TAKE HIS LEAD
Ty Cobb may be a rookie, but he certainly made a statement with one of his first votes
BY GEORGE HARRIS

George Harris is publisher of Liberty Watch: The Magazine. He is also a political activist and successful Southern Nevadan businessman. Reach Harris at gopgeorge@earthlink.net  Other stories by George Harris

"I wanna be governor!" 

Yep, kids, that's Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley's strategy. So here's my memo to Republican Assembly members:

Given our Assembly Majority Leader's dialogue and soon-to-be short-lived existence, disregard her tactics and please establish a better approach. Don't be suckered into the Democrat's strategy. Sure, we're in the minority, but we don't need to be enablers. Barbara Buckley has a strategy, and you're playing right into her hand. Allow me to explain. 

Buckley can't run for re-election after next session. She's termed out. So, in 2010, she's planning to run for governor - against Jim Gibbons! So every time you vote, you need to think of the consequences. Of course, I shouldn't have to tell you that. 

For instance, soon after the 74th legislative session began, their was a "ceremonial" vote to make Buckley Speaker of the Assembly. All 27 Democrats voted for her, so it was a done deal. Then for some reason, 14 of the 15 Republicans voted for Buckley as well. The lone heroic "no" vote was cast by Assemblyman Ty Cobb (R-Reno).

Bing, bang, bam - the Democrats went after Cobb like a pit bull goes for a bone. Here's a few of the words they used: "uncivil," "lack of judgment," "bad taste" and "disrespectful." 

Then there's my favorite - "partisan." 

That's the big one. See, these are the words that the Democrats and media types use against Republicans when we stand up for our convictions. I want you to remember each of these words, because you will hear them again before session's end.

Let's see if I can find some of the same words to accurately describe Ms. Buckley. 

A few seconds after being elected speaker, Buckley demanded that legislators approve funding to establish full-day kindergarten classes in every elementary school in Nevada.

Now that's partisan! 

Don't forget that Gov. Jim Gibbons has voiced opposition to full-day kindergarten because of the massive $158-million price tag to taxpayers. Two weeks ago, Buckley called for a boycott by Democratic legislators to not attend the governor's ball. Now that's partisan, uncivil and very disrespectful.

Guys, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but you must consider the unintended consequences. Imagine 2010 and the following Buckley television commercial: "I love Nevada, and I want to be your next governor. I worked so well with both Democrats and Republicans. In fact, the Republican Minority Leader and his caucus voted for me, a Democrat, to be Speaker of the Assembly, with the exception of one, uncivil lawmaker who lacked judgment and had bad taste. Unlike that lawmaker, I won't be disrespectful and partisan. So please join Republican legislators in voting for me, Barbara Buckley, for governor."

To sum up this short story, allow me to stress one more point. We're in the minority, but as a united front, we have the ability to make a stand against those Democrats who will continue to outnumber us election after election should we refuse to stand up for our convictions and conservative base.

Despite how young of an assemblyman he is, take Ty Cobb's lead. Make a short-term statement in order to make some long-term progress. Nevada desperately needs it. LW