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July 14, 2010 11:49 PM UTC

Who Would Replace McInnis as the GOP Candidate for Governor?

  • 218 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

As the Scott McInnis campaign completes its total destruction, politicos from both sides of the aisle are buzzing that the GOP’s only hope at winning the Governor’s race is if they can find a replacement candidate after the primary.

This assumes that McInnis can still defeat Dan Maes on August 10, since Maes most certainly would not withdraw from the race if he wins the nomination, but the scenario being discussed is that McInnis would limp to a primary win, and then withdraw from the race so that Republicans could appoint someone else as their candidate (of course, this also assumes that McInnis would pull out of the race). But if this all happens, who would the Republicans put forward as their candidate?

One of the obvious names thrown out is that of Josh Penry, the former Senate Minority Leader and now the Campaign Manager for Jane Norton’s Senate bid. But if Norton loses the Senate nomination to Ken Buck, which appears likely, would Buck — and the GOP base — really embrace Penry as their top-ticket candidate? We doubt it.

So who would you put forward to replace McInnis on the GOP ballot, should this scenario take place? It would need to be someone with decent name ID already, since there wouldn’t be much time to raise their profile before mail ballots drop in early October. It would also need to be someone who would be willing to jump into a race as a clear underdog.

Remember, it’s not necessarily important that the Republican candidate actually be able to beat Democrat John Hickenlooper in November; at this point, the main concern would be finding someone who could at least put up a good fight so that the effect of a potential Hickenlooper landslide doesn’t cripple every GOP candidate down the ballot.  

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218 thoughts on “Who Would Replace McInnis as the GOP Candidate for Governor?”

  1. This story is making headlines right before the ballots start going out (and coming back).

    There’s no guarantee a GOP electorate will stick with such a damaged candidate; Maes may be damaged, but his damage isn’t first-page news at a critical time.  Given the apparent radicalization of the Republican Party, Maes may very well pull this out, and all this speculation would be for naught.

    Diary premature, IMHO.

      1. The one where McInnis drops out after the primary? We can’t link to that, it’s speculation, but like many thinks on this site, it’s informed speculation.

        McInnis will drop out. The only question is when.

      2. Dan Caplis in particular was blathering on and on about how Ken Buck might be a good candidate…

        The worst of Smoke-Filled-Room Politics, and totally disrespectful to Dan Maes, especially since Maes beat McInnis for top spot on the ballot.

        If the Republicans pull a stunt like this, they will totally alienate their Tea Party base.

        No, their only hope now is to quickly and decisively rally around Dan Maes as their savior.

        1. Let’s face it… the GOP shot themsleves in the foot by picking mcGinnis over Penry.

          Maybe Ali Hassan? Too bad he moved.. he’d at least get more name recognition now. If I were an R I might throw him my vote after this scandal. Think of the PR

          Hmm Maybe THAT is why Hassan Foundation payed him 300k for a piss poor copy/paste job!

          I may have stumbled onto the most intricate political conspiracy concoted since they faked Tupac’s death.  

            1. He was promised the Chief of Staff position. But either way, the pressure for Penry to drop out came form the GOP.. not McLiarPants. Thus the GOP felt McGinnis was a better pick than Penry.  

                  1. That referred to one specific video which I accidentally put on autoplay. Hardly fair to use it as a sig line, that is taken out of context.

                    3. I, in no way resemble a bald eagle. I’m more like a poor man’s Cate Blanchet

                    4. Don’t bother explaining anything to him.  It’s pointless.  I’ve talked to  better informed pieces of toast.

                    5. is that you’re talking to your toast.

                      On the other hand, I’ve been talking to BJ, so I guess I’m in no position to scoff.

                      It’s settled then: I plan on switching to toast in the morning. Doubtless, the quality of discourse will improve enormously. Do you find them more lucid after being buttered, or before?

                    8. but by trying to engage Bjob in civil conversation you’re just feeding prime rib to a coprophogic monkey.

                    9. As has happened on some occasions before, I couldn’t have invented a better one. Though he’s tedious and annoying, seeking only a destructive rather than productive goal, overall, I’ve actually gained something from his mindless challenge. I’ve thrive on sharpening my own thoughts against the hard whetting stone of his ignorance, as frustrating as it may be, and there is no other space in which it would or could happen.

