Miniglean

• "Porter rebuts ex-aide's claim," reads the headline in the R-J. Reading the stories in the R-J and Sun however, reveals that headline is exactly wrong. It should have read: "Porter fails to rebut ex-aide's claims." In any case, a nice way for Porter to spend the penultimate Friday before the election, wouldn't you agree? He probably would have preferred to spend it meeting with voters or ... oh, we forgot, he doesn't meet with voters. Never mind.
• The next trick in the RGJ survey: All the Republicans are leading all the Democrats in the races for state constitutional offices. So much for that poll.
• In a much more revealing indication of the electoral landscape, Bush's people have decided to send the increasingly rattled and shaken president to campaign in a town that may or may not have a Democrat, at all, in a district where Republicans enjoy a massive voter registration advantage over Democrats. On the Thursday before the election. Sweet. RGJ, LVRJ
• Jane Ann's hot for Chrissy, which is slightly less disturbing than the notion of Gibbons being hot for Chrissy. LVRJ

Comments

[Not Gibbons]

That poll is great news for Democrats. Look at it this way: the poll clearly is out of whack on several of the races. Which shows the poll is skewed Republican, putting Gibbons in even deeper shit than he already was.

[Gary Kilbride]

Naturally Jane Ann is obsessed with Chrissy's bod. The only reason for a guy to look at Jane Ann, now or then, is to decipher the shortest route around her.

Her third paragraph is disgraceful. Mazzeo was obviously dressed very properly and conservatively on Wednesday, and seated for the vast majority of that presser, partially obstructed by the other woman. To display Mazzeo as a "hottie" you couldn't find a less effective plan. Richard Wright should be canned and give back his pro bono if that was the scheme.

Every other account has focused on Mazzeo's credible nature, obvious reluctance. Only Morrison has identified her appearance in the opening graphs. One was odd. Twice shouts she's pathetically jealous, and disturbed.

Not to mention scrambling for the most inane rationale to criticize. If Don Campbell had said Richard Wright was with the "Mazzeo party" would that have been example of limited communication skills? I had to re-read Morrison's "Gibbons party" paragraph three times to accept she was being serious, and that a supposed professional journalist had written that.

But take heart, Jane Ann. It was actually an improvment from the most preporterous article I read this week. The landslide #1 tried to pretend there was a freckle of weight among a sample of 20 early voters at a shopping mall. My favorite was concluding an 11-8 count meant the race wasn't close. Let's see, switch two votes and the other side is ahead. Yep, that's the definition of robust. Just too damn bad the sampling hadn't been 16-4 either way in every race. I would have thrilled to read about the inevitable 80/20 landslides on November 7.

Well, far fewer undecideds in those RGJ polls. Particularly in the lower statewide races. Without seeing the crosstabs, and based on the supposed Gibbons lead in Clark County in the RCJ poll, I'm confident they are undersampling down south. The strange contention is Democrats trailing among independents. Nationwide the Democratic slant among independents is the most pronounced toward either party than any point among the 10+ years I've studied it closely.

And don't you love the RJ headline, "Men prefer Gibbons..." Now that would have been a marvelous campaign slogan. Perhaps not too late. Hell, he could even reverse it.

Seriously, find a poll anywhere where men don't favor the Republican nominee in a competitive race. The RJ thinks that's news? They might as well report in a banner headline that Kenneth Wegner is trailing. Did anyone see that "debate" with Shelly Berkley? Her biggest problem was not to laugh. But it was entertaining when Wegner would finish a meandering nonsensical response, and look around with a little grin, obviously proud of himself.

[Not Bob]

Gary, actually the RGJ poll has Titus ahead in Clark but narrowly, 45-43. As for undersampling, whats missing is the rurals; they only conducted surveys in four largest counties. Not sure what this means but I'm surprised the Gibbons monkeys haven't claimed that the poll oversamples urban voters.

My biggest concern is about the Democratic base vote. We're going to need presidential-year-level turnout in the heavily democratic precincts of CD1 (Berkeley) but I'm not sure those areas are getting the gotv attention they need. Everybody of course wants to see Hafen win, but the rest of the state-wide slate needs bigger majorities in CD1.

[scheck]

I wish Jane Ann would go back to writing about her cat, cockroaches at restaurants, and reupholstering her father's old Lay-Z-Boy recliner (all real column topics!).

