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What the Hell?!?

by: Colorado Pols

Fri Jan 02, 2009 at 10:58:56 AM MST


By now we've all heard the news that Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet will be named Colorado's next U.S. Senator tomorrow. Our reaction?

What the hell?

Governor Bill Ritter surely (hopefully) has a good reason for choosing Bennet to replace Ken Salazar, but from where we're sitting it's damn near impossible to see what that reason might be. By all accounts Bennet is brilliant guy who also happens to be fabulously wealthy from his days working with super-rich dude Phil Anschutz, but being smart and rich doesn't make this a wise choice.
Colorado Pols :: What the Hell?!?
Ritter needed to select someone who would have a great chance of winning re-election in 2010, and that's where Bennet makes absolutely no sense. It would have been hard for Ritter to choose someone who was less well-known around the state, which means that Republicans will have a great chance of running someone in 2010 who has far better name ID than the incumbent Senator.

It's no secret that Bennet has always had his eye on the U.S. Senate, and he probably would have been a strong candidate in an open election. But appointing him to the job makes little sense because of the other options available. In other words, Bennet is a good choice if all things are equal...but they're not. It's not that Bennet is a bad choice because of who he is - Bennet is a bad choice because there were so many better options.

Ritter could have gone with a popular Mayor who enjoys tremendous name ID throughout the Front Range (Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper). He could have chosen an incumbent congressman with a big warchest who could seamlessly move into the office (Rep. Ed Perlmutter). He could have chosen a popular former Speaker of the House whose selection wouldn't have caused a domino effect of jockeying to fill his seat (Andrew Romanoff). Ritter could have chosen a lot of people who had strong name ID and weren't just known as "Denver people," but he didn't. He chose Michael Bennet.

The obvious question is "why?" And there is no obvious answer. Bennet is well-liked in the business community, and Ritter has an almost pathological fear of angering the business community, so this may have played a role. Or perhaps Ritter wanted someone on the ticket in 2010 who wouldn't overshadow him in his own re-election bid. We could speculate for days on why Ritter chose Bennet, but unless there is some polling data that shows Bennet to be wildly popular around the state, this will go down as another uninspired and baffling move by Ritter.
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What the Hell?!? | 147 comments
What?
"It's no secret that Bennet has always had his eye on the U.S. Senate, and he probably would have been a strong candidate in an open election. But appointing him to the job makes little sense..."

So, he would have been a strong candidate in an open election but two years in the U.S. Senate and incumbent status will HURT his chances? Go fish guys.

If it's an open race and all things are equal
Then Bennet could be a good candidate. But if you can choose someone given the strong contenders available, Bennet doesn't make sense because he has no name ID. This is a Democratic seat, and Ritter needed to fill it with a Democrat with the best chance to win in 2010. That person is not Bennet.
[ Parent ]
Name ID doesn't worry me
Anytime any Democratic figure does an event in Colorado that draws a crowd of 2 or more, Bennet will be there. Anytime anyone takes credit for anything brought home from Washington, they will give Bennet equal credit.

And they'll do the same for Markey up in her district.

By '10 everyone in Colorado will think Bennet & Markey are our only 2 federal office holders.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

[ Parent ]
Those events will help hadcore Dems know who he is.
What about the other 98% of the voting population?

Want my vote? Put in some time with your party first!
[ Parent ]
Well, he definitely has work to do to raise name recognition.
I don't think anyone here is suggesting otherwise.

I think about 98% of the voting population is going to know his name by the end of this week since it's all over the local news and is the top of the hour story. :)

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie

[ Parent ]
Unless he does something REALLY clever
no one will remember this guy in 2010. We will need to be hearing his name attached to really good work every day for two years for it to even begin to sink in to most voters.

As it is, hardly anyone outside of Denver knows this guy's name, and most of those who do only vaguely know he is the superintendant of schools. I imagine people with kids in DPS may know a little more than most.

Personally I can only recall even being in the same room with guy once, and that was because I went to a DPS board meeting to deal with caucuses.

A large portion of the voters will have some concept that we have a US Senator named Michael Bennet, but they won't know what they need to knwo to cause them to vote for him. Especially if the GOP candidiate is someone they are more familiar with.

I am planning on going to the announcment tomorrow. I want to hear it all, not just the part the media chooses to tell us. I am hoping to hear some reason to be okay with this pick. But right now I can't think of any.

Want my vote? Put in some time with your party first!

[ Parent ]
Well, like you I'm taking a wait and see approach
on this one. I would have preferred Romanoff or Perlmutter but after reading various comments about Bennet here, I'm inclined to believe that he may turn out to be an excellent pick.

It's not like he has 3 months here. He has 2 years to get his name recognition up, to meet with voters and to make a name for himself. I think your worries are a bit overblown and frankly, premature.  

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie

[ Parent ]
He has less than a year to build name recognition.
The Senate race begins less than a year from now.  at that point, he'll have a clear opponent and begins to lose the name rec lead, assuming he runs against another unrecognizable.  Which is doubtful: Even Mark Hilman has a greater electoral footprint.
[ Parent ]
I agree
It makes little sense.


A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.Paul Simon
[ Parent ]
Very Important
"who is he?" is the problem for him. The answer to that question is being created now - and it is not being created by him.  The media, all media, is putting together his personna, without his input.  

What is being put together here and across the country is what he will be stuck with forever.  Changing it will be very difficult.

This is a serious problem.  The idea that because he has no background makes him desirable is not right.  His background is now being created for him by others.

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

[ Parent ]
Good Lord, Pam
Ritter didn't pick his name out of the phone book. He has an extensive and detailed background from years of public service.  
[ Parent ]
Pulling a candidate (appointee in this case)
basically from his ass would have a been a brilliant move for the GOP right now (God willing they're not taking notes), but when you have the a Dem style bench it's... weird.  In a lot of ways Bennet is a random name in the political phone book.

