Gibbons has understated — or is it unintentional? — sense of humor

   I’m telling you, I think Gov. Jim Gibbons missed his calling. He may be having difficulty getting more than the Rodney Dangerfield treatment from his own political party, state legislators, and members of the press, but he absolutely slays me with his bone-dry sense of humor.

  Take this piece of comedy that appeared in Molly Ball’s story in Monday’s Review-Journal. The subject was Gibbons, as a sitting governor, receiving not one but two viable challenges from fellow Republicans Joe Heck and Michael Montandon. Both have, more than a year from Election Day, officially announced their intention to unseat Gibbons. Both have clearly and loudly stated their lack of confidence in the governor.

  Gibbons told Ball, “I think you've mischaracterized their interest in running for governor."

  Oh, my ribs. They're aching with the irony. You'd think they wanted to run in order to be governor, but maybe they're a couple of kidders, this Heck and Montandon.

  Ball, my new favorite straight woman on the political comedy circuit, writes, “Asked to characterize it himself, he said, ‘Whatever reason they want to run for the state's highest office is a question they have to answer. I've not asked them, you've not asked them, and you're assuming that you know why they're running.’"

  It goes on from there in a kind of Abbott & Costello routine that is sure to provide hours of laughter when it comes out later this year on CD.

  There will be a CD, won’t there?

  It was meant to be funny, wasn’t it?

  I mean, the governor didn’t really mean the reporter “mischaracterized” the interest of two politicians who have already stated their interest on the record and in the light of day, right?

  Oh, this is awkward.

  Now the governor’s dry sense of humor has me on one of those “gotcha” moments.