                      For instance, his new tom-foolery of posting “Are you a socialist” everywhere, randomly, for the sole purpose of annoying, doesn’t, of course, succeed, except at annoying everyone and reinforcing the low esteem in which he is held. But I did enjoy giving one last long and comprehensive answer, describing what I am, rather than accepting or rejecting someone else’s label. I wouldn’t have written it otherwise, and I’m glad I did.

                      Just as there is nothing that focuses the mind quite like a child (whose questions you choose to answer) incessantly asking the most basic of questions, there is also nothing that focuses the mind quite like the impenetrable stupidity of a blind ideologue (whose questions and assertions you choose to answer).

                      Thanks, Diogenes. I appreciate the complements…, especially coming from you!

                    14. Can you elaborate on the “poor man’s Cate Blanchet” thing?

                      Galadriel or Bob Dylan?

                    15. Have a good evening.  Salmon is on the grill and the lady is cooking up a storm.

                    16. “Salmon is on the grill and the lady is cooking up a storm” just doesn’t seem to cut it for a sig line. Think about it over dinner.

                2. They’d have a better chance winning by finding a well known dem or indy to switch parties and run.. but I don’t know if that’s possible in the time left.

                  It’s just pure ego IMO. They walked into this election year thinking all the fearmongering they did riling up the far extreme and unerving the center by refusing to work with democrats under any circumstance would garner them blind wins. By not taking any time to pick quality candidates, I hope,  shows people how little they really care about governing and how much they just want power and control.  

                    2. Galadriel, with Evangaline Lilly’s freckles. (that’s Kate from LOST for all the non-nerds out there)

    3. I mean, I try and give you the benefit of the doubt when I read your stuff and say, hey, maybe he really believes it and all but then you say something so stupid as Shawn Mitchell. Give me a break.

      Looking at it in terms of name recognition, money to raise he has no chance. As a matter of fact, with how much people pay attention to the senate compared to how many views this site has, I bet YOU are more known than Mitchell.

      Heck, you should run. Even though you don’t know what you’re talking about, you sure know how to make a splash by entering every conversation, and getting people to talk if not about you, at least to you!

      Better yet, if there is a replacement for McInnis, maybe you should be his/her press secretary.

      Mitchell – what a laugh.

      1. would at least have an entire volunteer structure already in place (the Tea Party). Lol I love it! Put me on the ticket. I may not win, but I’ll sure get some attention.

    4. Mitchell as a great campaigner?  Who could win state-wide?  Muwahahahahahaha.  That’s rich.

      Mitchell could not get elected statewide under any circumstances, and he would successfully motivate folks like Tim Gill and Pat Stryker to spend tons of money.

      Once again, ladies and gentlemen, BJ puts forth one of the dumbest ideas on Pols today.

      (BTW, A ~6,000 vote win over Joe Whitcomb in 2008 (with total votes of 98K) is a decent win, but half of those votes (and 2/3 of the win margin) are in Weld Co., and you can be sure that a GOP governor candidate will win Weld by 8K votes, if he has a pulse. Weld is not exactly the barometer of statewide sentiment.)

        1. If you look at Weld Co. in general terms, you’ll see that we’re just very unforgiving of idiocy.  Ritter won, but narrowly, and against a horrible GOP nominee.  Betsy won, but again, against a very unpopular Musgrave.

          Part of this may be that Weld Dems are pretty crappy at fielding local (HD/SD) candidates who do the work to get out votes, and raise awareness, but the other part is that the GOP plays here, and a generic R ought to beat a generic D by about 8K votes (see Paccione, Udall, Obama).

          My point is that reading Weld Co. performance as a barometer of state performance is bad politics.  That Mitchell got 2/3 of his margin of victory from Weld Co. (with only 45% of the registered voters) suggests to me that his appeal statewide (or even within his district) might not be anywhere as strong as it is in Weld Co.

      4. is no guarantee of future returns….or something like that.  Colorado has 1/3 voter population that are not tied to Dem or Rep.  I would not count any Republican out in November.  dlof, your comments are similar to the common response when Ken Buck announced his state wide run. Those naysayers are certainly re-evaluating what determines success in a race.

