President (To Win Colorado) See Full Big Line

(D) Kamala Harris

(R) Donald Trump

80%↑

20%

CO-01 (Denver) See Full Big Line

(D) Diana DeGette*

(R) V. Archuleta

98%

2%

CO-02 (Boulder-ish) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse*

(R) Marshall Dawson

95%

5%

CO-03 (West & Southern CO) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Hurd

(D) Adam Frisch

50%

50%

CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado) See Full Big Line

(R) Lauren Boebert

(D) Trisha Calvarese

90%

10%

CO-05 (Colorado Springs) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Crank

(D) River Gassen

80%

20%

CO-06 (Aurora) See Full Big Line

(D) Jason Crow*

(R) John Fabbricatore

90%

10%

CO-07 (Jefferson County) See Full Big Line

(D) B. Pettersen

(R) Sergei Matveyuk

90%

10%

CO-08 (Northern Colo.) See Full Big Line

(D) Yadira Caraveo

(R) Gabe Evans

52%↑

48%↓

State Senate Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

80%

20%

State House Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

95%

5%

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
July 23, 2010 02:02 AM UTC

BREAKING: Tancredo Wants Governor, Calls for High Noon Showdown

  • 211 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: Republican State Party Chair Dick Wadhams is none too happy about Tancredo’s ultimatum:

I am terribly disappointed in Tom Tancredo’s announcement that he has made a backroom deal with a minor political party to run for governor.

Tom Tancredo used the Colorado Republican Party to get elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in the 1970’s, to work as a political appointee in the Reagan administration in the 1980’s, and to get elected to Congress from 1998 to 2008.  But now it appears he wants to destroy Republican chances to win a governor’s race after four failed years of Bill Ritter…

…Let there be no mistake about it:  Regardless of who our nominee is for governor after the primary, if Tom Tancredo carries through on his threat to run as a third party candidate, he will be responsible for the election of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper as governor and for other races that will be imperiled as well.

Yup. This should end well.

—–

We reported last week that Republicans in Colorado were scrambling to figure out how to replace both Scott McInnis and Dan Maes as candidates for Governor, while at the same time looking for someone who could prop up the ticket enough to benefit the GOP Senate candidate and every other candidate down the ballot. It looks like former Rep. Tom Tancredo is going to do everything he can to elbow his way in.  

Click after the jump for the full statement from Tancredo, which was just released. He gives McInnis and Maes until Noon on Monday, July 26 (no seriously, that’s exactly what he wrote) to publicly promise to withdraw from the race after the August 10 primary results are announced…or else Tancredo will run for Governor under the American Constitution Party platform.

If both McInnis and Maes do withdraw, presumably Tancredo would then be the Republican candidate for Governor.

This all seems a bit melodramatic and silly, but both words pretty well sum up Tancredo’s career in general. We’d be surprised to see this from anyone but Tancredo, frankly, though we’re still not sure how this helps Republicans.

Demanding a withdrawal by an arbitrary deadline only serves to humiliate McInnis and Maes more than they’ve already humiliated themselves. McInnis has always been too proud to admit his own errors; we just don’t see him bowing out of the race to kiss the feet of one of the Colorado GOP’s foremost lunatics.

Tancredo’s threat is also pretty meaningless. Neither McInnis nor Maes can possibly win the general election for Governor anyway — not after their various collection of scandals and misstatements. If McInnis and Maes don’t withdraw, and Tancredo runs under the American Constitution Party banner…so what? Tancredo pulls enough votes from the GOP candidate to ensure that they won’t win a race they weren’t going to win anyway?

We really didn’t think there was anyway things could actually get worse for Republicans, but we underestimated Tancredo. Hell, he’s already caused significant damage in the GOP Senate Primary. He might as well just keep screwing up the rest of the ticket.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STATEMENT BY TOM TANCREDO

Events of the past two weeks have developed in such a way as to create an unprecedented situation in the race for Governor of Colorado. The two candidates vying for the Republican nomination have, in my opinion, lost any hope of carrying out a successful campaign.

This situation is unacceptable to me, and I am sure, to thousands of other Colorado Republicans, Independents and other Colorado voters whose hopes for a change to a smaller and fiscally responsible government in Colorado in November now seem dashed.

To achieve this goal the winner of the August Republican primary must step down and allow the Party to appoint a viable replacement candidate to face John Hickenlooper and the Obama-Pelosi smear machine. It is up to the Party to pick that replacement except that it is imperative he or she be a solid conservative with a chance to win the general election in November.

There are, because of time and party registration constraints imposed by state election laws and party rules, very few other options open to those Coloradans who seek a solution to this dilemma.

