Sen. Sherman R. Frederick, D-Nevada?

CityLife columnist George Knapp (as well as Channel 8 reporter -- and a darn good one, I might add) has suggested that if I'm going to criticize Sen. Harry Reid the way I have been, I ought to go all the way and run against him in 2010.

Knapp says: "It occurs to me that maybe the publisher is planning to run against Reid himself. And why not? Sherm has high name recognition, knows a lot of people with money, is a champion of tax cuts and small government."

There are a couple of hitches, of course.

I couldn't stay at the Review-Journal and run for public office. That's my rule for everyone else here, so I'd have to enforce it upon myself.

Secondly, and this is a big one, I'm a Democrat.

While Sen. Sherman R. Frederick, D-Nevada, has a nice ring to it, I don't think even Knapp sees me getting through the Democratic Party machine in Las Vegas. Can you imagine my candidate interviews down at the local union hall.

Endorser: "Uh, Mr. Frederick, what's your position on the union's No. 1 political initiative -- the elimination of the secret ballot?"

Sherm: "Hate it. un-American. I'd never, ever vote for it."

Endorser: "Your opponent is for it. What do you think about that?"

Sherm: "That's because he's a vote-scraping coward."

Endorser: "How about coal fired power plants. Should Nevada have them."

Sherm: "What kind of dumb question is that for a union. Plenty of coal, good union jobs. Build 'em."

Endorser: "Nuclear power plants, too?"

Sherm: "Hell yes, nuke plants. Let's build one right next to Yucca Mountain and power all of Las Vegas and half of Southern California."

Endorser: "Aren't you worried about the endangered short-tailed green-spinning mouse?

Sherm: "I'm not worried about the short-tailed green-spinning mouse, or the long eared tortoise, the white-tailed pup fish or the Las Vegas dolphin. Catch 'em and fry 'em up on Harry Reid's solar panels for all I care. And you can quote me on that."

Endorser: "Thank you, Mr. Frederick. We'll get back to you with our decision."

Sherm: "Jeez. I'm screwed. I wonder if the Republicans will take me?"

As I think you can see, a Democratic primary might be very tough for me.

    But, since Knapp seems to have confidence, let me keep my options open and for now if anyone out there wants to give money to keep Harry Reid honest, they can call the Review-Journal subscription department (383-0400) and sign up for a subscription to keep my column going. I appear to be the only media person in Nevada willing to criticize Sen. Reid when he fails. We take all subscriptions, big and small. And unlike most cheapskate politicians, we'll give you something for it -- a subscription to the very best newspaper in Nevada.  You can get it delivered to your door step on newsprint, the old-fashioned way; or you can get it delivered electronically to your computer or PDA. Vote early, vote often -- subscribe to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. If you like Harry Reid, then vote early, vote often by subscribing to the Las Vegas Review-journal AND SUN.