Perhaps the only American who doesn't think we're in a recession had a blinding flash of realization today, declaring "it's clear that our economy has slowed." Oh really? What clued him in? The $4/gallon gas he hadn't heard about a week ago? The all-time high in foreclosures, perhaps? The lowest homeowner-equity rates in 63 years? Maybe the 85,000 jobs lost in the last two months (with two Vegas mainstays, construction and retail, hit hard)?

Not only are casinos in Atlantic City fighting a downturn, we've already seen flattening in Iowa and Lousiana, and it's creeping closer to home, with Station Casinos running up against a newly inelastic market and dampened profitability. And it's far from alone. The sclerosis of our economy has taken a while to reach Las Vegas, impacting outlying markets first, but it's here now. We're all going to have to tighten our purse strings and I fear that's going to include the gaming industry.

"Losing a job is painful," says the man who's never lost one in his life. As for the 63,000 people who did find themselves unemployed last month, the Washingtonian can at least promise them an unending supply of optimistic platitudes, like "Our economy will prosper."

Yes, but when and -- more importantly -- how?

On a brighter note, higher room rates, and improved slot product and play translated into a better year for Riviera Holdings Corp., as did notable improvements in cash flow. The company has basically taken itself off the auction block, citing a pallid economy and chilly credit markets, although Barry Sternlicht's Riv Acquisition Group is still kicking the Riv's tires.

None of this, however, kept RIV shareholders from taking a bite in the wallet, as the company posted a -$1.48/share result for 2007. RIV stock only lost three cents per share for all of 2006.

HillRod's pandering. Stumping down in Mississippi, Sen. Hillary Clinton intimated that she might condescend to offer Sen. Barack Obama the #2 spot on the ticket. That's mighty big talk coming from a second-place candidate and, were I Obama, I'd send her off with a flea in her ear. Besides, does anyone really expect Clinton to run with veep-to-be who would outshine her on the stump and draw bigger crowds? She's got enough problems keeping ol' Bubba from stealing the limelight.

What makes my blood simmer is the implicitly patronizing nature of Sen. Clinton's pseudo-offer. In effect, it says, "That black fellow's not ready for the top job yet, but if y'all are really nice and vote for me and Bill, we might let you have a seat at the table." With the CEO's chair finally within its grasp, America's black electorate needn't be sweet-talked into settling for, at best, a junior partnership.