        You are certainly overstating the impact money is having this year in elections. I agree money is important but as someone on here said; having a lot of money does not necessarily trump having enough money.

        I would also point out that Tim Gill and Stryker are contributing large amounts of money in this race. The return on their investment will not be known for 4 more weeks.  (See above re: having enough money)  

        1. You’re correct about past performance, but there is no evidence that Shawn Mitchell has any capability of running a large, serious campaign against a funded, savvy challenger.  None.

          Money or not.  Shawn Mitchell would be a great choice to challenge Hick, but I say that as a bleeding-heart liberal.  Doomed, he would be.

  3. He can transfer money from his current campaign and has a reasonable name ID. He’s not charismatic, but he’s reliable. Maybe that’s what the GOP needs?

    Hank Brown, maybe? It’s a cluster fuck, really.

    2. He’s pro-choice.  Can’t happen.  Same for Bruce Benson who could be another good name.  It the elites tried to shove that down the grass-roots throats, well I don’t wish to imagine what would happen.  

      1. If McInnis and his schizophrenic views on abortion can get support, I don’t think it’s an issue that matters most to the party any more.

      3. Benson would enrage the GOP base, otherwise he’d be a threat.

        But I think Benson would rather be Prez of CU, and he should stick to raising money. That’s what he is supposed to be good at, you wouldn’t know it except for things named after him.

    1. John Andrews is tanned, rested and ready. He’s run for governor before so he knows what it takes. And he’s nuts. So he’s a perfect choice.

      2. Kill me now.  I managed to suppress this response to the Shawn Mitchell suggestion, but can’t hold it back when you start talking John Andrews.  I shall pray fervently over my mung beans that this will not come to pass!

          1. CRS 1-4-105 gives a specific exception to the rule for a defeated primary candidate who is later appointed by a vacancy committee. Who knew?

      3. I have a question. If McInnis drops out before the primary and with the ballots printed, under what circumstances could the GOP appoint someone in McInnis place?  Would the ballots have to be reprinted?

        What about waiting until after the primary, if Maes wins, could the GOP do anything w/o forcing Maes to quit?

        1. See my notice up thread a bit that I errored. Maes can be appointed even if he loses the primary.

          It is too late to reprint ballots. If McInnis quites prior to or on primary day, votes cast for him will not be counted. Maes wins by default.

          If McInnis wins the primary and quits, a vacancy committee will replace him on the general ballot.

          If Maes wins the primary, there is nothing the party can about it, Maes would be the candidate in November.

  5. These mental games are getting out of hand guys. There is a good chance McInnis drops out, and if not then Maes wins easily in the primary.  It’s Maes v. Hickenlooper.

    1. But then again, the Denver R Party (HD9) is a few weeks away from nominating someone who is currently on probation.

      Not all voters do research or pay attention to the news. It’s possible that enough people will still vote for McInnis that he still wins. But he’s foolish if he thinks he can pull out a GE win with this over his head.

      1. If he doesn’t drop out, then McInnis will surely be caught in a lie to cover up one of his lies, etc. At this point I think we can use the word compulsive to describe his behavior.

        1. But my point is that none of that matters. He will still get a LOT of votes, even if he stays in. It takes weeks for people to fall off the bandwagon. Many will stick with him to “wait for the truth to come out”. The ballots hit the mailboxes in a few days.

          For the record, I don’t think he will win, but it’s not impossible.  

          1. Scott, tonight we knocked on 182 doors. We only had 6 people bring up the story. Out in the real world, they are still concerned about the Democrat tax increases, fee increases, regulations on small business

            Scott, don’t be too concerned about this particular news cycle.

            As we are every night, I was out with our Delta Force knocking in a blue-collar precinct in Aurora.  We knocked on 182 doors.  We only had 6 doors bring up the story.  I know you are in the middle of the echo chamber; but out in the real world, they are still concerned about the Democrat tax increases, fee increases, regulations on small business, etc.  Our normal pitch worked just fine tonight.

            My message to you:  Don’t let the press keep you on the ropes and get back to your real message of jobs, jobs, jobs!!

