Friday, September 19, 2014

SILVER STATE CONFIDENTIAL 09/19/2014

A TALE OF TWO GAMING CITIES

Does anyone else remember this NJ.com report from almost exactly three years ago?

[New Jersey] Gov. Chris Christie has a name for people who visit Las Vegas in the summertime: "Stupid."  Speaking at a news conference to introduce the new head of a state agency tasked with revitalizing Atlantic City, the nation's second-largest gambling market, Christie couldn't resist taking a shot at No. 1.

"There is no reason people should go to Las Vegas in the summer," Christie said. "Why would you go to the middle of the desert in the summer? You'd have to be stupid to do that."  Instead, the governor offered an alternative.  "Come to Atlantic City, where there's a beautiful beach, gamble if you want to," he said.

Now consider this report today from Peter Moskowitz of Gawker.com:


The Plaza, a tan box with interiors that only a grandmother could love, is the fourth casino to close in Atlantic City this year. The closures include the $2.4 billion Revel, which was supposed to single-handedly revive Atlantic City by attracting richer clientele when it opened two years ago, but shut down earlier this month. Another city mainstay, the Mardi Gras-themed Showboat shut down in August. And The Atlantic Club, which didn't really have any distinguishing features, closed in January. Trump Plaza's slightly swankier sister property down the boardwalk, the Trump Taj Mahal, will most likely shutter in November.

Casino revenue in the city was $2.9 billion last year, the lowest it's been since 1989, not factoring in inflation. That's led to 8,000 layoffs this year—25 percent of the casino workforce. Atlantic City's unemployment rate now stands at 13 percent, twice the state's average.

Who’s the stupid one now, Governor?

RALSTON BURP-TWEETS MORE EGG ON HIS FACE

On Thursday, Jon Ralston - Nevada’s #2 liberal blogger with a television show watched by DOZENS – tweeted (because he no longer has a column in a real newspaper):

“Oh, man, this is really dumb.”

Ralston was referring to Republican congressional candidate Assemblyman Cresent Hardy holding a fundraiser for his congressional campaign on September 24, 2014.   

What “Jonny Boy” thought was “dumb” was Hardy holding a fundraiser during the 15-day “blackout” period in which state legislative candidates are not allowed to raise money after a special session of the Nevada Legislature. 

You see, legislators just wrapped up a special session to approve the giga-giveaway Tesla deal, so the 9/24 date falls within that 15 day “no fundraising” period.

“Gotcha, you dummy!” thought Ralston.

Alas, Mr. Know-It-All was wrong again. 

You see, Assemblyman Hardy is running for a federal office – Congress - not a state office.  And there’s a 13-year-old official AG opinion, issued by former Democrat Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Pappa’s office, that very clearly states the following…

“Federal election law preempts state election law, therefore certain state officials are not prohibited from soliciting or accepting monetary contributions for a campaign for federal office before, during, or after a regular or special session of the Legislature.”

Who’s the dumb one now, Jon?

IT’S THE STORY, OF A LOVELY LADY…

I really do like Erin Bilbray-without-the-Kohn.  She’s pleasant, charming, a lovely lady and, no doubt, a great mom.  But as a congressional candidate, she has truly been cringe-worthy. 

Her email fundraising communications have been worse than lame, constantly urging supporters to “help us reach our goal” without ever telling them exactly what the goal is.  But this Facebook post from Thursday night really took the cake…

“I just did the facebook survey ‘Which TV mom are you?’ I was Carol Brady. I think it fits. I also think if Carol Brady was a mom in 2014 she would say ‘to heck with these boys. We need more moms in congress’.”

Good grief.  Is this a congressional candidate or a candidate for class president?  Are we really supposed to trust someone who aspires to be a fictionalized TV character to deal with the realities of ISIS, Bashar al-Assad, Kim Jung-un and Vladmir Putin?

By the way, I did some checking.  The real-life actress who played “Carol Brady” – Florence Henderson – is a Republican.  And I think if she lived in the 3rd Congressional District she would say, “Vote for Joe Heck.  We need more brigadier generals in Congress!”

MUTH’S TRUTHS

--> Date and venue have not been set yet, but KDWN 720 AM talk-show host Alan Stock and I have confirmed a 90-minute debate featuring Democrat Kim Wallin and Republican Dan Schwartz, candidates for state Treasurer.  We’re hoping to moderate the debate in a “live” setting with an audience, and simulcast the debate during Alan’s show.

This office is a LOT more important than most voters realize.  Stay tuned.

--> So the man who thinks he should be the next Nevada State Senate Majority Leader, “Moderate Mike” Roberson, not only refused to debate his challenger in the GOP primary, but now he’s ducking a debate with his general election Democrat challenger, too? 

Not only that, but his two hand-picked moderate Republican candidates running for Senate District 8, Patricia Farley, and Senate District 9, Becky Harris, are refusing to debate their opponents, as well?

Good thing there are no Chick-fil-A’s in Las Vegas!

--> Republican candidate for Nevada secretary of state Barbara Cegavske tweeted today that “New biz filings in NV have fallen from nearly 85,000 in 2006 to under 57,000 in 2012 while fees on businesses have doubled. Coincidence?” 

Who’s been the secretary of state during this demise?  Ross Miller, Democrat candidate for attorney general.  Coincidence?

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

“Now, even those of us who have been reluctant to become involved in the wars of the Middle East feel that American vital interests are at stake, that our consulate, our embassy are threatened and that left to their own devices ISIS will fulfill what they have boasted—an attack on us at home.  So, yes we must now defend ourselves from these barbarous jihadists, but let's not compound the problem by arming feckless rebels in Syria who seem to be merely a pit stop for the arms that are inevitably scarfed up by ISIS.” – Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)

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