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Penry Pilloried

by: Colorado Pols

Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 08:37:55 AM MST

Apparently, the Denver Post editorial board has seen enough.

Want to know what ails the Colorado Republican Party? Events at the statehouse over the past few days offer a glimpse.
Offensive diatribes by social conservatives Sen. Dave Schultheis and Sen. Scott Renfroe have been all but condoned by Republican leadership.
Are Republicans just trying to cement Democratic control of state government?
In case you missed it, Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, said HIV-infected pregnant women ought to have to watch their child grow up with AIDS as punishment for being promiscuous. Renfroe, R-Greeley, quoted the Bible in saying homosexuality was an "abomination," and a sin comparable to murder.
It's not even worth our energy to begin to refute those comments. Schultheis, at least, has a history of intolerant remarks, so it wasn't entirely surprising.
But where's the GOP leadership on all of this?
State Rep. Don Marostica, a fellow Republican, recently was taken out to the GOP woodshed for disagreeing with his party on a certain fiscal matter and for calling a handful of Republicans "has-beens" and "losers." How is it possible his comments were worthy of a dress-down by party leaders, but not the comments from Schultheis and Renfroe? [Pols emphasis]

Pretty much exactly what we said yesterday. And it is Minority Leader Josh Penry who ultimately bears responsibility for this situation, as the Post continues:

Colorado Pols :: Penry Pilloried

Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, who has aspirations for higher office, was quoted as having said that "we should never lose sight of the humanity of people on the other side of an issue."
Is that all you got, Josh?
Former Gov. Bill Owens did a far sight better in 2005 when he scolded Republican lawmakers for the garbage they spewed about a bill outlawing workplace discrimination against gays and lesbians. Owens, however, vetoed the bill.
It's unbelievable that hateful comments about gays and HIV-infected women don't merit a public smackdown, yet Marostica's venture into political name-calling does. [Pols emphasis]
Yet it goes a long way toward explaining why Republicans are the minority party in this state and, if they don't wise up, could be for a long time.

It's a disaster, folks, and everybody seems to get that now except for the people who need to the most. And as the Post drives home, we're talking about Minority Leader Josh Penry first and foremost, for whom this--whether he likes it or not, no matter how many directions he points fingers--constituted the first real test of his ability to lead.

A test he has, sorry to say, failed. That sound you hear is the flaming out of a former "rising star."

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Penry Pilloried | 41 comments

Repulsive Republican Radicals show their stuff

Now you understand what I've been complaining about here for the last three or four years.

Face the fact that there are people who agree with the radicals and cheer their comments. These people are nasty in their own ways, but listen to yourselves on some days.

Problem is that I don't see the radicals losing their hold on the Republican party. The nut cases seem to win the critical primaries and lose the important elections.

The GOP's only saving grace will be Obama. He making enemies faster than you can spit in the face of a taxpayer.

by: Another skeptic @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 09:59:05 AM CST

by: you @ soon

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Regarding your last paragraph...

You can wish in one hand... (I won't finish this wise proverb, but if you don't know the rest of it you can google it.)

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

by: Aristotle @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 10:41:53 AM CST

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The nut cases seem to win the critical primaries and lose the important elections.

Very good observation. Maybe what we need here is open primaries like in Louisiana where there is a single primary ballot with all candidates on it, and the two top finishers then go on the general ballot.

Where you gonna go for business reporting software?

by: DavidThi808 @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 10:44:53 AM CST

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The Repulsive Republican Radicals are

the natural offspring of a party built on (false) piety, rewarding the wealthy, shrinking/drowning government, turning the hen house over to the foxes, gutting regulations, the K-Street Project, war and fear, failed congressional leadership...

"Yes Twitty, I'm an idiot." Ben Stein's $$

by: ClubTwitty @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 10:49:01 AM CST

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by: you @ soon

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Your right, and the Republican message still boils down to one word:

FEAR

by: Republican 36 @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 11:00:41 AM CST

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With 95% of tax payers receiving cuts,

and two % recieving a tax raise, not much hope for a populist uprising against Obama. Also a majority of those making over 250K voted for him knowing perfectly well he planned to return their tax rate to the pre-Bush level.

Maybe that's because so many people in that income group are smart and educated and remember that before Bush became the first leader in human history to wage an expensive war while lowering taxes, far more of us, including the very rich, were doing very well: Lower poverty, higher real average income for the middle class, many in the middle and lower income groups moving up, the rich making out like bandits They probably just see it as a return to sound tax policy that served all of is very well.

Besides, the only ones who will lose a really big Bush tax cut are those in the top fraction of that group. And it won't effect them at all until, what, 2011? So much for how it's stupid to raise taxes at this point in the recession. It's not happening at this point in the recession.

Nope, there is little hope of the Dems driving people back to the party of the wackos. They're your wackos, AS, and you're stuck with them. At the very least, through the next election cycle.

by: BlueCat @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:17:08 PM CST

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When Dinky Singleton's boys

criticize a Republican in this manner, you know that the Repubs are in deep doo-doo.

by: davebarnes @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 10:24:37 AM CST

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Forget Singleton

When A.S. critisizes Republicans in this manner you know they are losing even the most rabid members of their base.

