tell you that this procedure was either a normal part of his upbringing or he lived in fear of this happening just because he looked different or was in what someone else perceived to be the ‘wrong neighborhood’. Am I speaking ‘out of turn’? I challenge anyone to ask an ethnic male friend if this is true to see if I am right. I am!

Now you have leaders such as Congressman-Elect Alan West (R-Florida) talking about ‘Trend Analysis’ in determining who should be searched. As a man of African-American heritage, I challenge him to call it out for what it really is…’Racial Profiling’ Mr. West needs to take a step back and remember Timothy McVeigh and the “Shoe Bomber” were Caucasian.

If we, as Americans, do not want a repeat of that life-changing 9/11 event, we have to pay the price. If TSA caves to public pressure, removes some safeguards just because a ‘Professionally Trained Agent’ is trying to keep the skies friendly, and another catastrophic event occurs, who will be to blame? The President, TSA, or the people with the biggest voices who felt inconvenienced or violated.

Air flight is a privilege, not a right. The US Government, airline companies and TSA are charged with making it safe to fly.

If you don’t like it, take the train!!!

Open Letter to Sen. Harry Reid Regarding the Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

MEDIA CONTACT:
Laura Martin : 702 292 1279
laurakmmartin@gmail.com



The Honorable Harry Reid
U.S. Senate
522 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510


Dear Senator Reid,

A very narrow window exists during the post-election session of Congress in which swift and decisive leadership must be displayed in order to secure successful repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). With all of the hard work that you have done to get this repeal as far as it has progressed thus far, it would be simply unacceptable for Congress not to get a chance to repeal DADT before the 111th Congress concludes its term.

As Senate Majority Leader, you control whether, when, and how bills are brought before the full Senate chamber. As a strong and principled supporter of ending the discriminatory DADT policy, you have the power to see that DADT gets acted upon in the lame duck session. We, therefore, ask you, the Senate Majority Leader, to oppose any effort to strip language repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The current language in the Senate Armed Services Committee-approved version of the NDAA offers important and overdue protections for servicewomen and military dependents, as well as provides those service members who are lesbian, gay or bisexual the opportunity to serve their country with honesty and integrity. Time is of the essence with ensuring that DADT is not removed from NDAA. We have the votes to end DADT this year. Now we must see more strong leadership from you, Senator Reid.

We know that you are committed to ending the dangerous and discriminatory policy that is DADT. We know that you are one to keep your promises, and we fully expect NDAA to be brought back up before you recess for Thanksgiving. We know you will follow through on your commitment to our LGBTQ community and our military here in Nevada, and across the nation, by ensuring that the DADT repeal provision is not excluded when NDAA is brought forward for a vote.

Sincerely,

STATE SENATOR DAVID PARKS (D-NV)
ROBERTA LANGE CHAIRWOMAN CLARK COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
CANDICE NICHOLS DIRECTOR OF THE GAY & LESBIAN CENTER OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
EQUALITY NEVADA
GAY LESBIAN & STRAIGHT EDUCATION NETWORK OF LAS VEGAS
LAMBDA BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
LAS VEGAS EQUALITY
NEVADA STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
PARENTS & FRIENDS OF LESBIANS & GAYS OF NEVADA
PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE OF NEVADA
PROGRESS NOW NEVADA
SI SE PUEDE LATINO DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
STAND OUT FOR EQUALITY
STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF NORTHERN NEVADA

VETERAN & STUDENT ALLIES
Jonathan Abbinett
Ronald Ramsey
Conroe Brooks
Loretta Harper
Jennifer Webb
Christopher Mendez-Preciado
Marcos Penaloza
Adriana Felix
Robert Cavazos
James Lee
Edith Byrd

Diversity isn't "fair"

Chris Collins, executive director of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association (police union), last night said a coroner's inquest "jury" that is as diverse as the population of Clark County is not fair to law enforcement officers, suggesting that somehow diversity and fairness are mutually exclusive.

I attended the final meeting of the Coroner's Inquest Review Panel Monday night, where a panel brainstormed to come up with solutions to a process of investigating officer involved fatal shootings that is widely criticized by the public for being ineffective. I went partly to support friends on the panel but mostly to support a friend who has been a relentless advocate against the inquest process which sees officers walk free and the county using tax payer money to settle with victims.

From my seat in the Clark County Government Center commission chambers gallery I saw some news cameras and a few reporters scattered about. My hopes for good coverage disappeared when it was apparent that most of them weren't paying attention.

A cameraman sat in a chair and scrolled through his blackberry. A reporter who sat a few rows down from me was scrolling through his iPhone and giggling. Another reporter had her coat draped over her, slumped down in her seat and seemed to be dozing off (Ironically, during her evening news report, sleeping beauty said the meeting was "exhaustive").

So it's no surprise that there were no reports of Mr. Collin's offensive comments. There was also no report that the community members in the gallery erupted in applause after Mr. Collins was rebuked by Las Vegas NAACP representative Richard Boulware.

What was reported is interestingly the only bit of news Clark County tweeted: recently re-elected District Attorney David Rogers made a motion to remove his office from the entire coroner inquest process.

The purpose of the inquest is fact-finding in the occasion a police officer murders someone. The inquest brings out all facts and details leading to the murder for the public. A "jury" then decides if the use of force was justified, negligent or criminal. No punishments are made. Witnesses are not cross examined. Officers involved don't even have to participate. The last time an officer was found criminally negligent through this process was 1976.

Erick Scott was murdered leaving a Costco. Three Las Vegas police officers shot him in the chest and the leg. They then shot him five more times as he lay dying on the ground. He had a permit for the weapon he was carrying, but it was never removed from its holster.

Trevon Cole was murdered on his knees, in his bathroom, by Detective Bryan Yant (who has murdered a robbery suspect in 2001). Detective Yant claimed Mr Cole was dealing small amounts of marijuana to serviceman at the nearby Air Force base. But it turns out, Detective Yant had been targeting the wrong guy.

Erik and Trevon are just two of the six officer involved fatal shootings. Diversity isn't what we have to worry about when it comes to fairness. What isn't fair is for 36 years law enforcement officers in Clark County have gotten away with murder. In recent cases, these officers are cleared of all negligence despite mountains of evidence to the contrary.

Let's hope Mr. Collins can put aside his issues with "diversity", the Nevada press will wake up and the Coroner's Inquest Panel can come to a consensus on a solution that is not only fair, but just.




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Laura

President Obama and his kabillion dollars a day trip overseas

It's been a little over two years since Barack Obama was first elected president and the American people have been deluged with crazy rumors ever since. He's a Muslim. He was born in Kenya. He's a fascist. He wants to be Hitler 2.0. He hates white people (which really doesn't go with the whole Hitler accusation). He's the anti-Christ.

As the president embarks on his latest trip to play nice with India and visit his boyhood home in Indonesia, the Republicans are at it again; claiming the trip is costing the US tax payers $200 million per day. Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann seems to be "Idiot 0" in this latest whopper which was (surprisingly) quickly debunked by members of the White House Press corps.

Bad media reports are to blame for this rumor, and it's my wish that all rumors/lies can be debunked this quickly and cleanly. We all remember Senator John McCain lying to Jake Tapper on This Week about Phoenix being the kidnap capitol of the world. A claim that was not anywhere near true, but McCain was given a pass because he heard it from media reports--reports he was never asked to name.

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Laura