Strange But True: Bernie Buescher Lectures Protesters on “Good Policy”

Update, 4/6: A Rocky Mountain Right diarist from Ouray isn’t too happy with the Governor’s cancellation.

What a bummer when you show up to protest someone, and they aren’t able to make it in person. Such apparently was the case this weekend in Grand Junction, when inclement weather prevented Governor Bill Ritter from being welcomed by more than 50 Coloradans “totally disgusted” about the negative impacts of his various tax policies and newly-approved oil and gas rules.

The interesting tidbit came from local news station KJCT, which reported that Secretary of State (and Western Slope native) Bernie Buescher showed up to take the slings and arrows in Ritter’s place:

He says the Governor recognizes this is a difficult time and it’s time to put aside partisan bickering. He had some strong words for the protestors [sic].

“You dont [sic] make good policy by protesting. You make good policy by sitting down and rolling up your sleeves and trying to find common ground on tough issues,” Beuscher [sic] said.

Talk about a penchant for the obvious that comes across as somewhat arrogant. Of course you don’t make good policy by protesting. But what else are these citizens supposed to do when the people they have elected to make good policy simply aren’t? Is Bernie Buescher saying the good taxpayers from Colorado’s Western Slope should just go home and be quiet?

It also probably goes without saying that it’s much easier for the Secretary of State and the Governor to poo-poo “partisan bickering” when their Democratic Party holds virtually all the levers of power.

The smug blind spot demonstrated by Buescher’s quote is all the more startling when you recall that his presumed path to the Speaker of the House position was unceremoniously blindsided by a rare Republican upset victory last Election Day. Then again, he also owes his current position to a Bill Ritter appointment.

Let’s chalk up Buescher’s recent “good policy” comment as another example of Colorado Democrats governing themselves out of a majority.