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February 19, 2011 04:04 PM UTC

Weekend Open Thread

  • 92 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

“I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it.”

–Franklin D. Roosevelt

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92 thoughts on “Weekend Open Thread”

        2. I’m not sure if she’s considered to be “alt-country” – I think so – but Neko Case always brings it.

          This is getting to be like Friday Jams around here…

  2. What California should learn from the Texas budget crisis

    The so-called Texas Miracle is in trouble, demonstrating that fashioning fiscal policies strictly along low-tax lines doesn’t protect you from budget deficits or business slumps or make your residents necessarily happy or healthy.

    Billions of dollars in government red ink. Classroom spending near the bottom of national rankings and heading down. Desperate appeals to Uncle Sam for emergency funds to stave off cuts to the poor and elderly.

    All this points to the obvious question: What’s the matter with Texas?

    Texas? Yes, the so-called Texas Miracle is in trouble. Unemployment soared and state tax revenue came in sharply below estimates during the recession, and the deficit mushroomed.

    http://articles.latimes.com/20…

  3. Jared Polis proposed a very sensible reduction. So of course it was voted down.

    WASHINGTON-Amid a fierce debate on how and where to trim federal government spending, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) pushed forward an amendment that would reduce the American troop count in Europe from over 80,000 to 35,000 and cut overall troop size 7,500 troops in the next six months.  Despite saving an estimated $278 million, the amendment was defeated by the Republican controlled House.

  4. I am unhappy that there are people masquerading political agendas as concern for children’s education.

    I am unhappy that this has caused a CP to quit and, indirectly, another to scale back.

    I am unhappy that people have so little respect for laws.

    I am unhappy that one CP will not be taking advantage of a law to own a newspaper.

    Mostly I am unhappy that all of these things make me want to not post either. Worse, not get involved at all. Which makes me wonder how many other people see this kind of bullshit and think the same thing. Our city and state will be worse off for the threats, and actions, in the long run.

    So, I purpose not dignifying them with a response. Instead, send requests for investigations directly to O’Malley and Tipton’s office. Once those investigations are done and an actual grown up diary is posted for discussion, then maybe let them use this community again. Not before.

    1. Lots and lots.

      And even if they don’t feel it directly, they don’t want to and it reinforces the “why bother?” feeling.

      I engaged in the fall of 07 on the Obama campaign. I had not really been actively politically involved since moving to Colorado and I was surprised by several things, like anyone with a clipboard and a pen could momentarily appear to be in charge.  

      What wasn’t surprising was how some people didn’t want to sign anything, or give their email address or phone#.  

      And, while not quite “surprising” it was frustrating to be considered “not a real D” because I hadn’t been actively involved previously. And to be outcast even more because what little involvement I had was for the “wrong” D candidate. (I attended caucus for Ken Salazar – I couldn’t caucus because I was a registered U.)

      And the people who didn’t want to provide contact information and didn’t want to commit to show up for stuff were sort of dismissed. And it was that dismassal that I found surprisingly foolish and shortsighted.

      As a(again) registered D, it is apparent to me that if turnout was higher, if engagement was more universal, the D issues and candidates would do better. Forget about those who claim the voters lean right.  We don’t.  We’re centrists on most things, willing to be fiscally conservative (as in careful or cautious) and almost always socially progressive.  

      Our American experiement has taught the world that differences and diversity are fine- sometimes valuable, at worst irrelevant.  As a nation we still have too much in common with the wrong governments of the ROTW, but like BlueCat recently reminded me, we are still hoping we can get better. And as citizens we still have far more in common, at least on the important things, than not.

      And yet, we intimidate and discourage particpation when we should be trying to reach everyone.  

      As so called “progressives” and “liberals” it’s not enough to say we want everyone to particpate, to have a voice.  We have to do whatever is necessary to make that true. Especially when it’s hard. Especially in Colorado*.

