Michael Green
Contributing Editor, Politics
Contact: Email
Green is a professor of history at CSN and the author of several books on the Civil War era and on the history of Nevada and Las Vegas. He also edits the Nevada Historical Society Quarterly and the Wilbur S. Shepperson Series in Nevada History for the University of Nevada Press, and writes "Nevada Yesterdays" for KNPR and columns for the Nevada's Washington Watch newsletter.
Recent Articles
Higher Reasoning
Six Reasons Term Limits Are Stupid
August 18th, 2011
1. We’ve always had term limits. They’re called elections, and incumbents have been known to lose them.
2. If somebody is doing a good job, getting rid of him is like saying, “I don’t want a doctor who’s treated this ailment, I want a brand-new doctor who’s never seen it before.”
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The Russell Legacy
August 11th, 2011
Carson City District Judge James Todd Russell is an important part of your life. And for a Russell to be shaping Nevada is nothing new.
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The Cynical State of Nevada
July 21st, 2011
Skepticism is healthy. Cynicism is not. They aren’t the same. Skepticism is questioning. Cynicism means we have stopped questioning, started blaming, and created a self-fulfilling prophecy.
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Ever Get the Feeling We’ve Been Here Before?
July 7th, 2011
Granted, our representatives back East sometimes are less aware of what goes on at home than they should be, and they and the party sometimes pay for it (Harry Reid and others have backed some losers). But Reid’s interference also made Nevada one of the first presidential caucus states and helped revitalize the state Democratic Party. Either way, this kerfuffle is nothing new.
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Learning From the Masters
June 23rd, 2011
As his mayoral days dwindle down to a precious few, the question is, how much influence will Oscar Goodman continue to wield at City Hall? The easy answer is, much more than if Chris Giunchigliani had been elected mayor. But the new mayor is Carolyn Goodman, and while she would be unwise to try to ape her husband (anyone who succeeded would require a bionic liver), there is much she can learn from him.
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Survival, Nevada Style
June 9th, 2011
The irony was evident: Gov. Brian Sandoval vetoed a bill allowing students who failed one of the four portions of the Nevada High School Proficiency Exam to graduate. But Sandoval’s getting high marks in the media for a performance that was below average at best.
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Politics
The Irony and the Ecstasy
May 26th, 2011
Nevada is known for tourism and mining, but it may be the world’s leading irony producer. Consider the Senate Ethics Committee’s report on former Sen. John Ensign. If you haven’t read it, you should, but be prepared to feel the need for a bath. Ensign’s actions seem to have verged on stalking, combined with teenage-style lovesickness (apologies to teenagers) and threats and intimidation.
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Whose back are you scratching?
April 28th, 2011
A state legislator who worked for a homeowners association introduced bills related to HOAs. The Gaming Commission chair votes on an issue involving the law firm for which he serves as counsel. Meanwhile, commentators froth about conflicts of interest. They’re right, of course. But, well, welcome to Nevada.
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Advantage Heller? Not So Fast
April 28th, 2011
Since John Ensign’s recent announcement that he will leave the U.S. Senate on May 3, analysts have made two assumptions. First, that Gov. Brian Sandoval will appoint Republican Rep. Dean Heller to replace Ensign. Second, that the appointment would give Heller an edge in his expected 2012 Senate race against Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley.
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