President (To Win Colorado)
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(D) Kamala Harris
(R) Donald Trump
80%↑
20%
CO-01 (Denver)
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(D) Diana DeGette*
(R) V. Archuleta
98%
2%
CO-02 (Boulder-ish)
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(D) Joe Neguse*
(R) Marshall Dawson
95%
5%
CO-03 (West & Southern CO)
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(R) Jeff Hurd
(D) Adam Frisch
50%
50%
CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado)
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(R) Lauren Boebert
(D) Trisha Calvarese
90%
10%
CO-05 (Colorado Springs)
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(R) Jeff Crank
(D) River Gassen
80%
20%
CO-06 (Aurora)
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(D) Jason Crow*
(R) John Fabbricatore
90%
10%
CO-07 (Jefferson County)
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(D) B. Pettersen
(R) Sergei Matveyuk
90%
10%
CO-08 (Northern Colo.)
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(D) Yadira Caraveo
(R) Gabe Evans
52%↑
48%↓
State Senate Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
80%
20%
State House Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
95%
5%
April 15, 2022 02:41 PM UTC
41 Comments
Helps if you're insane
I'll be interested to learn about Buck's opinion: "They’re mad about losing good paying jobs — energy jobs — here in Colorado."
I've also read
Granted, oil and gas hasn't recovered as quickly: the Greeley region has recovered just 44% of the jobs lost in the early pandemic.
Buck will simply keep on lying. Facts, statistics about real unemployment rates and how little oil and gas jobs are contributing to Colorado’s economy…none of that matters. The truth does not matter to Buck, nor to his loyal constituents. They’ll lap up whatever he hacks up.
I predict that Buck will now make a hard right turn for the primary. He’ll spread all the racist memes, ranting about how immigrants are ruining the country, disregarding how this may hurt the refugee communities he represents in Morgan County, and who are essential to CD4 meat and dairy industris. Unfortunately, this jingoism will probably work like a charm and he’ll win his primary against Robert Lewis from Elbert County.
In the general election, Buck will be up against Ike McCorkle, a decorated combat veteran with very progressive views. Ike could help bring real recovery to CD4, voting for policies to make the shift to renewable energy and sustainable agriculture practices.
I really wish that the Colorado Democratic Party would commit some real resources to helping Ike win. Every election, the Democratic vote in CD4 has grown. It grew to 39% in 2018 with Karen McCormick. ( Ike got 36.6% in 2020). Ike speaks softly, due to the combat injury to his larynx. He’ll need some savvy campaign staff to help voters commit to real substance and toughness over Buck’s insincere “ tough talk / bullshit walk”.
Spoken like the big old RINO that is Ken Buck. They need to replace him with a real Republican. Bob Lewis represents what the GOP is today.
Sure they are mad. But not because of any specific issues. If it weren’t these issues it would be other ones.
One needs to keep perspective.
Did Biden utterly screw up the Afghanistan withdrawal? Yes
Did Biden gloss over inflation (even though he isn’t really responsible for it)? Yes.
Is the Dem base repeatedly advocating for the teaching of bigoted, exclusionary, and incoherent ideas on the issues of race and gender while trying to silence those who dissent? Yes.
But those issues pale in comparison to the peaceful transition of power, checks and balances, and the rule of law that the Trumpified GOP opposes. If it were really about “issues” the GOP base would be less willing to demonize the Dems who – their many mistakes on policy aside – stood as a bulwark for our Constitution during the Trump presidency. But the anger is there anyway and that tells you what you need to know.
Elliott claimed the Dem base is advocating the teaching of
Which ideas ( Specifically) do you think the Dem base is teaching or advocating to teach? Name a lesson or curriculum which is actually taught in public schools. Your kids are old enough to be in school… what are they telling you they are learning which is so objectionable?
I’m on a long term sub teaching gig now, currently teaching a “multicultural novel” unit. All were written by diverse authors in the last 50 years. Main characters are Native American, African/Nigerian, Chinese American, and Latin American. European Americans are part of these stories, as well…they just aren’t the most mportant characters or viewpoints in the stories.
Is this what you define as “bigotry”? Because Buck’s mad base sure does.
Google has bigotry as “obstinate or unreasonable attachment to a belief, opinion, or faction; in particular, prejudice against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular group.” Significant portions of the Dem base express bigotry against “white people” by claiming this invented group has no right to speak if it is male, cisgendered, and straight.
