Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
This article at Politico about Republicans getting out of Washington DC for the inauguration and holding an event in Las Vegas caught my eye:
"What better way to mark the Obama Inauguration (and his millions of adoring fans that will be in D.C.) than to get out of town to fabulous Las Vegas!" Charlie Spies, a Republican lawyer and former CFO to Mitt Romney's campaign wrote in a blast e-mail to GOP friends. "We hope you can join us for dinner and a fun evening on Monday, Jan. 19, to celebrate the last few hours of our Republican president in the White House."Spies and his wife Lisa, a Republican fundraiser, have gotten about 15 takers so far for this last supper or, as they billed it in the e-mail, their own "Inaugural in Exile."
It caught my eye because I knew Charlie Spies when he was in high school. He debated at East Grand Rapids high school. I was good friends with their coach at the time, Becky Knack, and our teams often traveled together to tournaments. Charlie was a very good high school debater, but not the best on their team (Stokes Young was an incredible debater from the same school, one of the best I saw at the high school level in my years in the activity).
Spies used to be the election law counsel for the Republican National Committee and he was the Chief Financial Officer for the Romney campaign. He also figured into one of Tom DeLay's many scandals. It's too bad I'll just miss them while I'm in Vegas, since I'm coming home on the 15th.
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But why do I have the feeling that if the Democrats did something like this the Republicans would be hollering about how un-patriotic they are? Don't the Republicans have a patriotic duty to STFU and support America's president? At least, isn't that what they've been telling all the rest of us for the last 8 years?
Posted by: James Hanley | January 6, 2009 10:10 AM
I find it ironic that the party of family values is going to the city of sin for a ... um ...'fabulous' dinner.
Posted by: yoshi | January 6, 2009 10:38 AM
James is quite right. In 2004, I and my wife both voted against Bush - my wife was particularly vocal on the subject, and bitterly disappointed by the results. But when given the opportunity to attend one of the lower-prestige Inaugural Parties, we both accepted and paid due honor to our elected President.
To skip out of town, and especially to announce it like this is a deliberate, petty, and highly partisan insult. If this fool should ever dare speak out about Democrats playing partisan politics in the future, I do hope Ed, other bloggers, and ideally some mainstream media will call him on his hypocrisy.
Posted by: BobApril | January 6, 2009 10:45 AM
What Yoshi said. Republicans advertising their flight to Sin City? It doesn't really compute.
Posted by: Sadie Morrison | January 6, 2009 11:06 AM
I remember a joke that may now seem fitting. I heard it about my country's own president, but I think you can adapt it to any presidenship.
On the last day of G.W. Bush presidency, Jesus appears in front of him... Jesus tells them that he is real, there is a God and because of his bad judgment and starting the war in middle east, armaggedon will start tomorrow. So Bush addresses the nation:
W. Bush from the white house:'My fellow Countrymen. I have two great news. One is that Jesus exists and I have seen him. The other is that thanks to my efforts, the crisis will end tomorrow!'
Posted by: GPPlascencia | January 6, 2009 11:23 AM
Eh, Sadie, I don't know that Vegas really deserves it's "Sin City" reputation any longer. I mean, there are a lot of kid-friendly stuff (Circus Circus, anyone?). And it's a hell of a lot watered down than it used to be in the golden era.
Posted by: marilove | January 6, 2009 12:10 PM
What, five posts so far and no references to The Stand?
Posted by: Troublesome Frog | January 6, 2009 12:13 PM
Well, my grammar sucks a big one today!
Posted by: marilove | January 6, 2009 12:15 PM
What James Hanley said.
Posted by: Bachalon | January 6, 2009 12:20 PM
Yawn. I know Dems who are going to skip out of town for the Inauguration as well. DC is going to be a circus, a lot of people dont want to deal.
Posted by: Dave | January 6, 2009 12:54 PM
Does the expression "Don't let the door hit you in the ass" mean anything to them? (Oh, and be sure and lock the door on them while they're gone.)
Posted by: Raymond Minton | January 6, 2009 1:26 PM
Let's see...The Republicans are "celebrat[ing] the last few hours of our Republican president in the White House" by fleeing to a city in a desert, built by the Mafia, whose entire business model consists of inciting people to throw money away with little to no guarantee of any return. And then they're calling it "exile." So much for the party of fiscal responsibility, family values, traditional Christianity, and ordinary Joes, eh?
Wait, lemme guess...they'll come back to DC asking for a bailout of the gambling industry.
This is yet more proof that the Republicans have become, not merely the "stupid party," but the party of pure shameless infantilism. What's next -- diapers and Fisher-Price briefcases?
Posted by: Raging Bee | January 6, 2009 1:46 PM
More laughable than this pathetic display of partisan churlishness is the fact that they find anything about the current administration worth celebrating. Though I suppose if one was going to celebrate any part of the current administration, the end would be the logical choice.
Posted by: Nick | January 6, 2009 1:46 PM
I was in Vegas over XMas...can't say anything nice about a city that has no serious bookstore (excluding, I believe, a Borders Express) within walking distance of tourist facilities. But I'm surprised that nobody else pointed out that there's a major adult film convention before the Inauguration. Seems like a good fit (you should excuse my language).
Posted by: Vincent Manis | January 6, 2009 1:59 PM
Vincent: will any particular organization be watching to see whether any of these Republicans go to the adult-film convention?
Posted by: Raging Bee | January 6, 2009 5:36 PM
I think it's a great idea. If, umm....if anybody wants to offer me a trip to "exile" in Vegas for every presidential inauguration, I'd be glad to take them up on it.
Posted by: Gretchen | January 6, 2009 6:33 PM
Oh no! Republicans are going to be all over town here on inauguration day (also my birthday). I was going to even take the day off from work and find a bar or someplace to watch it, but now I'm going to be worried about running into a disproportionate number of republicans.
On the other hand, the local economy could use a jolt, and republicans do have lots of coin...
Posted by: JakeS | January 6, 2009 7:23 PM
I'll bet Nevada's recession-stricken hookers will do killer business this month from the GOP influx.
Way to stimulate the local economy, boys!
Posted by: CHV | January 6, 2009 7:49 PM
Las Vegas for Republicans--fractally appropriate. You got your money, you got your trash, you got your no books, you got hookers ...
I once read a quote from a New York hooker who said something like:
"Oh we love the Republican conventions--Great business." She essentially said that their horrid repression, shame, and complexes made them terrific, silent, well-paying clients.
Asked about the Democratic Party she said "THOSE cheap bastards--they just come here and $&%^ each other!"
Posted by: Metro | January 6, 2009 8:02 PM
When did "inaugural" become a noun?
Posted by: Matt | January 6, 2009 8:42 PM
When did "inaugural" become a noun?
According to merriam-webster.com, 1832.
Posted by: Coin | January 6, 2009 8:46 PM
They have to do their own exiling. What is the world coming to.
Posted by: Richard Eis | January 7, 2009 3:51 AM
James wrote: "Don't the Republicans have a patriotic duty to STFU and support America's president? At least, isn't that what they've been telling all the rest of us for the last 8 years?" Yes, they have... and since most of you did not do it, I don't think they have to do it either. The Republicans have every right to do whatever they want for the inauguration, including getting out of town. They do not "owe" you anything. I think it is very mature that they are finding ways to also enjoy themselves this weekend while letting the Democrats enjoy themselves in D.C. If this were the other way around, I don't think we would see the same. I think we would have seen all these people showing up to protest and ruin the inauguration, because that's just what liberals do.
Posted by: Casey | January 17, 2009 10:38 AM