A Microcosm of Why Betsy Markey Will Be Tough to Beat

Two differences between Markey and ole whazz her name.....

1.  Looks.

2.  Intelligence.

While the former does not matter in representing the home folks (besides picking up a few fantasizing old men votes) the latter is crucial. If MM had put aside some her ideology, listened, and changed course as needed, she'd still be there.  

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

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by: parsingreality @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:22:44 AM CDT

Musgrave sealed her own fate

She focused on issues that most people didn't really care about. Everybody has an opinion on gay marriage, but most people don't think about it very often. But how many people worry about their credit card balances and interest rates on a regular basis? That's why this post is such a good example of how Markey got elected, and why she is in the driver's seat for re-election. It's not rocket science -- focus on the issues that voters care about, and you'll be rewarded.  

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by: Colorado Pols @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:28:52 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

So maybe Cory Gardner would be better off spending more time addressing credit card interest rates and less time protecting drunk drivers from prosecution and appeasing "the Birthers"

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by: One Queer Dude @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 12:36:10 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Looks seem to be more important for Republican women

How else does one explain the Palin phenomenon? Markey's looks, exactly the type favored by Rs, certainly don't hurt her in her R leaning district though, do they? And nobody likes being soaked by credit card companies. Bet she'll do fine in 2010.  

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by: BlueCat @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:31:52 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

They ran a segment on KUNC (NPR) this a.m.

and yeah, this is an issue that needs a light shined on it. Markey couldn't have picked a better or more popular abuse to tackle.

Bank of America did the same thing to me last spring--I've never missed a payment in 5 years, I always pay $100 more than the minimum due and yet, my rate went from 10.9% to 21.9% with no reason or excuse offered.

I called them, pitched a fit and they reduced it back to my original interest rate but I honestly think timing had everything to do with it--I happened to call them the same day that Obama had a speech attacking credit card companies for this shitty practice and if I remember right, it was the same day the legislation passed.  

--From a "real dick."
by: JO

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 10:32:31 AM CDT

For your reading enjoyment

Here's my story on this subject this morning.

http://www.coloradoan.com/arti...

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by: BobMoore @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:00:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Grazie! :)

--From a "real dick."
by: JO

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:05:46 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

De nada

I'm not as good looking as Jessica Yellin, and I've never appeared as a hologram before Wolf Blitzer, but I do my best.

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by: BobMoore @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:08:35 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hehehehe. :)

--From a "real dick."
by: JO

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:09:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hmmm.

I see Bank of America strikes again. Figures, doesn't it?

--From a "real dick."
by: JO

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:08:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hey, where are the non-CD4 'pubs who were gleefully calling Markey a one-termer?

C'mon, guys, let's see your answer for this.

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

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by: Aristotle @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:29:49 AM CDT

Right here.

She's a one-termer.  She's in a red district, and with unemployment at 10% or 11% by November 2010, nobody will care what kind of fake-ass "edict" she gave the CC companies.

"Kevin and I will keep them out somehow -- even if we have to redefine what the peer-review literature is!"  

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by: Laughing Boy @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 23:39:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

... and that's all the analysis you're going to give this?

You're slipping.

BTW, I think you missed this. I was off for a couple of days...

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

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by: Aristotle @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 00:55:49 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Not slippping.

Never had it to begin with.

:)

Come election time, inside baseball becomes irrelevant.  Nobody will be able to get away with blaming Bush if the economy is still crappy in 2010, especially if the dollar takes as big of a dump as it looks like it might.

"Kevin and I will keep them out somehow -- even if we have to redefine what the peer-review literature is!"  

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by: Laughing Boy @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 08:08:07 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Couple ways to look at this....

I agree that Markey is a terrific candidate - speaks with confidence, easy going, and accomplished

However - healthcare is killing you guys (Democrats) and I don't even know if Markey can escape that shadow

In addition, Tom Lucero and Cory Gardner are TERRIFIC candidates - great senses of humor and both easy going - most importantly, they're both GENTLEMEN, so you definitely won't see any rightwing-rudeness coming out of either

Personally, I say Markey loses, mainly because Lucero and Garner both carry themselves with deep politeness, while still carrying out intelligent points

However - the most disturbing poll was just released by Quinnipiac (spelling?) which had something like -

50% approving of Obama

35% approving of House Dems

25% approving of House Republicans

Like I've said before... unlike 1994, while we (Republicans) are benefiting from Democrat screw-ups, we are SEVERELY lacking Republican leadership that is defining a vision for what we, as Republicans, can offer.... and that vision doesn't have to be an alternative healthcare bill... it could simply be tax cuts, but nonetheless, it needs to be a VISION and it needs to be ARTICULATED

It's in these moments that I wish my Uncle Newt or Uncle Dubya were still running our good Party....

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 12:13:35 PM CDT

Very reasonable analysis

Until you got to Uncle Dubya.

I disagree with some of your points, but they are were rationally presented.

You are wrong on health care.  Most polls do not show that much of the dissatisfaction is coming from the left.  The majority of Americans are to the left of the senate.  The public option regularly achieves majority support in poling.

There has been slippage, but that is too be expected when there is so much misinformation out there.

As to the "popular" protests, tea ... promoted by Fox and the right as some broad disastisfaction with Democrats and Obama, I ask one question: how many of these people voted for Obama?  Obama campaigned on health care, this is not some secret plan sprung on the population.  Obama has seem slippage from the left more than he has seen slippage from the center because he has failed to move as aggressively as the left wanted.  Unfortunately, the process is moving in about the way I expected, but that's because I know something about legislation.

 

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by: Danny the Red (hair) @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 12:30:01 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Danny

Good points - however, at the end of the day, EVERY Republican will be voting in 2010, whereas many Liberals will be staying home, out of dissatisfaction - that alone will make it a Republican year

However, we're failing to seize a major opportunity

Regarding Dubya and Newt - American KNEW what they were voting for when those guys ran the Republican Party

My biggest fear right now is that Unaffiliated voters don't know what they're voting for when they punch 'Republican' on a ballot

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 13:00:20 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I don't disagree with the apathy issue

It is your team's best opportunity.

but a specific point

People didn't know what they were voting for in 2000 (compassionate conservative anyone?).  Bush campaigned on mostly liberal/moderate ideas (NCLB, prescription drug benefit) and some easy to swallow conservative ones (tax cuts are really easy if you don't care about deficits).  In 2004 it was if you vote for Kerry al Qaeda will attack us (forgetting of course that al Qaeda is going to attack us no matter what), the campaign was based on fear and a sense by the public that Bush got us in to Iraq, which the American people were starting to come around to the idea that was a mistake, but they gave him the benefit of the doubt thinking maybe he had a plan to get us out (never was a plan).

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by: Danny the Red (hair) @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 13:39:25 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Exactly

I have some disagreements on how you're describing it - nonetheless, I think we both agree that the Republican brand had a very strong identity in 2000 and 2004 - 2010? That remains to be seen....

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 18:35:15 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

They know what they're voting for if they pick Republicans

``The government is the problem''

``Tax cuts''

``Liberty, except for reproductive rights''

``No regulation''

Did I miss anything, MAH?

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by: gertie97 @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 17:37:10 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

"Liberty, except for reproductive rights'

Liberty except freedom to marry for same sex couples

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by: One Queer Dude @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 17:58:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

When you say that Gardner or Lucero will win mainly because they are "polite" and both "gentlemen"

Does that mean that they don't have any restraining orders from ex-girlfriends?  

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by: rennes @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 12:31:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

right....

If you're trying to imply that I have a restraining order against me, then you are wrong

I hired an attorney and defended myself - the result was a withdrawn restraining order and a review by an Eagle County Judge, in which, the entire TRO was completely vacated

Charles Corry, PHD at the University of Colorado actually wrote about my case in an article called "ABUSES OF PROTECTION ORDERS" highlighting restraining orders and how they're abused to slander politicians - if you search Colorado's criminal database, you won't find my name, as Corry highlights among many other great observations - that said, I suggest you read Corry's good article -

http://www.dvmen.org/dv-16.htm

Any other questions, hotshot?

:)

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 13:06:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Lame.

And low. You must be so proud.

