Damned If You Do...

How about if we ask her first?

Maybe she's decided to return to the middle where I think she is most comfortable. And so she's pinging the Dems (as she should - this is politics), but doing so in a way that does not put her out on the starve the government right.

If so, then we Dems need to start worrying - that's a position she can win from.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

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by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 14:08:49 PM CST

You're dreaming

This has nothing to do with a "return to the middle," and everything to do with carping about a Democratic proposal for no reason other than that it's a Democratic proposal.

---

by: RedGreen @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 14:34:10 PM CST

[ Parent ]

That's politics

When you're running you generally want to complain about the other side. "Bennet is doing great so vote Norton" doesn't generally work.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

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by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 16:53:59 PM CST

[ Parent ]

For people who think that politics means

justifying a candidate's propensity to say whatever will get her elected, regardless of how she actually feels about and how making the statement serves (or disserves) the public interest, I say that it's up to us to redefine politics to mean supporting thoughtful and rational people with some degree of intellectual integrity.

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...

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by: Steve Harvey @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 17:00:08 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I agree with David here.

The subtleties of the bill are things the average voter won't py attention to. "It's too small." the vters will agree with.

Bennet can agree that it is too small and simply say "It is the only thing that might have passed because of GOP opposition to anything more substantial. But, this bill will accomplish _______."

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by: Gray in Mountains @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 17:10:26 PM CST

[ Parent ]

See, now we have to talk FOR Bennet

Bennet should speak up for himself...

Talk Radio - The weapon to divide and conquer America....but who is funding it?

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by: dwyer @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 18:01:23 PM CST

[ Parent ]

No message discipline

Here's the problem that Norton is going to run into very soon, which we talked about in a post a few weeks ago: When you say whatever you want, whenever you want, eventually you start to contradict yourself.

That's exactly what is happening here. Norton has been talking about reigning in a bloated government, but then here she says that a government program should be bigger than what was proposed. You can't say both things without one of them being false.

The lack of message discipline out of the Norton campaign is truly bizarre. She's talking herself in circles.

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by: Colorado Pols @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 17:42:27 PM CST

[ Parent ]

But talking.

Talk Radio - The weapon to divide and conquer America....but who is funding it?

---

by: dwyer @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 18:02:08 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I agree

If a politician is willing to answer most any question off the cuff and give specifics, then I'm willing to accept the occasional contradiction. You don't get one without the other.

And I much prefer a candidate who will give real answers to the questions they get.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

---

by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 18:55:00 PM CST

[ Parent ]

But with that said...

I do think she should grant me an interview!!!

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

---

by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 18:55:30 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Shoot me an email.

I could ask her.  I'll advise against it, but I'd be glad to at least ask her for you.

"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 Feb 25, 2010 at 18:59:18 PM CST

[ Parent ]

They have my contact info

Back in October Cinnamon was going to "make it happen real soon." Since then it's apparently become a lot less urgent...

As to an interview, you've read what I've written. Have I ever been unfair?

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

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by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 20:48:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Cinnabon has her hands full

keeping track of Jane's "evolving" positions. Imagine the size of the spreadsheet to keep 'em all straight!

---

by: RedGreen @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 20:58:50 PM CST

[ Parent ]

If you were Jane...

...up by double digits, watching a totally idiotic Dem primary, why would you talk to a lefty blogger, fair or not?

"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 Feb 25, 2010 at 21:41:37 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Because Google rewards depth and longevity

The younger a voter is, the more likely an undecided will make their decision by typing "Jane Norton" and then "Michael Bennet" in to Google and then reading the first 3 or 4 results that look credible to them.

Google places high based to a large degree on links to a page, time the page has been on the web, and quantity of key words in the article. Come October, my guess is it's mostly going to be the various hit diaries that mostly come up for Jane.

The sooner she does interviews that are fair, the better those interviews will rank. So doing an interview today instead of in two months may not help much for the primary - but it can make a big difference in the general.

ps - Do a Google search on reporting software. 4 weeks ago it wasn't in the first 10 pages. Now it's #5 on the first page - because of what we have done at work. It's all about the SEO baby.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

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by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 22:21:06 PM CST

[ Parent ]

typing "Jane Norton" and then "Michael Bennet"

You're as likely to get stories about the creator of A CHORUS LINE for Bennet and something called "Anusara Inspired Yoga with Jane Norton" for the Ref C gal. But don't worry, they've got plenty of actual SEO-optimized pages out there, I doubt they'll miss your interview.

---

by: RedGreen @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 22:36:33 PM CST

[ Parent ]

You know more about politics than me

But I'm pretty sure I know more about SEO than virtually any political operative in the state. It's not what shows up today, it's putting things in place so that they show up well in October.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

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by: DavidThi808 @ Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 10:34:03 AM CST

[ Parent ]

show up well in October

Exactly, David. My question is, why would either Bennet or Norton want one of your interviews to show up near the top?  

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by: RedGreen @ Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 10:57:10 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Now that's an interesting question

What tends to both rise to the top and to get read (and not get the back button in 2 seconds) is content that is considered independent, even handed, and has reasonable detail.

Generally on my interviews I'm told I did a fair job of describing the interviewee. So if a candidate thinks who they are will sell, then it's a good thing. If they think that they need to pretend they are someone else - good luck in the age of the Internet.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

---

by: DavidThi808 @ Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 16:40:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Doesn't Norton have a primary?

The Tom Wienermobile or some shit? That's priceless, as good as McInnis' mustache. But it shows they're at least a little worried about Sarah Jane.

