Church of Twain: Legislative showdown pits two political interests

You may have noticed this past week that Gov. Jim Gibbons has dusted off his weekender and taken to the road, stumping for his no-new-taxes pledge in the face of the worst recession in decades.

At the Legislature, which is in session in Carson City in case you have cable TV and have missed it, Democrats in power are determined to combine some cuts with some taxes in what they call the only humane approach to getting through the economic crisis we’re facing.

In short, Gibbons is catering to his friends and his vision of re-election. The Democrats, meanwhile, are thinking first of their friends as well as their political futures.

At the Church of Twain, St. Mark of Missouri continues his vacation. This week, visiting pastor Ambrose Bierce has ridden back out of the Mexican desert and into town for a brief sermon.

After anointing himself with sufficient holy water, he gave the congregation a look of deep disdain. He mentioned the current political events in Nevada, then spat gently on the ground.

“Politics,” he said. “I loathe politics. It’s a strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. It’s the conduct of public affairs for private advantage.”

With that, he buttoned his black coat and like a preacher who sidelines as an undertaker, strolled right through the congregation and back out of town.