MUTH’S TRUTHS

Back during the 2007 Nevada legislative session, I suggested an idea to Republicans in the Assembly which would have really put Speaker Barbara Buckley and the Democrats in a pickle. The suggestion was nixed by a number of those Assembly Republicans - not because it was *bad* idea, but because it was *my* idea.

Such is the childish mentality we’re dealing with when it comes to some members of the GOP assembly caucus, so I hesitate to give any more good advice with regard to their ongoing leadership crisis. But I just can’t help it. This is just too important.

Let me start out by stressing that Assembly Minority Leader Garn “Maybe” Mabey is a super-nice guy with a wonderful family, and I’m sure he’s a great doctor. But as a political leader, tactician and strategist, the man is a fish out of water.

With Mabey as Minority Leader, Republicans are absolutely, positively, unarguably destined to remain in the minority next year and beyond. He just doesn’t possess the political skills, instincts or experience to “pull a Gingrich” and catapult Assembly Republicans into the majority before redistricting comes up again 2011.

There’s a great Clint Eastwood line from the “Dirty Harry” movies which goes like this: “A man’s got to know his limitations.”

And a few weeks back, it appeared Garn had finally recognized his limitations when it came to politics, as he indicated that it was unlikely he’d run for re-election and would turn the leadership reigns for the GOP caucus over to someone new - most likely Assistant Minority Leader Heidi “Bone Crusher” Gansert.

The hope and expectation was that Mabey would retire with dignity, collect a gold watch and a pat on the back for a public service job well done. He could then go back to being a super nice guy and spend more time with his family and patients.

Alas, it appears the good doctor just can’t shake the lure of power.

NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY

Anjeanette Damon of the Reno Gazette-Journal reports this week that Assembly Republicans will be meeting in Reno tomorrow. Ostensibly, that’s when Garn *should* hang up his Gucci’s and turn the reins of leadership over to someone else to give them a chance to put a solid candidate recruitment and campaign plan together for next year’s races.

But like a party guest who just can’t take a hint and go home, it appears Mabey is intent on hanging around.

“Mabey probably won’t seek reelection next year,” reports Anjeanette. “But he said today that he has no plans to relinquish his position as minority leader in the meantime.” He told Anjeanette that he’d “talked with a number of the caucus members” and “they really feel they don’t want to elect a new leader. They want to keep it the way it is.”

Damon adds that “Mabey said he’ll likely turn over most of the work to Assemblywoman Heidi Gansert of Reno.”

Why, son of a Garn, it’s déjà vu all over again.

During the last election cycle everyone knew that then-Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick had had enough and wasn’t going to run for re-election. But he held onto the Minority Leader’s position, while doing nothing with it, all the way up until a week before the filing deadline in MAY before calling it quits and handing the keys over to then-Assistant Minority Leader Garn Mabey.

You just can’t give someone the responsibility for doing a job without giving them the authority to do it.

That’s what Hettrick did to Mabey, and Republicans paid the price. They failed to recruit candidates to run against 14 of the 27 incumbent Democrats last year…and ended up actually LOSING one net seat.

And now Mabey wants to stick it Heidi Gansert the same way it was stuck to him? So much for Mr. Nice Guy. What a way to treat a lady.

COMFORTABLY NUMB

The amazing thing here would be if it’s true that a majority of caucus members don’t want a new leader and “want to keep it the way it is.” That can only be true if they’re in denial about what a disastrous session 2007 was under Mabey’s “leadership” and are satisfied with being in the minority.

But frankly, some of them ARE comfortable in their minority. They are perfectly content with compromising with the Democrat majority and being tossed legislative table scraps in return. Which pretty much means the future of Assembly Republicans all comes down to the number 8.

There are 15 incumbent Republicans. When they meet tomorrow, if 8 of them say they like being in the minority and thoroughly enjoy me beating up on them, then Garn will continue as Minority Leader and Republicans will likely lose another seat or two in the next election.

If, on the other hand, 8 of them say enough is enough - and if Mabey won’t gracefully retire on his own, kick him to the curb - then the entire dynamic changes and hope is alive. Under new leadership, it’s possible for Republicans to pick up 2 or 3 seats in 2008…and then win the majority in 2010 when ten Democrat incumbents will be forced out due to term limits while only one Republican will likely be in that position.

Garn Mabey should take the opportunity tomorrow to save face and retire gracefully and give his caucus a fighting chance at the brass ring. If he doesn’t, it will show that Garn is only in this for Garn and not the Republican cause - and certainly not the conservative cause.

It will also mean, kinda like Groundhog Day, that there will be 14 more months of me beating up on him and his hapless caucus unmercifully.

I’d much prefer working with Assembly Republicans and beating up on Speaker Buckley and the Democrats. But if Garn and the GOP caucus can’t see that it’s time to call it quits and make a change in leadership, then they deserve what they get.

That being said, I fully recognize that any advice I give is automatically rejected by some members of the caucus, including Dr. Mabey. So all I can say is…

Please, please, PLEASE, don’t quit Garn!

And if you do…please, please, PLEASE elect Francis Allen as the new Minority Leader!

Posted on September 6th, 2007 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada