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February 13, 2008 11:01 PM UTC

The Best Friend a Democrat Could Ever Have

  • 134 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

Leave it to Rep. Doug Bruce to go out of his way to be more ridiculous than Adele Arakawa’s hair.

From the Rocky Mountain News:

Rep. Douglas Bruce did it again…

…Today he infuriated fellow lawmakers by being the lone legislator who refused to cosponsor a Joint House-Senate resolution honoring Military and Veterans Appreciation Day.

“Today we were honoring people who died for our country, who served our country, and Douglas Bruce is spitting in the eye of every veteran who served our country, and it’s a disgrace,” said Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan. “I’m so angry I can’t even talk right now.”

Rep. Rob Witwer, R-Genessee, said he’d never seen a colleague refuse to cosponsor the annual resolution.

“Some of our veterans have sacrificed all for their country,” Witwer said. “The least we can do is say thank you.”

Democrats were also stunned and dismayed.

“I feel like I want to say to him what we used to say in the McCarthy era, ‘Have you no shame?'” said Rep. Alice Borodkin, D-Denver…

…House minority leader Mike May, R-Parker approached Bruce immediately after he declined to co-sponsor the resolution: “I told him on a day when we honor those who have given such great sacrifice, that he can’t even put forth the effort to push the green button is disgraceful.

“That’s a man with no honor. He has no shame.”

Bruce has refused to speak to the Rocky or The Denver Post since the kicking incident. He refused to answer a reporter’s request for comment as he walked off the House floor this morning.

Steve King, R-Grand Junction, co-chair of the committee that recommended censure for Bruce after the kicking incident said: “I for the first time regretted my vote on just censuring him.” He said he won’t be talking to Bruce today. “I don’t want to reinforce his need for attention.”

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134 thoughts on “The Best Friend a Democrat Could Ever Have”

  1. I predict:

    * Voting against “Kitten and Puppy Appreciation Day”

    * Spitting on constituents’ babies.

    * Urinating on Dr. James Dobson.

    * Leaving a bag of burning dog poop on the front steps of the Air Force Academy; ringing the doorbell; running away.

    Anything else he can do to ensure his defeat in the election?

    2. When Doug ran for County Commissioner he ran on the promise that he would never vote for a tax increase, and he would never vote for symbolic feel good measures like Grandparents awareness week or Sport team congratulations proclamations.

      Doug supports the Military as much as any other local politician, more than some.

      And yes, Doug would definitely vote against Kitten and Puppy Appreciation Day.

      But the other suggestions are insulting hyВ·perВ·boВ·le.

      Doug Bruce is a principled man who DOES NOT compromise.

      1. Bruce hasn’t been holding to that…it says in the article that Bruce co-sponsored similar resolutions regarding Martin Luther King Day and 4-H.  Supporting those and then turning around and not supporting this one is highly suspect and inconsistent with his own previous stands

      2. Doug Bruce is a principled man who DOES NOT compromise.

        Politics is the art of the compromise. If we had a legislature full of people who do not compromise, we would pass no legislation – none.

        This claim is not a plus for a legislator who wishes to particapte in the drafting and passing of legislation.

        It is also indicitive of a child. Part of growing up is learning that things are not black & white – and how to get along with people you don’t agree with.

        1. Frankly, the idea that it’s a “compromise” to vote in favor of a resolution honoring veterans is just a tad bizarre.  Recognizing and honoring people’s sacrifices shouldn’t be a compromise of principle; but rather an exercise of it.

      3. Never, ever voted for ANY symbolic measure?

        If that’s true, then why did he co-sponsor resolutions honoring MLK Day and Colorado 4-H Day (as stated in the article)?  Surely he voted for his own resolutions…

      4. In fact, the TABOR that passed in 1992 was based on compromises he negotiated because his two earlier versions of TABOR failed.

        The irony of Bruce’s adventure under the golden dome is that he intentionally delayed being sworn-in to push his term-limit horizon out; yet, term limits may be the very least of his worries, ever.

        There is a difference between being a principled conservative and a sociopathic conservative.

      5. and if he were consistant I would defend him.

        I though comdemning Moveon was stupid.

        I think state legislatures commenting on war (for or against are stupid.

        However, Bruce is a hypocrite on this: re 4H and MLK.  If you can explain how this is different, I will defend him.

