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January 18, 2008 07:44 AM UTC

El Paso GOP calls Doug Bruce a Liar

  • 34 Comments
  • by: Go Blue

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

From Colorado Confidential.

Bruce Spanked for “Reckless Attack” On Fellow Republican

The headline ink has barely dried detailing Colorado Springs Rep. Douglas Bruce’s kicking a news photographer during a prayer in the Capitol. Now, Bruce has received a withering public scolding for yet another attack — this time on a fellow Republican — from Greg Garcia, the chairman of the El Paso County GOP.

The latest involves a three-page letter that Bruce issued, attacking Amy Lathen, one of three Republican candidates who are vying to fill Bruce’s seat on the El Paso County Board of Commissioners. Bruce left that office a year before his term was up, to become a state legislator.

The latest involves a three-page letter that Bruce issued, attacking Amy Lathen, one of three Republican candidates who are vying to fill Bruce’s seat on the El Paso County Board of Commissioners. Bruce left that office a year before his term was up, to become a state legislator.

Lathen, a longtime county GOP activist, announced months ago her plans to challenge Bruce in a primary – if he had chosen to run for a second commissioner term. Party insiders have said she is the likely replacement – and many agree that she is certain not to rock the boat among the other four Republican commissioners. A vacancy committee will officially make the selection this Saturday, Jan. 19.

Which brings us to Bruce and his three-page letter (with an attachment), sent last weekend to the 145 members of the vacancy committee.

In the letter, Bruce accuses Lathen of being, among other things, “compulsive and delusional,” being on an ego-trip, a tax-loving liar, a flip-flopper and a Republican In Name Only (RINO) He also makes fun of her, for “proudly [proclaiming]” on her campaign Web site, that she was an “assistant T-ball coach.”

“That is a qualification for public office?” Bruce asks, in his letter.

In October, Garcia, installed a new ethics policy within the county GOP, which calls, among for candidates and campaigns to follow three basic principles:

1.To be honest and truthful

2. To demonstrate integrity

3. To act with respect

On Thursday, Garcia issued the following condemnation of Bruce’s attack:

1-17-2008

Press Statement from Chairman Greg Garcia, El Paso County Republican Party

Mr. Doug Bruce has recently sent a letter to the approximately 145 members of the County Commissioner District 2 Vacancy Committee recommending two of the three candidates, Mike Burton and Ken Bull, and attacking the third candidate, Amy Lathen. After a careful review, it is clear that the letter is in violation of El Paso County Republicans’ stated policy about ethical campaigning.

The statements in the letter personally and recklessly attacking Amy Lathen are not accurate and truthful. They do not communicate his views about the candidate in a respectful manner. The letter does not come close to reflecting the ideal of an honest and open exchange of ideas and a healthy, vigorous debate about the issues of County Commissioner District 2. Mr. Bruce’s letter is not reflective of the way Republican Leaders in El Paso County ought to conduct themselves.

Chairman Garcia will be addressing the vacancy committee meeting on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at Falcon Middle School to communicate his thoughts on this letter. In the meantime we are trying to communicate with Mr. Bruce to try and fully resolve the outstanding issues.

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34 thoughts on “El Paso GOP calls Doug Bruce a Liar”

  1. to be surprised by anything Doug Bruce does but one can certainly be appalled.  It is not out of line for Doug to state a preference as to who is to succeed him.  It is when it includes such a vicious attack on one of the applicants that would not be out of place in a partisan contest!  Doug is not a Republican because he believes in the party and it’s policies.  He is a Republican because that is the way he thinks he will gain power.  It will not surprise me even if he loses in this years primary to see him run for governor in 2010.

    It’s not about politics, it’s about Doug.

  2. “Compulsive and delusional,” being on an ego-trip”.  Describes himself to a T.

    But what’s with this reprimand letter for this policy offense but nothing about his legal offense of kicking the photog?  

    1. that they were only concerned with Doug’s less that mannerly conduct concerning the choices for his replacement.  Any repercussions at the county level for his actions up at the state house will take place at the county convention.  He probably just ensured that Amy Lathen is his replacement.  She announced LAST APRIL, just over half-way through his first term, that she was going to challenge Doug for his seat on the County Commission.  As you can guess, Doug handled that news with his usual aplomb and dignity.

  3. “After a careful review, it is clear that the letter is in violation of El Paso County Republicans’ stated policy about ethical campaigning. ”

    Violating the Republicans’ stated policy about ethical campaigning?  I guess that means that he was supposed to have a surrogate form an independent expenditure group and then launch his attacks on her from there.  That would have been within the ethical standards of the Republican party.

