Attention Gov. Frackenlooper: The Charm Offensive Has Failed

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by: Colorado Pols

The Fort Collins Coloradoan reports on yesterday's dramatic hearings in the Fort Collins City Council–and their vote last night, 5-2, to ban hydraulic fracture drilling ("fracking") withing their city limits. This vote puts Northern Colorado's biggest city squarely in opposition to Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who, although nominally a Democrat, has emerged as the head cheerleader–and now chief enforcer–for the oil and gas industry.

With a large crowd looking on, council members voted 5-2 on Tuesday to give final approval to an ordinance that prohibits hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, within the city…

Mayor pro tem Kelly Ohlson said state regulators have no credibility with him, nor does Gov. John Hickenlooper, who said last week the state would sue the city if it passed a ban.

“I believe the governor should spend his time protecting the health and safety and welfare of citizens of Colorado rather than acting like the chief lobbyist for the oil and gas industry,” he said. “In fact, I think he should literally quit drinking the fracking Kool-Aid.” [Pols emphasis]

Understand what is happening here. Arguably the most popular governor in many decades in Colorado, Hickenlooper's biggest investment of political capital since effortlessly winning election 2010 has been on behalf of the oil and gas industry. The same folksy charm that gave Hickenlooper such a broad public appeal as Denver mayor, and again during the gubernatorial campaign, has been used to soften growing opposition–generally on the progressive left but rapidly growing beyond the activist class–to the drilling method known as "fracking" near residential communities and watersheds.

What we're seeing now, in Colorado cities rejecting the regulation of the industry as conducted by Hickenlooper's administration, is without a doubt the greatest failure of Hickenlooper's public career so far. And it can't be blamed on anyone other than Hickenlooper, who wrecked his credibility on the issue after repeatedly and knowingly deceiving the public in asserting that "fracking" is safe.

What concerns opponents of "fracking" most are rules governing the distance from existing development for drilling operations, and weak water testing standards they say are riddled with loopholes. But it is Hickenlooper's claims to have "drank fracking fluid," without disclosing that he had in fact drunk fluid that is not used commercially–and that in truth, no one should drink the fluid actually being used today in drilling operations–that have opened the biggest breach in his credibility (see Fort Collins Mayor pro tem Kelly Ohlson's comment above).

Hickenlooper was elected in 2010 with support from the oil and gas industry precisely because of his broad popularity, and the hope that he could translate that appeal into the mollification of conservationist opponents of unfettered resource extraction. The previous administration of Bill Ritter was much tougher on the industry, both rhetorically and in rulemaking practice, and one can easily understand the hope at the Colorado Oil and Gas Association that Hickenlooper could make the lion lay down with the proverbial lamb.

Instead, he has insulted the intelligence of those he was supposed to win over. Battle lines are hardening now, and Democratic Gov. Hickenlooper cannot claim to be on the side of the people of Colorado. He is on the side of mineral rights holders regardless of where they are. And there are, as you should know, not very many mineral rights holders registered to vote in Colorado compared to the citizens Hickenlooper has now come out against.

Make no mistake. This is how politicians' careers founder.

13 thoughts on “Attention Gov. Frackenlooper: The Charm Offensive Has Failed”

Gorky Pulviczek says:

March 6, 2013 at 9:11 am

But, but but… gosh, gee, shucks!

I'd like to say I'm waiting for a thoughtful response from our Gov, but I'm not going to hold my breath. I really just expect more thud and blunder from him.

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Gray in Mountains says:

March 6, 2013 at 10:59 am

If a community is concerned enough re water, air quality and other environmental issues that they resist fracking and the company is unable to obtain the resource it will only become a more valuable resource while it rests below ground. If industry can prove themselves in other places then they will be able to obtain a resource that has appreciated in value. Hick needs to respect the local control that has long been part of CO

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DavidThi808 says:

March 6, 2013 at 12:57 pm

I miss Bill Ritter

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1. wade norris says:
  
  March 6, 2013 at 3:00 pm
  
  It's primary time not joking
  
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  1. Liberty Occupied says:
    
    March 8, 2013 at 5:11 pm
    
    How about Morgan Carroll? We need a woman to run in the primary against him and she could pull it off. I just agree with her on almost everything. The state would be wise to elect someone like her.
    
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    1. Duke Cox says:
      
      March 9, 2013 at 7:56 pm
      
      Welcome to the Morgan Carroll bandwagon…I have been suggesting a primary by Morgan for several weeks now (and received a hefty dose of skepticism from some of my friends) and I am happy to have company. I think Morgan Carroll is one of our best and brightest and would be a far superior governor to the oil and gas lapdog who currently holds the office.
      
      If we keep beating the drum, maybe she will hear it.
      
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ArapaGOP says:

March 6, 2013 at 4:30 pm

With friends like you, who needs enemies?

It's time to get serious about switching parties, Governor! You don't have to put up with this.

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1. ClubTwitty says:
  
  March 6, 2013 at 7:02 pm
  
  Nah, You'll pick Bob Beauprez or John Andrews.
  
  Here is what your base thinks of Hick:
  
  Colorado has become President Obama’s private experiment state. Need someone to lead the fight on same-sex marriage, tug on the puppet strings of Hickenlooper. Need someone to lead the fight against the Second Amendment, yank those strings again. Need stricter energy rules? Yank on the Hickenlooper puppet.
  
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2. Duke Cox says:
  
  March 9, 2013 at 8:07 pm
  
  You don't have to put up with this.
  
  As long as he dances to the tune of COGA and the CPA, he will definitely have to put up with this. He can count on it.
  
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WestSloper says:

March 6, 2013 at 9:52 pm

Some solutions to Hick's political mess

1. Instruct the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commissioner to define "best drilling practices"

2. Tell the CO Dept of Public Health & Environment to do their jobs, starting with conducting health impact studies in the gas fields (or finish the one started in Battlement Mesa)

3. Short setbacks fuel the fracking fears — go to 1,000 ft

4. And there should be a strict water and air quality monitoring in drilling zones

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1. wade norris says:
  
  March 6, 2013 at 10:36 pm
  
  Dear Westsloper,
  
  you advise the Gov.
  
  1. Instruct the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commissioner to define "best drilling practices"
  
  The Oil and Gas Industry instructed the Governor on what they wanted in a Commissioner.
  
  Why or how could a Democratically elected Governor – need to ask anything of such a Commissioner that he helped create and appoint?
  
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Meiner49er says:

March 7, 2013 at 7:09 am

Hick's not going to change parties, nor policies just because a few partisans in the base are shouting for a primary. Twitty's right on the former, and Hick's popular enough and bankrolled enough that any Dem challenger would be marginalized as "extreme" within a few weeks' time.

Not sure what the right mechanism is, but if the "people" are speaking, I think it's time the Democratically controlled Legislature joined us and put a bill across Hick's desk on behalf of the People; something further restraining the COGCC. Still a lot of time left in the Session, and just the very image of Hick's Party pulling the rug out from under him while he's running for re-election ought to give him pause as he contemplates running for anything higher.

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ClubTwitty says:

March 7, 2013 at 9:51 am

Hick came out in support of protecting Thompson Divide and is now talking 'compromise' (even after threatening) with local governments, and helping local jurisdictions buy back mineral leases.

My advice to fractivists everywhere would be to keep the pressure up (+ go for legislation, and maybe prepare for a statewide ballot effort).

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