Governor Kenny C. Guinn 1936 – 2010 “A Great Man”
By Nathan Taylor | July 22, 2010
Governor Kenny C. Guinn
Today, Nevada and America lost “A Great Man” in Governor Kenny C. Guinn. The former Governor died today at his Las Vegas home, in what is being called an accident.
I just recently saw my friend and former Governor–we had coffee together, and as always he offered his advice to me on a variety of issues. It’s difficult for me to write about this because Kenny was such a dear and respected friend. Having been born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, I’ve known Kenny Guinn since I was a kid. It was only until my adult life when I got involved in Nevada Politics that I became close friends with Kenny.
I know that everyone has a Kenny Guinn story, and they are all light-hearted and reflect what a great person he was. In the days and weeks to come, you’ll hear from so many that will tell you Kenny Guinn was a down-to-earth, kind, sincere, and respectful man. Kenny Guinn loved his family and friends, and would always did whatever he could to help someone out. The Governor leaves behind his wife Dema, his two sons Jeff and Steve, and his many grandchildren. He also leaves a void for his many friends like myself who will miss his friendship and council.
I was sitting here thinking about which story I wanted to tell about Kenny, but I have so many–however, I was able to narrow it down to two that I think you will appreciate. The first is when after a many years I hadn’t seen Kenny Guinn; the year was 1996. At that time, I was a Board Member of Rebuilding Together (Formerly Christmas In April), a non-profit organization that helps low-income, elderly, and disabled persons rebuild their homes.
This year, we were renovating a home for a women in West Las Vegas. If one were to name the problems someone could possibly have their home, this women had them. Everything from appliances not working, electrical problems, water leaks, etc. When I was putting together my team of volunteers and started making phone calls to garner donations for the project, I added Kenny Guinn’s name to the list. I remember that phone call like it was yesterday, and remember his aide Judy picking up the phone. I asked Judy if I could speak with Kenny about a project I was working on–she informed me that he was unavailable and took the message. Hours later my phone rings, I answer and hear, “hello, this is Kenny Guinn returning your phone call”, I about jumped out of my chair. I said “hello Mr. Guinn, I am working on a volunteer project and wanted to know if you wouldn’t mind helping me”? After explaining the project to him Kenny said, “I’ll not only help you out with a contribution, but I’ll be there to help fix her house.”
As you can imagine, this meant a great deal to me, and to all the volunteers of the project. Indeed, like he always did Kenny was true to his word and showed up on Renovation Day! Kenny approached the driveway in jeans and a t-shirt with a tool-belt buckled around his waist. He said, “alright, I’m ready to get to work.” Kenny was there for a many hours that day and rewired all the electrical sockets in the entire house! Before leaving, Kenny shook all the hands of the volunteers and gave the women who owned the home a big hug–wishing her the best in her newly renovated home.
The real story of Kenny Guinn is that he was a giver–an unselfish man who did what he could for others. Those who knew Kenny could always count on him. There always stood a humbled man, who worked hard for what he had and cared so dearly about his family, his state, and his community.
Now the second story is one from 5 years ago, when I needed Kenny Guinn more than ever! At the time, Kenny was still Governor and I was the State Chairman of the Nevada Young Republicans. I was also an active member of the National Young Republican Federation. In 2003 Nevada won our bid to host the 2005 Young Republican National Convention. One of the deciding factors for the National Federation choosing Nevada as the host state was the strong support we had from our Governor; Kenny Guinn.
Naturally, hosting a National Convention for any organization is a daunting task. It was going to be especially difficult for Nevada due to our small membership. During this time, Nevada was one of the smaller federations in the nation with only about a couple hundred members state-wide. So, the support of our Governor and Republican Party Leadership was going to be crucial to our success.
Once Nevada received the nod to host the National Convention, I quickly called the Governor. I remember the excitement in my voice, “Governor, we got the convention!” Kenny’s response was, “good job Nathan”. I thanked the Governor, and reminded him that it was his involvement and support of our efforts that really put us over the top. It was then that I asked the Governor if he would be the Honorary Chairman of the 2005 Young Republican National Convention. Without hesitation the Governor said, “yes I will”. Throughout the next two years Governor Guinn made countless calls on our behalf, and made himself available whenever we needed him.
In 2005 Governor Guinn showed me what a true and amazing friend he really was. Without going into too much detail, there was a dust-up in the Young Republicans. I had been pulled into the mess and frankly the survival and success of the National Convention was put on the line. After a false media report about myself, in which the Governor’s name was mentioned–I heard from Kenny Guinn. After explaining the circumstances of the news report, instead of distancing himself from the controversy the Governor said to me, “Nathan, I’ll continue to support you and the Young Republicans in any way that I can”.
In ways that I can’t even describe, this touched my heart and was one of the best examples of what it meant to be have Kenny Guinn as your friend. Kenny’s continued involvement in the convention made it a true success. A couple fond memories of the convention was first the Welcome Reception that was hosted by the Governor. I remember he stayed for several hours and spoke to almost everyone there. Attendees kept coming up to me saying “you have the coolest Governor in the world”! I of course knew that already and thanked them for their comments.
Finally, I remember myself and a couple of our convention volunteers sharing some time with the Governor prior to his speech. We all had a beer and just talked about what was going on in our lives. Kenny was always easy to talk to and like I said before, folks just loved being around him.
