NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Now that New Orleans has been flattened, Las Vegas is trying to take over as the most politically-backward city in the nation.

Reid Pushes Las Vegas Mayor to Run For Senate Seat

Oh, my God.

Oscar Goodman and Nevada Senator Harry Reid have discussed the possibility of the Las Vegas mayor challenging republican John Ensign for his U.S. Senate seat. Ensign is up for re-election this year.

The democratic mayor has broad appeal, especially here in Southern Nevada where he got 86-percent of the vote in his last race.

Um. Because we're 86-percent STUPID.

If he does decide to run, he could face an interesting Democratic primary battle. Jack Carter, the son of former President Jimmy Carter, has started a website and is gauging support for a possible Senate run.

So these are the Dem choices for Ensign's seat: a carpetbagger and a bloviator.

Harry Reid, for the position he's attained, shows some alarming choices in his "anointed" congressional candidates.

Dario Herrera, for example, just started his defense in his corruption trial.

And now, Hizzoner. The last time we heard from him, he was advocating removing the thumbs from taggers who defaced a $35,000 desert tortoise statue (the cleanup tab was $50,000). Every other time his quotes make the news, they're soaked in gin. He's constantly defending himself against local ethics charges.

When he's faced with real societal issues, he falters. His solution to our homeless situation is to bulldoze their shantytowns, content to believe that NONE of them want help. That there aren't a few wandering our streets that aren't mentally ill, willing to work or just plain in need of a leg up. And those that hand out blankets and sandwiches are enablers.

He's made a career of sweeping unpleasant things under the rug, first as a mob lawyer, and now as The Happiest Mayor In The Universe. His weekly press conferences are full of tap dancing, a lot of "look! Don't look at that dirty spot over there! Look here! I have Playmates! Aren't I a fun guy?"

His hijinks make him Las Vegas' number one partyboy – and admittedly, his image is perfect for Sin City.

With that admission, though, you must admit he has NO BUSINESS representing Nevada in the Senate. We only get two damn seats and Reid thinks it's a good idea to put his political capital behind Otter from Animal House?

The games pols play never fail to amaze me. This one has me stymied. It goes beyond tipping the balance in the Senate. Nobody, not even Reid, can imagine he'd control our favorite attention whore once he got on a truly national stage. And once he's out there, how many of his outrageous comments will seem quaint? And for how long?

Which makes me wonder: what on earth did Jack Carter do to piss Reid off?