Bye bye Doug Bruce?

Doug Bruce (R-Kick-Tap/Anti-government-government-employee) will be challenged on his own side by attorney Mark Weller:

Mark Waller, an attorney and Air Force reserve officer, is gearing up for a Republican primary battle to wrench House District 15 from state Rep. Douglas Bruce � who in his first month in office kneecapped a news photographer, was censured for it, refused to honor veterans and was subsequently yanked off the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.

Waller, a former deputy district attorney who currently is in private practice in Colorado Springs, spent five months in Iraq in 2006, prosecuting insurgents in Iraqi courts with Iraqi judges. He says that experience helped him recognize the importance of diplomacy.

"I can't say I've ever been a fan of Mr. Bruce's," Waller says. "As far as politics is concerned, we're not that much different. But � this is what's important here � we have to be able to communicate, we have to be able to get along with the other side.

"I know that's something I can do better; that's the crucial piece of the puzzle. We're all fiscally and socially conservative here in El Paso County, but what it boils down to is being able to effectively communicate those ideas and those ideals and values.

"Listening to the constituents is also important, and not just pushing some sort of agenda."

Bruce, whose district includes much of east-central Colorado Springs, was appointed by the majority of a 66-member vacancy committee in December.

So far this year, Waller notes, Bruce has presented four bills - none of which made out of committee. He announced his intent to vote "no" on any bill that carries a standard emergency clause - which Waller estimates is upward of 80 percent of them.

"That's called focusing on the minor, instead of the major stuff," Waller says.

Waller said he's already received endorsements, including from former state Sen. Ron May, from the local Housing and Building Association and from the Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition. His goal is to raise $50,000 for the race; his Web site is markwallerforhd15.org.

El Paso GOP criticized (again) for Bruce selection

Just cuz I like to pile on:

Bruce’s selection disenfranchised district

Rep. Douglas Bruce is not the only person who should be ashamed of his antics in the House. The local Republican party is just as blameworthy for advancing Bruce to the House seat vacated by Bill Cadman.

I’m not sure what they were thinking or what political capital they sought to gain but it cannot have escaped these ladies and gentlemen that Bruce is a poorly behaved, abrasive enemy of the government who has repeatedly demonstrated that he can’t play well with others. The end result is that District 15 has been effectively disenfranchised by sending Bruce to Denver.

Stay tuned........