      7. Bruce does vote for frivolous and wasteful government projects. Go look at his record as a county commissioner with regards to projects in his district… cost us as taxpayers HUNDREDS of thousands of dollars. I guess it’s only wasteful government spending when it’s outside your district.

        And with regards to his vote on this Veterans Bill. It’s shameful and he ought to be symbolically kicked in the shins.

          2. and I’ll bet she would be interesting to talk to as opposed to Left wing Hack Molly Hughes.

            Bubble headed bleach blonde comes on at 5 , she can tell you about the plane crash with a gleem in her eye..

            ~Don Henley

    1. At least his transgressions aren’t long the lines of a sexual predator like Garcia’s.

      Just sayin’…. it goes both ways.

      Yes, Bruce is a shitbag embarrassment to the Republican party.

      1. it did happen at a bar, allegedly.*

        It if turns out that Bruce was shit faced I’d feel a little better.

        *not that being drunk is an excuse for anything other than peeing yourself, I know that, so don’t start…

        1. …when he asked one of his female high school students for her phone number last year (allegedly)?

          Rather than applying to the R or the D, I think shitbag adjective should go to the “P” (politician) position equally and in quantity.

          Did I say yet what a miserable douchebag embarrassment Bruce is?

          1. I was ambivalent on Garcia as a rep., I didn’t mean to defend him.  Did you think that it was funny that all of that hit the news right after Clinton was in town?  I did.

            Anyway, politicians should never be known for antics over pragmatic policy and if they are, douchebag says it all.

      2. Bruce’s transgressions are not like Garcia’s, but Garcia’s are more like those of the Gang of Four House Republicans who ran around the capitol earlier this decade – all spouting “family values” and all cheating on their wives (including Doug Dean).

        Garcia was a novice compared to those guys.

      3. Being a smarmy jerk who thinks he’s God’s gift to women isn’t sexual predation; that’s what molesters, rapists, and chickenhawks* like Mark Foley do.

        Not defending the sleazebag, just sayin’ it’s not what you’re making it out to be.

        * Chickenhawk, in this case, is the old (and for all I know, still current) gay slang for old gay men who go after teens.

          1. But then, you’re not really addressing my point. I’m glad this activity is a crime and that Garcia paid the price but it’s not even in the same league as actual predatory behavior.

  4. As a Springs resident, I can’t imagine that Bruce can survive this one.  This city is acutely aware of the sacrifices that veterans have made, and what we collectively owe them.  This time, he’s gone too far. He  refused to vote for such resolutions when serving on the County Commission, claiming that they’re a waste oftime for elected officials.  He may have a point-but this is simply arrogant disrespect, especially from a man who never served in the military. But a lot of us down here, R’s & D’s alike, are glad that he’s committed political suicide.

  5. Is there a school of hairdressing for anchor women that creates styles never seen  anywhere else on the planet?  The only one who bucks this trend is the ever naturally elegant Ann Trujillo.

    As for Bruce, his worst enemy never could have imagined how deeply screwed up this pathetic creature must be. Since the opening kick off, so to speak, he’s put his foot down and delivered a tirade over school children and turtles.  Now this. Didn’t he know that feel good PR stuff, honoring heroes, etc. is a traditional, routine part of legislation and wastes a lot less time then his hissy fits and shenanigans do?

    He appears to be having a slow motion public nervous breakdown.  This should go over REAL well in C. Springs. But hey, the Republicans picked him.

    1. Don’t insult my hometown by trying to send your crazy repubs there!  😛  

      Haha, seriously; with votes…or non-votes…like this, he’d fit riiiight in…

    1. I see kicked and leg in your post, come on 😉

      Seriously, he probably is an anti-social personality.

      The really sad part is that if he is challenged in a primary and loses, he’ll blame it on the party hating him.  He’ll never get it, not even a little.

    2. And not as a joke. They DO still have those security metal detectors in place at the capitol, right?

      I would feel bad if Bruce harmed himself, and worse if he harmed others. Physically, I mean, not with stupid, short-sighted, ill-conceived legislation, as he has already done.

  8. I am amazed the vacancy committee put forth this idiot who does nothing for the Party and only exists in politics to feed his distrorted ego.

    The State Rep from El Paso who starts the recall would be a rock star in the Springs.

        1. I’ve been following Bruce for a long time (he cracks me up) and the other county comissioners don’t like him.  Maybe making him a rep. was a way to get him out of the party in a general and final way?  Seriously.

  9. Give him the boot! What a disgrace! But, to be honest, those who support his efforts should be ashamed themselves.

    1. Lunberg

    2. Schultheis

    3. Lamborn

    4. Lambert

    1. I’m more than happy to have Bruce around for the next few years with acts like this! I’m sure most would agree he’s very representative of Conservatives…

    2. After the screw up with the caucus results, the delays in division meetings, Greg Garcia and his entire entourage are the one’s who should be impeached. And don’t even drag out the “16,000 people at the caucus” excuse. The number of delegates/alternates and precinct committee people didn’t change one bit. While your at it you might get rid of Maryanne Tebedo, too. That is if she ever has the courage to show her face in public after that 98 page script fiasco.

  10. I was wondering what the Vacancy Committee was thinking, but now I realize that “Vacancy” and “Doug Bruce” are pretty much synonyms.

    Maybe he was upset that Karen Middleton was raising the level of class in the legislature to high, and he had to bring it back down to knee level.

  12. is just that in our system of government.  The Honorable Bruce was elected to be a representative of his district, the people of his district.  In office he is representing them and the state of Colorado.  

     A resolution is the State of Colorado recognizing some person or group or whatever.  

     As I watched the event happen this morning, all I could feel was sadness that someone like the Honorable Bruce could not even see over his shoe laces at his ignorance of his act.  Importantly, he stood there in front of the military commanders and representatives of Buckley AFB and Ft. Carson to perform this act of his.  

     Aye, he has shown them to their faces that a Resolution of the Colorado House and Senate  honoring them and all veterans for their (and my own) service and sacrifice is a waste of time.  He will not allow true representative government interfere with his quest, whatever it really is.

  14. I mean truly sick.  And he may have (finally) reached a position where his working environment is going to be too much for him.  In other words, we may see the guy actually become sicker and do even stranger things over time.  I’m not a psychologist – but I’ll bet psychologists and psychiatrists, even from afar, could paint a fairly clear picture of the guy’s diagnosis and where that diagnosis is likely to take him.  Rather sad – and his self-destructive path might leave a few other casualties along the way, something more serious than a kick.  

    2. I no longer find bizarre behavior worthy of political comment or public ridicule.  This man may have real problems due to premature aging of the brain. This is the question: What recourse does the Legislature, the Republican Party or the Constituents of his District have? How can anyone order a mental evaluation?

      Bruce could be a tragedy waiting to happen.  IMHO, this bears careful watching.

  15. when he was quoted that he didn’t want to reinforce Bruce’s need for attention. That’s all I can figure from Rep. Bruce’s actions is that he LOVES the attention. He must go home at night and slap his knee and get a good belly laugh over it.

    The most that should happen is Rep. Bruce’s actions should be reported so his constituents know what he’s doing, but we shouldn’t allow him to steal center stage.

    1. The guy who goes on and on about how Ladies’ Nights are akin to slavery or Jim Crow.

      What that guy and Doug Bruce lack are a sense of PERSPECTIVE.

      Some resolutions are a waste of time, yes. But when you have a resolution honoring veterans up for a vote, AND A CHAMBER FULL OF UNIFORMED VETERANS WAITING TO BE HONORED, that’s not a good time to raise a stink.

      Bruce might as well be a guest standing up at a wedding and shouting, “This sermon is a WASTE OF TIME! Get to the point and declare them married already!”

  16. Bruce refused to attend ANY event at Schriever AFB (in his Commissioner District) – even basic orientations.

    He refused to attend any memorial service at Ft. Carson.

    He refused to attend Veteran’s Day Parades and other civic functions honoring the military.

    I guess the big surprise to those of us who know Bruce is that this action today is a surprise to the rest of you.

  17. I wish that language could express how I really feel right now.  I wonder if Bruce understands how much he has angered at least this Navy veteran with this b******t.  I think he is going to find it VERY uncomfortable at the EPC Republican convention.  At the very least he’s gonna be asked by me to explain himself.

