Republican Party Chair Dick Wadhams is really mad that he can't get the press to do his bidding, so he's resorted to bullying and threats in hopes of getting the media to pretend his candidate for Senate, Bob Schaffer, doesn't have any warts at all. Wadhams and Schaffer shamelessly attacked and belittled a blog reporter a few weeks ago, and Wadhams just recently did the same thing to a reporter for The Grand Junction Sentinel.
Newspaper editors and political reporters don't need a calendar to tell them that it's an even-numbered year. Even-numbered years are election years. We can tell that because those are the years when we get complaints from politicians and their handlers. It's as predictable as Rick Wagner staking out a position to the right of just about everybody else.
We got a couple this week, and I think they are instructive. One was nothing more than a political handler trying to bully a reporter, the other a legitimate question about why we failed to do something. One was ugly, the other a genuine discussion between people who saw the same thing differently.
First the ugly.
Early in the week Democratic Senate candidate Mark Udall proposed the government quit stockpiling gas in the strategic petroleum reserve.
Reporter Mike Saccone, as any good reporter would do, called Udall's opponent to get a response. Republican Bob Schaffer is very seldom available. He called Dick Wadhams, Schaffer's campaign manager. I don't think he ever even got to tell Wadhams why he was calling. The minute Wadhams got on the phone he launched into Mike, telling him he was a biased reporter, that he's taken cheap shots at Schaffer and asking when we were going to do the same thing to Udall. I listened to the tape of the conversation. Mike seldom got to complete a question. Every time he tried Wadhams interrupted with yet another complaint about Mike and/or our coverage. He did manage to ask Wadhams for specific instances of biased reporting or cheap shots and Wadhams provided none.
The exchange was amusing. I don't know what Wadhams was trying to accomplish other than to try to get our reporter to go easier on his candidate in future stories. Whatever it was it will have no effect whatsoever on how we cover the Senate race. We'll continue to cover it as completely and fairly as possible.
This has always been a part of Wadhams' repertoire - to attack reporters either directly or through a surrogate in attempts to shame them into reporting more on his opponent than on his own candidate. It worked well when he did it through the use of bloggers in the 2004 South Dakota defeat of Tom Daschle, but it doesn't appear to be working in Colorado, where conservative blogs don't really have the reach or the respectability that they may have had in other states.
There's a fine line between strategy and flat-out rude bullying, and Wadhams has definitely crossed that line. Here's hoping reporters around the state don't fall into the trap of Wadhams' intentional belittling and end up turning over their lunch money to him.
We've seen the "opinions" of some so-called reporters and op-ed writers, but I believe the Rocky did a relatively good job of breaking down the 2008 Democratic goals and results. I highlighted a few of my favorites.
I would appreciate feedback on this. Am I making a mountain out of a molehill or is this worth bitching about?
Here in Boulder (and I assume many other counties) they have come up with 5 county candidates and are strongly pushing all delegates to vote for them. And at the same time, all other delegates should withdraw from running.
"This is the song that we hope will become the theme for the Democrat convention in Denver this August: 'Street Fighting Man,' by the Rolling Stones. Yeah, baby, violence."
Ah, yes-this issue again. When Governor Bill Ritter froze property tax rates last year, many complained that the action constituted a tax increase, and as such, the action violated TABOR.
That's old news, right?
But during testimony in the trial regarding this subject, State Treasurer Cary Kennedy (D) "conceded....that a bill passed last year by the legislature alters the way taxes are calculated with the net result that many property owners pay more."
UPDATE:Catholics United just sent a press release thanking President Bush for signing Marianas immigration reforms into law, and expressing relief that "the efforts of Bob Schaffer and Jack Abramoff to deny workers in the Northern Mariana Islands basic human dignity in the workplace did not prevail" (ouch). Release after the jump.
You'll recall that the Schaffer/Abramoff scandal began with Senate candidate Bob Schaffer's praise for the relatively unregulated labor and immigration standards in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a territory of the United States.
Today, the practices Schaffer recommended as a "model" for the rest of the country have been outlawed, as CNMI human rights activist Wendy Doromal reports first:
Moments Ago President Bush
Signed S. 2739 into law!
This is a significant victory for every advocate, every federal official, and every person who has fought to end labor and human rights abuses in the CNMI. It is a momentous victory for the guest workers in the CNMI. It is a personal victory for me, and for my family.
