Schlesinger answers casino allegations...with b.s.

Man, I wish I could of asked a question at this press conference because something doesn't sound right. In fact, it seems like the Republican nominee for Senate is talking out of his ass and offering up a dose of fresh, all-natural, 100% home grown b.s.

Read Alan Schlesinger's excuse about him carrying around a casino comp card with a fake name.

Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Alan Schlesinger said he was simply trying to be left alone while gambling at Foxwoods Resort Casino when he got a Wampum Rewards card with a fake name.

Schlesinger said Thursday that he got the card in the early 1990s when he played blackjack occasionally. He said dealers constantly asked him if he wanted a card and he finally broke down and got one to avoid the questions.

"I used to say 'I don't want one,'" Schlesinger said. "I got tired of every single time them asking me, so I got one."

The card is used by the casino to gain marketing information on players and also rewards them for playing. Players earn points that can be redeemed for hotel stays, food, entertainment, etc.

Schlesinger said he used the fake name Alan Gold to protect his privacy because the casino was controversial in the area. He said he also didn't want to receive marketing promotions from the casino by mail.

Wha, wha, what? Oh man, I don't even know where to begin.

Now, let's think about this for a second. This guy wants to keep his identity secret YET he uses a casino comp card to get free stuff. I'm not buying it and neither should you.

Think about it...

I've been to Foxwoods plenty of times and I can play a mean game of Texas Hold Em as well as Blackjack. I never, EVER, had a person at Foxwoods press me to get a casino comp card. NEVER.

Even if Alan "double down" Schlesinger was spending mega bucks counting cards at the black-jack table, I highly doubt that the people at Foxwoods would be pushing their comp card on him, they would just comp him on the spot.

Second, by using a casino card, Foxwoods would have a record of all your gambling activity and if Schlesinger was trying to keep a low-profile, using a casino comp card wouldn't be the smartest thing.

And then there's that little thing about photo-ID.

Now, lets go back and look at a couple of rules regarding the use of Foxwoods Wampum card (the interesting stuff is in bold).

To obtain your Wampum Rewards Card, you must go to the Wampum Rewards desk and present state and/or federally issued photo identification. This identification must include date of birth and your current address.

* Wampum Rewards points can be redeemed for food, beverages, retail merchandise items, theater, bingo admissions, hotel accommodations, and other approved privileges and rewards. All redemption is based upon point availability and must be supported by valid matching identification. Foxwoods reserves the right to substitute any privileges or rewards at its sole discretion.

* The Wampum Rewards Card may be used only by the Wampum Rewards member whose name appears on the card.

Okay given these rules, these questions remain unanswered:

1.) How did Schlesinger get a card using a fake name.

2.) What photo-ID did Schlesinger use to obtain the card (with a fake name).

3.) How was Schlesinger allowed to use the card to redeem stuff using a fake name.

(bonus question…and the real issue): Are the other allegations Bradley Beecher made about Schlesinger true?

What allegations you ask? Well, let's take a read.

Bradley Beecher, a retired Connecticut State Police officer whose last assignment was as commander of the Casino and Licensing Unit, forwarded to reporters copies of e-mails he had exchanged with Schlesinger and Rell.

Beecher, in his e-mail to the governor, said he was "able to document a long history of improper relationships between Connecticut Republicans and Connecticut casinos" and described Schlesinger's candidacy as "a train wreck in progress."

He said Scheslinger had called him and said he plays blackjack in casinos under phony names because, apart from using the pseudonyms to take advantage of "comped" items like free rooms and meals, "he is a card counter and wants to avoid detection."

Beecher, who after retiring from the state police worked as an investigator for the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Commission before the tribe eliminated his position in 2004, wrote that Schlesinger "is no longer permitted" at Mohegan Sun because of his card counting.

He also said Schlesinger had volunteered that he lost "at least $50,000" at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Beecher not only forwarded copies of his message to Rell but also of a more ominous-sounding e-mail he had sent to Schlesinger last week.

In that missive, Beecher asked Schlesinger whether he remembered "when John Rowland was governor and you were in the state legislature and used to play at Foxwoods under the name 'Alan Gold."'

"Do you remember what happened to the intelligence file that was maintained on you with the Connecticut State Police?" he wrote. "Could Connecticut's U.S. marshal shed some light. Do not assume that the FBI made every file on you disappear. You know as well as I do that you do not deserve to be a United States senator."

Now, did Schlesinger have an answer for any of these allegations made by Beecher?

Is it true that Schlesinger was kicked out of one casino for counting cards?

With all of his shady dealings, I beginning to wonder if Alan is friends with William Bennett? One thing is for certain, he can kiss his dreams of being a senator good-bye. The writing is on the wall and it's only a matter of time till he drops out.

Who will the GOP offer up next? Urbans? Shays, Simmons?

OR what if the GOP offers up no one which would give the Republicans in the state a reason to vote for Lieberman in November...