Rep. Salazar On Ag Secretary "Short List"

To hold the seat...

Beuscher's one of very few Democrats who could hold the 3rd against a challenge from Josh Penry. The fact he lost his race for the legislature this time around shouldn't deter support. That Buescher won twice before in such a Republican district and came so close to winning this time means that when you throw in the rest of the 3rd - cakewalk.

Add Congress to the "Beuscher for Anything" list!

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by: Jeff Bridges @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 13:56:34 PM CST

A long shot...

But would Ritter consider appointing Penry to improve his own chances of reelection in 2010?

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by: Truant @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 14:00:19 PM CST

Try 2014

Penry is not running in 2010. If you know something we don't know, we're all ears.

"Nice driveby spin" -- Libertad

"This site is filled simpletons..." -- JO

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by: redstateblues @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 14:05:39 PM CST

[ Parent ]

"Appoint?"

Wouldn't there be a special election to replace Salazar?

http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir...

Michael Bennet is the new Abraham Lincoln.
- Sharon Hanson

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by: Dabee47 @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 14:18:44 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Election required

Dabee47 is correct. A Senate vacancy is filled by gubernatorial appointment but a House vacancy must be filled by special election. It's the People's House, so only the people can elect.

But an open seat in a special election? How fun! Would Penry be a cakewalk to the GOP nomination or might there be others? Would Buescher have any opposition?

A showdown between those two would be interesting indeed.

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by: gertie97 @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 14:25:09 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Watch for Sal Pace to make a strong showing.

As far as I understand it, the Democratic and Republican candidates will be selected by their party's 3rd CD central committee. The committee is made up of delegates elected at their county assemblies for the 2008 primary - there will not be an open primary election for the nomination.

Based on that, Pueblo will have a huge say in who the Ds nominate, with around 40% of the total delegates coming from the area.

Newly elected State Rep. Sal Pace has the inside track on these folks, having just courted them for the Democratic nomination to replace retiring Rep. Dorothy Butcher. Pace also has strong connections with County Chairs and the party faithful across the district from his days working as John Salazar's District Director.

If this were an open primary, Beuscher or Sen. Jim Isgar would have a much better shot. But with the central committee making the call, and the central committee coming largely from Pueblo, it's anyone's game.

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by: Jeff Bridges @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 16:06:53 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Sal as betrayer?

He's not even been sworn it yet as State Rep. You're saying that he would bail on his new job before he even began?  Nice.

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 18:26:34 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Hardly

Where do you think Sal could serve his constituents better, in the state house or the U.S. Congress? Pueblo has a bevy of back-benchers that could pinch-hit for district 46. The point that I think Jeff was making here though is that Pace is the only democrat in the entire 3rd CD who knows all the delegates who'd be nominating our Dem candidate.

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by: passerby @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 18:46:07 PM CST

[ Parent ]

in the State House.

If Pueblo had a bevy of back-benchers, Sal would not have won this year's election.  He's only lived in Pueblo for a few years.  I think it would be appalling for him to leave an office for which he campaigned BEFORE he even bothered to step foot in that office.  People are not enamored of reckless climbers, no matter how dumb you think Puebloans are.

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 18:52:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Oh puh-leez

Anthony Nunez, John Cordova, Ray Aguilara to name a few. Sal won this election because he has the political acumen to make sure none of these potential challengers were a problem. Kind of along the lines of "speak softly and carry a big stick" sorta thing. Sal's considerable political resume is a perfect fit for the 3rd CD -- water, agriculture, rural health care, constituency work, and voter outreach. Who cares how long he has lived in Pueblo?! He has already been serving this district for years with the diligence and intelligence that we would be lucky to have as our next congressman.

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by: passerby @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 19:58:34 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Cordova won by 5 votes AGAINST A REBUPLICAN

...he's not exactly a strong candidate.

Aguilera is old, not well-respected, and has no chance of winning election again.  

Sal has served his district exactly zero days in elected office as of now.  Even John Salazar deigned to go the State House first.  Surely Sal has the modesty to follow, despite your delusions of grandeur.

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 20:05:33 PM CST

[ Parent ]

What the heck is your fixation with the state house?

Sal has more experience serving the 3rd CD now than Betsy Markey did on November 4th and she's heading to D.C. now, does she also lack "modesty"? Should we not have supported her because she didn't serve in D.C.?