            We (your Delta Force) are so proud to be knocking on doors for Scott McInnis!!

            Very Respectfully, David

            Rep. David Balmer

            Assistant House Minority Leader

            Republican, Arapahoe County

            http://www.davidbalmer.com

            —

            2. having done enough canvassing and data entry, 6 people is likely a fairly high percentage of a nights’ haul of contacts.  It might work differently with Republican primary voters, but knocking on doors this time of year on the Dem side will yield optimistically a 25% response rate in this area.  

              The fact that people willing to answer the door and talk brought the story up at all means that it’s percolating.  That’s pretty good penetration for just a couple of days.  The dude is toast

            5. 6 out of 182?

              Love the “Democrat taxes” swipe, but it just doesn’t seem plausible that an alleged Balmer “blue collar neighborhood” claim is honest.

              The top 2 percent still believe the repub talking points, but everybody else is paying close attention these days.

              Scooter’s done.

              What about Caplis?

              Probably not.

              His entry would energize the Democratic base like nothing els ever could.

            7. 1. How many answered? How many talked? It’s interesting he says knocked as opposed to how many conversations? When I did door to door I was lucky to have a conversation over 5 seconds with maybe 10% of the knocks. So that would be 18 conversations and that’s then 1/3.

              2. Many people don’t bring up negative things because it becomes an uncomfortable conversation. Someone who’s a staunch Republican doesn’t want to talk about this – doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking about it.

              3. When they go to fill out their ballot, many will Google both, even if for just a fast check. And when they do guess what comes up next week?

              It’s going to matter – a lot.

        1. He was charged with Domestic Violence and Assault in July of last year.

          The press is waiting to break it until he wins the primary, then they will tear him apart. Facethestate.com is the only press group to mention it so far. The Denver Post hinted at it and Lynn Bartels certainly knows the whole story, but they don’t want to waste the space if he’s not the nominee.

          If the R’s want a chance to win in that district, somebody needs to campaign hard for CJ Garbo right now.

          Unfortunately, even some republicans who do know are still supporting him. His primary opponent is moderate, which he has to be if he hopes to win in Denver, but they would rather have a crazy, hard-line conservative, than a viable moderate. Go figure.

          There are times when I wish I could vote in primaries.

          (By the way, I only know about that particular issue because I live in HD9)

          2. Even if he hasn’t committed any domestic violence, is Garbo really that great an alternative for this district?  He calls renewable energy “not economically viable” for Colorado even as more solar and wind jobs are created every week in Colorado.  Instead he says “oil, oil shale and natural gas” are “clean, safe and affordable”.  No one I know near the gas rigs on the western slope seems to think so, and I don’t know that anyone in the gulf of Mexico does either right now.

            He seems to be opposed ending corporate tax loopholes which just means more of the responsibility falls on individual taxpayers.

            His web site suggests he’s anti-choice in almost every case and he seems to believe in taking decisions away from individual women.

            This just seems like another example of there not being any more moderates left in the Republican party.  The district deserves better than this.

  6. With Penry’s schenanigans on the Norton campaign, Suther’s vulnerability to PAC ads about the murderer, and Mike May’s harassment scandal, it’s hard to see any GOPers being able to step up to the challenge at this point.

    If McInnis wins the primary and then drops out, I think their best bet would be to find a really great spokesman to carry the banner and fight for the down-ticket races and just accept that the seat is lost.

  7. Bob Beauprez-“Both Ways, Because He Lost Last Time”

    Janet Rowland-“Endorsed by the Woolgrowers”

    Cinamon Watson-“She Knows What to Say”

    Wayne “Who?” Wolf-“Because Delta County is too small”

    One of the other Scotts-“Vote Scott NOT McInnis”  

    The bench is so deep.  

      1. Why would he drop out?  I don’t see him sticking it out until the primary, but if he’s stubborn/stupid enough to stay in and he wins, why wouldn’t he just double down on the denial and say, “I can win the whole enchilada!”

        1. Despite his issues, he’s a team player. The party doesn’t want Maes, so they’ll want him into staying in the race through the primary so they can pick the new nominee.

