CO-04 (Special Election)
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(R) Greg Lopez
(R) Trisha Calvarese
90%
10%
President (To Win Colorado)
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(D) Joe Biden*
(R) Donald Trump
80%
20%↓
CO-01 (Denver)
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(D) Diana DeGette*
90%
CO-02 (Boulder-ish)
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(D) Joe Neguse*
90%
CO-03 (West & Southern CO)
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(D) Adam Frisch
(R) Jeff Hurd
(R) Ron Hanks
40%
30%
20%
CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado)
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(R) Lauren Boebert
(R) Deborah Flora
(R) J. Sonnenberg
30%↑
15%↑
10%↓
CO-05 (Colorado Springs)
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(R) Dave Williams
(R) Jeff Crank
50%↓
50%↑
CO-06 (Aurora)
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(D) Jason Crow*
90%
CO-07 (Jefferson County)
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(D) Brittany Pettersen
85%↑
CO-08 (Northern Colo.)
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(D) Yadira Caraveo
(R) Gabe Evans
(R) Janak Joshi
60%↑
35%↓
30%↑
State Senate Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
80%
20%
State House Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
95%
5%
July 10, 2006 08:00 AM UTC
42 Comments
You said, and Republicans apparently believe, “Governor Owens called the special session in an attempt to get as illegal immigration measure on the ballot after a Colorado court struck it down”
But where does it say that in the Governor’s proclamation?
Here’s what it really says:
“If the state legislature fails to pass substantive illegal immigration reform statutes, the legislature should pass a referred measure that prohibits state and local governments from providing services to illegal immigrants, except as mandated by federal law. If the people’s representatives cannot act on this issue, they must allow the people of Colorado to have this debate.”
In other words, it says “reach a statutory solution if you can, but if you can’t, THEN put something on the ballot.”
Nowhere in the proclamation do I read that the special session was called for the purpose of putting something on the ballot. That’s phony-baloney political rhetoric. That’s why the Republicans are struggling to even appear relevant in the special session. The train has left the station. They weren’t on board.
The xenophobic right wing nuts in Colorado should have been more careful in what they wished for…..sounds like they’re getting it at the Capitol!
And then there is the contrast between Bill Owens and Both Ways in the leadership style department. B.O. made two (count ’em, two) appearances in less than a week before legislative committees while B.W.B. apparently is M.I.A.
Then again, maybe his entire immigration policy was summed up when he shared with us his experiences with “Mexico time” last year.
Doesn’t 1023 actually list the services that will be denied? Unlike the ballot initiative, this bill is definitive in what it will do. Shouldn’t the R’s back a reasonable piece of legislation added on top of the most immigration reform bills passed in Colorado, rather than a ballot initiative that the Governor stated he didn’t know what it prevented and what good or harm it could cause?
Im sick of this political rhetoric, pandering to the base and 527 coordination that is being done with the Governor and Trailhead. Im actually supporting Madden’s charges against Trailhead. I think the Governor needs to be more responisble instead of this careless attempt to play with state money to pull his party out of the trash.
The Governor was screwed the minute he called a Special Session, asking to cut off services that HIS departments were delivering. His advisors were looking to motivate the base, while the critical thinkers (Bernie Buescher,etc.)were looking for quantification of the problem. How can you cut off delivery of something, if you don’t know how, why or to whom those services are being delivered?
Going back to American Government 101: The Executive Branch enforces the law. Owens’ Executive Agencies and the Directors he appointed have failed to enforce the existing laws, and have failed to identify problems within their departments. Where DOES the buck stop?
Do you believe the Governor would play politics with our money, and coordinate with a 527 that spreads allegations instead of facts, to win back the Legislature and hopefully keep the Governors Mansion? I thought Republicans had the moral highground!
I think we should call an investigation to be done by the Attorney General into the closed door affairs of the Governor with the Trailhead Group. Or would we have to ask the Denver D.A. since Suthers will obviously not follow through with his job since it will be those same donors helping to keep that office.
Does anyone know if BothWaysBob has picked a running mate yet? Is it going to be Mike Beasely or Gigi Dennis? I personally think both choices would be a blow to the campaign that could sink it before the end of August.
By the way, I head Peter Boyle on the radio this morning, right before his Schultheis interview, stating the Beauprez campaign is one of the worst he has ever encountered. Ol’ Petey is even against BothWaysBob and Boyle is our local Rush Limbaugh.
Instead of asking what else can wrong, I think the campaign needs to start asking itself when can it do something right?
