Las Vegas Mayor to Obama: 'Your Comments are Harmful' to the City

Maybe if the President would have taken care of the big boys getting big pay-off before he threw tax payer money at banks and ins companies who had not record of being good honest business men, he might not have to be defending himself now. God help us all!

Well, most comments are not getting the whole picture. We all love Obama. No need to defend that. Okay???
If he can put $35,000,000 into helping black students to achieve Harvard some day, then it is not wise to hit the most repressed community in the US. Las Vegas. They have had more foreclosures and job loss than anyone in the US. It is not in the business recovery package sense to hit the most repressed that that Biden go to for support. Let's be fair and let the Vegas community recover along with others, and they DO !! depend on their Convention money. Business's here have closed shop. Do they not need a hand like the rest of America?

I am glad to read that some people do get it. No where did Obama say not to visit Vegas, Goodman doesn't apparently hear very well but atleast there are those few who do. So No Obama does not owe him anything.

Mayor Goodman is a perfect example of the frightening immaturity of many holding office today. A childish reaction to a
comment proves it. HOW ABOUT DIVERISFYING VEGAS MORE? Do you have the brains to move the city forward or just sit and complain like an ignorant baby?
This is so obviously his version of blackmail. 'Boo hoo, I'm gonna get something for that comment.'
WAKE UP. Businesses are shutting everywhere and cities all over are bankrupt. You and the likes of you have slurped from the easy trough for so long.
It is HIGH time people understood how wasteful gambling is and how damaging to American families.

Bryan, after reading your post, I feel a response is warranted. First of all, the President NEVER requested business not hold conventions in LV and NEVER requested people not go there. The President was saying that these banks who have come to the government asking for taxpayer money should not take taxpayer money and spend it on junkets and bonuses because that is not what that money is for. Furthermore, your overall assertions about the President are completely false, but this is America and you are entitled to your opinion. However, I think you crossed a line by saying "shame on you" to people who didn't vote the way you believed. I would never say that to Bush voters nor think it because, again, this is America and we are allowed to disagree. I also happen to be a resident of Washington State and I didn't agree with the law that banned internet gambling but I also recall it passed by wide margins in the statehouse with little attention paid to until after it became law (BTW: Jim McDermott is a US Congressman and would have had little to nothing to do with its passage).
Since you asked how McCain and Palin look right now, I will tell you. He is out of touch with reality (saying the fundamentals of the economy are strong the same day Lehman Bros. files for Bankruptcy) with a reputation as having a violent temper (something we REALLY don't need right now). She is someone who thought a Canadian radio DJ was a foreign head of state until she was told the truth, implicated in a report for "abuse of office," and not being able to answer simple questions from the press.
I wish you success in your sports handicapping business, it sounds like you are already quite good at it.

I am moving to Las Vegas in May of this year. I am a professional sports handicapper and have not been able to relocate there because I wanted to wait until my Son graduated from High School here in Seattle. I take great pride in what I do, but the thing I love most is making other people money. I love to see people succeed. As I expected before he was elected, this philosophy is not shared by our President or our Senate. I believe that the current President wants Americans to fail. And I truly think that he wants the people of this great nation to become solely dependent on the Government. They want to punish and condemn people who are successful. They want to squash the American dream. Our country is about opportunity, freedom and the right to create a better life for ourselves and our families. We should be able to make as much money as we want. The liberal party for some reason wants us all to believe that having too much is a bad thing. I am proud of my accomplishments and our rankings in the sports handicapping world. And I love Las Vegas and the beautiful state of Nevada.

