By Jon Ralston

Wed, Jan 9, 2008 (2 a.m.)

What a difference a disaster declaration makes. Almost exactly two years ago, Sen. Harry Reid was calling for Homeland Security Department Secretary Michael Chertoff’s resignation after Las Vegas was taken off a high-risk target list. Reid was outraged, seething, even. But this week, Reid needed Chertoff’s help in getting federal aid to Fernley, and after the secretary obliged, Reid was loving the man he once said “doesn’t deserve to serve in a position like that.” Reid hyped a “personal phone call” from Chertoff and then put out a statement that said, “I greatly appreciate Secretary Chertoff taking the time to personally call me ...” Nobody does the no-permanent-friends-no-permanent-enemies thing better than Reid.