My last conversation with Kenny Guinn is one I’ll never forget. I talked to him about my campaign for the State Assembly and asked him to explain some details to me regarding the Nevada State Budget. Those who worked with Kenny while he was Governor will tell you he was a Master when it came to crunching numbers and working through state finances. He explained to me the dynamics of the state budgeting process and gave me some great ideas on how we could cut the budget without raising taxes and hurting the less-fortunate.
What many including myself will miss most about Kenny Guinn is his smile and positive attitude. Kenny was such an optimist, and when confronted with an issue or a problem he was always quick to find a solution. Those who knew him have lost a good friend, a true leader, and what many will say of him “A True Statesman”.
May God Bless you Kenny C. Guinn, we’ll all miss you! May God Bless The Guinn Family. Thank you Kenny for being “A Great Man”!
Topics: Nevada | 2 Comments »
Truly a Very Busy Couple Weeks of 2010
By Nathan Taylor | July 18, 2010
I was giving a lot of thought this week about what I would write about–I was so conflicted and undecided about all that happened this week in the news I decided to touch on a variety of issues.
First, let me just copy my commentary posted at http://budurl.com/7wdn this is my business website, where I often post opinions of happenings in the business world. Below are my thoughts on the passing of the Financial Industry Overhaul Legislation passed by Congress:
Today the U.S. Congress passed the most sweeping Financial Overhaul Legislation since the Great Depression!
I believe that we are systematically seeing the destruction of capitalism and free-market in our country. I’ll leave the final decision of this legislation to those on Wall Street, Corporations, and Investors. However, I believe we’ll find this legislation will ultimately lead to more layoffs in the financial industry and less access to American Business for obtaining capital.
In the past 6 months, we have seen now two pieces of Federal Legislation that possess over 2,000 pages. Between the healthcare overhaul and now the new financial industry regulations, our government has never been bigger! If you’re a free market capitalist and you believe in making your own choices then this legislation should scare you!
Again, let me just say that I believe our government is getting too big! The Federal Government continues to inject itself into the business of the States!
There can be no better example than the current Illegal Immigration Legislation passed by the State of Arizona. Now, whether you agree or disagree with the legislation Arizona passed, the bottom-line is that Arizona has a right to pass its own laws. Congress and the White House getting involved in Arizona’s business is in my opinion a travesty, and another example of a Federal Government out of control.
I’m sure everyone heard about BP Oil plugging the well that’s been leaking in the Gulf Coast. This was great news for the folks living in the Gulf Region and I pray they have the best of fortunes with the clean-up efforts. The leak went on way too long and it is my hope that the truth will come out in regards to the incompetence we witnessed during this tragedy.
The longest serving United States Senator died; Robert Byrd. Byrd was known for his speeches on the Senate Floor, and as much as I disagreed with his politics, his patriotism will be missed. Those of us who watched him all these many years remember his holding a copy of the United States Constitution in his hand to make many of his points. So now we have the U.S. Senate having lost its Lion in Ted Kennedy and the self described “Hillbilly” in Robert Byrd.
The sports world, along with the famed New York Yankees lost their owner George Steinbrenner. Everyone knew George to be fiercely dedicated to his team and to the sport of baseball. While many times throughout his career he was controversial, one item of note following his passing was that the players always respected him and appreciated his commitment to them as well as the game itself.
Finally, I wanted to provide a link to a story written by Andrea Peyser of the New York Post: http://budurl.com/3m82 If you haven’t heard, Muslims have received a thumbs up to build a Mosque near Ground Zero in New York City. This has enraged neighbors in the area, as well as New Yorkers who feel this is a “…insult! It’s a stab in the eye of America”, says Pamela Geller.
My feelings have and always will be that the only thing that should be built on Ground Zero or near Ground Zero is a Memorial to those lost on 9-11 and new towers. Those towers should have been rebuilt years ago, but politics and greed have delayed construction. I know that we as Americans are better than this–we must demand more from the politicians and business community in New York City!
Topics: Human Interest | No Comments »
Young Americans and Entrepreneurship
By Nathan Taylor | July 12, 2010
I came across this story in Business Week and it made me think back to my younger days. It’s always been difficult for young Americans to start their own business, and for a variety of reasons. When I was in my late teens and early 20’s, I remember working for my cousin on his landscaping business. My Uncle bought the business for him and sent him out on the road to get new clients. Had my Uncle not invested the capital in starting the business, my cousin would never have been able to grow the business to what it is today.
A few years later, I decided to start my own Car Detailing business. It didn’t take much capital to start, and with the help of friends and family I had an instant clientele. Many entrepreneurs in American history have started with next to nothing. Some had the fortune of inheritance and others the connections to bring in investors.
However, if you read this story you’ll find that in today’s world it is much harder for young people to start their own businesses. With the typical income of someone under 35 in America being $11,800, you can see how massive the challenge is!
Click this link to read the Business Week Story: “Why So Few Young People Start Businesses”
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Happy 4th of July 2010!
By Nathan Taylor | July 4, 2010
I am wishing all of my friends and family a very happy and safe 4th of July 2010! As we celebrate Independence Day, I can’t help but think about what this holiday means to me.