[Wrecking Crew]

Picture this. A well known congressman making fundraising phone calls in an open lobby, public hallway or a restaurant. Do you think that those kinds of conversations are being done within earshot of John Q. Public?

Porter controls his enviornment and public contact so carefully that there is no way he would allow himself to experience the possible vulnerability of an overheard call. He and his staff know that he gets himself in trouble when he is not in a controlled enviornment and the risk of making fundraising calls in public would not be taken.

Sorry, but I'm not buying that explanation. If he had said that he was in a car or on the toilet at the time, I might have gone for it. But Porter being unscripted in public is beyond belief.

[Wrecking Crew]

Oop's, it's spelled environment. My bad!

[Werd2406]

Obviouslly the poll had WAY more Republicans than any other group in it....no way the AG race is that close....and I work on the GOTV team...a great majority of the effort is going into district 1.

[Werd2406]

Obviouslly the poll had WAY more Republicans than any other group in it....no way the AG race is that close....and I work on the GOTV team...a great majority of the effort is going into district 1.

[mc]

According to KLAS, Titus will have a new ad come Monday that focuses on the positive aspects of her character. I hope it seals the deal.

[Not Bob]

Werd, thanks; good to know.

Gary, apologies; I had the #s transposed.

[mc]

KLAS:

"Breaking News this evening. Eyewitness News has learned that Metro police have obtained surveillance video from the parking garage where Congressman Jim Gibbons allegedly accosted a woman he met at an adjacent restaurant. Knowledgable sources told the I Team that the private security firm responsible for the garage contacted Metro within the past 24 hours and handed over a video recorded at the time of the incident. An employee of the company initially told police that the camera was not operational during that evening, but following a televised news conference by Sheriff Bill Young, company executives learned that a tape did exist.
Under advice from D.A. David Roger, Metro is not releasing the video at this time, but reliable sources not affiliated with Metro told us the tape could call into question the statements made by the alleged victim, Chrissy Mazzeo. The garage contains 11 surveillance cameras and it is believed two of those cameras may have been in positions to record whatever unfolded on the evening in question, based on statements from both Gibbons and Mazzeo. It is unknown at this time which camera is the source of the video now being scrutinized by Metro detectives. Further details are not available at the moment, but we will have additional information as quickly as it can be confirmed."
klas story link

[Gary Kilbride]

I was just going to post the link and infio that mc provided. That was stunning to tune to KLAS with that opener.

I certainly believed Mazzeo's account would be closer to the truth, primarily based on her confidence in the videotape and Gibbons' implausiable claim the two parted without words after he helped her.

If Gibbons' version is true the local media will pounce and there could be a backlash, especially since Titus has already gone on the air with a commercial referring to the illegal nanny episode but clearly tieing in the Mazzeo case. I wonder if other races will be impacted, if it turns out Mazzeo's version is false? No doubt Gibbons will cruise.

Of course, this is all pure guesswork. But if Gibbons' version is true that will be THE example, every time a late claim pops into a race, a smear tactic like 2006.

It's not even clear the tape will be shown to the public before election day. But let's hope so, instead of leaks regarding what it shows. Possible that both sides fudged somewhat. I didn't see this story mentioned on the other local channels.

[Werd2406]

Saw the KLAS story too...they say may have descrepancies to what she said. This could mean a variety of things. We don't know what the cameras caught yet so theres no point in guessing what it means for now. Best scenario is whatever Mazzeo said was true. GOOD scenario is he may not have been threatning or violent toward her but the cameras catch him in a compromising,consentual flirty/sexual action with her. Worst case scenario is it was all a lie and it FOR SURE will have unwarranted backlash on Titus.

[mc]

Because they gave us almost nothing to go on... it's speculation time:

"Metro is not releasing the video at this time, but reliable sources not affiliated with Metro told us the tape could call into question the statements made by the alleged victim, Chrissy Mazzeo."

I presume that the "reliable sources" is either the Gibbons camp or the private security firm. It sounds like they'd be the only ones with knowledge of what's on the tape.

From what this mysterious source said, here's what I came come up with: The tape's field of view shows some scene referenced in Mazzeo's statment. Either 1) in front of the restaurant (where Mazzeo claims Gibbons was waiting outside for her), or 2) near the stairwell (where the alleged assult took place), or 3) footage of Mazzeo outside not even referenced in her statement.

who knows. let us see the damn video!

[john isreal]

I would not be suprized if we find out that mazzeo is somehow affiliated with Dina. if not directly then indirectly. what a terrible thing to destroy a mans life just because some woman pops up at the end of a highly contested gov. race. I am a dem., and will vote for titus but i am not at all for destroying a life if he looses. think if this is false and gibbons looses then he is done. not just in politics which could be a good thing, but with everything. his kids will suffer, and for that matter even his grandkids. the truth will set us free. lets just get the truth out before election day.

[mc]

my guess is that the video shows that Gibbons wasn't waiting outside in front of the restaurant for 20 minutes (in the rain) like Mazzeo claims.

I doubt that Mazzeo's claims are proven completely false. After all, the police took photos of her injuries and eyewitnesses back up some of Mazzeo's claims such as the flirty atmosphere at the restaurant table, etc

[mc]

scratch that. the garage is located quite a distance away from the restaurant entrance. so it can't be a video from the entrace.

[Donald Rilea]

Have been watching this case, off and on, but mainly off, since it broke, and I personally don't whose claims to believe.

I don't like Gibbons, on principle, and because he's a damned Republican. There, I said it, so any of the Republican or Republican-lite trolls out there, can shout, scream and howl to the damn moon, if they want, but my views are there.

Don't like 'em??? Tough.

I also don't like the idea of putting a victim, or alleged victim, on trial, before a real one starts, as so often does in rape and other sexually-based cases.

But, there you are. Some people will do that, to muddy the waters as best they can, to protect whatever interests they have.

Then, there's Ms. Mazzeo and her story, which may or mayn't be credible.

However, neither a judge nor jury has decided that yet.

Instead, and yes, Boys and Girls, I clicked on the KLAS link like a good little boy, and saw for myself.

What I saw was a whole lotta nothin', except for some vaguely worded language that Ms. Mazzeo and her story mayn't hold water.

The rest was left purposely vague, so's to draw in more suckers to to-morrow's, or will it be Monday's, "revelations" about this story.

I don't know, and don't really bloody care, who was behind this crap, whether it was Titus, the Dems, someone else, or the Man in the Bloody Moon.

In the end, the facts of this case will be obscured until long after the campaign's over, and no one really has much of a stake riding on this anymore.

THEN, and only then, will they come out, in one form or another, and by that time, it will be too bloody late to see that justice's actually done for one aggrieved party or the other.

In the meantime, so much ink, paper, and other resources will have been wasted on debating this, that and the other about this case, until after the election, when, suddenly, like Gilda Radner's old character, Emily Latella, one party or the other will say, "Oh, Never Mind", and we'll forget all about this.

Bah, I says.

Personally, I'd hoped that this might be the frosting that was on top on the finish of Gibbons' already rancid cake.

However, I still had my doubts, and have them now.

On the other hand, the thing that bothers me most is that people will, from now on, until it's rubbed in their God-Damned faces yet again, say in any other sexual assault or rape case, "Oh, she's just makin' that up. Remember what's-her-name- who made all that up about that fine Governor Gibbons???".

The fact is, Folks, is that all of this stinks to High Heaven.

But, because this case involves a political figure,albeit a marginally-known and effective one at best, none of the parties involved is interested in telling the full truth of what happened on the night of 13th October, 2006, in the parking lot outside of McCormick-Schimidt's Steakhouse,nor are they likely ever to tell.

In the meantime, we may or mayn't get stuck with a governor, who's, at best, more or less mediocre, and who may or mayn't have assaulted a woman on the above-named premises.

Wonderful, just wonderful, job our media and governing classes have done in telling this story, and is it any damned wonder why Nevada has one of the lowest voter turn-outs in the US????

Me, I won't know until I hear someone who doesn't represent the parties concerned saying what happened or didn't, either yea or nay, that night, actually talk about what happened.

Until then, my sympathies lie with Ms. Mazzeo, but I remain suspicious of all parties concerned in this matter, until someone comes clean, if they ever do.

As for Election Day and what happens then, we'll see what we'll see, won't we????

Until then, stay strong, stay sceptical and think for your bloody selves, for God's Sake.

The source for KLAS is clearly the Gibbons campaign; check out the AP story that went out:

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/1-0&fp=4544fde6c812ecd6&ei=1JxERd3yMYz8oQLQzom3Bw&url=http%3A//www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/15876001.htm&cid=1110331588

The nut of the story is that Gibbons says he's now willing to take a polygraph.

The the final graph very very deeply buries the lead:

Robert Uithoven, Gibbons' campaign manager, said late Saturday he believed surveillance video had been turned into police, and that it called into question Mazzeo's account.

Why in the world should be believe Metro and Uithoven about this? No reason at all; they've lied about the incident before and clearly would do so again.

Sorry, I've tried to be skeptical about this whole incident as Donald Rilea suggests, but this coincidence that the tape "surfaces" and Gibbons is suddenly willing to take a poly strikes me as implausible.

Notice that the RJ finally makes its endorsement the same day, full of wrong information (Police did not find that she had no cuts or bruises; they found and photographed cuts but the evidence is missing) and its usual ridiculous rhetoric.

I think we're seeing a second, better organized cover-up.

[Not Gibbons]

Let's look at it this way: if nothing happened, and even if videos show nothing happened, why was the Gibbons campaign--and that includes its official law enforcement officer, Bill Young--so determined to cover things up and slime the accuser?

[Susan Nunes]

It doesn't make any sense at all, except that perhaps the gist of Mazzeo's claim is true.

[Obiter Dicta]

The authenticity of the tapes is inherently suspect. How can it be that "there are no tapes" and "cameras were not operating" for two weeks, then video suddenly becomes available. We live in an age where it is remarkably easy to digitally alter video seamlessly.

Why would Mazzeo be so adamant that the cameras caught everything and would support her claims if they did not? Especially when she made such assertions when she was clearly disoriented and emotionally distraught?

If the tapes were available at the outset, my view would be different. But two weeks is plenty of time.

NG, your point is dead on. There's an undeniable stench coming from Metro, Young, Gibbons etc., the stench of mendacity. How can these idiots get away with covering this up right in front of us? Talk about hiding in plain sight.

Women of Nevada, be warned. If you are ever sexually assaulted by someone with connections, don't bother going to the authorities. Your identity will be disclosed to the media, you will be vilified, and ultimately, discredited as a liar. Nice place to live, huh?

[Not Bob]

My guess is that this is a more sublte form of Young's "bring it on". Announcing there are tapes and allowing the Gibbons/Metro/DA/Hughes Center/Rogich nexus to spin the story (with no evidence) is a double-dog dare to Mazzeo to file a complaint on Monday, as the Sun reported yesterday she intended to do.

Then the Police can say that it is an "ongoing investigation" and not release the tapes, keeping the Gibbons spin as the only version out there.

At this point, we've seen preliminary reports on many aspects of this story be wrong, so I don't think we'll know anything more until someone actually produces the tapes.

INterestingly, local tv news this am doesn't seem to be biting; ch 8 ran the same report and ch3 did not menetion the video.

[Brown]

If a woman made allegations of sexual assault against any one of you, you would likely find an attorney, as Gibbons did. The attorney's advice would be to refrain from answering questions, which is what we saw. Why would Gibbons say that he will take a lie detector test if he knew he was guilty? What? Do I hear the sound of another conspiracy hatching? This board is so full of wing-nut, republican hating, losers--you've all become so involved in one big circle-jerk that you can't find your way out of the conspiracy that you've all concocted. If titus wins, it should be on her issues, past performances, and in spite of her horrible personality. It should not be based on the lies of anyone. If Mazzeo lied, we should know about it and allow Gibbons some of his dignity back, whether he's republican or not! The papers should be ashamed! Furthermore, if Mazzeo lied, Titus should pay dearly for her attacks! This will be simply another example of why Dina titus is unfit to lead anyone, or anything. She is, in the truest sense of the word, a disgrace to our state. And as Ralston pointed out today, she personally dug the hole that she's in through years of disgusting attacks and relentless bickering, and I believe that if the tapes show that Mazzeo lied, Titus will only further cement her reputation as the most viscious, hated legislator that nevada has ever seen. The backlash will be relentless, and final, to be sure. We can only hope that her run ends Nov. 7th.

[Douglas Democrat]

Dude, if you troll, either come up with something interesting and original or we're gonna get bored real quick.

A for effort, D+ for content.

As to the whole issue of a polygraph - there's a reason polygraphs are inadmissible as evidence. They're unreliable in that a person can find ways to "spike" the system (resulting in false positives - the machine says they're telling the truth when they aren't). But the media loves them because it seems to "simplify" the process...