A bunch of armed terrorists take over a federal building in Oregon, and they blame law enforcement when one of them is killed. Sure, that makes sense. It’s time to Get More Smarter with Colorado Pols. If you think we missed something important, please include the link in the comments below (here’s a good example).
► The Iowa caucuses are just days away, and Republican Presidential frontrunner Donald Trump seems confident enough that he is skipping Thursday’s GOP debate on FOX News.
On Tuesday, Trump picked up the endorsements of Jerry Falwell, Jr., the President of Liberty University and the son of the deceased evangelical leader with the same name, and Arizona whacked sheriff Joe Arpaio. There may be no stopping Trump now.
► Republican Tim Leonard was selected over the weekend to replace Rep. Jon Keyser, who is resigning from the legislature in order to focus his time on preparing to get trounced in the June Republican Primary for U.S. Senate. Here’s a shock: The Republican vacancy committee process sounds like it was pretty shady.
Get even more smarter after the jump…
► The “War Against Women,” or at least “the War Against Planned Parenthood,” is not going well for Republicans. As the New York Times explains:
A grand jury’s indictment on Monday of two abortion opponents who covertly recorded Planned Parenthood officials is the latest, most startling sign that a Republican campaign against the group has run into trouble.
In a dozen states including Texas, where the grand jury in Houston examined Planned Parenthood at the request of Republican officials but ended up indicting the opponents, various investigations have concluded without finding any wrongdoing by affiliates of the group. Eight states have declined to investigate since videos began surfacing in June alleging that Planned Parenthood illegally sells tissue from aborted fetuses.
In the Republican-led Congress, Speaker John A. Boehner resigned last fall rather than lead a government shutdown to force an end to federal funds for Planned Parenthood. Conservatives’ efforts to defund the group have since failed. Senate leaders increasingly fear that the fight threatens several Republican seats, and with them the party’s majority. Several congressional committees investigating the organization have yet to produce results.
Looks like you jumped on the wrong bus, Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Aurora).
► Elsewhere, state Rep. JoAnn Windholz is still facing heat over some disgusting comments she made on social media in regards to the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooting last year. From Joey Bunch of the Denver Post:
A group of abortion-rights supporters delivered a petition with almost 63,000 signatures from around the world to the state Capitol on Tuesday calling for the resignation of Rep. JoAnn Windholz over her Facebook post condemning Planned Parenthood.
She made the remarks three days after the Nov. 27 shooting at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic…
…Three days after a five-hour standoff left three dead and nine wounded, Windholz, a Republican from Commerce City, posted on her Facebook page comments critical of Planned Parenthood’s abortion services, saying: “The true instigator of this violence and all violence at any Planned Parenthood facility is Planned Parenthood themselves.” The post has been removed.
Her remarks drew a backlash from abortion-rights supporters and Colorado Democratic operatives who see Windholz as vulnerable in this year’s election. Democrats cling to just a three-seat majority in the 65-member chamber. Windholz beat incumbent Democrat Jenise May by just 106 votes in 2014.
It is unclear, as Bunch reports, how many signatures are from registered voters in Commerce City, where Windholz is running for re-election.
► Fundraising numbers for the fourth quarter of 2015 are starting to trickle in, and all eyes are once again on CD-6, where Democrat Morgan Carroll is keeping pace with the incumbent Coffman.
► John Frank of the Denver Post digs deeper into the dozen-candidate GOP Senate Primary in Colorado.
► Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-Jefferson County) has an official Republican challenger in CD-7…and he’s a bit odd. Westminster city council member Bruce Baker wants to ban all immigration — not just illegal immigration — into the United States.
► Gun bills are back again in the legislature, where state Sen. Tim Neville is leading the lost-cause charge to overturn gun magazine limits.
► Democratic Presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton might not be a cyborg after all.
► #YallQaeda seems to be running out of good options for ending their takeover of a federal wildlife refuge office in Oregon. From CNN:
The weeks-long armed occupation of a federal wildlife refuge headquarters in Oregon suffered two major blows when protest leader Ammon Bundy was arrested and another key figure was killed.
Bundy and several fellow occupiers were pulled over Tuesday on U.S. Highway 395, a law enforcement official said. According to The Oregonian, they were headed to the city of John Day, where they planned to participate in a community meeting set up by local residents.
