Dear Editor,
Regarding the upcoming congressional primary I’ve been struck by the certitude of most people I know. They are entirely in the pro-Cheney or anti-Cheney camp and it seems to depend on whether they love or hate Donald Trump.
Well, to paraphrase my old friend the late Senator Hank Coe of Cody “Some of my friends are for Liz Cheney and some of my friends are against Liz Cheney. I’m with my friends.”
Let’s assume the best about both Liz Cheney and Harriet Hageman. They’re both smart. They’re both sincere. Their political positions aren’t far apart, excepting their opinions on Donald Trump. It seems a candidate’s view of another politician is thin gruel to base your vote on.
A consideration I haven’t heard in all the noise is who can be the most effective for Wyoming. If Harriet Hageman wins she’ll enter congress as a freshman with a blank slate, so to speak.
I assume she’ll try to get on those committees that affect Wyoming such as those dealing with land use and energy development and she’ll probably be successful. After all, these are not the powerful or sexy committees to be on.
What happens if Liz Cheney wins? What committees will she be able to get on? Fairly or unfairly, she has alienated the Republican caucus and is a toxic presence to them.
They are the ones who decide committee assignments. Even the most avid Cheney fan can’t believe she’ll get any of the assignments she wants that benefit Wyoming the most.
I mean no disrespect to Ms. Cheney with this letter, but I don’t see it any other way.
I might be wrong. I have been before.
Bruce Burns, Sheridan
Burns served in the Wyoming Legislature from 1995 – 2018
