U.S. Senate
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(D) J. Hickenlooper*
(R) Somebody
80%
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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%
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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%
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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*
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90%
2%
CO-03 (West & Southern CO)
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(R) Jeff Hurd*
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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%
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CO-06 (Aurora)
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(D) Jason Crow*
(R) Somebody
90%
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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%
March 28, 2018 05:00 PM UTC
6 Comments
Mike Coffman would be a terrible VA secretary. On the one hand, he has demonstrated an ability to sponsor legislation that helps veterans. But he can't get his fellow Republicans to allocate budget dollars for these programs. Most of his amendments end up stuck in committee – because Mike Coffman lacks the leadership skills to get diverse people to find common ground.
His oversight of the VA hospital building in Aurora came too little, too late to do any good. He's good at yelling that heads must roll, but not at solving problems.
He wants to cut food stamps, which will hurt military families.
He wants to restrict access to abortion and birth control, which will hurt servicewomen.
It's anybody's guess where he really stands on DACA or immigration issues, which is causing stress to all of the serving soldiers with relatives without documents, or who are trying to become citizens themselves. He seems to change position depending on his audience, the day of the week, and the language he's speaking in.
Same thing with cannabis. Coffman is ostensibly trying to protect cannabis industry in Colorado. But will he actually stand up to Trump and Sessions on this? Past experience says he will try to talk out of both sides of his mouth on it. And vets, particularly younger vets, really want to use cannabis medicinally for PTSD and other ailments.
His solution to VA reform is to take away due process rights from its workers, who already put up with tough working conditions. He would make the VA system a "fire at will" workplace.
Where we really need a crotchety, suspicious administrator is curtailing the rampant theft of opioids through the VA system. Coffman did try to solve that problem through an amendment to HR4242, which is sitting in the House.
With all of his equivocating and not playing well with others, Coffman would be a terrible VA Secretary. Nevertheless, he would still be better than lyin' Ronny Jackson, the Navy Admiral who told us that Trump weighed 239 and was in great health.
He would be terrible? So what. He will fit right in. He can sit between Ben (the Dining Room Table) Carson and Clueless Betsy Devos.
Not to worry, Coffman’s a putz but he’s hardly enough of a grifter to fit in with this crowd.
Ah, but consider Mike Coffman versus Dr. Ronny Jackson, a recently promoted Rear Admiral (promoted from lower half to upper half).
Graduated med school. Apparently very bright and capable in undersea/hyperbaric and transitional/emergency medicine. But his administrative experience is somewhat limited. He apparently was the head of a surgical group in Iraq for a tour, and has served as the Physician to the President, leading an office staff — which Wikipedia helpfully describes as "typically composed of five military physicians, five nurses, five physician assistants, three medics, three administrators and one IT Manager."
Rep. Coffman may be competitive with those administrative skills.
Coffman once ran a property management company.
Jackson's qualifications for the job: Trump likes him, he's willing to lie for the President (Excellent health! 239 pounds! Great genes!), and he looks good on TV. Trump is not known for his honesty or follow-through on veteran's issues, so a telegenic, happy-talking spokesman is all Trump thinks he needs in the job.
By reputation, Jackson is apolitical. He will be pressured to privatize the VA. There is nothing to show which way he will move on this. As active duty military, he might not be able to say "No" to a direct order from the Commander in Chief. He does have to go through a Senate confirmation process.
It will be interesting to see how Mike Coffman weighs in on all this.