Everyone obeyed orders to surrender except LaVoy Finicum and Ryan Bundy, Ammon Bundy’s brother, the official told CNN. Shots were fired, but it’s unclear who fired first, the source said. Ryan Bundy was wounded, and Finicum died.
There have been multiple reports that there are still a half-dozen or so militiamen/terrorists refusing to leave the wildlife refuge visitor center. Some reports have indicated that the group has no plans of surrendering.
► Legislation intended to regulate the use of drones has failed at the State Capitol. We just can’t make ourselves use the obvious “crashed” pun.
► Wisconsin Republican Scott Walker, still licking his wounds from his failed Presidential bid, may be looking at running for a third term as Governor.
► At Least He’s Not Your State Senator.
► Senator Cory Gardner doesn’t really understand how the Internet tubes work — he just does what the big providers tell him to do.
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My favorite line from the intertubes article?
Wow, we sure don’t want to risk that!
The Republican/NeoCon/Tea Party Communications Directorate having a little problem, ummmmm, executing?
It's obvious they don't even listen to what their footsoldiers produce on a daily basis. Five minutes of Levin, Savage, Hannity, or any number of these fuckers would put anyone with 5 bedrooms or more in a panic. Unforntunately, it hasn't.
Between Sheriff Joe and Rev. Jerry, we may be seeing the lineup for the Donald's cabinet: Arpaio for Sec. of Homeland Security and Falwell as Minister for the Propagation of Virtue and Suppression of Vice.
Leaving Palin as Secretary of Edumacation and Family Values??
I'm thinking a President Donald wouldn't think twice about screwing everyone who got him there.
Yeah, but at least he'd get rid of the national debt by declaring bankruptcy!
Imagine his surprise when he finds out it doesn't work that way.
Just as any CEO that ever won political office soon finds out — you can't just dictate to the judicial or legislative branches your demands, and fire them if they refuse.
I still don't really believe Trump wants the job other than for the prestige and perks.
These cabinet suggestions are a lot closer to reality than you might believe.
At this point nothing The Donald or the people who support him might do would be unbelievable. I think "unbelievable" has been in the rear view mirror for a while now.
Secretary of Energy…T. Boone Pickens…
Ted Nugent as Secretary of Defense.
Rick Snyder, HUD.
No, Rick Snyder has been tapped for EPA director. He'll also hold the Clean Water Division for himself.
I’m wondering if Ivana will end up being ambassador to some eastern European country….
Playing tea party/wing nut fantasy cabinet can be fun!
Well, OK. I had Jim Inhoff in that slot. That way the director and agency would expire simultaneously.
Wait, people were joking
My mistake. Inhoff for head of FAA
And a belated bah…dum…crash!
Yeah..I think he would take the job…he then could make sure he had the right of way at all airports all the time…
There IS competition for the job.
How about The Dim Bub from Alaska for Interior?
She's already claimed dibs on the Energy Dept.
Drill, Baby, Drill. (She's gonna bring down gasoline prices.)
comment in wrong place…
Is he still on good terms with Ivana, Frank? Is that a punishment.. or a reward?
I'm still struggling with his best choice for Secretary of State….John Bolton?
Bloody Bill Kristol?
Former General William Boykin?
Is Cheney on the Donalds' team roster?
He's got Darth on speed dial. What's he need a minion for?
Secretary of Colonization…a new Cabinet position…
I will leave it to you to decide if I am talking colonies…or colons…
A Santorum moment.
Google "us general who saw demons"
Boykin's Wiki page is first up.
Shudder.
Boykin …whew…It would help him seal up the evangelical vote, no doubt.
He could have Assless Chaps as Deputy SOS. The demon taxonomist would join the illustrious Richard Armitage as a holder of that post. Plame sure sounds like a demon name anyway.
Now there's an image I didn't need!
Vice President . . .
. . . Kloe Kardashian !
Is there a Department of Whiny Excuses..?..He will need a post for his BFF, Tom Brady…
The Donald probably thinks he can create whatever he wants so…… why not?
It would be in appreciation for her keeping her pie hole shut when the question of his marital infidelities arose during the campaign.
Actually this reply should have been under Duke's question about the status of the Donald's relationship with Ivana.