Bickering between Gibbons and Krolicki has to end

The ongoing sniping between Gov. Jim Gibbons and Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki has got to stop " now.

This skirmish, being conducted through the media, over Gibbons's apparent end-run appointment of a tourism director and Krolicki's state-sponsored trip to China, is embarrassing the state, and the Republican party these two top officials represent.

Not only is the tiff taking attention away from the business of running a state during crisis, it's now making our leadership look ineffectual on a global level.

Krolicki solicited a comment in his defense from Karen Chen, the tourism commission's chief representative in China, attesting to his busy-bee schedule during the trip. What must she think about Nevada after being asked to weigh in on this? That our leaders are behaving like petulant children, is our guess. That is not the message Nevadans want sent to the world.

Republicans must be chagrined as well, in the wake of a stinging presidential election defeat that turned this once solidly red state blue. While it's true that Illinois' Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich is soaking up most of the national gubernatorial shame, GOP governors continue to look for ways to polish the party's image. The bickering between these two Republicans " you are on the same side, right? " casts an additional pall over the party. It has to end.

In an Associated Press article, political science professor Erik Herzik argues Krolicki is hurt more by the sniping because of his recent indictment on charges related to his handling of a college savings program. But Gibbons' reputation is suffering as well as a result of personal peccadilloes as well as political missteps. Neither comes out of this the righteous one.

Gov. Gibbons, Lt. Gov. Krolicki, quit communicating through press releases. Walk down the hall, shut the door and work this out between you, like mature, responsible men.

The state of Nevada and its citizens deserve it.