Corrupts absolutely.

All the head scratching over why Republicans are blindly in lock step with Trump seems easily identifiable. They are drunk with power and blindly devoted to the dear leader because he promises the other side of the mountain.

Trump is a master manipulator. As loathe as it is to give him any credit for cognitive forethought, he is hard wired to recognize and then exploit those inferior humans in his orbit vulnerable to his form of fawning.

Think of him as a pimp. This is a stretch only because most of us have no experience with the “second oldest profession,”but Trump does fit the profile. As it turns out, trolling for vulnerability is not requiring of high intellect, but instead boils down to basic instinct. And once bitten, the intended targets surrender themselves completely. The relationship works until the hapless victim realizes the error and attempts extrication. Like the trophies of serial killers, he keeps them all close and full of never ending grooming, lovingly nurturing the shell that remains. He never willingly lets go but once he feels betrayed there is no depth to the depravity of his rage.

That is the cultivation of the base.

There are those around him who think they are in on the joke, who acquiesce to his cruelty thinking there is a pay off at the end of the rainbow. That’s the problem with being a sycophant…so busy sucking you can’t hear the voice in your head saying “Run!” Michael Cohen, famously known for being consigliere to the Trump “family”, learned, albeit a bit late, how incredibly incapable of human connection Trump is. And when Cohen made the split, the public retaliation was relentless. It’s tough to admit, both to yourself and publicly, that you’ve been had. Absolute power.

Denial is not a river in Egypt. To anyone who has ever been in a 12 step drug/alcohol rehab program, that sounds familiar. The first step on a road to recovery is admitting to having a problem and accepting help. The minions cannot admit to a problem because the problem will not stop grooming them. Opioid addicts get vindication and absolution because they receive the drugs legally from their physicians. What could be wrong with that. And Trump like the consummate drug dealer feeds into the addiction by constantly offering product. He will never stop feeding the frenzy because not only does he enjoy it but it also makes money.

These are desperate times. So much hate, anger and self righteous indignation that drives us further apart. Something that brings us together? A Vegas vacation.

Ponder for a moment Trump’s proclivity for saying the bad parts out loud. ‘ There’s no way we don’t win unless the election is rigged”. This set in motion legal avenues which found unequivocally that the election was not fraudulent, not rigged, and not stolen. If we can get past his obvious self contempt and inability to accept being a loser and look at it in a different way, we may gain some insight. When he defeated Hillary Clinton he had made the same accusation of voter fraud and voter machine tampering all of which disappeared after he was declared the winner. Perhaps there was some tampering with the voting machines. We can see how this group of grifters have learned many lessons from the Nixon presidency and have in some ways perfected the art of undermining democracy.

We can even make the case that Trump lost to Biden, not because Biden won the popular vote, but because the art of tampering with the machines was thwarted by an unexpected disaster…COVID. Many voters, perhaps many Democrat voters , were dissuaded from going to polling places and instead mailed in their ballots. Recall if you will how Trump railed against these ballots and tried many tricks to try and have them thrown out. I suggest that the steal via voting machines was in place and that he would have won except for the hefty mail in vote. I don’t know it for a fact, I just think it’s true. The louder the squeal, the bigger the steal.

The Oath Keepers, regardless of their delusions of insurgent righteousness, have put themselves in a very precarious position. They cannot be legitimately declared a legal militia unless Trump is placed back in power. And since we know Trump has no loyalty except to his own personal gain, he could easily determine that these “patriots” are just a bit too unpredictable and out of control. You know, like him. And he will not abide that uncertainty.

Finally, we had feared that Trump would gin up a military conflict as another means of remaining in power. He didn’t, possibly because he is a coward and probably because he thought all the bases were covered. When he didn’t win, he started his new campaign. While a civil war may be attractive to him in a purely selfish way, a world war gets him where he wants to be especially if he can convince the populace that only he can deal with Putin and end the war in Ukraine and further reign in Putin’s desire for unlimited power. We do not know if Trump is in communication with Putin, but it seems plausible especially since Trump has remained eerily silent regarding Putin’s actions.

So many unholy alliances have been put in place, that even without Trump, the GOP could conceivably maintain their grip on power for a very long time. And ladies, the trampling of our abortion rights will become the very least of our problems.

It is really awkward to make the case in favor of abortion. Whether you agree or don’t that life begins at conception, in the end it is a woman selfishly deciding against bringing that life to fruition. And women are not allowed to be selfish. We must instead be nothing but incubating vessels. And we sound heartless and cruel when we try to defend ourselves.

