After spurning Trump debate, Romney takes his endorsement

Nevada, or, as I like to call it, “Snowfall,” may be poorly named after the blizzard of ads we’ve been seeing elsewhere in Florida, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Iowa; but beneath the calmness and lack of exposure is a well-oiled strategic machine that is methodically getting out the vote.

If the latest poll is to be believed, Mitt Romney might just strike political gold in the “Silver State.” Romney is the favorite of 50% of likely GOP caucus-goers, according to the Democratic-leaning polling firm Public Policy Polling. He’s leading his next closest rival, Newt Gingrich, by 25 points. Ron Paul is third at 15 percent, and Rick Santorum is fourth at 8 percent.

Nevada has been particularly hard hit by the economic downturn, with a high number of home foreclosures and an unemployment rate that recently soared to an all-time high of 14.9%. In other words, Nevada’s looking for a turnaround; Nevada Republicans think that the guy who turned around the Olympics next door might be able to help.

For the Mitt supporters out there, Romney is doing especially well in the state that went for Barack Obama in 2008, with 55% of the vote. I quote the PPP poll:

Romney hits the 70% favorability mark in Nevada, something we’ve seen for him in very few states. Just 25% see him unfavorably. That’s partially due to an 89/8 standing with Mormons, but he’s at a still very strong 64/30 with non-Mormons as well. One thing that’s contributing to Romney’s strength in Nevada is a strong advantage on the electability question. 56% think he would be the strongest candidate against Barack Obama this fall with no one else topping 21%.

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LAS VEGAS – While the Great Recession has affected almost all Americans, Nevadans may be the hardest hit. The state leads the nation in unemployment (13 percent) and home foreclosures (three times the national average).

Because of the faltering economy and slowed tax revenue, the Clark County School District needs to cut $78 million from its budget over the next two years. The district must do this either by freezing teacher pay and finding a more affordable employee health insurance carrier, or by laying off 1,000 educators as early as next month.

The first alternative is obviously preferable, because students would be adversely affected by larger class sizes and the loss of many enthusiastic young teachers. Unfortunately, the second option may be unavoidable, because the district has been unable to negotiate a new contract with its teachers union, the Clark County Education Association (CCEA).

CCSD is the fifth largest school district in the nation, serving around 310,000 students in 340 schools in and around Las Vegas. The district is also the largest employer in Nevada with some 33,000 employees, 18,000 of which are teachers.

The main sticking point seems to be the district’s desire to find a less expensive health insurance provider. CCEA members currently receive health insurance from the Teachers Health Trust, a company actually owned and operated by their union. (more…)

Mike Flynn, BigGoverment EIC: Rick Perry bought himself some time. His performance was uneven, but he showed glimmers of real energy and a fighting spirit. It was his best performance to date. His plan to boost energy production is a solid plan and, since it can be done largely through executive action, very achievable. That said, he needs to do a better job of linking his plan to the overall economy and how his policies will benefit voters in non-energy-rich states. He’s running for President of the US, not Texas.

Throughout the debate I kept having to remind myself that Ron Paul is a little bit crazy, because he turned in a very good performance. His campaign this time around is tacking more to mainstream GOP issues, rather than some of the more fringe issues he focused on in the past. He and Gingrich are acting as a kind of Greek chorus, providing something of a conscience for the other candidates.

As expected, Mitt Romney gave a solid debate performance. He’s good in these venues. He is very good at playing the role of President; the problem for him is that many conservatives worry about what he’ll do once he is actually President. I don’t think conservatives saw anything last night to make them more comfortable with Romney, but I expect mainstream GOPers will start to openly endorse him.

Cain will fade. There is too much ambiguity around his 9-9-9 plan and he isn’t doing anything to build up a campaign infrastructure. My private theory is that he is a stalking horse for Romney. His role is to block Perry from consolidating the anti-Romney vote. Cain is running to be Romney’s VP or a cabinet secretary.

Larry O’Connor, Breitbart.tv EIC: It seems that every debate thus far has had a front-runner or “flavor of the month” go down under an assault by all of the other candidates. Bachmann and Perry both came into debates over the past months with weekly news magazine cover stories, momentum and targets on their backs. Each could not live up to the expectations they brought. Last night it was Herman Cain’s turn, and as long as the discussion stayed centered around domestic and fiscal policies, he actually maintained his presence as the most interesting and inspiring candidate. But he truly showed his lack of preparedness on foreign issues and Republican voters tend to want a candidate who knows his way around tricky world affairs.