More than anything, I’m so thankful to be an American. To live in a free land where people can vote, debate, and participate in our government. America is a place where dreams are made and people have the opportunity to be anything they want to be.
What makes all of this possible though is the great men and women of our Military. The sacrifices made by these brave souls is what allows us to have our freedoms. If it were not for our United States Military we would be unable to enjoy everything our country has to offer.
I constantly pray for the troops who are fighting over-seas to keep the terrorist out of our country. The battle they are fighting has been long and extremely deadly for our soldiers. We’ve lost almost 15,000 young Americans in the War On Terror, and another 13,500 have been badly injured. It’s hard to not have such gratitude and respect for a Military that works everyday to keep Americans safe!
I’m so proud to call myself an American and know that while we’re still a young nation, we have managed to accomplish so much in a short amount of time. As we approach another election cycle this coming November we have the opportunity to once again change the balance of power. The American people know now that more than ever we need smaller government and less regulations.
It is my hope that we do what we can as a nation to once again support small-business owners and provide opportunities for entrepreneurs. The constant intervention of increased government taxation and intervention in the private sector needs to stop. While we expect our government to provide basic service and needs to our people, we must demand more freedoms with respect to the free-market.
This 4th of July, lets be proud of who we are and what we’ll be as a country in the future. Our nation is an ever-changing society always looking to achieve more for ourselves. To remain a leader in the world our passion, our innovation, and our respect for others must be steadfast.
God Bless America!
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The Departure of General McChrystal
By Nathan Taylor | June 24, 2010
General McChrystal has become a hot topic over the past couple days, and with his departure comes the opinions of many–including mine.
Initially, when I heard about the prospect of President Obama firing General McChrystal I was outraged. I knew the General had made some disparaging remarks against the Presidents Administration, but I felt it was the Generals right to speak his mind.
Then I gave it some more thought and realized the consequences of a General not standing with his President and the lasting ramifications to our government. We must as a Nation, stand together and move in the same direction when we are at war. Clearly, General McChrystal violated the chain of command and put President Obama in a tough position.
The real debate here is whether or not the President should have fired McChrystal? After much thought, my opinion is that firing the General was NOT the right move. While I understand why the President did what he did; I offer an alternative.
My view is that the General should have been made to apologize to the President publicly. I believe that in that apology General McChrystal should have stated the importance of the United States Military Standing by their President during a time of war. The fact is that civilians ultimately control and run our Military. It is a long-standing tradition and deals with the balance of power.
I can appreciate the General offering his opinion to the media, but in doing so he really put the President in a bad position. Maybe all we can hope for now is that something is learned from this. What I hate the most is seeing an Honorable, Patriotic, and Brave American end a respectable career on this note.
Topics: Government | 1 Comment »
My Experience On The Campaign Trail
By Nathan Taylor | June 15, 2010
I thought many of you would enjoy my telling you about my experience this year running for the State Assembly. There are so many folks that just don’t quite know what it’s like to run for office–it’s a lot of hard work!
First, there is the decision to run for office in the first place, which wasn’t an easy decision. I remember like it was yesterday sitting at my campaign managers house talking about the prospect of me running. After much thought and discussion, we thought it best for me to start making phone calls to those in Nevada Politics that I’ve known for the past 15 years. We thought it was really important to discuss my becoming a candidate with some very well-respected and longtime friends.
I made those calls, and after a few coffee meetings and much prayer–I decided to enter the race. At that time, I was the first one to enter the race for Assembly District 13. However, we knew that with the district being an open-seat there would be plenty more candidates entering the race. Indeed, at the end of the day we had a field of 5 candidates.
One of the most difficult tasks was raising money for a campaign during these tough economic times. On top of that, with so many candidates in the race there were a great many that just didn’t want to contribute in such a crowded primary. We were able to raise over $11,000.00 and the majority of our money went to voter outreach efforts. In fact, out of the 5 candidates, we were number 2 in fundraising–something I am very proud of.
From day one of the campaign, my team decided that we would run an issues based campaign that focused on grassroots and voter contact. The idea was for me to knock on as many doors as possible, and allow voters to hear from me about what I would do for them in Carson City. This strategy proved very effective and was reflected in our garnering almost 20% of the vote on election day. The winner of our primary received 30% of the vote and only beat us by 1,226 votes in the largest Assembly District in the state! To say that I’m proud of our showing and the work we did would be an understatement.
I believe that one of the best decisions my campaign team and I made was to NOT run a negative campaign, but to focus on the issues that are so important to Nevadans. We did just that and all of our mail-pieces discussed my ideas for fixing our state budget, creating jobs, and improving our education system. I still believe that my campaign presented the best ideas for handling much of the states problems, but if anything at least those ideas are out there for others to entertain.
During campaigns, candidates seek endorsements to lend credibility to their election. When there is a crowded primary, those endorsements are that much harder to obtain. It was very important for me to obtain endorsements that were directly from the people and assisted my goal of gaining coalition support. The result was that I was endorsed by The Nevada Conservation League, Northwest Residents For Responsible Growth, Save Red Rock Coalition, and The Nevada Chiropractors Association. I was extremely humbled by those endorsements and appreciated all the support these organizations provided my campaign.
After 15 years of involvement in politics and working on over 40 campaigns, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected. One of those things you need to expect is DIRTY CAMPAIGNING and what I call THE POLITICS OF PERSONAL DESTRUCTION. Often these attacks come from those inside your own party and unfortunately only helps Democrats in their efforts during a general election.
