When EL Paso County Republicans appointed infamous guvmint-hating blowhard Doug Bruce to the state legislature, you thought they exhorted him to "kick ass," you know, figuratively. They probably did, too.

Doug Bruce apparently isn't big on metaphor.

Kick helps get Bruce off on wrong foot with colleagues

Douglas Bruce arrived at the Capitol on Monday, kicked a photographer, angered his own caucus and "embarrassed" one of the people who appointed him to fill a state House vacancy -- all before taking the oath of office.

No one at the Capitol really expected the ornery author of TABOR, Colorado's most-loved -- and loathed -- anti-tax law, to join the legislature quietly. But the ruckus that arrived with new Rep. Doug las Bruce was rowdier than predicted.

Bruce pulled up in his "MR TABOR" license-plated car about 8 a.m. with a jar of Jelly Bellies that hinted at Ronald Reagan's sweet tooth. Things soured two hours later, when Bruce kicked a photographer who tried to snap his picture during the House's morning prayer...

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, said he would review television news footage of the incident to see whether any rules were violated.

Bruce refused to apologize, saying the photographer was the one who owed him an apology.

"He needs to get a lesson in manners and decorum," Bruce said. "He ought to be ashamed of himself."

Word of the kick spread fast around the Capitol as lawmakers hit the Internet to watch the news video.

"What is this, 'Republicans Gone Wild'? It's out of control," said Michael Huttner, director of the liberal advocacy group ProgressNowAction.

The head of the committee that appointed Bruce to fill the seat of former Rep. Bill Cadman, who gave up his position to join the state Senate, said she was "embarrassed" by Bruce's actions.

House Republicans are reacting with suitable dismay (the Joe Stengel and Jim Welker episodes seem to have taught them something about rapid response), and are promising to keep Rep. Bruce on a "tight leash."

Given what we saw yesterday, I'm wondering if the dolly rig they used on Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs might make their job easier.

I would end with something predictable like, "damn, you righties sure know how to pick 'em," but I think the point's been made.