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McLobbyist to make a run for Gov?

by: ClubTwitty

Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 15:53:59 PM MST

Mike Saccone of the GJ Sentinel has picked up a story from the Denver Post Politics West suggesting that former 3rd CD Representative McInnis may be angling for a run at Governor in 2010:

Republican Scott McInnis is starting to sound more and more like a gubernatorial candidate.
The former Congressman hasn't made any official announcements yet, but on Wednesday he talked about his intention to put a poll into the field to take the pulse of state voters on a variety of issues. And while he applauded Gov. Bill Ritter's focus on building a "green economy," he appeared to also chide him for not viewing things through a wider lense (sic).

Saccone adds no very little original content so (although I found the story there) I'll stick with the Post posting.

UPDATED to correct my error re: Saccone's posting which did include a minimal amount of original content. Sorry Mike, please keep it up.

ClubTwitty :: McLobbyist to make a run for Gov?

After handing his congressional seat over to the Democrats in 2004, McInnis promptly went to work at Hogan & Hartson, as a lawyer-lobbyist at the same firm that Tom Strickland worked with during his two failed senate bids, and through 2007.

Current GOP chair Dick Wadhams helped incumbent Wayne Allard defeat Strickland, twice, in part by labeling him a lawyer-lobbyist.

When Wadhams worked for Allard in 1996 and 2002, his two-time opponent Democrat Tom Strickland was widely regarded as the smarter candidate. But Wadhams successfully cast Strickland as an untrustworthy "lawyer-lobbyist" and Allard as a likable, low-key country vet.

While at Hogan & Hartson ~~McLobbyist's~~ McInnis' clients have included Canadian energy giant EnCana.

EnCana is featured today in the Christian Science Monitor in an article about the increasing levels of contamination finding its way into Colorado's water sources.

Energy industry officials say there's no evidence that hydraulic fracturing contaminates groundwater or threatens public health.
"This is an answer in search of a problem," says Doug Hock, a spokesman for EnCana, the firm that is drilling near Bracken's land. "Chemicals in themselves do not create risk; risk is created when the proper technology and procedures are not in place. We take very stringent precautions."
Colorado fined EnCana $371,000 - the largest fine in state history for a drilling-related incident - after finding the company responsible for the 2004 gas seep in Divide Creek. But the state is allowing drilling to continue in the area.

New rules currently being debated in Colorado would require set backs from drinking water sources and disclosure of the chemical soup used in fraccing.

But ~~EnCana lobbyist~~ potential candidate McInnis thinks the regulations go to far, according to the Post blog:

McInnis, a lawyer at Hogan & Hartson, also questioned whether state oil and gas regulations expected to go into effect in April are too stringent.
"We need a reasonable balance. If you come to Colorado to do business, you have to act responsiblity," he said. "But should we have possibly the toughest regulations in the country? I don't think so."

Meanwhile to some Republicans, McInnis does not lean far enough right. A comment posted on the Post blog notes:

You're wasting your time. Even if Scott decides to come through (for once) he'd be instantly trounced by Josh Penry in a primary. Scott-lawyer-lobbyist McInnis has absolutely ruined his credibility (if he ever had any) with the right wing of our party and as one of his former boosters and constituents I'll tell you that we're still mad at him for throwing Colorado in to the blue column just so he could make a couple million bucks. None of you in the media should be surprised that he's floating his name for guv. It's part of his contract with Hogan and Hartson to make sure he keeps the chattering class chattering abotu (sic)him so that he looks valuable to clients. Believe me...it's true.

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McLobbyist to make a run for Gov? | 26 comments

You guys are quicker

than a melting sediment dump polluting Parachute Creek...

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

by: ClubTwitty @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 16:56:15 PM CST

by: you @ soon

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Funny that you noticed

that there are times when Saccone lifts a story without adding any original content.

Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.
--marilou, 2010

by: Ralphie @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 20:29:03 PM CST

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by: you @ soon

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I'm shocked -

shocked! to find a blogger doing that. Never happens on Colorado Pols!

by: RedGreen @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 20:36:25 PM CST

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by: you @ soon

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Yeah, but Mike's a "real" journalist

I'm just a hack, and usually even I 1) block out what I lift verbatim and 2) add something original.

Must be that ethics degree...

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

by: ClubTwitty @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 20:39:06 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I stand corrected...

Mike does put it in quotes and adds a couple of sentences at the end. Apologies...