I, for one, will do what is necessary within those limitations to avoid the electoral disaster looming on the horizon. That disaster would not be limited to the loss of the Governor’s race, but of many “down ticket” races. The grass roots electorate would lack any incentive to get to the polls.

Therefore, today I am asking for a public commitment from both Scott McInnis and Dan Maes that they will do what is right for the state of Colorado. Regardless of the outcome of the Primary election on August 10, on August 11 the winner must agree to remove himself from consideration if polling on that date shows that he is losing the race for Governor. If either or both choose to ignore this request, and do not make a public commitment to this end no later than noon on Monday, July 26, I will announce on that day that I will seek the nomination of the American Constitution Party for Governor of Colorado. [Pols emphasis]

If I run, I will do so to the best of my ability and will do so through the November election.

A great deal needs to be done for any candidate to put together a competitive campaign. Of course that includes raising the money necessary for such a race. Every hour of delay makes that a more difficult task.

This decision is completely in the hands of Dan Maes and Scott McInnis.

Tweet
Share

Comments

211 thoughts on “BREAKING: Tancredo Wants Governor, Calls for High Noon Showdown”

    1. .

      but he’s threatening to spoil it for Maes or McInnis if they don’t agree to step down for the good of the GOP.  

      Tom does not say he is in it to win it, and he’s not.  If he seeks and gets the ACP nomination, he would be campaigning to take votes away from Maes or McInnis, making good on his threat, that’s all.  

      As I read it, he hopes it doesn’t come to that.  He would rather not work against the party he loves.  He wants the party leadership to be able to select a better candidate, and I don’t think Tom believes that the Exec Committee would ever choose him.  

      You Libruls here at CoPols are generally self-delusional about Democratic politicians, but your vicious appraisals of Republicans seem pretty darn accurate to me, and Tom is just agreeing with the consensus here on the matched bookends, Scott and Dan.  He is doing what he can to avoid the train wreck all of you have predicted.  He agrees with you.

      So, of course, you ridicule him.

      .

      2. for being a Colorado Springs military spending addict who complains about the deficit.  

        Liberals are ecstatic that Tommy Terrified thinks that McInnis and Maes are losers.  It just confirms to us how stupid Republicans are to have a golden opportunity to take the governorship during a redistricting cycle and come up with McInnis, Maes and Tancredo.  The sheer ineptitude of such a monumental shift in political momentum is just staggering.  All that rage and racial hatred last summer has come to naught because Republicans have no solutions or candidates.  It is stunning really how awful Republicans are at running the government or their campaigns.

        2. .

          I really should read more of my writings.  Where exactly do find my statements indicating an addiction to military spending, GG ?  I don’t think I post that sort of stuff here.  

          Or do you mean that all of Somalia Springs is a parasitic colony feeding off of you and the rest of the state by joining the military or working in civil service jobs or working for government contractors ?  And because of the town’s conservative inclinations, that makes all of us addicts ?

          I’m guessing there are 300,000 folks here collecting checks from the federal government, and over a million in Denver Metro.  

          But since Denver has a socialist vibe, that’s OK with you ?  

          .

          1. I certainly don’t fit the profile of a typical Denver “librul”. Of course I can’t even leave my house.

            Barron – I think GG was out of line unless he can point to specific posts of yours that are on topic. I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to assume my position on the issues by my geography. It’s not right.

          2. claiming that Colorado Springs is a conservative utopia that doesn’t allow the national government to run your lives and ignoring that it is subsidized by the US military but you are just being honest when you state that we “Libruls” are self-delusional and are ridiculing Tancredo for agreeing with us.  Take a reality pill Barron.  In your regal self-righteousness you have no clue why “we” Libruls are ridiculing the self-important one.

            I figured it was tit-for-tat in terms of offensive and insulting posts.  You don’t speak for me and you are unable to consider points of view that see Tancredo as the kind of anti-leader that led our country into it’s current troubles.

            If Tancredo, McInnis and Maes are the best that the virtuous Colorado Springs conservatives can rally around then you people are in serious trouble.  Not of one of them can comprehend other points of view and work towards mutual solutions.  What a bunch of losers.  Hickenlooper needs to learn more about Red Zone issues but he is going to do OK if he is elected.

            1. .  

              Pretty much anyone claiming to be a Christian is a hypocrite.  We know our own lives, and our own hearts, and how well we measure up to the Standard.  And still we exhibit the temerity to characterize ourselves as faithful followers of the Teacher.  

              You don’t speak for me.

              So, if I’m gonna lie about my own darn self, what’s to stop me from putting words into your mouth ?

