Democrats try to make hay out of Senate appointment, make fools of selves

Friday, April 22, 2011 | 4:51 p.m.

I hate to sound like Chuck Muth -- really, I do -- but even the smashmouth conservative probably isn't as appalled as I am by the Democrats' silly attacks on Gov. Brian Sandoval for following the law on appointing someone to fill John Ensign's seat.

I have received two news releases today, one from legislative Democrats and one from the state party. Here's what they say, in part:

“The Senate does not belong to any particular party; it belongs to the people of Nevada,” Assembly Speaker John Oceguera said. “This decision is too important not to be done in the light of day.”

“The legislative leadership has suggested nothing more than an open and transparent process for selecting who will be appointed as our states US Senator for nearly two years,” (communications boss Zach) Hudson added. “Yet Governor Sandoval has already refused any public input in the decision, instead making himself kingmaker and denying Nevadans a voice in who will represent them in Washington.”

Oh, please. The Democrats are so upset that Sandoval is about to give Rep. Dean Heller a leg up against Rep. Shelley Berkley -- and it may not even be that big of a leg up -- that they are railing against a long-established process. This is why people -- even pundits -- hate politics sometimes.

Two obvious points come to mind:

1) If this were a Democratic seat and a Democratic governor, we would hear crickets.

2) Let me get this straight: The same party now ranting about backroom deals and giving the people their voice is the same party that hopes to push Byron Georgiou out of the race against Berkley. Shouldn't the people decide? I'm outraged....