Document Dumps and Information Diving

• Jim Gibbons, Nevada's Governor, and perhaps the only human being on this Earth who can perform CPR on an upright female victim, [LV Sun] “...did not have e-mail with that woman.” [LV Sun] Uh, text messaging “yes” (with several), but according to the Governor's staff he did not have e-mail. The Governor claims that his e-mails aren't really public records, and if they are public records they're probably privileged, and we're supposed to take his word on that. Therefore, the continuing Nevada Soap Opera - “Days of His Lies” - twists and churns through the judicial system, [RGJ] as we learn more about his Textual Misconduct.

• Nevada, unfortunately, will be one of the states eligible for the unemployment benefits extension recently enacted by Congress. The unemployment rate in the Silver State climbed to 7.6% in October, the highest point since May 1985. [NV Appeal] The Las Vegas MSA had 7.5% unemployment, Reno-Sparks 7.2%, Carson City 7.4%, and the Elko micro area 4.1%. This time last year Nevada's unemployment rate was 5.1%. [DETR] Nationwide, since October 2007 jobless rates increased in 47 states and the District of Columbia. [BLS]

• Economic policy junkies should be pleased to find that the Federal Reserve has compiled a web page with links to information about recent Federal Reserve actions, including remarks on the effects of the current financial crisis on small business. The Fed also has a “dynamic” map on credit conditions throughout the country. The map shows rates of credit card and mortgage delinquencies by county. Highly recommended.

• The Congressional Budget Office has released its analysis of the housing sector in a publication that offers an optimistic scenario (in which housing starts return to normal by the end of 2009), a cyclical downturn scenario (in which improvement doesn't show up until early 2011, and a pessimistic scenario (in which the improvements don't emerge until the second half of 2012.

• The GAO Reports “Highway Safety Improvement Program: Further Efforts Needed to Address Data Limitations and Better Align Funding with States' Top Safety Priorities.” [Summary]

• The Sunlight Foundation has posted its analysis of the executive actions needed to close the revolving door between Congressional and Lobby Shop offices.

• Common Cause posted its Lessons Learned observations of the 2008 elections, citing improvements in the process but noting that long lines/delays, machine malfunctions, registration issues, and caging attempts still plague the U.S. election system.

• While President Bush was extolling the virutes of “free trade,” [BBC] the Foreign Policy In Focus think tank was pleased to note that the 2008 elections brought more Fair Traders to Washington.

• There's still time to vote in the SourceWatch “Falsies” Contest! Not, “those kinds of falsies,” the award is for “those responsible for polluting our information environment.” Some of the nominees are: the Pentagon Pundit Program, Would You Like Spies With That?, Short of the Mark, Front Groups Go Postal, China Goes For Gold, The Center for Consumer Fiefdom, Coal is Green, Self Deportation, and Chevron v. Goliath. Enjoy! And while you're at it – click on over to Reno and its Discontent's Survey Form.