BREAKING: Penry Won't Run for Re-Election

Mesa State Here We Come

n/t

Today, you're either going to get better or you're going to get worse, but you're never going to be the same.  Which one will it be?  --Joseph V. Paterno

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by: Ralphie @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:24:52 PM UTC

You beat me to the post.

Welcome back to the Mavericks, Josh!

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by: OneEyedOwl @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:25:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Good-bye and . . .

good riddance.  

Apparently one right wing idiot former state senator spewing vitriol isn't enough.

Discipline without purpose is tyranny.

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by: Automaticftp @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:28:02 PM UTC

I'm no Penry fan, but.....

...he was far from being the worst right wing idiot state senator.  
  Renfroe, Schultheis, Lundberg, Cadman, and Brophy easily beat Penry for that title.  In fact, they make him look pretty vanilla.

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by: One Queer Dude @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 18:17:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

He was "the worst right wing idiot state senator"

on my side of the hills.

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by: WesternSlopeThought @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 19:24:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

A Shooting Star

This probably means the end of Sen. Penry's political career. The nature of politics is such that in two years no one will remember him.

It will be interesting to see how he handles his last session in the state senate. Will he be reasonable or politically silly?

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by: Republican 36 @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:28:18 PM UTC

I disagree.

Josh will never stop running for office. He is young, energetic, ambitious, and like it or not, his rhetoric reflects the beliefs of a significant number of Coloradans. He isn't done. He'll be back, tanned, rested, and ready ...

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by: OneEyedOwl @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:30:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You may be right and the following is mere speculation on my part,

but it sure seems like something happened, that none of us knows about, that knocked Sen. Penry not only out of the governors race but out of politics altogether. I suspect he may not have had the backing of his family which always puts a handicap on any politician. In that kind of situation, politicians have to make very difficult choices between ambition and what those closet to them want in life. Again, this is pure speculation on my part. I certainly don't have any inside information.  

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by: Republican 36 @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:37:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

"What those closet to them..."

Freudian slip?

"Why not do the right thing for the American people, even though it's not exactly what we want." - Speaker Boehner

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by: Half Glass Full @ Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 05:16:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Agree

There is always a place for young, smart hard working people in politics. When peoople say the GOP does not have a bench I dont get it. A bench is a bench--even if youk dont agree with it.

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by: SaveCoH2O @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 18:53:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's not Josh, R36

He'll never allow himself to be out of the limelight.  Look at how he's dominated the press since dropping out of the governor's race.

In chess, a "gambit" is an opening in which a player sacrifices one or more minor pieces in order to win something else of greater value.

If you don't think this is a gambit, you don't know Penry.

Today, you're either going to get better or you're going to get worse, but you're never going to be the same.  Which one will it be?  --Joseph V. Paterno

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by: Ralphie @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:35:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You may be right and, for the record, I don't know Sen. Penry.

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by: Republican 36 @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:38:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It's one or the other scenario above

although I take R36's to also mean that there may be something less noble than family pulling him out (which could be Mesa State patronage position as some have suggested) or the gambit that Ralphie proposes.

In either case I suppose R36 is right as far as the reason Sen. Penry will give, and he'll need to say something soon.

"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.'  

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by: ClubTwitty @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:43:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What I was referring to above was the fact that perhaps his spouse

just wasn't supportive of his political career. In the past I worked on one campaign where the candidate should have easily won the general election but didn't because his spouse never wanted a political life and was against his bid for elected office. If a candidate's family is not suportive, the candidate almost always looses. But, again, I don't have any inside information. I've never met Sen. and Mrs. Penry and don't have any idea how she felt about his political career.

In general, this situation really is odd. He was a politician experiencing a meteoric rise in Republican politics and within the short span of less than two months he has terminated his political future (or so it seems to me). In those circumstances his public explanations just don't ring true.

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by: Republican 36 @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:56:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

One battle ain't the war....

Consider that Roy Romer lost and came back, that Ed Perlmutter was out for a few years and seems to have done all right...that sort of list could go on and on.  McInnis wins and Josh has a cabinet post.  If not, he makes some money and picks another battleground down the road.

"No snowflake in an avalance ever feels responsible."  Voltaire

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by: Outrider @ Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 05:54:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

True, Outrider.

Penry is young and has many opportunities ahead of him.  The Perlmutter example is a very good one.

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by: Voyageur @ Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 18:01:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

He's out of the Senate. He's out of the Governor's race.

What in the world is going on here?

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:32:00 PM UTC

More to this story...

one way or the other, we have not heard the last of this (or Penry).

"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.'  