          He may go ahead and do that, but he’s still better (as far as the party is concerned) than Meas. Either way, they’d rather he win.

          1. The party elite don’t want Maes.  If the party elite tries to do something, it will backfire on them.  AS for McInnis, if he stays in and wins the primary, I say he thumbs his nose at the party.  He’s been screwed by the party too many times and this is his last chance.  He knows it.  It still think its Hick vs. Maes, but even if it is Hick vs. McInnis, he’s toast.

            1. That’s what I’m saying. McInnis doesn’t want it to be Maes, neither do the people who would make up a vacancy committee.

              So he can try to win the primary, not for himself, but so that one of his allies can get the nomination instead of Meas.

  9. As the likely winner of the primary Dan Maes is in the catbird seat.  He can ask for a lot to step aside.  Knowing how this huckster operates I bet he is ready to deal.  

    1. McInnis is the only “real and viable” republican in the race. Dan Maes has no Legislative experience to be our governor.  Every governor should have been on the floor of the legislature to see firsthand how a bill becomes a law, and Maes has never held elected office. Our governor needs to know the ins and outs of the capitol and he cannot possible know that if he has never worked in the dome before!

      1. Not to sound like I’m supporting Meas, because I’m not. But legislative experience comes in many forms. You don’t have to work in the capitol to understand how it works.

        What’s more, a Governor is in charge of the executive branch that enforces the laws. Executive experience is far more important than legislative experience.

        Frankly, I’m sick of Govs trying to be the 101st legislator. Sign the laws or don’t, but if you want to write them, run for the Senate.

        1. coming from a candidate running for Governor, a very high position?

          Look, the most experience Maes has had is the political experience he is getting RIGHT NOW while he is traveling the state and speaking.  One  should have that experience before they start running, not during.

          1. about Maes.

            He’s not qualified and his fringe attitude would drag down the rest of the ticket.

            My point was only about legislative experience and whether it was necessary to be Gov.

          2. There have been lots of people elected who had no prior experience and were great at their job.  Take John Love in Colorado in the 60’s.  If you like Jared Polis (and I personally hate him) what about him.  What about Carrie Kennedy?  My answer is that no, I don’t care if they have experience.  If Colorado or the Country wanted experience, then John McCain would be President.

            1. But that doesn’t mean everybody can do it.  Nor does that mean Obama is doing an excellent job with his exceptional record of experience.

    2. That’s not a bad idea. It would be nice to have a Gov that values Higher Ed, but I would be concerned about him favoring CU over community colleges in the budget crunch next year.

        1. He is sane.  Automatic disqualifer for Republicans, not to mention that he is still pro-choice and won’t change.  He just emceed a Republicans for Choice Event two years ago.  No way.  I don’t even think Bill Armstrong would want him.

          1. This is your third asserting that pro-choice is a dis-qualifier. If that were true, we wouldn’t be talking about McInnis’ replacement.

            I’ll remind you that he was a major part of conservatives for choice for a long time.

            1. as all Rs must to win primaries in most states now.  Appointing Brown  means he doesn’t have to win a primary but would the leadership be willing to give R voters a pro-choice candidate? Probably not in today’s climate. Also could they even get to a vacancy appontment situation? Or are they well and truly stuck with what they’ve got, McInnis or Maes?

              1. But it’s the underlying premise of this discussion, so I’m not arguing that point.

                I really don’t think that pro-choice negates a candidate, especially if they don’t have to face a primary. Yes, a lot of right-side voters care about that, but in my experience, Colorado righties care way more about low taxes than social issues. So as long as Hank Brown can play the D’s raised your taxes card correctly, no one will ever notice he’s pro-choice.

                1. no matter how many times you repeat the tax raising lie, Ds actually either did not  raise or lowered your taxes. Made 45K? Your taxes were lowered.  The Bush tax cuts for the  rich did nothing to stimulate the economy then, just ballooned the deficit along with the completely  not just unnecessary but profoundly damaging war in Iraq. The exact policies that Rs are now pushing are the ones that got us into the hole we;re in and disappeared, once again did not create , jobs.  BushI was right when he called trickle down voodoo economics.  Right now Rs have no concern with adding as much to the deficit as needed to keep giving  the very rich very big tax cuts which all evidence shows do nothing to create well paying jobs, just expand fat accounts.  