One of my primary opponents went as far as having one of his friends and volunteers file and erroneous and frivolous complaint against my campaign with the Nevada Secretary of State‘s Office. The complaint was dismissed immediately once the Secretary of State received it, and in-fact they sent a letter to the complainant telling them they basically needed to read the NRS (Nevada Revised Statues) before alleging violations against a candidate. Those of you that followed my campaign know that we did not discuss this with the voters or the media during the race. It was our decision to not allow these types of attacks to derail our campaign in any manner. We chose to ignore this behavior and move forward with our message to the voters in Assembly District 13.
While we cannot confirm nor deny that one of our opponents was involved in another attack against my person and character, I can confirm that one of my former co-workers was involved in a blatant politically motivated attack against myself and one of my best friends. This is truly the kind of stuff that most of us only see if movies, but this stuff really happened!
So, a former co-worker of mine by the name of Dan Hoffman decided that since I exposed unethical behavior of Clark County Business License employees and mainly himself, he would engage in politically motivated attacks to derail my election. Dan Hoffman filed a TPO (Temporary Protective Order) against one of my best friends–Juan Rivera. In the TPO, Hoffman alleges that Rivera a Marine and decorated Veteran of our Nation is a “dangerous individual”. Let me just clearly say this is the biggest crock of bull…. I’ve ever seen! Rivera is one of the greatest men I’ve ever met in my life! A man who has served his country–however I believe his greatest accomplishment is being an amazing father.
To make this long story short, during the campaign I appeared in court with Mr. Rivera and Dan Hoffman (the complainant). I decided to attend the hearing because I always support my friends and I also wanted to make a request to the Judge. During this hearing, the TPO against Mr. Rivera was dismissed and information contained in the complaint regarding myself was sealed. This was a failed attempt by power-hungry bureaucrats with a vendetta to use the system for their own gain–it didn’t work!
None of the actions by these immature and desperate individuals stopped our campaign. Like I said, we ran our campaign on the issues and focused on meeting as many voters as possible. I’m so very proud of what were able to accomplish and while we didn’t win, I’ve got so much to be thankful for. God has blessed me with some of the greatest friends in the world and without their support, I would have never been able to do this.
Thanks again to all of you who stood behind me in so many ways. Your love, your friendship, and your contributions all meant so much to me. Let me make a promise to you that I’ll keep on fighting the good fight!
Topics: Politics | 2 Comments »
NATHAN TAYLOR ENDORSES SCOTT HAMMOND FOR ASSEMBLY 13
By Nathan Taylor | June 10, 2010
Tonight I want to thank all of my friends and supporters who worked so hard on my campaign this year. I would also like to take this time to give my full support to Scott Hammond for State Assembly in District 13.
Scott Hammond won the primary election tonight in Assembly District 13, and he is a wonderful family-man, teacher, and concerned citizen. I now urge all of the big money donors who supported other candidates in this primary to now back Scott Hammond. Now is a time for unity and support of our Republican nominee.
This primary was a very well-spirited race and now that Scott Hammond has won, we must come together as fellow Republicans to support Scott. I believe that if all of the other 4 candidates in this primary come together to support Scott, we’ll win this election in November.
I’m giving my full support to Scott Hammond, and will ask all of those who supported me in this race to now back Scott. It’s time for everyone to come together and back our GOP nominee.
To learn more about Scott Hammond, please visit his website at: www.hammondfornevada.com
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Happy Memorial Day 2010
By Nathan Taylor | May 31, 2010
As we stand here looking
At the flags upon these graves
Know these flags represent
A few of the true American brave
They fought for their Country
As man has through all of time
Except that these soldiers lying here
Fought for your country and mine
As we all are gathered here
To pay them our respect
Let’s pass this word to others
It’s what they would expect
I’m sure that they would do it
If it were me or you
To show we did not die in vein
But for the red, white and blue.
Let’s pass on to our children
And to those who never knew
What these soldiers died for
It’s the least we can do
Let’s not forget their families
Great pain they had to bear
Losing a son, father or husband
They need to know we still care
No matter which war was fought
On the day that they died
I stand here looking at these flags
Filled with American pride.
So as the bugler plays out Taps
With its sweet and eerie sound
Pray for these soldiers lying here
In this sacred, hallowed ground.
Take home with you a sense of pride
You were here Memorial Day.
Celebrating the way Americans should
On this solemnest of days.
by Michelle Keim
Topics: Human Interest | Comments Off
Happy Easter Prayer
By Nathan Taylor | April 4, 2010
A Prayer for Easter Morning
0 Lord Jesus Christ, who upon this day did conquer death and rise from the dead,
and who are alive for ever more, help us never to forget your Risen Presence forever with us.
Help us to remember,
That you are with us in every time of perplexity to guide and to direct;
That you are with us in every time of sorrow to comfort and console;
That you are with us in every time of temptation to strengthen and to inspire;
That you are with us in every time of loneliness to cheer and befriend;
That you are with us even in death to bring us to the glory of your side.
Make us to be certain that there is nothing in time or in eternity which can separate us from you,so that in your presence we may meet life with gallantry and death without fear.