No matter the reason for seeking to abort, one thing remains constant: it is the decision of the woman. Judge not lest ye be judged? If you are a woman who is desirous of having children, that is your decision. We are not animals without free will. We decide. And if you are a woman who has decided, for whatever reason, not to bear children, that is your right. Or at least it was.

There are reasons beyond rape and incest that deter a woman from reproduction. For some, it is a psychological aversion to raising a child. For others, it may be the exposure to a dysfunctional family environment. And since no one is perfect, no one makes perfect life choices and no one outside a convent remains celibate. Birth control, of any kind, is not foolproof.

Ultimately, in order to make the case for reproductive rights, the argument must be that women are shameless and selfish hussies. Not overtly, of course. The argument must be clouded with the original argument that life begins at the point of conception, or if you will, when egg meets sperm and says “I do”. But, in truth, at that moment, the only beginning is the potential for life. Not all pregnancies make it to term through the natural course of gestation. And there’s the rub.

To put it Vegas terminology, life is a crap shoot. Some win, some lose, but everyone who plays the game knows that going in.

A constant barrage of images that might lead us to believe we are nearing the end. The end of life as we know it. The end of life. The end.

We are not isolationists. Nor are we isolated. Should Putin decide to launch one at us, it will kill many Americans. And that is just the first round. Should any survive, there will be years of agony from the radioactive damage.

One need only look to Japan to understand nuclear devastation. And while the Japanese have survived, they were also defeated with a single nuclear attack. There was no counter strike.

Now consider the probability of a nuclear war with Russia. None of us has seen a nuclear winter, but it should scare the hell out of you. Do not be arrogant enough to assume that somehow our nuclear weapons are superior. Or that our fighting forces are stronger. We are all human and in the end it will be our human frailties that will defeat us.

The first rule of survival: never get into a fight with someone with nothing to lose. Putin’s Russia has much to lose, but in his delusional state of grandiosity he feels no vulnerability. So we must rationally weigh our options and consider that the deterrent of mutually assured destruction will not factor into Putin’s decisions.

We want to help Ukraine. We want to be a force for good in the world. But the idea that we can help Ukraine by destroying ourselves is its own insanity.

Putin will flex. Putin will threaten us. And we must assume that he will contemplate the unthinkable. And we must assume that his idea of destiny will lead him toward a reckless path. We must call his reckless and raise with rational. And hope the bad beat favors the brave.

Call it the Trump traveling show of horrors. He speaks in negatives and gives his ideas for possible solutions to calamities that do not exist. Most notably, his claim of being robbed of the presidency. Protestations of election tampering will continue as long as Trump feels threatened by legal repercussions. These legal issues are becoming legion while Democrats seem incapable of reaching a consensus as to how to speak of it or even what to call it.

To follow the PT Barnum philosophy, “There’s a sucker born every minute” to its logical extension of the Trump philosophy, “Everyone has a price which I will pay and then seduce him into paying it back to me” leads us to this purgatory of being subjected to the whims of a madman.

Trump has so tainted the minds of his devotees that they not only believe him, they adore him. They trust him and will do anything for him. It is a sickness akin to addiction. The first step toward healing is recognizing you have a problem. The second step is accepting a path toward recovery. We are far from any indication that the followers have any cognition of addiction.

It’s a cult of personality. It is not new nor novel nor anything particularly extraordinary. It is a crime of opportunity driven by a perfect storm of racism, supremes, and pandemics. And a large swath of the population who feels compelled to come out of the shadows to spread their ugly brand of segregation.

We are at a crossroads with a catch-22 attached. If the Republicans led by Trump regain power, they will foment civil war. If the Republicans led by Trump fail to regain power, they will foment civil war. The difference will be how easy we make it for them. Our strength as a democratic nation has always been in our ability to agree what a democracy is and the importance of preserving it. That strength is gone. Should we survive the onslaught of the ridiculous right, we will be stronger for it. But maybe not smarter.

I am the most common of commoners. I have no friends in high places. I have no voice. But one time, unbelievable as it was, someone took up my cause and stood up for me. Little me. Harry Reid has done more for Nevada than any politician has ever done. And he did it with cunning, intelligence and perseverance. Nuclear waste? Not in Nevada. Political purgatory? Not Nevada. Not anymore.

But enough about Harry. What about my issue. I am a casino worker and have been for longer than I care to remember or disclose. Suffice it to say, it’s been a long, lonely journey. Tip earners. Prior to the 1980s, the primary source of funding for casino building was the Teamsters Union. And the mob. Of course, to elevate from the Cosa Nostra stigma, the town had to clean its image. Howard Hughes didn’t do much cleaning, but what he did was to wrench some control of the city away from the mob. That crack in the armor was the opening for legitimate corporations to venture in and establish economic ties with major banks for funding. Thus a new chapter. Some bargains were made and the casino workers were delivered up to the IRS for unfettered scrutiny. All a continuation of cleaning the image. When the IRS swept in, it was a strong arm, no holds barred message of comply or else. We were made to feel like criminals and the assessed debts the IRS calculated that we owed was in the thousands of dollars. In a town where workers get a cash envelope at the end of the work day, saving for a rainy day wasn’t top of mind.

I was scared when I got the bill in excess of $25,000. With penalties and interest, I could never get out from under it. I decided to enlist the help of one of my political representatives. I wrote to Harry Reid and begged for his help. To my surprise, Harry Reid responded. And he offered assistance. When I met with the IRS agent, the tone was not threatening but was instead quite accommodating. He mentioned the intervention by Senator Reid’s office on my behalf. I was able to secure some relief and peace of mind, which if you have ever had occasion to be called to a reckoning with the IRS, is monumentally soothing.

I never met Harry Reid. I never spoke with him. But the willingness he showed to help a constituent in a time of great crisis was apparently normal operating procedure for him. Watching the eulogy, it was clear to me that Harry Reid was a special human being who happened to be a major political force. Naming an airport for him seems like a small gesture in relation to the size of his heart.

Harry Reid made things happen. He had a talent for politics that will never be equaled. He has been referred to as having been the guardian of the Senate and there is no greater need than now for such guardianship. As we witness the antics that are now our political reality, we are forced to realize that no one cared more deeply for democracy and the selfless duty to defend it, than Harry Reid.

Doesn’t it make you wonder why Republican loyalists cleave so tightly to their Dear Leader. After all, he has no government power. He has no legislative power. His only power is that oversized mouth and ego. And yet, that is seemingly enough to engender such abject fealty.

Perhaps there is some logic afoot. There is clearly an effort nationwide to preemptively damage the voting process either by gerrymandering or by insertion of Republican loyalists in key state offices who would be willing to subvert or negate election results not favorable to Republican candidates. We will see a dry run of these tactics in the midterms. If successful, Republicans will assure themselves key victories and will remain undetected by claiming historical precedent.

Ignore at our peril the significance of a Trump media outlet. This will be a propaganda machine that will put to shame any government owned media anywhere globally. And of course unfettered access to the airwaves by the nation’s preeminent megalomaniac will surely tilt an already perilous balance of power even further into the abyss.

These latest actions of Trump’s team, to defy and defile judicial process is a clue to what they believe will become reality. That Donald Trump will be president again and all the sins of the believers will be washed away. It is no wonder Putin does not take Biden seriously. He knows Biden is but a temporary intrusion. Even more horrifying is the thought that all this corruption will live beyond Trump. His offspring are more than primed to carry the mantle.

And so we watch as Democrats become Nero fiddling. Perhaps they think the Republican nuts will ultimately reveal themselves for the crazy, cult driven loons they are. But the rub here is everybody already knows what they are and have decided it’s okay. That strategy is a loser. They are playing a game where the win is achieved by cheating and insuring that all opposing players lose. Any reasonable person would avoid a rigged game but unwittingly Democrats continue to pull out hundred dollar bills. You are running out of time and money. Play smart while you still can.

Listening to the arguments today in the Supreme Court, one might have imagined that there is readily available abortion services on every corner. That women are gleefully lining up their appointments to terminate a pesky pregnancy. Easy, right? Let’s not forget how not easy the country has always made it for women. Roe v. Wade aside, the social pressure on women to conceive and be happy and content is large and overwhelming. Not so long ago, anti-abortion zealots would line up outside abortion clinics, pamphlets in hand, urging and pressuring women to reconsider their terrible decisions. As if reconsideration had not already been in play. It is astonishing how cold and unforgiving women can be toward each other. When Roe became law, many women were “meh”. And then sometimes life and reality intrudes and those terrible decisions must be made. Judge not….

But then, of course, in many areas of the country, women are still considered chattel. Not legally, but societal attitudes are rarely shaped by legalities. Social attitudes are nurtured. Old habits die hard. Women raised in that environment will, unless mentally quite strong and resilient, accept and comply with social dictates. Smile and wave, boys.