A few years back, the state of Washington made online gaming illegal. That bill was pushed through by two of the biggest morons on the planet named Jim McDermott and our stupid Governor Christine Gregoir. They’re nothing but a couple of meddling idiots. I used to be able to make extra income from promoting online sportsbooks and other sports and leisure websites. After that bill passed, I couldn't do any of that with my clients because of where I live. It was too risky. It suddenly became a felony to make an online wager of any kind. I decided right then and there that I was going to move to Vegas after my son graduates high school. I had falsely and prematurely assumed that I would be able to get away from this stupid, blue, liberal state I live in and use my talents down in Nevada. Now, I can see that I will not be able to escape the socialist views of our current House and Senate lineup. They're everywhere. The Kool Aid drinking masses have been duped into voting for and believing in a false prophet. And there's nothing that anyone can do to stop these people. Nothing. It's too late. For all you people who fell for this, shame on you. You voted without thinking. Your blind hate for George W Bush clouded your judgment and you voted for Barack Oblahblah. How do Sarah Palin and John McCain look to you now you freaking morons? A solid, down to earth, respectable wife and mother and a true American hero who would do ANYTHING for his country! We could have had two trustworthy, steadfast, established and experienced leaders running our country. Instead, we have an arrogant, over rated, immature and inexperienced child with a deer in the headlight look. And you know the ironic thing? He just went on a vacation USING YOUR MONEY!! You idiots!! You deserve everything you get. I am moving to Las Vegas still. But I'm moving not just to pursue my dreams. I'm going to start a second business specifically designed to take Harry Reid out of office. I'm going to talk to the unions and the people who are greatly affected by Mr. Obama's statements. I will be there to remind you why you suffered and lost your jobs going into 2010. And I will fully support and campaign for whoever Harry Greed runs against. It's time to fight back. And Harry...you're gonna get everything I got. Get ready pal. The fight is on.

Oh, and if God blesses me with the ability to, I will be rewarding any employees who work for my company with big bonuses and a week's stay in Las Vegas, hopefully at a very nice hotel. And I hope that someday ALL of my clients are successful enough to buy their own private jet and experience all the good things that comes with hard work and determination. I will also be ignoring Mr. Obama's request to not have conventions there. I am going to rent out every meeting room that I can in that great city and bring in as much income as I can to the wonderful people of Las Vegas! My goals will be to help the mayor, rather than hurt him.

I pray for those of you who are with me in this fight. May God keep your families and friends safe during these times. And I want the President, Harry Reid, Nancy Palosi and all the rest of the liberals out there to know that we will NEVER go away. The Republican party will never die. And everytime your President fails, we will be there to point it out to you. You libs have a long 4 years in front of you!

I'm just one of many people out there who are going to create a very large brick wall for you.

God Bless America.

I agree with Mayor Goodman. Thank goodness he has the gumption to stand up and say what we all want to say. Thank you, Mayor Goodman, for standing up!

Our economy is an aggregate with many components depending on each other component. For example when fuel costs rose, the cost of food rose. The deplorable fear speech of our new administration is driving the businesses and citizens of our country to take drastic reactionary measures. For example the Obama "dis" on Las Vegas. When will the president exercise dignity and self-control and begin to act like the president? His inexperience shows with inept and unappropriate comments.

Nevada businesses have been on hiring freezes and now are cutting management salaries and teminating workers. A presidential comment is normally taken very seriously. Our dear president is inexperienced but charismatic. I don't believe he intended to damage a struggling Nevada economy where foreclosures are at epic proportions. Oh,that's right, aid and comfort will follow the catastrophic comments in the form of aid to struggling homeowners. If tourism increased, values would rise. Having help with a $200,000 mortgage on a home with an appraised value of $100,000 is just stupid. Give me bandaid when I need a tournecut. How about the $13 a week tax relief? And I can do what with that?

The housing/banking problem was created by the same legistive philosophy under Bill Clinton. Now the "change" administration can "change" problems it has created for itself. My heroes!

Still waiting for an apology. I think everyone who possibly can should head for Las Vegas now.

Sorry, but why should that company hold a junket at my expense? That's tax money I could've used for food, clothes, a car, or to pay my bills!

Instead our government saw fit to help out failing companies, and one wants to hold an extravagant junket in Vegas?

Sorry Mayor, but no. They can use a meeting room at their office next time for all I care.

you forgot the "t" in travel...

“The assumption that all meetings, event and incentive travel are wasteful is wrong. Now more than ever, we need businesses to ravel and hold meetings and events.

Yesterday's comments in reference to Las Vegas was tremendously out of line. He owes Las Vegas an apology.

