Iraq War

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Washington D.C. earlier this month.: Getty Images Photo.LAS VEGAS-U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Searchlight) had harsh words for presumptive Republican nominee John McCain this morning following a comment made by McCain on NBC's "Today Show."

Asked by NBC's Matt Lauer if he had a better estimate for when troops could return from Iraq, McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona, said: "No, but that's not too important."

RENO-U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) campaigned in Reno Wednesday. In this clip, McCain takes Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama to task for refusing an invitation for them to visit Iraq together.

Note the warm reaction to the very mention of Nevada's senior senator's name.

U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) shakes hands after a town hall meeting in Reno Wednesday.: Politicker Photo.RENO-Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain returned to Nevada today, hosting a town hall meeting for a crowd of about 800 at the Truckee Meadows Boys and Girls Club in Reno. Although McCain brought the crowd to its feet several times during the course of the meeting, several attendees expressed reservations about a McCain presidency before, during and after his appearance.

"I would support him over the other two, I'll put it that way," said Ben Engel of Reno while the crowd awaited McCain.

After being introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), McCain committed to campaigning in Nevada and predicted the state would go for him in November.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Nevada Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley in Las Vegas Saturday.: Reid and Buckley are standing in front of a large pile of toiletries and food items to be put into care packages for troops in Iraq. Politicker Photo.LAS VEGAS-Bearing a plastic bag of peppered beef jerky, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid dropped by the Laborers International Union Hall in Las Vegas Saturday, where he spoke before a crowd of about fifty Nevadans making care packages for troops in Iraq.  Reid took advantage of a few minutes in front of the crowd to slam Ariz. Sen. John McCain for not supporting a newly-approved expansion of the G.I. Bill.

"It seems difficult to believe or comprehend how John McCain could say the G.I. Bill of Rights that [Va. Sen.] Jim Webb wrote was too generous," said Reid.  "Not only that, he didn't even bother to come and vote.  He was against it, said he was against it.  He should have come and at least stood up and voted, but he didn't do that."

Protestors gather at two different sites in Las Vegas Tuesday.LAS VEGAS-About fifty people gathered at each of two sites in Las Vegas Tuesday to protest the federal income tax in one case and the costs of the continuing war in Iraq in the other.  Although different in purpose, the protests were similar in appearance with waving signs, chanting slogans and an inevitable slowdown in nearby traffic.

Anti-tax protest at "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign

"One hundred percent of the federal income tax goes toward the debt on the dollar," said Cody Cunningham, the 14-year-old organizer of the anti-tax protest.  "It doesn't go toward any services at all.  It doesn't go to roads or highways or anything."

LAS VEGAS—Following the Petraeus hearings on Capitol Hill today, Nev. Sen. John Ensign was on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews, where he discussed presumptive Republican nominee Ariz. Sen. John McCain’s statements on Iraq.

“McCain has offered a different policy, actually, than the president,” said Ensign. “He was the first one to suggest a ‘surge’ is needed, that we needed to change course in Iraq. This last year, with Gen. Petraeus’ plan, a change of course was effectuated and that change of course has been effective.”

Ensign endorsed McCain for the presidency Feb. 15.

Click here to watch Ensign on Hardball. Ensign’s appearance follows Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) and begins at time code 6:32.

Just fewer than a hundred people assembled on The Strip in front of the Venetian Hotel Saturday, chanting anti-war slogans and protesting the war in Iraq.

About a hundred protestors march Saturday in front of the Venetian HotelLAS VEGAS—Just under a hundred protesters took to the sidewalk in front of the Venetian Hotel Saturday, chanting slogans and calling for an end to the War in Iraq.  The protesters, organized by Nevada Workers Against the War, carried signs calling for “No War in Iran” and detailing the opportunity cost trade-offs of one day of war.

“We’re out here to reject the idea of war without end, occupying Iraq and definitely not going to war with Iran,” said Sean Sabatini, 50, founder of NWAW.  “We’re in front of the Venetian because the owner, Sheldon Adelson, funds “Freedom’s Watch” which spends a fortune in advertising supporting the idea, basically, of endless war.