Rumors Swirl of Anschutz's Involvement In Penry Withdrawal

The GOP Is Being Smart (I Know, It's Amazing)

While the back room dealings that have forced Mr. Penry out of the Governor's race are dirty and represent everything wrong with government, I think it is a wise political move for Republicans.

Looking at the 2 Gubernatorial elections earlier this month, we saw 2 Republicans running on a fairly moderate platform. The one federal race that featured a far-right 'Tea Party' candidate went to the moderate democrat in New York.

It seems, despite what the 'Tea Baggers' proclaim, they really don't have a very strong movement. Josh Penry was just too far to the Right to beat Bill Ritter. His history of extreme partisan rhetoric in the State Senate would likely have turned away independent voters.

The people want an end to the ridiculous sideshow that our government has become. McInnis, though not much of a moderate, can at least sell it better than Penry.

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by: cunninjo @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 14:50:23 PM CST

Of course it's a smart move

As long as the base doesn't get wise to it. Which could happen, then it isn't so smart.

Repeat after me: "I have never supported Dan Maes.  I have always supported [Dick Wadhams to fill in the blank]." --ClubTwitty

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by: JeffcoBlue @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 15:15:57 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I agree JeffcoBlue

If this turns out to be true, it certainly doesn't make Mr. McInnis popular with the Republican base or the general public. I wouldn't want to be known as the hand picked candidate of millionaires. A candidate with that hanging around their throat owes those millionaires too much at the expense of the rest of us.

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by: Republican 36 @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 15:24:51 PM CST

[ Parent ]

hand picked candidate of millionaires

That's the McInnis-Norton ticket! Could Anschutz and the Beauprez cabal have designed a better way to get the base to sit on its hands next year?

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by: RedGreen @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 16:10:06 PM CST

[ Parent ]

By the way, did Anschutz, Cranberg or Jabs benefit from TARP or the Stimulus bills?

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by: Republican 36 @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 16:19:56 PM CST

[ Parent ]

there was vague reference to Penry being scared off by threats from the 527

   But the newspaper reports were unclear as to who was in the 527.  (I know, technically it's not called a 527 at the state level, but you all know what I'm talking about. The independent education group.)  
  I figured they were reassembling the Trailhead Folks, and they were gonna do to Penry this time what they did to Holtzy last time around.

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by: One Queer Dude @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 15:37:38 PM CST

527s are out of vogue now

Most people are using 501(c)(4) organizations.  Virtually no reporting requirements at the individual contributor level.  Report the bottom line to the IRS, but you can keep the contributors secret.

Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.
--marilou, 2010

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by: Ralphie @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 15:44:06 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Huh? Penry getting slapped around by Anschutz and the uberCon kingmakers?

He doesn't have the cajones to stand up against them?  His bending over for them and quaking in his boots shows exactly what he is made of. A jello spine. Geesh, if Penry would have just listened to me from the beginning, I would have saved him a lot of embarrassment.  Or he could have heeded MAH's warnings.

"I hate those fucking kingmakers, I am not going to listen to those fuckers."  --MAH

No wonder he refuses to endorse McFruitcake.

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by: WesternSlopeThought @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 15:40:10 PM CST

WST, remember this

If quarterbacks liked getting hit, they'd be wide receivers.


Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.
--marilou, 2010

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by: Ralphie @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 15:44:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

what did MAH have to say about Josh's bugout?

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by: One Queer Dude @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 15:51:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

ya know....

...I really really wish I hadn't used such expletives to make that quoted point above...

...overall though from what I learned, if you have a message that you truly believe in and you can deliver it passionately, you WILL find an audience and you'll probably find enough money to make it viable....

...the achilles heel of many politicians is that they view money-men as the gateway towards victory - that's the wrong assumption - money can't buy a good message, passion, and energy

...but a good message, with energy and passion can bring enough money to get it out

Kingmakers? Kingmakers do NOT control politics - your relationship with your community and state is what controls politics, and the endorsement of kingmakers cannot give you a better relationship

....that's my two cents based on what I've learned

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 16:26:44 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Wait, does Penry prove your point or refute it?

Did he quit because he had a bad message, poor energy, and tepid passion?  That would seem to validate your two cents' worth.

Or, did he quit because, contrary to your two cents, having a good message, energy, and passion is simply not enough to get out your message and find enough money to be viable?