You turn our darkness into light, in your light we shall see light.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Christ the Lord is risen today!
ALLELUIA
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“Healthcare Bill Passes Congress”
By Nathan Taylor | March 28, 2010
Nathan Taylor
Candidate–Assembly District 13
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Enabling Legislation…Would Lincoln Approve?
By Nathan Taylor | May 18, 2009
I was reminded today while following up on some bills passed by the legislature of that old saying, “all government is local.” The reason I thought about this was because one of the bills passed by the Nevada State Legislature was SB 201. A summary of the bill reads:
AN ACT relating to taxation; authorizing certain counties to impose additional taxes on fuels for motor vehicles; providing for the administration, allocation, disbursement and use of the additional taxes; exempting the sale of revenue bonds secured by county fuel taxes from certain requirements; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Read the rest of this entry »
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Guantanamo Bay Prison Hotel Resort & Spa
By Nathan Taylor | May 21, 2009
How apropos the title of today’s commentary…I mean if I was a terrorist I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be! There are some great views of the mountainside and on a sunny day you can even hear a few birds chirping! Read the rest of this entry »
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Nevada’s 75th Legislative Session Wraps-Up
By Nathan Taylor | May 30, 2009
I don’t think there is anyone who would say that this year’s legislative Session was boring by any means. Truthfully, I’ve never seen or been a part of a legislative session that was–it’s always interesting and sometimes entertaining!Nevada’s 75th Legislative Session turned into one of the most important legislative sessions since 2003, when then Governor Kenny Guinn had to sign an $800 million dollar tax increase. I was fortunate enough to be serving my Public Service Internship in Governor Guinn’s office during the 2003 legislative session. One of the most remarkable things I witnessed while serving in Governor Guinn’s office, was his steadfast and unwavering leadership. As a 26 year old, you can’t help but be a little star-struck at watching the Governor walk into the office everyday, but I think I was more amazed at how calm, cool, and collected the Governor was during such a stressful time. Read the rest of this entry »
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Why We Are Still Vulnerable
By Nathan Taylor | June 12, 2009
I’m sure by now that many of you have heard about the shooting at the Holocaust Memorial Museum on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. We all share our prayers and sadness for security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns, who while in the process of doing his job was shot dead by a domestic terrorist. Read the rest of this entry »
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Today’s Tiananmen Square
By Nathan Taylor | June 22, 2009
If for one second anyone thinks what’s going on in Iran right now is nothing like the Tiananmen Square of 1989, you would be sorely wrong! I watched the YouTube video of a girl in Iran who was peacefully protesting with her father right before being gunned down. What shocked me was that when I watched the video on YouTube, that there were only a little over 18,000 views. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Era of Infidelity
By Nathan Taylor | June 29, 2009
Over the past week, we’ve heard of the shocking announcements of two high-ranking elected officials having cheated on their wives. The reality of these announcements is that I found in my discussions with people that they were not really shocked. Unfortunately, we’ve all become too accustomed to these types of actions by elected officials, movie stars, and corporate executives. Read the rest of this entry »
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Popularity of One’s Death
By Nathan Taylor | July 2, 2009
What a week we had with all the deaths in the entertainment world–Michael Jackson, Farah Fawcett and Ed McMahon. While the passing of these individuals is worth some attention, it astonishes me that our media seems to overlook the deaths of those whom I consider much more important! Read the rest of this entry »
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July 4th is Special
By Nathan Taylor | July 7, 2009
It was a Saturday morning and generally I like to sleep in a little bit–however this Saturday was the 4th of July! Since I was a little kid here in Southern Nevada, I’ve enjoyed attending the Boulder City, NV 4th of July parade–what a great show! Read the rest of this entry »
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Glimmer Of Good News On Las Vegas Business Front
By Nathan Taylor | July 13, 2009
When most of us turn on the news or read the newspapers these days, it seems all we see is negative forecasts on the business front. However, as someone who is on the ground in the business world here in Las Vegas, I’d like to bring you some positive developments on the business front! Read the rest of this entry »
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Train Needs to Start Rolling
By Nathan Taylor | July 14, 2009
There has been a lot of news lately regarding the proposed high-speed train between Las Vegas and southern California. I wanted to weigh in on this, because I know what a huge need there is for another mode of transportation between Las Vegas and Southern California. Read the rest of this entry »
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MGM City Center Could Mean Las Vegas Starts to Turn Corner
By Nathan Taylor | July 19, 2009
Talk about the newest addition to Las Vegas Mega-Resorts MGM Grand’s CityCenter is starting to heat up! The property is expected to open in early December of this year and will begin employing over 12,000 residents in the Las Vegas area. In this economy, this is one of the best pieces of good news hitting Las Vegas and its over 125,000 residents currently unemployed! Read the rest of this entry »
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Jobs, Jobs, and More Jobs!
By Nathan Taylor | July 21, 2009
In my last article, I commented on the more than 12,000 jobs being filled in Las Vegas at MGM CityCenter–now we have the news that Hard Rock Las Vegas is filling more than 500 positions! It is my hope that when the analysts said that the Las Vegas economy would start to come back during the fall of this year–they were right! Read the rest of this entry »
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Positive Economic Numbers…Are We Recovering?
