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Ryan Frazier's Long Goodbye

by: Colorado Pols

Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 11:48:14 AM MST

Colorado GOP chairman Dick Wadhams, one way or another, has presided over yet another remarkable clearing of the Republican primary field in the races that matter most next year--gubernatorial and, with a single wild card remaining, the U.S. Senate race as well. Wadhams of course claims that he loves primaries, and did seem to genuinely object to gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis' presumption for awhile, but somewhere between what's happened in the last few weeks and the ruthless plowing of anybody and everybody out of Bob Schaffer's way in 2007, it's kind of tough to believe him.

Aborted Senate candidate Ryan Frazier is an impressive young figure (in theory, anyway) who we tend to think could have a bright political career ahead of him. But as you know, he was one of the casualties of the aforementioned elimination of key Republican primary challengers, and was offered what some would call the Wayne Wolf Kiss of Death™--a hopeless, undersupported run at a safe Democratic congressional seat, in Frazier's case the one owned by Rep. Ed Perlmutter.

It's funny, isn't it? How the field can mysteriously empty in races that party leadership cares about--but the ones that they don't? Sorry Councilman, the Denver Post reports:

A veteran of two wars and two presidential campaigns will announce today his campaign for Congress in the 7th District.
Lang Sias of Arvada is seeking the Republican nomination and hopes to unseat U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Democrat from Golden...
Sias, a pilot for Federal Express, has served as an active-duty naval aviator and in the Air National Guard, where he is a lieutenant colonel. He served in the first Gulf War and was deployed to Iraq in 2005.
Sias volunteered for Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign in 2000 and served as national director of Veterans for McCain in 2008. [Pols emphasis]

Like we said, Frazier is a smart and affable young man with potential--but he was not ready, and above all he was not high enough on the GOP roster for his ambitions (and neither was his fundraising). As a result he's just a nuisance now for Republican strategists. Maybe they didn't recruit this high-profile McCain staffer and veteran (cough) to challenge Frazier in CD-7, but they don't give a crap that it's happening.

If we were Frazier, we might seriously consider sitting out 2010 like Josh Penry did--awaiting less treacherous "friends," and fewer usual suspects in front of him with a bully's sense of entitlement.

Colorado Pols :: Ryan Frazier's Long Goodbye

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Ryan Frazier's Long Goodbye | 14 comments

I'm a big Frazier fan...

But I reluctantly agree that maybe now isn't yet his time. Ryan's a smart guy, but perhaps more importantly a very thoughtful person. But he's young. He's a councilman in Aurora. I wish him well in the primary and against Perlmutter. Assuming he's not off to D.C., I really hope Ryan doesn't disappear. The Repubs have a good thing in this guy. Don't push him away. ... I've been registered for awhile on this site, but haven't posted anything til now. Feels liberating.

by: hoovman @ Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 20:04:16 PM UTC

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Welcome!

by: Colorado Pols @ Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 21:12:43 PM UTC

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Welcome hoovman !

And don't be shy, post away !! Mr. Madison and Mr. Jefferson wanted you to be liberated, that's why they wrote the First Amendment.

It's only class warfare if you fight back

by: allyncooper @ Fri Dec 04, 2009 at 04:02:11 AM UTC

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Agree

Frazier looks like a good guy, a nice family man, smart...everything most Republicans aren't but just like Penry I think he should wait it out. Too early for him. But the way things are shaping up I think Republicans could have a good chance with people like Frazier and Penry down the road.

by: crazypoliticians @ Fri Dec 04, 2009 at 05:14:02 AM UTC

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Frazier is a pretty charismatic guy...

and he has a solid background. I am guessing he will be a much bigger figure in Colorado Politics in the years to come. My two cents from a Dem.

And welcome hoovman !

" The webinar is free, however, there are only 250 spaces available "

Some douche

by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Fri Dec 04, 2009 at 20:58:57 PM UTC

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I've said it before the indie vote has up and left the Dems

As Rassy http://www.rasmussenreports.com/ reported a few days ago 80% of indies are opposed to the Democrat in the congressional generic.

You get some decent turnout or Rs and Us and Jimmy John can beat Perlmutter. I hate to say it but Ed's voted for and strongly supported:

Cap N Tax
Card Check-Forced Arbitration
Obamacare
Bailouts

The opinion of the average Coloradan is driven by the indies and its anyones game at this point. Just Hope that ARRA bailout cash begins to re-flood the masses and there are no breakdowns over at recovery dot gov showing 625k falsely claimed jobs as "created or saved".

by: Libertad @ Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 23:22:48 PM UTC

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That's not what that means, Libertad

Generic polling shows generic trends and favorites and are useful for getting a baseline feel of a particular district. But those numbers are usually drastically different when you match up actual candidates.

Last November, generic matchups showed that Ken Salazar's Senate seat was up for grabs. But another poll that asked about potential matchups with Salazar using actual names, then Salazar polled 10+ points ahead.

Obviously these numbers certainly aren't good for Democrats. But it's an apples and oranges comparison to say that a generic R would beat Perlmutter. A generic R would beat a generic D according to these poll numbers. You can't extrapolate more than that.

by: Colorado Pols @ Fri Dec 04, 2009 at 00:44:41 AM UTC

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Or to put it another way

most people hate Congress but love their Congressman.

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!

by: DavidThi808 @ Fri Dec 04, 2009 at 01:54:42 AM UTC

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"Former McCain staffer"

Oh, yeah. That's going to go over real with Republican primary voters and independents in CD-7.

McCain got, what? 30% in the 7th and the general? And even less at the GOP caucus?

by: Leonard Smalls @ Fri Dec 04, 2009 at 01:19:36 AM UTC

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Sias better hit the road running....

Ed's got a huge bankroll, and its only going to get bigger.

Pols, do you really think he was recruited? I know you have it in for Frazier, but at least Frazier has some name recognition, and barring Ed getting caught with a five dollar hooker on Colfax, this is a throwaway for the GOP.

It's only class warfare if you fight back

by: allyncooper @ Fri Dec 04, 2009 at 04:14:17 AM UTC

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A throwaway?

The Union Bosses might be throwing away Ritter, but this should give them an opportunity to spend those forced union dues.

Luckily its in town too, so unlike CO-04, they can canvass.

by: Libertad @ Fri Dec 04, 2009 at 05:05:26 AM UTC

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Sias better hit the road running....

Ed's got a huge bankroll, and its only going to get bigger.

by: allyncooper @ Fri Dec 04, 2009 at 04:14:17 AM UTC

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Ryan Frazier is great for the 7th CD

I was at the Jeffco GOP round up last Sunday and watched the candidates talk the talk. The only person that actually made an impact on the crowd was Ryan Frazier. He got people to cheer for him and actually get excited. None of the other candidates have done that. Looking around at the crowd I saw that Frazier had about 25 people that I counted working for his campaign, and it was a nice mix of young, middle age, and older people.
So after I got home I started to do my own investigating on the guy and I really think that he has a chance at winning. For crying out loud he raised more then Pearlmutter did! He has a strong base and has a strong team behind him. He's well spoken and is very open to many different point of views. I think he will look good to the Democrat, Republican and Independent parties in the 7th.
Lang Sias is a good man. No arguing with that. But I don't think he can even touch the independent vote in the 7th. I live in the 7th and have seen changes in the 7th over the last 4 years, and in my opinion they favor some one more like Ryan. Sias isn't even that great of a Republican, he donated to Udall last year! We don't need a so called "Republican" running against Pearlmutter. We need a strong conservative and Ryan is that man.
I understand that a lot of people are iffy on Frazier because he was forced out of the Senate race. I think its just another casualty of the Republican establishment. We all have watched good conservatives be forced out of the party by the heads of the party (Penry!!). Its time we stand up for these candidates and rally behind them. He has a good chance and we need to stand behind him.

by: AxelRwanab @ Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 04:46:49 AM UTC

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What's your position with the campaign? n/t

"There are a lot of reasons not to elect me." Mitt Romney in a moment of clarity

"I'm Mitt Romney and yes, Wolf, that's also my first name," Willard Mitt Romney demonstrating 'policy flexibility.'

by: ClubTwitty @ Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 23:08:23 PM UTC

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