              That makes it so much easier to beat you in debate, when I get to choose your words.

              .

              1. that you know we Libruls ridicule Tancredo for agreeing with us.  Those were your words not mine.  Your entire argument is a senseless mishmash.  Do you even know what you are talking about?  Something about bad Libruls who just hate even when people agree with them even though that isn’t the substance of their perceptions.  Pretty weak condemnation. Try dreaming up something else to blame Libruls about. That was a real turd of an argument.

      3. Tom is just agreeing with the consensus here on the matched bookends, Scott and Dan.  He is doing what he can to avoid the train wreck all of you have predicted.( my emphasis)

        So you seriously believe that this is Tancredo, plucky altruist, leading the charge for the greater good? Have you been dropping acid or something?

        2. .

          I don’t think he has any chance of breaking 30%.  In a 3-way race, that guarantees a loss.  Tom knows that.  

          He cannot take any commie (“progressive”) votes from the Hickster, and doesn’t expect to.  He will draw his 18-20% or so from disaffected Republicans and Independents who want the government to pay attention to what conservatives think, and to the challenges posed by illegal immigration.  BJ will end up voting for him, even if Dan is the GOP candidate.  Tom would be in this as a barometer, and to spank the winner of Maes/McInnis, nothing more.  

          But that is not really what he wants.  He wants Dan and Scott to both listen, for the first time in this race, to what ordinary Republicans think of their candidacies.  

          Side Note:  Never happen.  Completely impossible.  Both of them are too far invested emotionally.

          This HIGH NOON ultimatum has no possibility of succeeding.  It will just raise hackles and dig in heels.

          So, Tom has committed himself to seeking the ACP nod, and I expect that he will get it.  

          .

          I think there is just the slightest chance Scott will agree to pull out, if some deal can be pulled together to somehow make it financially worth his while, since he pulled out of races before under pressure from Wadhams.  

          But Dan has NOTHING TO LOSE.  This is his 15 minutes.  He will regale his grand-kids with stories from the campaign trail until he dies, and what stories they will be.  

          As his tax returns reveal, he has nothing to go home to.  

          If he can’t pull 20%, and he may not, then Hick beats both opponents by over 40 points.  WOW!

          .

          1. altruistic Tancredo just hoping to get McInnis and Maes to listen to ordinary Republicans? if it isn’t acid you must have gotten hold of some killer weed.  

          2. Do you think “ordinary Republicans” will support Tancredo?  I find that hard to believe–the “ordinary Republicans” that I know all think of he is just this side of being a complete loon.    

          4. He’d have to give up his nice gov’t stipends he recieves. (they are anti-gov’t pension)

            A republican being transparent and not hypocritical??

            pfft. Yeah Right.

            Personally I HOPE he goes for it. He will bring out the latino/hispanic vote in droves and ensure Dem victories all over the state.  

      2. It sounds like my kids. “Tom Tancredo — If you run, I will NOT invite you to my birthday party, and I will tell all my friends you still wear Power Rangers underwear!”

      1. .

        choices, choices.

        Dan is pretty popular with the Tea Party, I know from seeing him at their actual parties, a couple of ’em.  

        But the Tankster, he’s like a Prince of Thieves when he’s in his element, which is those very same T-party events.  

        What doesn’t kill the T-party, I guess, will make it stronger ?  

        .

    4. At this point Hick should take his War chest and donate it to some orphans or some vets or some blind kittens.

      Do you have a bag sir? Because the GOP apparently wants to stuff the election in it.  

    1. He was so enamored of Goss, too but apparently Tom and Barron’s Party are negotiating to toss him under the bus.

      Former GOP congressman Tom Tancredo is negotiating with the American Constitution Party to run for Colorado governor and replace their candidate, Benjamin Goss, on the ballot.

      1. .

        We have an event coming up this weekend.  

        Nobody’s told ME different.

        I know that party rules would allow this; I’ve been courting some conservative Republicans for the ticket, and the drop-dead date is something like 20 August.  

        Big Ben Goss is an excellent candidate, but I can imagine some in party leadership asking him to step aside for someone with a national following.

        .

        1. maybe she could be lt. gov.

          I guess Tancredo would be a great candidate for the Constitution Party, as long as they were willing to admit that they don’t really care dip squat about the constitution.

          3. .

            Is his position on immigration what you think is not consistent with the Constitution ?  

            Or are you thinking of a oft-cited phrase from the Declaration of Independence ?

            .

        2. You’re talking about who would be the better, no the more “excellent”, losing candidate.  Would that be the one who  makes the Dem victory a little larger or the one who makes it a little smaller?  I’m confused about what constitutes successful or excellent in a race between snowballs in hell. Leaving a nicer puddle?