By Nathan Taylor | July 23, 2009
The Associated Press released this information today regarding the positive number of the Dow Jones:
NEW YORK (AP) — The Dow Jones industrials rose back above 9,000 for the first time since early January. Investors snapped up a broad range of stocks Thursday, sending major indexes up more than 2 percent, after existing home sales jumped for the third straight month in June. The 3.6 percent increase in home sales has investors excited that the hard-hit housing market might be improving. The National Association of Realtors said sales came in at 4.89 million, above the 4.84 million analysts had been expecting.
If we keep seeing people get back into the market, the tide could move in the right direction for all of us. The question is, have we hit the bottom? In my opinion if we haven’t hit the bottom in this bad economy, we are pretty darn close.
The Associated Press also released these numbers today:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. housing market has started to recover from the most far-reaching crisis since the Great Depression, data released Thursday show. Sales of previously occupied homes rose for the third month in a row in June, the National Association of Realtors reported. That hasn’t happened since early 2004, during the boom. “The turnaround in the housing market appears finally to be here and indeed may be gaining some speed,” wrote Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisors Inc.
I find this latest news to be a truly encouraging considering all the negative data we generally see. I continue to put my faith in America’s economic recovery in the people of this great nation. I don’t believe that government will get us out of this mess, but however it will be the entrepreneurial spirit of our citizenry. I don’t believe that we can spend our way into prosperity and hope for positive results. In the end, these latest numbers can give us some optimism, that we will get through these tough times. As I publish this, I am watching the Dow Jones, and it currently sits at 9082.97…keep rising!
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Is The Bear Market Starting to Become Bullish Again?
By Nathan Taylor | July 24, 2009
Ok, so the analyst are saying that they are seeing some increase in the amount of money investors are starting to put into the market. Many are starting to wonder if this means the bear market is starting to get a little more bullish. However, what many investors are doing, is putting their money into less volatile stocks–unlike the risks we saw investors taking in 2007, folks are still reluctant to back hedge funds and new technology. Read the rest of this entry »
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Higher Power Bills Bring More Need for Affordable Energy
By Nathan Taylor | July 26, 2009
When I opened the newspaper this morning I saw a headline in the Las Vegas Sun: “Why your electric bill, all of a sudden went up $10.25”… Read the rest of this entry »
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Divisiveness Won’t Win Elections
By Nathan Taylor | July 30, 2009
Recently there has been a lot of talk in Nevada about how down-and-out the GOP is. Truth be told, the Republican Party is in huge disarray, and has been going down hill for the past 5 years. Read the rest of this entry »
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Pulse of New Obama Healthcare Plan is Flat-lining!
By Nathan Taylor | August 3, 2009
I spent this past weekend talking to a few senior citizens in Southern California, where the Democrats and Liberals have a strong-hold. I discussed with them their thoughts about Obama’s proposed healthcare legislation. Read the rest of this entry »
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What the Heller? I Mean Yes Dean Heller!
By Nathan Taylor | August 6, 2009
Alright, I’ve waited entirely too long to write this column on the answer to getting rid of Harry Reid! Congressman Dean Heller is the answer to the nations problem known as Harry Reid. Polls show that Dean Heller could beat Harry Reid and as many of you already know, his approval ratings remain steady. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tarkanian Sets his Sights On Harry Reid
By Nathan Taylor | August 8, 2009
Only 1 day after I wrote my column about Congressman Dean Heller jumping into the U.S. Senate race against Harry Reid, well known businessman and former UNLV basketball player Danny Tarkanian announced his candidacy to challenge Reid. Read the rest of this entry »
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Reid’s Energy Summit Kick’s Off Campaign 2010
By Nathan Taylor | August 10, 2009
How can I resist commenting on Senator Harry Reid’s Energy Summit today at UNLV. In fact, the truth about today is that it was the official kick-off for Harry Reid’s 2010 re-election campaign! While it pains me to recognize that this was an amazing display of power–it truly was! Read the rest of this entry »
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Energy Issue Being Ripped from GOP Grasp
By Nathan Taylor | August 14, 2009
Following U.S. Senator Harry Reid’s remarkable power-play this week know as the “Energy Summit”, I began to speak to some of my GOP friends to find out their thoughts on the energy issue. What Reid and some of the Democrats have been doing, is stealing the spotlight on the topic of energy. This is a huge mistake by the GOP to allow someone else to frame the debate and take credit for any progress.
While alternative sources of energy is a complex and highly volatile topic, it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t engage in dialogue, and one of the two major parties in America, the GOP should be all over this! Look, we need to create jobs and we need to be doing whatever it takes to lower our energy costs. Politicians have been talking for years about our need to stop buying so much energy from foreign countries. One of my favorite slogans, coined by former Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin was “Drill Baby, Drill!”
Can we keep going down the road we’ve been going down with regards to energy? Will the Republicans cultivate a plan on energy and start delivering it to the people before the Democrats take it over? I’m worried that our national GOP leadership has surrendered this issue to the Democrats, and if that is the case…we’re in BIG trouble! I know we are all embroiled in this healthcare debate, but PLEASE don’t forget about the importance of talking about ENERGY.
I read a very interesting story yesterday in the Las Vegas Sun about a company wanting to build a solar power plant outside Las Vegas. As always, the environmentalist started fighting the proposed project on account of some desert tortoises. I love turtles too, but not enough to jeopardize the advancement of technology and the search for alternative sources of energy. Maybe they can work something out, but these issues generally drag on for years!