                  On the other hand they claim that adding, for the short run, to the deficit by extending unemployment benefits would be just terrible.  Of course every penny of that money would go right back into the economy because people need to spend it all just to keep body and soul together.  Of course that constitutes an unquestioned, no ifs ands or buts, economic stimulant.

                  No doubt it is the fact that the Rs know nothing about creating a healthy economy but are  only interested in helping the rich get richer until the whole rotten mess collapses accounts for the reason why the economy has always been healthier by every measure, jobs (more good ones), deficit, debt (lower), poverty rate (lower) going back decade after decade under Dems. If our small business could go back to making what we made in the 90s it would take a truly ginormous tax hike to make us worse off than we’ve been throughout the dark years of three branch Republican government and the tragic aftermath.

                  At least the IRA is looking better than it ever did under the party that kills economies so regularly.   At least the digging has stopped and we’re heading, way too slowly due mainly to R obstruction, in the right direction.  The idea of an R takeover at this stage is truly terrifying but the results would probably join with demographics to ensure it would never happen again in the foreseeable future.

  13. If JN loses to Dan Buck, why not have her just do a 180 degree turn and run for Governor? She’ll have $$ (maybe), name recogntion, and current statewide campaign experience.

    With an ‘insugent’ as standard bearer for Senate, and a GOP establishment choice for Governor, there’d be plenty of reason for mainstream AND crazy GOPers to vote. A win-win for the ‘big tent’ of the GOP.

    If not Jane, then why not Gale? Half of Jane’s supporters probably think she’s Gale anyway – they probably wouldn’t notice the switch.  

    3. But Norton may have torpedoed her chances of something like that by the way she has run her campaign. Come to think of it, why didn’t she run for governor instead of senate? It’s a more logical choice for a former lt. gov.

  14. That way, this election season can be even MORE embarrassing for the GOP.

    Of course, before they could ask him to run, they’d have to find him first.

    1. Because your diary (poll) had a limited number of options that most people would feel comfortable choosing from and with a situation like this it’s much easier to just open the discussion and see what people bring to the table.

    2. While I don’t see you surrendering to the Dark Side to stand by Darth Wadhams, why not run as the only true conservative candidate.

      I’d still work for Hick, but while I question your political beliefs, I absolute admire and respect your ethics and morals.  

      1. .

        http://www.coloradopols.com/di…

        Say!  Maybe the Republicans could choose Big Ben Goss as their candidate, too ?

        That would combine the votes of Republicans AND conservatives.  Together they would make a clear MAJORITY of Colorado voters.  

        Is it legal to have the same person on the ballot for the same office twice, representing 2 different parties ?


        FOR GOVERNOR (choose one):

        Big Ben Goss      (R)

        The Hickster          (D)

        Big Ben Goss     (ACP)

        “Kilo” Sallis           (LIB)

        Mickey Mouse      (UNA)

        .

  17. Marostica has been champing at the bit to run for governor, and this would get him past a pesky primary, where his Republican purity would be questioned.

    Also, unlike some of the other people listed, he doesn’t really have something lined up after the election …

    1. 1. RINO, same Ref C problems as Norton, happy in private life

      2. Statewide loser

      3. Give up a safe congressional seat for a risky run for guv? How’d that work out for Beauprez last time? Plus the party insiders are not big fans.

      4. Statewide loser

    2. I’m pretty sure Bill Owens isn’t allowed. Term limits and such.

      Coors could try, but all the same issues that kept him from winning last time are still there. Plus he doesn’t have the beer advantage this time. Same goes for Schaffer.

      Coffman WILL NOT run. The R’s aren’t going to give up CD6 for an unlikely Governor run.

      I’m telling you, Doug Bruce is the answer. 😉

      2. He might now want to, and that has carried the day before when he ran for the 6th when he wanted to but no one else wanted him too, but the seat is not in jeopardy so why not go for it.  Coffman has never needed anyone but himself to think that he can win things and with the 6th he proved that to himself.  If now all the elite were begging him to run, You don’t think he would go, especially in a good year for Republicans when lots of money will come his way, for very little work, he can transfer what he has and he only has to campaign for a short time.  He’s knows he’s already run statewide and won, twice (three times?)  I say he does it.