Before Sal moved to Pueblo he was working Dem campaigns on the Western slope, and since he has been there he has done tons of work on the aforementioned issues, directly serving the people.

He has experience, he has served the people, what is your problem here?

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by: passerby @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 20:38:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

My fixation began with SAL's fixation

...he ran for the state house (Markey didn't), Sal should at least serve in the state house (for, I don't know, one term, one month, one day?) before abandoning that job.  If he didn't really want the job, he shouldn't have run for it (and thereby deny others that job).  It's pretty simple really.  Of course, Sal has not expressed interest in quitting the job before it's begun.  I like Sal.  It's your silliness that bugs me.

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 20:44:52 PM CST

[ Parent ]

ah, ok

I understand where you're coming from here now. I still disagree with you. I still think that regardless of his recent election that Sal will do Pueblo, district 46, and the 3rd CD better in Congress than he would in the state house, and that that outweighs him leaving his current elected post. But I'm glad we got that cleared up.

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by: passerby @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 20:51:28 PM CST

[ Parent ]

5 Votes?

It was 1,096. John has been very effective as comissioner here but is a lousy speaker and wouldn't do well in a Congressional race. I spoke with Sal this afternoon and he said that Thiebaut was being pushed to run. I was surprised because DA is not term limited here in Pueblo County and he can have the job as long as he wants. Sal said he thought that Bill would would be willing to run.

Leroy Salazar would be my choice. (Sorry Bill, I like you where you are.) However, he has expressed no interest in running and it would put a lot of pressure on Mary Lou who would probably have full responsibility, under those circumstances, for running the farm.

So unless Sal was BSing me, my vote will go to Bill Thiebaut.

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by: pueblogrouch @ Fri Dec 05, 2008 at 01:22:35 AM CST

[ Parent ]

"5 votes" was figurative

...your providing the actual number only bolsters my point.  Cordova is not a strong candidate.  And given that he's been a commissioner for only about a year, I don't know how you surmise that he's been very effective.  Obviously, huge numbers disagreed with you given that he barely won a race that a Dem should win easily.  Indeed, the only reason he was originally appointed to that seat was that his opposition was the loud lush Dorothy Butcher.

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by: Jambalaya @ Fri Dec 05, 2008 at 21:05:40 PM CST

[ Parent ]

how would Pace perform CD district-wide?

   We know Bernie can draw at least a tie in his old state House district (in which 50% of registered voters are Repubs).  Would Pace be able to run that well in the GOP sections of CD 3?  

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by: One Queer Dude @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 19:15:34 PM CST

[ Parent ]

don't mean to sound like a pro-Pace version of Libertad...

but I think he would do better than Buescher. He wins Pueblo by a bigger margin (despite Jambayla's hatred of "ladder-climbers" or whatever, hometown boy still does better). His deep connection with Salazar plus the crap-ton of work he did for Ed Vigil recently bumps up his totals in the Valley. And as I noted before, before moving to Pueblo he worked for Dem candidates on the west slope; he knows the people there, and (at least the political players there) know him. True, Penry probably mitigates that somewhat as the west slope is where he'll do best. But, as I think someone else as noted, Penry would be cutting into Buescher's base (or at least the area where he has the best potential to exceed expectations). On the other hand, Sal would be able to dominate Pueblo, the Valley, the Four Corners (excluding Cortez) while losing out on the area that has the fewest possible Dem votes to begin with.

Plus I think Sal's close ties with Salazar and his extensive district-wide work from his time as District Director, make him electable like none other. Think Betsy Markey, but with a longer list of district service, more connections, and political skill.

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by: passerby @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 22:57:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Best in an open primary,

I think between those three (Isgar, Buescher, and Pace) that it would be pretty even. Pueblo is still the democratic stronghold of the 3rd, and that's where Sal's base would be too (probably also with some spill-over into the Valley). Buescher would certainly do better from Moffat down to Cortez, but that is also where Isgar would probably take the most votes from, maybe enough to give it to Sal. At any rate, I think a 3-way dem primary there would be interesting. Too bad we won't get to see one.

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by: colorado_dude @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 18:54:28 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Two names

There are only two realistic dem candidates.

Bernie Buescher and Pueblo DA Bill Thiebaut.