          1. .

            seem to believe that elections are for venting frustrations and for voting against the phony candidates of their alter ego.  

            Maybe you’re right.

            Maybe all that matters is which tribe wins, because regardless of whether we elect a Dem or a Repub, we’re just gonna get more of the same old crap that we’ve gotten for years and years: wars for profit; sweet deals for bankers, lobbyists and the largest corporations; and free money handouts to buy votes.    

            But I am a free man.  I have the freedom to vote for goodness and righteousness, even if it’s pretty sure that Satan will continue to rule this domain, through his lieutenants in the GOP and Democratic Parties.  Even if Rupert Murdoch and George Soros, who play Canasta together every Thursday, have already decided the winner of every contest.  

            .

            1. That’s the one and only purpose of third parties, isn’t it? That and getting 100% of nothing instead of, say, 85% of something. Of course without third party candidates we would never have had a Clinton presidency and those were some mighty good times.

              It was the money we made then that mostly put our kid through college. If we’d known what doom was about to descend with Bush we would have paid less, kept more for ourselves and made the kid borrow it instead. And about that self-righteousness Barron.  if your third party ever did get anywhere it would start operating like any other party.

              1. .

                Lookin’ for an argument from me ?  Sorry to disappoint.  

                Parties, like politicians, get corrupt after being ensconced in power for a long time.  It’s the chance of being thrown out of office that keeps politicians honest.  

                Who in our national legislature faces that risk ?  Not many.  

                I wouldn’t want my party to get a long-term solid grip on power at any level.  Some of us have some darn near unconstitutional ideas about state religion.  

                But the 2 majors are so thoroughly corrupt at this point that I’d prefer Tank or Elway or Lohan to what your parties offer.  At least that would interrupt the gravy train for lobbyists for a couple of weeks, until they could negotiate prices for the new folks in power.  A couple weeks of good governance sure beats the current system.  

                .

            2. I still believe there are a lot of good people in both parties that are working hard in Washington. They show up everyday and work in a broken system as best as they can to try to get stuff done to make all our lives better. They work hard not to get an interview on MSNBC or FOX, or make a lot of money, or to get re-elected, but because it’s the right thing to do. You just don’t hear about them because they’re not making enough of a spectacle of themselves to grab the media’s attention.

              Again, maybe I’m naive to still cling to that belief.  

              1. have you considered “both”?

                🙂

                (The world needs young idealists!  Not that we have any good idea what to do with them.)

                       

              2. .

                R U referring to staffers, or elected officials ?  

                Deny it all you want, elected officials in DC – all of ’em, both parties – spend most of their time on fundraising.  Even the ones who run unopposed.  It’s what they do.  It’s a habit, or an addiction, your choice.

                This keeps them in close contact with their constituents, their real constituents, the folks that give them money and write their speeches and legislation.  Hint: unless you are maxing out your contributions, that doesn’t include you.  In fact, one Bennet “Intern” recently clarified the connection.  

                So, after 10 terms, there ain’t one honest Congressperson, not one, including Ron Paul.  Senators get corrupted much faster, because they take in a lot more dough.  

                But if yer referrin’ to staff, then I have to conceded that you may be right.

                The laws of human nature don’t change just because a Pol represents your tribe.  

                .  

                1. Deny it all you want, elected officials in DC – all of ’em, both parties – spend most of their time on fundraising.  Even the ones who run unopposed.  It’s what they do.

                  you are correct. It is a matter of necessity in the current political paradigm. Kinda makes you think that publicly funded elections aren’t such a bad idea, eh?

                1. they work within a system that overwhelmingly favors the politically powerful, which is primarily large corporations.

                  that becomes pretty obvious.

                  1. Let’s pretend someone waved a wand and granted your wish. No more corporate donations of any kind. All politicians must receive individual donations only , like Romanoff and Obama.

                    Is that any better? We would be having the same debates but replacing “large corporations” with “the wealthy few” or some other bogeyman. If it were individual donors only you would say politicians were beholden to their top donors.

                    Also, and maybe you don’t care, who is looking out for big business or big oil? If no one is, why would they stick around?

                    Thoughts?

  3. And he was wondering if Tancredo somehow orchestrated the whole McInnis plagiarism story breaking when/how it did to force McInnis out. He views Tancredo as the worst thing that can happen to the state Republican party.

    I think Tancredo running as the Republican party candidate is the best thing that can happen to the Colorado GOP. Having Tancredo run and being trounced would make it very clear to the party that statewide a nut like Tancredo has zero chance.

