Penn Gilette complains about "Vegas" quip

Penn Gilette complains about "Vegas" quip

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Published on February 8th, 2010, 4:03 pm
Rift: News

Normally, I like reading Penn Gillette's comments. More often than not, he hit the nail on the head. On this occasion, complaining about Obama using Las Vegas metaphorically, I think this is one of hot "not" instances.

At one point, he asks (rhetorically, I HOPE) how many people ask the President for travel advice. Next, he says that Obama's comment would be expected to cut down on tourism traffic. I think he's lost track of what he wants to say.

The bottom line should be that his personal bottom line should not be affected. I seriously doubt that Las Vegas will have any trouble keeping busy, any more than it already has been. And for sure, no one will drop out from the line to get Penn and Teller tickets.

But the comment that he objects to, about the difference between going to Vegas or sending their kids to college, was a metaphor that all Americans can relate to. The President could have as readily said "Jersey City." Everyone knows that both places are the prime gambling spots in the country; Obama wasn't joking, and he wasn't telling people not to go to Vegas. Gillette needs to thicken up that skin of his in the area of his home-town's reputation.

Compared with his usual Bullsh!t rants, that was pretty mild. But still rather stupid. Penn clearly understood the point

Penn wrote:Vegas means ... wild, irresponsible, what-happens-here-stays-here. Smoke cigars, have sex with strangers, get wasted and see stupid shows with stupid Elvis impersonators doing stupid impressions of that stupid hillbilly.

That's an image we know and love in Vegas. It's the image we spend our stupidly low tax money to promote. "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" was an official slogan.

Which is why Obama's comment "You don't blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you're trying to save for college."
used that self generated and self promoted image for useful rhetorical effect. "Don't be wildly irresponsible with important savings"

or as Penn put it

Penn wrote:I know Obama doesn't really hate Vegas. I bet he'd have a blast here, if he were still welcome. Obama's good-natured symbolic joke was an applause line. People knew what he meant and agreed. Yeah, don't waste money on Vegas, send the children to college!

So what is Penn's beef? Buggered if I know, unless it's that Vegas don't get no respect

I admit that Vegas gets no respect from me. I have never seen a single thing there that would attract me. That I couldn't get elsewhere for a LOT less money and hassel. To each his own, I say.

Sounds like he's PMSing.

Liv wrote:Sounds like he's PMSing.

Yeah, S.F.I. does that a lot... oh wait, you meant Penn... :lol:

Sanjuro wrote:
Liv wrote:Sounds like he's PMSing.

Yeah, S.F.I. does that a lot... oh wait, you meant Penn...

Now you made me cry...

I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY!!!
:twisted: