UPDATE: A good speech if the crowd would just shut up and listen, courtesy NBC News:
—–
Politico’s Charles Mahtesian:
The popular first-term Colorado governor tells the Denver Post that his first major speech to the national party won’t be a negative one marked by attacks on Mitt Romney or the GOP, an approach that’s in keeping with his apolitical style.
But if Hickenlooper has aspirations beyond Colorado – he’s already been to New Hampshire this summer for a speech – a measured address just isn’t going to cut it in Charlotte…
As both conventions have shown, there’s no appetite in either party for compromise or anything resembling a centrist approach. So the very traits that make Hickenlooper one of the nation’s most popular governors won’t serve him well in Charlotte – or in Iowa and New Hampshire in 2016.
Gov. John Hickenlooper’s address is scheduled for the 6 o’clock (MDT) hour of the Democratic National Convention tonight–we’ll post it as soon as it’s available. Will Hickenlooper surprise and throw a few punches on Barack Obama’s behalf? As we’ve said about our consummate nice-guy governor before, he has to invest his closely-guarded political capital sometime.
Especially if he’s imagining something bigger down the road than governor of Colorado.
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And I hope he moves in a progressive direction. Here is what some progressives I know are thinking of him now:
Trouble With Hickenlooper
First paragraph:
but, Michael Bennet had a good interview with Chuck Todd this morning……..
He could do it. I wish he would…
I’ve been tossing back frack shooters all day! I’m ready to ruuuuumble!
It is the actual gas and oil that comes up through borehole that is problematic in fracking. That and the whole use of hydrocarbons(burning the only good source of plastics…that’s smart). Being pro-fracking is what all the cool geoscientists are doing these days. Not saying it’s great, or even good, but the fracking fluid isn’t the problem, which Hickenlooper demonstrated.
Fracking has a whole host of other issues, and we would do well to focus on the ones that are actually damaging rather than burning strawmen.
There are plenty of products used in much of the frack fluid that is cause for concern. Of course it is not just the ‘frack’ itself, it is a problem cradle to grave–including getting it to site, ensuring that the well casing is done right (to protect against things like you suggest), and disposing of the produced water. (And the associated hauling all those things around).
From what I understand what the governor claims to have sampled is a specific ‘green’ frack product and in no way ubiquitous in the gas fields.
But ‘fracking’ also serves as a short hand of sorts for the range of real impacts and real issues surrounding oil and gas development. Thousands of truck trips per well though our towns and communities, on rural roads, over passes, and such is not a small impact–and all that is related to fracking.
I agree with those who think the state could do a much better job of demonstrating more concern for those very real issues that duly elected leaders, those representing local communities, are actually and very much dealing with. So far that demonstration is lacking IMO.
http://nyti.ms/SllIgS
but not the only one, is with water. We have a shortage. How long and how do you treat water after fracking so humanoids can use it for the critical needs of our bodies? Won’t do us much good to produce energy if it leaves us with a greater water shortage
Kept changing channels hoping to catch him. Did see him on the monitor behind Chris Mathews at one point.
not impressive though he did talk about Western values
Wasserman-Shartz really did Hick a disfavor, poor positioning of his speech and a distracted crowd won’t allow the press to sell this guy as the 2016 candidate.
Colorado Democrats should ask why this happened …. Was it the union boss influence that gave him this crap slot and the “distracted” crowd?
He does much better with Republicans who eat up his shtick and he’ll have to perform much better then Ritter did as he’ll face a Dem House and Senate when Obama wins Colorado.
There are a lot of Democrats in Colorado who are a little less than enthusiastic above The Governor. So not surprising to me.
Releasing tax returns and he was decent on the environment.
much better venue for him.
on this. I cannot forgive Hick for his whole-hearted sellout to the O&G industry. Never a raging liberal, Hick will continue to be a mouthpiece for COGA and the CPA, negating any progressive actions he may take on other issues.
I am hoping he will be primaried by a progressive who understands the need to push for renewable energy instead of sucking up to T. Boone and his army of oily boys.
Seriously. You can.
Oil/NG exploration means jobs right now while other energy sources develop. Good paying jobs, too. And they’re in Colorado.
I know it’s easy to rip him for not being “left enough,” but that’s how we ended up with a Tea Party on the right, so I’d caution you against that sort of hyperbole.
Oil/NG is a necessary evil at the moment. Hick gets it.
Its a matter of balance, protecting other values, preserving our water and health. The state is more often on the wrong side of these issues of late, whereas local governments are standing up–from Boulder to Gunnison to Routt. Oil and gas development is at an ALL TIME HIGH in CO right now. Its not hurting. Meanwhile more and more water is being shoved down frack holes–taken FOREVER (for human purposes) out of the hydrological cycle even as our rivers dry up.
I will lay off of Governor Frackenlooper when he instructs his O&G commission to immediately demand a 1000 ft. setback from any residence or other occupied structure (school, hospital, church, etc.). He must demand that all bonds must be tripled, and that O&G companies who do not follow the rules will be banned from doing business in Colorado.
Furthermore, he must instruct his commission to require air quality monitoring around ALL gas facilities…AND he must immediately rescind the ad valorem tax credit given to O&G companies. Not to mention establishing a fund, paid for by the industry, to provide damages to citizens affected by O&G drilling.
When I see Hick do those things, I will back off…not until.
he just sat there on stage and took it from Clint.
I demand equal time with the skinny funny named ones!
future Dem party super star has passed.
He’s totally outclassed by darned near every other speaker up there this week. Even if he gets a second term his “political future” has passed. He’ll soon be back to cashing an O&G paycheck.
who still loves me some moderate Dems. Go Hick!
They’re not here.
Hick does not have a charming enough personality to make a serious run for President, IMHO. He’s smart, and popular, but the standards for Governor are way different than standards for the President. I like Hick, although I think he is dead wrong about fracking.