    1. A very close friend of mine who is what I would call a fiscal republican called me 10 minutes after McCain announced Palin as his VP candidate and said “You win” If Tommy get’s in I bet I get the same call.

    2. .

      if you want to preserve the Wadhams status quo.  

      He wouldn’t get trounced, and he could win.  You know how voters vote based on emotion.  A lot of folks are afraid of what unlimited immigration might do to our economy, and folks believe Tom would stop it.

      Tancredo running as the Constitution party candidate would be devastating for the Colorado GOP THIS CYCLE.  He would get more votes than either Maes or McInnis, and might prompt the party to do a harsh self-assessment.  If that happened, Tom running against the party would be good for the GOP in the long run.

      Nah.  Never happen.

      .

      But there is no way Tank gets the GOP nomination.  He isn’t even seeking the GOP nomination, and the party exec committee doesn’t like him, so they would never tap him to fill a vacancy, which will not open up anyway.  

      He is only threatening to run as a conservative (Constitution Party) to scare Dan and Scott straight.  

      Neither one has the humility it would take to fold in the face of that threat, so Tank has backed his own darn self into a run as a 3rd party candidate, against the party he loves.

      Not a smart move, as far as I can see today.  Let’s see what Monday brings.

      .

      1. B you crazy! Could win? By “A lot of folks” do you mean the 20ish% who still had a favorable opinion of GWB at the end of his term? I think “A lot of folks” would see crazy and get off there butts and vote for the alternative.

        1. .

          not a possibility.

          He’s not even seeking it.  

          But – this is fantasy, not reality – if he did run as the GOP nominee, Republicans could vote for him with their heads held high.  They can’t, with either Maes or McInnis as the GOP candidate.  

          So in that fantasy situation, TT running for Guv as a Republican, he gets the votes of the GOP party faithful (“party over principle” voters) and of the voters who want to stop illegal immigration cold turkey.  Added together, that might be 55%.  Or, if there is 100% overlap between those two blocks, 27.5%.

          .

          1. Acid, killer weed, weed killer, crack or something only the Barron knows about? You can’t honestly believe Tank is trying to do anything for anyone but Tank, can you? I’m sure Tank himself and his closest friends and loved ones would laugh their asses off at that one!  And without benefit of any illegal substances or even cocktails.

      1. .

        pretty silly there.  Has she been trying to get into the Chamber to vote ?  Has she been trying to send mail franked with her signature ?  Has she refused to surrender her office ?

        You know she’s out; I know she’s out; she knows it, too.  

        Does she have good manners ?  Is she a gracious loser ?  That, my friend, is a different issue.

        Losing really stung her worse than most.

        .

          1. from the League of Conservation Voters asking him to call Senator Byrd’s office for something. Apparently, he still serves from beyond the crypt. Imagine — the amount we pay for the guy’s health care is practically nothing!

            I think Grampa Mostel could pull this off, too.

              2. .

                I sold his grandson some building materials used in the construction of the adjoining modest earth-sheltered home.  

                Ask me how my earth-sheltered home construction business turned out.  I dare ya.

                I remember he planned to cut a driveway big enough for liquid nitrogen deliveries, but his neighbors wouldn’t agree.  Instead, dry ice is now hauled up several hundred feet by sled each month.  

                Life is full of compromises.  Well, not exactly life.  Suspended animation ?

                .

                  1. .

                    I really thought that the earth-sheltered housing craze was going to take off.  Excellent energy efficiency, as well as earthquake- and tornado- proof.  Not too bad in a nuclear war, either, which was a factor in Trygve’s selection of a building site.  

                    But almost zero curb appeal.

                    .

                    1. Is that a form of earth-sheltered home?  She loves it, though I’d go crazy with no windows in half the house.

                    2. .

                      That is the most common approach to earth-sheltering.  But for max efficiency, dirt on top does the best temperature moderating.

                      .

  9. I’m not sure how I feel about this whole thing, but most likely it will end in Republicans splitting the vote between Maes and Tancredo. Although you never know, Tea Party identification is roughly the same as registered Republicans (33% for Tea Party, not sure on Republicans). This might be the first independent race tea partiers could win if they all swing to Tancredo. At any rate, I don’t know if the chances of that happening are much worse than the chances of Maes beating Hickenlooper unopposed.

    1. I think Tancredo could probably beat Hickenlooper if the other Republican candidates do indeed get out of the way. He’s tough, and people outside Denver like that. Queue up the Chuck Norris jokes with Tancedo’s name instead.

            1. He talks a great story and he’ll crack down on on state employees like any successful restaurateur would.

              He is from that part of the camp that doles out the goodies to the poor (or so they feel), while dividing the spoils for the boys.

