OUR BLOGGERS ARE SAYING …

Analyst upgrades view

of Las Vegas Sands

Las Vegas Sands Corp. reports second quarter earnings Thursday, but one gaming analyst isn't waiting for the official numbers to upgrade his view of the casino operator.

Macquarie Securities gaming analyst Joel Simkins said this morning investors might want to take another look at Las Vegas Sands, which operates the Venetian and Palazzo and three resorts in Macau.

"We note that we are not basing our upgrade on a second quarter earnings surprise, but simply believe that operational concerns and downside risks are abating," Simkins wrote in a research report.

Simkins said Las Vegas Sands has several catalysts working in the company's favor, including a potential initial public offering of shares in the company's Macau casinos on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the planned 2010 opening of the $5.5 billion Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

"We believe investors will take a closer look at potential returns at the property and the global economic improvements bode well for Singapore future convention bookings," Simkins said.

Exempt itself from laws?

In Federalist Paper No. 57 either Alexander Hamilton or James Madison explained why the House of Representatives would never exempt themselves from the laws they pass for the rest of us, saying "they can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass of the society. This has always been deemed one of the strongest bonds by which human policy can connect the rulers and the people together. It creates between them that communion of interests and sympathy of sentiments, of which few governments have furnished examples; but without which every government degenerates into tyranny. If it be asked, what is to restrain the House of Representatives from making legal discriminations in favor of themselves and a particular class of the society? I answer: the genius of the whole system; the nature of just and constitutional laws; and above all, the vigilant and manly spirit which actuates the people of America, a spirit which nourishes freedom, and in return is nourished by it. If this spirit shall ever be so far debased as to tolerate a law not obligatory on the legislature, as well as on the people, the people will be prepared to tolerate any thing but liberty. ..."

So, why does the health care reform bill exempt Congress and the president? And will we be prepared to tolerate it?

According to World Net Daily, during his presidential campaign, President Obama told an audience in Canton, Ohio ... "If you don't have health insurance, you'll be able to get the same kind of health insurance that members of Congress give themselves."

Sen. Chris Dodd is a big, fat ...

"As the Dodds have said from the beginning, they did not seek or expect any special rate or terms on their loans, and they never received any."

That, of course, clearly appears to be a big, fat lie. The AP on the front page of this morning's Review-Journal reports that the chief investigator secretly told the Senate Ethics Committee that Sen. Christopher Dodd and other Democrats knew they were getting a sweetheart deal on their loans from Countrywide. ...

Now, do Democrats who previously railed against "Republican corruption" and who now control Congress lock, stock and barrel, have the backbone to punish one of their leaders?

Fan perk or budget cut

at LVMS?

You can design the program cover for the Sept. 26 NASCAR Camping World truck race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

If you win, you get four suite and Neon Garage passes to the one-day event.

Is the speedway reaching out to the arts community or just trying to save a buck?

It currently doesn't have a sponsor for the race so every penny saved counts.

Upcoming contests could be for ambulance driver, announcer and pilot of the medical helicopter.

For information on entering the contest -- the one for the cover design -- go to lvms.com. Contest runs from Saturday to Sept. 1.

Must supply your own crayons.