Press Talk: History could judge Pike harshly

Madore, of course, is one of the most polarizing politicians Clark County has seen in decades. He’s a county councilor and a fellow Republican.

He’s done so much stupid stuff it borders on comical … if it wasn’t so serious.

How Pike got roped in

The background on the Pike write-in attempt begins when Madore tried to become the county chair. He and his rich buddies spent more than $300,000 to try to get him elected. In the end, voters butt-whooped him in the primary, so he couldn’t even get to this November’s general election.

But never-say-die Madore hatched a plan. Get Pike to be his surrogate and run as a write-in. He’d promise her gobs of money, just like he got for his election. Pike said she told him no. So Madore hatched another plan. Pike wouldn’t have to do any campaigning. They’d let the gobs of money do all the talking.

Pike agreed.

By the way, how does one vote for a candidate who refuses to campaign and tell voters what she stands for? Crazy.

Pike would agree what I just said is fact. But she would strongly disagree that she is Madore’s surrogate. She insists she’s her own woman and would not be anyone’s patsy.

Maybe.

Even if you don’t fully buy the surrogate line, more often than not she would vote with him. How do I know?

Pike told me she aligns politically with Madore and voted for him in the county chair race.

Pike has more problems

When Rivers speaks, people listen. She has been a dynamic force in the state Senate and, by extension, in our county. Powerful elected officials have come to her seeking her endorsement. But — unlike Pike — she is willing to stay away from bad actors and say no when she smells something rotten. Because Pike can’t manage that, Rivers can’t support her.

Just how bold is it that Rivers rejected Pike? They’re roommates. That’s right. When the legislative session begins in Olympia, they bunk together.

“Elections have consequences,” Rivers would say of this election cycle mess. “And there is a serious lesson to be learned in the consequence of this election.”

But Rivers isn’t Pike’s only election nightmare. Five former Clark County Republican chairs have shunned her bid and have thrown their support to Marc Boldt, an independent. Boldt still is in the hunt for the chair seat.

Pike would argue that there are other former Republican chairs not on that list. True. But I would argue if only one former Republican chair had endorsed an independent over a Republican, it would be a big deal. And it is.

Whom you hang with

One of the things I feel Pike doesn’t get is whom you hang out with matters. Yes, it could be argued it shouldn’t. But this isn’t some sociology class. This is real life. It matters.

She simply hangs out with the wrong crowd.

That brings us back to Madore. He’s not a good choice to be one of your biggest supporters. If Madore was half bright, he’d downplay his connection to Pike. But he’s not. And if Pike was savvy, she’d insist that he fade into the background.

But that’s not happening. So she blissfully moves forward.

Then there’s that little matter of her connection with a hard right-wing local blogger. She’s associated with him for more than a few years now, often seeking his advice.

And the other day, she announced on her Facebook page that she was out to dinner with him. After all, she said, he’s a constituent.

Sheese.

Pike concedes they both talked about her write-in campaign. I guess it doesn’t matter that — among other things — he’s called an elected congresswoman a “Colossal waste of skin.”

You’re better than that, Pike.

History

This isn’t the only time Pike has said yes to Madore and others when she should have said no. We have a charter form of government now, mainly because of how poorly Madore has been doing in office. Before the charter vote, Madore needed a known name to campaign against it. You guessed it. Pike said yes — when she should have said no — then, too.

Pike doesn’t see any of this as being too quick to align herself with stupid stuff.

“I see it as helping the Republican Party when asked.”

I see it differently. I really like Pike because I see her as having the potential to unify the Republican Party that Madore has splintered. I see Pike as having the potential to help unify the community. I see Pike as having the potential to think community first, not Madore first.

But Pike simply hasn’t seen the light.

And about all of those associations she has? I couldn’t resist repeating to Pike what one reader said to me about personal connections.

“You lie down with dogs, you get fleas.”

Pike was quick to respond.

“I don’t have fleas. I take a shower every day.”

I’m just not so sure this kind of stuff washes off all that easily.