"Don't go all "Ralphie" on me now: Just let it go." - Steve Harvey
[ Parent ]
Bennet?
Ritter, like most politicians, thinks of himself as superior to other pols-the whole nasty, compromised lot of 'em. He was a D.A., remember?  An elected official, true, but of a subset whose members consider themselves inherently superior to the scheming dealmakers in local, state, and national government.  Bennet is undeniably smart and able-and he may even do ok in the Senate.  But this is a guy who has never run for office, has never begged the skanky electorate for their votes, never had the balls to put himself on the line. He's our very own Caroline Kennedy-fewer 'you knows', a better resume, but right now he's just a suit who made money & ran a big-city school system.

You have to wonder how Ritter's evident contempt for his inferiors-i.e., liberals/politicians/state legislators and and other such riff-raff will play, as he tries to cope with the state's fiscal meltdown during the coming session. Maybe the legislature won't play nice...
 

I love Democrat slap fights. n/t


"Kevin and I will keep them out somehow -- even if we have to redefine what the peer-review literature is!"  
[ Parent ]
I don't think it's a Dem slap-fight...
...so much as the political class upset that an "outsider" got the nod.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?
[ Parent ]
He is hardly an outsider.
...it's just that he's never run for office before.  An advisor to Anschutz, super of DPS (which we got with no education experience), chief of staff to Hickenlooper, lawyer in DOJ, serious contender for Obama's cabinet, son of a diplomat, and -- BEST OF ALL -- brother of a former NYT reporter.  That is not the profile of an outsider.
[ Parent ]
"Outside" the "cool lunch table" maybe... n/t


"Kevin and I will keep them out somehow -- even if we have to redefine what the peer-review literature is!"  
[ Parent ]
Good point.
I think what David meant (not to put words in his mouth) is that Bennet is definitely outside the short list that most everybody thought the eventual appointee would be on. I think he is an unconventional choice and that Ritter's decision has taken many within the Party by genuine surprise.

David, if I'm wrong, I apologize in advance for speaking for you.  

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie

[ Parent ]
You're right
but how many people were lobbying for someone off the short list, or hoping Ritter would surprise everyone with an out-of-the-box pick? (That's not directed at you, MOR, you seem to understand that it's only by a very narrow definition an ouside pick.)
[ Parent ]
Yes plus...
...I think that many who make their living in politics are indignant that it was not someone that met their definition of earned the right to get it.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?
[ Parent ]
Jamba, mighty white of ya to note how he is not an outsider
Some might see this as east coast whitebread gets Yale JD then tracks to standard milk toast plan ... having his future gifted to him by other whitebreads.

I agree with ya; I know he earned it all.

Say, how is the 30% dropout rate (50%+ DO rate for minorities) doing at DPS?

[ Parent ]
Good lord, you're supposed to divide that stuff...
...not smoke it all yourself.  Amateurs.
[ Parent ]
You love democracy? I'm shocked
you fascist, tweed, narrow minded, bigoted, bleeding heart (that's the worst kind of bleeding heart). May the better slapper win.

"I can tolerate chaos, I'm just not sure chaos can tolerate me" Dylan
[ Parent ]
???
???

"Kevin and I will keep them out somehow -- even if we have to redefine what the peer-review literature is!"  
[ Parent ]
It's making more sense to me
two years is a lot of time to build name rec, and the CO Republicans with sufficient name rec are the biggest tools in the party (e.g, Owens, Beauprez, Tancredo).

I think a glance at his work history indicates that he's got a national network that is going to jumpstart his fundraising in very short order.

Add to the equation the fact that Bill Ritter reached outside of the obvious political choices to pick someone with a business background, a public service background, and a budget hawk background....

I think voters might really dig this guy.  

"It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!" - Nietzsche  

You're forgetting
That the only announced Republican candidate is John Suthers...

Not exactly a Tom Tancredo

[ Parent ]
Not exactly
well known outside party and political circles, either.
[ Parent ]
who knows?
Ritter will either look like a genius for this pick in two years if the guy does great. Or, people will point to this as his enormous screw-up.  We can't accuse Ritter of making safe choices, either way. Guess if Bill's willing to roll the dice this big, I'm going to take a wait and see attitude.  I actually like it when we bring new energy into the political process, but I don't think that plays well with the insiders who live on this site.
"The Economy Stupid?"
One motive for Ritter's appointment may be that he sees restructuring failed enterprises as the number one issue facing the U.S. Senate right now, and sees Bennet as the man with deep and proven credentials in that department.

This may be more about GM, Chrysler, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG and failed banks than it is about more ordinary politics.

When companies are failing left and right, why not appoint a turnaround expert?

[ Parent ]
A budget hawk at this point in time
is really going to resonate with Colorado voters over the next 18 months.  

"It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!" - Nietzsche  
[ Parent ]
Is he? Who knows?
School superintendents and private sector managers are automatically budget hawks for the simple reason that they don't have the power on their own to unilaterally increase revenues through taxation or self-underwritten borrowing.

One of the few pictures aired by the papers with his appointment was him holding a 3A sign campaigning for a tax increase for DPS (which passed overwhelmingly), and his other direct campaigning experience also involves ballot issues.

Nobody where knows where Bennet stands on balancing the budget or anything else, which is sort of the point.  It gives him a free hand to do what is popular with voters, or will be popular in a couple of years anyway.


[ Parent ]
HA!
Republicans are about to get this seat back.  No way Bennet can will statewide...  
Familiar words in regards SENATOR Udall.


"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

[ Parent ]
Not to mention
GOVERNOR Ritter, who was written off as an unknown nobody who couldn't compete statewide, not against the formidable Congressman Beauprez.
[ Parent ]
Congressman who?
Oh......

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

[ Parent ]
Friendly, warm and charming too.
I thought Ritter was going to pick Hick, but Bennet will do great, just you wait.  I think it's the "rescue factor" that probably sold the Gov.  He's rescued bunches of companies, rescued Denver's budget, and now for the biggest rescue in human history--the U.S. budget and economy.  Great job Ritter!
I know who Bennet is
but there was no "why" as an option.  
Wait until the announcement
We don't know if Bennet has any intention of running in 2010. He has three young children and lord knows running for Senate for two solid years has got to be an odd life choice at this stage.
In which case...
Oh my, if Bennet agrees not to run in 2 years, it will be a bruising and very costly primary battle between Hick & Romanoff.
[ Parent ]
Come on. Let's get serious here.
He was also supposedly on the short list for a Cabinet position. He's looking to move up the political ladder. There's not a doubt in my mind that he is running in 2010. I don't think Ritter would have given him serious consideration if he wasn't.  

