Citizens of Pahrump will be treated to a free showing of Michael Moore’s new documentary Capitalism: A Love Story.

Capitalism: A Love Story is a 2009 American documentary film directed, written by and starring Michael Moore. The film centers on the financial crisis of 2007–2010 and the recovery stimulus, while putting forward an indictment of the current economic order in the United States and capitalism in general.

Topics covered include Wall Street‘s “casino mentality”, for-profit prisons, Goldman Sachs‘ influence in Washington, DC, the poverty-level wages of many airline pilots, the large wave of home foreclosures, and the consequences of “runaway greed.”

The film also features a religious component where Moore examines whether or not capitalism is a sin and if Jesus would be a capitalist.

When and where is it showing for free in Pahrump?

The film runs for 127 minutes. I’ve seen it twice. I can tell you that if you are into politics at all you will find the film enlightening and it will hold your undivided attention. Be sure to go to the bathroom before the film starts.

A tip of my hat to Val Von Holt and Margery Kay Hanson for putting all this together.

Related posts:

1. Capitalism A Love Story
2. Capitalism A Love Story
3. Capitalism and Greed

Dr. Jack Schofield announced his candidacy for election to the House of Representatives for Nevada’s Congressional District #2 on Veteran’s Day.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Schofield last summer here in Pahrump. I was impressed and want to introduce him to the voters of Nye County. He is unique.

He is a former Nevada State Assemblyman and State Senator. Born in 1923. In 1941 he was the Golden Gloves Welterweight Champion. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of Utah in 1949, a Master’s degree from University of Nevada Reno in 1967, and a doctorate in Educational Administration and Higher Education from University of Nevada Las Vegas in 1995.

He is a veteran of World War II and a member of the famous Flying Tigers.

During World War II, Jack served as a B-25H Mitchell bomber pilot for the United States Army Air Force. Lieutenant Schofield was a member of the 22nd Bomb Squadron, 341st Bomb Group, 14th Air Force based at Yangkai, China. As part of the 14th Air Force Flying Tigers, Lieutenant Schofield and his crew flew combat for allied troops fighting in China. The Flying Tigers were renowned for their flights and bombing runs through enemy fire, over the Himalayan Mountains to deliver supplies and support the ground troops in the China-Burma-India campaign.

He is experienced.

He served as a Nevada State Assemblyman from 1970-1970, and as a Nevada State Senator from 1974-1978 where he fought for the rights of Nevada’s working people. Jack served as an instructor and administrator in the Nevada public school system for forty-four years from 1953-1997 and currently presides on the Nevada Board of Regents where he has held a seat since 2002. He remains active in the Civil Air Patrol as a lieutenant colonel and serves as the Government Affairs Advisory for the Nevada Wing. He is an entrepreneur and real estate developer. He currently sits on the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

He is a devoted husband and family man.

Jack and his wife, Alene Earl, recently celebrated their sixty-seventh wedding anniversary. They are the proud parents of six children, they have thirty-two grandchildren, and forty-eight great grandchildren. He has maintained a lifelong interest in weight lifting, nutrition, boxing, and still enjoys golf and tennis. He is honored to attend graduation ceremonies at the Jack Lund Schofield Middle School in Las Vegas. At his request, the middle school is proud to have the Flying Tiger as its mascot.

Jack is seeking the Democratic nomination in Nevada’s 2nd district. He is running to restore Nevada’s economy, protect America’s military veterans, and guarantee every Nevadan’s right to a proper education.

It is obvious he has devoted his life to public service. I can remember World War II and the history making flights of the Flying Tigers over the Himalayan Mountains.

Being a beneficiary of the GI bill I share Dr. Schofield’s support and advocacy for educational opportunities.

I will endeavor to follow Dr. Schofield’s campaign on the blog I write. Those of you who do not yet know of him can learn all about him on his campaign website at http://jack2010.com/. When you get to his campaign site be sure to read the “15 American Rights” on his home page. Those are core fundamental rights which I endorse as well.

When his campaign comes to Nye County I recommend you try to attend and personally meet Dr. Schofield yourself. I think you will find him, as I did, friendly, articulate, gracious and capable.

Related posts:

1. Jack Schofield–Democratic candidate for Congressional District #2
2. Meet Jack Schofield Democratic Candidate for Congress Nevada District 2
3. Schofield urges Senator Reid to include public option in health care

Dan Schinhofen

Received a phone call from my friend Dan Schinhofen this morning. Dan is a conservative and writes a weekly column in the Pahrump Mirror. He espouses the conservatives view of politics.

Jack Wood

I am a progressive Democrat. I also write a weekly column in the Pahrump Mirror. I espouse the progressive view of politics.

Dan and I can take different views and argue about them without either of us having a handgun strapped to our waists or an AR-15 slung over our shoulders.