      2. The Bush administration’s contempt for our brave wounded veterans has become all too evident.  Their disregard for even minimal septic standards in treatment facilities has been well documented.   It was the R’s who opposed including our disabled veterans in the economic stimulus package, including our own Wayne Allard who voted against the bill.  And now after telling us there would be the planned drawdown of Iraq forces, military families and those of us who have loved ones serving in Iraq are being told that it may not happen.  McCain uses their lives for political fodder.  Bruce now kicks veterans in their ribbons.  Being a veteran myself, I find Bruce beyond disgusting.  It is time for the EPCRP act responsibly and send the Doogie Woogie Bungling Boy to “boot” camp.

  18. They stand on their records and are proud of it.  Those of you who attack Doug Bruce and Doug Lamborn because of their principles do not understand their convictions. They are not worried about influencing other legislators or the people.  They are spokesmen any Libertarian would be proud to claim. At the end of the day, all you party loyalists think what is important is moving your constituents’ interests forward. Men like Doug Lamborn and Doug Bruce are interested in standing for their principles.  You mock them when they stand alone, against the tide.  You never give them any credit for their values.  Shame on you.  Shame on you all.  

      2. What exactly is the point of BEING in the legislature at all?  Sounds like  what Libetarians4doug is saying is that “true” Libertarians don’t believe in working with others in government period.  Fine.  Then please stay out of our legislatures.

        2. When he said he wanted to strangle the shrunken government in the bathtub, he was not kidding.  In their entire political careers, Doug Lamborn and Doug Bruce have not ever, will not ever, vote for a tax increase of any kind.  That’s the kind of Libertarian we need.  They take unpopular positions to protect us from our government, no matter if its dogfighting, taxes, female genital mutilation, permits to carry guns on school campuses.  They’re Libertarians following rinciple, which is more important than the influence peddling on the state or national capitol hills, slapping backs, making deals.  When Congress and the State House start following Lamborn’s and Bruce’s examples we will have achieved the strangle hold on the government’s financial throat, on wasteful spending, on excessive taxes.  Men like them, like Grover Norquist are true heroes  Republicans and Democrats don’t get it.  You never will.  

          1. Dougie is not a Libertarian, as far as I can figure, he wants to be the head anarchist.  I don’t follow Lamborn, so I can speak to that, but Bruce uses taxes all of the time.  Who do you think has to pay for inspectors to tell him that he can’t rent out places that aren’t suited for rodent mating?  Nobody likes a ton of government, but to have none sort of suggests that everyone outta know better, for instance, we should all know not to kick.  The anti-tax crusader title would mean more to me if it was attached to someone, well, decent.  My greatest hope is that this is the last incident that occurs while I, the tax payer, am paying his salary.

            And help me out, which party actively advocates wasteful spending?  You’re getting a bit preachy in here about how all government is evil except for Libertarians, I’d like to think that all elected officials are doing what they think is best.  The problem everyone really seems to have with Bruce is that he’s taking away from the process; costing money and making his constituents, as well as the state, look foolish.

          2. that no taxes no government thing. Do you think everyone should have to build their own personal road to wherever they need to go? Should everyone have to hire personal security and fire protection?  What about maintaining armed forces? What about relations with people of other countries? Trade? Drinking water? Safe food?

            Just what is your plan for how millions of people coexist without any form of government which, of course, also means no rule of law with no government to enforce it. The constitution would be irrelevant since it’s a framework for government which you don’t think ought to exist.  

            Unless you think you have the stuff to be top dog in such a world I don’t think you’d have much fun if your simplistic Norquist drown-the-government-in-a-bath-tub dream actually came true. I think you’d be pretty much lost.  

            Colorado, along with states across America, has already suffered quite enough deterioration due to you anti-tax, anti-government fanatics.  It’s no longer just in third world countries that bridges collapse and buildings fall down. Thanks to people like you and your hero, Doug Bruce, it’s happening right here. And  you know when you don’t spend on things like maintaining roads you wind up spending more on repairing the damage they cause and paying the insurance companies anyway.

            I think what you call libertarian is mainly just about being grumpy.  Bruce certainly is.  

    2. Can you explain why Bruce went with the tide on some issues and against the tide on others?  Is it a Libertarian stance to lie to people when they do something wrong?

      You can make a logical argument for Doug Lamborn.  I don’t mind his stance on most issues (I do disagree with some), for me it’s more about style-I think Crank would be a better congressman.