              1. Always a comeback, no matter how stupid or inaccurate it may be.

                B.  And my point was if they “all turn against ‘you'” IT DOESN’T FUCKING MATTER!

                I know who you are.  You are that kid in school that lives with the perspective that any attention at all, even bad attention, is better than being ignored.

                There is NO other explanation for your weirdness.  (Speaking as differentially weird myself, takes one to know one.)

                  1. How can you confuse a simple, mathematical – isn’t that your expertise? – fact with an emotional non sequitur?  

                    I didn’t say, “Screw you,” I know no candidate will, but them’s the facts.

                    It’s a CO version of being a flyover state until the 2008 election.  We didn’t matter because of the electoral college.  

                  2. Colorado population estimates are available here.

                    Colorado 2008 = 5,011,390

                    Front Range 2008 = 4,111,325

                    The Front Range population is ~82% of the total population in the state.

                    So, even if everyone* outside of the Front Range voted for “not-Hick,” Hickenlooper could still win handily if he cleaned up in Denver, Boulder, and Pueblo (59% of the state population) and got some decent turn out elsewhere.

                    It’s a basic story problem. Probably one on CSAP. Got math?

                    *By everyone, I include babies, current incarcerated felons, illegal immigrants, and the dead.

                    1. First – I think we can all acknowledge that at least 16  or 17 % of that 4.1 are illegals and can’t  vote.  And another 11-12 % are kids and can’t vote.

                      So that’s 27% who can’t vote.

                      Leaving 2.8mm who can.

                      But even of those I think we can safely conclude that 9% are drunk welfare leaches who will not vote.  So that leaves 2.5 million- just about 1/2 of the CO population

                      thhppt – the hinterland voters do matter.

                    3. First – I think we can all acknowledge that at least 16  or 17 % of that 4.1 are illegals and can’t  vote.  And another 11-12 % are kids and can’t vote.

                      So that’s 27% who can’t vote.

                      Leaving 2.8mm who can.

                      But even of those I think we can safely conclude that 9% are drunk welfare leaches who will not vote.  So that leaves 2.5 million- just about 1/2 of the CO population

                      thhppt – the hinterland voters do matter.

        1. .

          Folks might be reluctant to make him Guv, but what can he hurt as LT Guv ?  What did Jane Norton mess up so bad in that gig ?

          As V asked above about Tank, would John be a good fit with Constitution Party values ?  I don’t know that much about his politics.

          .

          1. His one big foray into politics was to help pass the taxpayer subsidy to the Broncos stadium.  Hardly a tribute to free market principles.  

          3. Not really commenting on whether or not Elway would be good or bad for the ticket, but what are your thoughts on the old saying that the second person on the ticket shouldn’t overshadow the head person?

            Methinks that that is exactly what would happen. But then again, a hail mary pass is what they’re doing so of course Elway is the one anybody would want to make that happen.

            1. .

              has a lack of qualifications ever held me back before ?  

              First, I doubt Elway would be interested.  He’s been a spoiled kid all his life.  Why assume any responsibility now in his forties ?  

              Campaigning could include public appearances where he does not get paid for appearing.  What’s up with that ?  

              Second, a lot of folks I know who are more Democrat-ish would vote for him no matter what.  

              Third, putting Elway on the ticket would indicate Tom was in it to win.  I don’t think he is.

              Fifth, might this be that rare situation where the person on the top of the ticket actually wants to be overshadowed ?  

              Sixth, what happened to #4 ?

              .

    2. .

      2-way, Maes – Hickster: 30 – 70.  Hickenlooper by 40%

      3-way, Maes – Tank – Hick: 20 – 20 – 60.  Hickenlooper by 40%

      2-way, generic GOP candidate (not Tank) – Hickster: 50 – 50.  Toss-up.

      2-way, Tank (as GOP candidate) – Hickster: 55 – 45.  Theoretical, since this match-up isn’t possible.

      sorry to disappoint.

      .

        1. .

          can you hep a brutha out with a link ?

          Was that before he paid those fines ?  Before his tax info was shared with The Constitutionalist Today ?

          Lotta changes in the last coupla weeks.

          .

          .

                    2. Nate is very successful and very good at what he does.  And a bad “likely voter” model is worse than none at all.

                    3. If you want to go by what the country thinks though, America is center right.

                    6. That is verifiable at least two plausible ways.

                      Or explain it – other than it’s what you wish.

                      Seriously- this could be an awesome diary.

            1. – false resume

              – campaign finance “error” & fine

              – completely unqualified to be governor, and yet here he is top o’ the ballot

              He’s a fool.

