Danny Tarkanian? What’s he like?
Tark the Shark!
Tark the Shark?
UNLV Runnin’ Rebel basketball coach? That Tark?
I hope he doesn’t “throw in the towel”. (Runnin’ Reb fans will get it.)
Danny Tarkanian just won a libel suit against the Dem who beat him in 2004 for state senate. Tarkanian also lost in 2006 running for Nevada Secretary of State.
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=10840824
“”The libel case between attorney Danny Tarkanian and State Senator Mike Schneider was settled in court Monday. The suit stemmed from comments and campaign mailers made by Schneider, who was running against Tarkanian in 2004. The ads linked Tarkanian to criminal investigations into telemarketing companies.
Going to trial might have resulted in higher punitive damages, so Schneider agreed to pay Tarkanian $150,000 for court fees, lawyer expenses and damages. Insiders say the win for Tarkanian will drastically alter everything from political TV ads, campaign mailers, and even stump speeches and interviews.
Everyone has seen the ads that make mountains out of molehills and reduce a person’s career to sound bites and we’ve heard the campaign talk that most candidates use. But now, the politics of attack can become major lawsuits and paydays for victims. Everyone is on notice.
“This was just your average campaign,” said Sen. Mike Schneider(D) Las Vegas.
Senator Schneider does not feel like he needs to apologize — not for his long career in Carson City and not for his comments. Schneider raised the questions in 2004, blasting Tarkanian.
Schneider tried to connect the famous coach’s son to criminal investigations into his clients. Tarkanian called that defamatory and untrue. “You can’t go far enough where you call somebody a criminal and not have any basis for those statements,” he said.
With the new legal precedent set, Tarkanian says the rules of the game have changed. “You’re going to be held accountable when you go past that line of spin and campaign rhetoric,” he said.
Schneider says he was only raising questions about Tarkanian’s background. There might not have been full proof, but he thought voters needed to know about any questionable activity. He still stands by what happened. “I think it’s devastating to free speech,” he said. “We didn’t admit any guilt there. There was no apology made. We just settled and moved on.”
Mark Fierro is a political strategist. He says this case will force campaigns to go positive or else face legal wrath. “People are going to take an extra breath — take a deep breath and say, ‘How do we know this? It is according to published reports?’” he said.
That may change content in political ads, mix things up for fliers and mailers at your doorstep, and even hit speeches and interviews.
Senator Schneider says his insurance will cover the $150,000 in damages. He said he would not have settled if he didn’t have the insurance. He would have appealed and kept on fighting.
It’s not known how this new case law will affect campaigns until somebody pushes the envelope and a victim of a political ad or comment goes fighting in court. But expect fewer attack ads in the coming months and next November.””
Danny is OK. The other possibility is Sue Lowden, I’m going to a beer bash with her in about an hour so I’ll report back. Either one may have a chance, given that people like me have enough political amunition against Reid to sink a battleship.
Does he have a brother that lives in San Francisco to run against the Princess?
Fitting, as eventually he became a pinko.
Tarkanian ran for Secretary of State in 2006, losing to Dennis Ross by a 49% to 41% margin. He ran for the state Senate in 2004, losing in incumbent Democrat Mike Schneider by a 54% to 46% margin. He sued Schneider for libel after that race, and Schneider settled out of court for about $150K.
Reid should be toast. He hasn’t been good for business in Vegas and the boys won’t be happy.
Please join the “You’re Fired” Campaign putting politicians in office on notice. The American people have been betrayed. Arrogant Elitist Politicians care about nothing but personal power. Please read the details of this campaign and forward this to your email address book. Print it out and hand it to your neighbors and friends. Our country and our freedom are at stake as well as your children and grandchildren’s futures. If you do nothing else, forward this to everyone and forward it to your elected Elitist. Time to clean out the Congress and start over with patriotic Americans with integrity that love this country more than their own personal power.