      Bruce on the other hand-there’s no way!  Issues aside, he’s an egotistical liar.  He doesn’t care about anything but himself.  And now he’s not even consistent with his own views.

      Why would anyone be proud of that?


    3.  

      "all you party loyalists think what is important is moving your constituents’ interests forward"

       

      I believe that is why we elect people to represent us, and if I was elected I would be representing my district or city or county. Representing your constituents is the basis of this representative form of government.  You are saying that the Honorable Bruce is purposely not representing his constituents.

      2. Do not put words in my mouth. They do the best job of representing their constituents by standing on principles. Jerks like Crank and Rayburn don’t have Lamborn’s abilities.  If they did, they wouldn’t be trying to unseat Lamborn. Bruce went after Lathen for the same reason. He’s a man of principle. Damn it!  He fought for our interests as a county commissioner and I don’t care if he never got anything done in El Paso County.  I don’t care if he never gets anything done in Denver.  I don’t care if Lamborn never gets anything done in Washington.  WE HAVE A LIBERTARIAN VOICE IN DENVER AND DC.  That is what’s important.  Not winning.  Losing, if on principle, is the sign of a true leader.  

      2. I offered the “Nolan Test” to one other catty commentator’s remarks.  Why don’t you take it yourself?  You may just find you’re as solid a Libertarian as Doug Lamborn and Doug Bruce.  Here’s the test.  Answer it the way you think they would, answer it for yourself as well.

        http://www.theadvocates.org/qu…

        These men stand on values that no Republican could.  They stand on values that no Democrat could.  When they stand against popular opinion, they do so with a moral compass you will never understand.  They are not dumb fucks.  They’re principled.  They would rather lose than compromise.  They have ideological purity that no others have.  

        I’ve watched some of you assholes beating up on Lamborn.  Didn’t like his vote against dogfighting.  You made him a dogfigther.  Ddin’t like his vote against female genital mutilation.  You made him a backroom surgeon, cutting off some innocent girls’ clitoris.  You’re doing the same to Doug Bruce today.  You think winning is everything.  Losing on principle is more important than winning.  You guys are the losers.  Lamborn and Bruce are not.  

        1. I was talking about the concept of a legislator stating that they would hold true to their beliefs rather than look for common ground.

          You try to make it a positive that their approach makes them totally useless as legislators. That’s what’s brain-dead.

          1. He’s the least influential House member, bar none.  He is so because he’s dirty.  His conviction is the one he’ll get for bribes.  His lack of influence isn’t because of his political convictions.  Lamborn may not ever have any more influence than Jefferson.  SO FRICKIN’ BIG DEAL!  He stands on his political convictions.  That’s a leader.  The best example I can think of for Lamborn was when he was in the State Senate. A true Libertarian, he introduced a bill that would have allowed concealed weapons permits to carry guns on school campuses.  Your liberal Democrat Denver papers roasted him. Blah. Blah.  Blah.  Lamborn could care less about public opinion.  He could care less about what his fellow Congressmen think of him.  The same for Doug Bruce.  You Democrats and Republicans can’t handle the idea someone like Lamborn or Bruce have uncompromising convictions and they’re not willing to be “popular” to win influence either.  Two thumbs up to two strong Libertarians!

            1. Lamborn should care about public opinion.  Maybe not mine or the pols, but he should care about the folks in the CD-5’s opinion; he is their representative after all.  EPC may be conservative, but there are many kinds of conservatives in the EPC and there seems to be a great deal of discontent with the Dougs in the EPC.

              If he doesn’t care about the voters opinion–he won’t have to worry about their opinion for long.

              1. CRANKYRepublicans and RAYBURNelitists are the stupid ones.  Just show me where to sign Rayburn’s petition.  Give Crank all the delegates at his assembly.  Give him top line on the primary ballot and then I’ll show you who is stupid and who is smart.  It ain’t Crank.  It ain’t Rayburn.  It’s Lamborn.  And when Lamborn endorses Bruce again, and Bruce endorses Lamborn again, you’ll get to see who has the last laugh.  It will be Libertarians for Doug.  That’s Doug Lamborn.  That’s Doug Bruce.  And the ones laughing the loudest will be both Dougs.  

        2. David simply called what you posted “the dumbest fucking thing posted here today.” And frankly, if these two twits are such great Libertarians, why aren’t they representing the Libertarian party?