We are hard working individuals who rely on visitors including business people and conventions.

I understand his basis for the remark, but Las Vegas isn't a source of wasteful spending, it is a deal closer and exibitioner of 100's of thousand of companies that are marketing or introducing their products at meetings and conventions, which in turn create the future economy and spending.

He should concentrate on the money thrown away at "bonuses" rewarding executives for companies that are in failure, or not providing their companies with the numbers they are responsible for producing.

The money spent on bonuses should be given to charities and economic rescue packages across the country. The companies would still get a tax benefit and get rewarding publicity.

The companies getting bailout money should be required by President Obama to hold all of their business meetings in Las Vegas, the city which is the most economical and the most conducive to holding efficient business meetings and conventions, with 130,000 hotel rooms and thousands of restaurants within a few miles of dozens of huge convention facilities and hundreds of meeting rooms. With reduced room rates because of the economy, and because Las Vegas hotels can afford to have lower room rates because of casino revenues, Las Vegas is a bargain, and Las Vegas is the only city where all corporations should be allowed to plan their meetings and conventions.

When I was delivering newspapers 35 years ago, the newspaper company had a party every year for delivery carriers and gave them free pizza and soda pop. The carriers who sold the most newspaper subscriptions were awarded prizes. The top prize was a trip to Disneyland. As a result the newspaper increased their circulation and were able to charge more for advertising. When I was an outside sales rep selling plumbing supplies to wholesalers 25 years ago, the owner of the small manufacturer rep firm that employed me, required me to take customers out to lunch every day, and we payed for lunches for engineers that did specs. That was how we made our products known to buyers, and that was the lifeblood of the company. If taxpayer money is being used to get these companies on their feet, we better hope that these companies are doing the kinds of things that attract customers and reward productive employees, or all of these companies will fail and the taxpayer money is gone. Is this still a capitalist country, or are we in Communist Cuba?

Obama, wants to stimulate the economy and also stop people from spending money.

Mayor Goodman is a fellow democrat, and he can see the ridiculous duplicity that Obama consistently presents.

Corporations are going to continue to have corporate functions - either for planning or employee incentives. That's a fact.

They can choose to fly from anywhere in the country to Vegas for about a hundred bucks a person and stay at the Luxor hotel on the strip for abou 60 bucks a night or they can travel to Boise Idaho (very respected serious destination)for about $300 a person and spend $120 a night at a Hampton Inn.

Which destination makes the most sense to you? Do not be duped by the "New Obama Math!"

I really can't believe how ill-educated you people are.

Obama seems not to understand how economies work. He has certainly signed Las Vegas' death warrant and--since he has never actually been in business himself--doesn't understand what a conference or convention is about. I happen to have worked AT hotel properties handling the conference/convention business--and later worked WITH investment bankers who conference here. They are not at the spa, the shows, the gaming tables. They are at work--and they work very nearly 24 hours a day, even while they are here. They are now spending a lot more money in San Francisco--where room rates BURY current Las Vegas room rates. It is just these simple facts that so many of you are unfamiliar with that stuns me. Just the usual, uneducated, mantra-repeating stuff I hear from the news media. Since you have no idea what you're talking about, I can feel pretty confident that you also voted for this irresponsible, naive boy whom you also know nothing about... stay home. Las Vegas won't miss you.

No apology required.
While business meetings are necessary, extravagant meetings in high priced venues at my (taxpayer) expense is absolutely uncalled for. Whether or not we like Mr. Obama’s stimulus package, aside. We are in this mess because we have business people spending like there’s no tomorrow, banks paying a pittance on savings accounts, lending money to people who can’t afford it by developing innovative lending tools which convolute the facts making everyone think it’s a good thing. And most of all we have us, taking every dime anyone will lend us to buy things we know we can't afford. It’s time to pull back and live in the reality, on your own dime. Spend whatever you want, but DO NOT ask me to pay for it, today, tomorrow or next year. The bankers that met in D.C. yesterday should be fired and ashamed. The fact that neither has happened shows where their personal values and that of their companies lie.

