Business Politics – 2007 March

For all intents and purposes, any hope for avoiding war with Iran just went out the window. The provision forcing Bush to seek congressional approval has been struck from the latest supplemental funding bill. The only hurdle remaining for US wimps and warmongers is to strike from the bill the provision of a timetable for withdrawal.

Let’s focus on the idiocy dressed up as intelligent assertion with regards to the striking of the “Make Bush get authorization” provision.

Republicans will continue to stand united in this debate, and will oppose efforts by Democrats to undermine the ability of General Petraeus and our troops to achieve victory in the Global War on Terror.

That quote is from GOP Leader John Boener. Again, we hear a great deal about “winning” the GWOT, but no one seems to be able to articulate what the indications are (or will be) that will let us know that this “victory” is at hand. As much as Boener’s statement is cringe-worthy in its ignorance, there is every bit as much (if not more) of the same from our “congressional leaders” (two words that have had no reason to rest alongside each other in the same sentence for quite some time).

And the Nevada reps are showin’ out.

Harry Reid pretended to take a stand (again) by making the same flavor statement he usually does, filled with words about how we’re less safe since the war started, the president needs to change course, and the Senate has to make him. **yawn**

Shelley Berkly, D-NV, in referring to the stricken provision stated, “It would take away perhaps the most important negotiating tool that the U.S. has when it comes to Iran.”

So, according to Berkley, the crucial tool for the US (“US” in this context being the Zionists and Neocons that inhabit nearly every nook and cranny in the higher levels of our government) in bringing the smart-mouthed Iran to heel is to continue letting the President and his pals be complete loose cannons with the ability to unleash “shock and awe” on Iran whenever the mood strikes. Getting any approval from Congress for such folly would require stuff like “proof” in the face of the CIA’s own assessment as well as reports worldwide stating clearly that Iran is, at minimum, 5 years away from even one nuclear device, and this assumes no development or funding problems. Well, they are having funding issues, which should logically extend the forecast of their attaining nuclear arms, but no one seems to want to bring that up unless it’s in a vacuum. Even if it does come down to the presentation of “proof”, the administration has this well in hand as they are busily rehearsing their new Curveball-esque defector (kind of like the Iranian diplomats we recently kidnapped are “defectors”) as we speak, so it looks like things are still on track for reducing Iran to rubble in the upcoming weeks or months. It’s not like Congress critters will have the courage to stand up and call bullshit in any meaningful way, demonstrated by the fact that not only did they assist in our going blindly into Iraq, but also by the fact that we are still there.

But what we will do is help out Libya (apparently our new BFF) in their quest for nuclear technology. Didn’t Reagan refer to Kaddafi as a “mad dog”, and weren’t they one of the early terrorist incarnations with whom we would never negotiate? Well, yes, they were, but not any more now that Kaddafi has repented of his ways and has pledged to do US bidding from here on out, further illustrating American love of repentance (real or feigned) and capitulation.

Dan Boren, D-OK, said he will oppose any legislation that sets any sort of timetable for leaving, proving to all that he has no idea what the word “support” actually means. After all, a great many troops are already on their fourth and fifth compulsory tours in a combat zone, which must mean that they enjoy being in Iraq fighting for their lives in a war with no benefit for anyone other than those currently in power alongside their no-bid corporate pals, right? (Speaking of no-bid contracts, Haliburton is moving to Dubai! Nothing to see here, move along, it’s just business.) When the troops get back, they get to deal with the VA (if they’re not in a bodybag), something I’m sure each and every one of their broken bodies and minds are looking forward to immensely. You know, because the VA has always made sure that the military is well taken care of.

Every day brings us more blatant hypocrisy, lies, and utter emptiness which is embodied by bland and empty talking point statements from politicians whose heads are every bit as hollow as their integrity.

I just couldn’t be more tired of it.

Posted by Human Head at 1:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reported in several sources, including the Las Vegas Review Journal, according to his attorney, Robert Rose, former strip club entrepreneur Michael Galardi was apparently “shocked and stunned” Monday when U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks gave him a 30-month sentence even though Galardi spent four years cooperating with investigators and prosecutors.

Judge Hicks also imposed a $100,000 fine, the most allowed under the law, and ordered Galardi to pay Las Vegas and Clark County $200,000 each in restitution. Galardi also must start serving his sentence by June 22.

Judge Hicks said Galardi was the leader of a scheme to bribe Clark County commissioners for votes that benefited his multimillion-dollar strip club empire, stating, “This is one of the most reprehensible crimes of public corruption that has ever been prosecuted in the state of Nevada,” None of it would have happened … but for Mr. Galardi paying the money.”

Once again a judge in Nevada has shown no understanding of the facts around him–none of this would have happened if the county commissioners hadn’t been so eager to take the money. If one of them had simply gone to authorities at once about a proposed bribe, it would have been a little scandal, barely a blip on the Las Vegas corruption scene. And if this is one of the biggest crimes of corruption prosecuted in the state of Nevada, one can only wonder about the ones that got away.

Posted by Zounds Off at 11:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reported on IBLS INTERNET LAW – NEWS PORTAL, the plaintiff, Frank Snowney, a California resident, reserved a room by telephone from his California residence. He was told that the room would cost $ 50 per night plus the room tax. However, at the time of payment of the bill, he paid a $ 3 energy surcharge.

