GUNNING FOR FIORE
I closed out yesterday’s Muth’s Truths column with the
following…
“With support from conservatives, led by Assemblywoman Michele Fiore
and Assemblyman Jim Wheeler, (Assemblyman John) Hambrick came out on top. And thus, in two short years, will move from
the doghouse to the penthouse when the 2015 Nevada Legislature convenes next
year.
“Unless…”
Understandably, many of you wrote and asked, “Unless what?”
Here’s what…
The liberals in the Assembly GOP caucus did NOT take
it very well when conservative Assemblyman John
Hambrick was elected Speaker-designate at a caucus meeting Tuesday night…
And conservative Assemblyman John Ellison was elected Speaker Pro Tem…
And conservative Assemblywoman Michele Fiore was elected Majority Leader…
And conservative Assemblyman Ira Hansen was elected Assistant Majority Leader…
And conservative Assemblyman Jim Wheeler was elected Majority Whip…
And conservative Assemblywomen Victoria Seaman and Jill
Dickman were elected Assistant Majority Whips.
Indeed, liberal Republican Assemblyman Paul Anderson – who served as Assistant Minority Leader in the last
legislative session – was completely shocked by his loss.
He *thought* he had bought off the votes he needed to become
Speaker-designate and *thought* he had the votes to also elect moderate
establishment Republican James Oscarson
as Majority Leader.
He was wrong.
And when the vote didn’t go their way, the pair reportedly had
what my mom used to not-so-affectionately call a “conniption.”
Anderson’s political hack…er, consultant…Cory Christensen was reportedly heard
to threaten after the meeting, “This isn’t over!”
Apparently what Christensen – who was paid a bundle as the
caucus political director during the campaign season, in which he worked behind
the scenes to defeat a number of conservative candidates in primaries – was
talking about was the possibility of what is being referred to as the “nuclear
option.”
In that scenario the 17 Democrats in the Assembly would gang
up with at least five of the disgruntled moderate Republicans – including
Anderson, Oscarson, Pat Hickey, Randy Kirner and Lynn Stewart - on opening day of the legislative session to deny
Hambrick the Speakership.
Instead, as rumor has it, either Anderson would be elected
Speaker or Democrat Assemblywoman Marilyn
Kirkpatrick would be elected Speaker…or the two would agree to be
co-Speakers, as was the case in the 21-21 split Assembly in 1995.
That could also potentially result in power-sharing co-chairmanships
for all the various committees, as well as the ouster of conservatives who are
presently slated for sole chairmanships – especially Fiore who is presently set
to take over the Taxation Committee.
Believe me, this is not just idle chatter. This threat to deny conservatives the
leadership positions they have rightfully earned is real and deadly
serious.
So much so that Hambrick is being pressured to hold yet ANOTHER
caucus meeting this Sunday to conduct yet ANOTHER caucus election.
On the surface it appears that what the moderates want is
simply to get rid of Fiore, who is an unabashed and unapologetic conservative,
as Majority Leader.
The argument is being made to Hambrick that if he just dumps
Fiore – who was largely responsible for his election in the first place – then the
moderates and the Democrats will forego the “nuclear option” and let Hambrick
continue as Speaker.
If Hambrick believes that, I have some oceanfront property in
Pioche for him to buy.
Nevertheless, I’m hearing that Hambrick’s political adviser,
Nathan Emens, is strongly urging
Hambrick to call the meeting on Sunday to throw Fiore under the bus.
Hambrick’s also meeting with Gov. Brian Sandoval himself this afternoon, and you can bet R&R’s
man in the mansion would like nothing better than to remove the Fiore burr from
under his saddle.
Let’s hope Hambrick doesn’t cave and hangs tough with the
conservatives who elected him Speaker-designate in the first place.
But after watching him “go wobbly” on his Taxpayer
Protection Pledge in a televised interview Wednesday night, I have to tell you
this is something for conservatives to be greatly concerned about.
And angry.
When moderate Republicans win, conservatives are told to be “good
team players” and go along to get along.
But when conservatives win fair and square, the moderates
throw a temper-tantrum, take their ball and go home.
No, no. Actually,
what they do is take their ball and…join the opposing team!
Sore losers. Reminds
me of Al Gore after the 2000
presidential election.
Stay tuned, folks. This thing ain’t over. Not by a long shot.
DRIVE-BY MUTHINGS
The five St. Louis Rams players who entered the field on
Sunday with their hands in the air in a “don’t shoot” pose - ostensibly showing
support for the Ferguson, Mo., looters and rioters - insulted every law
enforcement officer in the country.
Nevertheless, the players will receive no team discipline. So unless the Rams are playing the Colts
(it’s a Baltimore thing), I’ll be cheering on the opposing team from now on.
* * *
* *
So 51 of Nevada’s worst-performing public schools received
some $34 million in additional federal money…and STILL the schools remained cellar-dwellers.
Where did the money go?
What was it used for? Why didn’t
it help improve the schools?
Sounds like questions our new state Controller, Ron Knecht, might want to look into.
* * * * *
BTW,
for those of you who may not have read all the way through my earlier
email today about C.T. Sewell Elementary School and the $100,000 grant,
you might want to go back and finish it. There's a surprise ending you
may have missed.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
"The federal government, which has Tomahawk cruise
missiles and Apache and Lakota helicopters, used the code name ‘Geronimo’ in
the attack that killed Osama bin Laden but objected to the name of the
Washington Redskins." - George Will
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