LAS VEGAS "WINS", DETROIT "PLACES", ATLANTA "SHOWS"

Later this month (March 27), the Tea Party Express III will begin its cross-country tour at Searchlight, Nevada, home of Harry Reid. This is by design and for good reason. Reid, the third tentacle of the progressive hydra, is in the midst of a perfect political storm, a storm he will likely not survive. This political fact-of-life is not lost on the organizers of the Tea Party Express, either. Thousands will attend the Searchlight whistle stop, including Governor Sarah Palin.

Outside of storing nuclear waste, some mining and a smattering of military installations, Nevada doesn't have much in terms of an industrial base. However, Nevada does possess something no other state or nation can match: Las Vegas--the entertainment capitol of the world. Las Vegas is Nevada's economic engine, and it has a long reach in terms of economic activity. The world, to put it simply, is Vegas' market base. If life were found on another planet, they too would soon be booking flights bound for Vegas.

As we're discovering, even Nevada's economic crown jewel is not immune from the recession/depression. Business is cyclical. But, add to the mix Obama's admonishment to stay away from Las Vegas, coupled with Harry Reid's silence on the matter, and what you have is an economic disaster playing out right in front of not only Nevada's eyes, but the nation's: From Forbes:

"Las Vegas edged Detroit for the title of America's most abandoned city. Atlanta came in third, followed by Greensboro, N.C., and Dayton, Ohio. Our rankings, a combination of rental and homeowner vacancy rates for the 75 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the country, are based on fourth-quarter data released Feb. 3 by the Census Bureau. Each was ranked on rental vacancies and housing vacancies; the final ranking is an average of the two."

"America's most abandoned city"--Yes, you read that correctly. Because of the progressive hydra, the people of Las Vegas are left with no other choice but to search elsewhere for better employment opportunities. If you read the Forbes piece, you will get a perspective from investors who took the risks. Risks that created job opportunities for workers to make a good living. A living used to raise their families, educate their children. And remember, these capital investment outlays didn't come from government provided programs; they came from smart, hard working business people who earned those investment dollars on their own.

Business people and working people have one important thing in common: they vote. And vote they will.

As Las Vegas goes, so goes Nevada. As Nevada goes, so goes Harry Reid.

Support the Tea Party Express III. Don't think about it, do it. It's important, patriotic work and it costs lots of money. These tours are made possible only by your generosity. Send something, anything.

***Above photo: Las Vegas. Below photo: interior of a once productive Detroit business.

For today's economic news, stop by Teresa Monroe Hamilton's Noisyroom. And do not miss Radio Patriot's latest piece on Obama--What happened to him? Required reading.

*SHOWDOWN IN SEARCHLIGHT*