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Harry Reid is the brunt of the joke ... again

From columnist Jane Ann Morrison:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid isn't faring well with two television political satirists, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

In June, Stewart handed Reid an unusual distinction, calling him his "worst guest" after Reid was on his show last year promoting his autobiography "The Good Fight."

It was painful to watch as Reid smiled a lot, but said little in response to Stewart's ripostes in what seemed like a never-ending interview.

Then on Tuesday's "Colbert Report," Nevada's own Reid was the punch line in a joke about President Barack Obama's 48th birthday.

Colbert set it up saying, Obama "celebrated over a working lunch with Senate Democrats. At least he thought it was a working lunch, until they wheeled out the birthday cake."

The visual joke: A photo-shopped photo of a topless Reid, at about 1:20 into the show, wearing only pasties, grinning in delight and popping out of a cake, while Obama throws his hand up.

"That will haunt his dreams," Colbert said, presumably referring to the president.

Actually, it may haunt the dreams of anyone who saw it.

But then, being mocked on national television is a sign you've made the big time. Isn't that what it means?

For more see www.lvrj.com/blogs/morrison

Another half-clever tax cheat gets convicted

From columnist John L. Smith:

Robert Kahre, a hero to Libertarians who dream of an American life that doesn't include paying your taxes, joins Irwin Schiff and a long list of other half-slick operators whose schemes resulted in sweeping convictions in federal court. On Friday, Kahre was convicted of all 57 charges against him.

Kahre has been described as a patriot with a plan in some circles, but in the end he was just another guy who got nabbed. His idea wasn't unique, but it captured the imagination of a number of locals. He circulated gold and silver coins to his employees as pay for their work, then exchanged the gold for cash in an effort to avoid paying withholding taxes. Kahre's scheme was a private joke around IRS Criminal Investigation circles, where agents couldn't believe the guy would put himself and his family in jeopardy with such a muddle-headed plan. Kahre, it should be noted, was also engaged in fraudulent real estate transactions.

In the end, Kahre did indeed discover a way to avoid paying taxes and live at government expense. He now faces up to 296 years in prison.

For more see www.lvrj.com/blogs/smith

The conservative uprising

From Publisher Sherman Frederick:

Not sure what it is.

Maybe it's the inept, heavy-handed handling of the health care debate by Democrats (who always overreach).

Or, maybe Americans just like a fair fight and don't favor one party getting too far ahead of the other.

Or, perhaps, at the core America is a conservative, family-value country.

Whatever it is, something has given Republicans new life after the drubbing they took last year at the hands of Barack Obama and Democrats. Conservatives, according to a new Gallup poll, now outnumber liberals in every state.

In Nevada, not only are Republicans downright giddy about the sudden prospects of standard-bearers like Sue Lowden and Brian Sandoval, the grass-roots GOP organizations are bursting at the seams.

Yesterday, for example, the Las Vegas Republican Townhall Group, which has met for the last four years at the Marie Callender's, announced it will begin meeting in September at Charlie's Lakeside Inn and Casino on West Sahara. According to the group, they just needed more space to accommodate the growing crowds.

2010 could be an interesting year.

For more see www.lvrj.com/blogs/sherm

WSOP coverage continues on ESPN through 2018

From gaming writer Howard Stutz:

Harrah's Entertainment has extended a contract with ESPN that will keep the World Series of Poker on the cable television network through 2018.

ESPN had been under contract to carry taped coverage of the World Series of Poker through 2011.

Under the terms of the new seven-year extension, ESPN will telecast a minimum of 32 hours of event coverage from the annual tournament in Las Vegas, including a selection of gold bracelet events and the final table action of the main event in November.

The World Series of Poker attracts a total audience of nearly 82 million U.S. viewers each year.

"This long-term agreement ensures that our content will continue to reach sports fans around the world through every medium that matters," said Jeffrey Pollack, president of Harrah's Interactive Entertainment and commissioner of the World Series of Poker.

"Poker continues to be a solid ratings performer for us and allows us to continue offering diverse programming to our viewers," said Doug White, ESPN's senior director of programming and acquisitions.

ESPN has broadcast World Series of Poker events every year since 2003. The current coverage airs every Tuesday night on ESPN. Norman Chad and Lon McEachern call the action.

For more see www.lvrj.com/blogs/stutz