--From a "real dick."
by: JO

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 17:35:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

???

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 18:31:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think it was a low and lame comment

to make to you. It had no place in this discussion and it was a cheap shot. You didn't deserve that.

--From a "real dick."
by: JO

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 18:38:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think it was a low and lame comment

to make to you. It had no place in this discussion and it was a cheap shot. You didn't deserve that.

--From a "real dick."
by: JO

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 18:38:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

So sorry Middle

I thought you were criticizing my response - please forgive me and thank you!  

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 19:33:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oh hey, no need for an apology. No worries.

None at all.  

--From a "real dick."
by: JO

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 19:33:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

:)

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 20:04:13 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Tom Lucero is NOT a terrific candidate

You'd have more credibility if you'd at least admit the truth from time to time. Lucero has been an absolute joke as a candidate. You could make an argument for Gardner, but Lucero couldn't win election for dogcatcher with his current campaign.

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by: Colorado Pols @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 17:53:25 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Disagree

Lucero is a good guy who'll get his ship turned around -counting him out now is a big mistake  

TABOR4LIFE

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by: Muhammad Ali Hasan @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 18:32:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

He may be a good guy

But that's irrelevant here. He's had almost a year to show he can be a serious candidate and hasn't done anything. So, yes, we're counting him out.

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by: Colorado Pols @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 11:40:53 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think this is great

I'm fairly non-political and I only just discovered Coloradopols.com because a friend alerted me to the anti-payday lending crusade this blog is leading. Betsey Markey is doing exactly her job as a legislator by doing something about this. It is sad that America has developed so many industries that prey upon the economic crumbling of her people. When companies profit most from the utter destruction of lives, there is no incentive for sustainable growth. Government is the ONLY body that can check this. Legislators who deny their responsibilities for this do nothing but waste time, money, and space.  

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by: BurnerLee @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 12:55:05 PM CDT

Discover responds

Markey got a letter from Discover Financial Services Thursday, saying they wouldn't raise rates.

http://www.coloradoan.com/arti...

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by: BobMoore @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 16:46:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

That is excellent news.

--From a "real dick."
by: JO

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 17:28:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Update

You may notice that CNN has been singing the praises of Bank of America for pledging earlier this week to not raise rates. But that's because BoA had already switched the bulk of its fixed-rate cardholders to variable rates, which means they won't be subject to the rate-increase restrictions of the CARD Act anyhow.

Something similar is at work with Discover, though not to the same degree as BoA. Discover this summer switched over about 2 million of its 49.2 million cardholders to variable rates, and acknowledged they were doing so to beat the CARD Act implementation. So their CEO can make today's pledge because they've already taken the action they felt they needed to take. I'll have more details in the morning on Coloradoan.com.

Just remember that in Washington, nothing is ever quite as it seems on the surface.

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by: BobMoore @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 19:15:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oh.

Not so excellent news after all. If you get a chance tomorrow morning, post a link over here to your story, will you? I'd like to read it.  

--From a "real dick."
by: JO

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 19:27:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Okay, actually I have a question.

How is it legal for these companies to switch consumers from fixed to variable? If they offer a customer a credit card at a fixed rate, aren't they under a legal obligation to stay at a fixed rate?  I don't understand how this is legal.  

--From a "real dick."
by: JO

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by: Middle of the Road @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 19:32:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Fuller explanation

Generally (but not always) the consumer is given the choice to cancel the credit card when the switch is made.

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by: BobMoore @ Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 21:47:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I didn't know that.

Thanks, Bob.

That's not much of a choice, when you think about it. Most people are relying on credit cards to get them through the recession and their struggle with cash flow. For most folks, to cancel the card is not an option for them so they are stuck with getting jacked with a variable rate. I'm starting to think credit card companies are the mafia of the financial industry.

 

--From a "real dick."
by: JO

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by: Middle of the Road @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 08:48:00 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Link to today's Coloradoan story

http://www.coloradoan.com/arti...

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by: BobMoore @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 08:55:56 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Just read it.

Thanks, Bob.  

--From a "real dick."
by: JO

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by: Middle of the Road @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 09:38:50 AM CDT

[ Parent ]