One of the few post-election bright spots for Republicans was the defeat of Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction. He was slated to become the next Speaker of the House but lost to political newcomer Laura Bradford by just 583 votes. Bradford heavily criticized Buescher for his support of Gov. Bill Ritter's mill levy tax increase, ruled unconstitutional in district court and now being considered by the Colorado Supreme Court.
COLORADO'S FRONTPAGE
Face the State
Content Index: Laura Bradford
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Video: Bernie Buescher's loss is the gift that keeps on giving
November 26, 2008"The Buzz" on Newstalk 1310 KFKA, 11/10 - Bill Ritter is 'not the Grinch'?
November 11, 2008
Face The State managing editor Brad Jones visits with Newstalk 1310 KFKA's Amy Oliver. Up for discussion: The Denver Post gives Face The State a shout-out in its Sunday edition, Gov. Bill Ritter plays Santa Claus and gives state employees an extra day off, and Rep. Bernie Buescher finds himself looking for a new job.
"I'm not entirely displeased to see that Republican Laura Bradford beat incumbent Bernie Buescher in the Grand Junction state house race. Back in 2005, my dad and I blasted Buescher for supporting higher net taxes and for earning a zero rating from the Colorado Union of Taxpayers.
Still, Bradford barely pulled off a surprise upset in a county that went 63 percent for McCain.
In this race, as in races across Colorado and the nation, voters were faced with a choice of two evils: political force in our private lives versus political force in our economic lives.
11/6: Finding the election's silver lining
Republicans looking for a silver lining to Tuesday's election should take a look west, to Grand Junction.
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FTS Humor: The mourning after
Face The State Humor
November 6, 2008By Andrew Ripemoff
As we lick our wounds today, we libertarian-minded conservatives recognize the overwhelming global celebration of joy accompanying the election of Barack Obama. And whether we want to admit it or not, it was a truly historic landslide. From young to old, black to white, it seems EVERYONE went into that voting booth unified and ready to anoint the Chosen One.
Dems shine as Ritter flounders on election night
A Face the State Staff Report
November 5, 2008
While Democrats had much to celebrate Tuesday night, their top state leader, Gov. Bill Ritter, saw a pet ballot measure fail and a key House ally fall in a western slope upset.
7:35 update: David Balmer, Rocky already calls the election?
Assistant state House Minority Leader David Balmer stops in to talk about state legislative races, and FTS's Joe Megyesy checks in from the Democrat party headquarters in Denver.
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"Nothing rallies a candidate like a negative ad, especially in places like House District 55. As we’ve reported before, Republican Laura Bradford has been accused of opposing the inclusion of routine cancer screenings in her health plan.
For the second time in a week, she called the press together to rebut her attackers.
“It’s a blatant lie,” Bradford said."
"In what was a generally staid debate in front of students from three local speech and debate teams Thursday night, the issue of how to fund transportation in relation to other programs provided one small bit of fireworks between the House District 55 candidates.
“Funding transportation needs to be moved up to the top,” Laura Bradford told the student-moderated forum.
"Asked at a Monday night forum what Colorado can do to confront its transportation-funding shortfall, Republican House District 55 candidate Laura Bradford said policymakers should draw up a list...State Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, said he thought the way the Colorado Transportation Commission prioritizes its projects is OK by him. (Buescher served on the panel for half a decade.)."
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1/8: A high-pressure speech
Gov. Ritter presents his State of the State address today, and the pressure is on.