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie
[ Parent ]
I think you're probably right.
Raising money will be a huge issue in 2 years, and Bennet had to prove that he can raise it (and if necessary, pull a Polis and self-fund).
[ Parent ]
Bennet has Polis money?
No way. I've been to his and Susan's house, and there's no comparision. They're comfortable, but I wouldn't even say rich.

FWIW, his wife is great. I like her better than him. Irrelevant yes (also true of Sen. Elect Udall).

[ Parent ]
Just assuming (which is dangerous).
The main Coloradopols post talked about he being "fabulously wealthy" from his days at Anschutz, so I assumed he had made a bundle and has it in the bank.  That's still possible and he could still live modestly--that's not mutually exclusive.  He doesn't have to have a 546,000 square foot house like Shanahan.
[ Parent ]
No offense, BoulderDem,
but unless you are privy to their joint checking account, you have no idea what they are worth. He may not be a billionaire or millionaire but that doesn't mean he can't self fund some of his campaign, the same way Markey did.  

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie
[ Parent ]
We'll all know in a matter of days
when mandatory financial disclosures for Senators come out.  I'm happy to wait until we have the facts.  

Bennet has never been one of the top tier political donors in Colorado, but given the professional posts he's held, there would be good reason for not doing so even if he could.

[ Parent ]
Why would Bennet have to complete a financial disclosure ?
.
He cannot even be appointed until after Salazar resigns.  

I'm guessing that Ken remains a Senator through the confirmation process, which doesn't start until the 111th Congress is convened.  

That may still be weeks away.  
.

[ Parent ]
... may still be weeks away
Salazar's confirmation hearings are scheduled to begin Jan. 15. He has said he won't step down until confirmed, so, yes, probably another 2-3 weeks.
[ Parent ]
Not all very wealthy people flaunt it
Maybe they just have different life priorities than, say, Mike Shanahan, who may have a little trouble unloading that super-duper-super-sized palace/entertainment fantasyland of his when he relocates.  Bye Bye Shanny.  
[ Parent ]
Right. See: Warren Buffet
I recall that he still lives in a concret block house they bought half a century ago.  Bigger now and all that, but no desire to live it up.  

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

[ Parent ]
That's ridiculous
Nobody would have sought this seat if they hadn't planned to run for re-election. That's silly.
[ Parent ]
I don't know if I put much stock in the...
assumption that these guys necessarily know what they are doing, especially when there is ego, ambition, fear, stress and haste involved.  The wishful thinking in this decision must be thick enough to cut with a machete.

Bigger point, though:  I know about Bennett via the Anshutz connection and the DPS appointment a few years ago.  But has he ever run for an elective office?  Can a brilliant, well-funded, high recognition arriviste wunderkind beat Scott McInnis?  It'll be a GOP-targetted race againsts a very smart experienced legislator -- I think it likely that McInnis will feast on Bennett even without the extraordinary megabucks the GOP will throw at the race.   Representative-elect Polis won easily in a largely uncontested general election.  A Senator Bennett in a heavily contested election will need a LOT more than treasure and IQ to win an election.

[ Parent ]
"I don't know if I put much stock in the assumption that these guys necessarily know what they are doing,"
Sounds like a safe assumption to stay away from to me. Also safe not to put too much stock in we what we hear from self proclaimed "insiders" (or at least people who say they know insiders) here.  Did anybody predict this or did I miss something?
[ Parent ]
A record can be a liability.
It is hard to run attack ads against a guy with a family life that provides no dirt, whose career consists of ordinary business and senior government jobs (i.e. who has never been a lobbyist), whose never cast a legislative vote against anyone.

It also doesn't take much in the way of expertise to secure legislative accomplishments to run upon to have a better track record that either Allard or McInnis ever had, particularly when Democrats have a safe majority.  

Further, it isn't uncommon for leadership to assign plum bills to rookies in vulnerable seats specifically to beef up their record of popular legislative accomplishments, while assigning unpopular bills (that might actually be a newbie's idea) to members with safer seats and more distant elections.

[ Parent ]
Not silly at all.
The amount of effort that goes into seeking a seat is very modest in the case of a gubinatorial appointment -- vacancy appointments frequently draw candidates who would never consider entering a primary race without the benefit of incumbancy.  In the vacancy appointment case, one only needs to make a discrete phone call to Bill Dwyer asking to be considered bythe Governor -- no fundraising, no more time than a private interview, and very little planning required.

Indeed, we don't know for sure that it was Bennet that asked Ritter first, and not the other way around.  While Pols claim that "It's no secret that Bennet has always had his eye on the U.S. Senate" it certainly wasn't widely held public knowledge, even in insider political circles either.  Certainly everyone was aware that Bennet had high ambitions, but that is far less specific than considering oneself in the running for the U.S. Senate.

I know very few civic minded successful people who are going to answer a call from the Governor's office asking if they'd mind being appointed as a U.S. Senator who would say no, unless they had no real chance of getting the post anyway and had something to lose by being appointed.

If Bill Ritter's focus were really on choice the person with the best shot of winning re-election he wouldn't have taken a chance on Bennet in the first place.

Indeed, it would be almost unseemly to even start campaigning for re-election in earnest until late 2009, after Bennet has established some sort of legislative record for himself.

[ Parent ]
Who is Bill Dyer?
Do you mean Evan Dryer? I'm assuming you don't.  

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie
[ Parent ]
I meant Evan Dreyer
and let my mind race faster than my fingers mushing Bill Ritter and Evan Dreyer together.
[ Parent ]
They're different people?
[ Parent ]
Not sure what you just said.
...The title of your post suggests that you disagree with Pols' notion that Bennet intends to run in 2010.  That is, you think it's likely he won't run.  But the rest of your post is all over the map; I can't tell what is your point.
[ Parent ]
Shorter me
"We don't know enough to know if he'll run in 2010 yet.  It isn't silly to think that he might not run."
[ Parent ]
Oh.
..but your post doesn't substantiate your point all that much.
[ Parent ]
missed opportunity
I can't help feeling that appointing another white male missed an opportunity.
Great choice

While I have strong personal relationships and great admiration for many of the other candidates, I have to say that I am thrilled to see the Governor choose Michael Bennet.