  4. is an indication of civic-mindedness,

    a spirit of service,

    and concern for the nation’s future.  

    In my book,

    ceterus paribus,

    being a T-Ball coach IS germane to one’s qualifications for public office.  

    In fact, if it was an official qualification,

    maybe that would screen out those candidates who don’t give a hoot about the community.  

    1. She didn’t try to embellish on her involvement. I find the honesty in the small details rather nice.

      Of course, if she regularly kicked the referees to teach them decorum then I recant my support.

  5. Is how the recipents of Bruce’s disgusting endorsement refused to sign the county GOP’s letter condemning Bruce’s letter.  Apparently they think these tactics of lies and personal attacks are ok.

    And as far as I can tell, Lathen hasn’t attacked anyone else-what gives Bull and Burton????

    My favorite line from Bruce’s letter: “I have never lied”

    Ha!

  6. Republican congressional candidate says Reagan would be ashamed of Bruce

    Jeff Crank, a GOP challenger to Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, today said he didn’t like the way state Rep. Douglas Bruce had been acting – and neither would the Great Communicator.

    “I condemn the undignified and disgraceful behavior of Doug Bruce in the Colorado Legislature earlier this week,” Crank said in a statement today. “His actions have hurt the Republican Party and our conservative cause.

    “Ronald Reagan was a man of deep humility and goodness and would be ashamed of Doug Bruce’s actions and the selfish stunts of this week.”

        1. Reagan would also have supported many of the same things that Doug Bruce supports.

          But his behavior, and failing to apologise, the “gipper” would not have excused that, and neither do I.

          If Jeff Crank is on the same page as I am, then I say Jeff is right on this one.

  7. What the hell has come over the El Paso County GOP lately? Spanking? Kicking? What next: wedgies?

    This is the last thing the Republican Party needs, after all the pedophilia, perversity, bestiality comments, etc. etc. etc. etc. The party’s starting to look like a bunch of nut jobs.

    1. As much as I disagree with Jon Caldara, every once in a while his jokes are funny (most are not):

      Memo to Rep. Douglas Bruce: You know it’s time to apologize for kicking a Rocky photographer during the House Prayer when fellow conservatives, from Jon Caldera to Jeff Crank, tell you to get crackin’.

      Like most of us, Independence Institute Prez Caldera couldn’t resist joking about Bruce’s infamous stomp in the name of respect for Christian and legislative “decorum.”

      Caldera’s email newsletter today invoked the institute’s mock motivational program based on “The Douglas Bruce ‘Work-Can-Be-a-Kick’ plan, saying it “has my team running, some limping, to new heights.”

      But, seriously, Caldera wrote: “I have been an ally of Douglas Bruce many times over the years, and I’m sure will be again. He is as intelligent as he can be rude. But, his behavior on the house floor was uncalled for and undignified.”

      “Douglas, it is time for an apology,” he wrote.

  8. I got this forwarded to me.  I think it sums things up pretty well

    Fellow Republican Precinct Committee Members

    I am writing because, as a life long Republican who honorably served our country in the United States Army under President Reagan and a free thinking Goldwater Conservative, I am absolutely disgusted by the filthy, low down, Clintonian tactics former County Commissioner Douglas Bruce and his slander squad has used and continues to use against upstanding and forthright Republicans like Amy Lathen who think for themselves and attempt to follow the leadership of true Republicans like Ronald Reagan and Senator Barry Goldwater.

    Since he is not really a Republican, thankfully Doug Bruce has often advertised himself as a Libertarian, I don’t have to worry about breaking Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment by speaking the truth about

    someone just claiming to be a Republican for political expediency.

    This Johnny come lately (RINO Republican In Name Only to use his words) California Democrat, turned Colorado Republican for political expedience, and convicted slum lord, who in a 2001 Wall Street Journal article had the unmitigated gall to call us all “Ignorant, ungrateful and able to be stampeded”, now continuously uses his low opinion of El Paso County Republicans as “sheeple” in attempts to viciously smear

    lifetime and loyal Republicans.

    Doug Bruce thinks everyone of us is ignorant and unable to think for ourselves. As self proclaimed heroof the TABORland, he believes that he can twist and turn anything anyone says in perverse Goebbelesque fashion to suit his own purposes and that the educated, unthinking masses will just swallow his swill.

    Doug Bruce arrogantly seeks to make himself a Republican demigod by supplanting the philosophies of true conservative Republican leaders like Ronald Reagan and Senator Barry Goldwater with himself as the sole litmus test for Republicanism.

