Rocky devoted an entire page to GOP lawmaker profiles, puff pieces, and criticism of Gov. Ritter -- but no Dems

Summary: On March 7, the "Legislature 2008" page of the Rocky Mountain News consisted of a photo and profile of a state Republican lawmaker, plus several news briefs and short articles about GOP legislative activities the previous day and humorous remarks from Republican legislators. Other than sarcastic references to Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter, the News provided no information on the page about Democratic lawmakers or their activities.

The March 7 edition of the Rocky Mountain News contained a full-page "Legislature 2008" report that presented profiles of and remarks from Republican legislators -- including apparently satirical criticism of Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter -- plus brief news stories mentioning GOP legislative activity the previous day, but included nothing about Democratic legislators' comments or activities. Dominating the page was a "Citizen Legislator" photo and accompanying profile of Rep. Don Marostica (R-Loveland), one in what the News called "a series featuring lawmakers." The items placed around the Marostica feature, and constituting the remainder of the page's content, were:

• "PORCELAIN PUNISHMENT" -- a brief item about Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) and Republican colleagues switching the nameplates on each other's offices.

• "MMM ...THE SILENCE OF THAT LAMB" -- another brief item, about Sen. Nancy Spence's (R-Centennial) comment on the Senate's purchase of a lamb at a junior livestock auction at the 2008 National Western Stock Show.

• "LET THEM EAT CAKE" -- a brief about an exchange between Sen. Ted Harvey (R-Highlands Ranch) and Sen. Steve Johnson (R-Fort Collins) regarding Harvey's birthday cake.

• "Stand and deliver" -- a short article about Marostica's practice of always standing when serving in the House chamber. The item quoted Marostica's comment that "[w]hen the governor gave his State of the State speech I was standing ... He kept looking at me. I don't know if he thought I was being obnoxious."

• " 'No logic' in primaries" -- a brief article about Rep. David Balmer's (R-Centennial) advocacy of a resolution (HR 1006) "calling for Colorado to join a Western super primary for the 2012 presidential election."

• "Friction in energy office" -- an item reporting that Republicans are critical of "what now will be called the Governor's Energy Office" because they claim that "Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter is interested in only certain types of renewable energy." The item listed three sarcastic alternative suggestions for naming the office from Sen. Shawn Mitchell (R-Broomfield):

• The Office of Trendy Energy.
• The Office of Sierra Club Approved Sources.
• The Office of the Governor's Assault on All Traditional Affordable Energy.

• "Time to punt" -- an item about a "tongue-in-cheek memo from House Minority Leader Mike May defining pigskin terms, political style" and listing three "gems from the Parker Republican" that included:

• False Start

Legislative definition: Committing to a bill or policy and later regretting your commitment.

Example: Governor's first State of the State Address.

[...]

• Piling on

Legislative definition: A legal but risky play where officials, commissioners or others target a particular industry.

Example: The oil and gas industry.

(Click on image to enlarge)

—E.B.