      *As I’ve posted before, I grew up in Cook County Illinois and D politics there is a whole different ballgame.  Cook County Ds can afford some turned off stay at home voters.  Chicago isn’t about to have an R mayor anytime soon. And the governor just asked for and passed a 66% increase in the state income tax- and based on IL history his re-election will still be more dependent on avoiding indictment than defending that fiscal prudence.

      1. doing so would prevent me from doing what I do in the real world though I have identified myself to at least 3 posters. I haven’t been to any of the get togethers simply because they have all been more than 100 miles from me.

        I’ll miss LB’s contrary ways and if an opportunity ever presents to cause discomfort, or more, to Green or the Cherry Creek News I will avail myself.

      2. I’m with droll and MADCO. Like MADCO, I think it’s discouraging to see the dismissal of those without long tenures, big voices or big wallets.

        I went with a bunch of people to the Denver County Democratic party reorg last week, not as any kind of official participants, but as people who wanted to be involved.  Totally ignored.  Totally dismissed even though we were there wanting to help out.  A couple of people complained about not even being allowed to speak in their neighborhood meetings because they weren’t official delegates.  It is “foolish and shortsighted,” and really bad manners if nothing else.  But they’ll still ask for money and every couple of years ask if you’ll walk a precinct.  I think I’m done with that.

        I’ll still vote and may occasionally work for an individual candidate, and post when I think something is funny (like Pat Boone doing robocalls for Jane Norton).  But I’ve got better things to spend my time and money on than my county or state party now.

        I hope it’s just Denver with problems.  But like MADCO said, “…we intimidate and discourage participation when we should be trying to reach everyone.”  Whether it’s online or at a county assembly, it’s too bad.

        1. would you rather be correct or would you rather win?

          I got some push back on this in a surprising setting not long ago. As if wanting to win was the wrong choice and made anyone who chose it …less.  Even if they won.

          The parties need some new leadership and …perspective. And it’s not just Denver.

          1. to win over centrists. What could possibly go wrong?

            Both parties, and both major sections of the major parties, locally to nationally need a good long look in the mirror. I have a bad feeling they’d only come to the conclusion that they are as beautiful as they think.

            So now the big question: How do you convince people to become involved without using passion to fight the overly passionate? Whether that passion is about an issue, being right, or winning for the sake of winning.

            Too big for me.

            Thanks for the thoughtful response, btw.

        1. Ok, as soon as there’s a way to make a donation to support Easley I’m making the maximum and getting everyone I know to also donate. I want their crap to completely blow up in their faces.

          And whoever runs against Merida in the next election – same thing. I don’t care if it’s Dick Cheney, they’ll get a donation from me.

            1. Now he won’t be here to tell him when I finally get my CC permit 🙁 I really liked LB, too. I hope he returns under a different name and lurks around, at least. Gosh darnit. Now I’m in a bad mood. I’m going to go play with power tools until I feel better.

        3. Most recent diary is 2008. Can anybody fill me in? He must have gotten it deleted or something? What am I missing?

          Goddamnit, I just voted for him for FPE!

        4. Good thing I didn’t vote for him for replacement FTP.

          I will certainly miss having a reasonable, rational conservative who can express his views without turning it into a ridiculous flame war.

  5. Anonymous delivers ultimatum to Westboro Baptist Church

    Anonymous, a notorious collective of unnamed Internet activists, has put the Westboro Baptist Church on notice. Tuesday, the group Anonymous released an open letter to Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church (WBC). The letter is nothing short of an ultimatum: a cease and desist order against the Westboro Baptist Church.

    The letter states “Rather than allowing the deceased some degree of peace and respect, you (WBC) instead choose to torment, harass, and assault those who grieve.” After chastising the WBC for “preaching your benighted gospel of hatred” and deploying “tactics and methods of intimidation and mental & emotional abuse,” Anonymous makes it clear that the church will soon be a target of attack.