Where you gonna go for business reporting software?

by: DavidThi808 @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 10:43:09 AM CST

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not really

AS used to say this kind of thing all the time. He stopped once it became apparent that Dems who don't believe in the inherent righteousness of the free market were coming into power, but it's not a new development.

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

by: Aristotle @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 11:54:31 AM CST

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Breathe...

Ok, everyone. Take a deep breath and look at this situation from about 1,000 feet. I can't even believe how hard Pols and its crowd of PNA hacks are jumping on Penry over the past 10 days or so. Regarding the most recent "dust up" Penry said he disagrees with Renfrow. For god's sake, he was a co-sponsor of the resolution Schultheis impaled himself on. What more is he to do!? I'm going to suggest that you guys are overplaying your hand right now. It's obvious that the candidate you're most afraid of in 2010 is Penry and your vile attacks on him for the actions of a couple of loose cannons is embarassing. I know Josh. He worked hard to earn votes from my husband and I even though we're Dems. He's a fair minded guy and the mud he's being dragged through is patently unfair and you know it.

by: MesaModerate @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 11:57:04 AM CST

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what's unfair?

Penry came down hard on someone who wanted to break ranks and criticized his own party; he doesn't come down at all on someone who states something offensive to all but hard-right social cons. Why is it unfair to criticize his actions?

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

by: Aristotle @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:14:26 PM CST

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Came down hard?

Tell me what Josh Penry did to Don Marostica.

by: MesaModerate @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:17:18 PM CST

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BTW....

I've read through all your comments, and they're all pro-Penry and pro-GOP. I'm going to call your bluff that you're a Dem.

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

by: Aristotle @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:16:33 PM CST

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Card Check?

I don't really give two shits if you think I'm a Dem or not. I'm a Wayne Aspinall Democrat -- not a Bill Ritter, Ken Salazar Democrat. I've supported Republicans and I've supported Democrats. I'm not surprised you have to resort to "calling me out" rather than addressing my arguments. Hack.

by: MesaModerate @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:20:40 PM CST

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Right....

I didn't address your arguments in my first response to you. Who is the hack again?

And given that you said "Don Marostica," I think you know full well that story.

Again, who is the hack? It ain't me.

And bully for you, Mr. Aspinall Dem. I don't believe any Dem can seriously respect a hard right con like Penry, but anything's possible.

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

by: Aristotle @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:26:56 PM CST

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Hard of Hearing?

Again, tell me what Josh Penry did to: "...come down hard on someone who wanted to break ranks and criticize their own party..."
I wish I didn't have to support guys like Josh Penry. I wish our party didn't elect people like Bill Ritter that don't know how to govern. It's easy for those of you in the blogosphere to pile on and beat people up without knowing them. For the past number of years we've had a pretty dynamic duo in Mesa County because Josh Penry worked well with Bernie Buescher (who he subsequently supported to be Sec. of State).

by: MesaModerate @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:36:07 PM CST

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Do your own research

It's all been covered here very recently.

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

by: Aristotle @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:37:46 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Research = done

I've done my research and all I've seen is innuendo filled news stories that imply some sort of "woodshed moment" occurred at the capitol with Wadhams, Penry and May. What came of it? Is Don still on the JBC? is he still co-sponsoring the revenue limit bill? The irresponsible rumor mongering is growing tiresome.

by: MesaModerate @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:43:30 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Right....

Because he came out and retracted everything he said, because people do that voluntarily all the time.

You're pretty credulous if you think that's the way it played.

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

by: Aristotle @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:45:13 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Mesa Moderate's pointless entry touches on something interesting

This is a non-issue. This type of petty story will blow over. Most people could care less about the exchange of radical rhetoric from folks on the fringe. Bernie Buescher does prove that pocket book issues are what people remeber not petty blunders at the mike about abortion. Bernie raised taxes and lost. The Ritter recession, made worse by his horible disposition towards business, will have the same result. Bernie and Billy -common fates.

by: Newbie2009 @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 16:39:51 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Hey, remember that conservative guy who registered yesterday?

Can't remember what name he was using, but I think he's back.

Er, welcome completely new person who comes in to yell silly right-wing things at everyone.

by: sxp151 @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 16:43:51 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I suspect you're a shill (sorry if you're not)...

but let me ask if you'd feel the same way if Schultheis said something like African Americans are lazy and therefore less likely to succeed, and Penry reacted in the same way.

Or, more to the point, let's say that he said African Americans have a higher incidence per capita of HIV infection, therefore they're morally inferior. (Remember, Schultheis called the morals of HIV-positive women into question.)

Would it be a non-issue then?

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

by: Aristotle @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 17:37:58 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Welcome aboard, shill

You waited how long after you registered to post that?

When I use lots of words, they always form an analysis (and, while producing high volume, also produce high information-density).
--Steve Harvey, 2009

by: Ralphie @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 20:49:00 PM CST

[ Parent ]

that's right, take your time

Carefully crafting a response to me shouldn't be rushed.

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

by: Aristotle @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:34:41 PM CST

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MesaModerate's a Democrat like Republican36 is a Republican

i.e., it's convenient when you want to score a political point ("I hate Democrats and think they're all stupid, but you should listen to me because I'm a Democrat too!"), but no longer meaningful in any real sense of the word.

So MesaModerate, it's just you, your husband, and Zell Miller in your little club right now?

by: sxp151 @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 13:49:09 PM CST

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What more is he to do!?

Lead?

Look, MM, Penry isn't just another back-bencher. He is the senate minority leader. When someone like Renfroe or Schulteis opens their trap on the senate floor and fundi hate speech comes spewing out, it's time for (a) damage control and (b) a trip to the woodshed to explain, again, that this sort of thing actually hurts the republican cause.

Penry is being dragged through the mud for ineffective leadership, and that's giving him the benefit of the doubt.

by: ajb @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:34:05 PM CST

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By lead do you mean...

Contacting the most watched news station in the state and explaining how you disagree with Schultheis' comments and why you co-sponsored the resolution? If leadership's true job was to punish members for saying stupid things Brandon Shaffer's wrist would be sore from paddling Chris Romer. By the way, is Harry Reid making any progress on "punishing" Robert Byrd for using the N word over and over again on national tv?

by: MesaModerate @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:41:18 PM CST

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Hmmm....

Did this happen on Reid's watch? Because I'm only aware of Byrd's "white nigger" thing from 2001, for which he was called out on the carpet and for which he apologized.

Yep, apples and oranges. Next...

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

by: Aristotle @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:43:59 PM CST

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Something smells shilly

Wasn't Nancy L. Baldwin a "disaffected Democrat ?". I think we've seen this dog and pony show before. I could be wrong, but someone who claims to be a dem and 1) can't stand Ritter 2) supports Josh Penry ?

Methinks something is rotten in Denmark. Just my two cents.

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement" - Jim Horning

by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 13:12:14 PM CST

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You're conveniently forgetting

All of Penry's OTHER comments to major newspapers around the state, in which he said nothing of the sort. So he contacted one news station with a response long after the damage had been done by his own inactivity - that's not worth heaping praise on him.

by: Colorado Pols @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 13:38:31 PM CST

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Headline: Republicans can't control their wackos

Really? And this is new? Neither side can control their wackos, and frankly, neither should try.

It's not Josh Penry's job to censor another duly elected State Senator. It's not Terrance Carroll's job to punish peers for speech that he may or may not agree with.

This attempt by pols to take some hide off of Penry early in the game makes me wonder how much of this witty reparte is bought and paid for.

by: coop @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:38:01 PM CST

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talking point central

This isn't a free speech issue. We know from the way Marostica was treated how the 'pubs feel about their members exercising their first amendment rights.

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

by: Aristotle @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:41:27 PM CST

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Thanks.

We'll be sure to relay your thoughts to the Denver Post editorial board.

by: Colorado Pols @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:40:05 PM CST

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Serious blow to Penry

Penry's political future is in serious jeopardy because of his inability to stand up for common decency. Everyone has him painted to be a real political shark, and he's turned into a guppy.

by: MiddleRoadDem @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:54:40 PM CST

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Stand Up, Indeed

I hate to keep beating this drum, but for god's sake...JOSH PENRY CO-SPONSORED THE RESOLUTION SCHULTHEIS STUCK HIS FOOT IN HIS MOUTH OVER!!!!!!!!!!! Then he explained to 9News that Republicans need to be more mindful of the humanity of those on the other side of issues like gay marriage! THIS BULLSHIT IS TRANSPARENT, FOLKS. Keep trying to bruise Penry over stupid shit like this and you'll soon realize that you're shooting peas at an elephant.

by: MesaModerate @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 13:00:54 PM CST

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Josh is king in Mesa County

They'll keep electing him to something as long as they can. But statewide, he's got problems. It'll be interesting to watch.

by: gertie97 @ Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:21:36 AM CST

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We don't know what Sen. Penry said to Senators Schultheis and Renfroe in private

I'm not a fan of Senator Penry but many times these kind of woodshed sessions are handled in private. For all we know, Senator Penry has taken them to the woodshed.

The larger issue is the fact these kind of attitudes are so prevalent throughout the GOP, coupled with the Party's destroy government at any cost, regardless of the consquences viewpoint.

by: Republican 36 @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:55:20 PM CST

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Not good enough

This is now so public that a private woodshedding is totally insufficient. Someone's head has to roll, there be a public apology, or Penry must step down as leader.

by: MiddleRoadDem @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 12:57:37 PM CST

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Thou Doth Protest Too Much

by: MesaModerate @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 13:02:13 PM CST

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Oh <s>H</s>Penry !

and his Republican Party leadership.

by: WesternSlopeThought @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 15:38:55 PM CST

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Flaming out......

The line asking the minority leader if "Thats all you got" is nothing compared to when The Denver Post compared Bill Ritter to Jimmy Hoffa. In the context of a campaign, I'd rather be talking about the "humanity of those I disagree with" than expaining why the State's paper of record compared me directly, on the front page, to Jimmy Hoffa. Ouch!

by: Newbie2009 @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 16:32:31 PM CST

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Penry Pilloried | 41 comments