Author Archives: ProgressiveCowgirl

ProgressiveCowgirl

About ProgressiveCowgirl

Colorado native, young professional, progressive cowgirl. 4-term FPE (aka masochist).

Bye, Boyles

17
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Mon June 3, 2013 at 6:23 PM MDT

The least surprising news of the week (okay, it's only Monday) comes from KHOW, where controversial hard-right radio host Peter Boyles has been fired, according to 9News. Boyles was recently said to be involved in a "heated physical altercation" with producer Greg Hollenback. Multiple sources reported that red marks were seen on Hollenback's neck following the incident with Boyles.

Yoda could have warned the notoriously immigrant-bashing, Islamophobic, "birther" radio host that it might come to this: 

Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

I'll shed no tears for a fearful, angry hater who is now minus a radio job–but I do hope, for the sake of his family and fans, that Boyles has sought any necessary and appropriate care indicated following an alleged violent outburst toward a longtime friend and colleague. If Boyles seeks help and eventually chooses to discuss whatever challenges led him to make a (likely career-ending) move as serious as allegedly attacking his producer, he might do more good for his audience than he ever did as a political commentator. 


Full story: Bye, Boyles

Bachmann’s Bizarre Colorado Connection: From One Deranged Congresscritter to Another…

9
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Thu May 30, 2013 at 5:56 PM MDT

bachmannmusgrave

It's almost too good to be true (although Lynn Bartels reported it first, in 2011, it's worth resurfacing now): Embattled former presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann, the Minnesota Congressional Representative taking heat from an ethics investigation, whistle-blowing former staff, and more, got one of her closest staff members from none other than Marilyn Musgrave. The latter once appeared on a bipartisan list of the "13 most corrupt members of Congress," thanks to allegations that Musgrave misused her Congressional office for campaign purposes.

Guy Short, Musgrave's Chief of Staff, served as National Political Director for Bachmann's ill-fated presidential bid. And Colorado's contribution to the Bachmann team is alleged to be directly involved in Bachmann's alleged intentional campaign finance violations:

Former staffers tell The Daily Beast that investigators have allegedly asked about allegations of improper transfer of funds and under-the-table payments actions by Bachmann’s presidential campaign, specifically in relation to the campaign’s national political director, Guy Short, and Bachmann’s onetime Iowa campaign chairman, state Sen. Kent Sorenson. 

(emphasis mine)

Michelle Bachmann's past antics included a call for investigations by the media into "which members of Congress are anti-America." If potentially having violated American law knowingly counts, I guess she got her wish. Somehow, I doubt she'll cooperate with the media's investigation in this instance, though.

And as for Short, I just want to know how he phrases this skill on his LinkedIn profile: "Specialist in working with the deranged and allegedly corrupt?" "Doesn't let a few alleged campaign finance violations stop him from getting the job done?" "Can describe with a straight face political positions that make candidate a national laughingstock?"

And have Musgrave and Bachmann endorsed him for those? Will they be posting a recommendation?


Full story: Bachmann’s Bizarre Colorado Connection: From One Deranged Congresscritter to Another…

Some Familiar Faces Make WaPo’s Best Political Reporters List

12
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Thu May 30, 2013 at 2:56 PM MDT

Washington Post political blog The Fix has released a list, generated from nominations through the blog, Twitter, and Facebook, of the best, most-read political reporters in all 50 states. Some of our favorites here made Colorado's list:

coloradosbest

Congrats to the few, the proud, the over-caffeinated, exhausted, and still enthusiastic, Colorado's best political reporters! 

Special shout-out to Peter Marcus, the only Colorado reporter to make the list while working for a niche publication not owned and operated by a giant media conglomerate. That's hustle. But where is Ernest? Oh, well, I guess even The Fix misses a beat sometimes. 

One more thing: Is it just me, or is Colorado producing especially good journalistic talent lately? I think anyone on this list could go toe to toe with the national big-name journos and come out with her or his head held high. If it weren't for the voodoo doll in my desk–I mean, his deep attachment to Colorado and passionate dedication to his network–I'm sure Stokols would have been snatched up by a national network already. (I'd take him over Wolf Blitzer, but shift Anderson Cooper off my screen at your peril…) We seem to grow 'em talented around here, especially the last few years.


Full story: Some Familiar Faces Make WaPo’s Best Political Reporters List

NRA Funding Thing Obviously Funded by NRA

6
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Wed May 29, 2013 at 5:35 PM MDT

In a stunning turn of events, Fox 31's Eli Stokols reveals today that the National Rifle Association is funding a lawsuit that dovetails with all the priorities of the National Rifle Association. The lawsuit's lead attorney, whose arguments mirror the policy positions of the National Rifle Association, has apparently received money from the National Rifle Association:

Dave Kopel, the Independence Institute’s resident Second Amendment expert, is the lead attorney on the lawsuit.