Dan phoned me this morning to inform me that since no one else in Pahrump has done so, he has arranged with the Pahrump Nugget to hold a Pahrump Town Hall Meeting on the timely question of Healthcare Reform, here in Pahrump, Nye County, Nevada.

Nye County, for those of you who don’t live in the county or the state of Nevada, is a bright red county, as opposed to blue. The Republican Party owns it, runs it, and holds the political power.

It is as good a place as any for our own Town Hall Meeting. I tip my hat to Dan for getting it set up. The Democrats sure didn’t.

Here are the details:

When: Sunday, August 30, 2009 from 3:00 – 5 p.m.

Where: Pahrump Nugget, intersection of Highways 160 and 372

Moderators: Dan Schinhofen and Jack Wood

Master of Ceremonies: Yet to be determined

Everyone is invited to attend and participate. Dan has undertaken to invite Senators Harry Reid, John Ensign, Congresswomen Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus and Congressman Dean Heller.

The event will be televised on Pahrump local TV channel 30.

Related posts:

1. Prosecute Town Hall Meeting attendees that speak words tending to cause a breach of the peace
2. Pahrump Town Board Meeting
3. President Obama’s Listening Tour in Pahrump

Show your support for a Clean Energy Plan

Let our elected officials know we need green jobs.

Host: Nevada State Democratic Party

Type: Meetings – Informational Meeting

Date: Monday, August 10, 2009

Time: 8:30am – 10:00am

Location: Steps of the Cox Pavilion of the UNLV campus

Street: UNLV campus at Tropicana and Swenson

City/Town: Las Vegas, NV

View Map

Email: kirsten@nvgreenvote.org

Description

Friends,

Last year, Americans voted overwhelmingly for change, including an energy policy for the 21st Century.

Members of Congress are working to jumpstart our economy and create new, green jobs in Nevada by passing a historic Clean Energy Plan. Unfortunately, big oil and gas companies are using scare tactics to stall this work and are organizing a protest Monday against any sensible reform to our nation’s outdated energy policy.

PLEASE JOIN US — Monday, August 10, at 8:30 a.m. on the steps of the Cox Pavilion of the UNLV campus — to let our elected officials know we need green jobs and a Clean Energy Plan now! It’s important that we show our support for a Clean Energy Plan.

Join other Nevadans to send a public “thank you” to Sen. Harry Reid for the work he is doing to support a Clean Energy Plan in Congress and call on other senators to vote in favor of jobs that can’t be exported overseas. Sen. Reid recognizes that we must harness Nevada’s vast solar, wind and geothermal energy potential to stabilize our energy costs and create much-needed jobs!

Free parking is available in the Cox Pavilion parking lot on the UNLV campus at Swenson and Tropicana. For more information, please go to www.rebuildnevada.org. To RSVP, please email kirsten@nvgreenvote.org.

Related posts:

1. National Clean Energy Summit 2.0
2. National Clean Energy Summit
3. Pickens Plan: Dependence on foreign oil is a national security issue

The GOP is not letting any grass grow under it’s feet. It is busily identifying freshman and sophomore members of Congress it will target and seek to oust from their elected office. [Blue Jersey]

One of those targeted by the GOP is Representative Dina Titus who represents Nevada’s Congressional District #3. Titus isn’t alone, there are 70 on the targeted list. Republicans are working together in their grassroots organizations. The following statement from the GOP says:

Hi friends, Below you will find a list of 70 districts that the NRCC is targeting this cycle. As Chairman Sessions stated earlier this week at a pen and pad briefing, “There are people proactively coming to us. We are doing far less recruiting and more catching.” With that said we have the opportunity to focus on many more districts and some unusual districts that haven’t been targeted in a long time. We are very excited about our prospects in 2010 and look forward to having your support! If you have questions about a particular district please shoot me a note.

Here in Nye County, Nevada in Congressional District #2. The only grassroots endeavor I am aware of that is working to unseat Republican incumbent Dean Heller (ProjectVoteSmart) is the national Organizing for America organization. I’ve heard of no such local grassroot effort being mounted by the Nye County Democratic Party.

Cindy Trigg, a Democrat, in Northern Nevada had announced she was a candidate for District #2, but dropped out about a month later.

Paul Reeves, of Pahrump, announced he is a Democratic candidate for District #2 last Monday, August 3 at an event sponsored by the Pahrump Chapter of Democracy for America.

Jack Schofield, of Las Vegas, has indicated he is also a Democratic candidate for District #2, and is expected to publicly announce his candidacy soon.

So far as I know both Reeves and Schofield are running on their own without encouragement or assistance of the Nevada State Democratic Party or the Nye County or Clark County Democratic Parties. Nor have I heard of any recruitment efforts by the state or local Democratic organizations to find a competent, viable and electable candidate to run against Dean Heller.

Heller, being the incumbent, has the full GOP organization behind him. Makes it very lonely and difficult for a Democratic Candidate.