Gail Schwartz could be a possible, but she would have to give up her State Senate seat in order to run (she can't raise money from lobbyists, people or entities who hire lobbyists or anyone with business before the state or the legislature while the legislature is in session).

Buescher is somewhat damaged by his recent loss and if the R is Josh Penry (Penry would also have to give up his seat in order to run), Buescher's value in getting votes out of Mesa County is diminished.

The Dem has to carry Pueblo and the San Luis valley big in order to offset the R vote in Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose and Delta.

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by: Roger D @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 07:19:55 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Why would Penry

have to give up his seat? If Salazar get the appointment, there would be a special election.

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by: RedGreen @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 09:03:14 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I think Roger means

That Penry couldn't run for re-election -- he'd have to make a choice

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by: Colorado Pols @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 11:17:53 AM CST

[ Parent ]

What I mean is

he cannot raise money during the legislative session, so in order to run and raise money, he would have to leave the legislature.

This is what I pointed out is the case that any of the Democratic Legislative members would also face.  Schwartz, Curry, McFayden, Sal Pace, Abel Tapia or any other name that is being bandied about.

Re-read my post regarding the prohibition from raising money from lobbyists, et al.

This is part of the reason that Joan FitzGerald left the legislature.  The workload as President of the Senate was too much to handle and run for Congress at the same time, but she could have simply left the presidency and maintained her senate seat, except that she could not raise money from numerous sources while sitting as a legislator.

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by: Roger D @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 12:20:36 PM CST

[ Parent ]

That's excellent analysis, Roger

I think that if there are two Western Slopers on the CD-3 ballot, the Republican would easily win by party-line vote.  I think that even with Pueblo in the mix, a Democrat has to do better than just party-line over here to win CD-3.

Salazar's numbers were better than party-line over here.  That's what it takes.

When I use lots of words, they always form an analysis (and, while producing high volume, also produce high information-density).
--Steve Harvey, 2009

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by: Ralphie @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 20:57:00 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Buffie McFadyen

Among others.

When I use lots of words, they always form an analysis (and, while producing high volume, also produce high information-density).
--Steve Harvey, 2009

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by: Ralphie @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 16:29:05 PM CST

[ Parent ]

One Name

Doug Bruce

This movie has been rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and destruction

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by: Pam Bennett @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 16:57:41 PM CST

[ Parent ]

nobody gets appointed to the U.S. House

the only way to get there by election

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by: One Queer Dude @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 19:05:20 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Why John and not Ken?

Anyone know?

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by: Emma Anne @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 14:18:14 PM CST

Gearing up for 2010 re-election campaign

http://www.denverpost.com/news...

Ken wants to remain in the Senate.

"Nice driveby spin" -- Libertad

"This site is filled simpletons..." -- JO

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by: redstateblues @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 14:23:33 PM CST

[ Parent ]

One thing to consider is that

the Senate seat is tougher to defend and more valuable than the congressional seat.

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by: Colorado Pols @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 14:23:40 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Yeah, especially considering Ken may be too conservative for Colorado

Given recent election results, he might want to step aside so a real Boulder Liberal can run for the seat. Ken's brand of western nonpartisan folksiness may sell to old fashioned 2004 Bushy Colorado voters, but not to the hip young Obama-supporting 2008 Colorado voters.

Besides, Ken Salazar won with 51.3% of the vote, while Boulder Liberal Mark Udall won with 53% of the vote. I think we know there's only one Colorado Democrat who can win the Senate in 2010.

Jared Polis is still reading this site, right?

"You need to move past Fourier transforms and start thinking quantum mechanics!" --The Transformers

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by: sxp151 @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 23:19:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Best comment ever

At least best of the day.

"Nice driveby spin" -- Libertad

"This site is filled simpletons..." -- JO

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by: redstateblues @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 23:53:33 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Ken would've been considered for Interior

John remains a farmer, and Ken, for all his upbringing, is still primarily a water attorney.  

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by: COFPI @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 15:58:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

With all the angst over the the magic number 60

Ken is more important where he is and what appointee would have as good a chance in 2010? Also, Ken became instantly influential in the Senate and is a Latino Senator. He will only get more powerful right where he is.  He has plenty of time to join a cabinet a little further down the road or he might want to run for Governor in the future.  

Don't like Dem chances to hold CD3 in a special election either. Not that it couldn't be done but it's no sure thing and so cheap and easy with John.  We may be better off not making the cut on this one.