    Anonymous is a formidable group of aggressive hackers or hactivists that can back up their threats. The group is credited with a series of controversial, widely-publicized protests and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. Victims of Anonymous include the Church of Scientology, and more recently, the Internet security firm HBGary Federal.

    http://www.examiner.com/humani…

    Two bunches of self-righteous assholes fighting it out…it’s like watching Doug Bruce and Tom Tancredo in a knife-fight, hoping they’ll kill each other in a bloody mess…

        1. Anonymous could probably pwn the WBC’s Internet presence in about 5 minutes.  But if I were a small group like the WBC, I probably wouldn’t have most of my “interesting” data stored there.  What will be interesting to see is if Anon can get to any good juicy bits.

          IMHO this is only going to be “good” if Anon turns something up.  If national governments and large banks can’t take down Anon as a group, the lawyers-masquerading-as-churchgoers at the WBC certainly won’t; that side of this “contest” is going to be a big “meh”.

          1. where they get all their money. Not that they’re opulently rich, but it seems like going all over the country can’t be too cheap. I’d like to know if they’re getting a lot of outside donations.

            1. 10 of whom are lawyers.  Also many lawyers among the gradkids.  They specialize in getting people so angry that they step over the line in terms of personal contact and then go full court press legally.  They use legal tactics that make Doug Bruce look like Clarence Darrow.

                1. I read an article a couple of months ago, but can’t find it on teh google right now.  Anyway, the article alleged that the Phelpses make significant sums pursuing civil rights suits whenever WBC gets itself into a scrape.  If I understood correctly, apparently somehow federal law allows attorneys pursuing civil rights suits to earn some public money fees, even if their clients lose the suit.  So by pursing civil rights claims against groups or municipalities that “violate” their civil rights by opposing WBC’s antics, they are able to collect fees.  It’s a elaborate legal extortion scheme against anyone who finally gets fed up enough to oppose them, because win or lose the Phelpses (WBC) get paid.

                  Phelps started out as a civil rights attorney where he quickly figured out this scam.

                  So, the more lawsuits that WBC can become embroiled in, the more money the Phelpses can generate in legal fees.  If they happen to win their cases, then it’s a double payoff.

                  Some info, although not the article I was looking for, can be found at:

                  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F…

                  http://www.splcenter.org/get-i…

                  http://www.splcenter.org/get-i…

  6. http://www.iwojima.com/

    I’m lucky enough to have met TWO Iwo Jima Marine vets at the DAV National Convention in Denver. Amazing, humble, funny but hard-drinkin’ and smokin’ guys who have seen the most horrific combat on Earth.

    And the people they thought were the heroes of Iwo Jima? Navy Corpsmen.

    3. My father was at the second raising of the flag on Iwa Jima.  It’s good to see even though most of those veterans are no longer living (and are missed) that we still remember!  Thank you!  Blythe

  7. To whomever ‘fanspinner’ was in his or her short time on this board – I hope that the Dead Guvs not only ban the ‘fanspinner’ account, but also take the time to figure out who you are on a more regular basis and ban that account as well.

    Outing an anonymous account is against the rules, period.  I don’t care if Governor Hickenlooper, Speaker McNulty, George Soros, or Edgar Alan Poe want to post here anonymously; if that’s the way they want to post, then that’s fine by me.

    1. It’s kind of like Wikileaks…both are among the few matters I am in different places at different times…

      But I know what you’re saying, and respect your opinion (and MOTR’s, who I think shares your position).  

      I guess I’m mostly just pissed that they chased LB away.  Thugs.

        1. As a group, I want to know who DD is.  They’re more than just the CP account.  But I didn’t want to know that the CP account was a joint account of a few named people who aren’t all of DD.

          If that person had put together an investigative reporting piece with the same information, but linked those people to actually organizing DD and raising the (greater than required to file) money to host their meetings, I would have been all over recommending the diary and recommending that it be promoted to the front page.

          1. whoever didn’t really achieve anything at all. Sometimes when people tell you what you were thinking it’s because you’re right. Sometimes not.

