When will Jim Gibbons be set adrift

Fri, May 30, 2008 (2:01 a.m.)

The scene Wednesday of the game gubernatorial press secretary, Ben Kieckhefer, abruptly ending a Jim Gibbons news conference should have had a bell tolling in the background.

When you call a feel-good event to talk about teachers’ home loans and it devolves into an inquisition about your wife’s allegations in an astonishing divorce filing, causing your spokesman to scuttle the event, the bell has begun to toll. And, Gov. Gibbons, it tolls for thee.

With apologies to John Donne, Jim Gibbons is an island.

No one wants to be connected to the governor because they know the smell of death and want no part of it. Oh, there may be a few sycophants still hanging on — but the true, effective loyalists have left or been forced out by this repellent crew.

The ugly divorce, exacerbated by Gibbons’ characteristically awful handling of the situation, is but the final link in a chain of events that began long ago and inevitably led us here. I ask you, people, what was it about Jim Gibbons’ political career or his campaign for governor that now has anyone surprised that state government has become a dysfunctional mess, a mirror of his now-exposed personal life?

That a perennial backbencher of a congressman, who made so few friends that he was passed over for natural advancement and could hide amid a Gang of 435, should now be exposed under the glaring spotlight of the state’s highest office as thoroughly inept and totally disconnected is hardly shocking. Yes, the depth and consistency of this Lack of Administration’s incompetence and Gibbons’ Rudy Giuliani-like handling of his divorce may stun some folks.

But this is what the people wanted, and how ironic that the place where Gibbons so often found his strength — Elko — began the bell tolling this dirge with a scathing editorial about his treatment of the first lady. The subsequent court filing by Cal Dunlap, the former Washoe County district attorney representing Dawn Gibbons, simply increased the pealing volume.

That document, now posted on the Sun’s Web site on my blog, makes legal arguments about unsealing the divorce almost as an afterthought, with the first third leaping off the pages as a vitriolic, no-holds-barred assault on the governor’s character and fidelity. Gibbons’ denials notwithstanding — and if he is found to have lied about having an affair, the funeral will come sooner — his recklessness has now been well-documented by an unrestrained media. He may be forgiven if he were found to have lied about sex, as so many pols have. But it is the governor’s attitude that is most astonishing: the same blithe disregard for the greater good that has characterized his tenure — for his family, his party, his state.

And that explains why the post-mortems have begun on an administration that is not quite dead yet, as Republicans, much more than Democrats, hope to hasten Gibbons’ demise. GOP insiders, especially those who take the long view, understand that the longer Gibbons stays, the more carnage he could inflict. He cannot help John McCain win the state in 2008 — he may even hurt the presumptive GOP nominee. And if the Republicans lose the governor’s office in 2010, with Democrats perhaps controlling both houses of the Legislature, too, Gibbons’ legacy could be felt for a decade or more as reapportionment and redistricting loom in 2011.

I find it almost comical to hear the constant chatter in Republican circles about what might have been — this has become the “if” administration.

If only Gibbons had hired his well-regarded campaign manager, Robert Uithoven, as his chief of staff, none of this would have happened. If only he had listened to his outside political advisers, none of this would have happened. If only he had cashiered his chief executive, Mike Dayton, and his chief operating officer, Dianne Cornwall, who despise each other, none of this would have happened.

How about this: If only the GOP elite had not foisted on the state a patently flawed candidate, bereft of a vision or basic leadership skills, perhaps none of this would have happened.

A Republican insider mused privately this week that he wonders when some major political or business figure, having had enough of the nonstop embarrassment, will publicly declare, “Enough is enough. It’s time for him to go.”

I think it’s going to happen soon — as soon as that hypothetical person or persons realize the bell is tolling and it must be answered. When that occurs, Jim Gibbons, if he does not already, is going to find himself very much alone.

Discussion: 14 comments so far…

By NVMojo

5/30/08 at 6:45 a.m.

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The heart of the matter:

"GOP insiders, especially those who take the long view, understand that the longer Gibbons stays, the more carnage he could inflict. He cannot help John McCain win the state in 2008 — he may even hurt the presumptive GOP nominee. And if the Republicans lose the governor’s office in 2010, with Democrats perhaps controlling both houses of the Legislature, too, Gibbons’ legacy could be felt for a decade or more as reapportionment and redistricting loom in 2011."

Bye-bye GOP! Bye-bye Sheldon Adelson.
By NVMojo

5/30/08 at 6:47 a.m.

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And, I might add, that Jim Gibson couldn't have done any worse than this dork. At least he lives his morals and family values instead of just wearing them like a flap pin as proof of real patriotism. What idiots out in the hinterlands didn't understand that?
By Judy

5/30/08 at 8:42 a.m.