And FOX31 Denver has found that Kopel has received $1.39 million in grant money from the N.R.A. Civil Rights Defense Fund between 2004 and 2011. The group continues to fund Kopel, although tax information from 2012 and 2013 isn’t yet available.

“They’re the oldest civil rights organization in the United States,” Kopel told FOX31 Denver this week. “I’m a well-known Second Amendment expert and researcher. It would make sense that they would support what I do.”

The report by Fox also discovered that a group of 55 modestly compensated public servants did not provide the $1.39 million paid by the National Rifle Association to the lawyer whose positions mirror those of the National Rifle Association. However, the lawyer who received $1.39 million from the National Rifle Association insists that 55 modestly compensated public servants are sincerely and deeply concerned about the priorities of the National Rifle Association.

At press time, the National Rifle Association had not yet commented officially on the National Rifle Association's sponsorship of a lawyer whose positions mirror the policy statements of the National Rifle Association who is filing a lawsuit primarily consisting of contentions found in the policy positions of the National Rifle Association, but the National Rifle Association is expected to, at any moment, release a public statement clarifying that the National Rifle Association agrees with the principled views of 55 modestly compensated public servants.


Full story: NRA Funding Thing Obviously Funded by NRA

In Which, Yes, Michelle Morin IS a Bigot, and Republicans Say So, Too

15
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Sat April 13, 2013 at 9:17 AM MDT

2010 Colorado Grassroots Leadership Award winner and one of "Campaigns and Elections" magazine's top five Republican influencers in Colorado, Michelle Morin, didn't mince words in a public Facebook post Thursday, alleging that gay unions would lead to the normalization of child rape. In her own words:

morin1

Morin was commenting on her own status post, in which she declared liberty unimportant when compared to critical things like the founding fathers' (read: Morin's) definition of "virtue":

morin2But this isn't a blog post about Michelle Morin saying something stupid. You can read her own blog for that. No, this is a blog post about Republicans and Tea Party affiliated Libertarians finally having had enough of the kind of outright hateful bigotry Morin displays here.

 

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Full story: In Which, Yes, Michelle Morin IS a Bigot, and Republicans Say So, Too

Balmer, Guzman, Court and Coram Advance Sensible Dog Legislation

9
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Mon April 8, 2013 at 1:19 PM MDT

Let's all take a moment today to recognize a piece of well-written, sensible legislation. SB 13-226, the "Dog Protection Act," is on its way to the Senate floor after receiving unanimous committee approval. Cosponsors in the Senate are David Balmer (R-Centennial) and Lucia Guzman (D-Denver). Their House counterparts are Lois Court (D-Denver) and Don Coram (R-Montrose). 

The proposed legislation reacts to a rash of dog shootings by law enforcement, characterized by pet dogs and service animals killed without giving owners a chance to contain their pets. Some such incidents were captured on video, showing no trace of aggression on the dog's part. Most police officers aren't animal behavior experts and may mistake a friendly greeting for an aggressive display. 

To reduce needless deaths of non-dangerous dogs, the Dog Protection Act empowers a twenty-three member volunteer task force to create training for law enforcement officers on dealing with dogs. The legislation requires that, in non-violent situations, law enforcement must give dog owners a chance to contain their dogs before using lethal force. This requirement allows for flexibility according to any exigencies present, such as whether officers are responding to a call involving a dog that has bitten a person. 

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Full story: Balmer, Guzman, Court and Coram Advance Sensible Dog Legislation

Scott Gessler Announces “Honey Badges” for Volunteers

5
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Mon April 1, 2013 at 1:56 PM MDT

4/2 POLS UPDATE: For future reference, please note the posted date of this story. Thank you.

—–

Honey BadgeColorado's controversial Secretary of State, Scott Gessler, today launched a volunteer drive for his reelection campaign by announcing what he's calling "Honey Badges," wearable tokens of Gessler's esteem to be presented for volunteer-hour milestones. Not satisfied with autographing his "Honey Badger" Westword cover for campaign donors, the SoS will offer Honey Badges as rewards for volunteer tasks throughout his reelection campaign. Volunteers who collect Honey Badges can redeem them for prizes at various levels. 

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Full story: Scott Gessler Announces “Honey Badges” for Volunteers

“How the Left is Leading the Country Toward the Land of Make-Believe” Speaker Makes Believe That Immigrants Spread Whooping Cough

7
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Fri February 22, 2013 at 12:56 PM MDT


Andrea TantarosWelcome, Andrea Tantaros! The conservative radio host is in town to present the Leadership Program of the Rockies' lunch keynote tomorrow, entitled "America, Let's Play Pretend: How the Left is Leading the Country Toward the Land of Make-Believe." 

