Grapevine: Raising the stakes on federal elections

NV lawmaker proposes bill to allow betting on races

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine...

Off Limits?

This week, Matthew Boyle of Breitbart.com reported where Sasha and Malia Obama are spending their spring break.

Salon's Joan Walsh published a scathing critique. Quote -- "Reporters don't write about minor first children except when they're attending 'official or semi-official events.'"

But consider this article that Mediaite discovered written by that same Joan Walsh written back in 2001, when the Bush daughters were caught drinking underage while in college.

She questioned if there was a connection between the girls' partying and then-president George W. Bush's struggle with alcohol.

Today, after that article was revealed, Walsh said she regrets covering the Bush daughters' drinking but maintains what Breitbart did was worse because revealing the Obamas' vacation in a big hotel could be a security risk.

Ready for Battle?

This week, North Korea released a picture showing amphibious vehicles engaged in a military exercise.

The image was carried worldwide before its validity was called into question.

Media reports now say, experts found at least six of those hovercraft were photoshopped -- presumably copied and pasted -- to make the drill look larger.

Raising the Stakes

And finally, a Nevada Democratic lawmaker wants to raise the stakes on a horse race of a different kind.

State Senator Tick Segerblom is proposing a bill to legalize betting on federal elections including presidential and congressional races.

Those bets have been big winners for bookmakers outside the U.S.

Segerblom says the state of Nevada should profit from gamblers eager to press their luck.