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by: ClubTwitty @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:34:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I agree MOTR, there is more to this story than has ever been made public.

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by: Republican 36 @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:40:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I don't want to speculate because that never turns out to be a good idea

but Twitty's been saying it for awhile--that something is seriously off here. I wonder if we'll ever get the whole story.

"I wouldn't characterize caloric intake as "professional development." c rork

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:44:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I have heard rumors from multiple sources

I can not confirm anything enough to repeat, but the pattern fits.

I suspect he is out of electoral politics, though he will remain in the political world.

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by: Danny the Red (hair) @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 17:44:47 PM UTC

Now You've Piqued My Curiosity

It must be one word: Baaaaaaa (sponsored by Woolite).

ITLDUSO  
Honk hello when you see my license plate!

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by: caroman @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 23:46:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Is it too soon to say...

I told you there were no deals for Josh getting out of the race for Gov. or for Lt. Gov.


If you're not upset, you haven't been paying attention.  Mike Littwin

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by: Ellie @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 18:18:28 PM UTC

No deals that you know of

Let's see who steps up to hire him.

Today, you're either going to get better or you're going to get worse, but you're never going to be the same.  Which one will it be?  --Joseph V. Paterno

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by: Ralphie @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 18:56:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not taking any bets on that one....

I was talking strictly about the McInnis campaign.  

If you're not upset, you haven't been paying attention.  Mike Littwin

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by: Ellie @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 19:14:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Mavs or Gas?

If he isn't going to Mesa is there a COGA job here or something akin to that?

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by: dentarthurdent @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 18:59:01 PM UTC

An absolute great start to 2010!

n/t

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by: WesternSlopeThought @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 19:05:04 PM UTC

Well

He's still minority leader until 2011, so let's celebrate then.

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by: redstateblues @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 19:06:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Are you sure he'll keep

the minority leader job?

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by: WesternSlopeThought @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 19:18:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Good question

That remains to be seen. I would think they would keep him, just because whatever prep they've been putting in for the next session was through him as minority leader.

However, it would be within the rights of the GOP caucus to remove him, though I don't know what the procedure for that would be. I think if he didn't want to resign from the leadership positions he holds, he wouldn't have to.

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by: redstateblues @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 19:22:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

No reason for him not to stay on

It shows you what a gelding the Mesa County Democratic Party is.  They haven't yet fielded a candidate for Senate.  If they had fielded a strong candidate, there would be a reason for Penry to step down, let a vacancy committee appoint King to fill Penry's term, and let King run as an incumbent Senator.

But as usual, the Mesa County Dems put no pressure whatsoever on their opponents.

And Josh will stay on in leadership where he can spend the term being a splinter under Ritter's fingernail.

Today, you're either going to get better or you're going to get worse, but you're never going to be the same.  Which one will it be?  --Joseph V. Paterno

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by: Ralphie @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 19:23:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yep

Opportunity lost.

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by: WesternSlopeThought @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 19:26:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

He's one-upped that other Governor

Sarah Palin resigned part way into her first term, wrote a book and made a fortune and has had all the press and political attention she could ask for.

Senator Penry is just earlier and faster than she was.

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by: MADCO @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 19:18:35 PM UTC

Crystal Ball

Penry's probably tired of being poor. Work for an oil-and-gas company for a couple of years (like McDrill) and wait for John Salazar to retire.

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by: WestSloper @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 20:00:51 PM UTC

Bill Owens

made a comfortable living working for the oil and gas industry while he was in the legislature. Why can't Penry do the same? There's more to his withdrawals than this.

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by: RedGreen @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 20:08:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

it sure smells like it.

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by: MADCO @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 21:03:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If it walks like a duck

The odds on him working for oil are pretty solid. I'd give it 2:1 right now.

He's still young with a new family and has time to make some coin and jump back into the political game with good name recognition. This is a smart move on his part - a little better than getting spanked in a republican primary and retiring off into the unknown.

Mr. Penry wins this round for sure. Congrats.  

"Suddenly, it may be cool to be American again" - William J. Kole

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by: Go Blue @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 22:28:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Be careful of the

suicidal teabaggers out there tonight.  Me, I'll be celebrating with a big smile!  Maybe free drinks all night for anyone who could make it here before midnight.  My D friends are estatic!

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by: WesternSlopeThought @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 20:31:16 PM UTC

Happy New Year!

If your going out to celebrate - stay safe.  I wouldn't want any harm to come to my worthy (and not so worthy) adversaries.  

