“Humility is to make a right estimate of one’s self.”
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Too old. Too boring. Too centrist for the primary.
Sign up now to join the movement. Become a Hickentrooper.
I like that bumper sticker, Pseudo. But that link’s busted.
A little too Nazi sounding to use, I think, although it's catchy. Link works fine for me.
. . . what the hell’s a Linkenhooper??
A blog that ignores current events.
. . . and/or, maybe, just you?
The assumption that we “need” independent and undecided voters, when all evidence points to a solid Democratic majority base, both in Colorado and nationwide, is a creation of the Political Consultant class and shows great weakness in candidates who subscribe to it.
You are so wrong about the "solid Democratic majority nationwide base".
I learned over the weekend that Trump's approval rating was 44% and I was going to post how scary that is. Then, this morning a new poll shows Trump with a 46% approval rating. That just scares the crap out of me and should do the same for you. Welcome to today's America.
The problem is Trump's 90% rating with Republicans. That means there is no possible way for Republican politicians to be elected unless they are all-in for Trump.
The corollary to this is that it doesn't really matter who you throw against Trump; he'll get 44%, and his opponents will take 56%. Assuming we don't have someone atrociously burdened (e.g. HRC2020) or a strong 3rd party spoiler, you could throw anyone from Hickenlooper to Harris to Sanders out there and do just as well.
Thank you for splashing some cold reality in the faces of the delusional.
The reality is the economy. As long as the economy remains strong, Trump is has a 50/50 chance of being re-elected. Given how strong the economy is, it is remarkable that he manages to keep his approval ratings in the low 40's. If he would just shut up and stay off of twitter, he could probably get up to 50%.
Fossil fuels industry urges Colorado lawmakers to delay hearing on proposed oil and gas legislation
For Dan and Tracee to say such a thing is insulting to the intelligence of everyone who hears or reads their words. Rushing legislation through the process in order to avoid scrutiny is something COGA and the rest know a little something about.
There are no new issues on the table. The O&G lobby is just stalling for time to mount a counter offensive. Expect them to crap on everybody but especially on the gov.
Oil & G whining, translated: “We didn't get to write the bill!''
No, dudes, without a tame House or Senate majority, you don't get to write your own bills.
Next from the industry playbook: packing the hearings with their blue-collar employees, preferably with cute kids in tow. The witnesses won't disclose unless questioned that they're being paid to attend, with transport and meals furnished by their kind employer.
Then, the industry will proudly trumpet to the hills that the state has the toughest regulations of any state without mentioning they fought said regs by hook and by crook.
I've seen this movie before. Yawn.
But Gertie, if the regs really are tough, what does it matter that OandG fought them? Tough is tough.
I failed to mention their step after legislation passes and the guv signs it: bring in the lawyers.
Litigate for years. If that fails, revert to bragging about how tough Colorado regs are.
WOTD from Brad DeLong via Vox: "The baton rightly passes to our colleagues on our left."
Great interview with UC Berkeley economist BDL. His blog "Grasping Reality" is one of the best out there. ("To the right of the technocratic-center of the Democratic party is Rubble, Rubble, Rubble and neo-fascism.")
According to an article on February 22 in E & E News / Climate Wire, the leading state governor today in fighting climate change might well be a Republican, Charlie Baker from Massachusetts.
A Republican leading on climate change. Who would have thought?
Massachusssets also lead the way on Obamacare, with a differnt R governor
Coloradan Kyle Forti one of four killed in Kenya helicopter crash. What a tragic loss.
"Free stuff"
I can't wait for the people who run the DMV and the post office to give a go at health care….
Post office employees are Federal, and it was established in the Constitution, but it uses no tax dollars at all, and is self supporting. . As far as I know, there is no plan to put USPS in charge of health care, but if there were, one could only hope that it is as well run as the post office. I'm in favor of offering banking through local post offices for rural areas.
The DMV? Where the heck did that come from? Did somebody have to wait too long for something?
Postal Service actually has operated at a huge deficit for a number of years. That happened because Congress did something to the Postal Service that has been done to no other federal agency. They have to pre-fund health care for prospective retirees years into the future. The money is not there for that even though the strictly postal side of things does make a profit. While first class mail volume continues to shrink, the Service more than makes up for that by handling packages.
I agree with a return to post office banking.
If you want a bad government horror story, look at Denver building permits. I've been trying last august to get a simple permit to repair and replace my back porch, which is 118 years old. They won't issue a permit and won't deny it. They won't answer phone calls. The y just sit there with cow-like indifference. I assume I will have t o sue but courts want you to exhaust administrative remedies first — and after seven months they still ignore me.
Try the time-honored way of dealing with bureaucrats: influence. You know Kevin Flynn, don't you?
My councilman is wayne new. Yes, it will take political pressure to get these sloths to act. No doubt they will turn it down in spite. But at least then I can sue them.
Start building it anyway. That'll get their attention quick enough.
The return of postal banking would be a great idea. This diary is a little long in the tooth but still contains some relevant info.
Still an excellent diary. And because elections do have consequences, it looks as though $rump's plan to privatize the post offices and break up the postal worker's union will go nowhere.
Those folks already manage healthcare coverage for about 115 million people (Medicaid, Medicare, TriCare, VA). Also, there are about 30 million folks who might be happier with the DMV or Post Office making sure they got care at all, rather than none. Folks like you might prefer those DMV folks not run their medical care delivery either, I suppose. Of course, just over a fifth of US hospitals are run by the USPS-types.
DMV-run systems provide better outcomes, longer life expectancy, and lower infant mortality, but I'm sure shitting on them is super fun.