Bernie Buescher also initiated legislation to bill the federal goverment for mandated services to undocumented workers. (The final language on this proposal was suppose to be finalized this morning.) The IOU may land on Suthers’ desk to collect. The legislation may not be much more than symbolic, but again, it throws another jar of marbles on the floor for the Republicans.
I agree T-Rexed.
Republicans are on the moral high ground PlainsDem. You are confusing Trailhead with Republicans.
TREX – HB1023 lists the services but, if I’m not mistaken, the list is a reiteration of the services already exempted by federal law. Now, I’m not sure if revised or amended versions have added anything.
The Dems cleaned up on this one, IMO.
Owen and his friend Bush are pro illegal immigration. So I’m wondering whether his bluster is all for show and he’ll sign 1023 just to be able to say he acted against illegal immigration even the bill has huge holes in it?
Should read: Owens and his friend Bush are pro illegal immigration. So I’m wondering whether his bluster is all for show and he’ll sign 1023 just to be able to say he acted against illegal immigration even though the bill has huge holes in it? He’s as hypocritical as the Dems.
I got a brilliant idea Republicans: you should try to fix problems with reaonable solutions that contain the best parts of everyone’s input to a problem. Quit trying to make political hay out of every issue and every vote and every time someone compromises.
Main Entry: pol·i·tics
Pronunciation: ‘pГѓВ¤-l&-“tiks
Function: noun plural but singular or plural in construction
Etymology: Greek politika, from neuter plural of politikos political
1 a : the art or science of government b : the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy c : the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government.
Your guiding philosphy, definition c) there, is listed last for a reason.
Now, why would these so called Republicans actually want to fix anything, while pandering to the base will allow the Country Club Elites to profit. It’s all about profits here. It’s not hypocritical, but rather it’s extremely wrong.
TMGT:
You are right about the Owens being responsible for enforcing the law that already exists. The parade through the JBC last week showed that his deparment heads don’t have a clue as to what is actually going on with providing services to illegal aliens.
Someone on this board has already suggested holding the Governor and his department heads accountable for any services they provide to illegal aliens that are not required. They would like to posture, but the reality is they have had an opportunity to do something about this and have sat on their hands. Hold them accountable now. No Republican would vote for such a process.
I understand Democrat staff at the capitol spent a few hours this weekend looking for “listening devices” that Trailhead planted around the 2nd floor.
Law enforcement was notified but someone brought up the fact that the ‘open meetings’ law would have kicked in anyway so now they’re unsure if any laws were broken.
Apparently they plan to use some of what they got for radio in the last weeks of the campaign.
PlainsDem: It is going to be Mike Beasley and it will be by no means “a disaster” or any of your other far-left ultra-liberal wet dreams. Once you accept that Bob Beauprez is going to be Governor and that Mike Beasley is going to be Lt. Governor you can get back to being a productive member of society,doubtful considering you hippies don’t have jobs.
Yeah — I can confirm the listening devices story. I don’t know how to prove it was Trailhead, but bugs in Democrat offices? Colorado, meet Watergate!
Are you guys serious? Who are these Trailhead guys? How can they possibly have this much influence over the process? And if that’s not enough, they’re going on the offensive with electronic bugs! Unbelievable.
It would make sense then (as I heard from a friend in their building) that Karl Rove stopped by for an hour.
Yeah, I’m pretty sure that bugging the State Capitol is illegal.
Hey campaign staffer,
Be it as it may, that I have “far-left ultra liberal wet dreams,” which even I, the hippie without a job, doesn’t know what that means, Im not going to sit back and just “accept” BothWaysBob as our next Governor. Actually, Im going to campaign, and campaign even harder now, out of that insult. See that’s how a democractiv republic works, everyone has their own voice, their own opinion and their own vote which gives us the Right to stand up in opposition or in favor of a candidate or issue.
No matter how much you wish this to be a totalitarian state ruled by a hierarchy of elites, it’s not. You can wish in hand and take a $hit in the other and see which one fills up first. But, Im still going to have the Right to vote for whomever I believe is the better this better candidate, and being BothWaysBob doesn’t even know why he’s running, he’s not getting my vote.
Buuuullllllshhhhiiiiiiiiittttttttt on the wiretapping story. Trailhead is obviously too stupid to maneuver something like that – take a look at their flashy website both ways bill for evidence of their complete ineptitude.
as they say, paranoia will destroy ya
I particularly liked the Republican compromise to pass the bill prohibitng illegal immigrants from receiving state services effective Aug. 1st, and then to place the law on the ballot as constitutional amendment in Nov!