    A bully, intimidator, and egotist who seeks to quell any honest debate by using the liberal misdirection and smear tactics perfected by the Clinton machine, Doug Bruce is a constant embarrassment to any clear

    thinking Republican in El Paso County. His own anarchistic antics almost caused him to be replaced by Republican leaders at the State Legislature even before being sworn as a State Representative this past Monday, January 14, 2008.

    In a further insult and embarrassment to El Paso County Republicans, he assaulted a photographer ON THE FLOOR of the Colorado House of Representatives by KICKING him during the OPENING PRAYER!

    Even after promising “I won’t embarrass you” after being appointed to fill Bill Cadman’s vacant District 15 Representative seat, that was the FIRST thing he did.

    El Paso county Republicans should be ashamed that this man insults the memory of great Republican leaders and all true Republicans by calling himself one of us. We are rightfully the laughing stock of the entire

    National Republican Party for actually allowing such a person the responsibility of public office.

    A person’s actions speak to their character and Doug Bruce’s actions continually demonstrate a complete lack of character, morals or respect of others.

    Find out the truth for yourself. Aspire to be better than Doug Bruce’s ilk. Think for yourself and don’t be misled by misrepresentations and flat out lies from someone whose only purpose is self aggrandizement.

    Brian L. A. Wess

    El Paso County

    Republican Committee Person

    1. Granted Bruce is a total embarasment and a disaster for you Repubs. But to say

      I am absolutely disgusted by the filthy, low down, Clintonian tactics former County Commissioner Douglas Bruce and his slander squad has used

      To call someone, anyone Clintonian – that’s way too harsh 🙂

    2.    They keep invoking the names of Reagan and Goldwater, but what of your more contemporary leaders, like Cheney, Rumsfeld, Delay, Gingrich and the Shrub?

        You guys are living in the ’60s and ’70s with Reagan and Goldwater!  

  9. His economic policies prevented a recession after a devastating attack. His Team did an outstanding job in the invasion of Afghanistan.

    Iraq may turn out to be the positive turning point that is the reference used 50 years from now as to when things started to turn around in the middle east. Or maybe not.  But if it is, students and pundits will wonder why the strident left was so vocally wrong about all of it.  “Were they just blind partisans, or stupid or what.”

    2. represents an attempt to turn the clock back on democratic governance in the Middle East.  

      I’m not such a big fan of Hamas,

      but they did win the election we pushed for.

      I’m a supporter of Israel, and I think –

      over the long term –

      Israel would be better off if Hamas was allowed to govern.  

      Nothing forces a group to turn into pragmatists like the urgent need to deliver results.  

      As bad as Hamas is, are they really that different from Irgun or Stern ?

      And those folks and their successors have become pragmatic,

      when we haven’t shielded them from the need to be pragmatic.  

      I’m not sure al-Jaafri would have made a better PM for the puppet Iraqi government,

      but he is the guy the Iraqi people (those who voted) chose.

      Nouri al-Malaki was chosen by the government of Israel,

      and that selection was imposed by George Bush.  

      Ahmadinejad won his presidential election by following the legal process,

      which is more than Bush can say.

      For all his unpopularity,

      Persians would much rather have him as their president than Dave Petraeus.  

      We support the tyrants of the Arab Middle East

      (except for the Syrian optometrist)

      and reject the popularly elected leaders.  

      Bush has taken this country away from what we used to stand for.

      Take another look at the Declaration of Independence,

      and tell me that Bush understands what America is about.

      You can’t.  He doesn’t.  

      ………………………..

      The closest Cheney can come to a justification for our imperial foreign policy

      is that we need the oil.

      He’s quite right that this country would undergo tremendous upheaval

      if we lost access to Venezuelan or Iraqi oil.

      And I think he was right to make that such a priority.

      But his methods ?

      The ends do not, in this case, justify the means.    

      1. We are NOT in a recession.

        We may have one, but as of today, we are no where near the definition of a recession.  Today may be a large drop in the market.  But even a 20% correction (ALONE) does not signify a recession.

        1. A recession is defined as a significant decline in general economic activity extending over a period of time.

          We are in a recession.

          This has been another NEWSFLASH for NEWSMAN.

        2. A recession is a decline in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for two or more consecutive quarters.

          THIS HAS NOT YET OCCURRED.

          It depends on how one defines recession. What we have is a stock market correction.

          Whether we are currently in a recession is by no means a definitive YES answer.

          1. We are at the beginning of a recession but it is not at the point where we can measure it yet – by the time we can measure the decline in GDP and conclusively call it a recession it will probably be over.

  10. The target of Bruce’s attack won Saturday.  The candidate closest aligned with Bruce only got 14 votes.

    And Bruce was publicly wrist slapped by Greg Garcia.

    All in all, I couldn’t be happier with the results

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