FLASHPOINT for Dec 10, 2006

The theater last week surrounding the politicians who induced the hospital behemoth Universal Health Services to return to the table was nothing short of stunning. Jim Gibbons, the governor-elect, doing little and getting much positive press - I bet he'd forgotten what it looked and sounded like. Speaker-elect Barbara Buckley speaking softly and carrying the heaviest stick. County Commission boss Rory Reid speaking loudly to the hospital execs and shocking everyone - whether it was an act or not. Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Shelley Berkley exerting not-so-subtle pressure on the hospital to come to the table. And the winner: SEIU, the nurse's union. But will it be ephemeral? I'd hate to hear about Reid the Younger yelling again.

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