Andrea's been practicing for her big speech by pretending that unvaccinated immigrants from Mexico and Latin America are responsible for recent outbreaks of pertussis (aka whooping cough) in the United States. On her 2/21 radio broadcast, Tantaros agrees with a caller who blames immigrants for "over 1000 cases" of whooping cough in the caller's allegedly previously pertussis-free county. (Fast forward to about 1:34:30 to hear the relevant segment.)

All those undocumented immigrants probably couldn't afford to be vaccinated, and are bringing germs into the country, getting responsible Americans sick and bringing back previously eradicated diseases. Makes perfect sense, if you're already a person who considers immigrants a gross, unwanted underclass. 

The problem is, it's, yes… make-believe. There's literally no scientific evidence for this theory. As it turns out, it's mostly our own fault, grownups who were immunized, but whose immunity has worn off over the years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

It is often suggested that pertussis outbreaks can be attributed to people "importing" the disease when they come to the U.S. from other countries, but this is not the case. Prior to vaccination, there were upwards of 200,000 cases and 9,000 deaths from pertussis every year in the U.S. alone. While we have greatly reduced the burden of pertussis through vaccination, it was never eliminated. It is always present in our communities. Further, reduction in the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases, including pertussis, is one of the great successes of public health. Every country vaccinates children against pertussis, and in the Americas, every country has achieved pertussis vaccine coverage of 78 percent or higher. While all people should be vaccinated on time according to the recommended schedule, under-vaccination is not the cause of the current outbreaks…. we usually find that most pertussis occurs among vaccinated people. This does not mean that the vaccine doesn't work, it just means that most people are vaccinated but protection wears off.

And Mexican immigrants are likely more immune than people immunized as Americans:

Mexico does a great job vaccinating for pertussis. Until just a few years ago, Mexico was using the whole-cell vaccine,  which is probably more effective than the acellular vaccine that has been used in the U.S. since the 1990s.

Wow, that makes it kind of hard to blame Mexicans for whooping cough, doesn't it? What a shame for the people who like to–wait for it–play make-believe that the old "Dirty Mexican" stereotype is actually just a sensible, prudent reaction to germy immigrants.

But please, Ms. Tantaros, tell us more about how the left is leading the country toward the land of make-believe. Just give us a second, first. We need to use our hand sanitizer and pop some Airborne before you start talking. As a vaccinated American adult, you're a whole lot more likely to give us a pertussis infection than are most immigrants, and with a disease like whooping cough, you just can't be too careful.

 


Full story: “How the Left is Leading the Country Toward the Land of Make-Believe” Speaker Makes Believe That Immigrants Spread Whooping Cough

Dave Williams Post-Mortem: Slow, Painful Change and Another Weird Owen Hill Letter

58
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Sat February 16, 2013 at 1:06 PM MDT

Violently anti-gay and weirdly pro-sex offender El Paso County Chair candidate Dave Williams (part one, part two, part three) lost his race one week ago today. Williams earned 41% of central committee members' votes, to opponent Jeff Hays' 59%. When even conservative talk radio started calling for Williams to step aside because of his inability to fairly represent gay Republicans, it became obvious that change is in the air even in the most conservative parts of the GOP. "You can't win elections with just wealthy, white, evangelical Christian, heterosexual males" is sinking in. Even more importantly, the people who simply believe there's nothing conservative about bullying gays–people like Jason Worley and Ken Clark–are getting their voices heard.

But change won't be easy. It'll be slow, painful, and over the dead careers of many of today's Republican legislators. Take, for example, freshman Senator Owen Hill, who, when he isn't "signing" letters as a representative of a nonexistent Senate district, is apparently given to using rhetoric like "He's half-Hispanic, therefore we'll get Hispanic votes!" to endorse Dave Williams. Hill, who joined with Representative Lambert to nominate Williams at the El Paso County GOP assembly, sent a bizarre letter (after the jump) on behalf of Williams. (Whether or not he wrote or signed it, I'll leave to the reader's discretion, but he certainly attached his name.)

"Dave Williams is half-Hispanic himself and is our best spokesman to win over Hispanic families who should be voting Republican…" 

 

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Full story: Dave Williams Post-Mortem: Slow, Painful Change and Another Weird Owen Hill Letter

“See No Evil” Ag-Gag Laws: Coming Soon to CO?

