Jim Gibbons has appointed (former) lobbiest, Mendy Elliot as the Director of the Department of Business & Industry. I'm sure bankers are in a state of euphoric glee.

Gibbons has also altered the State employee raises for the next two years, changing it from a 3% this year and 3% next year to 2% and 4% respectively. A change that will reportedly save Nevada 31 million dollars. Also, being back on the DHS high risk list is apparently all Gibbons doing, according to his press release.

Finally Gibbons secret midnight inauguration has a logical explanation, it allows Gibbons to review outgoing Governor Guinn's appointments to the almost omnipotent Gaming Control Board, which is exactly what he is doing. [VGO]

Mr. Gibbons, the eyes of Nevada are on you, and we're entering an age when that means something.

Next up, is Rep Shelley Berkley is being made a Senior Whip, which in addition to her coveted Ways and Means committee seat makes her quite a powerhouse. [LVG]

Finally, Harry Reid is more than in the news these days as the Senate Majority Leader. I found a fair summary of the contradiction that is Harry Reid. And hope he seriously considers the ramifications of being party to sending more troops into Vietnam Iraq... meaning if we continue to see the status quo or (as I expect) an escalation in the death toll the American People will be hard pressed to forgive those who empowered George Bush to expand this mess... you don't put out a grease fire by throwing more grease on it.