On the racial part of this, I suggest watching this clip:
Andrew Sullivan vs. Jon Stewart and Lisa Bond On “Upholding Racist Systems” | Video | RealClearPolitics
I could go on in depth about how “cool minorities” seek to exclude less cool minorities (Jews/Asians) from minority status while also making up BS definitions of racism that to be racist you have to have power (and making, with Jews in particular, some very odious assumptions about “power”). But that is a long discussion I don’t feel like having here.
On gender, on substance gender is either sex outright or a social construct. If a social construct, it still ends up being “sex” (albeit with the modification that society mistakenly views sex as binary). That should be pretty uncontroversial but people still fight about it and try to switch “social construct” to “individual construct” (i.e., gender is something determined solely by the individual and not by society at large). No matter; people are free to believe strange and incoherent things.
The trouble becomes that many of the same people who have this belief often turn around and demand that anybody who publicly disagrees be ostracized, fined, or even have their professional license stripped from them in certain circumstances (see here: Misgendering as Misconduct | UCLA Law Review; see also controversies involving JK Rowling (https://www.glamour.com/story/a-complete-breakdown-of-the-jk-rowling-transgender-comments-controversy) and Dave Chapelle (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59046022)). There is no justification for such radicalism. And coupled with what is going on in female sports, this is increasingly an issue that the Dems are getting way out in front of their skis on, and even the liberal press is getting nervous on this. (Compare Douthat piece in NY Times Opinion | How to Make Sense of the New L.B.G.T. Culture War – The New York Times (nytimes.com) with Jimmy’s piece this week in Newsweek that points this out as a reason for the coming red wave (Colorado GOP Shows Republicans How They Can Screw Up 2022 | Opinion (newsweek.com)). When you cannot defend your view (TWAW) on substance, resort to slurs (at best) against feminists who disagree (see “TERF”) or, worse, seek to bully people into agreeing with your weak argument, that can fit within the bigotry definition as well as you would then be obstinately pushing an unreasonable view expressing prejudice against anybody who disagrees.
Are these the biggest issues in the world? NO. Like I said, other issues matter a lot more. But there is a massive backlash brewing against these pseudo academic ideas the dem base is pushing, and with the Trumpified GOP poised to take power in 2022 and possibly 2024, one must wonder why the Dems are pushing for incoherent bigotry that is going to cost them electorally.
Lots of words, and lots of generalizations: “People” still fight about it…”cool minorities seek to exclude less cool minorities”…”many of the same people who have this belief”…
The JK Rowling trans vs biological woman controversy is a global Twitter flame war- not anything “Dems” can claim. She is, after all, a British author.
Dave Chapelle ha s always been kind of a jerk, and I haven’t followed that particular teapot tempest. But again, not really a “Dem” issue.
However, the questions I asked to get you to backup your claim that Dems are “advocating the teaching “ of ideas you dislike:
You could not or would not answer. Nuff said.
You can't have it both ways: you can complain about too much specificity or too much generality. But not both.
As for "public schools", nowhere in my original comment did I mention schools. I mentioned teaching, which occurs in multiple places. Including this page if you get a good post/comment.
So you agree that the Republican hysteria about “critical race theory” and/or “homosexual grooming” in public schools is much ado about nothing.
I want to be clear about that.
Your other griping that “Dems” are somehow responsible for what Chapelle or Rowling say is now buried in salt, and down the memory hole.
Completely different topics.
The grooming discussion is just stupid.
The CRT discussion seems stupid superficially, but when you dig deeper it isn't. CRT is used as a proxy for a whole host of things that I'm too sleepy to get into now.
As for Chapelle/Rowling, if you think that the people who want to cancel them are evenly split between Republicans/Dems I got few Brooklyn Bridges for sale…
Have you thought about therapy or seeking a mental health evaluation?
Have you? (not referring to Cook). You seem to have a thing for accusing some people you disagree with as having some mental issues.
“You” = John north of Denver.
Who is “you”?
To: Conserv. Head Banger
There is nothing to disagree with the reality is there not “Significant portions of the Dem base express bigotry against “white people””. That belief and other parts of the rant are pretty big red flags.
Im sincere that he should speak to a therapist.
Reply to Elliot
I read your copypasta. I have seen that episode.
