Lisa Mascaro

Washington Coorespondent

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A lingering case of election-itis: Nearly a month out, U.S. capital still afflicted as Senate seats stay in limbo; Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008; Believe me, even political operatives in this town wouldn’t mind if the election season were to end.
Partisan blame for financial crisis not so easily affixed: Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008; A few days before the November election, Nevada Republican Sen. John Ensign suggested the financial meltdown that was killing his party’s electoral chances was caused not by too little regulation from Washington — but too much.
There’s little cheer in D.C., Carson City as holidays near: Lawmakers face gloomy economy, budget cuts; Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008; Snow fell outside the Capitol windows last week for the first time this year — nothing lasting, really, just flurries that sent a ripple of chatter through the halls much like the anticipated automotive bailout deal that was abandoned before it could become real.
Titus enjoys a week of firsts in Washington: Porter prepares for time away from public realm; Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008; Congresswoman-elect Dina Titus arrived for dinner with lawmakers in a stately hall under the Capitol dome last week to find she had been assigned a seat worth noting: The chair between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Mr. Pelosi at Table No. 1.
Why should Nevada care about the automakers?: Friday, Nov. 21, 2008; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid knew on Thursday that Congress had not been at its finest this week as it weighed rescue of the Big Three automakers. In Searchlight, or even Las Vegas, it’s tough to explain why ordinary taxpayers should shell out $25 billion to bail out an auto industry whose executives had just flown to Washington on three separate corporate planes, Reid said.
State GOP looks to Ensign for renewal: Embraced by Republicans as natural ‘go-to guy,’ senator inherits task of rebuilding; Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008; Since the Nevada Republican Party endured enormous losses on Election Day, Republican Sen. John Ensign seems to have been channeling his Senate colleague, Democratic Sen. Harry Reid.
Texan picked to help oust Dems in ’10; Reid on list: Reelected as majority leader, Nevadan can expect tough fight in two years; Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008; The real action Wednesday may have come from a Texas Republican, Sen. John Cornyn, who was selected to lead Republican efforts to win Senate seats in 2010, replacing the recently promoted Sen. John Ensign.
Already, Titus faces difficult first vote: She must cast ballot for chairman of panel she wants to join; Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008; Even before she arrived for her freshman class photo Monday morning, Nevada’s newest congresswoman-elect found herself in the middle of a political battle.
As downturn worsens, price of help goes up: New government spending is on the table this week; Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008; Even the most committed skeptics can become believers in times of trouble.
In hindsight, a bailout and switch?: Kucinich, others worked up over shape-shifting plan that has mostly helped banks; Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008; Rep. Dennis Kucinich is often on the rough end of jokes, what with his calls to impeach the president and his belief in UFOs.