SILVER STATE CONFIDENTIAL 11/07/2014

SAVING PRIVATE HICKEY: CAN “THE APPEASER” BE RESCUED? By most accounts, the votes are there to oust moderate Republican Assembly Minority Leader Pat “The Appeaser” Hickey from his leadership position tonight. The only question is whether Hickey’s opponents have the backbone to actually do what desperately needs to be done. It appears that conservative Assemblyman Ira Hansen of Reno has 15 votes to Hickey’s 10. So Hickey’s camp is pulling out all the stops to save his bacon. There have been threats of lousy offices and bad committee assignments for not getting behind Hickey. And there have been promises made - including to Assemblyman James Oscarson who reportedly has been assured the chairmanship of the Commerce and Labor Committee if Hickey survives. Indeed, Hickey is in such desperate shape that I hear Gov. Brian Sandoval will attend the meeting tonight to muscle the freshman and conservatives in a last-ditch effort save Hickey from the embarrassing leadership defeat he so richly deserves. Hickey’s lackeys have even gone so far as to tell people that the only reason I oppose Hickey is because I want to get hired by the caucus for the upcoming session. HA!  That’s a good one. Thanks, but no thanks. And I can assure you that Assemblyman Hansen and I have not spoken or otherwise communicated about this or, for that matter, anything else.  He’s his own man and will bring on his own people. No, my opposition to Hickey is that he’s a lousy, stand-for-nothing leader whose first and only thought when it comes to a fight with the Democrats is to appease and concede – a very bad habit he apparently picked up in his youth during the Vietnam War era. Indeed, the only time Hickey is willing to fight is when it comes to fighting against conservatives. Like how he fought for a bunch of mushy moderates in the GOP primaries this year against conservative Republican candidates – including Jim Wheeler, Jill Dickman, Chris Edwards and Robin Titus. I hope those candidates – along with others who Hickey didn’t give the time of day to in the elections – have the memories of an elephant. This is an historic opportunity for Nevada Republicans to actually implement the kind of governing agenda they talk so passionately about on the campaign trail. An agenda that will get watered down or shut down if Hickey is the caucus leader. Tonight’s vote will tell us everything we need to know about whether or not this newly-elected GOP conservative majority has the guts to make the tough decisions necessary to make real change. Or whether they’re willing to sell their philosophical souls for 30 pieces of silver… Or cower in the face of political threats… Or be lulled into compliance by that big, radiant, Mr. Happy smile of the Governor. I’m hopeful that this is the one time Republicans don’t blow the opportunity to blow the opportunity. We’ll know in a few hours… FAMOUS LAST WORDS “(Assemblyman James Oscarson’s) district is a solid Republican district that will remain that way for the foreseeable future.  He is listening to hollow promises from the self-anointed power brokers who are stroking his ego and filling his mind with visions of grandeur.  He needs to listen to his constituents.” – Nye County constituent of Mr. Oscarson who wishes to remain anonymous HOW TO SUBSCRIBE Silver State Confidential is an email newsletter on Nevada politics, public policy and current events published (usually) daily by Chuck Muth, Nevada's #1 Renegade Conservative and the man voted "Most Likely to Irritate Liberals!"  Click on the link below for subscription information…