And let’s not forget that spate of unfortunate targeting of abortion providers. One doctor shot and killed outside his clinic. And the white guy who shot him? Well, he did it to protect the little babies. But they’re not babies, not yet. And therein lies the legal problem. Viability. The question asked today, what’s the difference…15 weeks, 26 weeks? I am not sure where Roberts pulled that number from, but suffice it to say it’s a stall and a dodge.

The mistake made in today’s arguments for and against the Mississippi law, were not the arguments themselves. But rather the presenters. A white guy defending dismantling a woman’s right to choice, and two women defending a woman’s right to choice. If the case was important enough to be heard by the Supreme Court, then surely it must have been important enough for a guy to do the talking. But guys don’t defend abortion rights. And in this country, if it’s an area dominated by women, the pay is less and the credibility is dubious.

Divide and conquer defeats women. Defenders of abortion rights will argue that overturning Roe would have a greater impact on women of color, who are traditionally poorer and without resources. The hardship to all women cannot be understated and separating us out only dilutes the arguments. And it will be interesting to see how state politicians will entertain the idea of undue hardship. All the compassion they can muster will bring a tear to the eye.

Also sure to follow will be the penalties for a woman who travels across state lines to get an abortion. What will the reward be for that betrayal. The possibilities are endless and brutal.

In Vegas we like to play the odds. But you’re crazy to bet a game that’s rigged against you. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst? When the law is no longer the law, but a frat house drinking game, watch your wallets and your daughters.

Wizards have claimed the rapt attentions of a vast segment of our population. Nothing anchored in truth or reality, the wizards weave a tale of magic and mystery. For a populace totally invested in a good fairytale, this is perfect drama.

So what precisely are the wizards conjuring. Well first you have to believe in magic. No problem. Then you must suspend all reason and surrender your soul to the wizards. Again, no problem. Let the magical incantations begin.

It makes perfect sense. Reality is so boring. And boredom is for losers. Drug use, legal or otherwise gives testament to the growing need to escape reality. A nation of addicts. A nation of dry drunks, coke heads and hop heads. Seems like a healthy environment for a sick, slick, flim flam artist to gain momentum.

The Art of the Steal. It is so simple, it’s laughable. Not funny laughable. But tragicomedy. My contention that Trump is akin to an alien species still holds water. Refer please to the movie “Independence Day”. Recall if you will how the alien ships mesmerized a portion of the population. A group of devotees made their way to the top of a skyscraper to welcome the visitors only to be vaporized. Recall the scene where the US president asks the alien under glass, “What do you want from us?” And the campy, chilling response, “Die”. The question was asked recently, why would the Republicans want to kill off their constituents by supporting anti vaxxers. And of course the answer is, “Die.” Trump has already told us how he intends to steal the next election and we gladly rush to the top of the skyscraper waiting to be vaporized. The goal is domination. There is an understanding and acceptance of collateral damage. In fact, too much latent humanity only complicates the plan. Die.

If you think that’s just crazy talk, think about this. Neo Nazis march openly proclaiming “Jews will not replace us.” in an American city with impunity. Free speech? Or free hate. Now think how precisely Nazis herded thousands of Jews and directed them to their deaths and convinced the German citizenry it was all perfectly okay. Well maybe not okay, but perfect nonetheless. The superior race. The idea that white is right is not new. The lust for power and domination is not new. We are participating in an old story. What is new is the killing of democracy. What is new is that America, the shining example of freedom and justice, has become small, petty and dishonorable.

Have your plane tickets in hand? Or maybe, the car gassed, packed and ready. Welcome to Vegas.

Here’s the deal, if you will. Mask mandates are still in effect in the city. Regardless of whether you agree with it, regardless of whether you believe mandates infringe on your First Amendment rights, regardless of whether your favorite Republican politician tells you it’s all bullshit…there is still a mask mandate in effect in Vegas.

So when you arrive and make your way to your hotel, remember you need to wear a mask indoors. Signage reminding you to wear a mask is prominently displayed and plentiful.

Standing on the casino floor as I am wont to do, it is apparent that lack of knowledge isn’t the problem. It is instead a total lack of concern and a total desire to thumb the nose. Now remember, casino employees have no option but to wear a mask. And honestly, with the influx of guests from around the globe in varying states of health and or vaccination status, wearing a mask affords some protection for our guests…not for us. As folks stroll through, the percentage of mask compliance is about 33%.

Don’t make us ask you. Don’t make us remind you. Put on your mask. And if that’s a bridge too far for you, stay the fuck home.

Thank you.