Elephant in a bar not a good idea

ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Owners of a downtown St. Paul, Minn., bar are having trouble getting permission to have an elephant during next week's Republican National Convention.

Even if they can't swing an elephant, the owners of Shamrock's Bar & Grill to plan to offer a politics-inspired menu item during the Republican convention, "The Politician Burger," a thick baloney sandwich, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Tuesday.

Shamrock owners Ted Casper and Mike Runyon's plans for a pachyderm -- they have access to three -- didn't carry a lot of weight with city officials.

"Nothing good can come from an elephant in a bar," said Bob Kessler, chief of St. Paul's Department of Licensing and Inspections.

Runyon said he hoped an elephant would draw delegates to his place, already a watering hole for local and state politicos.

Building on the baloney theme, Runyon said Shamrock's plans to host a baloney-eating contest Tuesday -- adding that he knows landing an elephant is a long shot.

People really wanting to see an elephant can go to the St. Paul Hotel and check out a topiary.