          And I resent being called an asshole for my opinions on Lamborn and Bruce. I’ve met a few Libertarians in the past, and tried to have a conversation with them. Whenever I doubted one of their political positions, they went straight to namecalling. That kind of childishness, which you are perpetuating in your rants, add exactly NOTHING to the discourse we’re trying to have here.

        3. And I couldn’t disagree with you more.  What’s the point of principal if you can never advance it?

          Bruce has done more to damage conservative or libertarian causes then he’s done to advance them.  Even when he’s right no one listens.  So what’s the point?

          Plus, Doug Bruce is a liar and he’s not even consistent with his own issues.  So if that floats your boat, have fun at sea.

          2. My Valentine’s Day was crappy, so here I am, and on Doug Bruce’s website.  Check this out

            05/23/2006 WWJD? Pray in private, Bruce tells commission  

            If it?s good enough for Jesus, it?s good enough for El Paso County Commissioner Douglas Bruce. Monday, the commissioner known for quoting the U.S. Constitution turned instead to the Bible to explain his opposition to prayer at public meetings.

            WWJD?  Not spare the foot apparently.

              1. What an embarrassment that man is. Usually it takes a criminal to bring such shame on a state, like Traficant in Ohio was. I know, he is or was a slumlord, but I do have to say that Traficant was much more of a crook. And if that’s the best thing that can be said about Doug Bruce (sorry, Sockpuppet4Lamborn, that is the truth) then that’s how pathetic Bruce is.

    6. Men like Doug Lamborn and Doug Bruce are interested in standing for their principles

      …they’ve got some real nice principles–refusing to honor the men and women of this state who protect our freedom and liberty.

      Heck, I’m a “liberal” and I’ve got much better principles than that.

      1. It’s the principle.  The principle.  It’s the principle.  The principle.  He who doesn’t stand for something will for anything.  If Lamborn wanted to vote the same way Bruce did on something like it and he did so on deep rooted convictions, no matter what, he’s a leader like Bruce. I don’t care they’re not popular.  They’re men.  They’re leaders.  I believe in 2 years you’ll see Congress and you’ll see the State House following thier examples.  Not the other way around.    

        2. is a demagogue.

          Maybe this will get it across to you… I know Tabor will destroy our state. It must be permanently fixed. So can I accomplish that by just insisting that Tabor be undone and acting like an arrogant close-minded asshole? Unlikely.

          Instead I talk to others and try to find a compromise that no one is thrilled with but that we can all live with and that has a decent chance of working. That’s how grown-ups govern and that is why we had referendum C.

          Real men (and women), real leaders, people like Lincoln, FDR, MLK, Eisenhower – they all worked very hard to craft compromise after compromise. It’s very easy to insist on having your own way. What truly takes leadership is crafting a solution.

          As to your “the principle…” why is your principle to keep Tabor any more powerful than mine to overturn it?

        3. means voting against a popular measure because you believe that it is wrong for a government to say to those who have sacrificed in their nations defense, “Thank you”, I’d rather follow a hole in the ground.  What is the principle that leads one to snub veterans?  No standard of the Republican Party would possibly lead to such a “principle”.  I fully stand behind my characterization of him as “Berkely” Bruce.  There is no difference between him and Code Pink in my opinion.

        4. Not sure where you get your definitions, but a leader LEADS. If they are the only one doing something, then, by definition, they not leading ANYONE. They are going it ALONE.

          Your arguments and rants here get ever more vacuous as you feel compelled to resort to ad hominem in making your point.  You are clearly not a stupid person and might do much better in the defense of your philosophy were you not to lower the level of your debate.  The sine qua non of decorum requires that you respect your opponents, though you may vehemently disagree with their positions.

          The moment you treat them as ‘evil’ instead of ‘equal’ you squander any moral high ground you may have had.  Perhaps you have forgotten this most BASIC of lessons.

          jtrione@mac.com

            1. The suggestion that elected leaders like Lamborn and Bruce are not leading when they stand alone raises the age old political question. Are they  elected to monitor where their constituents are … or are they to use their best judgment to do what’s in the best interests of their constituents?  They are using their best judgment and it’s brilliant judgment on principle.  They are willing to give up any hope of having the support of their peers in the state and federal houses so as not to sacrifice principle. That is hard to understand.  It is not a political game for them.  Get over it.  Their judgment is what their constituents want. Bruce wasn’t elected, but, he will be in a landslide just like Doug Lamborn. It will be because their supporters trust their judgment. The only ones who don’t seem to are CRANKY and BENTLEY.  Let those two go at each other. Lamborn wins.  That’s the good news. And, there will be more good news when Bruce wins.      