As an advocate who has worked on passing this legislation for almost 2 decades, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the members of the U.S Congress, especially to the members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources, and their dedicated staff members. They devoted hundreds of hours of hard work, untiring perseverance, and self-less determination to see this issue resolved.
Some members of Congress and staff members including Congressman George Miller (D-CA), Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), and Allen Stayman have pushed for effective reform for over a decade in a fight that has been difficult and fraught with obstacles. Some of the strongest proponents of this legislation have been personally vilified, attacked, libeled, and have even have lost jobs because of their conviction and determination to extend just and democratic laws to the CNMI. Yet, they stood their ground and continued the battle. The late Congresswoman Patsy Mink (D-HI) fought vehemently for immigration and labor reform in the CNMI...
Note also that this same set of reforms was repeatedly introduced in Congress before 2006, including years when Schaffer was a member. Schaffer's donors from Saipan are all on record fiercely opposing this bill--after all, the threat of it is why the CNMI government hiredJack Abramoff back in the '90s.
All of which continues to make Schaffer look horrible, and underscores the serious damage already done to his campaign over this scandal. We can only say again how baffling it was for Schaffer to bring this PR disaster on himself by praising the situation in the CNMI territory, at the exact time laws were passing to outlaw what he was praising.
Gov. Bill Ritter said Wednesday that concern over Democratic lawmakers' re-election chances was partly to blame for legislative failure to approve proposals to fix Colorado roads and bridges.
Ritter's comments came at a news conference to talk about the 2008 legislative session, which ended Tuesday night. In it, he and Democratic legislative leaders initially blamed Republicans for the lack of any action on transportation.
That's despite the fact that Democrats hold sizable majorities in the legislature and control the governor's office.
"I feel like this conversation broke down around politics, that we tried to get the Republicans interested in looking at how we would put together different pots of money," Ritter said. "We began our conversation very early in the session and could not get the Republican leadership to act on it at all."
Senate President Peter Groff, D-Denver, said Democrats could never get Republicans to sign on to a plan.
"So, we are now just crossing our fingers and hoping a bridge doesn't fall down between now" and January, when lawmakers can try again, he said.
Asked why Democrats, who have a 40-15 majority in the House and a 20-15 majority in the Senate, couldn't pass a proposal themselves, Ritter cited re-election concerns.
"There are a lot of Democrats, and they have every right to feel and think this way, who know that they're freshmen, they're incumbents, they're in districts that for a long time have been Republican districts," Ritter said. "And then they have to go and get beat over the head by a Republican opponent saying that they unilaterally increased fees for transportation funding without us having conducted the necessary education campaign."
Ritter also said he believed Coloradans expected that Republicans should be included in any discussions about transportation funding.
Ritter is correct that Democrats are worried about being labeled "tax and spenders," but it's a shame that they won't just stand up to the criticism and tell the truth about Colorado's crumbling infrastructure. They need point no further than El Paso County, the bastion of Republican chants of the evils of government, which is on the brink of collapse because of years of lowering taxes and spending...
First we had Crystal Gray who resigned as Adams County parks and open space director after 7 News found she spent most of her work day shopping, getting her hair done, etc.
Now we have a 7 News story about the Adams County directory of public works giving sweetheart deals to a friend.
UPDATE: Gov. Ritter issued a press release about his version of how the session went. Full release after the jump.
The 2008 Legislative session is in the books, and the Rocky Mountain News takes a look a the winners and losers:
The biggest loser of the 2008 legislative session?
That's easy.
Lawmakers, lobbyists and longtime Capitol observers - polled for their take on winners and losers this session - pointed to Rep. Douglas Bruce as a loser.
The Colorado Springs Republican turned into a one-man headline machine. He so antagonized his colleagues they refused to vote with him even when they thought he was right.
The winners?
Well, the answers are much less clear cut.
Democrats control the House and the Senate and the governor's office, but Republicans said it was an extraordinary year for the GOP.
Gov. Bill Ritter got behind one of their key education bills. They avoided devisive social issues that made them look silly in past elections. They had a clear message during the budget debate: In a bad economy, the state should save more, spend less.
"We drove the agenda on many levels - and stopped some proposals from the other side of the aisle," said Rep. Rob Witwer, R-Genesee.
"They've gotten a lot of press coverage, but they didn't drive any agenda," countered House Majority Leader Alice Madden. "They got things done where Democrats agreed with them."
But - but - but - how could we be sure they weren't illegal aliens, or part of some ballot-box stuffing scheme?!?
Nun working Indiana poll turns fellow sisters away for lacking photo ID under state's new law
The AP's Deborah Hastings reports:
About 12 Indiana nuns were turned away Tuesday from a polling place by a fellow bride of Christ because they didn't have state or federal identification bearing a photograph.
Sister Julie McGuire said she was forced to turn away her fellow sisters at Saint Mary's Convent in South Bend, across the street from the University of Notre Dame, because they had been told earlier that they would need such an ID to vote.
The nuns, all in their 80s or 90s, didn't get one but came to the precinct anyway.
"One came down this morning, and she was 98, and she said, 'I don't want to go do that,'" Sister McGuire said. Some showed up with outdated passports. None of them drives.
El Paso County Republicans are gathering support for a Lincoln Day Dinner fund-raiser. Last year was fun... this year should be good too. If you're in the greater Colorado Springs area and you are of the conservative bent, you should come!
2008 Lincoln Dinner
FEATURING Political Cartoonist: Chuck Asay
AND speaking for Bob Schaffer: Dick Wadhams
Sunday, May 18th, 2008 at the The Antlers Hilton
Reception at 5:30pm, Dinner at 6:30pm
Make your reservation online by filling out the form below.
Make your reservation by phone at 719-578-0022
Tickets Start at $80 per person
Maybe we should designate a time and place to meet and drink our beverages of choice. 6:00 at the bar anyone?
Local news station 5/30 breaks huge news with report of (gasp) local DA John Newsome drinking after work (past 4 in the afternoon anyway). Then the poor bastard got in his car and drove. NOW... in all fairness it does seem like he had a higher than possibly wise number of drinks. That said... it's all pure speculation as to whether the hapless fellow was above the legal limit.
I've known my fair share of people who could drink 6-8 beers across this same time frame (5+ hours) and still be completely okay to drive. I've also known some who would be blubbering idiots and passed out at that level.
This is a classic example of a story with precious few facts and a whole lotta speculation. Was he drinking a non-alcoholic beer? Did he eat?
Here's the current link. I am sure there will be video later and I'll update as needed:
Bottom line... if the media really thought he was drunk they should have either asked him to take a breathalyzer or they should have called CSPD and had him pulled over.
If he was/is over the legal limit. Throw the book at him. If not... tough shit, lousy story.
****UPDATE***** Newsome apologized for the perception of wrongdoing, but says he did not and does not drive impaired. CSPD says no criminal investigation is going to occur. FULL GAZETTE STORY
`What is a Caucus-race?' said Alice; not that she wanted much to know, but the Dodo had paused as if it thought that somebody ought to speak, and no one else seemed inclined to say anything.
Today it was announced that Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann (D) could face impeachment proceedings over sexual harassment charges and an extra marital affair.
Dann, the first Democrat elected to the Attorney General's office since 1994 is facing charges that Dann's office has created "an atmosphere in Dann's office rife with inappropriate staff-subordinate relationships, heavy drinking and harassing and threatening behavior by a supervisor."
On Friday, Dann also admitted to engaging in an extra martial affair.
Many have called on Dann to resign, but it seems that he will insist on staying in office.
Susan Greene in the Denver Post says this term was a "do-nothing session."
She concludes with this powerful one-two punch:
The Democratic majority ends its session tomorrow having punted on most of its priorities. Still, it has the nerve to whine about reporters (read Marter's martyrlike rant about the veggies).
If lawmakers want coverage of weightier issues, maybe they should think about tackling some.
"Elitism is the belief or attitude that those individuals who are considered members of the elite - a select group of people with outstanding personal abilities, intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or other distinctive attributes."
~~Wikipedia~~
Let me be open and brutally honest here.
Being Black, young, educated and successful in this country is something of a quagmire for both races. Words like "Uppity" and "Siddity" have been something I have heard my whole life.
My point here is about Hillary calling Barack elite. WTF! How is a Black man raised by a single parent white mother in a predominately white society elitist?
Because he went to Harvard, an Ivy League School? By that definition then Hillary, Bill, JFK, Edwards, Bush, Kerry and Gore are all elitist.
No, what she meant was that Barack is an Uppity Nigger. Calm down, yes, I said it - Uppity Nigger! Or better yet, "High Yellow Uppity Nigger". Don't act like you have never heard these words. They have been used to put bi-racial people in their place for centuries in America.
