In my PPP diary, as well as other diaries, we're seeing a back-and-forth take place over polling. People are saying that polls are cooked, and using various results to advance their ideological agendas, whether from the right or from the left.
A letter from Polly Baca and Ramona Martinez to Barack Obama, the DSCC and the DNC leadership. I think they nail this on the head. No Democrat in a position of leadership within the official party structure should be taking sides on the primary race between Bennet and Romanoff prior to its conclusion.
A controversial letter written by an appointee of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper has just been unearthed, and it's already bringing heat on the would-be governor.
How about this for an opening line (keeping in mind this letter is entirely about marijuana):
Dear Citizens of Colorado,
Those who want to legalize drugs weaken our collective struggle against this scourge of our society. Like a cancer, proponents for legalization eat away at society's resolve and moral fiber. The marijuana-drug legalization movement has nothing to offer users and addicts but more drugs."
Unfortunately for Hick, who officially vouched for this anti-pot extremist, an internal poll recently commissioned by local and national marijuana policy reform organizations found that half of likely voters in Colorado - and two-thirds of likely voters in Denver - support making marijuana legal and treating it like alcohol.
In other words, this probably won't sit well with the large and growing population of marijuana reform supporters, not to mention the exceptionally vocal community of organizations and individuals working to legalize marijuana. In fact, they are already taking action and calling on Hickenlooper to replace his appointee, which has already resulted in a flood of e-mails into the mayor's office.
Escaping the bottom quintile in state education funding just got a lot harder for Colorado kids.
Despite the efforts of Lieutenant Governor Barbara O'Brien over the last few months to corral some of the coveted $4 billion in "Race to the Top" funds offered by the Department of Education, and despite the fact that some see Colorado at the "head of the class" in this competition
the Department of Education's decision this week to "spread" the funds around by population amounts to a several hundred million dollar slap in the face to our state.
New York and other "top tier" states are now smug in the security that they won't need to do anything to compete other than submit a cover letter. Assets Colorado thought it could count on now count for less, and as a result, at best if successful, the state might get $175 million for all its hard work. That's about a 2% bump.
The decision to compete, and to compete hard, for several hundred million more was made here in Colorado by state government officials who saw an opportunity and went after it. Now that someone in Washington has changed the rules, what should our state representatives and Senators be doing to keep us in the Race?
Will Colorado representatives stand up for all that hard work on behalf of Colorado kids, or will the federal "peanut buttering" be met only with spineless "jelly?"
In the age of cable news and shouted joint-session epithets, Bennet's nonstyle deadpan may be the most effective speech-making posture of all. Anti-flash is the new charisma. No "death panels." No "die quickly." Bennet won't be tempted to go over the top because he's genetically incapable.
I'd say that's a pretty compelling argument from Senator Michael Bennet. He's kind of like the Jack Webb of the Senate--just the facts Madam President. This is the kind of speech we need to be hearing more often from Democratic leaders. Hyperbole gets the highest ratings (see: News Channel, Fox) but this is just good old fashioned logical argumentation. It's vital that Democrats get out the type of bottom line--the status quo is unacceptable, and that we are bankrupting our grandchildren by allowing the current system to remain in place--that Bennet is trying to explain in this speech.
If Bennet can continue this kind of straight forward, no-nonsense talk, he will be able to make a convincing argument to voters as to why he should remain in the upper chamber for six more years. That, along with his massive campaign war chest, will make him a formidable electoral opponent--both in the primary, and the general.
Yesterday, Former Colorado State House Speaker Andrew Romanoff began his campaign in earnest. By all accounts it was a success, except for one harsh reality that the Pueblo Chieftan reported:
Romanoff didn't mention Bennet by name, but the junior senator has been dogged by criticism that he is a legislative newcomer who is reluctant to take positions. One issue labor groups have pressed Bennet for is his position on the federal "card check" legislation that would help unions organize workplaces.
Asked for his opinion after Wednesday's speech, Romanoff said he supported bringing the legislation to a Senate vote but could not support the most controversial part - which would do away with secret-ballot voting on whether workers wanted union representation.
"I support the bill except for eliminating the secret ballot," he said.
