Monday, October 04, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Street theater troupe tweaks president

Billionaires for Bush comes to Las Vegas to draw attention to administration's `disastrous economic policies'

Jesse Tendler of New York portrays the character Noah Countability for the Billionaires for Bush organization during a visit Tuesday from first lady Laura Bush in Henderson. The satiric anti-Bush 527 group is hitting four Western battleground states. Photo by ISAAC BREKKEN/REVIEW-JOURNAL Laura Bush meets with audience members Tuesday after she spoke in Henderson. Photo by John Locher.

Some creative performers visited Las Vegas this week to say they've had enough of this foreign affairs bunk in the presidential election and it's time to get to the real issue: protecting tax cuts for the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans.

Billionaires for Bush made its debut in Henderson to cheer first lady Laura Bush in her visit last week.

In dripping jeweled excess, the Billionaires waved signs that read "Leave no billionaire behind" and "We're all in this together, sort of."

Monet Oliver d'Place, aka Marco Ceglie from New York, said the Billionaires still love the first lady even though she rebuffs the envelopes they try to pass her.

"She's always quite put off by our attempts to get her another check," d'Place/Ceglie said.

The New York-based 527 is hitting four Western battleground states, stumping for the "very, very rich" and supporting relaxed regulations on energy companies and the Bush tax cuts.

After Las Vegas, the five travelers went to Arizona to call for the privatization of Grand Canyon National Park.

For those a little light in the satire appreciation department, the street theater troupe is designed to showcase what they consider the Bush administration's "disastrous economic policies."

The group's American flag has corporate logos replacing the stars and the performers are prone to chanting "Four more wars," which in their view would enable more spoils to head Halliburton's way.

In addition to the Bush event, the Billionaires campaigned outside a UNLV speech from Bob Woodward and Ben Bradlee of The Washington Post. They urged a repeal of the First Amendment.

"We all know that men like Bob Woodward would be better if they toed the party line," d'Place said.

The five Billionaires packed up their van and left town, but not before forming a local chapter, which made its debut at First Friday, with local Billionaire Ray D. Treasury, aka Ham (honestly) Jenkins.

"The goal is to get the least amount of people as possible to vote because a large turnout cuts into our power," Treasury said.

But the audition for new performers took place in the very unbillionairelike Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on the lowbrow Maryland Parkway.

Come on, there is a Four Seasons in Vegas.

GOP women on display

Nevada's Republican women were on full display during first lady Laura Bush's visit to Henderson Tuesday.

State Republican Chairwoman Earlene Forsythe, on three occasions, referred to Nevada's "electorial" votes.

In 2000, she said: "Those four electorial votes put George W. Bush into the White House." Now that the state has five, she urged Republicans to get out and work for the president because, through their "preserverance," Bush will be re-elected.

Outgoing Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons, wife of Congressman Jim Gibbons, stole the pre-Bush show when she bounded onto the stage and slapped hands with those seated behind the lectern.

She referenced a joke President Bush made in a recent visit about his concern over his wife's campaign stops in Las Vegas given the city's "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" theme.

The Reno Republican then looked back at a young man in a suit seated in the front row and said: "I'd pick that young guy for me."

Congressman Jon Porter's wife, Laurie, delivered another solid speech supporting her husband and promoting her work to distribute books to needy children.

Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt delved heavier into the political realm in her remarks, but still tailored them to the largely female audience.

"I want my grandkids to worry about their homework, not about their safety," Hunt said.

She has a fund-raiser for the 2006 governor's race set for Thursday at Valcom Studio's "casino set," complete with silent auction. Tickets are $150.

Breast cancer awareness

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here's some full disclosure about a tour Laura Bush took of a mobile mammography unit during her visit last week.

Since the Review-Journal was not invited by the Bush-Cheney campaign to watch Laura Bush tour the van, the paper relied on what speakers at the Henderson Pavilion said about it, and referred to the unit as the "brainchild" of Nevada first lady Dema Guinn.

Sen. John Ensign helped fund the mammovan with a $500,000 grant when he was a congressman, and it is now operated by Nevada Health Centers Inc., a private nonprofit organization.

Guinn is the leading advocate of the project statewide.

Contact political reporter Erin Neff

at 387-2906 or ENeff@reviewjournal.com.