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Democrat Harry Reid’s Senate race enjoys little hope of victory without Republican “Club” members.  His poll ratings are down; he is held in contempt by most of the country; there is little that is attractive about him; he does not speak well; and he comes across as a not very bright, acrimonious man with a big chip on his shoulder. While Harry may have the equivalent of a political insiders’ flush, he will need a full house that includes Las Vegas Republicans to win this election.

The long and sordid histories of Las Vegas, Harry Reid and the political machine that made him have inseparably intertwined.  And, you would have to look back to the political machines of the early 20^th Century to find similar mediocre politicians of average intelligence with no great personal achievements, reaching the levels Reid has reached.

Nevada is a state of “deals”.  The story is that the Nevada political machine evolved out of deal between the mob and God-fearing Mormons who wanted the economic opportunities the mob was making possible.  While the State has since gone straight and goes to great lengths to be clean, it is the evolution of the “deal” that remains in control of Nevada politics.

Recently Sig Rogich, a longtime Republican operative publicly endorsed Reid, the first indication that the backroom-inside political machine is still alive and well.  Sharron Angle, with the support of the tea party won the primary on the platform that she is an outsider.  A strong independent who has suffered years of personal attacks (recently the most vicious coming from Reid, his surrogates and Union allies) she has been cautious, keeping insiders out of the game.  In fact, many Republican leaders say it is easier to get a phone call returned from Reid than Angle.  The battle against the insider worked well for the primary but now, with the candidates neck and neck in the polls, it is an insider game played by families around the dinner table that could determine the outsider’s outcome.

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On the surface you would think there is nothing in common between Las Vegas and Washington DC, other than sharing a Nation where The Jersey Shore is a top rated TV show. One city was built on the profits of lawlessness, the other from the profits of law. But the recently proposed $50 Billion dollar stimulus plan suggests they are more similar than Kardashian sisters.

Las Vegas has always astounded me. While I understand the allure of the big shows, bright lights, and wandering Elvis impersonators; I don’t understand the people who actually believe they’ll return from a Vegas vacation richer than they left.

Unfortunately, some look at Las Vegas as a career rather than a diversion; the ones who believe they have stumbled upon a system that will skew the odds in their favor. In turn they become unwilling contributors to an ever-growing spectacle of neon and debauchery.

The entire town was built on a foundation of these “systems.” All the marble waterfalls, the replicas of other cities, and the glass monoliths and pyramids; were financed by people who think they’re smarter than those who own the casinos.

Most of these systems are based on a nonsensical notion of justice in the cosmos. There is a belief in a mystical power that watches over us all, insuring that not everyone has a bad day. For every flat tire there is someone who was driving behind an armored car that forgot to shut it’s back door.  For every roasted dung beetle, there is an ice cream cone. For every Paris Hilton there is a Stephen Hawking.

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Speaking to CNBC in Las Vegas recently, Steve Wynn, the billionaire developer and operator of entertainment properties, said: “Washington is unpredictable these days. No one has any idea what’s next . . . the uncertainty of the business climate in America is frightening, frightening to everybody, and it’s delaying recovery.” Wynn complains of “wild, uncontrolled spending” and “unbelievable, unsustainable debt.”

Wynn also has operations in China, and he remarks that he “has no qualms about dealing with the Chinese government. Macau has been steady. The shocking, unexpected government is the one in Washington.” Not very long ago, such a statement would itself have been shocking.

The gambling and real estate magnate expresses concerns about inflation, Federal Housing Administration’s making the same mistakes Fannie and Freddie have made, and the business costs arising from the new health-care law. “We’re on our way to Greece,” he declares, “in the hands of a confused, foolish government.” Exasperated, he mutters, “It’s got to stop. It’s got to stop.”

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Look at the bright side, Mr. President: It’s just one less leader you need to bow to.

On two occasions, President Obama has made off-handed swipes at Las Vegas, and both times Mayor Oscar Goodman defended his city.