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

by: ClubTwitty @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 20:40:59 PM CST

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by: you @ soon

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I guess that qualifies as original reporting, then.

n/t

Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.
--marilou, 2010

by: Ralphie @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 20:59:17 PM CST

[ Parent ]

It's Mike's blog

He does plenty of original reporting in it, and also points his readers to other stories and studies and etc. of interest. Every blogger -- even "real" journalists -- does the same. Part of the value a blogger brings is to scour the Web so their readers don't have to.

by: RedGreen @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 21:41:11 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Hence my apologies n/t

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

by: ClubTwitty @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 22:10:56 PM CST

[ Parent ]

sorry not hammering you, twitty

I was just trying to underline the point -- Mike's blog is one of the best in the state and it's rare he doesn't pull out some new information or reframe it with a great question. He's allowed to point to something interesting about a Grand Junction/West Slope pol now and then ...

by: RedGreen @ Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 00:11:01 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Yeah, I understand

I try to balance the snarkiness with honesty and dropped the ball here. I should have framed it a bit differently and left out a couple of the comments had I been more careful.

I think Mike's work is pretty good, and he's a good reporter. That is by far the Sentinel's best feature--good and hardworking reporters in the field. I appreciate Mike and some of the other reporters' work.

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

by: ClubTwitty @ Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 08:31:10 AM CST

[ Parent ]

It seemed odd to me

I read "Mike's" blog, then linked over to the Post article and was like...deja vu.

I think Saccone does some good articles, and one of the things I appreciate about the Sentinel--perhaps the only thing--is their reporters out in the field. But I thought that was odd that he noted the article in the Post then basically just cut and pasted it.

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

by: ClubTwitty @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 20:37:30 PM CST

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by: you @ soon

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He'll never win the primary

BWB and Tank will do everything in their power to run him into the ground.

Please run though, Mr. McInnis, because it would be everso entertaining.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)

by: redstateblues @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 16:58:48 PM CST

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The Reason Given is Naive

cross posted at dailykos:

I agree that McInnis will not get the nomination of the Republican party. However, this has nothing to do with the reasons you stated above. It has everything to do with the fact that he is pro-choice and will never be accepted by those that control the party. Wadhams may think he can cram down a candidate on his party, but I assure him that he cannot cram a pro-choice person down on them. The party has gone too far. Yes, McInnis will squeel like a stuck pig that Wadhams has gone back on his word, but Wadhams never had this opportunity to give to a pro-choice candidate. Delicious, Wadhams finally losing a Republican primary election. He will finally reap what he has sowed all these years in the Colorado Republican Party. When he can't control a primary will he finally go back home and give up politics? I can just imagine how Wadhams feels right now with Armstrong and the rest of the right-wing fathers telling him he can't give McInnis what he promised to McInnis. No other way to describe it than delicious, all around.

by: Craig @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 17:41:42 PM CST

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I replied to you there

I agree but...I don't say he won't get the nomination (I don't think he will because, as you point out, the wingnut caucus of the CO GOP won't give it to him) nor do I speculate why (the last quote suggests some reasons but its a post from the blog not my own).

I merely suggest that if he does get the nomination he would have this charge (lawyer-lobbyist) hanging over him.

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

by: ClubTwitty @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 17:57:26 PM CST

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

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We've said it before

And we'll continue to say it. McInnis pulled out of the U.S. Senate race in 2008 for a very good reason. That reason didn't go away. He can say whatever he wants, but we doubt he'll ever actually enter the race.

by: Colorado Pols @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 18:08:10 PM CST

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who has time for teasing?

...what's the reason? it must be more than the wife-on-the-payroll-for-doing-nothing thing. So what is it?!!!!

by: Jambalaya @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 18:10:23 PM CST

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oh noes! more trouble for McInnis?

A wide-ranging investigation has been launched into allegations that a well-known Pueblo resident has molested many boys over the years, including most recently when he was the manager for Sen. John McCain's presidential-campaign office in Pueblo.
Under investigation is Jeffrey Claude Bartleson, 52, who was arrested Jan. 29 and then re-arrested Wednesday after a campaign worker in the McCain office told police she believed Bartleson molested one of her sons.
Sgt. Brett Wilson, who heads the Pueblo Police Department's special victims unit, said today that there are "several active investigations" involving Bartleson.
He said numerous boys will be interviewed by the two detectives who have been assigned full-time to the case.
. . . .
According to Detective Daniel Anderson, Bartleson has usually positioned himself so he is around children, whether as a Scout master, as a sponsor of the chemical-dependency unit at Pueblo's Parkview Medical Center, at his church or simply by inviting children to spend the night at his home.
In June 2003, then-Rep. Scott McInnis praised Bartleson in a tribute at the U.S. House of Representatives.
In the tribute, McInnis noted that "in his capacity as a foster parent, Jeff has helped several youth in the region through his work with the Young Life Association and the El Pueblo Boys and Girls Ranch."
McInnis also noted that Bartleson was instrumental in the foundation and development of the Interfaith Hospitality network, which McInnis described as "one of Pueblo's newest self-help organizations."

