Friday, February 13, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

JOHN L. SMITH: GOP chairman lets Internet surrogates throw dirt at Democrats

Never play poker with Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie. He keeps a straight face better than most in politics.

After gutting Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry on Thursday afternoon at Clark County Republican Party headquarters, Gillespie declined to comment on -- or even grin about -- emerging Internet reports that the Democratic presidential front-runner was involved in a "marital infidelity" with an intern who was paid to leave the country. Matt Drudge, who broke the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, was the first to float the Kerry story.

"I have to tell you, I don't know about it," Gillespie said. "I don't know. I just don't know about it."

But, of course, he does know something.

Instead of hitting Kerry below the belt, as it were, Gillespie focused on what he called the senator's history of flip-flop votes and of "advocating policies that would weaken our national security."

Although Gillespie took to task Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe for presidential character assassination worthy of John Wilkes Booth, he insisted the GOP shouldn't "sink to their level" of dirty politics.

"We're not going to stoop to that," Gillespie said. "We're going to talk about policies and issues."

Then again, it's easier to take the high road when the Internet press is poised to take the low road.

SLIM, NONE: Maybe he should change his nickname to Amarillo Slime.

Now that World Series of Poker Hall-of-Famer Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston has pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor assault charges involving a 12-year-old girl relative, I wonder if he'll find many card room wags still willing to listen to his countless tall tales.

Slim won the World Series in 1972 back when Benny Binion was looking for a good talker to represent the tournament. Preston has been talking ever since.

LOVE FOR SALE?: Everyone knows Southern Nevada's topless industry is a highly lucrative racket, so why am I hearing that a couple of veterans of the business are rapidly moving to sell their profitable palaces?

The short answer: Big trouble is coming, the kind that drops property value and causes operators to lose their licenses.

BALDONADO INVESTIGATION: And speaking of trouble, for district attorney's office investigator Peter S. Baldonado, who is accused of extorting sex from a female witness in exchange for suppressing warrants, the trouble may be just beginning.

It turns out such alleged behavior is often serial in nature, and that means the DA's office might hear from others with something to say about Baldonado.

GCB GOOD GUY: Gaming Control loses one of its best today with the retirement of enforcement supervisor Mike Cassell after 22 1/2 years. Cassell has accepted a position as a credit card fraud and identity theft investigator with Discover Financial.

BUSINESS AS USUAL: Casino man Michael Gaughan promises the announced $1.3 billion merger of his Coast Resorts with Boyd Gaming won't result in substantial job losses. Gaughan says he anticipates few adjustments as his company becomes a Boyd subsidiary.

"I don't see a whole lot changing," Gaughan says. "I really had some partners who wanted to cash out, but they didn't want to go public," a long-rumored possibility.

In the new look, Gaughan and long-time Coast executive Frank Toti will hold approximately 40 percent of company stock.

ON THE BOULEVARD: The Gary Horrocks voter fraud case continues to move forward in District Court. Those who thought the district attorney's office had forgotten about it appear to be mistaken. ... Is one-time Las Vegas resident and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson really down to $5,500 in cash reserves after winning purses in excess of $200 million? Federal court documents in New York say it's so. I'll bet Iron Mike wishes he could get a refund for all the lap dances he bought at Cheetah's in recent years. That's nothing compared to what he has spent on lawyers and hangers-on. ... There are a lot of stiffs on "C.S.I.," but Mayor Oscar Goodman insists his role on the show hasn't been killed. He's now set to appear in a Feb. 19 episode.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.