Buh-Bye, Don Beezley

19 Comments

by: Colorado Pols

A little more than a year after helping Republicans take back a majority in the Colorado House of Representatives, Broomfield Rep. Don Beezley has announced he will not run for a second term in 2012.

Beezley narrowly defeated incumbent Democrat Dianne Primavera in 2010 to claim the House District 33 seat. He was one of six new Republican representatives elected last year to the Statehouse, giving the party control of that body for the first time since 2004. House District 33 encompasses Broomfield, Superior and parts of Erie…

Judy Enderle was recently elected chairwoman of the Broomfield County Democrats. She said she and her fellow local Democrats suspected Beezley would choose not to run again and consider reclaiming the House District 33 seat their No. 1 priority next year.

“That has always been a targeted house district,” Enderle said. “We could regain the majority.”

Rep. Don Beezley always struck us as a liability waiting to happen to Colorado House Republicans–a track record established long before he ever ran for the legislature with his colorful likening of recycling programs to “the Soviets and Nazis,” or smoking bans to genocide. And let’s not forget the astute observation that we “have communist models within the system (public education, for example).” In his half-term so far in the legislature, he’s had some great moments, like when he suggested that “Hollywood liberals” are “in the backyard rolling around in C-notes snorting coke.” Evidently, though, legislative life got kind of boring.

In the most contentious of swing districts, which House District 33 certainly has been, you probably want somebody who’s fully committed–and doesn’t sound so, well, crazy (although this is the same district that was once represented by Shawn Mitchell).

Because “crazy” puts a whole different spin on the word “committed.”

19 thoughts on “Buh-Bye, Don Beezley”

ArapaGOP says:

November 17, 2011 at 10:56 pm

Rep. Beezley is a business owner and a family man. Aren’t you the one who says the leg doesn’t pay enough to retain good candidates? Don Beezley is proving you right.

Enjoy the character assassination today, I heard we’ve got a candidate in HD33 that will rock your socks off. You’ll all hear about him/her soon.

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1. Libertad 2.0 says:
  
  November 17, 2011 at 11:33 pm
  
  Or do just “hear” things by reading the article?
  
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  1. ArapaGOP says:
    
    November 18, 2011 at 12:16 am
    
    No, I’m not going to be the one who tells you.
    
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    1. Libertad 2.0 says:
      
      November 18, 2011 at 12:26 am
      
      Isn’t it fun to feel important?
      
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    2. MADCO says:
      
      November 18, 2011 at 2:51 am
      
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      1. ArapaGOP says:
        
        November 18, 2011 at 2:58 am
        
        Am I the “official Republican spokesman,” or aren’t I? You can’t have it both ways, Bob!
        
        (I’m probably not.)
        
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2. MADCO says:
  
  November 17, 2011 at 11:38 pm
  
  “Aren’t you the one who says the leg doesn’t pay enough to retain good candidates?”
  
  Careful- if you find one, Beezley agrees with CoPols is the next headline.
  
  Meanwhile, is she really running?
  
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  1. ArapaGOP says:
    
    November 18, 2011 at 12:31 am
    
    I searched.
    
    http://www.coloradopols.com/sh…
    
    This is, it must be said, a valid point: professionals like lawyers, meaning like Gessler, would normally have a private-sector income substantially higher than $70,000 per year. And as Loevy says, the relatively low pay for top positions in Colorado government relative to what a person with the same skills could get in the private sector does create a disincentive for some very qualified people to seek office. We submit to you that this is a problem affecting not just statewide elected posts, but also state legislators; who are asked to take on de facto full time workloads, during and outside the session, for less than a McDonald’s manager earns.
    
    Words of wisdom until they’re not, eh?
    
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    1. Libertad 2.0 says:
      
      November 18, 2011 at 12:37 am
      
      Beezley said he wanted to spend more time with his family, and that he accomplished what he wanted to in the leg (whatever that means.) He didn’t cite his part-time salary as a reason for not running.
      
      “I have an 8-year-old and a 4-year-old and I definitely feel like there was 18 months where I didn’t see them to some degree,” Beezley said. “I just felt that I had achieved what I had wanted to achieve (in the Legislature) at this point and I needed to focus on those other two priorities.”
      
      But, carry on with your ridiculous point that is in no way based in reality.
      
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    2. MADCO says:
      
      November 18, 2011 at 2:50 am
      
      Beezley doesn’t agree with CoPols.
      
      And technically CoPols quotes Loevy saying the salary won’t attract the most qualified, not retain.
      
      But it’s still true.
      
      However, I’d submit Beezely wasn’t one of those Loevy was referring to.
      
      Meanwhile, I tae Beezely at his word – family and home life, not pay.
      
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3. MissingPundit says:
  
  November 18, 2011 at 1:17 am
  
  In this case, it appears to be quoting a politician back to him. It must derive from the concept of “smearing” I see bandied about conservative blogs, mostly relating to when Democrats say things about Republicans in a negative way, even when true.
  
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  1. Aristotle says:
    
    November 18, 2011 at 1:49 am
    
    Telling the truth smears Republicans.
    
    Policy questions are “gotcha questions.”
    
    Republican-proposed health care plans, c. 1994, are “socialism.”
    
    Campaign donations are free speech.
    
    It goes on and on and on…
    
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4. Half Glass Full says:
  
  November 18, 2011 at 10:53 pm
  
  I didn’t read any character assassination in the post. It just noted – correctly – that likening recycling to “Soviets and Nazis,” etc. SOUNDS crazy.
  
  No one said he IS crazy. Just that some of his pronouncements have SOUNDED crazy. I think on that point all reasonable people can agree.
  
  On the other hand, Rep. Beezley himself was engaging in the grossest sorts of character assassination when he likened recycling advocates to “Soviets and Nazis,” etc. etc.
  
  So please, ArapaGOP, please spare us the hurt feelings. I’m sure we’re looking forward to the next Republican candidate from HD33 who will “knock (our) socks off.” Shawn Mitchell never got below the knees.
  
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UglyAmerican says:

November 18, 2011 at 1:57 am

Don is a man who entered public service, did that service honorably, and has chosen to return to the private sector. That is the nature of a true democracy. Why kick him on the way out?

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1. ArapaGOP says:
  
  November 18, 2011 at 2:01 am
  
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  1. Half Glass Full says:
    
    November 18, 2011 at 10:55 pm
    
    Right-wing hypocrisy at its finest.
    
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Gray in Mountains says:

November 18, 2011 at 4:59 am

the R central committee told him he was an embarrassment and should pull out rather than lose since they can always get another candidate that would be less shameful

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1. Diogenesdemar says:
  
  November 18, 2011 at 11:07 pm
  
  that would even be possible?
  
  Most likely the R central committee told him he was an embarrassment . . .
  
  Beezley talks a talk that is GOP presidential candidate caliber.
  
  OK, you got me — award winning funny.
  
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waltzeswithdog says:

November 21, 2011 at 4:37 am

In a solid R district, Beezley would not be an embarassment. Folks think he is an embarassment only because the distrct is purple. The only reason he won against Primavera was the anti-incumbent sweep. In a normal election year he will have a tough time winning. But I think its wrong to think he is some kinda crazy, when there are way crazier Rs in the legislature. Like most of the male Senate Rs.

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