New lawmaker kicks photographer

[struggle4progress]

Source: Associated Press

Associated Press
Originally published 12:20 p.m., January 14, 2008
Updated 12:20 p.m., January 14, 2008

DENVER — New lawmaker Douglas Bruce brought a Bible to the Legislature today and kicked a photographer for taking his picture during the morning prayer, but he didn’t get the swearing-in ceremony he demanded, with the full House in attendance ...

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, a Denver Democrat, refused. “I’m not willing to delay the business of the House to indulge anyone’s vanity,” he said Friday.

Fellow Republicans threatened to give the open seat to someone else if Bruce didn’t take the oath by the end of the day. It wasn’t clear whether that was a factor in his decision to back down ...

Bruce got upset when a photographer from the Rocky Mountain News took his picture during the traditional prayer to open today's brief session ...



Read more: http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/jan/14/anti-tax-crusader-sworn-kicks-photographer/

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Colo. lawmaker kicks photographer during prayer

... Afterward, Bruce defended his knee-jerk reaction, saying he had warned the photographers against taking his picture during the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.

"In 21 years, I don't think there has ever been an instance where I had to do something to stop somebody from behaving in such a coarse and disgusting way," Bruce told reporters.

House rules give photographers unrestricted access during prayers or any other activities on the House floor.

Asked later whether he planned to apologize, Bruce said: "I think the Rocky Mountain News photographer ought to apologize to the House and to me and to all the people whom he disrupted. He needs to get a lesson in manners and decorum." ...

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/01/colo-lawmaker-k.html


Rocky photog gets kick out of covering GOP bull in Dems' china shop
Monday, January 14 at 1:04 PM

Bruce, a Colorado Springs Republican, wrote that refusing his request would inconvenience the "many people" he's already invited to a 10 a.m. swearing-in ...

"I'm happy to accommodate any member's schedule," <House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, a Democrat from Denver> said, adding that he's offered Bruce four different times - outside House session - to be sworn in ...

Bruce, who was appointed to serve out the vacant term of a lawmaker who moved to the Senate, didn't show up for the start of the session Wednesday with his colleagues. By taking office less than halfway through the vacant term, he extended his potential career in the House from six years to eight.

Now Bruce said he is insisting on the public swearing-in because Democrats have wrongly accused him of misconduct for showing up late ...

http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/denver/rockytalklive/archives/2008/01/doug_bruce_the_gop_bull_in_dem.html

[fenriswolf]

1. guy sounds like a douche

looks like new blood is just as bad as old blood.

[paulk]

14. oh, he's not new

he's been fucking Colorado for quite some time now. He's a former Denver slumlord POS who got TABOR passed here.

There's a special circle of hell reserved for this guy...

[Tesha]

23. He's from Colorado Springs, the malignant center of the Christian Right; it's all you need to know.

(NT)

[tanyev]

2. Doesn't sound like he's read that Bible.

[FREEWILL56]

10. That bible is for show or didn't you know that?

That's his way of saying, "I'm such a wonderful person" and he carries God's word under his armpit whilst he hates his neighbor thus giving him a good kick. Damn heathens, somebody ought to kill them all.:sarcasm:

[madamesilverspurs]

13. He don't gotta read that there Bible,

doncha know, cuz he lives in Dobsonville. But he ain't supposed to kick nobody, he's got the book what to thump folks with. Not to worry, tho, they'll learn 'im. Whoopdeedangalujah!

[kurth]

3. Photographer should have filed assault charges

[harmonicon]

5. he sure should

He also shouldn't have been taking pictures when people wanted silence (that's something I can't stand - photographers often don't seem to realize how noisy they are), but doing something more inappropriate in response.... well, it's inappropriate, and in this case, also illegal.

[fenriswolf]

7. actually the point is that it is legal for them to be in their and

take pictures during prayers, it was the person being sworn in who got pissed off.

[harmonicon]

8. I know

Legal doesn't mean appropriate. Kicking was even more inappropriate than taking the pictures - that was my point. It is assault.

[struggle4progress]

11. Read the links. Bruce got the idea that he could extend his re-election opportunities by two years

if he could just postpone his official swearing-in ceremony by a couple of weeks.

So, instead of the private swearing-in always afforded vacancy appointees, he demanded the in-session ceremony only done at the beginning of each new legislature

So while legislative officials, entirely in keeping with tradition, repeatedly tried to schedule the private ceremony with him, Bruce bought time by trying to create a media storm around the non-issue

Dems naturally began to wonder what was up and started asking questions

Bruce's Repub cohort finally decided the public thought the whole circus smelled too funky and told him to take the oath of office or bow out for somebody willing to be sworn

On the big day, he started grand-standing again before backing down and accepting the private ceremony.

Of course the media was there: Bruce had worked for days to drum up media interest in his swearing-in

But he was pissed at losing face -- so he kicked a photographer

[shanti]

16. what an

asshole :eyes: they just can't help being so, can they?!

[LiberalFighter]

22. This guy was elected Dec 1st the January session started Jan 9th

According to Colorado law regarding terms of persons filling vacancies he was to qualify and enter upon his duties immediately.

[Ian David]

20. Prayers are supposed to be done in private in the first place. (Mat. 6:5-6)

6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

More:
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/mt/6.html


They WANT people taking their pictures during the moment of silence or prayer or whatever, because they want people to SEE them acting religiously. Otherwise, they wouldn't be praying in public.

[elleng]

21. Hypocrites

.

[kurth]

4. del dup

[Hawkeye-X]

6. As one other person mentioned in another forum..

R's would vote for a moldy cabbage if it had a R right next to him in his district - it's that conservative - Fundyland in El Paso County.

Oh, and this idiot is a TABOR author - straining our resources even further. We're trying tor repeal that constitutional law. So far, we've made a loophole, but it's not enough to help Colorado.

Oh, and my state rep is Romanoff - I'm proud as hell of him!

Hawkeye-X

[alfredo]

12. Taxpayer bill of rights is the reps way of saying, I like the trappings of

civilization, but I don't want to pay for it.

[bigworld]

9. Here's the video

from the local CBS affiliate...
http://cbs4denver.com/politics/bruce.photographer.kick.2.629381.html

[Hand]

15. Douglas Bruce? WTF????

What bunch of halfwit nincompoops elected THAT fascist cretin... oh, Colorado Springs. Never mind. :dunce:

[ladywnch]

17. ditto eom

[CK_John]

19. I have a feeling he will be back on the front page of News with numbers under it. n/t

[ladywnch]

18. what a slimy, arrogant , rude PIG!

I'm surprised that he didn't wear a royal robe, carry a scepter and ask for anointment! After all, he IS the most important person in the House, isn't he?

[DiverDave]

24. Kick me and

you'll get a punch in the snoot...the photog should have done just that.

[daleo]

25. Like a good Bible hypocrite, he believes in "turn the other cheek"

So he can kick that one too.

[AnneD]

26. Jesus was very specific about turning the other cheek....

not kicking it.