If you're not upset, you haven't been paying attention.  Mike Littwin

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by: Ellie @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 22:33:41 PM UTC

Good luck Senator Penry

We hope you stay engaged in our good Party

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 22:59:53 PM UTC

Twitty's update

Forgot he said he wanted to

help a new governor "shape and execute an agenda after the election."

when he pulled the plug on Lt Gov rumors.

Maybe he's a McInnis staffer at heart ...

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by: RedGreen @ Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 00:26:13 AM UTC

Not a chance.

No way, no how.

He's in it for Josh.

Sometimes, I guess, you have to let the inner bitch out.

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by: gertie97 @ Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 00:34:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Exactly.

But how's he supposed to "shape and execute an agenda" in 2011 if he's given up his Senate seat?

Three possibilities:

1. Oil and gas lobbyist (or trade assn. chief or whatever)

2. State party chairman (Wadhams has got to retire sometime)

3. The things Penry says about why he's doing what he's doing aren't true

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by: RedGreen @ Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 01:34:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You forgot Mesa State

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by: Douglasm @ Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 02:44:04 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

That falls under No. 3

If he winds up at Mesa State, he won't be shaping and executing an agenda for the next governor.

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by: RedGreen @ Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 02:45:44 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

4. cabinet position in the McInnis administration

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

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by: DavidThi808 @ Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 04:45:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The liberal conspiracy theory

is that he knows he is screwed as a Republican because Ritter is going to rally and win a second term and the Democrats are going to hold onto the legislature so he is destined to continue to be an irrelevant ranter.  Why spend the next four years making 40-50 thousand as a legislator when you aren't going to be able to push the culture wars back to the top of the state government agenda.  How boring it must be Penry to actually have to grapple with economic issues instead of gay marriage.  If he was in control then by golly the gays would be put on notice.  As it is his culture war rantings are the stuff of amusement.  This theory holds that he is astute enough to see the writing on the wall and know that he would still be a back bencher after the elections in 2010.

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by: Gilpin Guy @ Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 17:16:24 PM UTC

Not sure

I think the Gov. is the most vulnerable of Dem. politicians in CO this cycle.  

Bennet would be, but I think the GOP primary will take care of that.  

I think McInnis does better against the Gov than Penry would have, but doesn't excite the Tea Baggin' base.  On the other hand, the Dem base is not too excited about the Gov right now either, although depending how McInnis courts the Tea Party fringe, and how the 527s/c4s play, that could change.

How aggressively the GOP goes after the O&G regulations and other Ritter initiatives in the state house, ballot measures, and the like can all influence this dynamic too.

I think that something lurks which has given Penry serious cold feet about running for anything.  

"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.'  

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by: ClubTwitty @ Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 18:12:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

most vulnerable is a pretty relative term CT

Ritter continues to look like a pragmatic adult compared to the adolescent behavior of the Republicans.  He might have all the charisma of stale donuts but my impression is that he diligently works on the issues and isn't afraid to step on partisan toes, Republican or Democrat, to get things done.

I read somewhere that a big oil company is getting ready to put a bunch of rigs on the western slope.  An improving economy, higher prices for oil which would stimulate more exploration would absolutely shell Republican negative ads claiming that Ritter policies are anti-business.

He is holding his own against these crazy extremists while working to ramp up green industries and McLobbyist is going to look more sleazy as the race heats up.  I wouldn't count Ritter out at all and I'm guessing Penry knows it too.  The guy bailed before Custer rides out for the Little Big Horn.  There is an age old saying regarding software project management to reward the uninvolved.  Penry is expecting to be around to pick up the pieces when everything goes south for the Republicans in 2010.  Such great expectations dashed by a stale donut.  Who would of thunk it.

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by: Gilpin Guy @ Sat Jan 02, 2010 at 01:52:37 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I never suggested counting Ritter out

but I wouldn't count him in yet either.  

The long term (through 2010) price of natgas (what they drill for on the Western Slope) doesn't look that high although activity is picking up some.  

Still most companies that are planning projects are proceeding fairly moderately, even those that are ramping back up a little.  


"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.'  

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by: ClubTwitty @ Sat Jan 02, 2010 at 02:26:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

No doubt Ritter can lose

With the Denver Post and Dean Singleton still hating Ritter for allowing state employees the right to collective bargaining, I expect to see a lot of stories about how bad things are in the state.  McInnis will get kid glove treatment and there is always Karen Crummy to do Singleton's dirty work with some hit pieces.

I just wanted to throw out an alternative universe theory and the possibility that it isn't inevitable that McInnis will be the ONE the Republicans are looking for (tip of the hat to the Matrix movies).

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by: Gilpin Guy @ Sat Jan 02, 2010 at 04:10:36 AM UTC

[ Parent ]