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If only the conservative voters of Nevada could have seen through the muck of what was coming out of this guy's mouth during his campaigning. He was a failure in Washington DC and they placed him in the Governor's mansion to be a failure for in Nevada's highest office.
Wake up GOP, smell that smell? That is your governor and his incompetent administration sinking the great State of Nevada.
By Oliver07

5/30/08 at 9:16 a.m.

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If only the Democrats had fielded a better gubernatorial candidate. I mean the people of Nevada elected this guy.....or allowed him to be elected....depending on which side of the aisle you sit. Hope this is also a lesson for the Dems to find a candidate who cannot only win next time, but who also is a true leader. Not exactly sure who that is as I don't see a tremendous amount of leadership in the local Dems......but you never know, maybe we can find one!
By Ruralsrule

5/30/08 at 12:01 p.m.

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If the gaming/business elites who bought the governor's office could ask for their money back, they would!
By The_Onion

5/30/08 at 12:47 p.m.

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Gibbons spent most of his campaign trying to get out of the spotlight upon him due to his various scandals. The fact that his administration is no different should come as no surprise. what am I surprised by is that Dawn has waited until now to let loose, but then again, he wasn't divorcing her until now. What is it they say about a woman scorned?

I think the time for Gibbons to resign is drawing near. Krolicki would make a capable Governor for the time being, assuming that he is ready to get serious about our budget crisis.

Dina Titus should have won the election, but my guess is that she just couldn't win over enough of the sexist and close-minded fools who couldn't vote for a woman, much less one with an accent. If she had inherited the financial woes of this state the Republicans could have unleashed a fury of press releases every time she mentioned the word "taxes". To add insult to injury for Republicans, she will probably beat Porter in CD 3, and will be able to raise taxes anyways. God forbid.

Jim Gibson may have been positioned to win in November, but Democrats knew that his leadership was not going to benefit them on their policies.

Who will be anointed next? Predictions?

My money is on Buckley.
By HelenWeils

5/30/08 at 12:49 p.m.

(Removed by the site staff)
By CaptJack

5/30/08 at 7:07 p.m.

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Two things... Anyone still doubt Chrissy Mazzeo?

And as I've always say, Nevada's voters are too ignorant to elect a woman with a southern accent.
By Austin_in_Vegas

5/31/08 at 10:06 a.m.

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No matter who Gibbons surrounds himself with...whether it is Uithoven, Dayton or Cornwall, it won't matter. Just because Robert Uithoven was in charge when the two huge Gibbons scandals occurred, you can't blame Uithoven for Mazzeo or Trepp. It is a stretch to blame his current staff for the divorce. Like they scheduled him to be with "the other woman". Quite a stretch Ralston. I thought you were smart enough not to use the old "blame the staff" line.
By RSN

5/31/08 at 9:30 p.m.

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Dina Titus won Clark County by 24,000 votes our friends up north and the cow counties gave us our Governor.
By Beezie

5/31/08 at 10:08 p.m.

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"Who will be anointed next? Predictions?"
Yeah....Goodman. Charisma factor and the leadership on the Hep C issue.

Regarding that misogynistic posit that male pundits keep tossing out re: ..."a woman scorned".....

If I helped you get where you are today,raised our child for you,cleaned up around the toilet you couldn't hit if Cherrios were floating in it and propped your lame ass up when you royally screwed up,you're damn skippy...Gas,Grass or Ass, someone is gonna pay and tag...Jimmy is it.

I can see how men would fall back on the theory of the whole "woman scorned" thing because it's easier to toss that out than to examine the power issues here. Men are the ruling gender in this state-and society for that matter-and it's seems there are 2 things men with power understand:money and humiliation. She's treating him just like the success object he is. It not about revenge or fury, it's about paying now or later. I guess Jimmy decided on the "pay later" plan.

Dawn has apparently been invaluable to him in getting him elected as he obviously has the personality of petrified wood. I hope she can collect her due compensation in whatever form that takes.
By sfiver

5/31/08 at 10:40 p.m.

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Hmmmm... This situation gives the democrats some quality time to find a suitable leader. Gibbons is finished. Who is available - Goodman perhaps? Or will republican Heller start leaning toward the Governor's Mansion. Interesting political situation.
By scorpiogal

6/1/08 at 1:30 p.m.

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"When will Jim Gibbons be set adrift?"

Conjures up images of (political)Viking style funerals and if Gibbons doesn't quite know what that is maybe he can ask Sig.
By ZeddyBear

6/2/08 at 10:55 p.m.

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This guy is a total LOSER, and he has no business being in the Governor's mansion.... Wait, he's not there... his soon-to-be ex-wife is there..... The GOP needs to counsel this idiot, and tell him to resign because of health reasons -- the health of Nevada, that is......