I have known Michael through our work in education for several years. He brings extensive business experience to the job, which is what we need more of in the US Congress, and particularly in our Democratic party as we work to get the economy going again. I've never been one to say that we need a Congress of businesspeople, but if you look at the Democratic caucus, business people are under-represented relative to attorneys and career politicians. He also has extensive hands on experience in public education. I do believe he is ideally prepared to serve our state and nation, and it's not just because I'm partial to business and education experience in our delegation ;-)

Actually, Michael's experience and mine, while in similar fields, is different and complementary. In business, my work has been disruptive and bottom-up (e.g, starting companies). I've never run (nor desired to run) large companies. Michael has run holding groups and companies.

In education, while I did policy work on the State Board of Education, I focused on bottom-up reforms by starting and running charter schools to serve at-risk kids. In fact, one charter school I co-founded, the Academy of Urban Learning, was renewed during Bennet's tenure at DPS (thanks Michael!). Michael's experience on the other hand, is reform from the top down through a district. When he got the job I called him and said that I didn't envy him his position, reforming a large structure like a school district is extremely difficult work (and I hope his successor continues an aggressive reform agenda at DPS).

The truth is that in both education and business, we need to implement ideas from both the top down AND from the bottom up. While my own direct experience is in creative disruption, I also value the validity of Michael's experience "reforming" large companies and large public education entities. As much as I worked in the private sector to make slow-moving corporate behemoths irrelevant, and in education to bypass the painstaking and overly political decision processes of many school districts, in reality we are all part of the "solution."

Ideally, we can work together and mutually respect the importance of approaching problems from all angles. And we both bring a great appreciation that the only real mid to long term route to ongoing prosperity for our nation is improving the education that people of all ages receive.

Congratulations to Michael, I look forward to seeing him in DC!

Jared Polis
From Oklahoma City, OK, en route to DC (driving out with a car full of boxes)

Drive safe Jared
Drive Safe. And, by the way, we look forward to working with you, Gina and others on your staff here in Thornton and Adams County. Happy New Year.
[ Parent ]
Thanks Jared....
appreciate the input.

Drive safely and do a great job in DC!

"But when I see a 9-11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh, shut up!' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining."  Glenn Beck  

[ Parent ]
Insightful input.
Let's hope for some good teamwork in Colorado's delegation.
[ Parent ]
Great points, Jared
I can't agree more.  Of the candidates who I felt were viable, I was a big supporter of Andrew Romanoff.  Aside from losing Michael at DPS, he was my dream candidate.  He's an incredibly thoughtful individual, not afraid to admit when he's wrong, and has a proven track record as a reformer.  

I was most impressed with Michael when I owned a home in the Whittier neighborhood a few years ago.  It was the year after Manual closed, and he was taking extreme heat from the neighborhood for what was seen by many as a dictatorial choice to close the school.  After the first week of the new school year, when students were supposed to be in their new schools, I ran into Michael and one of his assistants walking up and down the street knocking on doors of students who had yet to report to school.  Granted, this has little to do with the kind of senator that he'll make, but it shows a great amount of humility and dedication.  I'll take those qualities in my next Senator.

He also comes from a talented household.  His wife Susan is a brilliant woman, dedicated to conservation in Colorado.  This is a great choice....

[ Parent ]
bullshit. denverglenn. It shows a real nose for media attention.
Why wasn't bennet walking the streets to find all the kids who had been kicked out of Manual when he closed it w/o a plan for the displaced kids????


Talk Radio - The weapon to divide and conquer America....but who is funding it?
[ Parent ]
Good idea to jump on this train..
..before it leaves your ass at the station.

:-)

[ Parent ]
I hope you didn't BB that message while driving! :)


"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

[ Parent ]
Isn't Oklahoma in the other direction?
Thank you for posting. I am excited for the prospect of another smart business man and ally in Congress. We are packing D.C. with the best and brightest.

I have to admit however, at this moment I am uncomfortable with M. Bennet because I do not know his positions on any of the issues, except some education initiatives.  His associations with Philip Anschutz make me skeptical on domestic issues and ethics/corporate oversight.

Happy Moving!

[ Parent ]
Isn't Oklahoma in the other direction?
Yes, it's between Utah and Oregon, isn't it?
[ Parent ]
That must be the DPS edumication at work Noelle!
Most of OK is east of CO. OK is actually a boarder state with CO. Technically CO has 7 boarder states.

As to your Bennet skepticism, well you should be scared.

[ Parent ]
Thanks for the geometry lesson
I was kidding, but Oklahoma is south. If he is going east on I-10, then he drove south to Albuquerque.

Scared of Bennet? not too much. He sounds great on paper; but frustrated by Colorado politics, yes!!!! I am sick of Ritter's political games.

Bennet will be totally useless for two years. He will be afraid to vote for anything controversial, like reform. This will give Colorado two years to vet him in other ways.  It would be nice to know if this guy has opinions on you know like Iraq and stuff.


[ Parent ]
Polis said in another thread
he's taking the southerly route, first night in Amarillo, second night in Little Rock, then Nashville and then D.C., in part to avoid the icy highways through Kansas and because it's a more interesting drive.

Our family used to take that route to the east coast in the winter when I was a little kid -- when you add it all up, it's not that far out of the way.

[ Parent ]
Border.
Unless all these neighboring states are getting room and board in Colorado.  Come to think of it . . . and that makes Texas a boarder state, too.
[ Parent ]
Bennet choice for US Senate
What a great way for Repubs to start off 2009, he has little statewide recognition and how long was he at DPS? and at the City of Denver?  There is life for the GOP in 2010 - thanks Gov. Ritter!
We can only hope
this news has Beauprez and Tancredo licking their chops.
[ Parent ]
Odd Choice
I guess it is time to update the Big Line to include Bennet.