Most recently, Obama, with a straight face, was discussing making wise financial decisions (because he’s been so prudent with our money) and told a crowd in New Hampshire:

“When times are tough, you tighten your belts.  You don’t go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage.  You don’t blow a bunch of cash in Vegas when you’re trying to save for college.”

So when the customary invitation came from the White House to kiss the ring of the visiting president at the airport (Obama was in Las Vegas Thursday, presumably to bail some water out of the sinking S.S. Harry Reid), Goodman fought back.  He declined the invitation.

Kudos to Mayor Goodman for standing up for his constituents and not tolerating the president’s attacks on his city – as humorous as they were meant to be.

“We are hurting, we have people in foreclosures, we have people having a hard time feeding their families and we can’t stand to have a flippant statement made,” said Mayor Goodman.

“I haven’t heard an apology, I haven’t heard a response, all I do is get invitations,” Goodman went on to say.

I doubt you’ll get an apology from this administration, Mayor Goodman.

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Tens of thousands of TSA screeners to receive government bonuses, including millions of dollars paid to more than 10,000 who have been rated poorly

Government bailout watch: Despite receiving $5.5 billion in stimulus funds, Government Services Administration’s backlog of deferred maintenance projects now totals $8.8 billion and the agency is proposing billions of dollars in new projects

As stimulus money doubles Wisconsin’s weatherization budget, a review finds weatherization work done on hundreds of low-income homes failed to meet federal standards; Inspectors found projects done in a way that could threaten the safety of residents or did not save enough energy

Stimulus funds pay to replace “unattractive” streetlights; The new lights “aren’t especially energy-efficient, and the old ones work”

Federal Reserve tries theater ads to improve its image

Las Vegas’ $4.1 million housing plan built on federal stimulus money stalled over squabbles about how to hand out the money and to whom

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Apparently the partisan witch hunt that ACORN has been alleging has now spread to the Democratic Party, as the Democratic Attorney General of Nevada has successfully brought charges against ACORN, after an investigation by the Democratic Secretary of State.

ACORN’s explanation?  A regional representative told the New York Times that the two are just trying to make a name for themselves.  Has ACORN no shame?

Matthew Henderson, the regional representative, said this is the first time the organization has faced criminal prosecution.

From the Mercury News:

[Former ACORN employee Christopher Howell] Edwards told Las Vegas Justice of the Peace William Jansen on Tuesday that while he never sought written permission, his ACORN supervisors knew canvassers making $8 per hour were paid bonuses of $5 per shift for exceeding a quota of 20 voter registration cards last August and September.

His regional supervisor, Amy Busefink, initially wanted him to set the bonus mark at 26, he said, but agreed to his idea of 21.

“Hey, it’s Las Vegas. It’s blackjack,” Edwards said.

And according to Justice of the Peace Jansen, according to the Times:

“It appears to me,” he said, “that Amy approved this 21 blackjack program as an incentive to get more people registered so they can be in good standing to meet the national quota of Acorn.”

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ACORN is not only a radical organization devoted to undermining the American system of government: It is a massive, ongoing criminal conspiracy that should be investigated for possible violations of federal racketeering laws.

With a long history of lawbreaking that is finally getting media attention, the poverty pimps of ACORN are currently in retreat across the nation, and an upcoming voter registration fraud trial may reveal embarrassing information that disrupts the operations of the embattled radical activist group. This is in addition to the undercover child prostitution sting videos revealed in recent days on this website.

The testimony will come soon from former ACORN Las Vegas field director Christopher Edwards. Charged with election fraud by Nevada’s Democratic attorney general, he cut a deal last month with prosecutors and has pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit the crime of compensation for registration of voters.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 17.

ACORN stands accused of enforcing voter registration quotas with its employees and offering bonuses for extra registrations. Nevada law forbids the use of such incentives on the theory it encourages canvassers to file fraudulent registrations. No wonder: ACORN registers “Mickey Mouse” and various celebrities, out-of-state residents, and dead people, every election cycle.

As part of the plea deal, Edwards, whom state investigators consider to be the mastermind of the incentive program, has agreed to testify against former regional director, Amy Busefink, and against ACORN, which is a co-defendant. The Las Vegas Sun reported that Edwards acknowledged he conspired with Busefink and ACORN to create the “Blackjack” incentive program that gave canvassers an extra $5 for submitting 21 or more registration cards each day. The daily quota was allegedly 20 forms.

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