Related posts:

1. Dina Titus Shining in Congress
2. Dina Titus Birthday BBQ
3. Where are Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus?

An open message to Paul Reeves and Jack Schofield.

I just ran across this Group on Facebook. The group wants to find a Democratic Candidate to run against Dean Heller in District #02. I thought perhaps you both would be interested.

They write:

We need a good, urban Democrat from CD-2 to run against Dean Heller in 2010 and here is why.
Jill Derby was the closest candidate to come to a victory in 2006. In 2000, when Tierney Cahill ran against Jim Gibbons, she received 1700 more votes than Jill Derby did when the percentage of voters per party were approximately the same! We need a good candidate like with the political skill and connection to Nevada like Jill with the story and Reno-Tahoe metro area residence like Tierney.
CD-02 has always been represented by Republicans from the Reno-Tahoe metro (Reno, Sparks, Carson City). Dean Heller is from Carson City, Jim Gibbons from Reno and Barbara Vucanovich from Reno. We need a different strategy if we want to stay competitive. We need an urban Democrat to run for CD-02.
Jill Derby has set the foundation for a good race to be had in 2010 but we need to take another look at the rural strategy.
Prior to Jill Derby running, the last time there was a viable candidate was 1992 with Reno Mayor Pete Sferrazza (41%) running against Barbara Vucanovich (52%).
Jill Derby shows no sign of entering the 2010 race. Cindy Trigg is out. Who is going to step into the ring from the Reno-Tahoe metropolitan area?

Perhaps both of you might like to let them know of your existence.

Related posts:

1. Jack Schofield–Democratic candidate for Congressional District #2
2. Interview of Mr. Paul Reeves – Candidate for Congress, Nevada District 2
3. Cindy Trigg opens campaign for Nevada District #2

Mr. Paul Reeves

Interview of Paul Reeves

Related posts:

1. Paul Reeves for Congress
2. Paul Reeves for Congress site is now up
3. Paul Reeves for Congress

Here is the post on Red State, a conservative Republican blog:

Head’s up: there is a rumor circulating in the House of Representatives that enough Blue Dogs have caved on health care for Nancy Pelosi to get the bill to the floor this week. The memo to Republicans assuring them there’d be no vote could have been a ruse to turn down constituent heat enough.

Democrats are growing fearful that August recess will turn the Blue Dogs cold and want something out by Friday.

It appears they may have the votes to do that.

CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN RIGHT NOW.

Go here and get the number. Call now.

OK, you progressives out there. You want healthcare? Then get off your buns and battle with the opposition. If you want it you have to fight for it.

Related posts:

1. Republicans fight healthcare reform
2. Republicans Seek Failure of Healthcare Reform
3. Conservative activists fight healthcare

Paul Reeves for Congress – Nevada Congressional District 2

Related posts:

1. Paul Reeves for Congress site is now up
2. Interview of Mr. Paul Reeves – Candidate for Congress, Nevada District 2
3. Paul Reeves for Congress

Having just posted the House Committee’s analysis of HR 3200 I went to Huffington Post to see what they are saying about it.

Here are some excerpts:

HR 3200, the House version of health care reform. The Senate’s H.E.L.P.’s subcommittee finished marking up its version of a health reform bill too. Only the Senate’s Finance Committee is not finished with its work, since its draft of reform legislation has yet to be introduced. Regardless, Obama wants bills to the floors of each chamber for a vote by the August recess. It looks like he will get his way with HR 3200; probably not with the Senate’s product.

Here is what the American Medical Association had to say:

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the American medical Association, I am writing to express our appreciation and support for H.R. 3200, the ‘America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009′. This legislation includes a broad range of provisions that are key to effective, comprehensive health system reform. We urge members of the House Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means Committees to favorably report H.R. 3200 for consideration by the full House.”

The largest grassroots effort in the country representing 30 million Americans, Healthcare For America Now, has come out to strongly support HR 3200 as well.

This comes on top of the pharmaceutical industry ponying up $80B to shore up the “donut hole” in Medicare’s prescription drug program (in return for being left alone in negotiating drug prices) and the nation’s hospitals willing to take about $155B less in government payments over the next decade in return for having all citizens insured.

But we’re not out of the woods yet. To all this consider that ads against health care reform are really getting nasty. But there is some consolation for the nastiness. HuffPo says “But the nastier the attacks against health care reform become, the more worried opponents become that finally our country will get sorely needed reforms.”

It is recommended we go take a look at the House Ways and Means Committee’s website for what Huffington Post says “This is the House Ways and Means Committee site where all sorts of materials and details of HR 3200 await the reader.”

Now, if the Senate would finally wake up and get with it. Still a long way to go and much opposition from the Republican Leadership lies ahead.

Related posts:

1. Analysis of HR 3200 America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
2. GOP fights ABC News
3. Health Care Week of Action