View Full Version : obama "NOT WELCOME" in Las Vegas
Team Sergeant
02-03-2010, 09:11
Now that's funny..... harry reid should be next.....
Obama Backs Down After Anti-Vegas Remarks
LAS VEGAS -- President Barack Obama is known for having a way with words, but some lawmakers from Nevada wish he would pipe down about trips to Sin City.
After sparking a firestorm of criticism from Nevada's elected officials for suggesting that people saving money for college shouldn't blow it in Las Vegas, Obama told U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a letter that he wasn't saying anything negative about Las Vegas.
It was the second time since taking office that Obama singled out Las Vegas as a potential example of spending excessively.
"I was making the simple point that families use vacation dollars, not college tuition money, to have fun," Obama said, according to the letter released by Reid's office. "There is no place better to have fun than Vegas, one of our country's great destinations."
Obama said he always enjoys his visits to Las Vegas.
A White House spokesman referred to Obama's letter to Reid and said the administration had no further comment.
Perception and reputation are sensitive issues for Sin City as it struggles to find footing amid a two-year meltdown of foreclosures, bankruptcies and unemployment. Tourism is the Silver State's backbone, and several lawmakers said they were shocked that Obama singled out Las Vegas again after commenting last February that bailed-out banks shouldn't go to Las Vegas using taxpayer money.
"When times are tough, you tighten your belts," Obama said, according to a White House transcript of his appearance Tuesday at a high school in North Nashua, N.H.
"You don't go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage," Obama said. "You don't blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you're trying to save for college. You prioritize. You make tough choices."
The comments quickly sparked a flurry of reaction in the Silver State, which supported Obama in the 2008 election. Nevada had an unemployment rate of 13 percent in December.
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said during a hastily called news conference that Obama is no friend to Las Vegas and would not be welcomed here if he visits.
continued:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/03/obama-backs-anti-vegas-remarks/
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said during a hastily called news conference that Obama is no friend to Las Vegas and would not be welcomed here if he visits.
Brings back memories of Dallas' attitude towards JFK in 1963.
Perception and reputation are sensitive issues for Sin City...
FWIW, I don't care much for Las Vegas - and as far as their sensitivity over the Sin City reputation they've openly promoted over the last half-Century - well...my Dad used to say, "When you step on a dog's tail - it'll yelp and try to bite you."
And so it goes...;)
Richard's jaded $.02 :munchin
Utah Bob
02-03-2010, 10:06
At least he didn't say "You don't blow a bunch of cash at the Indian Casino..."
:D
Utah Bob
02-03-2010, 10:08
And anybody with a wallet is welcome in Vegas, no matter what Hizzoner says.;)
ZonieDiver
02-03-2010, 10:27
I had cause to visit one of our Arizona casinos the other day. (My daughter designed the lighting in a restaurant and the nightclub, and I wanted to check out her work.) While walking through the smoke-filled casino floor to get to the escalator for access to the non-smoking 2nd floor (duh! Smoke rises, morons!), I took note of the slot-slinging patrons.
None were the "lovely well-dressed" people portrayed in casino ads. 90% plus were senior citizens (most very senior to me!). Many were dragging oxygen tanks with nasal canula as the gambled and smoked (IS that a good idea?), or scooting about in their Medicare-provided "Rascal"!
What a country! We take FICA from some 20-something starting a family and working as an ass't manager at Burger King to give to some 70-something so they can piss it away in a slot machine? Live your life as you wish; it is a "free" country.* However, don't do it on MY dime, or anyone else's dime, for that matter. Just my 2 centavos worth.
*Offer void in California, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, District of Columbia, and other venues.
Surf n Turf
02-03-2010, 11:27
We take FICA from some 20-something starting a family and working as an ass't manager at Burger King to give to some 70-something
ZonieDiver,
Therein lies the problem with the inter-generational transfers of wealth.
Pitting the young versus the old – The young saying it isn’t fair to tax me so heavily to support the non-working (including Seniors). The Older saying, wait a minute, I paid into Social Security all my life, I want my check !
Socialism has a price, and we are going to pay it, even if they “means test” Government programs, most seniors are going to get “their fair share”.
It ain’t right, It ain’t fair, but It ain’t gonna stop ---
SnT
greenberetTFS
02-03-2010, 13:03
Speaking as a "very senior citizen",I do deserve my check!............. :D Unfortunately it isn't enough,but that's my problem,not yours....... :rolleyes: That is why at 73, I still need to work a part time job in a security position just to make ends meet......:eek:
Big Teddy :munchin
Utah Bob
02-03-2010, 14:02
Speaking as a "very senior citizen",I do deserve my check!............. :D Unfortunately it isn't enough,but that's my problem,not yours....... :rolleyes: That is why at 73, I still need to work a part time job in a security position just to make ends meet......:eek:
Big Teddy
When I start drawing mine it's going to be right down to the Ute Mountain Casino fer me. I'm going to make reparations to the Indians my own way. :D
LibraryLady
02-04-2010, 12:03
... Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said during a hastily called news conference that Obama is no friend to Las Vegas and would not be welcomed here if he visits. ...