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by: Jambalaya @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 16:36:18 PM CST

[ Parent ]

sorry Jamba

You're just gonna have to take what you can get out of it

I've gotten to know Senator Penry pretty well and I find him to be very sharp - I hope he stays active in the Party, as he is a great candidate

Good luck to Congressman McInnis and team

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 16:59:44 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Well, because you usually think you are correct..

...I will assume that you believe you are correct in this case.  Which means your two cents' worth is accurate.  Which means that you think Penry's campaign sucked (and that is why it failed).  Which, of course, contradicts your (obviously) false statement that you think he is a great candidate.  You have trouble being straightforward, don't you?  

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by: Jambalaya @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 17:05:59 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The 11th Commandment

"Thou shalt not criticize a fellow Republican"

- Ronald Reagan

(And Jamba - if you don't like it, then that ain't my problem...)

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 03:40:40 AM CST

[ Parent ]

but you did speak ill of Penry

..you just won't admit as much.

And whether your inability to be straighforward bothers me is not the issue.  I would think your duplicity would bother you.  In any event, I hope anyone who might think of supporting you in the future also realizes your falseness.

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 08:57:30 AM CST

[ Parent ]

If I remember right

weren't you ushered to the door by uberCon kingmakers, crushing your senate bid dreams?  You must feel Penry's pain.  But isn't that what the Republican Party has become in Colorado?   ...every decision made by a corrupt oligarchy, wanting to advance their own interests, not Colorado's.

I've come to believe that you are really a blue dog D at heart, MAH. Have you had a serious conversation with your family about ya'll defrosting and entering the 21st C?  Surely, you understand that today's R Party is nothing close to the party it was when you knocked on doors with your RR tippy cup.

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by: WesternSlopeThought @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 23:44:14 PM CST

[ Parent ]

WST reply

Dude - I've got red-Republican-blood pumping through my veins and I'm very proud of that - proof is my running hard for my Party in 2008, when the deck was stacked hard against us

Yes - I have some liberal tendencies on social issues, but you'll find no Republican who is more ardent in his/her support of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights and limited government than myself - seriously - if Jon Caldara and Big Daddy Doug Bruce had a baby, they would birth me

As far as the SD8 senate race goes..... if I had known then what I know now, I would've handled things much much differently.... that said, Al White is doing a solid job as my State Senator and I was proud to endorse him in 2008

The lessons I learned from SD8 and HD56 will serve me very well in the future, especially in my evaluation of when to run again and why

I'm excited that my best days are ahead - the lessons from 2008 will guarantee that

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 03:38:58 AM CST

[ Parent ]

MAH, please

have the courtesy to forego the use of the term "Big Daddy", when referring to Doug Bruce. The real "Big Daddy Bruce" was the late Bruce Randolph. The former is a demented ego-maniac, the latter was a fine man and a much-loved pillar of his community.

Thank you.  

And the men who hold high places, must be the ones to start, to mold a new reality, closer to the heart. Rush/ 1977

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by: dukeco1 @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 08:16:20 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Reply

Big Daddy is a nick sometimes used for Bruce and I take nothing away from Randolph, who was a terrific man

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 16:27:33 PM CST

[ Parent ]

good question

ergo hominem factus rectu

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by: MADCO @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 18:56:00 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I agree but...

...as long as people like Josh Penry think money trumps those other tools, money will trump. Because it will cause people to unnecessarily give up.

Tom Tancredo Interview

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by: DavidThi808 @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 21:39:06 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Tea Party Candidate

I hope the far right Republican base feels as alienated in this statewide race. Meanwhile the far-right has taken the school board in Douglas County and the city council in Longmont. The ensuing battle will be interesting.

Now I just wonder if anyone on the right is pissed off enough to put a Tea Party candidate in the mix???

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by: bhusher @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 16:15:45 PM CST

Josh WAS the teabagger candidate

Remember Swastika Guy? Via Westword:


Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.
--marilou, 2010

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by: Ralphie @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 16:24:08 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I Meant an "Independent"

I would just love to someone run under the Conservative Party or Tea Party to show the far-right that they are not the majority. Independent is good, too.

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by: bhusher @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 17:57:40 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Is the old fart standing next to Josh Gummy Bob?

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by: One Queer Dude @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 18:34:23 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Anschutz confusion.

Let me get this straight.  Ritter does Anschutz a favor by appointing his former employee to the U.S. Senate.  Anschutz rewards Ritter by kicking out Ritter's opponent's opponent.  This either doesn't make sense or Anschutz is very ungrateful.  Maybe that's just politics.