http://www.denverpost.com/brea...

by: Jambalaya @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 19:47:25 PM CST

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Maybe FotF will take this on...

not

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

by: ClubTwitty @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 19:54:06 PM CST

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It also doesn't make sense for him to run for a state office

When he has $1 million still sitting in his congressional acccount that he could transfer to use in any federal race.

Not that we think he'd ever run for a federal race, either.

Don't forget - McInnis has floated his name for ANYTHING in recent years. He even floated his name for Mesa Co. Sheriff at one point.

by: Colorado Pols @ Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 13:20:46 PM CST

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Is that simply to attract clients?

Like the poster from Mesa County (in my diary) suggests? McFisherman too?

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

by: ClubTwitty @ Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 13:47:59 PM CST

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Scott was a good Congressman but

I think his attack on the Republican Party the week before the 2008 election and his pro-choice stance will doom him. As constituted today, the Colorado Republican Party will absolutely not tolerate a pro-choice candidate.

by: Republican 36 @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 20:23:06 PM CST

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Comments from the GJ Sentinel site...

There is not a lot of love for McInnis, but Penry is a demi-god (in Mesa County) and assumed (by many) to be running. Not sure if this is just hope, blind assumption, or something else. Personally I doubt Penry will give up Minority Leader status to take on an incumbent governor, unless Ritter really tanks, but I have been wrong before, as this diary now notes.

By Jed
February 5, 2009 11:03 AM | Link to this
Is McInnis seriously going to primary Penry?!?! Might be tough on Scott to lose in Mesa County.
Is this the same Scott McInnis who recently trashed the Republican party leadership and the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate? How does he think he is going to win a primary for the Republican nomination?

By R- mom
February 5, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this
I cant wait for Scott Mcinnis to run for Governor! He is a wonderful leader for our state. Colorado will be much better off as soon as Ritter is gone.

By Bill
February 5, 2009 1:40 PM | Link to this
As someone that's supported Scott since his first run for the state house I hope he gets in this race (rather than just talk about it like he always does) - and winds up being beaten by Josh. Scott (lawyer-lobbyist) McInnis is part of the problem - not part of the solution. If he would have stayed in the House we wouldn't have John Salazar right now. Scott's ego has grown bigger than the national monument he pushed so hard to name after himself. Hate to say it, Scott but Mesa County has moved on. Your selfish crap has turned us all off and we're itching to support Penry if you choose to primary him.

By Bruce
February 5, 2009 1:46 PM | Link to this
Hogan and Hartson!!? Isn't that the same lawfirm that Tom Strickland and Bill Ritter "worked" at before their current gravy-boat gigs!? What a sell out. I'm not a history teacher but McGinnis would be well served to chat with guys like Bob Bopray and Bob Shafer before deciding to run. Colorado's done with you washed up congressmen! Step aside and let the new batch of leaders (ever heard of that word?) lead.

By MG
February 5, 2009 2:48 PM | Link to this
I think it is great that Scott is thinkign of running for Governor. I would like to unseat Bill Ritter who is only damaging our states economy by taking part in the limiting of natural gas drilling. Scott and a republican administration can surely bring it back!!

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

by: ClubTwitty @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 20:59:58 PM CST

by: you @ soon

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Spelling

Isn't a high priority in Mesa County, I'm afraid.

Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.
--marilou, 2010

by: Ralphie @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 21:16:33 PM CST

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My favorite is 'Bopray'

that's how 'Mer'cans spell it! None of that fancy-pants french...

"[A]ll Republicans/conservatives/tea parties have been proven wrong. Everybody knows this." BJWilson83, Republican/conservative/tea partier

"The fossil record utterly refutes evolution." BJWilson83, graduate student

by: ClubTwitty @ Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 21:18:57 PM CST

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Yeah!

What amount of the campaign funds will end up in McInnis's wallet this time?

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

by: Go Blue @ Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 06:47:22 AM CST

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He'll be beatable. Why be upset?

Name calling only demonizes opponents and does not help defeat them.

Ken Buck: a man of Mr. Rove and Dick Cheney. The road forward does not use reverse.

by: Ray Springfield @ Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 22:52:09 PM CST

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McLobbyist to make a run for Gov? | 26 comments