Jon Ralston feels their pain, but would ask Jim and Dawn: Why now?

Wed, May 7, 2008 (2:01 a.m.)

Jim doesn’t want to talk about it, all Dawn wants to do is talk and the media can’t help but listen.

The sensational spectacle of the first family’s dissolution has, naturally, become the most-discussed story in the state, especially because it features a governor seeking to evict the first lady from the mansion, where she has resided alone for weeks with his blessing, and because it co-stars a stand-by-your-man wife now openly playing the woman scorned, not just privately but with Fourth Estaters.

This is excruciating to watch. But like any train wreck — and make no mistake, this is a train wreck — it’s impossible to avert your eyes. Divorce often is an agonizing private matter and should generally be left private, even when public figures are involved.

But this is no ordinary divorce and this is no ordinary couple. The Family Gibbons has made some prying legitimate and relevant, with no question more puzzling than this: Why now?

That is: Why, 16 months into a perpetually troubled term, would the governor decide to divorce his wife, with whom he has not lived full time for more than a decade and who, judging by her desire to move to D.C. after he decided to come back to Nevada, was not thrilled with the idea of resuming cohabitation?

Has familiarity so bred contempt between these two that none of what seems to have been percolating for years can be contained anymore? And what, if any, impact does this distended grotesquerie have on Jim Gibbons’ ability to govern and to be anything more than a neutered laughingstock as a legislative session and reelection loom in the distance?

There are those now taking immense pleasure in the first family’s breakup and the accompanying media sensation. The blogosphere is alive with the sound of schadenfreude. Despite my low regard for the governor’s performance and my wonderment at the first lady’s erratic behavior, I take no pleasure in their pain.

But the governor’s penchant for secrecy, beginning with his clandestine swearing-in premised on an untruth, and now his attempt to cloak the divorce proceedings, make some questions relevant. And remember this is a couple that only too happily played the beatific Ken and Barbie during his various campaigns, with Dawn being the dynamic, energetic campaigner and Jim being the phlegmatic automaton.

Now that the mask is off, even though we may never know exactly how this unhappy family is unhappy in its own way, the political and personal histories have become intertwined and, perhaps, all too telling.

Dawn Gibbons, who replaced her husband in the Assembly to rave reviews in 1991 while he went off to war, then watched him go off to D.C. without her in 1996, has slowly deteriorated on the public stage. She was well-liked but seen as detached and erratic during three terms in the Assembly; her subsequent attempt to leave the state and be away from him by running for Congress two years ago was seen as quixotic and sad. She finished third in a three-way primary and then had to endure a Tammy Wynette stint as the soon-to-be governor had his infamous night out with Chrissy Mazzeo in a bacchanalian revel at McCormick & Schmick’s.

The first lady’s plight is almost heartbreaking, no matter what her ambitions, no matter how she used her husband’s prominence to help herself, no matter what Faustian bargain she made long ago. The governor’s situation, though, is less heart-wrenching than perplexing and whatever questions are being raised, he has brought on himself.

Is this affecting his ability to do the job? He looks somewhat gaunt, and any emotional trauma can be distracting. But how much focus does it take to walk into the office, remind everyone, “It’s No New Taxes Day again!” and then flip a coin to see if the chief of staff or chief operating officer is running the Lack of Administration that day?

And yet this cannot help but impinge on the governor’s effectiveness at some point. Reno is even more small-town than Las Vegas and Carson City is even more small town than Reno. Rumors, innuendo and speculation are bubbling to the surface (even punching through on blogs) like a noxious stew about to overflow.

The Family Gibbons has played the two-for-the-price-of-one shtick for nearly two decades. If nothing else, that phony game is about to become all too real in a way neither of them ever imagined, and both are going to pay a very heavy price for the charade.

Jon Ralston hosts the news discussion program “Face to Face With Jon Ralston” on Las Vegas ONE and publishes the daily e-mail newsletter “RalstonFlash.com.” His column for the Las Vegas Sun appears Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By HelenWeils

5/8/08 at 8:10 a.m.

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So sick of Dawn. Dump her. Smart move, Jim!
Just keep saying no to new taxes and their supporters!
By outtatown

5/8/08 at 8:24 a.m.

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No one writes it like Jon-o; thanks for keeping the truth alive and colorful. It almost makes me miss Nevada!
By jfnance32

5/8/08 at 11:57 a.m.

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It is on the top of my list.

I MUST KNOW EVERYTHING about Jim and Dawn divorce.

Ops.....it is on top of the Sun’s list and is not even on my list.

Oh well.......the Sun does have its priorities.

I do believe that Sun hates Gibbons more than it does Bush.
By NeVMom

5/8/08 at 3:46 p.m.

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Divorce is a very painful thing to go through. I cannot begin to imagine the pain of having a very public divorce.

Dawn Gibbons is a very caring and giving woman. She is NOT paid by anyone, yet has been the leading force in obtaining recognition and sometimes funding, for such worthwhile causes such as Autism, Meth Addiction Recovery, Organ/Tissue Donation and the list goes on.

A few years ago, I personally witnessed Dawn speaking to a young man (who was in the National Guard) whose wife was very ill. He could not afford to fill her medication that month. Dawn gave him the last money that she had remaining in her account so this man's wife could have the medication she so badly needed.

What thanks does she get? Nasty comments left on blogs, nasty rumors, etc. Where are the people that she has helped throughout the years? WHERE ARE YOU?

As to her being in the Governor's Mansion while the Governor is living in their home in Reno - Just a few of my personal thoughts: People call and email the Governor's Mansion to request The First Lady's help and attendance at events. Was she advised to stay by her attorney? If she us unable to speak to the Governor, how is she suppose to coordinate moving back to their now mortgaged home? Don't forget, they had to take a loan out on this once paid off house for legal bills. How is she going to make the payments on this house since, according to media reports, all assets have been frozen?
The Governor has a paying job, the First Lady does not.

She is still performing her duties as First Lady of Nevada. Her entire year (and no doubt part of next year as well) is no doubt booked solid from people requesting her time, talent and support.

As to the inaccurate comments about she and Governor Jim Gibbons not living together for so long: Congress is only in session (normally) Tuesday through Thursday. Governor Gibbons, then Congressman Gibbons, flew back to Reno, to their home, when he was not required to be in Washington D.C. This is common for those in Congress. Example: Congresswoman Shelly Berkley's Husband, Dr. Larry Lehrner, does not live in Washington, D.C. Does that mean they are not living together? Along these same lines, to those of you married to someone who travels a lot - i.e. Sales or a Professional Long Haul Truck Driver, beware - These same people would say that you and your spouse aren't living together either!

When then Assemblyman Gibbons was called back into active duty, to defend our Country, does that mean they weren't living together by choice? I think not.

What happened to this couple? I have no idea. The stress of Public Life can sometimes wreak havoc on the strongest of relationships.

Those of you pointing fingers and making nasty comments, please look inside yourself.

Thank you First Lady Dawn for all that you have done for the people in Nevada. Be Strong and Hold Your Head High!!
By Nevada73

5/28/08 at 10:42 a.m.

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To: NeVMom--Man you hit the nail on the head. Dawn is a great lady, a contributor and then and now a victim. She has not worked to earn a dime in over two years. What is she supposed to do?? I sure wish that the "Dawn Bashing' would stop. As far a "Family Values Jim" is concerned, he and his girl friend should stay in Reno. Again, NeVMom--Thanks