May 04, 2007 04:00 PM UTC

Republican Crisis in Creativity

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• by: tmgt

This notice ran yesterday in the local daily. The Republican minority won’t be roasting the Democrats in the Colorado Legislature. It is a sad end to a lighthearted tradition.

  I can only attribute it to a crisis in creativity.

HUMMERS BUMMER 

  “Hummers,” where the minority party parodies the majority party in the House in skits and songs, won’t be happening this year on the last day of the session. The minority GOP nixed coming up with a show after stinging criticism of last year’s effort, where even fellow Republicans thought their effort bombed, in part because it was so mean-spirited. Over the years, lawmakers have howled over Hummers skits, including this memorable moment in 2001: For the rest of the story click the link below

 

Rocky Mountain News

  Back in the day when Democrats were the minority in the Legislature, creating and practicing the “Saturday Night Live” type skits was an event to look forward to with great anticipation. The opportunity to lampoon and roast the majority helped to lighten the load and brighten the mood.

  This was truly an event to look forward to
  Every year, on the last day of the legislative session, huge crowds would pack into to the House Gallery on the third floor of the Capitol Building. The bench seating along the walls of the House would be packed in with legislative staffers from all over the campus, with standing room only along the back wall. Folding chairs would be placed next to the Representatives official seats, and members of the Senate would fill them.

  Then, the light-hearted frivolity would begin. Minority party legislators would each take the part of one of the Majority party legislators and poke fun at some of their quirks and characteristics. If one of the Majority members could always be counted upon to run to the Well of the House with a grand pontification, then that characteristic would be exaggerated and played out with creative and hysterical panache.

  One favorite Republican target was always Debbie Stafford, whose multiple pre-legislative employments always gave rise to her statements from the Well which always began with, “When I was a (name the profession here)…” This gave the Democrats much beloved material to exaggerate. Someone would dress as Debbie and the imitator, would seek out every opportunity throughout the skits, to run to the Well and say “When I was a MORTICIAN”…. or interject “When I was a Long Shore-man”… or proclaim, “When I was an Alien from Moon Base Alpha…” Then the crowd would roar with glee! Representative Stafford took it all in fun, and could be found enjoying it much in deed!

  Representative Stafford returned the favor when she found herself in the minority four years ago and was the grand hit of the Hummers!

The diminutive red-haired, Representative Debbie Stafford donned the dark garb of British Game Show host, Anne Robinson, and recreated The Weakest Link to the delight of all! Other of her Minority Party comrades played members of the Democrat Majority , playing upon their known quirks and foibles. To the delight of all, Rep. Stafford would then pronounce, “you are the weakest link. goodbye!”

  It was awesome!

  Sadly now, those days are now gone. The grim, and often vicious, Minority Republicans, have no creative juices left, and are just not in the mood to poke fun. What a sad, sad end to an honored and much beloved tradition!