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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Las Vegas Mayor Goodman: Obama 'A Slow Learner' |
| 2010-02-03 |
| Mayor Oscar Goodman has a bone to pick with President Barack Obama after he suggested people shouldn't spend their college savings on a trip to Las Vegas. On Tuesday, during a town hall meeting in New Hampshire, Obama was trying to make a point that the federal government needs to watch their spending the same way American families do. But he used Las Vegas as an example, for the second time. “You dont go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage. You dont go blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you're trying to save for college,' Obama said Some Las Vegans said Obama should not have picked on Sin City. “Every time he says something, conventions cancelled, stuff like that. Thats probably whats going to happen,' said Las Vegan Neil Peterson. But the mayor may be the most livid Las Vegan. “Hes not our friend. I dont know about Nevada, but Las Vegas, hes sure not our friend,' Goodman said. “He has a real psychological hang-up about the entertainment capital of the world.' “Everybody says I shouldnt say it, but I've got to tell you the way it is. This president is a real slow learner,' Goodman said. The last time the president referenced Las Vegas, he said, "You can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer's dime." This time, other state leaders were quick to stand up for the city, including Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, who told Obama to “lay off Las Vegas.' Although Obama responded to Reid with a letter saying, “I hope you know that during my Town Hall today, I wasnt saying anything negative about Las Vegas. I was making the simple point that families use vacation dollars, not college tuition money, to have fun. There is no place better to have fun than Vegas, one of our countrys great destinations. I have always enjoyed my visits, look forward to visiting in a few weeks, and hope folks will visit in record numbers this year.' But Goodman said they letter was just not good enough. “You dont cite Las Vegas, a specific example each time youre talking about spending money. Thats what Im saying. You can tell people to save their money to send their kids to college. Theres nothing wrong with that. Thats the end of the statement. You dont have to say, ‘And blow your money in Las Vegas. You can say, ‘Blow it with the local (sports) book.' I know how to do that too," Goodman said. It looks like the president might get a chilly reception during his next visit to Vegas. “I want the president to straighten this out. If not, hes not welcome in my city, as far as Im concerned,' Goodman said. Obama is scheduled to arrive in Las Vegas Feb. 18 to campaign for Reid. |
| Posted by:Beavis |
| #8 Does anyone really think that folks will cancel their Vegas trips just because Bambi has said something stupid? just google 'canceled las vegas conventions' Now some may have been dropped clearly from the economy. However, a lot of businesses in early '09 were looking to get on the bail out gravy and took the "boss's" comment and made adjustments. From over at Instapundit, 2 Feb I work for a large bank and used to attend an annual conference in Las Vegas, until Obama declared war on that poor town. Las Vegas hosted the Asset Securitization Forum with about 8000-12000 attendees. It was the perfect place as the facilities are enormous and could handle large amounts of people comfortably, a room at the conference hotel (The Venetian, Wynn,etc.) or one right next door was half what a NY hotel room is, there are cheap, plentiful flights from everywhere and you could see enough clients and contacts to save 10-15 other trips. If you gambled it was with your own money, itÂ’s not like the firm gave you a bundle of cash and told you have fun. After the One attacked Vegas (And half the people didnÂ’t go last year) the conference was moved this year Â… to Washington D.C.. The best of hands indeed. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2010-02-03 20:11 |
| #7 I moved to Vegas a year ago. I love it here. Goodman's speech was made for local consumption, and the fact that any publicity is good publicity. Remember that Rush Limbaugh was in town this weekend for a very successful Miss America Pageant. He gave lots of good advertisments for Vegas on his show. Also, saying he isn't welcomed in the city before an Obama visit here this month is pretty f-ing harsh. It's amazing that the Nevada GOP still is strong considering John Ensign and Jim Gibbons. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2010-02-03 17:03 |
| #6 Somehow this strikes me as mock outrage on the mayor's part. Does anyone really think that folks will cancel their Vegas trips just because Bambi has said something stupid? We should save our outrage for His truly outrageous acts, which are not in short supply. |
| Posted by: abu Chuck al Ameriki 2010-02-03 15:45 |
| #5 This president is a real slow learner. In this instance, that would mean he would have to admit he is wrong. Which he will never do, since he is teh 0ne. So expect more Vegas bashing. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2010-02-03 15:07 |
| #4 I dont think the Vagas downturn has much to do with Obabas speech, over building and dependence on people s discretionary spending have landed the "entertainment capitol of the world" in the red. Too bad they didnt invest in "real" Metropolatin infrastructure. Would have saved them in the long run, but " the Long Run" is just what they like to avoid in vagas. |
| Posted by: 746 2010-02-03 14:22 |
| #3 This president is a real slow learner," BWAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!!! What was Rahmypoo just saying about Liberals????? This is ROTFLMAO territory!!!!! |
| Posted by: AlanC 2010-02-03 14:10 |
| #2 Let's see: Is it, "It's good to be the King" or "Do as I say, not as I do", but I guess he's on 'business' out there, riiiight.. |
| Posted by: Tom- Pa 2010-02-03 14:06 |
| #1 "You can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer's dime." Obama is scheduled to arrive in Las Vegas Feb. 18 to campaign for Reid. Unless, of course, you're...me. I have no doubt that he fails to see the irony here. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-02-03 13:03 |