            Hopefully they were correct about the organization itself being connected officially soon. Whether or not it’s interesting, angering, or satisfying is a whole different issue.

            I am absolutely sure you can’t protect something by violating it. (Something about cake)

    2. We’ve banned the offending account, and we will ban additional ones if there is a conclusive link we can draw. We understand that passions are rather ridiculously high over this recall, but our policies protect everyone who comes here. No exceptions.

        1. Well, that was silly of whomever…

          BTW, what happened to LB’s diary? It had three comments last time I checked. Did it start getting out of hand or something?

  8. I mentioned in passing in one of the daily threads last week that our good ol’ Dept. of Revenue was not going out of their way to make it easy for me to send them their (measly pittance of) sales tax for January.

    Last year when my tax license was shiny and new, I was also sent a booklet with a work sheet and payment sheet for each month, with instructions and all.  If you pay monthly, you are supposed to get the amount owed for the previous month’s in by the 20th, or in this case, the 18th since the 20th fell on a Sunday.

    I still do not have a payment booklet. I guess it would be fair to say I don’t strictly NEED one, because I can look at the old one for hints if I need them, and I can pay online instead of mailing a check. Of course that is slightly more expensive than the cost of a check and a stamp, but it’s less than the fine they impose if you are late, so there you go.

    Well, I figured my figures and paid online (also mailing a check to the City of Lamar, which DID send me my papers right on time). Then I decided to call and ask if maybe there has been a change in policy they couldn’t be arsed to let people know about.

    That’s where it gets annoying. I was on the phone clicking numbers for three minutes before I got to a message saying they couldn’t put me on hold because I would have to wait too long, kthanxbi. So I hunted around to find an email address, only to find THIS:

    The inbound email service is closed. We will reopen on Tuesday. Please see the Questions and Answers available below, or visit the Colorado Taxation Web site, http://www.TaxColorado.com

    Seriously? Your EMAIL is closed? SERIOUSLY?

    My hard to pay sales tax dollars, not at work.

    3. The DOR’s usual excuse for not answering the phone is because of “budget cuts”.

      Based on my experience as a CPA, I think the Dept. of Labor’s Division of Unemployment is overstaffed with auditors and people filing $100 tax liens.  They should be transferred over to the DOR to answer the phone.

      PS, I’d guess that since the filing deadline falls on a weekend/holiday, that it’s not due till Tuesday.  

  9. I’d read a few stories about how the lack of tax revenue had caused pools to close, the public to mow the parks, etc — but that was some time ago.  Does anyone know how the city is doing now? Is this impacting businesses willingness to move to the city?  I wouldn’t want to be transferred to a city that can’t keep street light lit…

    Blythe

  11. like  anyone could imagine my asking any other kind . . .

    What is the purpose of the [subscribe]/[unsubscribe] link near the top of each diary page?  (My extensive and exhaustive research of the Pols archives has not turned up any information.)

    1. but honestly, I have no real clue.  I often just make up explanations for things I don’t really understand.

      It’s part of my training regimen to become a pundit.

        1. When that day comes when I finally “slip the surly bonds” of Colorado Pols — if I’m given any say in the matter at all, I’ll choose to touch the face of Vera Brezhneva (and hope that Eddie Blazonczyk is not anywhere to be seen).

  14. On Sunday, cornerback Charles Woodson, a member of the National Football League Players Association, became the latest Green Bay Packer to back the public employees’ cause. NFL owners and the players’ union are locked in their own fight over a collective bargaining agreement. Along with Woodson, seven other current and former Packers have expressed support for the protesters.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41…

    The Gov and the State legislature better back off now…the true political force in this battle has now spoken!

          1. I clearly should have read the whole thread.  I was caught up in the hope of false bipartisanship.  Clearly.  The Packers, as I understand it, are owned by the People (or a lot of them).  The People get to decide how to spend our money, not Enron or Coors or Schlitz.  Or should. (Serious question-Why do your people hate economic democracy?)

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