Subsequently, the plaintiff filed class action against defendants in Superior Court of Los Angeles County alleging that defendants charged him and other guests more than the advertised or quoted price. He alleged causes of action for: (1) fraudulent and deceptive business practices in violation of Business and Professions Code; (2) breach of contract; (3) unjust enrichment; and (4) violations of Business and Professions Code section 17500 et seq.
Defendants filed a motion to quash the summons for lack of personal jurisdiction, arguing that they were incorporated and maintained their principal place of business in Nevada.

The Superior Court of Los Angeles County granted the defendants” motion, holding that the defendants did not have sufficient contacts with the State of California to warrant the exercise of personal jurisdiction. The Court of Appeal, Second District, Division Three, reversed this finding, and stated that the defendants had sufficient contacts with California to justify the exercise of specific jurisdiction. The California Supreme Court affirmed the Appeals Court ruling and concluded that the defendants’ Website and other promotional activities conducted in California established sufficient contacts with the State necessary to warrant the exercise of jurisdiction.

Plaintiff submitted evidence that the defendants: (1) advertised extensively to California residents through billboards in California, newspapers, and radio and television stations; (2) maintained an interactive Web site that accepted reservations from California residents; (3) provided driving directions to their hotels from California; (4) and touted the proximity of their hotels to California; and (5) accepted reservations from California residents through their Internet Web site and a toll-free phone number listed on the site and in their advertisements.

Examining the defendants’ Internet contacts with California residents, the California Supreme Court noted that the defendants’ Web site, which quoted room rates to visitors and permitted visitors to make reservations at their hotels, was interactive and, at a minimum, fell within the aegis of the Zippo sliding scale. (Zippo Mfg. Co. v. Zippo Dot Com, Inc. (W.D.Pa. 1997) 952 F. Supp. 1119)

So, I wonder if he will get his three dollars back. It looks like businesses who advertise on the Internet are liable to be subject to court jurisdiction in any state where their advertisements reach…I wonder what the international ramifications might be. Maybe get sued in China, Zimbabwe….Who knows?

Posted by Zounds Off at 4:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oil prices dropped below $59 a barrel Monday on forecasts of warmer weather in the United States and the belief that OPEC will keep production quotas stable at its meeting later this week.

The retail price of self-serve regular gas rose to $2.55 cents per gallon, according to the latest Lundberg Survey released Sunday.

My prediction–a no-brainer, a virtual slam dunk–is that oil companies will boast of record profits again, shareholders will be happy, and those silly Democrats, who last year complained about price gouging when they didn’t control Congress, will either not notice this year or make a few token remarks.

My other “high risk” prediction is that the stock markets will continue to be fragile and volitile partially from all those people who were watching real estate informercials the last four years and played with flipping property until that crashed and now want to win easy stock market money–the new infomercial craze and probably the same ones who brought us the real estate schemes last year. Gee, didn’t things like this happen as recently as the late 1990’s with tech stocks or did someone forget. By the way I wonder who really is making the money, and how cheaply can I produce an infomercial?

Posted by Zounds Off at 4:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Steve Miller, in his article, writes how on January 17, the Las Vegas City Council extended the temporary liquor license of Crazy Horse Too operator Mike Signorelli for another 90 days. Signorelli, who claims to be a bonafide buyer for the club, is scheduled to face the Council again on April 18 to ask for a permanent license, or face closure.

Signorelli admitted that he’s not paying Crazy Horse owner and convicted felon Rick Rizzolo rent, and that he may not be able to close the purported $45 million dollar purchase for several years. He blamed his lack of cash on the high cost of illegally paying off cab drivers to bring patrons to his business.

During the January Council hearing, Signorelli’s attorney, Jay Brown, who is intimately connected with Mayor Oscar Goodman and Senator Harry Reid, admitted that the topless bar is paying cab drivers to deliver customers.

Councilman Steve Ross remarked that Signorelli is “running this business outside the law” based on his admission, while Mayor Pro Tem Gary Reese emphasized that a liquor license is a privilege that must be exercised in the moral best interest of the community.

Councilman Steve Wolfson informed Signorelli that he would not tolerate any infractions of the law and ordered him to stop paying cabbies, and Signorelli and his attorney, Brown, agreed to abide by the order.

Business at the Crazy Horse immediately decreased, probably because cab drivers diverted customers to bars that paid them a bounty.

Miller reports that Signorelli is again paying for customers delivered to Crazy Horse Too, and his current pay off is $70.

But wait…here is an excerpt from an article, Cameras helping fight crime, taxi officials say,
from about 20 months ago.

A taxi driver is assaulted by a late night reveler while his companions look on from the back seat. A transient takes off in a cab left running outside a convenience store. Another man argues with a cabby over an unpaid fare and chokes the driver before fleeing. Yet another steals a taxi while the driver delivers dinner to his wife, then proceeds to rack up charges on the driver’s credit cards.

All of these suspects were caught in the act in recent weeks by cameras mounted in taxis, according to the Nevada Taxicab Authority. Photos and video identifications led to the arrest of two of the suspects, while the remaining two fled to California. One was arrested on other charges, and the other still is wanted.

“The cameras are definitely working,” said Rob Stewart, a spokesman with the Taxicab Authority. “It’s all about case solvability.”

Meanwhile, the Taxicab Authority, the taxi drivers’ union and cab company owners continue to argue about proposed rules governing just how far companies can go to monitor what happens in taxis.