You really should think about going to a therapist. If anything just to stick to me. Talking to a professional does not have to hurt. It can be for any reason
John:
The pertinent portion of the original comment is as follows:
“Is the Dem base repeatedly advocating for the teaching of bigoted, exclusionary, and incoherent ideas on the issues of race and gender while trying to silence those who dissent? Yes.”
To follow up on that after KW Tree asked questions I provided the following support:
___
On the racial part of this, I suggest watching this clip:
Andrew Sullivan vs. Jon Stewart and Lisa Bond On “Upholding Racist Systems” | Video | RealClearPolitics
I could go on in depth about how “cool minorities” seek to exclude less cool minorities (Jews/Asians) from minority status while also making up BS definitions of racism that to be racist you have to have power (and making, with Jews in particular, some very odious assumptions about “power”). But that is a long discussion I don’t feel like having here.
____
Let me guess, you didn’t watch the clip (where the audience, the host, and the two other guests would all be classically viewed as part of the Dem base). Nor did you ask whether I had seen other things. Nah, because what I wrote didn’t conform to your prejudices you just immediately presumed that I was mentally ill and needed therapy.
You must be a real joy to have a discussion with if the person involved isn’t part of your echo chamber. Heavy sarcasm on that last one.
He’s not insane. He’s just a lawyer. As such, he will have you defining terms and parsing pronouns until your head spins…then leap back, spin around three times and proclaim that what he was clearly proclaiming was not at all what he meant ( in this case, he was claiming that Buck’s base is justifiably mad at Democrats because we were mean to them on Twitter).
It’s not exactly meaningful political discourse- more like a game of Whack a Mole where he controls the scoreboard.
Nevertheless, I like Elliott. He’s left the Republican party and does his best to be an irritant to the crazies, homophobes and racists of his formr party. They won’t play with him anymore, so he comes here.
But it’s a beautiful Easter/ Passover /Ostara holiday, and way too nice to be inflicting brain damage by arguing with Elliott.
Having a juris doctorate does not render anyone immune from mental illness. I will saying that its hyperbole to say the Republican party is "crazy" to primary Ken Buck. However, in regards to the rant Elliot has copied and pasted several times, I believe that there are numerous red flags.
If Eliot is someone you “like”, I’d hate to be someone you dislike.
Oh, wait
I occupy a space in the midst of this anger and I’ve yet to understand the phenomenon. They have all the guns they want, no one is keeping them from the inside of a church, the federal farm subsidies flow freely into their bank accounts. In Wray we’ve just completed a $30 million P-12 school complex through the state BEST program and they just completed a complete overhaul of Main Street with a state grant. A vast chunk of the occupants out here have never had it better.
Afghanistan? I have serious doubts that Trump’s plan would have been an improvement. That said, I have no earthly idea how that withdrawal affected anyone out here in any way at all.
NewsMax occupies much of the tv space out here, as does MAGA talk on the AM radio spectrum. It’s been the equivalent of two-decades plus water boarding the region with that ideology; it’s baked in at this point and as long as we keep sending flamethrowers to Denver and DC nothing is going to change.
As a whole they’d prefer a grievance over sound public policy that works for everyone.
Exactly right.
Right wing media keeps them worried…being worried all the time makes them impressionable…
If Ken was really serious about the “anger” maybe he’d tackle (lead on) issues like (meat) packer concentration (a real issue in his district). Or the emerging soil carbon markets. Or the necessary transition from mass hydroponics over the Ogallala (ie: contemporary corn production). Or encouraging direct REA participation in the growing renewable energy markets.
Such a powerful word, “if”…
How many hopes and dreams, plans and expectations, aspirations of every conceivable kind are prefaced by that word?
But, in Kens’ case, I am reminded of a thing my Dad used to say..
“If a frog had wings, it wouldn’t have to bump its little butt on the ground.”
Ken really can’t be serious about it. He doesn’t even “get it”. To those guys, our point of view isn’t even comprehensible. Their entire world view is based on pillars of things I left behind long ago. There are reasons why Ken is a Republican and I am a Democrat. I still believe in democracy. he doesn’t.
In fact. I suspect one of the reasons you left the GOP was the same reason I no longer am active in Democratic party politics. Corporate influence has perverted the term “government” into some form of subcontractor, for want of a better term. But, even though it now appears Ken Salazar or J. Frackenlooper or some other high muckety-muck has gotten to Uncle Joe, the best hope for environmental justice in this era lies with the Dems.