              1. Don’t argue with a mule – it doesn’t do any good and it annoys the mule.

                I won’t reply to your illogical rants from here on. Congrats – the only other person here I have ever done this with is DDHGLQ.

        5. Lamborn respects the military and the sacrifices of American veterans.  Bruce, in contrast, is a libertarian — a member of a group that hates government.  The military is a part of government and libertarians generally despise it.  Bruce refused to serve in the military, something I take great pride in having done.  And now the slimy little Jody-boy won’t even show some respect to the brave women and men who bravely stood where he feared to tread.  

    8. Mr. Mayor goes to Paris – but don’t expect a souvenir  

      If he flies out of the Colorado Springs Airport, maybe Rivera can use his VIP parking pass. The airport recently asked Commissioner Douglas Bruce to return his VIP pass, since he might be leaving office to fill an unexpired state lawmaker term. Bruce responded, “Maybe the mayor can use (it). I tore it up when I received it. I do not take bribes, freebies, amenities or other gifts because of my status as an elected official. I retain this quaint notion that the citizens are the important people, and that we are public servants here to serve, not to rule.”  

      So serve.

  19. Someone should suggest he get help. All of this does not add up to someone operating with a full deck. It’s like he wants to get recalled or kicked out of the leg

    One of the most influential people in Colorado policy over the last 25 years (through his support of TABOR)…and not playing with a full deck.  Does his approach to honoring veterans make anyone else wonder about the wisdom of his other positions?

    He can’t afford to spend the time to honor people that have spilled their blood, lost their limbs and lives in service to our country?  Charming.  

    I served in the Gulf War (1990-1991).  I appreciate the fact that the vast majority of my fellow citizens have more class than Rep. Bruce.

  20. The irony about not co-sponsoring this resolution is that his life would probably be the same whether or MLK had ever existed or not, but if it weren’t for veterans he wouldn’t be able to waste so much of the House’s time talking about the emergency clauses (he’s incapable of speaking for less than ten minutes on any subject, regardless of if you’d consider it a legitimate issue).  If we were all Nazi’s we wouldn’t be able to vote on taxes.  Thank God people, a lot of people, made the ultimate sacrifice for that.  What a hypocrite!

  21. .

    and not be offended by Bush’s employment of Mercenaries in Iraq ?  

    Doug Bruce simply declined to salute us.  

    The President is actively disrespecting us,

    and devaluing our sacrifices.

    .

  23. but he’s more or less right about this.  Who gives a roarin’ rip about some resolution lauding veterans?  What next?  A resolution proclaiming everyone’s children adorable?

    These little “feel good” resolutions are a waste of time.

    2. but does he always have to be a jerk and usually a huge hypocrite?  If he’s trying to make a point, fine, take 90 seconds to stand up, thank the veterans, and respectfully say that while you appreciate their sacrafice, but because of principle you will not be able to vote yes.  Watch the video!  He’s not a shit head for taking a stand, he’s a shit head for sort of suggesting that our troops are ridiculous.  There are times for this sort of grandstanding, but this wasn’t it.

    3. It’s one thing to say, “These resolutions are generally a waste of time.”

      It’s a whole ‘nother thing to vote against a resolution honoring veterans when there are a ton of veterans prsent who are in the process of being honored.

    4. A resolution honoring our military veterans is EXACTLY like a resolution “proclaiming everyone’s children adorable.” There’s virtually no difference!

      Plus, there are so many incredible wastes of time we need to do away with:

      Praying in the House of Representatives.

      Swearing in House members (heck, just email it in!)

      Weddings.

      Funerals.

      Birthday parties.

      Pretty much every organized sport.

      Making love.

      Cooking.

      Reading a novel.

      Hugging your kid.

      Saying a nice word to your neighbor.

      Giving your spouse a Valentine’s gift.

      Voting (let’s just have vacancy committees decide who to represent us; I’m sure they’ll do a fantastic job).

      Here’s to BRUTAL (BRUCE-AL) EFFICIENCY!

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