Sorry, but as much as you try, I just can't buy in to the idea that every Democrat is evil except for Andrew Romanoff.

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by: JeffcoBlue @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 23:31:09 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Oh hell, LB, you are right on.

Talk Radio - The weapon to divide and conquer America....but who is funding it?

---

by: dwyer @ Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 07:32:09 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Cinnamon is busy. And just between me and you...

...and, of course, anybody with an internet connection, I know a handful of people who have contacted her offering to volunteer virtually full time and she got back to them with a similar answer to what she gave you.  Has yet to get back after almost three months.  A few of them have decided to put their energy into a different campaign.

Health care "reform" will die in the Senate, and for their efforts, Democrats will be widely thrown out of office in 2010.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

---

by: BoulderRepublican @ Sat Feb 27, 2010 at 02:05:33 AM CST

[ Parent ]

That's just it

This isn't a "real answer," it's just carping for any old reason that pops into her head. The reason this particular "off the cuff" answer is a problem, as Pols points out, is because it contradicts the basic framework of her campaign. And it's most definitely not a sign she's moving to the middle, despite her opponents' best efforts to paint her there.

---

by: RedGreen @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 19:00:57 PM CST

[ Parent ]

David, while your interpretation is always a possibility,

given her tea-party rhetoric leading up to this moment, she doesn't have much doubt to benefit from, and doesn't deserve whatever political capital can be scraped off of portraying her as having had an improbable conversion.

Nope. I'm going to go with the "base politics" interpretation, and argue that if she seems to shift to a more viable position, then it is only because she is Machiavellian enough to have recognized it to be more viable, and can't be trusted to give a rat's ass about the public interest.

We're all in this story together: Let's make sure that we write it well.
http://www.steveharveyforcolor...

---

by: Steve Harvey @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 14:41:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

That's not "crazy."

You're absolutely insane if you would have voted for an $862 billion bill if you knew it would create only 1 million jobs.  Yes, that means a lot to the people who get those jobs.  But we could've sent checks for $43,100 to 10 million people for two years for the same price.

Are you guys really so ignorant that you can't comprehend this?

Health care "reform" will die in the Senate, and for their efforts, Democrats will be widely thrown out of office in 2010.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

---

by: BoulderRepublican @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 15:43:38 PM CST

My bad.

The fantasy number of 1 million jobs led me to believe we were talking stimulus.  The new "jobs" bill is much smaller, and wont create anywhere near one million jobs.

Health care "reform" will die in the Senate, and for their efforts, Democrats will be widely thrown out of office in 2010.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

---

by: BoulderRepublican @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 15:49:23 PM CST

[ Parent ]

So...

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is full of shit about the effects of the stimulus then? It's funny, because you clowns quote them all the time when it suits you.

Sorry, but as much as you try, I just can't buy in to the idea that every Democrat is evil except for Andrew Romanoff.

---

by: JeffcoBlue @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 15:56:58 PM CST

[ Parent ]

BR believes in 'facts' that conform to his worldview

Those that don't clear cannot be facts.

"[McInnis] already appeals to those of us who have half a brain..."  ChenWui

---

by: ClubTwitty @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 15:58:00 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here?

Where did I contradict the CBO?

Health care "reform" will die in the Senate, and for their efforts, Democrats will be widely thrown out of office in 2010.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

---

by: BoulderRepublican @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 16:12:09 PM CST

[ Parent ]

His "fantasy" remark

was directed at Norton. BR isn't exactly her biggest fan.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)

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by: redstateblues @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 17:13:53 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Since when?

To the extent anyone can be a "fan" of Jane Norton for some reason other than her stems, BR certainly is.

His rage aims in many directions, but Norton ain't one.

"I am B.J. Wilson, and I am a troll."

---

by: sxp151 @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 22:25:15 PM CST

[ Parent ]

No, that's not true

I'm not going to put words in his mouth, but he is a Ken Buck supporter. He told me he'll vote Norton in the general, but that he doesn't like her. He doesn't like McCain either. Makes no sense to me.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)

---

by: redstateblues @ Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 11:10:23 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I wonder how SXP missed that?

I've met them both, and they're certainly improvements on The Appointed One, but Ken Buck is leagues better.  And immeasurably more genuine.

And to clear up any potential future confusion...I've seriously considered voting Hickenlooper if (hey, a guy can dream, right?) Scooter wins the primary.  Pretty sure I'd hold my nose, if only for the fact that Hickenlooper ain't never seen a tax he didn't like.  But god that guy annoys me to high heaven.

Health care "reform" will die in the Senate, and for their efforts, Democrats will be widely thrown out of office in 2010.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

---

by: BoulderRepublican @ Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 14:52:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Double negative

So you're saying Hickenlooper hates any new tax?

"[McInnis] already appeals to those of us who have half a brain..."  ChenWui

---

by: ClubTwitty @ Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 15:05:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Uh huh. Yeah, right...

That's pretty obviously not the case.

Health care "reform" will die in the Senate, and for their efforts, Democrats will be widely thrown out of office in 2010.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

---

by: BoulderRepublican @ Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 16:13:26 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The jobs bill is $15 billion

What the hell are you talking about?

Oh, you think we're still debating the stimulus because you haven't read a newspaper in three months. Sorry. I'll let you get back to last year.

"I am B.J. Wilson, and I am a troll."

---

by: sxp151 @ Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 16:16:53 PM CST

[ Parent ]