With the 2010 elections crucial to the power structure in our country for the next decade, there is a lot at stake. Redistricting is always a very political and highly controversial exercise for state legislators. I was fortunate enough to be involved in redistricting in Nevada during the 2000 U.S. Census–reaching out to voters and explaining positions on important issues will be paramount next year. If the GOP doesn’t formulate a message other than being the party of decent, it will be a long and very disappointing year for Republicans.
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Get Out The Way…Sandoval is Coming
By Nathan Taylor | August 15, 2009
The Nevada GOP’s “night in shining armor” emerged this week as news broke that former Attorney General and sitting Federal Judge Brian Sandoval is resigning his Judgeship! Just as commentators like myself were starting to get discouraged about Republican prospects for 2010, Sandoval changes the landscape. Read the rest of this entry »
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GOP…PUT DOWN THE SWORDS!
By Nathan Taylor | August 18, 2009
This has gone on for way too long, and it’s looking like the GOP is going to cannibalize themselves going into the 2010 elections. At least in Nevada right now it is appearing as though the different factions are paving the way to beat each other up for the chance to call themselves king of the mountain. Read the rest of this entry »
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Common Sense Ideas for Obamacare, by Martin Janowski
By Nathan Taylor | August 20, 2009
Let us start with the obvious. Obamacare does not exist. President Obama has proposed reforms in health care, health care insurance reform, a desire that all the 57 million (his number) uninsured now be insured, and that he wants a plan that does not raise taxes on those making under $250,000 a year and will not kill Grandma. Read the rest of this entry »
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Guns, Guns, and More Guns–LV Shooting Park Dedicated
By Nathan Taylor | August 25, 2009
Clark County dedicated its new Shooting Park today a long needed addition to the Las Vegas community! There was no shortage of dignitaries at the event today, including but not limited to U.S. Senator Harry Reid, U.S. Senator John Ensign, Governor Jim Gibbons, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, and County Commissioners Tom Collins, Susan Brager, and Rory Reid. Read the rest of this entry »
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Water Fight Of The Century, Part 1
By Nathan Taylor | August 28, 2009
This isn’t just another story about folks fighting for some water rights and trying to hold onto the deserts most precious resource–WATER! What is really going on behind the scenes in Nevada, is what I believe is the BIGGEST political fight ever fought on these lands! Read the rest of this entry »
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Water Fight Of The Century, Part 2
By Nathan Taylor | August 31, 2009
I’m going to go ahead and continue with my interview with Hank Vogler, since what he has to say is so very interesting.
I asked Mr. Vogler, “do you believe this project will have a negative impact on our environment, and if so, how?” Read the rest of this entry »
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Water Fight Of The Century, Part 3
By Nathan Taylor | September 2, 2009
This is my final installment (For Now) of my story on the proposed SNWA water pipeline through rural Nevada. While I was contemplating this final piece, I thought a lot about my own thoughts on the growth of Las Vegas. Read the rest of this entry »
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Promises Made, Promises Kept
By Nathan Taylor | September 7, 2009
In today’s world, it isn’t often that a politician makes promises to his constituents, and keeps them. More often then not, once elected politicians quickly forget how they got there and almost immediately begin breaking campaign promises. However, sometimes we get that rare soul who keeps their promises and delivers on their campaign rhetoric. Read the rest of this entry »
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NV GOP Assembles Basketball Team For Senate Seat
By Nathan Taylor | September 9, 2009
The GOP Dream Team has been assembled for the 2010 elections, but unfortunately they’re all running against each other! We all woke up this morning to the news that State Senator Mark Amodei from Carson City is entering the race for U.S. Senate against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Alright…lets lists the candidates for this seat thus far: Read the rest of this entry »
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A Personal Story In Support Of The March Of Dimes, by Maggie Aranowski
By Nathan Taylor | September 14, 2009
The March of Dimes Signature Chefs Event of Las Vegas is coming soon! On October 3, 2009 you can have the chance to experience the cuisine of 30 top Las Vegas Chefs, bid on amazing auction items, sip luxurious cocktails but most of all help Nevada’s Babies. I am so passionate about this event and this is why: Read the rest of this entry »
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Tarkanian Answers Pointed Questions For Senate Bid
By Nathan Taylor | September 17, 2009
- U.S. Senate Candidate Danny Tarkanian
I had the pleasure of sitting down to lunch with U.S. Senate Candidate Danny Tarkanian this past week. While Danny and I have been friends for many years, as a writer now I often have to sit down with friends and ask them tough questions. On this day, I wanted to know just a few specific things regarding his bid for the U.S. Senate. Read the rest of this entry »
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America Needs Some Repair Work
By Nathan Taylor | September 20, 2009
Every once in awhile, I need to vent a little about what I see wrong with our nation and lend my thoughts. In many ways, I don’t even know where to start because there are so many issues that need fixing in America right now. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting really sick and tired of all the nonsense that continues to come out of these politicians mouths–they need to shut-up and take some serious action! Read the rest of this entry »
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Clark County Business License Out Of Control
By Nathan Taylor | October 1, 2009
Well folks, Clark County Business License made the news again today–this time it was due to CCBL Director Jaqueline Holloway’s attempt to intimidate and harass me!