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by: paulrosenthal @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 16:52:59 PM CST

Or option 3: it proves you are a moron.

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie

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by: Middle of the Road @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 16:54:58 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Moron?

Is that all you have to throw?

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by: paulrosenthal @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 17:00:29 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Again, don't get your panties in a twist.

Just trying to provide you with all of your options. :)

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie

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by: Middle of the Road @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 17:04:15 PM CST

[ Parent ]

your premise that Ritter was doing a favor for Anschutz

...is mostly a rhetorical hail-mary, as you surely know.  Thus, you should expect to encounter resistence to such a clumsy flourish.

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by: Jambalaya @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 18:04:34 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Why is it when YOU say it

it sounds so much nicer than when I do? :(

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie

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by: Middle of the Road @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 18:41:41 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I thought twisted panties was a pretty good visual

But PR was right- moron seems so predictable...

butthead
dickweed
jerkface
s4b
and so many more choices- just based on fleshing out the options

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by: MADCO @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 18:59:08 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Ah, see?

So many options out there for Paul. He should really be grateful for people like you.

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie

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by: Middle of the Road @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 19:11:02 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I didn't intend to sound nice.

Damn, I bungled it!

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by: Jambalaya @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 19:23:45 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I may be a moron...

...but I'm no coward--at least I put my name to what I write.

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by: paulrosenthal @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 10:44:22 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Not sure if that makes you less of a coward

or an even bigger moron to have your name attached to some of the ridiculous drivel you write here.  

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie

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by: Middle of the Road @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 11:10:46 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Analytical misfire?

I didn't call you a moron or a coward.  Your response to me is utterly random, but at least your name is attached to it.  Thank goodness for that!

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 11:30:30 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Jealous.

You guys are just jealous you didn't see the delicious irony in Anschutz's alleged actions.

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by: paulrosenthal @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 13:19:59 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Guily as charged.

I am soooo jealous that I can barely breathe.  Alas, alleged irony doesn't taste as sweet as actual irony.  But you keep reaching for the stars.

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 17:22:22 PM CST

[ Parent ]

: )

Think I'll carve a heart with Jammy's name in it, the next tree I come across.

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by: WesternSlopeThought @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 17:58:37 PM CST

[ Parent ]

awwwwww!

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 20:09:35 PM CST

[ Parent ]

bullies

pretty harsh words toward Paul...

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by: CrazyOkie @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 23:08:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

As the old saying goes...

"...politics is fun until it gets political..."

Ain't that right, Josh?

"...Somewhere between left and right is the middle..."

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by: mtnhigh @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 17:05:23 PM CST

Quarterback, pilot, soldier, surfer and quitter..

Penry email to supporters (and me)...

Dear Friends,

As you have no doubt heard, I made the difficult choice to leave the race for Governor - a race that me, my family, my team and so many supporters poured our hearts and souls into for nearly 6 months.

Politics being what it is, some yahoo got word of my decision and decided to tell the Washington Post before I could tell  many of my closest friends -- or even my employer at Home Loan and Investment, Company.  Needless to say, I'll be on the phone all day for a couple days saying, with all the sincerity of a grateful heart, thank you to those who stood with us.

Word jumped out quick [sic] yesterday; that's politics I guess.  And that's OK. Truth is, it is a tough business. I know that. In fact, one of the reasons our campaign was making such fantastic progress is I relish the fight. Maybe it's the old quarterback in me - I live for the fray, for the arena. You don't run for Governor at 33 by being bashful or timid.

But I'm also a person who keeps his eyes wide open - a good pilot is always looking at the instruments. And in the aftermath of last Tuesday's crushing Republican victories in New Jersey and Virginia, this much became certain: Republicans stand poised to make-up much of the ground we've lost, as the American people are being reminded in a profound way of the perils of big government once more.

...

And the opportunity for a resurgence for our Grand Old Party in America and in Colorado posed a predicament for me: do I spend the next 9 months engaging in a $5 million battle of attrition against Scott McInnis -- believing that I'd be a better Governor than Scott, but knowing just as surely that Scott would be far superior to 4 more years of Bill Ritter? Or do I step back, wait to charge the Gubernatorial hill another day, and instead put my energy, focus and network to use helping to beat Bill Ritter and make sure Republicans running for other offices can ride the tidal wave too?

