U.S. Senate
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(D) J. Hickenlooper*
(R) Somebody
80%
20%
Governor
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(D) Joe Neguse
(D) Phil Weiser
(D) Jena Griswold
60%
60%
40%↓
Att. General
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(D) M. Dougherty
(D) Alexis King
(D) Brian Mason
40%
40%
30%
Sec. of State
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(D) George Stern
(D) A. Gonzalez
(R) Sheri Davis
40%
40%
30%
State Treasurer
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(D) Brianna Titone
(R) Kevin Grantham
(D) Jerry DiTullio
60%
30%
20%
CO-01 (Denver)
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(D) Diana DeGette*
(R) Somebody
90%
2%
CO-02 (Boulder-ish)
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(D) Joe Neguse*
(R) Somebody
90%
2%
CO-03 (West & Southern CO)
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(R) Jeff Hurd*
(D) Somebody
80%
40%
CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado)
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(R) Lauren Boebert*
(D) Somebody
90%
10%
CO-05 (Colorado Springs)
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(R) Jeff Crank*
(D) Somebody
80%
20%
CO-06 (Aurora)
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(D) Jason Crow*
(R) Somebody
90%
10%
CO-07 (Jefferson County)
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(D) B. Pettersen*
(R) Somebody
90%
10%
CO-08 (Northern Colo.)
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(R) Gabe Evans*
(D) Yadira Caraveo
(D) Joe Salazar
50%
40%
40%
State Senate Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
80%
20%
State House Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
95%
5%
August 25, 2008 05:14 AM UTC
40 Comments
So you went from Gen.Rayburn to St. Paul? Glad to read your post and expanding horizons. This is a very touching account, yet in these economic troubled times, are you suggesting that the U.S. has a duty to get involved in every country’s plight?
It is impossible for the US to be the complete world cop. But I do believe that accounts like the one from Ali tell us one thing; that the US needs to see its actions through. History ahs shown that pulling out early from Afghanistan and Somalia has lead to countless consequences for the security of the US and the quality of life for the people in those states.
I for one was not fortunate enough to get a seat at the convention but I am looking forward to seeing the events through your posts.
Cheers!
Like the bridge that Tim Pawlenty allowed to collapse into the river?
Or the last stall on the left in Larry Craig’s favorite men’s room at the airport?
Are you under the mistaken impression that Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty is a structural engineer? The NTSB preliminary report states that the “that some of the gusset plates on the I-35W bridge were under-sized because of an error in the original design process.”
http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2…
It’s a political cheap shot to say the bridge collapse was due to lack of funding for maintaining its infrastructure. (A problem that also exists in Colorado… where the Democrats are in firm control of the state government.) The experts, however, are pointing to a fatal flaw in the bridge’s original design.
Ironically, the presence of maintenance equipment and materials, on the bridge at the time, may have very well contributed to the collapse itself.
http://www.acppubs.com/article…
they — not the governors — pass the budget. Department heads manage those funds. I doubt any governor gets into the day-to-day spending of those monies.
Pawlenty vetoed an increase in the state’s DOT funding (or threatened a veto, can’t remember which…)
Had a surplus at the time of the collapse, I believe.
MN had a surplus, the Legislature wanted to spend it to improve their roads and bridges, Pawlenty vetoed the increase, and a bridge collapsed…
I’m so happy the state had a surplus at the time of the collapse; that makes the tragedy so much more bearable.
….there’d be fewer tax cuts for rich people to go around.
IF that is true, then Minnesota must have a line item veto. It is then up to the head of the state’s DOT, not the governor, to prioritize spending. I seem to recall that some of the MNDOT’s choices — before the collapse — were to plant some trees and shrubs, and put in bike paths, around that very bridge!
He vetoed the entire transportation bill two years in a row before the collapse (because it was “too big”), and again this year after the collapse! This year the Legislature overrode his veto and increased the funding.
Apparently, the state legislature — which was controlled both times by Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL)– didn’t feel compelled to override it the first time. Doesn’t that make them culpable as well?
Regardless, it was still the responsibility of the head of MNDOT to prioritize spending then, not the governor… nor the legislature.
To be fair to all involved parties, this disaster could have happened in any state. There is little reason to believe that additional money could have prevented this tragedy, since it wasn’t a maintenance issue, but rather a fatal design flaw.
If so, by and to whom?
Not being an expert in Minnesota law, I’m guessing that individual was appointed by the governor (possibly with the approval of the state senate). He, or she, would be accountable to all the people, not just the governor.
Trying to pin blame on just one person for this unforeseen tragedy is morbidly opportunistic. If I were compelled to do so, I would fault whoever designed the bridge in the first place. But even then, they were probably working with the best information available at the time. It seems like bureaucratic indifference, over the years, led to more traffic being allowed on the bridge than was originally intended.
Much like the hapless Michael “Heck of a Job Brownie” Brown was blamed for the unforeseen tragedy that was Hurricane Katrina?
That quote applied specificly to the event in Minnesota.
Hurricane Katrina was not unforeseen, but Michael Brown is not the only one to blame. Democratic governor Kathleen Blanco and Democratic Mayor Ray Nagin did little to prepare for, and not much more during and after, Katrina. To say state and local leaders stumbled badly, when they knew the area better, would be an understatement. It is no wonder Governor Blanco chose not to run again.
The state gave Republican Bobby Jindal 54% of the vote in a twelve person open, as known as “jungle,” primary that is unique to Louisiana. He won 60 of the state’s 64 parishes (counties.)
the protest zone beneath a bridge. Kidding.
🙂
I look forward to your posts, student.
I would suggest that we take care of the problems right here at home first, or at least concurrent with your leanings of global intervention.
Tyranny is not always power. It is also poverty, disparate incomes, and insecurity.
That is why I said, “all forms of tyranny.”
I think that you are right regarding our domestic concerns, but I also believe that our domestic quality of life is very much tied to our international position and the global climate (not in the environmental sense).
but not the way we have been since WWII. Our failures and blowbacks are legend. And for what? We replace a democratically elected presiden in Iran with the Shah, and were are we sixty years later?
As Noam Chomsky said, “The way to stop terrorism is to stop being one.”
you slimy treehugging ACLU card carrying Marxist hippie, you!
If so, will he take the bus so that he doesn’t have to usee the rest room at the airport? Or maybe pee in the plane just before landing and then head for the taxis w/o stopping at the RR?
Maybe he’ll just book a hotel room and/or stall for both weeks!
I envy the fact that you’re there, but keep up the posts! That way we’ll feel as close as we can!
It’s going to be a crazy two weeks and I will post what I can!
…please continue with your posts, and don’t let the bitter responders sway you otherwise!
ding, ding, ding!
Did you go see the infamous restroom when you arrived at the airport?
…are there lighted placards? A tour?
…one of the airport managers was interviewed and said that people (men and women) were asking for directions to that particular rest room, would take photos standing in front of the entrance, etc.
I don’t think there’s a placard up (“Larry Craig Was Busted Here”), but I would think that a gift shop or concession stand outside the entrance would be a money maker during the convention next week.
or a partner?
…sorry, Robin. Have you tried Craigslist?
Before coming to THIS post, I scrolled through the others and was sincerely warmed by your recent posts. I apologize.
They showed it on The Daily Show.
that one. I think the restroom I used had Charlie Brown in front of it. No joke, these Peanuts characters are everywhere up here in the land of Schultz.
That’s what everyone else gets when the Republicans are done redistributing the wealth.