Assembly Republicans not going quietly

  Some will call it a futile gesture, but seven GOP legislators have abstained from voting to unanimously approve Democrat Barbara Buckley, above right, as Speaker of the Assembly.

  Assemblyman Ty Cobb, lower right, said in a press release, “I can tell you from personal experience that members of the minority party who publicly choose not to vote to fill leadership positions with members of the opposition party risk retaliation by the majority party. We do not support the liberal agenda of this leadership and wished to show our disfavor without inciting calls of incivility on our part.”

  Added GOP Assemblyman Don Gustavson, “Such retaliation isn’t fair to the Nevada voters who elected those of us in the minority to represent them in the Legislature. That’s why we wanted a secret ballot election.”

  All well and good. The GOP’s true-believers should voice their protests where they can.

  But, please, take my advice and stop with the talk of “retaliation.”

  If your tires get ice-picked or someone shoots your dog, call me. If Barbara Buckley gets you fired from your job at the Burger King, call me.

  Until then, it’s not retaliation. It’s just politics. So cut the whining.

  Remember, there’s no crying in politics.

  Word is it wasn't some mean old Democrat who prevented seven actually conservative GOP Assembly members from pushing for a secret ballot prior to the Barbara Buckley vote. It was none other than Minority Leader Heidi Gansert.

  Something tells me she is in for a long 2009 session.