Really. Is that because while cameras are capturing crimes against cab drivers, those same camers might be capturing cabbies taking illegal payoffs for diverting customers to certain clubs? While the Las Vegas City Council orders Signorelli to stop paying, is it just more Las Vegas business as usual that others continue to do the same? I wonder just who has access to these videos and whether Metro’s Intelligence division or corruption unit should consider viewing videos, either by polite request or subpoena. If cabbies are taking illegal payoffs, it is easy to see why the taxi drivers’ union might be concerned. It appears the cameras might be working–just not only on the crimes they were intended to capture.

Posted by Zounds Off at 3:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Right now the media is fueling a minor frenzy over a usually ignored political reality and the Democrats are making the most of it, claiming to be absolutely shocked at the White House based firing of eight U.S. Attorneys. “I think we need a change in the top at the Justice Department,” said Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, a member of the Democratic leadership, in response to the firings and about whom Dob Dole once said that the most dangerous place in Washington, D.C. is between Schumer and a television camera.

What seems to have escaped the notice of most of the country and all of the Democrats is that one of President Bill Clinton’s very first official acts upon taking office in 1993 was to fire every United States attorney then serving — except Michael Chertoff, now Homeland Security secretary but then U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, because New Jersey Democrat, Sen. Bill Bradley, specifically requested his retention.

Personally, I am so tired of hearing from our Congressmen and women that exhausted refrain that the other party is playing partisan politics. It usually means that the other side simply beat them to it. I for one want to hear another refrain for anyone who has six years in Congress …”It’s Time You Learned About Goodbye.” Just start voting them out before they have enough time to wear the hypocracy and corruption well.

Posted by Zounds Off at 6:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pakistan’s President Musharraf has obviously been paying attention to the US Global War of on Terror, specifically our recent spate of US attorney firings, and has placed under house arrest one of Pakistan’s preeminent Supreme Court judges.

After spending many years fighting the Global War of on Terror alone, it’s good to see our allies in this fight stepping up to the plate. There are reports of outrage in Pakistan, with lawyers organizing national protests because of the Musharraf action.

Obviously, these people have no idea what the Global War of on Terror is really about. That judge was going around demanding investigations into the “disappearances” of several terror suspects. No wonder Musharraf took away his mobile and passport. Like Premier Bush, Musharraf understands that only terrorists care about what happens to other terrorists. It’s science. This judge was calling for the waste of time, effort, consideration, and a whole host of other resources trying to provide aid and comfort, while Musharraf (acting as the Pakistani decider-in-chief) seems to be the only one who understands that these resources are better used in the rounding up of more terrorists, starting with this judge (but excluding the Taliban or Osama who are infinitely crafty, intelligent, some say invisible, and likely lurking outside your door at this very moment waiting to suicide bomb you).

But who cares about disappearances? Not patriots. Things get lost all the time. Why, just last week we lost a few videotapes (which a few people seem to be trying to make a big deal about). People need to remember that the world is full of nasty terrorists, which means some things are going to “get lost” or “disappear”. Why is this a big deal? Disappearances mean more free space to house more terrorists and their sympathizers. Geez, you’d think after so many years fighting the Global War of on Terror more people would have realized this by now.

The question is, with national protests being scheduled, how will Musharraf handle an entire population of terrorist sympathizers? Here exists another follow-up opportunity to learn from The Greatest Leader. Go with your gut and talk to Jesus (who seems a lot more racist and homophobic these days than he used to be-a touch of the arthritis perhaps?). George does this on a daily basis and one only has to look at his track record in order to find the strength to do what needs to be done, which means rounding up terrorists en masse and bombing Iran. In regards to the upcoming mass terrorist demonstrations, Musharraf would do well to mimic Bush by build up extra martial law authority as quickly and secretively as possible, which the Pakistani ISI can help Musharraf foment and enforce.

Many would be terrorists might take issue with the fact that Pakistan’s ISI has a long history of terror support, as does the US (MEK , most recently). These comforters would probably say it is the height of hypocrisy, but that only means that they haven’t learned the lessons of the Global War of on Terror.

Fire must be fought with fire, and the Global War of on Terror Batman and Robin are on the front lines taking it right to “our enemies”. They are reluctant dictators who’s only wish is to make everyone realize that if they would just help rid the world of terrorists instead of standing around bitching about “rights”, this war could progress toward a conclusion and people could have their respective Constitutions back in as little as thirty to forty years.

Posted by Human Head at 9:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

According to a Police Executive Research Forum report on violent crime statistics, fwith over 50 major police departments reporting, most have seen a substantial increase in violent crime over the past two years including increases
of more than 30 percent in robberies in Arlington, Tex.; Baltimore County, Md.; Cleveland; Detroit; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Las Vegas; Memphis; Milwaukee; Minneapolis; Montgomery County, Md.; Orlando, Fla.; Prince William County, Va.; Rochester, N.Y.; San Francisco; San Jose, Calif.; and Virginia Beach, Va.; and increases of more than 30 percent in aggravated assaults with firearms in Boston; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Las Vegas; Orlando; Rochester, N.Y.; Sacramento, Calif.; St. Louis; Seattle; and other jurisdictions.

The numbers for Las Vegas show the homicide rate jumped 15.91 percent from 2004 to 2006; robbery from 3729 in 2004 to 5381 in 2006 or 44.30 percent increase; aggravated assault from 5318 to 6681 for a 25.63 percent rise; and agravated assault with a firearm rose 30.69 percent.

Probably the reason a paunchy Bill Young, former Sheriff Jerry Keller’s protege, chose to ride into the sunset rather than run again for Sheriff…that and he put in his five years so his sheriff’s pension would vest, and there is a lot more money in the private sector for ex-politicos even if there is less fame.

Possible GOP presidential candidate Rudolph Giullani’s popularity across the nation has some New Yorkers baffled as they remember him as an antagonistic and mean-spirited mayor, while admitting that he got many things done in New York in areas of violent crime, welfare reform, etc. See New York Wonders.

Maybe those complaining wanted a return to the days of corrupt Mayor David Dinkens’ administration.

Posted by Zounds Off at 4:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In a field of candidates that predominantly talk themselves up and attacking their opponents in various childish ways, this is the only one I’ve witnessed not taking part, choosing instead to speak like a real person rather than issue a constant stream of the latest empty, self-aggrandizing, and just plain stupid political rhetoric.

And the damndest thing is, his voting record over a long period bears out his words. He is not someone who promises things and then takes them “off the table”. His words are clear, concise, and do not patronize. He’s the only person who is actually looking out for American interests while the others simply tell you they are. You may not think he voted perfectly on everything, but the one thing you are guaranteed is a clear explanation of why he voted the way he did.

If nothing else, gambling folks (and especially the online poker community) need only take note of one thing. Ron Paul voted “NO” on the restriction of online gambling. He is aware that you are an adult, and as such, should be able to make your own decisions, good or bad.

This is the man who will actually begin removing the chains saddling us of late.

Reprinted from LewRockwell.com–

Statement on the Iraq War Resolution
Before the U.S. House of Representatives March 7, 2007

Watch Ron Paul’s speech on video.

The scandal at Walter Reed is not an isolated incident. It is directly related to our foreign policy of interventionism.

There is a pressing need to reassess our now widely accepted role as the world’s lone superpower. If we don’t, we are destined to reduce our nation to something far less powerful.

It has always been politically popular for politicians to promise they will keep us out of foreign wars, especially before World War I. That hasn’t changed, even though many in Washington today don’t understand it.

Likewise it has been popular to advocate ending prolonged and painful conflicts like the wars in Korea and Vietnam, and now Iraq.

In 2000, it was quite popular to condemn nation building and reject the policy of policing the world, in the wake of our involvement in Kosovo and Somalia. We were promised a more humble foreign policy.

Nobody wins elections by promising to take us to war. But once elected, many politicians greatly exaggerate the threat posed by a potential enemy– and the people too often carelessly accept the dubious reasons given to justify wars. Opposition arises only when the true costs are felt here at home.

A foreign policy of interventionism costs so much money that we’re forced to close military bases in the U.S., even as we’re building them overseas. Interventionism is never good fiscal policy.

Interventionism symbolizes an attitude of looking outward, toward empire, while diminishing the importance of maintaining a constitutional republic.

We close bases here at home – some want to close Walter Reed – while building bases in Arab and Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia. We worry about foreign borders while ignoring our own. We build permanent outposts in Muslim holy lands, occupy territory, and prop up puppet governments. This motivates suicide terrorism against us.

Our policies naturally lead to resentment, which in turn leads to prolonged wars and increased casualties. We spend billions in Iraq, while bases like Walter Reed fall into disrepair. This undermines our ability to care for the thousands of wounded soldiers we should have anticipated, despite the rosy predictions that we would be greeted as liberators in Iraq.

Now comes the outrage.

Now Congress holds hearings.

Now comes the wringing of hands. Yes, better late than never.

Clean it up, paint the walls, make Walter Reed look neat and tidy! But this won’t solve our problems. We must someday look critically at the shortcomings of our foreign policy, a policy that needlessly and foolishly intervenes in places where we have no business being.

Voters spoke very clearly in November: they want the war to end. Yet Congress has taken no steps to defund or end a war it never should have condoned in the first place.

On the contrary, Congress plans to spend another $100 billion or more in an upcoming Iraq funding bill – more even than the administration has requested. The 2007 military budget, $700 billion, apparently is not enough. And it’s all done under the slogan of “supporting the troops,” even as our policy guarantees more Americans will die and Walter Reed will continue to receive casualties.

Every problem Congress and the administration create requires more money to fix. The mantra remains the same: spend more money we don’t have, borrow from the Chinese, or just print it.

This policy of interventionism is folly, and it cannot continue forever. It will end, either because we wake up or because we go broke.

Interventionism always leads to unanticipated consequences and blowback, like:

* A weakened, demoralized military;
* Exploding deficits;
* Billions of dollars wasted;
* Increased inflation;
* Less economic growth;
* An unstable currency;
* Painful stock market corrections;
* Political demagoguery;
* Lingering anger at home; and
* Confusion about who is to blame.

These elements combine to create an environment that inevitably undermines personal liberty. Virtually all American wars have led to diminished civil liberties at home.

Most of our mistakes can be laid at the doorstep of our failure to follow the Constitution.

That Constitution, if we so desire, can provide needed guidance and a roadmap to restore our liberties and change our foreign policy. This is critical if we truly seek peace and prosperity.

Posted by Human Head at 2:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Tuesday a Nevada Assembly committee considered a bill that would require new lobbyists and newly elected and appointed officials to take a course on ethics.

And the already serving officials and “old” lobbyists should be exempt from the class? Have they proven to be more ethical than the not yet tempted officials and lobbyists?