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by: BlueCat @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 16:03:22 PM CST

[ Parent ]

might i just say......

I told you so.

So in a good natured way, to all those who doubted me - na na na na na.

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by: Roger D @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 14:38:26 PM CST

I thought you said John would go to Interior?

what, are all cabinet positions the same in this game?

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 18:27:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Nope Jam

Roger said he would be in the running for Ag.

"Nice driveby spin" -- Libertad

"This site is filled simpletons..." -- JO

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by: redstateblues @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 18:55:41 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Not lately.

..on Nov. 25 (just last week), Roger said:

"Harkin will be named Sec'y of Ag and there is a chance that John Salazar will be named to Interior rather than Ag."

It's easy to win a guessing game when you guess every option!

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 19:02:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

NIce one jambalaya

You're now officially the Bill Menezes of Pols.

"Nice driveby spin" -- Libertad

"This site is filled simpletons..." -- JO

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by: redstateblues @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 23:11:09 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I don't know who that is.

...but he'd betta be ultra-fab.

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by: Jambalaya @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 08:47:51 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm big enough to admit

I was a doubter.  I was wrong.  I am surprised, but it would be a coup for Colorado to have John on the Cabinet.  He's a great guy.

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by: nonlawyerlobbyist @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 15:02:35 PM CST

It hasn't happened yet...

So you can still doubt if you want....

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by: Haners @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 15:22:13 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Good point.

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 18:28:11 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Me too

Roger D, I apologize (in a good natured way!) for my earlier snarkiness and dismissal.

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by: passerby @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 18:43:05 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Well who else made this short list?

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by: Libertad @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 15:27:56 PM CST

Collin Peterson from MN, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin from SD

And a couple of others

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by: COFPI @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 15:58:54 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Sandin is very sharp

She is a thinker and communicates well. I enjoyed my discussions with her this summer. Putting her in for 4-5 years would allow her to strengthen her national profile in a run up to the 2014 race for Sen. Johnson's seat.

Peterson is really her superior. The question is does he enjoy the power he now wields as AG committee chair or would this be a great exit plan from Congress and position him for a Gov's race in 2 or 6 years?

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by: Libertad @ Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 17:46:07 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I think Stephanie would be a savvy pick for Obama, but Dems wouldn't hold the SD-AL seat

Sandlin is the only major Democrat in SD who can hold that seat right now. There are some newly-elected Dems from W. SD who might be able to compete in 6 years or so (off year elections or specials are when Dems do best there).

She would make a very good Ag. Secretary though, I think, and it would strengthen her national profile. Maybe for something bigger than a Senate run...in 2016 or so.

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by: adam.kretz @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 12:50:41 PM CST

[ Parent ]

HUGE Bench

The issue here is that the Dems have such a huge bench.  There are any number of names that would be a good fit: Buescher, Isgar, Curry, McFadyen, Schwartz, Leroy Salazar, etc.  (Sorry, Mr. Bridges, I know you like Sal and all, but he's just not got the gravitas or experience yet for this kind of jump.)  The GOP doesn't have anybody that really matches up with that list, not even Penry.

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by: SouthDem @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 10:52:00 AM CST

Don't county Penry out

He is a slick politician and wildly popular with Republicans. That said, he's have to pose as more of a moderate than he really is. But he would be tough for any Democrat. He's beatable, but he'd give it a real go.

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by: gertie97 @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 11:18:53 AM CST

[ Parent ]

but considering

how the Dem candidate will be picked, who is the most likely candidate to be the nominee?

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by: colorado_dude @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 13:47:33 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I would link the word "gravitas"

with Buffie McFadyen

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by: nonlawyerlobbyist @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 14:41:02 PM CST

[ Parent ]

CORRECTION

I would NOT link the word "gravitas" with Buffie McFadyen!  Oy.

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by: nonlawyerlobbyist @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 14:52:31 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Oy is correct

Unless what is really meant is gravity in she goes down.

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by: Roger D @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 17:59:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The GOP doesn't have anybody that really matches up with that list

   Janet Rowland? Ali Hassan? Marc Holtzman? (doesn't he live in Carbondale?) Soctt McInnis?

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by: One Queer Dude @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 19:21:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

ALI HASSAN!!

Oh, PLEASE let that guy run for Congress!

--hijinks ensues--

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by: Jeff Bridges @ Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 19:44:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]