Las Vegas Review Journal Columnist John L. Smith did an awesome job telling to story and exposing the lies of Ms. Holloway. What I found most interesting about John L. Smith’s story was the fact that he printed Holloway’s statement she released to Clark County Security. Holloway actually contradicted a sworn statement by Officer Kaatz–she might as well just called him a liar! Read the rest of this entry »
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What The Heck?
By Nathan Taylor | October 6, 2009
Alright, so the news is out that former State Senator Joe Heck has decided to switch gears and NOT run for Governor of Nevada. Instead, he’s chosen to launch a campaign for Congress, after GOP hopeful John Guedry dropped out of the race last week. After spending several months trying to run a credible campaign for Nevada Governor, it didn’t appear that Heck was gaining any traction in the crowded field. What makes Heck think anything will be different in his quest to unseat Congresswoman Dina Titus? Read the rest of this entry »
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Rivera, Taylor Fight Back
By Nathan Taylor | October 11, 2009
It is pretty amazing and somewhat astonishing when I have to write a column about an ugly experience I’ve had with local government! Unfortunately, today I must write this column and speak of a real-life experience that myself and my good friend Juan Rivera are going through! Read the rest of this entry »
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Common Sense Republicans
By Nathan Taylor | October 16, 2009
Often in the political process, you come across people who are very far left, or very far right. Politico’s call them liberals and conservatives–some crazy bloggers and media hacks call them socialists or neo-cons. These are buzz words used in politics, and most often they are used to garner attention. Read the rest of this entry »
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Why Nevada Needs Taxes Low
By Nathan Taylor | October 27, 2009
It’s no secret that after this years legislative session in Carson City, fees and taxes increased. Some of those increases were a direct result of a state budget shortfall that threatened to all but dismantle crucial public services. While issues regarding some of the taxes and fee increases continue to be debated, one fact remains–Nevada needs to keep taxes low. Read the rest of this entry »
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Why Republicans Should Be Excited About 2010
By Nathan Taylor | November 5, 2009
As most of you know by know, the GOP pulled out some amazing victories Tuesday night–winning the Gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia. These are huge victories for the GOP in the off year elections, and give us some momentum leading into 2010. Read the rest of this entry »
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NASCAR Speeding To Las Vegas
By Nathan Taylor | November 14, 2009
If you haven’t heard, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is for the first time bringing its Championship week to Las Vegas this year! After many years of having this weeklong event hosted in New York City, NASCAR has chosen to bring the drivers and all the fanfare that comes with NASCAR to the lights of Las Vegas. Read the rest of this entry »
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Nathan Taylor For Nevada State Assembly
By Nathan Taylor | November 27, 2009
You are cordially invited to attend my campaign kickoff for Nevada State Assembly Read the rest of this entry »
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NASCAR Championship Week Vegas Style
By Nathan Taylor | December 10, 2009
This was the first year NASCAR hosted this event in Las Vegas–in years past it was held in New York City. Las Vegas was the perfect backdrop for Sprint Cup drivers and fans. As I walked the parade route next to the drivers and fans, all I could hear was folks saying how awesome it was to be in Vegas!
After watching this event last week, it is my opinion that this event will only get better in the future. With more than enough hotel rooms, plenty of space on the streets for Sprint Cup cars, Las Vegas has proven we are the best place in the country to host Championship Week.
Not only does Las Vegas have a driver favorite track in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but Las Vegas is able to attract fans from across the country. NASCAR has already said in so many words that the space Vegas has compared to New York City is enormous. NASCAR Champion Jimmy Johnson never could have done a burnout the way he did on the Las Vegas Strip in New York City!
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The Things That Are Important About Christmas
By Nathan Taylor | December 18, 2009
It isn’t easy explaining all the things I love about Christmas, because there is so much about it that I truly love!
Christmas for me always brings back great memories of my childhood–all the cool presents I got, and the awesome food my family made. Helping my Mom and sisters decorate the tree was also a fun and exciting event in our home. Like many families, we drank eggnog and listened to Christmas carols. There is just something about traditions that strikes a cord in my heart.
As we get older things change, but some of the traditions remain the same–for me, there is still the tree decorating, even though I don’t put up as many decorations now as I used to. There is still the occasional night of listening to Christmas music, and thank goodness Mom’s food is still amazing!
In recent weeks as we have gotten closer to Christ’s birthday–the reason we celebrate Christmas, I’ve thought about the importance of the holiday, and what it means for so many of us. While the religious fact of the holiday is the most important, one of the results of this celebration is the gift of fellowship.
As many of us attend holiday parties and company gatherings, we’re able to see many of the people we deal with during the year in a different setting. Somehow the stresses of work, and responsibilities escape us, if only for a few hours. Christmas gives us a warm feeling of giving and selflessness. This is a time when many of us give to local charities, feed the less fortunate, and think about others.
Christmas in my opinion is the best way to finish out each year. It is a time of fun, but also a time for reflection. While times have been tough for all of us this year, now we can put it behind us and enjoy being with our family and friends. Remembering that often the simple things in life are the most important, and most enjoyable.
So laugh a little, love a little, and remember that Christmas is a time to celebrate–for there is much to celebrate in our lives!
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A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson
By Nathan Taylor | December 24, 2009
Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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