Maybe the papers got it wrong and the Governor is appointing Pam?

Yeay! Pam for Senate!
Assuming she wants to give up her run in Aurora.

"I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result."  -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878
[ Parent ]
I guess it is time to update the Big Line to include Bennet
ouch, huh pols?
[ Parent ]
Not just "ouch Pols" but
ouch to everybody. I don't think anybody saw this one coming.  

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie
[ Parent ]
You got that right
At least not anybody who posts here. Maybe this was known to a secret handshake crowd but that would be about it.
[ Parent ]
Everyone should take a deep breath and begin the new year by resolving to support Senator Bennet.
Mr. Bennet has an outstanding career resume already. Editor of the Yale Law Review, reoganized the Anshutz companies (involved billions of dollars), chief of staff to Mayor Hickenlooper and most recently DPS Superintendent. He unquestionably has a superior intellect and in every endeavor he has undertaken has been very successful. That bodes well for his time in the U.S. Senate. He is smart, creative and able to master the circumstances he finds himself in and move forward with creative, practical solutions. It also means he will understand and master the requirements to win the election in 2010.

From the political-election perspective the truth is that appointees only win election 50% of the time two years after they are appointed. That means several things no matter who Governor Ritter appointed. First, the Republicans were going to spend a great deal of money on this race in 2010 no matter who the Governor appointed. By extension, that means the Democrats were going to spend a huge amount here too in 2010.

Second, because senate seats are so valuable, Mr. Bennet won't have any trouble raising sufficient funds to run a first rate campaign. Plus, his strong ties to the business community should aid him in this area.

Third, we must disenthrall ourselves of the previous perspective most activists have held about Colorado. Our state is no longer a Republican stronghold. It is most certainly purple, if not blue. A Democrat certainly has a good prospect to win here. Ten years ago it would have been different.

Fourth, the Republican Party here and nationally remains in tatters after the election. They have not been able to set a course that will attract moderates, and the business community remains aleinated by the social conservatives. Mr. Bennet can obviously attract support from the business community based on his tenure at DPS, with Mayor Hickenlooper and the Anshutz companies.

Fifth, the Colorado Democrat organization, including the ongoing Obama change groups, are a perfect vehicle for Mr. Bennet to begin meeting voters of all persuasions.

Mr. Bennet is our new U.S. Senator. Lets get behind him, support him and win the election in 2010.

I am not falling in line yet.
Unity is good, and I certainly want Bennet to know that as my Senator he has my support for the next two years.

But Ritter only gets to appoint someone for the remainder of the term. After that it is the voters duty to decide who they want to represent them.

It is unfortunate that Ritter did not pick someone as either a placeholder, or someone so clearly a powerhouse that they would clear the field for re-election, but the fact is that he picked someone who creates the very real possibility of a legitimate primary.

That may make holding the seat harder for the Democrats in 2010, but it would be worse not to choose the best person for the job. Is Bennet the best? He may be, and if so he will have a short time to prove himself. If someone else believes they are better, I hope that they have the strength of will to step forward.

Rallying around the flag, wherever Ritter decided to toss it, might very well be our best chance of having someone with a (D) after their names in office, but that is not what I really want. I vote for Democrats because they field the best candidates that share my core values. I don't know yet if Bennet is that guy, and if someone else wants to make their case, I am listening.

[ Parent ]
It isn't clear if he is or isn't a placeholder.
Given that this appointment was clearly made without re-election as the prime consideration, it isn't at all obvious that Bennet is currently planning to run in 2010, or that this appointment was intended to clear the field of other primary candidates.

Bennet really has a choice now.  

He could really make a splash on the Hill, push some signature legislation, and make himself popular statewide with speeches and actions during his honeymoon period, while starting his 2010 campaign tomorrow with a lot of help from the Ritter and Hickenlooper campaigns.

Alternately, he could lie low, tread carefully, commit to not running in 2010, and use his national experience to cement a reputation for moderation, negotiation and managerial expertise that he could parley into a high level executive branch position.

[ Parent ]
It isn't clear if you are or are not saying that it would or would not be a good thing if he were or weren't picked as a placeholder.
...if picking a mere placeholder were Ritter's intent, that's stupid.
[ Parent ]
Clearly

[ Parent ]
We won't know until we see how he does.
Picking a placeholder is hardly the worst thing that Ritter could do, particularly if his choice is someone competent like Bennet.

Bennet is not obviously well suited to run for re-election, but neither was Hickenlooper before we saw him in action.

There were lots of people looking for the job who clearly would have been worse choices, and the edge that the strongest alternatives had is not insurmountable.

[ Parent ]
"Picking a placeholder is hardly the worst thing that Ritter could do"
...is that standard which matters here?  Ritter did OK as long as he didn't do the worst possible thing he could do?  such high hopes you have for the guv
[ Parent ]
Ditto
All the comments here are making me think this could be a very good choice.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?
[ Parent ]
But they wont (take a deep breath)
and he won't

He won't fundraise like a better known candidate would have. Perhaps he can win anyway.

A D candidate can win - Udall did. But a relative unknown D with little field support?

It remains to be seen whether the R's in Colorado will stabilize and regroup or divise and remain chaotic. (Ok- divise isn't a word but it should be.)

And if Senator-select Bennet reaches out successfully to the ongoing Obama change groups, I'll cheer but faint from shock.

[ Parent ]
Actually devise IS a word
Just not the one you're looking for.  You can, for instance, devise a strategy as in come up with one.
[ Parent ]
Get behind a 30-50% dropout rate?
The DPS job is not done.
[ Parent ]
Hmmmm, What does this say for the New Energy Economy?
I wonder if all the work that went into Senator Salazar's support for the Southeast and San Luis Valley gets lost. Then there is the Pinon Canyon Expansion issue, which is probably not on Bennet's radar.
That's something missing from the backgrounder
There's not much on Bennet's commitment to Colorado issues.  I'm assuming he has such a commitment, somewhere, but I think this is going to take more selling to Colorado Democrats than "yeay, businessman and educator".