When bonehead remarks happen in Vegas, they should stay in Vegas.

Goodman needs to apologize for living,duh
These people did not have to pay for their drinks either while gambling,right?
We have not yet gotten to the expenses for other things like Traffic tickets for DUI's as much as $2500 paid on corporate credit cards. Ask one who ran the cards. No complaints from the companies. Not their money either.

Mr. Goodman, the people of Las Vegas should fire you for engaging in "child-like behaviors. We know where and what Las Vegas...and why is it that your city has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country? You has "misrepresented as Mayor". If that general comment about people wasting taxpayers money hurt your city, then what has helped it in the past?

One cat-
Not for arguments sake...but just to satisfy curiousity...I googled Wells Fargo layoffs...ugh...yeah...just a few pages worth of stories talking about the number of people they have laid off and will be laying off ( mostly between Nov 08 and up through Jan so far).
I also googled State Farm...laying off as well. It's just the trend.

A gentlemen (?) commented about his experiences during the Great Depression...he's very right. Turn off the tv. Quit reading the paper. It's all going to be bad news...gloom and doom. Go out and figure out what you need to do to support your families and take care of yourselves. We have certainly been in much worse circumstances.
We have turned into a nation of whino's. We all put ourselves in this situation. Whether it be because we didn't take responsibility for our own education and ended up working in the casinos in Las Vegas straight out of school, and somehow now believe that this is ALL we can do. ( Go back to school! What are you good at? What do you love to do? Surely you have other skills beyond just dealing a deck of cards or serving a drink?) Or we got excited at the prospect of owning that huge 4000 sq foot home that the mortgage guy told us we could afford at 1800 dollars a month ( and we either took it for granted that the market would keep climbing and stay in our favor, or just didn't read the small print or understand what an ARM was )...okay so what...you let the house go...move into an apartment and live within your means. Reality sucks when it hits...but it has hit, people. What's going on sucks...and if we're foolish enough to believe that one man is the savior, or the devil and has the final executive decision...we're all living in the dark. He's going to do the best that he can with what the resources he has...that I believe. I think Bush did the same thing ( though I don't think he cared as much). We can not change the larger circumstances of what governs us...but we can change how we govern our own daily existences; and this is what is going to make the difference in whether we sink further or begin to pull out of the hole. Do your part to make your life better...and don't step on anyone while doing it...if you do the right thing, it will always be right in the end. Discipline and focus is hard, and it's painful...but the alternative is unbearable. This is our responsibility! ( WOW how did I get off on this tangent?)

Since we're writing letters now:

Dear Mayor Goodman,
As a citizen of (insert expletive of choice here) Las Vegas who owns a home that is worth less than what I paid for it one year ago, sends my children to a struggling public school system that also is rated as one of the poorest in the country, is married to someone directly affected by the budget cuts slicing salaries up for state employees, who also works with the little guys that own businesses all over Las Vegas ( thus my business is directly affected because they are all struggling), and just happens to also pay taxes...I would just like to point out that I believe you have bigger issues concerning you besides sitting down to write a post it note, yet alone two page letters.

Obama was asking for accountability and responsibility from those standing in the bread line asking for a hand out to save their rears! (Are you really that much of an idiot, or was this just an attempt to save a burned out political career as you bide your time?)You're not winning my vote, might I add, nor would you ever.

I work with businesses every day that can't get the money they need to do business because the banks have all but shut down on them ( we're talking about people with credit here!) These business owners, and the people doing business with them,( I realize this includes some of those people that are losing their jobs in the casinos) generate far more revenue for the state than any one time junket on my dime ever will.
We live here 24/7, 365 days a year. We go to movies, and bowl at those casinos because we have to, there is virtually no where else to go to engage in leisure activities. We bet on games in the sports books, drink at the bars, and eat at the restaurants. We spend money in the shops, and in the slot machines. We shop locally and put money back into the pockets of the community, as well as big business ( the kind of big business that dominates the strip) Our families and friends make up a good portion of the tourism industry when they come to visit US and throw money in both directions as well. There are nearly 2,000,000 people living and spending money in Las Vegas every day! WE bring people here. WE spend money here. WE keep this city alive, and WE will find a way to survive. It's NOT ALL JUST CONVENTIONS! One or two big whales pales in comparison to an ocean of fish and one companies junket, or two corporate meetings here and there(when they are robbing from Peter and not paying Paul, anyway) is not going to bankrupt Las Vegas or send us into a tail spin. If this is what will be...it would have been anyway...need I go back to the whale/fish analogy for you?

