October 22, 2007 10:57 PM UTC

John Zakhem is a Big Meany

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• by: Colorado Pols

The Republican Central Committee on Saturday voted to “admonish” Republican attorney John Zakhem for daring to – gasp! – donate $400 to the campaign of Democratic Rep. Bernie Buescher.

From what we understand, this is the first ever formal “admonishment” of a fellow Republican, although we have no idea what it means to be “admonished.” Do you sit in a chair and get yelled at by a high-ranking GOP official? Do you get a formal letter of “admonishment?” Do you get a trophy or a plaque?

Republicans on the Western Slope have been fighting for years over other Republicans who may have supported Buescher in the past. Apparently if you are a Republican in Colorado, you must seal your elephant stamp in blood and never, ever, ever associate with Democrats. It’s this kind of mentality – the “who is a real Republican?” approach – that has the GOP in Colorado feeling blue. Literally.

Zakhem is a longtime Republican supporter and former attorney for the state party. There’s no questioning his GOP credentials. He’s also no dummy. Zakhem does some work as a lobbyist, and should Buescher win re-election to the House in 2008, he is likely to be the next Speaker of the House.

Extending a friendly hand in order to work across the aisle isn’t something that should be “admonished,” but you can’t tell Republicans that. The Republicans in this state can’t beat Democrats because they’re too damn busy fighting each other.