"I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result."  -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878
[ Parent ]
risk averse anti-politican ritter
Agree with H-dog that Ritter wants to seem A political.  From all the comments here, I gather that Bennet will give the seat a good run.  But the missed opportunity to get a leg up with someone with name recognition seems beyond me to comprehend.  And while many folks like Bennet, lots in the education world don't.  It seems to me Ritter has an obligation to help the field of Democrats nationwide, and he did not do that.    
"Education world"
The fact that the "education world" (aka the union) hates Bennet is one more good reason for Ritter to elevate him to U.S. Senator, to get Bennet's out-of-the-box practices on a national level.
[ Parent ]
Now that is some solid evidence for the minority opinion

[ Parent ]
Dear God ( and I don't care which one), Let Tancredo be the GOP nominee
Never thought I would see the day I would be rooting for Tancredo. UGH!

Want my vote? Put in some time with your party first!
I assume what you mean is...
..you're rooting for TT to win the GOP nomination, not the general election.  If not, you and me is gonna hafta to take it ouside, where I'll have some points to make with a nail file and hairspray to the eyes.
[ Parent ]
Your first assumption is right
We (Dems) need a very easy GOP candidate to beat in 2010 if we have any hope of holding that seat.

Want my vote? Put in some time with your party first!
[ Parent ]
When did hoping the other team stays dumb
become a legitimate strategy?  In this case it just might work, but come on.

"Don't go all "Ralphie" on me now: Just let it go." - Steve Harvey
[ Parent ]
Bennet for Senate?
The question is:  Where is he on EFCA, health care reform, Iraq, vouchers, ets, etc?
Anywhere he wants to be.
The great virtue of appointing a non-politician is that he doesn't owe anything to anyone.  He has no campaign promises to live up to, no past donors who need to be satisfied, and no way that even Governor Ritter who appointed him can hold him accountable.
[ Parent ]
I think what Tylar is getting at
Is Bennett's views are completely unknown.  He may be qualified, but what if he turns out not to have any real views on anything?  That will also cast serious shadows on Ritter's judgement.

And BTW, if I'm Romanoff (and to a lesser degree, Hick), I'd really see this as a slap in the face.  Sure, they'll come out within the next few days and praise the choice, but I suspect they'll mostly sit on their hands.

[ Parent ]
Yeah.....
...especially Romanoff, unemployed and a super-Dem for Colorado.  What a kick in the ass.

If I were Andrew, I'm not so sure I'd be chummy with Ritter or help him in 10.  

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

[ Parent ]
Because it really was
Ritter's job to make sure Romanoff is gainfully employed in the new year.
[ Parent ]
Not his job....
...but for someone who has served the party (and Colorado) so well and fully capable of the job as Senator, to pick Mike Bennett is painful.

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

[ Parent ]
Yep the Guv failed on Romo
Hick will however love this and was likely the major hand behind getting it done. He has boosted Bennet for years ... come on he put him into the DPS job.

Frankly I think Hick now owes us, lets roll DPS into the city bureaucracy and make Hick manage both!

[ Parent ]
What Haners said...
I think the problem is, we don't know who this guy is...

What are his views on the effects of drilling on landowners' property?  On the Roan Plateau or Piñon Canyon?  On other public land management issues?  On water rights?  On the new energy economy?  On the funding and operation of the various Commerce and DoE labs?

Where does he stand on NCLB?  Workers' rights issues?  Foreign policy?  Tax policy?  Criminal justice?  Health care?  Transportation?

We know nothing about him.  That should be making some people here nervous.

"I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result."  -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878

[ Parent ]
The mere fact that he is a Democrat
that he is almost certain more liberal than Ken Salazar, and that he is not stupid makes the realm of possibility not very nerve wracking.

I can guarantee you that Bennet will take a position on something that doesn't fit the Democratic party line.  Indeed, he almost has to do so, whether he actually disagees with the party line or not, if he intends to run for re-election.

The more I think about it, however, the more convinced I am that he was appointed to be a go to man for dealing with the bailout/economic stimulus/financial crisis/great recession problem first, an education expert second, and a reasonably reliable Democrat third.  I suspect that he will take a quiet back seat in the caucus on issues where he doesn't have special expertise.

This means that he is unlikely to be breathing down Ken Salazar's neck second guessing the man who is still our U.S. Senator for another 18 hours, on traditional "Western" issues, and that he probably won't be a leader on issues like foreign olicy and criminal justice.

On economic issues, my guess is that he will probably take an informed and pragmatic view and a leadership role with a position that is fairly moderate with his eye on the prize of getting the economy back on its feet by whatever means possible.  I suspect that his experience in the corporate world will give him the confidence to be more skeptical of big business claims that are unreasonable than many of his peers, and that he will be important in deciding what policy options will really make a difference, and which are basically window dressing.

When it comes to union-management issues, he probably isn't going to be labor's most pure and ardent supporter, but as a former manager of unionized DPS, he will be aware of the importance of working with unions to get things done in government, and will be able to refute claims that it is simply impossible to run an enterprise successfully in a unionized environment.  I doubt that union concerns will be a sacred cow to him, but I also suspect that he won't go out of his way to screw unions over without very good cause.  In the auto industry context, the writing is on the wall.  The UAW is going to have a much less favorable deal than it does now.  But, I see no reason to be excessively worried about Bennet compared to other people who were seriously considered for the job.  

With 58 Democrats in the Senate (excluding Lieberman who will probably still vote with the Democrats more than with the Republicans, and including Franken who will eventually be seated and some Democratic Senator from Illinois), a perfect voting record across the board really isn't all that important.

[ Parent ]
I'm not sure
you can assume he's more liberal than Ken Salazar. Just sayin'.
[ Parent ]
Bennet has described himself on the record
in an interview with a Denver Post reporter for a profile as a lifelong Democrat, a self-described liberal and a supporter of civil rights.  I'm pretty sure he's more liberal than Ken Salazar, who was one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate.

Hell, it is hard enough to find anyone running for office on a Democratic ticket who will admit to either being a Democrat or to being a liberal in campaign literature.

[ Parent ]
Bennet a Solid Choice
Reading over the carping of the instant (tiny) army of Bennet nay-sayers reminds me of what I like least about Democratic Party politics these days.

