Comments on: Bob Beauprez for Senate? http://www.redstate.com/brianfaughnan/2009/08/08/bob-beauprez-for-senate/ Fri, 29 Apr 2011 02:34:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bartlett http://www.redstate.com/brianfaughnan/2009/08/08/bob-beauprez-for-senate/#comment-6496 Bartlett Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:27:10 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/brianfaughnan/?p=1551#comment-6496 I've been in Colorado most of my life, and I haven't been all that impressed with Bob Beauprez, or at least not lately. He managed to squeak out a very close U.S. House race over Mike Feely when they were running in the brand-new 7th district in 2002. He was reelected in 2004 (a good year for Republicans), but gave up the seat to run for Governor in 2006. The seat immediately went Democrat, which is either (a) an indictment of Beauprez for valuing a run at a statewide office more than supporting his party in a difficult year, (b) a compliment to Beauprez for keeping a D-leaning swing district in the R column for four years, or (c) unrelated to Beauprez, because the district was won by Ed Perlmutter, a generally moderate Democrat with immense personal popularity in the suburbs west of Denver (the core of the 7th). I tend to mostly (c) and a little (a), but your mileage may vary. Be that as it may, Beauprez's run at Governor was a disaster. He really showed a tin ear for a statewide campaign, offended a bunch of people, mismanaged the media, managed to create controversies that lasted into 2009 (ending with the acquittal of Cory Voorhis), and didn't even come close to winning. He got creamed by ex-Denver DA Bill Ritter, who has been a thoroughly unremarkable Governor since. Colorado is a purple state that has trended rather more blue over the last few years. It's a Ben Nighthorse Campbell kind of Republican who is most likely to win a statewide race - personally affable, highly media-savvy, viewed as socially moderate and fiscally conservative, and "interesting" in some way other than his politics. Congressman Beauprez really didn't bring much of this to the table. Which is not to say that he can't win or that I wouldn't support him if he were named the candidate. Against "Mr. Apology" Bennett, I'd pretty much support anybody. But I'd have to see some serious maturation before I'd consider early support or monetary support. He really fouled up his first chance at a statewide campaign. This race is too winnable and too important to hand to someone who will just throw it away again. I’ve been in Colorado most of my life, and I haven’t been all that impressed with Bob Beauprez, or at least not lately. He managed to squeak out a very close U.S. House race over Mike Feely when they were running in the brand-new 7th district in 2002. He was reelected in 2004 (a good year for Republicans), but gave up the seat to run for Governor in 2006.

The seat immediately went Democrat, which is either (a) an indictment of Beauprez for valuing a run at a statewide office more than supporting his party in a difficult year, (b) a compliment to Beauprez for keeping a D-leaning swing district in the R column for four years, or (c) unrelated to Beauprez, because the district was won by Ed Perlmutter, a generally moderate Democrat with immense personal popularity in the suburbs west of Denver (the core of the 7th). I tend to mostly (c) and a little (a), but your mileage may vary.

Be that as it may, Beauprez’s run at Governor was a disaster. He really showed a tin ear for a statewide campaign, offended a bunch of people, mismanaged the media, managed to create controversies that lasted into 2009 (ending with the acquittal of Cory Voorhis), and didn’t even come close to winning. He got creamed by ex-Denver DA Bill Ritter, who has been a thoroughly unremarkable Governor since.

Colorado is a purple state that has trended rather more blue over the last few years. It’s a Ben Nighthorse Campbell kind of Republican who is most likely to win a statewide race – personally affable, highly media-savvy, viewed as socially moderate and fiscally conservative, and “interesting” in some way other than his politics. Congressman Beauprez really didn’t bring much of this to the table.

Which is not to say that he can’t win or that I wouldn’t support him if he were named the candidate. Against “Mr. Apology” Bennett, I’d pretty much support anybody. But I’d have to see some serious maturation before I’d consider early support or monetary support. He really fouled up his first chance at a statewide campaign. This race is too winnable and too important to hand to someone who will just throw it away again.

]]> By: redtillimdead http://www.redstate.com/brianfaughnan/2009/08/08/bob-beauprez-for-senate/#comment-6495 redtillimdead Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:31:48 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/brianfaughnan/?p=1551#comment-6495 While I'd love to see Frazier in the Senate as a young, articulate African America, he lacks the fundraising. The two top dogs in this race will be Beauprez and former State Sen. Tom Wiens While I’d love to see Frazier in the Senate as a young, articulate African America, he lacks the fundraising. The two top dogs in this race will be Beauprez and former State Sen. Tom Wiens

]]> By: USNJIMRET http://www.redstate.com/brianfaughnan/2009/08/08/bob-beauprez-for-senate/#comment-6494 USNJIMRET Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:27:10 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/brianfaughnan/?p=1551#comment-6494 against an even less experienced contender, those of us in Colorado should even consider him for the Senate? There are far better choices, heck I'd be a better choice! And I've got some rather ugly, albeit unknown (publicly) history! Beaupreaz should just continue to spend his millions on whatever peeks his fancy, and do fill in for radio talk shows when he can. Just my opinion, of course. against an even less experienced contender, those of us in Colorado should even consider him for the Senate?
There are far better choices, heck I’d be a better choice!
And I’ve got some rather ugly, albeit unknown (publicly) history!
Beaupreaz should just continue to spend his millions on whatever peeks his fancy, and do fill in for radio talk shows when he can.
Just my opinion, of course.

]]> By: NightTwister http://www.redstate.com/brianfaughnan/2009/08/08/bob-beauprez-for-senate/#comment-6493 NightTwister Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:15:23 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/brianfaughnan/?p=1551#comment-6493 These people are all officially running: <a href="http://buckforcolorado.com/">Ken Buck</a> <a href="http://frazierforcolorado.com/">Ryan Frazier</a> <a href="http://www.luke2010.com/">Luke Korkowski</a> <a href="http://www.tidwellforsenate.com/">Cleve Tidwell</a> I did find one person that definitely is <i>not</i> running: <a href="http://slapstickpolitics.blogspot.com/2009/08/influential-blogger-not-seeking-office.html">El Presidente</a> But seriously, can we have a primary here first before people start telling us who should represent us? Before Beauprez (or anyone else, for that matter) <i>decides to challenge appointed Senator Michael Bennet</a>, they're going to have to challenge some other candidates in the Republican primary. These people are all officially running:

Ken Buck
Ryan Frazier
Luke Korkowski
Cleve Tidwell

I did find one person that definitely is not running:

El Presidente

But seriously, can we have a primary here first before people start telling us who should represent us? Before Beauprez (or anyone else, for that matter) decides to challenge appointed Senator Michael Bennet, they’re going to have to challenge some other candidates in the Republican primary.

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