The more significant distinction is that he's not telling or advising anyone to do anything. He's analogizing about the federal budget by relating it to personal financial advice that would be considered prudent to anyone: you don't gamble if you don't have enough money, you don't buy a boat if you don't have enough money, etc. and similarly the government shouldn't be spending money on frivolous things when it doesn't have enough money. He's not preaching to anyone, but relating an analogy about policy. That this has gotten as far as it has or to suggest that this somehow negatively affects Las Vegas is lunacy and, I think, is indicative of how miserable political discourse has become.

 

No matter what his analogy was why mention any city or state? He could have said don't blow money on a new GM car or truck if you're saving for college. There's no denying he has now used Vegas twice for an analogy of a place not to blow money? I wouldn't be happy if I were them either.

He did not tell people to NOT visit Las Vegas. He said that blowing a bunch of cash there is not smart when you don't have it.

 

RTS, what part of this statement is wrong? It sounds like pretty good advice to me.

What business is it of his to begin with? Why doesn't he take his own advise?

Edited February 4, 201016 yr by Run To State

From the perspective of someone who has been on 2 "real" vacations in her entire life (8 years old, went to the Smokies with my family and when my kids were 10 & 11 we went to Jekyll Island), I absolutely have no problem with what Obama said.

 

When times are tough, you make choices. If times aren't tough for you, by all means, visit Vegas. If you are struggling to pay expenses, whatever they are, whether Obama mentions it or not, I would think it would be prudent NOT to go to Vegas.

 

There, I said it. Don't go to Vegas if you can't pay your bills. Count me among the many that are trying to destroy Vegas.

 

It was an EXAMPLE people, and EXAMPLE! Sheesh!

Not his place, not his place, not his place.

My bad, it was unclear. Yes. If a sitting president negatively talks about a tourist city I think it can and will hurt their tourism.

 

On a related note I think Vegas' biggest problems are that more and more states are allowing gambling. His words aren't nearly as bad as that, but if I'm an employee out there I'd rather him never mention my city or state unless its reminding people there is more to do in Vegas than in Lawrenceburg Indiana or a place like that.

Darn right it can, and those in Vegas that are ticked off about it are rightfully so.

The more significant distinction is that he's not telling or advising anyone to do anything. He's analogizing about the federal budget by relating it to personal financial advice that would be considered prudent to anyone: you don't gamble if you don't have enough money, you don't buy a boat if you don't have enough money, etc. and similarly the government shouldn't be spending money on frivolous things when it doesn't have enough money. He's not preaching to anyone, but relating an analogy about policy. That this has gotten as far as it has or to suggest that this somehow negatively affects Las Vegas is lunacy and, I think, is indicative of how miserable political discourse has become.

You mean like a high speed rail system that won't likely get used?

 

Do you have any facts to back up your claim that it can't have any negative affects on Vegas?

No matter what his analogy was why mention any city or state? He could have said don't blow money on a new GM car or truck if you're saving for college. There's no denying he has now used Vegas twice for an analogy of a place not to blow money? I wouldn't be happy if I were them either.

Bingo! Vegas isn't being subsidized, though...

What business is it of his to begin with? Why doesn't he take his own advise?

 

This is not an answer to my question. What is wrong with what he is advising?

This is not an answer to my question. What is wrong with what he is advising?

It's not what he's advising, it's the way he delivered it. You don't call out Vegas for a second time, you don't call them out for the first time. There were hundreds of ways to convey that, he chose a very irresponsible way. He's got a LOT of learning to do, problem is he doesn't seem to learn form his mistakes. Look at trying to ram health care through during a bad economy. Stupid. How does he explain it? He didn't "explain it to us good enough". That's a rather condescending way of approaching it. It's not us that doesn't get it, it's him.

It's not what he's advising, it's the way he delivered it. You don't call out Vegas for a second time, you don't call them out for the first time. There were hundreds of ways to convey that, he chose a very irresponsible way. He's got a LOT of learning to do, problem is he doesn't seem to learn form his mistakes. Look at trying to ram health care through during a bad economy. Stupid. How does he explain it? He didn't "explain it to us good enough". That's a rather condescending way of approaching it. It's not us that doesn't get it, it's him.

 

So, you agree with what he said then?

So, you agree with what he said then?

:lol: I thought I made it clear that it's not his place to preach to us about spending our money, so that would be a no.

I just said there were other ways that would have been a lot smarter to convey it. I still would tell you it's none of his business regardless. It's simply not his place, especially as bad as he is with a budget.

Interesting blog entry from a hospitality insider:

 

Las Vegas Has Bigger Things to Worry About

 

Now, it’s no secret that in the past two decades Las Vegas hasn’t developed itself into a family-friendly, middle-class vacation spot. Vegas caters to the whales—big spenders who can afford to have a good time. Recent additions to The Strip target Asian money; Aria hotel and casino has an entire wing with a seperate entrance for VIPs who can request their own international gambling tables. The Mandarin Oriental sits less than a block away, designed and staffed specifically so wealthy travelers from the Eastern Hemisphere can feel at home.

Vegas also relies heavily on group business and corporate travel, offering expansive meetings spaces throughout each hotel and supplying an enjoyable atmosphere for after-hour recreations.

Amazing, some of the things people criticize Obama for ... like we don't have more important issues to address.

Pelosi spent over 2 million tax payer dollars on travel the past year alone.. over $100,000 on booze alone.. Obama really needs to keep his own"house" in order before he gives advice to the rest of us...

"When times are tough, you tighten your belts," Obama said, according to a White House transcript of his appearance Tuesday at a high school in North Nashua, N.H.

 

"You don't go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage," Obama said. "You don't blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you're trying to save for college. You prioritize. You make tough choices."

 

 

Does nobody else find these comments ironic?

:lol: I thought I made it clear that it's not his place to preach to us about spending our money, so that would be a no.

I just said there were other ways that would have been a lot smarter to convey it. I still would tell you it's none of his business regardless. It's simply not his place, especially as bad as he is with a budget.

 

Again, that is not what I asked you, but I'm pretty sure that I know the answer. I won't make you say it.