3
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Tue February 5, 2013 at 5:25 PM MDT

Group of cattleThe latest weapon in the war between cost reduction and animal welfare: So-called ag-gag laws, which criminalize whistleblower investigations of animal cruelty. These "see no evil" measures protect agricultural enterprises at the expense of workers and consumers. Although these investigations enjoy the support of 71% of Americans, they mean huge costs for big ag. That's why laws that turn whistleblowers into felons have been introduced in eight states already, and why this destructive legislative agenda is likely to arrive in Colorado by 2015.

In a landmark 2008 case, a judgement totaling nearly half a billion dollars was entered against a meat supplier caught on film torturing "downer" cattle to get them to rise and walk to their deaths. Among other horrific abuses, workers were videotaped ramming collapsed cattle with a forklift. Downer cattle can't be sold for human consumption because they may risk transmitting Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis, aka "Mad Cow Disease." 

Needless to say, industrial agriculture isn't eager to accept up to $500,000,000 in possible liability, on top of ever-increasing operating costs. The American public consistently demands more, cheaper animal products, to the tune of 200 million additional pounds of meat year-over-year. Instead of establishing procedures to avoid animal abuse and the associated food safety risks, agribusiness has elected to push legislation that protects abusive businesses and hurts workers. Let's take a look: 

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Full story: “See No Evil” Ag-Gag Laws: Coming Soon to CO?

Republican Evolution: Grassroots Radio Calls for Dave Williams to Bow Out

3
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Sat February 2, 2013 at 2:09 PM MDT

In covering Dave Williams this week, I've repeated over and over that the GOP is at a crossroads when it comes to gay rights: Can it still be acceptable in a major political party to refuse to treat gays with even basic human decency? Dave Williams is a convenient avatar for a type of Republican that is dying out, and none too soon. Today, we've got an example of what's arriving in his place: Conservative thinkers who not only invite GBLT Americans into their party, but who will actually stand up for them. 

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Full story: Republican Evolution: Grassroots Radio Calls for Dave Williams to Bow Out

Dave Williams, Part Three: Gays No, Sex Offenders Yes

13
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Fri February 1, 2013 at 7:28 PM MDT

Dave WilliamsEarlier today, I posted about Dave Williams' extreme hostility toward the GBLT community, and the anti-gay bullying which led to Dave's impeachment as UCCS student body president. Yesterday, we covered Dave's disturbing, quasi-violent response to a request for an apology to the gay Army colonel he booed at the 2012 Republican state convention. Because Dave is so deeply committed to opposing homosexuality, one might assume he'd be even more intolerant of deviant sexual behavior that actually harms others, right?

Wrong.

The evidence below will show that Dave Williams has repeatedly gone to bat for the rights of registered sex offenders, while he's unwilling to extend the same courtesy to gays.

Let's take a look. 

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Full story: Dave Williams, Part Three: Gays No, Sex Offenders Yes

Dave Williams’ Contempt for the Gay Community Triggers El Paso County Republican Schism

5
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Fri February 1, 2013 at 1:56 PM MDT

UPDATE: The Colorado Log Cabin Republicans confirm that George Gramer, a US Army Colonel, was booed at the May, 2012 GOP state convention by El Paso County Republicans, including admitted boo-er Dave Williams. However, no Log Cabin representative was able to confirm previous allegations that anti-gay slurs were used. At the same convention, nearly 50% of Republicans supported a resolution favoring civil unions, and Ryan Call, Colorado Republican Party Chairman, scolded booers at the assembly for their lack of respect, as well as apologizing directly to the Log Cabin Republicans and to George personally for the booers' boorish behavior. Kudos to Call for behaving in a statesmanlike fashion when faced with bad actors within his party.

Last night's post was just a teaser. 

Today, in part two of three (yes, there's more!) let's really dig into Dave Williams, El Paso County GOP Vice Chair and a current candidate for El Paso County Republican Party Chair. Specifically, let's talk about his, ah, strained relationship to the gay community, and what that means for the leadership of a county where homosexuality has frequently dominated political discourse. 

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Full story: Dave Williams’ Contempt for the Gay Community Triggers El Paso County Republican Schism

El Paso GOP Chair Candidate Dave Williams Has Violent Reaction to Apology Request

6
  by: ProgressiveCowgirl Thu January 31, 2013 at 9:14 PM MDT

At least he's not your future county Republican party chair… unless he is. 

Earlier today, Jason broke the story that Dave Williams, aspiring El Paso County Republican Party Chairman, doesn't regret booing the Log Cabin Republicans at a Republican party assembly in May. Tonight, Williams was again asked to apologize for booing the GBLT Republican group, and instead of an apology, responded with this somewhat pathological Facebook post: 

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Full story: El Paso GOP Chair Candidate Dave Williams Has Violent Reaction to Apology Request