    2. But John needs a face lift before he does it.  I saw him at an Avs game and he looks terrible.  I look much better and I’m five years older.

    1. Pro-choice and lost once before and a supporter of education (always has been as a matter of fact).  Rational.  All disqualifying factors in today’s Republican Party.

        1. Can you name a single candidate in the GOP who is openly pro-choice? But aside from that, it’s just not ethical to play political games with babies’ lives.

          1. Former leader of conservatives for choice. He was on the Board for over a decade.

            Front-runner for US Senate until four days ago.

            Ya’know, the person who we’re all talking about replacing after he wins the nomination.

            Just to name one.

            He also voted the Pro-choice line in congress.

            I would also point to Scott Brown, the hero of the republican party who won the Late Sen. Kennedy’s seat last year. He was a pro-choicer.

            And then there’s Tom McDowell running for the House out of Colorado Springs. Also pro-choice.

            I can keep going if you’d like.

            1. openly – he tried to hide it. I’m talking about Repubs in Colorado. I guess I haven’t heard of Tom McDowell, maybe I should say major candidates.

            1. differently, then I suppose it doesn’t matter. Personally I don’t know that I could register enough activity in your brain to qualify you as a living being.

          3. it was a Republican Colorado state senator who insisted that we shouldn’t implement any prenatal screening for HIV infection (which could save the children from AIDS), because he wanted the mothers to bear the consequences of their “immoral” decisions.

            But, yeah, those Republicans sure do know how to avoid playing politics with babies’ lives….

              1. one of Colorado’s, and the Republican Party’s, gifts to humanity, Dave Schultheis, who said by way of justification for his opposition to life-saving pre-natal testing, “What I’m hoping is that, yes, that person may have AIDS, have it seriously as a baby and when they grow up, but the mother will begin to feel guilt as a result of that.”

                Just one of Colorado’s 2010 Extreme 16. Yeah, boy, that’s the party to trust….

                (Amazingly enough, BJ may have exactly what it takes to be a Colorado Republican Office Holder: The complete absence of a clue, combined with some kind of Medieval Theocratic commitment to making sure that that cluelessness prevails absolutely. Welcome to The Inquisition!)

                  1. with some (too few) exceptions.

                    It wasn’t like this when I was a kid, but the parties have largely shaken out into the party of reason and goodwill v. the party of irrationality, bigotry, and belligerence. it kinda makes it easy to choose sides.

          1. … as Craig keeps asserting.

            There are plenty of GOP pro-choice candidates. Someone shouldn’t be discounted because of their stance on a single issue that, by the way, the Colorado Governor has pretty much 0 impact on.

            1. On the standard make-up of any GOP vacancy committee in Colorado, especially the statewiude one, I think a pro-choice candidate is pretty doomed.

              They may do okay at the ballot box, but not in a inner-party cirle like a vacancy committee.

  22. How about Ryan Frazier?

    Somebody must want to run him because he is still in the race for CD7. He has money, and he can raise money or somebody is raising money for him.

    His negatives are he doesn’t attend city council meetings; which apparently nobody cares about because he is still on city council. He has used his campaign account for some razor edge uses, such as going to Africa on campaign dollars.

    He has gone on record supporting health care benefits for city same sex partnerships; but without fighting for them.  That has to PO some of the R’s.

    Overall he is about the only R politician in the state who hasn’t declared that the Hawaii Advertiser and the state of Hawaii have not been co-conspirators since 1960something to replace the moran with the black guy (nicest description of our President that I’ve heard from some fruitcakes)  

      1. has Frazier demonstrated he’s able to run anything, much less an entire state?

        He’s such a good campaigner he was driven from the Senate race and handed the 7th CD and STILL wound up with a primary from a guy named Foghorne who can’t even speak above a whisper and has panic attacks when he meets strangers.

        And he’s not exactly “available,” he’s already on the ballot for another race. You’re suggesting he switch to a third one for this election? Really?