Riiiiight. Anyone wanna take bets on how fast da Mayor eats his words when the President schedules a visit to his fair city? :rolleyes:
When I start drawing mine it's going to be right down to the Ute Mountain Casino fer me. I'm going to make reparations to the Indians my own way. :D
Well, someone's gotta keep the Indian casinos from all going bankrupt (http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/article_ea6131b2-9a82-11de-8f64-001cc4c03286.html). :p
LL
Riiiiight. Anyone wanna take bets on how fast da Mayor eats his words when the President schedules a visit to his fair city? :rolleyes:
He'll just say "I got an offer I couldn't refuse." After all, thems Chicago guys knows thems Vegas guys.
I have several friends in the NV gaming business, Vegas and Reno.
Nevada learned many years ago, that the money generated in the casino was small compared to the money made in services that support the gaming venues. To name a few, resturants, car rentals, laborers, grocery stores, school, churches, laundry mats, healthcare, pawn shops, plumers, electricians, etc.
Nevada has had it's greatest growth, not form gaming - but from agriculture, mining, engineering, domestic product distribution centers, high quality of life, low housing costs, (compared to CA), access to more while costing less, ease of businesses to open businesses, and city managers that made it easy to do so.
Colorado tax revenues are down. Education and Open Range initiatives were supposed to be paid by 'gambling money'. Nevada learned 70 years ago, what every other state is just beginning to comprehend.
Nevada has had it's greatest growth, not form gaming - but from agriculture, mining, engineering, domestic product distribution centers, high quality of life, low housing costs, (compared to CA), access to more while costing less, ease of businesses to open businesses, and city managers that made it easy to do so.I managed a surveying department for an engineering firm in Reno...we had 150 employees company-wide and 70 in Reno...today, I am working for the Census Bureau in Colorado and the firm has fewer than 100 employees and the Reno office is down below 50....the ease of doing business cannot overcome the lack of an underlying foundation to the economy...my ex wife is a state employee who had to take a 20% pay cut and reduction in benefits to keep her job...the truth be told, when California sneezes, Nevada catches the flu...
Colorado tax revenues are down. Education and Open Range initiatives were supposed to be paid by 'gambling money'. Nevada learned 70 years ago, what every other state is just beginning to comprehend.Nevada has pissed away its revenues...the budget for 2009-2010 was out of whack by over a billion and the current budget is being revised downward...the state is in worse shape than Colorado and the unemployment rate is upwards of 15%...
I managed a surveying department for an engineering firm in Reno...we had 150 employees company-wide and 70 in Reno...today, I am working for the Census Bureau in Colorado and the firm has fewer than 100 employees and the Reno office is down below 50....the ease of doing business cannot overcome the lack of an underlying foundation to the economy...my ex wife is a state employee who had to take a 20% pay cut and reduction in benefits to keep her job...the truth be told, when California sneezes, Nevada catches the flu...
Nevada has pissed away its revenues...the budget for 2009-2010 was out of whack by over a billion and the current budget is being revised downward...the state is in worse shape than Colorado and the unemployment rate is upwards of 15%...
I get it and I concur. But many companies are still moving to Reno, from the CA bay area. I just helped, last year to move a company, Pharm/RX, medical research firm. Seems making employee average, $80K in Hayward/Oakland is not enough to rent a decent home for a professional. But by buying a house in North Reno, Sparks area, families can have a bit more room to raise a family, better schools, more ourdoor activities, and if watching a show, theatre, a quick 4 hours west is SFO, Sacramento is 2 hrs., and Lake Tahoe, 1 hrs.
Downtown Reno, unlike Vegas has remained small regarding the "Strip". It's still a small town, with Big City services, an intelligent labor force with strong work ethics.
On the Truckee River, through Reno, are old buildings being converted to condos, large parks, little traffic. GrayBar and Anixter employ hundreds, as well as Safeway, Raley's, ConAgra. Amazon book alone employs 1000+ just 30 minutes East of Reno.
Something that is common with those businesses are, (1) self-funded, (corporate growth, common stock), entrepreneurial in nature, micro-economic, a creating and exploiting niche markets. They often reward employees for creating internally programs and processes that save money and add value. Which is something the Feds, have not or can not do.
As for the unemployment rate, (15%), then offering companies incentives to move to NV should be priority number one.
But the issue for this thread was gamling, education, the Vegas Mayor, and BHO. I'm thinking H. Reid and the states economy is not making great news reading.
WD