Yes, the anger is over the issues that Ken, Cory, Greg and Jerry have stoked over the years. Repeal and Replace? #Hicked Renewable energy is going to destroy our economy! Ritter and Obama are brothers. Julesburg Jihad. Getting up and leaving your table at a DC restaurant because the black squatter in the White House came by? Meat Out? (what Catholics call Friday). Those are but a small fraction of the bullshit we’ve been waterboarded with over the years.
Actual economic policy ideas to advance the region? crickets
It reminds me of the story of the young man who murdered his parents and then went before the judge and asked for mercy from the court as he was now an orphan.
In response to to NotaSkinnyCook and JohnNorthOfDenver (as my phone doesn’t let me directly reply and I am not near my computer):
Your responsive comments in the sub thread I began above, are not only devoid of substance and seek to distract from that by insults, are precisely the sort of out of touch sophomoric arrogance that has the Dems alienating half the country.
Maybe try actually wrestling with the substance next time. Which you are apparently unable to intellectually do.
I think you should talk to someone. Your rant is very concerning.
I think you would benefit if you discuss these fears with a professional who could help you contextualize them with reality.
I am male, cisgendered, and straight (… if I understand the terms). I have not led a sheltered life. I do not recall feeling that “bigotry” in 50 years of being a Democrat.
On the other hand, I don’t say the kind of objectionable, tone-deaf, crapola as does our dear “Fladenmaus”.
I'm guessing those "significant portions of the Dem base" don't attend meetings or assembly but rather pull the strings from the Illuminati moon base.
I hear it some out east in the coffee shops but it’s usually after they’ve spent hours watching Fox News or NewsMaxx telling them who the real enemy of the straight, white, male is in today’s world. Not market concentration, not oligopoly’s. Not the refusal to change their practices to participate in a 21st century economy. Not issues affecting the other 98% of Americans. Our responsibilities/participation in a global economy.
It’s mostly a Fox News-manufactured, and Brophy-Hillman barrage of op-eds in the local paper that fills their minds with these useless notions.
Responding to DukeCox.
Go watch the Sullivan and Jon Stewart clip from a few weeks back. Not anywhere close to first time I have seen the argument made that “white” people have no right to speak on issues involving race.
Of course, that sentiment exists, Elliot. You used the word "significant".
I don't think so.
Duplicate without context so text removed.
Responding to JohnNorthofDenver
Oh, you are a troll. I provided a link to the Andrew Sullivan and Jon Stewart recent TV discussion regarding this precise point came up. I could find others but there wouldn't be much of a point. You'd simply ignore it.
Good day to you.
Hi Elliot,
I read your copypasta above. I have seen that episode.
You really should think about going to a therapist. If anything just to stick to me. Talking to a professional does not have to hurt. It can be for any reason.
Why would Elliot "need" a therapist to "stick it" to you?
"Maybe try actually wrestling with the substance next time."
For you, Elliott, these are abstract issues on which you have the luxury of philosophizing.
As members of the LGBTQ+ community, JohnNorthOfDenver, NotASkinnyCook and I have had to live through this shit being hurled at us.
Which "shit" precisely? That gender is not whatever you feel yourself to be (individual construct) but instead is a social construct (to the extent not sex outright)?
The "shit" to which I refer are homophobia and transphobia.
I'm old enough to remember 45 years ago, when that witch, Anita Bryant, was flying around on her broomstick screaming about protecting the children. (They didn't use the word "grooming" in 1977.)
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The story down in Florida in those days was that Anita hated gays so much because when she was in high school a group of gay boys took her out behind the bleachers and gang rejected her.
Just a story I heard…
“Homophobia” is completely irrelevant to this discussion.
“Transphobia” as a term is possibly quite relevant, depending on how you are using it. If you are using it strictly for yesterday’s actual phobic policies (Trump’s military ban) then fine. On the other hand, if you are using it for to today’s substantive non-phobic majority dissent against having gender as an INDIVIDUAL (not social) construct then that falls precisely what I was alluding to above. Namely that people who use the term like that often
Given your earlier comment, I suspect you are misusing the term in the latter fashion. I hope that I am mistaken.