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Friday, March 13, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.
It is long past time that Jim Gibbons, who holds the job formerly known as governor, be reduced in writing to what he is in fact: A symbol. And a large Ø seems fitting.
The Man Formerly Known as Governor has zero effectiveness, zero respect in the Legislative Building and zero political prospects. So if the symbol fits, he should wear it and be known by it.
Unlike The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, who had his own unpronounceable symbol, Gibbons has one that is easily articulated and probably has been in private conversations from Reno to Elko to Las Vegas. Like some nomadic adventurer seeking new lows to conquer, Ø seems to start every week with the goal of subtracting more political capital until it reaches the value of his symbol.
This week The Man Formerly Known as Governor managed to infuriate both leaders of the Senate, including the state’s most respected GOP leader, Bill Raggio, while clearly misleading friends and foes alike about whether he would sign a room-tax increase he embedded in his budget. Apparently not satisfied with that accomplishment, Ø decided to antagonize U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and state lawmakers a second time by penning a letter to President Barack Obama in which he complained about the size of the stimulus package as a whole, then lamented that Nevada was not getting enough and said he might reject some of it.
As his behavior grows increasingly erratic, befuddling even those who might naturally support him, The Man Formerly Known as Governor has seen his support base slowly erode. On Wednesday conservative activist Chuck Muth accused Ø of serially lying about not raising taxes and called for his resignation.
His supporters now would seem to come down to a couple of outside advisers — businessmen Howard Weiss and Monte Miller — and maybe a staffer or two. The number could soon be equal to his symbol.
I sometimes wonder, possessing the quality of self-reflection that seems to elude The Man Formerly Known as Governor, if I dwell too much on his various depredations. But then I realize: It’s not like I am wasting my time on a relatively powerless official — say a mayor. Ø is the single most powerful politician in this state, with the power to enhance or destroy the quality of life here.
Folks, the man still inhabits the position, even if he has forfeited the title. And he seems to grow more and more delusional by the day, looking now almost like Anthony Perkins in that straitjacket but muttering about lawmakers and how they just want to raise taxes. Indeed, in his latest faux podcast on his Web site, Ø calls out legislators again for concocting a tax plan behind closed doors while he stands up for the people — or some such populist babble.
Despite the accuracy of Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio tacitly calling The Man Formerly Known as Governor a liar because of his about-face on the room-tax signing, I think Majority Leader Steven Horsford was wrong to call him a coward. Gibbons is not craven; he seems more crazy. In one fell swoop he single-handedly alienated every participant in the process.
But like the loon raging against the insanity of the world, Ø decided he needed to enhance his idiot savant act with a broadside against lawmakers.
“Taking affirmative steps to hide proposed tax hikes from the citizens is true cowardice on the part of Sen. Horsford and certain other members of the legislature,” The Man Formerly Known as Governor said in an accompanying news release, “Sen. Horsford and his tax-hiking colleagues should show at least some honor and integrity by getting their tax hike plans out in the open so the public knows just what he and his associates are planning.”
As unbalanced as Ø may seem with his behavior, I am not convinced his strategy — draw out lawmakers on taxes and win politically by losing on a veto override in May — might not have some impact.
Is he really crazy like a fox? Probably not.
But the question is how close we are to the law of diminishing impacts vis-a-vis his endless gaffes. We will soon be left with a simple equation, as Billy Preston might have put it: Nothing from nothing leaves nothing. Or Ø.
Then what?
If The Man Formerly Known as Governor had any respect for the office he was elected to, the state in which he lives or even the political party he inhabits, he would take Muth’s advice. But it has become painfully clear just how much respect he has for anyone but himself:
Ø.
Biting commentary like this is supposed to be funny from exageration for effect and reduction to the ridiculous. How heartbreaking it's true and happening in our state. Shouldn't the greatest nation on Earth be filled with the greatest leaders? Where is the "Great American Governor"?
Jon? Since 0 is doing all he can to make your job easier, couldn't you give him a little credit? How about Governor 0.25%? You know, for the entertainment value.
Jon Ralston continues to waste his column on the Governor:
When Lynn Warne president of the state teachers union lashed out at state Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford.
When Jim Rogers has commanded an army of staffers to send 50 E-mails per day to lawmakers.
When Horsford and Buckley have yet to present a tax plan.
When Horsford and Buckley have yet to present a spend plan.
When Harry Reid continues to be a zombie to Nancy Pelosi.
There is a much larger population of s out there that Jon will not cover in his column. They have a hugh negative impact on Nevada.
Shame on you Jon.
Nevada elected 0. Nevada is stuck with 0.
Even though it was painfully apparent that 0 would be a 0 governor.
Hey future; At least Reid, Horsford, Buckley & Rogers are engaged in the process, whether or not you personally agree with their politics. Obviously, presenting a budget without the input and engagement of the states leading official is problematic.
Further, the budget process is tedious under the best of times. Sorting out this stimulus mess has hampered the process as well. How can you craft a budget when you don't even know yet what money our now nameless gov will deem clean enough to accept from the feds?
Gonna be a long, long haul.
"At least Reid, Horsford, Buckley & Rogers are engaged in the process"
LOL - the process is called politics.
Can I sort of revel in everyone now agreeing with Jim Rogers' comments about 'the man in the empty suit"? LOL
There are no statesmen anymore.
Great article John, but you forgot that he has Zero credibility, zero IQ, and Zero integrity in the list of Zeros.
To gmag39: Nevada didn't elect Zero. The State Media and the Mormon voting block elected Zero. The media shut out a good 3rd party candidate (Mr. Hansen) from ALL of the "debates". I am sure there are a lot of Mormons who wished that they would have voted with their brain instead of with their Church.
Future2012, Did you miss the part where no one in his own party supports him? 0s' last day will be sometime this summer and then he and Dawn will live off the taxpayers for 18 months. Talk about accountability.
Okay the use of the symbol made its point. It's really annoying now. I'm thinking maybe we should come up with a symbol for the columnist formerly known as Ralston.
I'd be ROTFLMBO (Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Butt Off) - except people just playing in politics is serious business, very serious business, folks!
We have thousands more people losing their jobs, losing their healthcare, losing their homes and becoming homeless! People are suffering terribly and dying prematurely because too many people voted against Dina Titus for petty excuses like her accent or voice - and look where the childish popularity contest voters got us!
I spoke, wrote and yelled about how Gibbons was a liar, cheat and thieving politician when he was a do-almost-nothing, back-bencher Congressman - and, at least, some of the Veterans and Military Families listened...sadly, not enough of us were able to turn out for Dina!
Well, those of us in C.D. #3 have a wonderful congresswoman in Dina Titus - something the citizens of C.D. #2 can't honestly say!
Nevada is so far behind - we have way too many uneducated, uniformed and idiotic people voting stupidly!
The State Senate and Assembly need to get through this budget, then, we need to get them meeting annually - and we need to take back Nevada from the royal kingdom that's been established in the Governor's mansion!
No Governor should have so much power over the Legislature representing the people! We broke away from the royalty of England for these very same reasons - and our American democracy has degraded into a royal society where most of us are little more than serfs and peasants - it's just WRONG!
He who was formerly known as our Governor, revealed that he is a joke of a king - and the king has no clothes!