I'll admit, McSame isn't the only one beating his/her chest over the Rev. Wright flap, but there is a difference between candidates here girls and boys. While Obama denounced the former pastor of his church for some of his controversial statements, McSame actively pursued the POLITICAL endorsement of this radical:
Unfortunately for McSame, Hagee isn't the only radical he's called "my friend."
As Chuck Plunkett reports in The Denver Post this evening, Recreate '68 is having trouble staying united, and it's got chief anarchist Glenn Spagnuolo hopping mad. Or maybe not hopping mad, since the group's violent image is what drove Tent State University to dissolve ties. How about peeved.
A close ally with the local war protest group Re-create 68, which is organizing for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, is severing its ties, the group told R-68 today.
Tent State University, a national group represented locally by Adam Jung, says it is having trouble organizing support and bands to perform because of the violent imagery associated with R-68's name, and with recent heated rhetoric from R-68 organizer Glenn Spagnuolo, who has been the face of the local effort to date.
From the outset, Spagnuolo's group has attracted criticism because of its name, which suggests for many the violence outside the convention hall in Chicago in 1968.
"We don't feel that Re-create-68 is working well with the anti-war left," Jung said.
...
"This is typically what happens when you have these conservative liberal groups who come in and pressure the smaller groups with their resources," Spagnuolo said. "It's a shame. It's not going to stop us from what we're doing. We have upwards of 40 groups working with us."
Can Spagnuolo keep his coalition together long enough to tear this town apart? Or will natural antipathy between "conservative liberal" groups and "moderately liberal conservative radicals," and so on, result in endless infighting? Or is Spagnuolo the problem?
Last week Republican Mike Coffmandebuted his television ads in his bid for CD-6, and now fellow Republican Wil Armstrong seems ready to go up on the air as well. You can see Armstrong's ad on YouTube now.
(A sign of things to come nationwide, perhaps? - promoted by Colorado Pols)
Winning by just under 3 percentage points, Democrat Don Cazayoux stripped from the Republicans Louisiana's 6th, one of the reddest House Districts in the country, in a special election Saturday. A Democrat last won the district, based around Baton Rouge, in 1972.
The turnover is remarkable for several reasons. Not only will the cash-strapped NRCC be forced to spend through the nose to regain the seat this fall, but the results rebuke the recent notion Obama and the Democratic Congress might drag down-ticket. Earlier this week, a CBS affiliate yanked a Freedoms Watch attack ad that tried to smear Cazayoux with unfounded immigration charges. Another ad, run by the NRCC, tied Cazayoux to Obama and Nancy Pelosi. (See the Freedom Watch and NRCC ads after the jump.)
How red was the Louisiana 6th? President Bush won 59 percent of the vote there in 2004. That compares to Bush's 58 percent of the vote in Colorado's 4th, a seat that has been in Republican hands since Jim Johnson took over from Wayne Aspinall after the 1972 election -- just two years longer than Republicans held the Louisiana seat.
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff today will kill his own plan to remove some constitutional spending limits because he lacks enough support in the General Assembly to place it before voters.
Romanoff, D-Denver, said Sunday that he will turn his focus to collecting signatures for a citizen-driven initiative that would do essentially the same thing as his proposed constitutional amendment. He is confident that measure will make the November ballot and succeed, he said.
The state constitution is laced with several provisions that directly control the way the state collects and spends money.
The most sweeping is the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, or TABOR, which limits the growth of government spending and taxation. The most recent is Amendment 23, which mandates annual spending increases for primary education. Other sections of the constitution control such things as the way residential and commercial property owners share the burden of property taxes, which are a primary source of K-12 funding.
Romanoff introduced a proposal on April 23 to eliminate TABOR's spending limits and end the mandated increases in Amendment 23, while also creating an educational reserve fund to hold new revenue the state government would receive.
Republicans complained the new rules amounted to a never-ending growth of government. Romanoff admitted Sunday that he can't find enough GOP support to assemble the two-thirds of the General Assembly required to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot...
Romanoff said several legislators told him they did not want the plan on the ballot for fear of giving Rep. Douglas Bruce, a Colorado Springs Republican who wrote TABOR and fights changes to it, a soapbox from which he might draw support while seeking re-election.
We think that's a pretty lame reason for a Democrat to oppose this, especially when prominent Republicans like Attorney General John Suthers have already endorsed the plan. And GOP holdouts should be concerned how it reflects on them if they decide to publicly oppose this badly needed fix, lest Bruce's ignominy comes trickling down on their heads.
Which may indeed be a problem, but not Romanoff's.
