Chuck Muth: Some random, post-election drive-by Muthings

The 2010 Angle vs. Reid election is over! Let the 2012 Heller vs. Berkley race begin!

Nothing fans the flames of fury over illegal immigration more than seeing all the money spent to publish and print sample ballots in Spanish (but no other language!) at taxpayer expense. At least we don't have to change the language to accommodate all the illegal Canadians coming here across our northern border.

The knock against Angle from jump street was that while she was the most conservative candidate in the primary, she couldn't win the general - and she didn't. Was anyone really surprised?

Turns out actions do have consequences. Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio was ousted as minority leader by members of his caucus this week because of his very open and very public endorsement of Harry Reid.

Elected Republicans who joined Republicans for Reid absolutely have the "right" to endorse Democrats. But if they really want to be free to endorse liberal Democrats, then they should run as independents rather than Republicans on the ballot and see how that works out for them.

The most pleasant surprise upset Tuesday for conservatives: Republican Ira Hansen defeating GOP establishment pick Jodi Stephens in Assembly District 32 in Reno. But don't cry for Jodi. Word on the street is she'll end up with a high-paying consolation prize in the Sandoval administration.

Another pleasant surprise - though she came up short - was the performance of IAP candidate Janine Hansen in Assembly District 33 in Elko. Janine scared the socks off the GOP establishment in that race and pulled a third of the vote which, I think, is a record for their party.

A disgusting, last-minute robo-call by AFSCME - the government employees' union - attacked the wife of Republican state Sen. James Settelmeyer over an issue that had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the state senate race. Fortunately, AFSCME member Kevin Ranft got his political butt whooped by Settelmeyer, 66 percent to 29 percent.

And finally, Democrats in the Assembly elected John Oceguera to be that body's speaker next session. In his acceptance statement, Johnny O said, "Right now every one of us has the responsibility to become part of the solution, not part of the problem. There will be honest disagreements, but let those disagreements come with a real plan and specifics instead of simply slogans."

You know, slogans like "become part of the solution, not the problem."

• Chuck Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, a non-profit public policy grassroots advocacy organization. He may be reached at chuck@citizenoutreach.com.