So Romanoff stakes out a position, but it's the exact opposite of what most of the people who were pushing Romanoff to run were hoping he would take. With Senator Michael Bennet having come out so strongly on health care--including supporting the public health insurance option that Democrats have been so intenton getting passed--this was one of the last places where there could be a policy difference between the two. It was widely expected that Sen. Bennet would come to a decision that looked a lot like Romanoff's quote in the Chieftan. By taking this position, Romanoff's presence in the race has, in one day of the campaign, had the exact opposite effect on Michael Bennet that many on the left thought it would have. Namely, it has created an opening for Bennet to vote for the watered down version of EFCA that will probably come up for a vote later this year--or possibly next year. Translation: instead of "pushing him to the left" it has allowed him to go towards the center.
Which brings me to my main question: Why are we having a primary again?
Governor Bill Ritter (D) trails Scott McInnis (R) by five points in a hypothetical general election match-up for Governor in 2010. Josh Penry (R) trails the incumbent by just one point.
I'm just curious to see where the numbers fall among users on this site. This has absolutely no scientific merit other than that, and I am of the opinion straw polls are largely useless in general. This is just fun, and since there's no new Bennet v. Romanoff thread today, I figure this can serve that purpose too.
Name: COLORADO CITIZENS' COALITION
SOS ID: 20085621714
Type: 527 POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
Reporting Period: 10/23/2008 - 11/30/2008 Due: 12/04/2008
Date: 11/06/2008
Payee: MAURICE SCHWENKLER
1065 LIPAN
DENVER, CO 80204
Expenditure Type: Electioneering
Original Amount Reported: $0.00
Actual Amount: $500.00
Purpose: COMMUNICATION
That's the one of two alleged perpetrators in custody. The address listed on Schwenkler's Secretary of State payee filing from this Democratic-aligned 527 (for which, to be fair, he likely only worked for a few days just before the election) can be Googled back to:
Derailer Bicycle Collective, 1065 Lipan St, Denver CO 80204. Tel: 303-573-3896. Email: derailerbicyclecollective @yahoo.com *. Community-run, completely free bike shop with an all-volunteer staff.
The Derailer Bicycle Collective, as profiled by Westword a couple of years ago, has an interesting political history, by all accounts peaceful but slightly to the left of Mikhail Bakunin. You've probably never heard of Bakunin because, well, that's how left these kids are. And most people wouldn't exactly consider them friends of "bourgeois" Democrats--they're closer to the "Recreate '68" set.
Anyway, that would certainly appear to change the complexion of this story. Do you suppose the Democrats got attacked for, um, caving in on 'socialist' health care? Original post follows.
There is a flaw in the Gallagher Amendment that causes most of you to pay too much in property taxes (or rent), to the benefit of wealthy people whose lifestyle choices are subsidized through your property, sales, and income taxes.
When you pay your property tax bill, you are really paying two taxes: one based on the value of your house, and the other on the value of the land underneath your house.
Taxes on land value are close to being the most perfect, economically efficient, and radically egalitarian tax imaginable. Think about it: The value of your land is not something that you can affect. If you live near good schools, parks, libraries, fire & police stations, and highways (but not too close to the highways), your land values will be high. If you don't, they will be low.
What is the common element underlying the amenities that affect your land values?
Just wondering who's bright idea it was to throw the biggest party of the year (The 76th Annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner) and then schedule the Party Re-Organization meeting the very next morning, at 8 a.m., the very day we lose an hour.
Wow that is a gaping variation in estimates for such a small budget!
While Pols sit around rumoring, debating, pumping and cutting at various purported US Senate appointees, there has been more relevant developments at OSPD and Legislative Council. Shortfalls could reach $1 Billion.
Gov. Bill Ritter is asking for spending cuts so deep the idea of ending state funding for colleges and universities is back on the table.
Talk of layoffs and eliminating programs considered less essential to public health and safety also followed Ritter's call Tuesday for department heads to trim budgets by 10 percent to cope with plunging state revenues.
Ritter's request, which came four days after the nonpartisan Legislative Council forecast budget shortfalls that could total $1 billion this year and next, seeks $790 million of possible cuts by Jan. 9.
That amount might be more than Ritter needs because he's already asked for ideas to cut several hundred million dollars this year, but it will give him options in a worst-case scenario.
Where's the Colorado beef? The Centennial State delivered victory to Barack Obama, and for weeks tongues have been a-wagging over cabinet appointments. It's Bill Ritter this, Ken Salazar that, Federico Peña - well, duh. (And pssst... Bernie Buescher has made it clear he's up for just about anything.) But so far for Colorado, nada. But wait! Can it be ... John Hickenlooper for Transportation? Or maybe Housing?
Rumors are flying:
Word in some circles is that the mayor of Denver, a year into his second term, is on Obama's short list for an appointment. Not a huge surprise, given the Denver mayor pulled off what will be remembered by almost everyone but peace activists and free speech advocates as a wildly successful Democratic National Convention, capped by Obama's historic nomination acceptance speech before a crowd of 80,000.
John Hickenlooper is quite possibly the most popular politician in the state of Colorado, and undoubtedly the most popular pol in Denver (honorable mention to Andrew Romanoff.) He has the ability to run a large city, so it would make sense that he could run a department of the Federal government.
The question, is whether Mayor Hickenlooper even has any interest in leaving an office that he has performed so well in. Either way, all of the pols mentioned by DeGette have virtually no limit on their upward mobility.
In a year that proved to be a continuation of Democratic Party dominance in the state, the loss of Bernie Buescher's seat was the biggest surprise on Election Day. His political track record is well known, and he was the clear favorite to replace outgoing House Speaker Andrew Romanoff.
Following his loss, Buescher joined Romanoff in applying for the vacancy in the office of Secretary of State. As is noted by the Official 2010 Big LineTM, he is considered a serious contender for the post.
"I thought long and hard about it before sending in my application," Buescher told News2 on Monday. "I think my background as an attorney would be well-suited to the position."
But soon to be former Rep. Buescher is not limiting himself by applying for just one prestigious Colorado office.
Secretary of State Mike Coffman, who won election to Congress on Tuesday, said Wednesday that he won't leave his current post until the day before he is sworn in as a U.S. representative [rsb emphasis].
Meanwhile, Gov. Bill Ritter, who will appoint Coffman's successor as the state's chief elections officer, said he planned to announce by the end of the week a commission that will review applications for the job.
Ritter said he intended to follow a similar process to the one former Gov. Roy Romer used in appointing Ritter as Denver district attorney in 1993, after the previous district attorney left to enter private practice. Ritter said the seven-person commission will review and interview applicants.
So "Iron" Mike Coffman will be with us until January, but the day after he leaves we will have a new (presumably) Democratic Sec. of State.
Of the four people mentioned in the article as possible replacements for Coffman, only outgoing State Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon has publicly announced his intention to seek the post. The other names listed as possibilities are: former State Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, outgoing House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, and former Denver City Council President Rosemary Rodriguez.
Fortunately we won't have to wait until Coffman is crowned sworn in to find out who his replacement will be--Governor Ritter says he'll have made his decision by the end of December.
(Remember, thou art mortal - promoted by Colorado Pols)
(Cross-Posted to DemNotes at www.DemNotes.com)
I'm sure you all are familiar with Tom Strickland, the United States Senator that Mark Udall is running to replace, right? What's that? He's not a Senator? Oh, yeah, that's right -- he lost.
I last ran into Tom Strickland at an event during the Democratic National Convention in August. It was a brief meeting, but it certainly brought up a lot of memories of the campaign trail in 2002. Tom seemed to be doing okay -- enjoying his life in the "private sector"; however, I know that Colorado (and America) would have been much better if he had won in 2002 instead of Wayne Allard.
It was this very point in 2002 -- the weekend before the election -- that I was standing on a stage with Strickland at Pueblo's Union Depot, just a few hundred yards from where Senator Barack Obama will be speaking on Saturday. The atmosphere was quite upbeat; a new statewide poll by one of the Denver newspapers had put Strickland up by something like 6 points. There was a clear air of confidence that we were standing with our next United States Senator.
A few days later, Colorado's voters had a different message to send.
That's Broomfield Councilman Dennis McClosky giving the thumbs up at the Eco-Cycle 'Hard to Recycle Round-Up'.
I was there with the Democrats Work volunteers that helped recycle over 17,000 pounds of electronics, 21 cubic yards of block foam, 125 lbs of plastic bags, and (yes, Johne) even a few old toilets!
Right now we are helping collect cans for a CANstruction event in Boulder. Check out these bogglingly amazing sculptures built out of donated canned food that won the national contest in past years. (The local works may be more modest, but who knows?)
Amongst the teams competing this year will be Team Shafroth, Team Polis, and Team Fitz-Gerald. The Boulder Dems are staging a drop off location for food donations. If you can donate cans or want to compete, you can find out more by clicking here.
And after the jump there is a past winner that I don't even begin to understand how they pulled it off without glue. Rubber bands are allowed, but seriously, this is crazy good...
That's Broomfield Councilman Dennis McClosky giving the thumbs up at the Eco-Cycle 'Hard to Recycle Round-Up'.