(Chuck Muth) – Nevada Assembly Minority Leader Pat Hickey (Reno-RINO) was a disaster
as leader of his caucus in the 2013 legislative session primarily due
to his hostility towards anything conservative, as well as his
propensity to roll over and hope the Democrats would rub his widdle
tummy every time a controversial bill or issue came up.
When it comes to appeasement, this guy makes Neville Chamberlain look
like a Mongolian general.
Then again, running from a fight isn’t exactly something new to
Hickey. Indeed, in the chapter titled “Conscientious Objector”
in his autobiography, Hickey wrote: “While I thought it was
cowardly to run and hide in Canada (to avoid the draft in Vietnam), I
was anything but brave.”
So it should come as no surprise that Hickey has consistently ducked
legislative confrontations as leader of his caucus, as well. He’s
no wartime consigliere, that’s for sure.
But it’s one thing for Hickey to dodge fights with the Democrats;
it’s another to be systematically undermining efforts to elect
conservatives to his caucus who will stand up when he stands down.
Here’s an example of just how much Hickey loathes the idea of
conservatives joining “his” caucus.
Assemblyman Tom Grady in rural District 38 in northern Nevada has
been one of the worst Republicans in the Legislature when it comes to
voting like a conservative. Thankfully, he’s term-limited out and
can’t run for re-election next year.
Dr. Robin Titus – who briefly ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010 –
has had an interest in running for Grady’s seat, but out of respect
would not run against the incumbent. But now that Grady’s finally
being forcibly retired, Titus is running…and has been actively
campaigning since last summer.
Titus is not only a longtime Nevadan and immensely qualified, but
she’s also a staunch, unapologetic conservative.
Recently Hickey tweeted that he was in district 38 “visiting
candidates,” but word on the street is that he was really there
trying to RECRUIT candidates to run against the Smith Valley
physician. Both Hickey and Grady, who are said to be part of an
Anybody-but-Titus recruitment effort, have reportedly told others
they think Dr. Titus is just “too conservative.”
Now, that concern *might* be legitimate if Titus was running in a
Democrat-majority district, or even a “swing” district. But get
this…
According the voter registration numbers for November 2013 on the
Nevada Secretary of State’s website, there are more than TWICE the
number of registered Republicans in this district than
Democrats…16,818 to 8,361!
Genghis Khan could get elected in this district!
So despite his assertions to the contrary, Hickey is NOT supporting
the most conservative candidate who can win. On the other hand,
Hickey himself has now drawn a GOP primary challenge from Richard
Fineberg…another conservative who can win. Bring on
Conservageddon!