Posted by Zounds Off at 10:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It has been nearly two years since the international law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP opened an office in Las Vegas incorporating Quirk & Tratos, Nevada’s largest intellectual property and entertainment law firm and giving Greenberg Traurig offices in 24 locations in the United States and five overseas.

“We have had the privilege for more than 20 years of representing world-class clients in this remarkably dynamic and entrepreneurial environment. As our clients continue to grow globally, we recognized our ability to provide quality international support was vital to their ongoing success. Greenberg Traurig’s unparalleled depth and breadth matches that of our clients…,” said Mark Tratos, co-founder of Quirk & Tratos and Managing Shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Las Vegas office from the 2005 announcement.

“Our strategy is to create the best and highest quality delivery system for legal services in the United States and in key foreign locations by establishing offices in high growth states as well as key financial and governmental cities. This move is an important element in our expansion strategy, ” said Cesar L. Alvarez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Greenberg Traurig.

Greenberg Traurig has had the kind of profit growth that oil companies have come to expect. Revenues are up by more than 880 percent from 1996, and in 2006 they topped the billion-dollar mark. Profits per partner have soared from $480,000 to $1.2 million, and it expects revenue to rise another 18-20 percent in 2007.

GT has a national client list that includes Lowe’s Companies, Inc., The Related Companies, LP, and Alcoa Inc. Its real estate, entertainment, and litigation practices are soaring while it has played a role in high-profile transactions, such as representing MetLife, Inc., in its $5.4 billion sale of New York’s Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, the biggest deal ever for a single piece of American property.

But Greenberg’s story is far more complicated than one of exuberant expansion. This is the firm that hired Jack Abramoff, the Washington, D.C., lobbyist who engineered a scheme to defraud Native American tribes out of millions and whose shady business deals have landed him in a Maryland federal prison. Abramhoff also paid money to Nevada Senator Harry Reid but surely the Senator wouldn’t allow a few thousand to influence his protection of Nevada casinos.

Abramoff’s isn’t the only recent imbroglio starring Greenberg lawyers. There’s the Philadelphia of counsel convicted in a City Hall corruption case; the just-departed Chicago partner bogged down in another federal corruption probe; the Miami corporate partner banned from working with federally insured banks for allegedly helping to cover up a client’s losses; the New York rainmaker who took kickbacks for steering clients to tax shelter operators; and the Philadelphia partner escorted from the office by federal marshals after being convicted of lying to conceal his theft of client funds in a real estate deal.

Apparently, Greenberg has paid millions-perhaps tens of millions-in fines and settlements to clean up the messes. But the firm says the scandals are isolated incidents by a few of approximately 1,680 lawyers. “We’ve had a couple of bad ones, no question,” says Cesar Alvarez, the firm’s CEO. “But every single major [professional] firm has items that are embarrassing to them.”

I wonder if during the past two years if Mark Tratos has wondered about the decision to become a GT satellite. Probably not. It was probably “they showed me the money,” which brought Greenberg Traurig to Las Vegas no matter how noble everyone wanted to sound. They are in business to make money. “The Greenberg Traurig mantra is . . . get out of the way and let people grow their practice with our support,” according to Michael Lehr, managing partner of the Philadelphia office. However, with big money seems to come big seduction, especially as Greenberg Traurig appears like any corporation trying to please the shareholders (itself) and not get caught…a Faustian bargain made with a real life Wolfram & Hart.

Posted by Zounds Off at 6:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

According to a Las Vegas Review Journal story Gibbon’s office reported it has filed with the Nevada Secretary of State office a list of the contributions to and expenditures from a legal defense fund formed to deal with three scandals prior to the November election, including a pesky case of alleged bribery by software entrepeneur Trepp, currently being investigated by the FBI. Of the $204,000 taken in, $193,000 has already been spent, for the most part on the Gibbon’s/Mazzeo alleged parking garage encounter.

The 2006 donors include a number of doctors and medical companies, including Las Vegas-based Nevada Heart and Vascular Center, giving $10,000; its managing partner, William Resh, who gave $5,000; and three of its physicians, Drs. Robert Berkley, Cres Miranda Jr. and Nicholas Tselikis, each giving $5,000.

Nevada Heart and Vascular Center was the beneficiary of a $ five million a year cardiology contract with mismanaged University Medical Center, formerly run by Lacy Thomas, who manged to let a $ one million a year contract with Heart Center of Nevada to expire. Recently stepped down Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates voted for the new contract without disclosing that her company, Built By Yvonne, was bidding at the same time to build a custom home for Dr. Raj Chanderraj, one of Nevada Heart and Vascular’s partners. Her vote was one of the four required to award the contract.

Atkinson Gates claims she did not know Chanderraj was a partner with Nevada Heart and Vascular – even though she met to discuss the contract with him and Dr. William Resh, managing partner of the group. She says she does not recall the meeting. She has also stated that at least she is not going to jail in reference to former Clark County Commissioners, Dario Herrara, Lance Malone, and others caught in G-Sting. There’s still time, Yvonne.

Three entities managed by developer Harvey Whittemore each gave $10,000 to the Gibbon’s fund for a total of $30,000. Shawn Lampman and his company, CAK LLP, each gave $10,000 for a total of $20,000.

Other notables on the donor list include Jay H. Brown, attorney and former lobbyist who was involved in land deals with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. and is now a player in the Crazy Horse Too deal, and the Rogich Communications Group, the public relations company belonging to Republican consultant Sig Rogich, a political and public relations consultant who advised ex-President Reagan and the first President Bush, and who needed his own image polished in April 2000 after the Las Vegas City Council ignored the advice of its own lawyer and voted to approve a controversial liquor permit for a property Rogich owned. With the liquor license, Rogich’s property was worth $3.5 million because it could be used as a topless bar; without the license it was worth perhaps $2 million. Rogich just happened to be a consultant to several of the council members who tossed the topless-bar premium his way, and more recently was with Governor Gibbons on the night he went into the parking garage with ‘that woman.”

Always the same games, always the same players, always the same results.

Posted by Zounds Off at 9:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As with almost everything which involves government officials–at all levels–our legal system, our education system, people as a whole, I am always hopeful that something sensible will surface but I am still waiting. I have to admit that in the Scooter Libby matter, I have basically ignored the news stories–as most people probably have–but there is one issue that did catch my attention; federal prosecutors indicted and gained a conviction which could get Scooter 25 years in jail–and with a name like Scooter it better be country club jail–while during the four year investigation and prosecution for leaking the name of Valerie Plame as a CIA operative, to which all accounts seemed to have been less than a secret, I have not noticed prosecutors pursuing the man who actually was the source for the news stories, Richard Armitage. So, Scooter, who did not leak but apparently wasn’t honest about what he did know and when, should get jail time and Richard who was the source of the leak gets…? So much for Truth, Justice, and the American Way, Mr. Kent.

For a bunch of stories on Libby’s conviction go to Full Coverage: CIA Leak Case

Posted by Zounds Off at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A group of U.S. senators has introduced legislation that aims to improve how U.S. workers and industries compete against the rest of the world by pumping more money into math and science programs.

The bill, introduced Monday by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), combines the efforts of several Senate committees working to address U.S. competitiveness. The bill would double the $5.6 billion annual funding for the National Science Foundation, a major backer of scientific research in the U.S., and would create a grant program to help students struggling with mathematics.

Co-sponsors include Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. See “U.S. ‘competitiveness’ bill…”

Posted by Zounds Off at 8:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In news that is of local as well as national significance, many are already aware of the recent firings of eight US Attorneys, one of them being Nevada’s Daniel Bogden, an Independent. The Justice Department cited “poor performance evaluations” in the mass purge denying that there were any politics figuring into the decision.

Really? Did Daniel Bogden (and the others) actually suck that bad?

It would seem, contrary to the infallible words of Justice, that 7 of those 8 had good to excellent performance reviews and 6 out of the 8 were currently presiding over public corruption cases largely involving Republican lawmakers (link).

Kevin Ryan out of San Fran seems to be the only one coming close to sucking anywhere near the appropriate level for firing (doping clinics, indeed). There is also the very salient point that a firing of US attorney’s in such a manner is highly unprecedented (pdf is here), with only 3 leaving under similar circumstances in the last 25 years. Can they even get away with this? Of course!

From the 2006 USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization–

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the Attorney General may appoint a
United States attorney for the district in which the office of United States
attorney is vacant.

(b) The Attorney General shall not appoint as United States attorney a person to
whose appointment by the President to that office the Senate refused to give
advice and consent.

(c) A person appointed as United States attorney under this section may serve
until the qualification of a United States Attorney for such district appointed by
the President under section 541 of this title.

Boy, I’m gettin’ that super secure feeling way down in my taint. Thanks Patriot Act! Thanks, Congress, for not reading it but passing it anyway–bang up job!

We then have the words of Mr. Bogden himself in a LasVegas Sun telephone interview where he was told following his dismissal that “my performance, and that of my office, was not the reason.”

So, just to be straight, we have Justice telling Congress and the rest of the world that it was job performance and not politics, while out of the other side of their mouth they tell the newly ousted attorney that it isn’t his performance and that the decision came from the highest levels. And then, what do you know, the Director of the Executive Office for US Attorney’s who carried out the action, Mike Battle, resigned (nothing fishy there whatsoever). Who is the Justice Department lying to and why is no one screaming for Gonzo to get his ass down there to answer for it?

Oh that’s right. We have a congress largely comprised of sand-ridden vaginas who don’t have the courage to stand up to themselves in the mirror, let alone stand up to the fascist neocon madmen running the place.

So if it’s not performance, and it’s not politics, what could it possibly be for? Seems an awful lot like we’re being set up for something does it not? In that vein, I’ll simply leave off with two things. The first are statements I’ve seen flying around many, many articles in recent days. These remarks aren’t prominent, mind you, but they have been printed widely.

From The Journal News–

Robert P. George of Princeton University, an increasingly influential thinker among conservative Catholics and Republican politicians, said that Giuliani’s best chance of winning the nomination would be if there is another terrorist attack in the United States.

Again, the words differ slightly from article to article, but the sentiment has been liberally scattered throughout the media apparatus. Lastly, I give you Zbigniew Brzezinski, Carter’s former Security Advisor, generally bad dude in his own right, but certainly the polar opposite of stupid whom you generally do not find speaking from his rear, testifying in front of the Senate foreign relations committee.