  23. Tonight on Caplis he stated it looks like McInnis will withdraw.  This statement a day after McInnis appearred on Caplis show long enough to do his act of contrition and be absolved by Caplis. Caplis went on and on and on about how honorable it was for McInnis to come on and take responsibility for it. Sickening!  I guess Caplis was derailed by the fallguy not willing to stick to the script.  Gotta love the fallguy for giving Caplis and McInnis the finger.

    Now Caplis is already talking a replacement for McInnis and in that special Caplis way announced his support for Penry (I believe he muttered Maes’ name once while I was listening).  Of course the affable Silverman was pushing for Caplis to throw his hat in. I love Silverman!  

    If Caplis is already talking McInnis withdrawal then the establishment of the state GOP must be recommending it.  Caplis is the radio voice for the state GOP.  

  24. The only scenario that works is that the McInnis successor will be Tancredo.  Maes would bow to Tancredo and take some appointed position – can’t be LG because the geography doesn’t work.

    Tancredo will force Hickenlooper into a debate on illegal immigration and “Denver the Sanctuary City.”  Tancredo can also raise bunches of dollars.

    It will be Tancredo.

    1. At first I was reading this and thinking, what an idiot! Then I realized, no, nobody can be so stupid as to believe this so then I realized, oh, abraham is joking!

      So thanks Abe for making me laugh! You made my night!

      It’s good to know that people really aren’t as stupid as your paragraph would lead someone to believe!

  26. If they really wanted to win they would replace McInnis (or Maes) with someone who could beat Hick.  There are only a couple of names:  Hank Brown (who won’t do it) or Al White (who could not get the nod).

    In a year that is clearly in the Repubs favor, another example of Repubs in Colorado snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

  28. He drops out now- clears the path for Norton.

    IN exchange the vacancy committee promises he’s the gov nominee right after McInnis wins.

    Except what if Maes wins?

    Well, then Buck is screwed (like Penry) for the good of his party – the lying cheating bastards they are.

    2. Buck has been labeled persona non grata by the state and national GOP since the day Jane Norton entered the race.

      Ken Buck does not strike me as a guy who would willingly take one for the team that tried to bench him.

      Now Penry and Frazier will take one for the team. They have already ingratiated themselves to the party by being good little candidates who follow “recommendations”.

      Imagine Ken Buck as a candidate with the money and support afforded his opponent. That is a candidate no one would want to go against.  

  29. Bill Armstrong, Hank Brown, Bill Owens, Pete Coors. They’ve all been through state-wide races and almost certainly are unwilling to get down in the mud again. Especially as it’s now much more brutal than before.

    2. You, um, know that Bill Armstrong last ran for office 26 YEARS AGO, right? He’s so far removed from running a statewide campaign, it’s got nothing to do with your cliches and homilies.

  30. .

    With all the sarcasm and parody here, is a serious suggestion out of place ?

    Bentley Rayburn.  

    El Paso County loves him, and that’s one of the 3 centers of Republican power, including the West Slope and Weld/Larimer Counties.

    No known negatives.  Somewhat bland, in a good way.  

    I’d bet he could be talked into taking one for the team, if you assume he doesn’t have much of a chance.  On the other hand, I wouldn’t write him off, either.  He’s the anti-McInnis, when the GOP needs to explicitly repudiate that brand.

    .

    1. The Maes supporters can see victory and that’s going to energize them like crazy. Meanwhile the McInnis supporters are left wondering what to do – and I think many of them will leave Gov blank.

        1. Honestly, if the Party faithful asked, I would do it – I would love a chance to restore trust in the GOP through hardwork and sincerity – after what’s happened, the bigger goal for the Republican gubernatorial nominee is not just winning, but rather, building trust and creating a foundation where Colorado could believe in Republicans again

          A gubernatorial candidate who comes on blogs, answers questions openly (like I do here), stays ardently fiscal conservative, but socially moderate, in addition to standing on street corners like Djou did in Hawaii – this is a recipe for a sincere campaign, that restores trust and sets the table for future Party success

          So yes – I’d clear my schedule, invest my own capital, and really dedicate myself to that kind of campaign – that would be an honor

          However – Dan Maes won the Convention and he deserves tremendous respect for that effort – I hope that’s not lost amongst Party faithful

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