Sure, it feels a bit like a rumbling empty tumble consuming itself to hear "LAS VEGAS" come out of President Obamas mouth, like the dirty word we keep asking to be...because coming out of the feast that was 2004-2006, right now it feels like barron third world desert famine, and when starving, a grain of rice seems worth fighting to death for! Really, let's step back a moment and really assess a bad situation...because in comparison to other places in the world...we're not that bad off just yet. ( However this kind of knee jerk reaction and failure to focus on long term solutions and the reality of the issue, will put us in more dire straits, surely) But it's not going to fulfill the rumbling tummy, Mr. Mayor!

As far as I'm concerned Wells Fargo (or anyone else for that matter) shouldn't be spending my money ANYWHERE (my feelings about this extend toward the government as well)! They should be working toward getting our credit lines opened back up and be responsible and accountable to "we the people" that are bailing them out...just as they ask their debtors to be responsible and accountable for monies they lend. The way I see it...THEY ARE MY DEBTOR NOW! I want an agreement for repayment, and responsibility with my collateral (taxes) just as they do, and I want consequences when they default on that agreement!

Las Vegas was in trouble long before this! Bad decisions by greedy business men/or women...and Mayor Goodman, I would say you are at the top of that list (let's be honest with ourselves about this! We are all in the positions we're in... mostly because we spent money we didn't have on that in which we did not need) So what happens now? The bottom falls out and we all suffer! So what do we do? We're going to have to tighten the buckle up a bit. Time to run a bit leaner and meaner. Excess no longer makes sense, Mayor Goodman! For me, for you, for us, for "them"! It's global and it's coming down on all of us from Las Vegas to small town Iowa. How selfish and narcissistic of you to fixate on and exploit the mention of our city when it was simply used as an example for a much larger principle!

Our tax dollars are being given to those who didn't know how to handle themselves appropriately in the first place...why should I think giving them more money is going to "stimulate" the second time around, and save us all, when all it did the first time around was "enable"? I don't! Especially when it's being spent on EXCESS!
Let's get to the heart of the matter and ask for your accountability and responsibility to Las Vegas' current economic conditions. Isn't it high time Las Vegas diversify a bit? If we fail, it's because our leaders (you, Jim Gibbons, for example) failed by not coming up with a better plan, or asking for a better plan from it's people, and not investing in the future of Las Vegas and Nevada, and counting on the "old stand by" to keep coming through (Two things here 1. what financial planner would ever recommend that all investment funds be dumped in stocks and expect this to yield generous returns over time? and 2. There is a little something to Darwinism and evolution that can be applied toward business and the economy). Time to focus on the real issues, and come up with solutions, rather than fixating on things that in the scheme of things are counterproductive and really don't matter anyway. I'm tired of it and I want action! I want to see what you are going to do for us! I want to see what you're tightening up on to ensure the future for my family...for energy, for education, for industry beyond tourism? I don't give two squats about the fact that Obama used our cities name like it was an expletive! Because right now, Mr. Mayor...I use expletives when I talk about our city, and you, and Jim Gibbons. Shut up and do something that matters! In an effort to displace the fault, all you did was shine a big bright spotlight right back on you... Mr. Mayor...I think you owe the people of Las Vegas immediate action...

One Cat - Because the junket wasn't for company CEO's still doesn't justify the junket on taxpayer expense. The company was showing bad financial judgement for incurring that kind of expense almost immediately after the bailout, nor did it occur to anyone that they could receive scrutiny and bad publicity. A lack of regard for consequences is what caused the fall of these companies to begin with, and hopefully, shining the flashlight can help circumvent a lot of bad judgement.