If the United States continues to be bogged down in a protracted bloody involvement in Iraq, the final destination on this downhill track is likely to be a head-on conflict with Iran and with much of the world of Islam at large. A plausible scenario for a military collision with Iran involves Iraqi failure to meet the benchmarks; followed by accusations of Iranian responsibility for the failure; then by some provocation in Iraq or a terrorist act in the U.S. blamed on Iran; culminating in a “defensive” U.S. military action against Iran that plunges a lonely America into a spreading and deepening quagmire eventually ranging across Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Remember, docile citizen. It’s not political, it just happens to be very, very convenient and will come in handy during the next “domestic crisis”, to be sure.

Posted by Human Head at 7:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reported in several new outlets, including International Herald Tribune, Golden Gaming Corp , owner of the Sahara Hotel and Casino, former hangout of the famous 1960s “Rat Pack” and the setting of the original “Ocean’s Eleven” film, have agreed to sell the aging property to an investor group, including Los Angeles-based SBE Entertainment Group LLC and San Mateo, California-based Stockbridge Real Estate Funds.

The hotel was opened in 1952 by Milton Prell just outside of the City of Las Vegas, and was the sixth resort to open on the Strip.

In late 1954, the hotel hired jazz musician Louis Prima to be their late night lounge act, one of the earliest ones on the Las Vegas Strip. Along with his then wife Keely Smith and sax player Sam Butera, they created one of the hottest latenight attractions on the Strip.

In 1961, the hotel was purchased by Del Webb, who added a 24-story tower in 1963.

The resort was the site of the annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for many years, mostly in the 1970s, and for a brief time in the 1990s.

Bill Bennett bought the property in 1995 and owned the hotel until his death on December 22, 2002. The property had since been owned by the Bill Bennett Family Trust.

Posted by Zounds Off at 6:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Raw Story and Prison Planet (by way of AFP) have new updates on the case of Lebanese-born German Khalid el-Masri who was a victim of the CIA’s “extraordinary rendition” program, where the judge has thrown out the case at the behest of his Federal masters citing “national security.”

Logic is bent and think is doubled as, to make his case, the defendant is required to provide proof that he was detained, who detained him, and how they are personally liable.

“Such a showing could be made only with evidence that exposes how the CIA organizes, staffs and supervises its most sensitive intelligence operations.

The defendants could not properly defend themselves without using privileged evidence,” the decision said.

So, it’s common knowledge that the CIA did (and more than likely, is still doing) “extraordinary renditions” which are heinous and illegal in every sense of the word, but somehow if the people that approved and actively took part are exposed for their wrongdoing then this somehow harms our “national security.” Right, if by “national security” you mean coming a few steps closer to blowing wide open the criminality masquerading as “policy” at the highest levels of our government which is dutifully implemented by sociopathic toadies in the field.

All people (still mostly brown people who look like they might be Muslim, dissenters, protesters, and other assorted peace activist hippy-kind) are now guilty until proven innocent (Prove to me you’re not working with our enemies? That still blows my mind). If you’re an establishment good ole boy, either personally or organizationally, then the American principle of innocent until proven guilty reigns supreme and the ability of the accuser to prove is blatantly withheld.

The plain English version of this decision is that it’s okay for criminals to run amok if they work for an intelligence agency or hold high government position, nothing to see here, move along, don’t worry we’ll do it to everyone but you. Why worry, you’re not a terrorist, right?

Welcome to your future, America, where justice increasingly takes a backseat to the all encompassing and ever hazy “security”. The Long Knives are getting closer.

Posted by Human Head at 6:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BusinessWeek.com posted an article I enjoyed giving some of the history and flavor of Macau, shich is now surpassing Las Vegas in number of dollars wagered, and is the new playground for the continuing Aldelson/Wynn feuds. Highlights include:

Macau is a peninsula and two islands and was ruled by Portugal for 442 years before it was returned to China as a semiautonomous territory in 1999, making it the last European settlement in Asia.

Street signs are in Portuguese and Chinese, while the signature snack is a creamy egg tart on puff pastry. There are colonial-style mansions, churches, and government buildings painted in pastel yellow, pink and peach.

But the beautiful buildings are outnumbered by concrete apartment blocks that often have rusty anti-theft bars and cages over the windows and balconies; in the old casino district on the peninsula the streets are lined with small stores lit with bright fluorescent lights, while cashiers stare at customers from elevated booths made of bulletproof glass. Bleach-blonde Russian and mainland Chinese prostitutes hang out at outdoor cafes, cruise the dark, littered side streets, or linger in dark corners of closed storefronts.

Macau survived a violent transition in the 1990’s as Portugal left, leaving Chinese gangsters to battle for turf, and leading one security official famously proclaimed there was nothing to fear [for tourists] in Macau because the triad assassins were professional killers who didn’t miss their targets.

The violence mostly ended after 1999 when the Chinese People’s Liberation Army marched into Macau. But the biggest change came a day after the handover. The Chinese government announced it was ending the four-decade monopoly on gambling held by Hong Kong tycoon Stanley Ho.

The news created a huge stir in the global gambling world, and more than 20 bidders vied for the three concessions that were offered. One went to Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn and another went to a partnership between Hong Kong tycoon Lui Che Woo and the Sands’ head Sheldon Adelson, ranked No. 3 on Forbes’ list of the richest Americans, and who later split to develop their own projects. The third concession went to billionaire Ho, now ranked 84th on Forbes’ 100 richest people in the world.

And, despite predictions of a glut of rooms and gaming tables with growing competition from Singapore and other Asian cities, others making plans include James Packer, executive chairman of Australia’s biggest media and gambling company, Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd., and number 114 on Forbes’ richest in the world, while Richard Branson of Britain’s Virgin Group Ltd. has been talking about investing in a casino resort, also.

Posted by Zounds Off at 6:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Michigan Democratic leaders announced they’ll hold their presidential caucus no later than Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008, and may go earlier if other states abuse national party rules.

Former Sen. John Edwards’s (D-N.C.) strong support of prohibiting gambling on college sports is seen as snake eyes for his chances in the Nevada presidential caucus. The Hill
After all, I think we should allow gambling on T-ball games in Nevada so six year olds can learn the real meaning of why we play games. Note that “Mr. Cleanface,” I mean Senator Harry Reid, of course endorses betting on college sports for the revenue it brings the casinos–and the casinos have always bet on Harry and haven’t lost yet. Maybe Nevada needs more than a one dimensional economy and a one dimensional Senator.

Posted by Zounds Off at 5:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Perusing Google News this morning brought more blurbs about the “battle” over the latest funding request (or, if you like, demand) for the continuing occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Of course, this is not news to you. The reason I mention it is that while busy this morning attending to the humdrum maintenance activities of life I had some time to ponder these things a bit more than usual. The thing that made the thoughts of this morning different were, instead of thinking about the politics of it all, I found myself dwelling on the money.

Specifically, the word “billions.”

Again, not special, right? After all, we are beaten over the head so consistently with the word when hearing about government and big business/finance it has essentially lost all meaning. But sit back and consider it quietly for a moment–let it sink in a bit.

One billion. That’s 1,000 million.

Just think of what you might be able to accomplish, not just on a personal level, but beyond if you had just one of those millions. Half of one of those millions. Hell, 1/10 of one of those millions. Even with our ridiculously devalued dollar, just 10K out of one of those 1,000 millions would be a nice financial shot in the arm (or a downright windfall) for a good many people.

Just one of those billions could give 100,000 people 10K. I know whole families that are forced to scratch by on barely more than that over the course of an entire year, and that’s just speaking in the context of this country–it doesn’t even begin to take into account the masses of unbelievably poor throughout the world that make our poor look positively wealthy.

George and Co. want 100 of those ‘1,000 milllions’ to continue the prosecution of adventurous wars abroad based on outright lies — an “enterprise” that is accomplishing the polar opposite of the above, and that’s just the supplemental.

And the new congressional leadership (remember, these are the folks who were going to save us from King George and the Nasties) wrings their hands, crying empty platitudes about “harms way” or terror threats to the Homeland and Pals while they ostensibly try and summon the courage to stand up and do the bidding of the Americans that put them there. Americans who are themselves being weighted down by an accelerated tyranny also largely ignored and catered to by the same.

Those who would write off the above as overly simplistic and therefore invalid miss my point. I do not think that there are no real problems in the world or that the world is not a very large and complicated place. I am not foolish enough to think that, with a proverbial snap of the fingers, we can suddenly have a world where everyone is swathed in the finest silks, eats filet mignon for every meal, and never loses their erection.

It is meant to highlight a measure of the true gravity of surrounding events that we have been trained to think of insignificant because we are meant to ascribe to the notion that such things are commonplace, and should be allowed to continue as such.

Most of us like to wonder what we would do with cash should we ever be “lucky” enough to win the lottery or the Mega Millions Jackpot on the Wheel of Fortune slots (my personal guilty pleasure during Vegas vacations). Taking a bit of time pondering the depths of billions (and further, trillions) now has me thinking about what better things we might be wondering were lottery aspirations not an issue.

Posted by Human Head at 8:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I’ll confess that until recently I didn’t know very much of Gov. Jim Gibbons other than something overheard or read in passing having to do with “that waitress thing.”

Oh hell, now I have to go out and read some stuff.  At least I can’t say it wasn’t interesting reading .

In the interest of terrible punnery, I would be remiss if I didn’t add that following my brief review of the man, it was with some Treppid -ation that I found myself heading over read some more “official” words from the state website .

**cringe**

(I know that was terrible, I’ll try not to do it again)

Government sites of all sorts are nothing but good fun.  I always save those for last because for me it’s like watching soaps.  Never has so much money or effort been expended with such dismal results as a government press release in their attempts to make a pile of doo smell like FeBreze.

From the Press Release section–

“Gov. Gibbons announces sex offender registration and tracking program”

“These are three important steps toward improving the safety of Nevada communities by limiting the ability of a sex offender to strike again,”   said Governor Gibbons.  “As I promised Nevadans in my State of the State address, we are closing the gaps in our law.  No longer will released sex offenders be lost for days before they’re required to register.  Our law enforcement officers will be able to monitor offenders in real time and will be able to quickly track down sex offenders who are at high risk to re-offend.  Nevada families will have new assurance that we have a clearer picture of who and where these people are at all times.”

…sez the guy with a penchant for waitresses.  As a token of good faith towards the public (and in the interest of their safety, of course), perhaps someone needs to introduce legislation for GPS-politician tracking.  Given the increasingly brazen soul selling amongst their ranks, knowing the where and what about these folks “in real time” seems just as important as knowing the same about the sex offenders that supposedly so greatly concern them.

If you are at all like me, and by “like me” I mean “get suspicious when shady politicians begin pontificating about sex offenders” then perhaps I’ll see you back here again.

2007 looks like it’s gonna be fun.