My Rant Against the Republican National Convention Coming to Las Vegas (Video)

My message to Republicans considering holding their 2016 national convention in Las Vegas is this…STAY OUT.  WE DON’T WANT YOU HERE.

In the news today, the far-right wing of the Republican Party (translation:  THE REPUBLICAN PARTY) made it official.

They oppose the 2016 Republican National Convention being held in Las Vegas.

Shocker!

Las Vegas had been reported as one of the early frontrunners to host the next national convention.  If either major political party were to hold its gathering in Las Vegas, that would indeed be big news for our fair city, which still seems determined to try and diversify its image and shed its association with gambling (and other forms of “vice”).

Meanwhile, most of us frankly don’t care what anyone else thinks of us.  We’re perfectly happy to live here and let everyone think we’re a bunch of gangsters.  Maybe that will keep people from moving here.  Well on second thought, given that Las Vegas has been one of America’s fastest-growing cities for the past decade, maybe not.

Anyway, a bunch of religious nutbags led by a political activist named James Dobson wrote an “open letter” to the Republican National Convention earlier this week pleading with the party leadership to abandon the idea of holding the party’s next big bash in Las Vegas.  They’re worried such an association might harm their image.

Harm their image?

If anything, it would help! 

Hey Republicans, try this.  Show the rest of the world which actually lives in the 21st Century that Republican too, like to have a little fun sometimes.  Maybe have a beer every so often.  Or, play a hand of blackjack.  You know, do things the average person likes to do — which by checking how many casinos have popped up all over the country means that plenty of people like to gamble.  I’m even willing to bet there’s a conservative or two out there who likes to visit casinos.

Talk about being out of touch with reality!  Tens of millions of people from all over the country, including many Republicans, come to Las Vegas every single year.  They make this city the number one tourist destination in America, BY FAR.  That should tell you where the hearts and minds of middle America are leaning.  People like Las Vegas.  They want to come here.  And the number of people with a positive perception of Las Vegas is huge among independents — the exact kinds of people Republicans have to sway if they ever hope to win a national election again.

Meanwhile, here’s James Dobson and his Taliban warriors warning the Republican Party to stay out of Las Vegas.  That’s just great.  On one hand, a billionaire bully (Sheldon Adelson) has the Republican bull by one testicle.  And the other is being squeezed by a minister (James Dobson) who’s against anyone in America having any fun.

I agree, Mr.  Dobson!  Keep them out!  Stay out of Las Vegas!  We don’t want you here!

Please Republicans — listen to this man.  He knows best what’s good for all of you.  He’s exactly the image you want to associate yourselves with — that so-called “family values” crowd that has leashed the Republican Party by the neck and dragged the party off a cliff in five of the last six national elections by the popular vote.

Mr. Dobson and I both agree — REPUBLICANS, STAY OUT OF LAS VEGAS!

My video rant with more on this topic, which is the latest edition of “Talking Points,” can be seen in full here.  Surprisingly, there’s no profanity in this diatribe.  I start getting heated at about the 3-minute mark.  The video runs 23-minutes:

Note:  Read more in Jon Ralson’s column posted here:  RALSTON REPORTS