              He doesn’t understand the budget or finance or accounting- he said so on Caplis & Silverman earlier this week when they were pressing him on his tax returns.

              And yet, right here on ColoradoPols last winter he said he would give us budget specifics later because it was too soon.  Leading more than one wag to opine that if had the secret plan to fix the budget, he should share it.  This was back when he was still spouting that CO O&G production was down only because of the CO rules and severance tax structure.

              There could be a time where I might be convinced to vote for “just a citizen” with no other qualifications, but this is not that time for me and, I predict, for not very many others.

              He’s a fool and so is anyone who thinks he would be a good governor.

  10. Norton and Buck have also “lost all hope of carrying out a successful campaign.”

    So, damn the Constitution and those silly rulesy things.  Let him run for Governor and Senator!!

    1. .

      Make that a cheap beer.

      I’m not supporting him; I don’t particularly like him; he doesn’t particularly like me (from when I was working on the Steve Barton campaign.)

      But unless he does a McInnis, he’s gonna prevail.  

      .

        1. .

          at an event in ? Thornton ? I sat next to the Buck table.  I suggested to Ken that he give a sweatshirt to a particularly effusive fan.  I got an icy stare in reply.  

          After that, he seemed to avoid me for the rest of that event.  Haven’t talked to him since.

          .

            2. .

              spilling over onto my (Steve’s) table.  

              His wife was wearing one.  Staffers behind the table were wearing them.  

              This fan was admiring the sweatshirts.  I think she was asking for one in body language.  She acted so familiar with Ken’s wife that I thought she was a family friend.  

              If you watch his ads, BJ, you’ll see folks wearing them.  They’re blue, and they say “Buck” on them.

              .

  11. what am I saying?  Tancredo has just proven he has no standards!

    This is seriously weird.  Get ready for

    The Ego that Ate Colorado to go national.

     As for his lieutenant governor pick?

     An illegal immigrant of course!  He knows they work cheap, which is why he hired them to do his basement.  

    1. Too bad he’ll never get the GOP nod now even if he has both McInnis and Maes whacked.  He won’t scare anyone into anything as the impotent Constitutional Party candidate.

      1. we could use his name a lot and say “see what COULD happen”.  

        And, even Tancredo could win if the Dems sit on their hands and don’t appeal to the independent middle.

        1. There will be no sitting on hands and Hick is very good at appealing to the middle. And you’re right.  Even having Tancredo in the race as a third party candidate could be used for motivation.

  15. OMG the debates are going to be amazing. I am so excited. GO TANCREDO! GO get on the ballot then GO turn this election into a clusterf*ck and a cakewalk for Hickenlooper. This couldn’t be better if Hick had planned it!

    1. You are getting some serious competition for the Crazy Town heavy weight title even if Colorado GOP leadership isn’t threatening to secede! Maybe Barron’s party can tackle that.

  18. (and I know the depths of the irony in that statement) . . . of a Republican party in which no one anymore gives a damn about appealing to a broad centrist base.

    You get a growing multitude of tiny minds screaming to more, but much smaller, groups of internecine fanantics.  The message of each little group is both the same and humorously exclusionary,. . . “Our little group is the one true keeper of the flame — we’re the true patriots — and everyone else, in every other little group is just another RINO.  Amen.”

    Enjoy the fruits of your labors Rs, you all have worked hard for this.

    There is nothing that I could say funnier than your own message.

    I love it.

      1. After he wins in November, he’ll throw his star down on Lincoln Ave. in disgust because Colorado isn’t worthy of his services.  Then who gets to be gov?

  21. why even an addlebrain like Tancredo could possibly believe that anyone would agree to drop out after winning an election, as a preferable alternative to just dropping out today?

    Hasn’t anyone tried to explain to Tom that if either of these fools agreed to his terms (and there’s the little issue of trustworthiness), that they immediately shoot themselves in the foot with their own supporters (guaranteeing the win to the other)?

    “Hey guys.”   “Tom here.”   “Ever wanted to find out what a circular firing squad feels like?”   “You have, really?”   “Me Too!”

    1. It’s just Tancredo Theater. It pays to be a rightie lunatic but you have to keep doing fresh loony things to stay in the spotlight. This is really going to blow your mind:  He’s not really crazy.  He just plays crazy for the real crazies. A guy has to make a living, especially post-Madoff.

  22. I can see it now, Tancredo runs as the American Constitution Party candidate and his campaign slogans are just Chuck Norris jokes with his Tancredo’s name substituted in.  But in all seriousness, this guy is killing Republican chances down the ticket now helping them like he says.

        1. This just popped up on facebook and I was trying to post it until I saw you already had. Tancredo is the one that gets shot, McInnis is the cowardly one, and Maes is Clint Eastwood.

          2. Your metaphoric analogy doesn’t work.

            If there’s a real 3-way race it will be

            D (Hick) R (Maes or McInnis) and ACP (Tanc)

            So, since I think the R’s wil pick liar with experience over thief with none, it will be

            McInnis, Hickenlooper and Tancredo.

            Maes is that guy who gets shot earlier in the story-  saying something about having learned a lot and slinking off to be a preacher.

            McInnis will quit – and leave the ring.

            Tancredo will seek some kind of deferment or something so no one will shoot at him.

            And Hick will light up as he rides out.  With that stupid music box haunting him.

    2. .

      In 2007, TT sez he would never embark on a campaign for the Presidency as a candidate of a 3rd party in an attempt to get elected, or even just to get more press coverage.  Because he’s a Republican, period.

      In 2010, TT is trying to use and exploit some fringe wannabees (inclusive of the present writer) and tempt us with lots of votes and press and recognition, so that he can exploit our ballot access to spank a couple of selfish brats who are perfectly willing to seriously damage the GOP for their own glory and aggrandizement.  Because he’s a Republican, period.

      .

      The reason the Constitution Party exists is because a number of conservatives believe that the GOP is irretrievably corrupt.  

      Then there are a handful of members who are Republicans at heart, who recognize that the GOP has abandoned conservative values, and hope the ACP can force or cajole the GOP back into being an authentically conservative party.  

      TT has never said anything even remotely close to either of those 2 positions.  

      He is not one of us ACP’ers.  He is stepping up to take a pretty hard hit for his beloved team, to keep Maes or McInnis from leading it astray.

      .

  26. I thought politics was going to be boring.  LA politics has action movie stars, Govs that throw pot parties in the Gov Mansion and porn stars that run for office.  But LA can’t touch the fun stuff that goes on here in Colorado! Never a dull moment!  You go Tom!

    1. for the most part. Other than the occasional recall election not much excitement. Granted I didn’t really follow politics much when I lived there.

      I moved to Colorado the August before the 08 elections. I have to thank Obama and Clinton for really getting me interested in politics and inspiring me to study political science in college. I returned to school last year. I am one of the first time voters you hear about all the time but I remained aware ever after. I consider myself a novice which is why I love this site. Already learned quite a bit!

  28. how Wadhams “make no mistake” that if Tancredo runs Hickenlooper will be gov and it will be all Tommy’s fault! wah! No, sweetie, y’all screwed that up yourselves a long time ago. Tancredo will make things nuttier, no doubt, but he’s not even close to being the main reason Hick is looking at a cakewalk right now.  

  31. If the republicans were not dominating  over 80 hours of local public airwaves, think of what we would have missed.  The insides of the GOP stinking to high heaven.  The so-called advocates talking about the “Powers that Be” making decisions.

    .the party regulars being ignored or belittled.or dismissed….because after all the GOP has been feeding them crap for 18 months…so how can the “powers that be” have any respect for them because the “little guys” have  been eating that crap…..

    Democracy cannot exist if the government/political parties have real contempt for the average citizen and that is what I am hearing on republican talk radio.

     

  33. I mean, there must have been a reason he didn’t enter the race way back when, right? I don’t mean this to be snarky…his ego certainly is big enough so I wonder why he thinks now he has to save the Republican party but it didn’t need him originally.

    “If I have a care in the world, I have a gift to bring.” -Indigo Girls

    1. .

      He seemed content to advocate for his issues and let those with the highest levels of support (McInnis) or motivation (Maes) bask in the spotlight.  

      But if you were to ask him that question today, I think his answer would be that he thought the bookends were much better candidates than they have revealed themselves to be.  

      In my version of events, it only came out in the last couple of weeks what a scoundrel Scott is.  And only a fringe took Dan seriously up to that point.  

      .

      NOTE: Tom is not now running to win the race, he is threatening to run to punish Maes and McInnis if they don’t drop out and toss the decision to the state party vacancy committee.  Tom will not get their blessing, and he knows that.

      .

    2. they all know how damaging it would be to their disingenusous claims of support to garner a public election result of 20% or less.

      This way TT can get less than 20%, still get his publicity fix, and still blame the outcome on outside circumstances (rather than admit the unpopularity of his causes).

Leave a Comment

Recent Comments


Posts about

Donald Trump
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Lauren Boebert
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Yadira Caraveo
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado House
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado Senate
SEE MORE

275 readers online now

Newsletter

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop with regular updates!