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December 11, 2009 12:25 AM UTC

GJ Sentinel Columnist Blames "The Left" For McInnis' Tea Party Rebellion

  • 24 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

We’ve read conservative Grand Junction Sentinel columnist Rick Wagner’s column today about gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis’ foibles attempting to ‘unify’ conservatives after the elimination of his primary opponents, titled “GOP should be wary of the left brewing a tempest in a teapot” a couple of times now–just to make sure we’ve got this straight:

In a sign of desperation that seems to have come early in this political season, many in left-leaning portions of the media and blogosphere have been capering about in excitement, hoping tension between the newly minted “tea party movement” and the McInnis campaign for governor will save them…

The latest inflammation between tea party organizers and the McInnis campaign came after an interview with Fox News host Neil Cavuto, where the candidate was referenced in a graphic as the tea party entrant.

This was misleading, since former Congressman McInnis has not yet received the endorsement of any particular portion of the tea party movement. However, it is probably worth noting that the candidate was interviewed in a remote location and the lower third section of the screen is added in the broadcast studio and was likely not visible to McInnis.

First of all, can we put this nonsense about McInnis somehow not knowing that he was being introduced as “the country’s biggest Tea Party candidate” to bed? It’s ridiculous. Sure, McInnis might not have been able to see the ticker rolling on screen, but he certainly heard host Neil Cavuto call him “the country’s biggest Tea Party candidate.” And–this is what outraged the real “Tea Party” groups–McInnis did not correct him. Because, as McInnis made clear in his glowing subsequent lip service to the “Tea Party” movement, it’s what he wanted people to think.

Back in the spin control room, Wagner continues:

The departure of the other Western Slope conservative candidate, Josh Penry, has left the McInnis campaign with one main obstacle in the form of Evergreen businessman Dan Maes, who has been endorsed by three of the state’s several tea party organizations.

In an effort to further this divide, far-left organizations have encouraged the McInnis campaign to speak out against the movement and label them as extremists. I’m sure they only have the best of intentions in this bit of encouragement.

Many on both sides of the arguments are trying to draw parallels between Colorado’s rapidly narrowing gubernatorial field to the New York congressional 23rd District race which featured the poster child for backroom political shenanigans, Dede Scozzafava, as a Republican candidate so liberal she made Rockefeller Republicans look like Barry Goldwater.

Those on the left have been trying to bring this analogy forward in the hope of furthering a fight on the right, much in the manner of a person who encourages others to brawl, offers to hold their coats and while they’re fighting, runs off with their wallets.

Naturally, this is what you would also say to a story you found politically threatening, and for which you had no better counterargument. So would anybody–of course the enemy everyone can agree on is to blame for all this discontent. It’s all just Mike Huttner stirring up excrement. We’re sure this column was satisfying for GOP loyalist Wagner to write, like a stiff drink after a hard day. More than a few Republican faithful will read it and nod along happily, feeling reassured at having finally found an explanation for something that was really starting to bother them.

The rest of you do realize it’s a bunch of weak-minded denial, right?

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24 thoughts on “GJ Sentinel Columnist Blames “The Left” For McInnis’ Tea Party Rebellion”

  4. He’s the one state-wide candidate who won’t grant me an interview. You can’t fight the bad karma from that 🙂

    Serious Scott, if you want to put this to rest – talk to me. Every Dem here will certify that my first interview is a chance for you to sell yourself and I happily help.

  5. 1. Does Mr. McInnis support the three tax initiatives on the ballot that will, if passed, reduce state revenues by $2 billion?  Mr. Wagner commends Mr. McInnis for reaching out to the Tea Party movement which has endorsed those initiatives, so does that mean Mr. McInnis is endorsing that kind of a drastic decrease in state revenues?

    2. If Mr. McInnis supports those three initiatives, and the voters adopt them, then which state programs and how much money will he cut out of those programs to meet the state constitutional mandate to balance the budget when we reduce revenue by $2 billion annually?

    3. Mr. McInnis promised to repeal the annual $250 million earmarked for transportation by the FASTER bill and replace that money with other general fund money while simultaneously increasing state funding for higher education. Since the only agency with that kind of general funds is the prisons, how many prisons is Mr. McInnis going to close and what will be his early release policy for inmates housed in those prisons because that is what he will have to do to move enough general funds to the Colorado Department of Transportaiton to make up for the loss of the FASTER funds?