Instead of viewing the candidate on his or her merits, Dems view a candidate instantly through the lens of their special interest -- whether more worthy interests of seeking diversity or the small minded interests of the thin stew, anti capitalism types who think that if you worked w/ Anschutz you can't be a good leader.  I don't know about you all, but I voted for Obama to get a change out of this mindless bickering.

Bennet is a solid political thinker -- some think one of the smartest political minds Colorado has every seen.  

And more important, he's done stuff.  He's gotten DPS on its feet again.  The district still has to run, but it's been on its ass for 25 years.  He's also done stuff for Dick Celeste when he was Governor of Ohio and Bill Clinton in the Justice Department.

When you add it all up, and you diligently subtract the special interest politics that have weighed down the Democratic party for decades (remember, we couldn't even beat George Bush), you should conclude that Ritter made a brilliant choice.  For once the party has appointed someone to a job based on the merits.

Adelante!

Very well said
I had the same reaction - the carping here made me like the guy.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?
[ Parent ]
At least we know how to win your vote on something...
:)

"I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result."  -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878
[ Parent ]
tres mature, David

[ Parent ]
But will Bennet
have "lunch with" David? That's the real test.
[ Parent ]
Hey Dave
RedGreen said it this time.  Not me.
[ Parent ]
Unless someone comes up with something solid
I'll reserve my support for whatever it is that he does during his 2-year tenure.

Three years at DPS doesn't an education career make, nor a short stint as Hickenlooper's CoS before that give me any indication of the man's worth.

I just don't know what I'm getting with this appointment.  For all I know, his first act will be calling up his old boss Philip Anschutz for suggestions.  Now I don't think that's going to happen, but I really don't know what he's about, other than that he's been with money - and as perhaps the most junior Senator, he's not likely to get a seat on committees in charge of budget reform.

"I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result."  -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878

[ Parent ]
"Merits"
Depends on what you mean by "merits." Most people devalue political experience as part of having the "merits" for a congressional post. But in fact, and especially in the Senate, it's critical because you get nothing done without those political and legislative chops. Politics is something that is learned and earned, and good politicians are VERY highly skilled individuals. Simply picking an accomplished individual from another walk of life, and saying they're more -- or as -- qualified as a guy like Perlmutter or Romanoff, is very deceptive and, I think, wrong. This is part of the silly American myth that says that all politics are dirty, that people with accomplishments outside of politics are inherently better than people with accomplishments inside that world, that has helped create the mess we're currently in.
[ Parent ]
exactly.
He's never had to run a race. He's obviously never won a race.   He may be able to do both- hell, he may be able to get himself appointed to something else further up int he food chain by the 2010 primary season.

But he's got no legislative experience- and that's an electoral liability, no matter how much we like to bash our elected officials for being too insider-ish.

[ Parent ]
political experience
You don't think heading up DPS is a political job? How about being Chief of Staff to a major city mayor? Bennett has plenty of political chops, he's been in and around politics for quite some time and has clearly impressed the right people.

He doesn't have any legislative experience but that's different from saying he lacks political experience.  

[ Parent ]
That's a very good point. n/t


"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie
[ Parent ]
As a legislator I'm sure he'll do fine.
A legislator is just a lobbyist with a vote, and a superintendent of schools is in many ways simply the school board's most influential lobbyist.

Now, when it comes to running for office, that is something entirely different.  Being a key campaign aide and political advisor, as he was for Hickenlooper and in some of the ballot issues fights, is a totally different ball of wax than running for office yourself.

Incumbents and people who have held office in another constituency that overlaps heavily with the boundaries of the constituency you are currently trying to win, have a real edge.

Your most important inner circle of aides and volunteers and senior campaign workers support you out of personal loyalty, and that kind of loyalty doesn't develop overnight.  Some campaign mistakes that go with campaigning at event after event you can only really learn not to make by making them yourself, even if you've seen others make those mistakes and intellectually know better.  Community organizing, which is what campaigning is, is a very different ball of wax than being an executive with a paid bureacracy to carry out your plans.

Fund raising is very different when you are selling someone else, or are selling an idea, than it is when you are asking for money (gobs of it) for your own campaign.  Simply running for office as a serious candidate will make some of that money come naturally, but learning to walk the line between being responsive to donors who want a piece of you, and being crassly influenced, doesn't come easy without lots of practice.

Also, it is hard enough to pick key advisors who you will have to lean heavily on when you are constructing a campaign and team of supporters and advisors a year or more in advance as you would in a typical case.  You can try out advisors during the campaign so that you can judge them better, and you can solicit input more widely, as is Bennet's normal instinct.  But, now, he will have to do all of that in a matter of days, which is sure to produce at least one or two serious missteps that he will have to live with later on.

He also has to make so many policy choices so fast, that he is also bound to infuriate some potential supporters without even realizing it.  He won't have the time to weigh those issues that he has to vote on but hasn't spent a lot of time considering in depth at great length.  Quick. What's your position on drought loans for soybean farmers until the trade assistance program?

He'll probable do as well as any rookie candidate can do, if he chooses to run.  Hickenlooper managed it swimmingly, so he has someone good to look to as a mentor on that score.  But, a rookie is still a rookie, and what works in Denver where he has learned many of his political lessons, doesn't always play well in the rest of Colorado.  

[ Parent ]
Being a staffer and being "the man"
are totally different experiences. It's not even the same profession.  
[ Parent ]
Michael Bennet a Good Choice for U.S. Senate?
As a Colorado Democrat, Denver Public School teacher, and proud union member, I would like to voice my approval of Governor Ritter's choice to appoint Michael Bennet to replace Ken Salazar for several reasons:

• Michael Bennet brings an array of talent and experience that includes a strong business and public service background. His success in these areas is well documented.
• My personal experience with Mr. Bennet as a teacher and union representative, at Bruce Randolph School, has always been positive and productive. He has demonstrated his willingness to explore different policy approaches to solving problems that are unique to our particular school.
• At the district level, he has increased enrollment and student achievement, reversed a district-wide fiscal train wreck, and has directed the passage of the largest bond measure in state history to repair our declining infrastructure. In fact, Denver Classroom Teachers Association's President Kim Ursetta has publically acknowledged the strong attributes and skill set, Mr. Bennet would have brought to a Secretary of Education post. There is no doubt Colorado will have a Senator who understands the challenges that face public education now and in the future.

