Let's get the obvious out of the way. Not even the most fervent supporter of the Special Session of the Legislature now underway in Santa Fe is spinning that this stuff could not wait until the regular session in January. That it was a face-saving gesture for Governor Bill is a given. That he lost control of the tax reform commission he appointed and had to scurry to come up with "something special" to fulfill a campaign promise is also taken as established fact among the politicos.

Having said all that Day One of the Not Very Special went pretty well for the Guv. After all the behind-the-scenes back-stabbing before the session, not one Democrat Monday spoke out against the event in a way that drew public attention. Despite pre-session bravado by disgruntled Democrats, Governor Bill did what governors are supposed to do: He held his party together. If he can continue in that vein the rest of the week the event will be a faded memory a year from now. Not that some Dems aren't still unhappy with the big guy. They don't think they were consulted enough, they think they were put on the spot, and like a scene from a bad marriage, "It's all about him!" But those complaining lack the intestinal fortitude to go public. The Republicans unloaded on him as expected ("let's go home, It's too expensive" etc.) but it all made for a ho-hum "what else is new?" day at the Roundhouse.

Bottom Line: The Guv has had a tough month or so with his high speed, highly paid for, and in one instance, who paid for travel. Not to mention the crumbling of the tax reform commission, plus the Legislative grumbling. But, to his credit, there was no embarrassing move to adjourn Monday. That's important. It shows he still has control of his Democrats, at least publicly.

It seems from this corner that Big Bill has a lot in common with his predecessor, Governor Gary. Both wanted to cut personal income taxes, get a Secretary of Education, and poke the Legislature in the eye and get away with it.