Richard Disney

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I appeared on the KUNR Nevada Newsline radio show on June 27th, 2008. At times the debate gets somewhat contentious between myself and former Nevada Assemblywoman Vivian Freeman. Contentious means that it is interesting.

Not only do we discuss the Special Session of the Nevada Legislature but by listening to this broadcast you can hear a distinct comparison between an individualist philosophy of self-reliance and a philosophy of reliance on government.

From the KUNR website:

RENO, NV (2008-06-27) On this edition of Nevada Newsline, Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons has called a special legislative session to address a 250 million dollar shortfall in the state budget.

Just ahead, host Brian Bahouth takes your calls for a discussion about the special session that is just getting underway in Carson City. Our guests are former Nevada lawmaker, Democrat Vivian Freeman and one-time Assembly Candidate, local businessman and political blogger, Republican Richard Disney.

Also this hour, some Nevada Republicans will be holding another state convention in Reno this weekend, they say, to conclude unfinished business from the first state convention that ended in mayhem back in April. The state Republican party does not sanction this weekend’s gathering, but organizers say delegates chosen this weekend will be going to the national convention in September. We’ll be taking your calls for a conversation with long time Republican leader Mike Weber. Enjoy the show.

kunr NewsRoom

Tags: kunr, richard disney, vivian freeman, nevada legislature, special session, brian bahouth, republican, democrat, nevada republicans, convention,

Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons has been bludgeoned with multiple accusations by his opponents in politics and in the press even at the national level. After just participating in a conference call with Governor Gibbons, I am convinced of his commitment to uphold his pledge not to raise taxes on the people of Nevada. It is the no tax commitment that put Jim Gibbons in office and it is refreshing to see a politician stick to his guns on such a key issue. Governor Gibbons signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). I asked Gibbons if putting his commitment not to allow the raising of taxes in writing has helped stem the tide of ravenous legislative tax raisers and other big critics of his stand. The Governor’s reply was that signing the Tax Pledge does not mean much unless the person signing it holds a commitment to the principals The Pledge represents. Governor Gibbons mentioned that many politicians run to sign the Tax Pledge during election campaigns but then claim not to understand what they were signing as they propose or vote for legislation to raise taxes. Governor Gibbons assured me and the others on the conference call that to him the Tax Payer Protection Pledge is not just a piece of paper but actually reflects his core principals. Governor Gibbons said, “There is no need to raise taxes when state revenues have increased by about 15%.” Bravo Governor Gibbons!

I have thought for some time that since Governor Gibbons is taking so much flak from “Tax and Spend Republicans” and the media that he must be doing something right. If the main stream media loves a politician, the tax payers better watch out!

The Nevada Legislature has about a week left of the regular session remaining and it looks like Governor Gibbons has won a stunning victory. It was announced yesterday that the legislature has put together a compromise budget that does not raise taxes. Now if only the compromise will hold until the Legislature goes home. Will Rogers was quoted as saying, “The only time a man’s life, liberty and property are safe is when Congress is NOT in session.” There is no better illustration of those words than the events of this legislative session. The pervasive “nanny state” tone of most of the proposed bills this session does not bode well for Nevada being able to keep its reputation as the “last free state.”

Despite an increase in collected state revenues of about 15%, the clamor to raise taxes again against the wishes of the voters has been deafening at times. The biggest and many times, the only, resistance to increased taxes this session has been the threat of a gubernatorial veto. When the Legislature goes home in the next week or so, we can all breath easier, at least until the next session starts in January 2009!

Hat Tip: American Thinker

The amazing thing about the last few weeks in the mainstream media is the juxtaposition of the Don Imus episode and the mass murder of 32 students at Virginia Tech. Soon after Don Imus was fired for comments deemed offensive that were similar to comments Imus had made for decades, NBC broadcast the disgusting and plainly offensive ramblings of the insane mass murderer before he went on his rampage. When one thinks of the two events above and how the media covered them, one can’t help but think that any so called standards held by main stream media (MSM) are ridiculous.

I have been questioned by members of the media about blogging and how bloggers can be taken seriously as a source of news when there is little or no fact checking or sourcing in the blogosphere. When observing the level of yellow journalism to which the mainstream print, radio and television media have sunk, it seems that the MSM is the pot and the blogosphere is the kettle.

How much fact checking was involved when Dan Rather of CBS News broadcast a manufactured scandal about the President of the United States with fake documents? Main stream news coverage is no longer covered as news but as sensationalism. Journalists no longer record events but attempt to “make a difference.” The MSM loses credibility each time Greta Van Susteren or Nancy Grace is seen on television. Every news source tries to present itself like a version of “Inside Addition” which talks about rumors as facts.

At a young age I was taught, “don’t believe everything you read.” Unfortunately, it seems that now people believe (to take a line from an old U2 song) that fact is fiction and TV reality. With the massive failure of our present education system to teach kids how to think for themselves, generations of people are being led like lemmings toward the cliff of ignorance and apathy. The ability to use logic and reason to differentiate between what is true and untrue has been systematically winnowed out of the public education process in favor of the idea that there is no right and no wrong. Making a decision is now popularly considered simplistic, while indecisive shades of grey in thinking are considered intelligent. This is dangerous ground for any society to occupy.

Two decades ago a friend of mine said something that has proven more prophetic than I realized at the time. My friend said that in the future, things that are considered moral will become immoral and things that are considered normal will become abnormal. I blew the comment off at the time, but now I see repugnant deviant behavior rewarded with fame and fortune. I now see people who speak their mind in a reasonable fashion denigrated as if offending someone by what they say is criminal behavior.

I am now giving more credence to my friend’s old observation each day.

Richard Disney is scheduled to appear on Nevada Newsmakers hosted by Sam Shad as part of the Pundit Panel this Wednesday, March 21st, 2007.

Tune in to see the discussion about the latest Nevada controversy!

In the ongoing correspondence between Nevada State Senator Dennis Nolan, and myself (which even spurred some debate on Nevada Newsmakers) he is beginning to concede some of the points made earlier. Here is his latest response:

Mr. Disney,

I concede that bloggers do have an ever increasing impact on grass roots campaigns. I also acknowledge that with a coordinated efforts between the electeds, the party and republican bloggers we “could” have a much more effective impact in our republican gains. What I said to the press was, again… “”I don’t think any
legislator is too worried about what cyberspace bloggers are doing.” There was no personal affront to you or any other blogger. It simply, like it or not was a statement of fact. Why should we, particularly the republicans, be “worried” about what you, “the conservative bloggers”, are doing? Hopefully we are all working towards the same goal. Which would include working together and not cannibalizing one another. ( a habit we republicans have perfected in this state and which the democrats have turned into a spectator sport!).

I also did not at any time say or write: ” that cyberspace bloggers are irrelevant” OR It is naive at best to say that “bloggers (the good, the bad and the whacko’s) have no impact.” as you imply. What I said again,was; I don’t think any legislator is too worried about what cyberspace bloggers are doing.”

What I really think needs to happen we (electeds) need to get together with you (bloggers) in an organized way to understand better what you are doing and develop a strategy to work together better instead of wasting time “cannibalizing” each other. Fell free to call me if you would like to meet me here in Carson.

Dennis Nolan, Senator

dnolan@sen.state.nv.us
Carson City office: 775-684-1421
Las Vegas office: 702-838-3838

Thank you Sam Shad the host of Nevada Newsmakers for inviting me to be on the pundit panel and having a discussion about blogging and its impact.

Sam Shad is a leader in broadcasting technology. He is one of the first television broadcasters to podcast his show and make his show available for streaming or download on his website.