I believe Governor Ritter considered his options very carefully and chose a person based on his merits, not on some political inheritance or hierarchy requirement

Great first post, Greg
Welcome aboard.

(You may regret this later! he he)

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

[ Parent ]
Yeah? ... increased enrollment ?
Nominally numbers are up, but he has lost more marketshare.

His capture rate of DPS eligible has shrunk.

[ Parent ]
I said Greg's post was great.
I didn't comment on the statistics.  I wouldn't know enough to criticize.

Sheesh.  

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

[ Parent ]
An awful lot of indignation here...
How dare Ritter not pick from those we feel are qualified. How dare he not get someone who has worked their way up the standard path. How dare...

Look, Ritter is not an idiot. I am sure he's had major discussions with Bennet about where he stands on issues, what he will work on, how he will approach the job. Because if Bennet comes across as a doofus in any way, Ritter owns that - and he knows that.

I think the fact that what he has done so far in life is different from most Senators is a plus. There's benefit to having someone who did not do the standard get elected to 2 or 3 offices in the state, get elected to the house, get elected to the Senate route.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

This is supposed to reassure me how?
Again, give us - in large part the folks who take the time to put the party out in a good light before the voters - something to work with here...

You want carping?  Carping is what happened to Chris Gates after what should have been a feather in his political cap.  Whatever Gates did, it wasn't very satisfying to the rural and non-Democratic-leaning counties - no-one heard anything from the party as he ran it: the local parties made due for themselves, and the state party did what it thought it had to do.  No communication, and hence no respect, leading to a vote of no confidence.  The Miles campaign may have provided the basis for a challenge to Gates' position, but without local party discontent, he would have remained in office having completed a successful campaign season.

Keeping us in the dark on just who it is we're supposed to present to the people in 2 years isn't exactly endearing.  He could be the most ideal candidate to come in to Colorado politics in years, but I'll be damned if I've been presented a single thing about him other than his brief career.

All I want is some information; man cannot live on Hope and Trust alone.

"I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result."  -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878

[ Parent ]
Great Pick
As a teacher in DPS and someone who has worked with Bennet, I must say this really is a brilliant choice. Forget the re-election for a minute, (although I would argue he has a strong chance at re-election due to his uncanny ability to raise funds and generate political support -- think this year's bond approval) and think about how prepared the man really is. Talk about someone who understands ridiculous red-tape, insane bureaucracy, and slow but meaningful change -- who else is better suited to go to Washington?

I'll be sad to lose him as a superintendent, but Colorado just gained a great senator.

Why don't these testimonials make me feel good?
On one hand, I'd like to thank you and Greg A. above for coming over here and giving your glowing reviews...

But on the other hand, I can't help but cringe at the fact that both of your accounts are new and your accounts are so glowing that my first reaction is to call you astroturfers / shills.  Call me jaded, I guess...

"I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result."  -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878

[ Parent ]
Easy there...
We were all newbies once upon a time.
[ Parent ]
Some more once upon a time
than others ...

Username: Phoenix Rising
PersonId: 21

[ Parent ]
I'll take a wait-and-see
When people post accounts like that about things we don't like, they're instantly called shills.

DPS Teach and Greg A. have posted a single comment each, and each of a similar glowing nature.  I hope they continue to comment here, but you'll pardon me if I don't hold my breath forever.

"I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result."  -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878

[ Parent ]
Let us ponder
Colorado has one of the most educated populations in the country.  However, those highly educated people are not graduates of Colorado schools and colleges, they are immigrants.  Bennet and Hickenlooper fit the picture. Both from back east.  We should be very grateful that the East Coast choses to share its talent with this backward state.  We don't grow brains in Colorado. We grow the second tier.

I wonder who called Ritter and told him it was Bennet? And, yes, I believe that it what happened.

I say:
Mike Miles for Governor
Romanoff for Senator

Let's have a knock down drag out primary Democratic party fight.  Let's get someone to run against Polis, too.

Talk Radio - The weapon to divide and conquer America....but who is funding it?

Ah, but
Polis grew up in Boulder (with some sojourns to California and New Jersey).

Colorado natives, or at least those with deep, deep roots in the state, haven't done too bad at the ballot box lately either.

[ Parent ]
For the record
Colorado has an almost unparalleled record of electing non-native to statewide office, in part because most Coloradoans are not natives.
[ Parent ]
For that reason, I didn't include Polis in the axis of Bennet Hickenlooper
Earlier pols would be Lamm, Pena, and Hart....and yes, i know romer was born in Holly...

It is an observation, not a hard and fast fact..

But the discrepancy between Colorado educated and non Colorado educated is a fact......

Talk Radio - The weapon to divide and conquer America....but who is funding it?

[ Parent ]
Not best choice
Rich guy, strong ties to big business, strong ties in the world of wealth, including with Republican Phil Anschultz. Is that the best choice for a Democrat to represent Colorado? I don't think so.  
You're right - knowledge of high finance is way overrated
After all, if the government doesn't understand what the banks and investment houeses are doing, what's the worst that can happen?

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?
[ Parent ]
if the the banks and investment houses don't understand what the banks and investment houses are doing,
.
what's the worst that can happen?
.
[ Parent ]
Let's hope we've already found out
just what is the worst that can happen.  
[ Parent ]
Speak it, brother!
A truer response could not have been typed.

"I have come to the conclusion that the making of laws is like the making of sausages-the less you know about the process the more you respect the result."  -- Anonymous IL State Rep. circa 1878
[ Parent ]
Did you guys catch that you've made the big time?
"What the hell?" exclaimed the popular site ColoradoPols.com. ". . . By all accounts Bennet is a brilliant guy who also happens to be fabulously wealthy from his days working with super-rich dude Phil Anschutz, but being smart and rich doesn't make this a wise choice."

Ha ha, you're in the Washington Post.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

"Don't go all "Ralphie" on me now: Just let it go." - Steve Harvey

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