    These questions are posed because Mr. Mcinnis’ choices on these issues will have a direct impact on the public safety of each and every citizen of Colorado. If he chooses to support the three initiatives that reduce state revenues by $2 billion annually then there is no way he can either increase funding for higher education or backfill the $250 million CDOT will loose when Mr. McInnis repeals FASTER.

    Mr. Wagner’s column does not address these fundamental issues. Mr. McInnis himself has raised them because he has stated he will repeal FASTER and after the uproar about the Tea Party and his appearance on FOX news, Mr McInnis issued a press release stating that he would be proud to have the support of the Tea Party. Since he wants their support does he support the Tea Party’s position on the tax initiatives? Its a relevant question, a fair question and one that he must answer because he, by his own statements, has put himself in a position where he must answer.

    Colorado voters have the right to know what and who they are voting for or against.      

    1. Stcokholm syndrome occurs when captives feel so at risk they cling to those who took them hostage.  This is to let you know you’re owned by your hostage taker.

      1. Rapini, or Broccoli Rabe, is a delightful Mediterranean leafy vegetable (not broccoli) that is distantly related to the turnip plant.  It has a wonderful bitter flavor.  Do not confuse it with “broccolini,” which is very bland.  Here’s how my grandmother, from the Campania region of Italy, used to make it.

        1 bunch Rapini, washed thoroughly and cut across the stems into 1-inch pieces

        (discard stem ends and any yellow or damaged leaves)

        3 cloves garlic peeled and crushed

        1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

        2 Tbs olive oil

        Blanch the rapini for about 3 minutes in 3 quarts of vigorously boiling salted water.  Drain into a colander and plunge immediately into a sink full of ice-cold water to stop the cooking.

        Drain thoroughly or it will splash hot oil all over you in the last step.  If you have one of those “salad spinner” gadgets, it works well.  Otherwise, just shake all the water out of the colander.

        In a large skillet, add the olive oil and heat to very hot but not smoking.  Add the garlic and cook until golden.  Add the red pepper flakes to flavor the oil.  Do not burn the pepper or everyone in the house will start sneezing and coughing.

        Add the blanched and drained rapini and toss to coat them with the oil/garlic/pepper mixture.  Cook 3 or 4 minutes until tender.

        Look for other recipes.  Another favorite is rapini added to cooked pasta with sliced, browned Italian sausage.

              1. But I had cousins in Point Pleasant and Ortley Beach and friends in Bradley Beach.  Learned to surf in Beach Haven, and how to pick up girls in Sea Girt (that’s where all the young schoolteachers had group rentals for the summer).

                Those were the days. Last time I ever got drunk enough to puke was in Sea Girt.  Drank two bottles of Thunderbird, I guess I deserved it.

                Never bumped into Springsteen, though, even though band’s house at 10th Avenue and E Street was just a few blocks from ours at 14th and A.

                Might have crossed paths at the Upstage Club in Asbury Park, where everyone went to jam (for free, of course).  He was a regular there before he got famous.

  8. left-leaning portions of the media and blogosphere have been capering about in excitement. . .

    I find it hard to believe anybody was out and about “capering” or skipping or scampering about in excitement during the last few days. That is if they were not experiencing some radical effects of tea that contained more than caffine.

  9. is that the “tea-baggers” are all the rage in conservative thinking.  A Republican politician will now have to bow down not only to the Fundies who are still high on their intent to criminalize womens health care but the tea-baggers who are sociopaths who have absolutely no compassion or care about anyone else including the rich and big business.  How are you going to keep a party together when they don’t want to take care of their rich?  The tea-baggers are now the favorite child and no tantrum no matter how infantile (townhall meetings) will be met with a rebuke.  They believe that the tea-baggers along with the fundies will be enough to regain power but it’s a closed system.  The tea-baggers voted for Bush twice like the fundies so the GOP isn’t expanding their base by french kissing these illiterates.  Bye bye business Republicans and anyone who cares about a balanced society.  

    1. …as unwitting dupes of big corporate interests.  They do the dirty work of Big Insurance/Pharm/Banks, et al without even realizing it.  

      Saying “no!” to any kind of change (scary!) in the status quo works in favor of the rich and powerful.

      There’s a reason that Dick Armey keep them well organized and funded.

        1. However, I think the “powers that be” are using and channeling that anger to further  their own agenda.  

          Angry people generally aren’t thinking rationally and that can lead to explotation.  

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