What a transparent and pathetic attempt to energize the base! What’s the matter right wingers: you don’t have faith in those two hardy perrenials, abortion and gay marriage, to get the base excited?
Maybe the base is upset because: (a) no end-game strategy in Iraq, (b) gasoline prices approaching $4.00/gal., and (c) Both Ways running an incompetent race for Gov.
I wish they would change the name of Trail Head. I keep picturing Monica Lewinsky backpacking….
Bad One Queer Dude! Bad!
There was a leak earlier this week from deep inside the Beauprez camp that Beasley will in fact be the pick for Lt. Gov. I heard the choice has something to do with Beasley’s strong credentials in local govt. and his ability to score points on this illegal immigration issue. Maybe just a rumor but it came from a pretty reliable source.
Hey, quick question everyone. Have you, or anyone you know, ever voted for a presidential or gubernatorial candidate based on who the running mate was? I never have. (Although, after Bush and Cheney, I might scrutinize the running mate more.)
Lt. Governor looks after Indian Affairs. I believe thats it.
Whats Joe Rogers doing these days?
Both-Ways-Bob and his money hungry running mate Weasely.
It rolls right off the tongue!
Weasley and Gee Gee both carry baggage, and God only knows Both Ways is already lugging enough luggage without the # 2 bringing more crap along on the trip.
I say he should keep Calamity Jane Norton……She has experience with the job, she brings gender and geography balance to the ticket, and her husband has already performed a valuable service to Trail Head Cause by helping rub the Little Fella’s face in the failure of his lawsuit to get on the primary ballot.
GO BOTH WAYS/CALAMITY JANE ’06!
@ Aristotle……I actually considered very briefly voting for Daddy Bush in ’88 because of my intense dislike of Michael Dukakis. Then Bush announced his selection of J. Danforth Quayle as V.P., and I quickly got over my dislike of Dukakis and voted for him.
as to the wiretapping, I doubt that only because Trailhead is inept. However, I have it on good authority that the gov has blind cc’s on every legislative email account.
I dont think it stops at the Gov. Anyone who knows how to use e-mail, knows that if one person sees it, everyone sees it.
Queerdude, I don’t mind putting something on the ballot, but I hate government by Constitutional Amendment. The Colorado Constitution is so cluttered. Look at how simple the US Constitution is. That’s why it works. Let the voters decide, sure. But lets quit messing with the Constitution.
You all didn’t mind amending the Constitution with Amendment 23 which has become the PacMan eating its way through the state budget. Guess it depends on the issue huh?
Thanks for the info, queer dude. Did Bentson’s “You’re no Jack Kennedy” quip settle it for you, or did you already have a suffieciently negative impression of him by then?
I had pretty much made up my mind to hold my nose and vote for Dukakis after seeing Dan Quayle’s credentials for vice president (Daddy Bush said that Quayle would help the ticket close the gender gap because Quayle was young and good looking!) as well as his really bizarre behavior (he was jumping up and down like an eight year old who needed his Ritalin dosage adjusted) on stage in New Orleans when Daddy Bush introduced him to the nation. The Lloyd Bensen comment simply cemented the deal for me…….
@ Hearing Listener…..I use to believe that such minutae did not belong in the constitution because a constitution is supposed to be the organic law which simply sets out how lesser laws (statutes, adminstrative regulations, etc.) are enacted, and to some extent, limits what the legislature, executive and judiciary may do.
But after living in Colorado for so many years and seeing all the garbage that’s already in the state constitution as well as all the other garbage that’s proposed to be added to the state constitution, I gave up.
In fact, I don’t know why we did not have a referred question on the ballot as to which of the proposed Colorado commemorative quarters would become our official state coin, and then enshrine that decision in the constitution so that the politician in the legislature could not override the will of the people.
Kudos to Andrew Romanoff, Joan Fitzgerald, and Bill Owens on a job well done.
I had my doubts about the special session but these three managed to keep their eyes on the ball and ignore the racist, xenophobic rhetoric from the right wing nuts.
It’s a toss up as to which was the more outlandish tirade coming from the right wingers: Debbie Stafford’s claim that providing services to the children of immigrants was nurturing the “next generation of terrorists,” or Shawn Mitchell’s incendiary (from a Republican perspective) accusation that Bill Owens is Colorado’s Bill Clinton.
These three were able to find common ground and actually do something productive, much like they did when they crafted Referendum C & D.
By the way, has Both Ways weighed in on the special session yet?
Shawn Mitchell’s comment was not an accusation.
Republicans don’t find his view to be incendiary.