On this much let me be clear: I think I'm the right guy for the job, and I've never walked away from a fight in my life. And the thought of building a team of smart and innovative conservatives to fix the mess that Bill Ritter has made kept me motivated every day. Like I said, I live for the fray, and I was eager to serve as Governor - to get this state moving in the right direction again.

But I'm not the only candidate who can beat Bill Ritter, and the fact is that the road to the nomination is long and expensive - a diversion of resources at a time when the fight should be focused on defeating Bill Ritter and those who have supported his agenda.   And other facts are just as apparent: Scott McInnis' tenure in Congress gave him a built-in advantage coming into this race. And rather than spending the next several months and millions fighting to close that gap, we decided to step back and live to fight another day.

...

In the last two days I have had two meetings with Scott McInnis.  No deals, no job offers, no promises, no endorsements.  The conversation was meaningful.  We don't agree on everything, but he's ready for the job.   But before I make any decision to endorse, I want to know more about the agenda that he's going to bring to the office.  I want to know how he will govern. Republicans are hungry for reform-minded leadership - a conservative agenda that addresses the challenges of our day -- and I've encouraged Scott to embrace just that.

That's what ran Democrats out of the Governor's mansions in New Jersey and Virginia.  That's the message that will defeat Bill Ritter too.

In the coming days, after we've had more time to talk in a detailed way about his governing vision, I'll have an announcement about who I am going to endorse.   From there it will be the job of the voters to decide.  For my part, I will do everything to ensure that conservatives have a meaningful choice - to ensure that the agenda projected by the Republican nominee is limited, disciplined, focused government.  

...

Bill Ritter is an honorable man, but his policies are the living, breathing embodiment of the failed big government philosophies of yesterday. These are the same failed policies that were run out of Trenton and Richmond last Tuesday. And next November, they will be run out of Denver too.

...

Governor, that dog don't hunt.
But that's a debate for the coming months.  As you can see, it is a debate that I'm not walking away from.  

Because the fight still matters.  The cause remains.

...

It's a fight we can win.  Together, it's a fight we will win.  

So let's go make it happen.

With gratitude,

Josh Penry

There was quite a bit more, this is the abridged version.  So what is the real story about why Mr. Penry walked away?

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

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by: ClubTwitty @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 17:12:23 PM CST

"I've never walked away from a fight."

"Thus, I quit."  

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie

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by: Middle of the Road @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 17:15:12 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Can we look forward to Penry's memoirs?

"Almost Went Rogue"

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by: RedGreen @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 17:19:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

maybe he didn't want to become a lame duck

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by: One Queer Dude @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 21:25:53 PM CST

[ Parent ]

That's one way to keep that from happening.

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by: RedGreen @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 21:27:12 PM CST

[ Parent ]

"Because the fight still matters. The cause remains."

And the dream shall never die.

What the hell is going on? Penry just barely keeps from lapsing into Kennedyesque rhetoric.

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by: RedGreen @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 17:18:12 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Three possibilities?

Dead girl, live boy, other...

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

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by: ClubTwitty @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 17:19:22 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm not one for idle speculation

except when I want to speculate idly, but a non coordinated (snort) 527 or 501(c)(4) is not enough to scare off someone.

Name recognition? please.

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by: Danny the Red (hair) @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 17:30:34 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Yeah- I smell a story worth hearing

Some people who know:
- him
- Mrs P.
- Whomever from the 527/501c4 called him
- someone who worked for the whomever above

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by: MADCO @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 20:11:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

He says he will endose someone for governor in the next several days?

Right now that means either Mr. McInnis or Mr. Maes. You would think Mr. McInnis would be the slam dunk choice. I'm betting someone else is going to enter the race (Tancredo?) and Mr. penry will endorse that candidate.  

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by: Republican 36 @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 17:33:38 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Quarterback-surfer-pilots can't spell worth a darn!

The correct spelling is:

With platitude,

Josh Penry

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by: Jambalaya @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 17:36:06 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Only quitters don't quit

Only dead fish go with the flow.

Bring back S[redacted]e H[redacted]y!

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by: sxp151 @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 18:45:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

And in the mix of reasons.....

Penry was probably counting on 501c4 support from his fracking friends in Mesa and Garfield Counties, but McDrill had those guys lined up before Penry was out of diapers.

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by: WestSloper @ Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 23:12:48 PM CST