The lighter side of the Capitol, usually.

Decorum of another kind

“Decorum has finally entered the Senate chamber,” thundered Sen. Rachel Zenzinger from the chamber’s floor on Wednesday.

That would be Sen. Don Coram (d-Coram, get it?)

More critters, of the real and not-so-real kind

Under the category of “facts I did not know,” comes the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District Day at the Capitol, also on Wednesday.

Did you know that eagles view dinosaurs as predators? This must be well embedded into their historical DNA, because Capitol folks got something of a live demonstration of that, courtesy of HawkQuest and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

Mr. Bones, a puppet operated by Tim Seeber for the past 34 years (!), was in the north foyer of the Capitol during SCFD Day as a representative of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and was advised to stay there because there was a bald eagle from Hawkquest, also an SCFD organization, in the west foyer and it would freak if it saw the dinosaur, apparently even when it is not a real one.

Seeber told Capitol M Mr. Bones started out as a Halloween costume several years ago and weighs about 24 pounds. 

Many folks got a kick out of having their heads consumed by Mr. Bones on Wednesday. Angie Binder, who represents the Colorado Petroleum Association, among others, commented on Eric Bergman’s photo: “I am surprised your head fits inside the mouth.”

The governor has a competitor

Our Fair State governor loves to do impressions, and one of his favorites is Yoda. He routinely does a Yoda impression during his State of the State addresses.

Don’t look now, Mr. Governor, but you’ve got some very strong competition.

This week, Rep. Manny Rutinel of Commerce City was tasked with seeking approval of the House journal. His plea to lawmakers included a fun fact about Commerce City and an impression.

Wednesday, Rutinel did a send-up of Christopher Walken, which wasn’t bad. He’s figured out how to get the journal approved by telling everyone, in his Walken voice, that it’s “opposite day” and a “no” vote is really a “yes.”

Thursday’s impression was Yoda, and this is where he shines.

In the words of the Speaker of the House, Rep. Rutinel has brought a whole new experience to the morning motions. 

Look out, Gov. Jared Polis. You’ve got a worthy competitor.

Another caucus, and one whose time has come

It’s the bearded caucus, aka the Bearded Legislators’ Club, with a recent meeting at the University Club and attended by Reps. Matt Soper, Ty Winter and Ryan Armagost.

These are the inaugural members of the bearded caucus, but there are plenty of applicants awaiting their induction. That includes:

Rep. Scott Bottoms, who did his best Groucho Marx impression (for the uninitiated, Marx once said he refused to be a member of any club that would have him as a member). Bottoms’ facial hair is a bit light, and he has said he will not bow to peer pressure. 

Reps. Richard Holtorf, Tim Hernandez, Javier Mabrey (also a bit light on the facial hair), Matt Martinez, Ron Weinberg, Don Wilson and Speaker Pro tem Chris deGruy Kennedy, are all awaiting their formal invitations.

In the Senate, potential members are Sens. James Coleman, who sports more of a goatee than a beard, but it counts; Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriquez, Sens. Nick Hinrichsen, Rod Pelton, Tom Sullivan, Kevin Van Winkle and Perry Will.

The best outside of the chamber belongs to Jep Semen of Colorado Advocates, whose beard is somewhere between “a law professor and Duck Dynasty.”