There's a funny item up now on Talking Points Memo about Nevada's governor Jim Gibbons. Confronted with this Nevada Appeal photo of him embracing the Playboy-model ex-wife of a former Reno mayor, he insisted he was just comforting a friend.

Gibbons told the Las Vegas Sun: "You know what, I've know Leslie for 20 plus years. In fact, Leslie is a wonderful dear friend and if they are implying there is anything romantic there, they are wrong."

He could have stopped there, but instead he offered what may be the most unique defense ever against sexual impropriety: