I have a confession.

I always buy the Sunday RJ. Mostly for the ads.

This week I had a spare hour and read the paper cover to cover.

It wasn't pretty.

Some of the things that caught my attention:

Ron Paul's visit to Vegas this week may not have had the biggest turnout in town, but he's generating the most enthusiasm. Combine that with the report that he has more cash on hand in his war chest than John McCain, and he stands poised to break out.

Never mind that his views run contrary to most of the mainstream party. Paul's message tends to reverberate with much of mainstream America.

Among the plans of Paul's more Libertarian-than-Republican platform: Withdrawal from the United Nations, repeal of the Patriot Act, ending Government handouts like welfare, phasing out of Social Security, and abolishing Public Education.

Not everyone agrees with every plank of Paul's platform, but change – radical change – is what the American People are ready for. Less than a third (and closer than a quarter) of Americans approve of the way things are going. Paul promises change. The question remains, with an old-line Congress in charge, can he deliver?

If he can hold onto his cash and keep an even keel, he could stand a serious chance running against Rudy and Hillary. That third party campaign could be a winner, or at least a serious contender.

I've been saying for weeks we need someone to shake up the race. Paul could do it with his new found credibility thanks to some cash and ABC giving him some publicity. Time will tell.

What goes around comes around.

The fracturing of the Republican Party will shortly be joined by the fracturing of the Democrats.

Cindy Sheehan's declaration that she will run against Nancy Pelosi for the House if Pelosi doesn't bring Impeachment charges against President Bush within the next two weeks has got to send shock waves through the party.

Democrats have always been able to keep their “rank and file” in line better than the Republicans. This could be the first of many fractures to come in the party that could, with luck, spell the end of the two-party system.

And there was much rejoicing....

Kudos to the visitors to our fair city who stopped a distraught immigrant from injuring more people at New York New York last weekend. The off duty law enforcement officers and military members proved that our faith in those whose duty to “protect and serve” isn't misplaced.

Their desire to keep a low profile and not allow themselves to be proclaimed as “heroes” should only further that confidence.

Rebuilding trust in Lied Animal Shelter will be a long term project. New executive director Chris Robinson is working on the uphill battle to bring the shelter back into credibility.

The Review-Journal quoted her as saying, “Only action restores faith. Action coupled with time.”

Time heals all wounds. On the other hand, time wounds all heels. Let us hope that Robinson can follow through and restore confidence in the shelter.

I doubt that 7-7-07 was the big bonanza anyone expected. All I can say is outside of the lines around wedding chapels, traffic for a Saturday was down along the strip. In fact taking the Deuce from Charleston south I was surprised at the traffic jam northbound between Oakey and Charleston – and virtually no where else.

I know that people are more likely to come to Vegas these days for minor holidays, but the 7-7-07 frenzy was hollow and lots of hype.

Keep trying....

In an era where Nevada needs all the income it can, the failure of Nye County regulators to approve a new owner of the infamous Chicken Ranch seems absurd.

While I understand the wish to keep undesirable elements out of your community, the lengthy and intensive regulatory process that Nye County is engaging in to vette potential new owners will pretty much ensure that the property will stay shut for some time to come.

The question remains, how will Nye County replace the income that was generated by the Chicken Ranch? Voters down there should be aware that their sheriff could be killing the goose that layed the golden egg..

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I don't like lawyers.

But having dealt with a couple of the local “shysters” has soured me on the legal profession in this town. One good lawyer can find himself blocked up seventeen ways from Sunday by a slimeball who knows how to play the system.

That said, it's no surprise that such a small number of complaints are acted upon by the State Bar.

It could be that the Bar recognizes that the slimeballs are beating good lawyers who do the right thing. The losers go after their GOOD lawyers instead of the slimeballs. Since the good lawyers did nothing wrong – except lose – the bar can't do anything.

The slimeballs, since they won, go Scott free.

Justice, Las Vegas style.

Roswell and Area 51 are always good for a cute feature story, and this week's R-J took full advantage of the formulaic feature on Roswell and the UFO craze that still permeates the town, following reports of the recovery of a “flying disk” on a Roswell Ranch 60 years ago this last Sunday.

While the Air Force contends to this day that it was a weather balloon, many still flock to the community in search of life beyond this atmosphere.

Some businesses in Roswell treat UFO's and ET's as serious subject matter, while others play is for laughs. But whether UFO's and ET's exist, they help keep this New Mexico town vibrant.

The 80^th birthday of 7-eleven is being overshadowed by the chain's current tie-in promotion with The Simpsons movie. The chain, which has provided many temporary jobs (including for yours truly) and opportunities for good permanent jobs and a full time business for franchisees, is taking this opportunity to laugh at itself with the rebranding of several locations, including one in Henderson, as “Kwik-E-Marts”.

As Apu is so fond of saying, 7-eleven hopes the promotion will want you to “come again”.

You didn't know Charles Lane by name. But you remember the curmudgeon in the father's waiting room with Ricky Ricardo. You remember Homer Bedlow, the nemesis of Kate and Uncle Joe of Petticoat Junction. No doubt you know his face. For over half a century he entertained people.

He died Monday at the age of 102. No doubt he's tormenting Edgar Buchanan, Jimmy Stewart, and the rest of the gang in the hereafter.

He's one character actor I'll truly miss.

Wyatt's not an actor, but he IS a character. You can write him at americansunriseradio@yahoo.com or at http://rant.wyattcox.net