Jon Ralston

A history-making gubernatorial race: By Jon Ralston; Imagine a marathon with only one runner visible on the course, quietly making her way, trying to make history.

Jon Ralston notes, sadly, special session: By Jon Ralston; It didn’t take long. Not much unexpected happened. Nothing especially noteworthy occurred.

McCain's Yucca song and dance: By Jon Ralston; Notes on 15 minutes spent with presumptive GOP nominee John McCain in a van on the way from the Henderson campaign headquarters to the Signature Air terminal:

Public workers getting a bad rap: By Jon Ralston; So what can we do with all these overpaid government workers who rake in more than the poor slobs in the private sector here? Here’s an idea: Let’s take away their cost-of-living raises and caricature them as indolent, two-hour-lunch-taking, useless slugs. Everyone onboard?

How state Democrats are managing to look as bad as Gibbons: By Jon Ralston; If ever you question the unpredictability of politics, consider that in one day Gov. Jim Gibbons ascended from hapless leader to fiscal visionary, and legislative Democrats fell from eager partisans to neutered whiners.

Nine questions about special session: By Jon Ralston; Some questions and answers about the 24th special session, aka the Save the Governor Telethon:

Irony in Lanni’s proposal: By Jon Ralston; At the very least, you have to appreciate Terry Lanni’s sense of irony: The MGM Mirage chairman who once went to the Chamber of Commerce’s home turf to lambaste businesses for not paying their fair share now is pushing an increase in the tax the Chamber of Commerce invented in 2003.

Jon Ralston questions Nevada legislators’ reasons, in this time of financial crisis, for not wanting to legislate: By Jon Ralston; Faced with the worst budget mess in Nevada history, state legislators can oppose a special session only if they have faith in the governor to handle the disaster.

Dems have selfish motives for resisting: By Jon Ralston; Barring an indictment, an impeachment or a recall — or, least likely, an attack of conscience — Jim Gibbons will be the governor until his term ends in 2010, either voluntarily or forcibly.

Take Gibbons’ phone, please: By Jon Ralston; The parties have agreed that there will be no further public comment from either side while the parties attempt to resolve issues related to the divorce action. — Joint statement from Gibbons’ attorneys, Monday

Jon Ralston imagines what might be said during a private meeting between Jim Rogers and Jim Gibbons: By Jon Ralston; It may not have been freighted with the same significance as the Barack Obama-Hillary Clinton meeting in Dianne Feinstein’s living room. But last week, in a sit-down kept under close wraps until now, Gov. Jim Gibbons accepted Chancellor Jim Rogers’ invitation to discuss the budget cuts.

10 reasons Nevada could go blue: By Jon Ralston; I am feeling blue today. With the Democratic primaries finally over and the general election campaign under way, I am starting to wonder whether my outlook for November has been colored red by history. The Republican nominee has won here in every election since 1964, except for 1992 and 1996, when Ross Perot gave Nevada to Bill Clinton. George W. Bush won here the past two cycles by crushing Al Gore and John Kerry, respectively, outside Clark County.

Lack of procedure in picking lobbyist: By Jon Ralston; A lot can happen in 17 minutes. In that window of time Tuesday, Clark County commissioners embarrassed themselves as they discussed (or didn’t discuss) whom to hire as a legislative lobbyist and simultaneously illuminated just how the Carson City game really works, in case anyone is still in the dark. In that short time frame, the commissioners also showed how juice still rules in local government and how silence is the best refuge for cowards.

Jon Ralston says Gibbons v. Nevada makes divorce look like a walk in the park: By Jon Ralston; Time to take a welcome break from Gibbons v. Gibbons to glance at a much farther-reaching and more sordid case: Gibbons (Jim, that is) v. the state of Nevada, with the Gang of 63 submitting an amicus brief and most of the affected parties declining to intervene.

When will Jim Gibbons be set adrift: By Jon Ralston; 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.

Blog: Ralston's Flash

County staff wasn't impressed with lobbying firm chosen by commissioners: Scores show Dan Hart & Associates was not rated highly. Read the scores at right.; 4 days, 22 hours ago

The governor's plan is in writing! (2 Comments): This document was just given to senators by state budget boss Andrew Clinger. See full post.; 8 days, 1 hour ago

Updates from executive producer Dana Gentry

Could authorities have prevented deaths?: The fact that developmentally disabled 4-year-old Jason Rimer's absence went undetected for 17 hours before he was found dead in the family SUV is evidence ...; 4 days, 1 hour ago

Gibbons: Officer and Gentleman? (1 Comment): Intrepid Las Vegas Sun reporter Cy Ryan gleaned from the governor what could be his wackiest comment yet - the one about how witnessing childbirth ...; 5 days, 2 hours ago