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August 19, 2005 08:00 AM UTC

Friday Open Thread

  • 73 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

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73 thoughts on “Friday Open Thread”

  1. Commie!
    Socialist!!
    Nazi!!!
    Idiot!!!!
    Moron!!!!!

    Just bringing the rest of the week into Friday.
    Let’s post intelligently today.  Think we can do it?

  2. No kidding! I was away all day yesterday and came back to quite the scene over here…

    It seems that the comments have degenerated into partisan-name calling a bit as of late.

    Still my favorite political blog though, even with Peter…

  4. I wonder if we could enact a “Peter Tax”  It would be very simple and work like this.  For every reader of a Blog that Peter puts hours of his useless rhetoric into, peter has to pay $1 per post.

    Figure it like this… Probably 100 readers yesterday, and at least 200 posts of garbage = $20K to go for all his redistribute the wealth programs.

    If that gets on the ballot, I will vote for it.

  11. Here’s to the Caldara/GOP version of non-compete clause and monopoly capitalism.

    My Xcel bill is going up 37% next month!  Boy, the “free enterprise” system doesn’t seem that free anymore.

    I’ll just use the OTHER power company… oh wait, there isn’t one.  So much for deregulation giving me more choice.

    See more at SoapBlox Colorado (click my name)

  12. Medicaid firm lost millions last year.

    Colorado Access, the State’s only remaining Medicaid HMO, lost $7.2 million last year and does not have enough financial reserves to meet State fiscal requirements.  The State’s 2004-2005 budget apparently resolved the deficit portion of the crisis by increasing payment amounts, but I think this shows the State’s Medicaid system is not in the “excessive waste” territory.

    The problem was not bureaucratic tangles, or the state’s troubled computer system, but an increase in patients needing costly care, said Don Hall, Colorado Access’ chief executive.

    “We were just hit with very sick people,” Hall said. “Beginning in January, there was a tremendous increase in the number of people who are very ill.”

  14. If we could divert the Ref C funds to ensure that Peter, Phoenix and the other Move On morons don’t come back I might be willing to vote for it.

  15. From the Colorado Public Utilities Commision website:

    “The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has full economic and quality of service regulatory authority over …and investor-owned electric, gas and water utilities…”

    The DORA PUC, you know, the govt body that regulates Xcel’s rates.  Yea, that sounds a lot like “free enterprise” doesn’t it?

  17. Just in case you can’t access the website. Article below.

    Ballot could prompt Tabor lawsuit

    Thursday, August 18th 2005

    DENVER (AP) – The man who wrote the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights is threatening to file a lawsuit if voters approve a proposed budget fix that would change the 1992 amendment that limited government’s ability to tax and spend.

    Douglas Bruce said his lawsuit would seek to overturn Referendum C, which he said would unconstitutionally change a provision of TABOR that requires voter approval to change the formula setting tax limits.

    Referendum C, which has the support of the Legislature?s Democratic leadership and Gov. Bill Owens and other prominent Republicans, asks voters to give up $3.6 billion in tax surplus refund checks over the next five years and raise the maximum amount the state is allowed to use in the tax-limit formula, essentially allowing higher limits than TABOR would allow.

    Bruce said supporters of Referendum C made a mistake by asking voters to change state laws rather than the state Constitution, because a law cannot change provisions of the Constitution. The problem, he said, is that Referendum C proposes to change a provision of the Constitution locking in the amount of money lawmakers can spend without voter approval.

    Bruce said Owens has misrepresented the referred measure on the ballot, saying he is using TABOR to fix the state?s budget problems. Bruce said the provisions sought by Owens and other supporters are not allowed under TABOR.

    ?They want to set a new base (revenue level). You can?t change the formula, except by a constitutional amendment,? Bruce said.

    Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, D-Denver, said lawmakers were aware of the possible legal challenge when they drafted the ballot measure. He said local communities have received voter approval for similar ballot measures allowing them to keep tax surplus dollars and it has never been challenged.

    Besides Referendum C, voters on Nov. 1 will decide Referendum D, which would allow the state to borrow up to $2.1 billion for roads, school maintenance, pensions and other projects.

    Referendum C must pass for Referendum D to take effect.

    Owens? spokesman, Dan Hopkins, insisted the governor is using only the measures allowed in the Taxpayer?s Bill of Rights to ask voters to give up their tax surplus refunds over the next five years.

    ?Bill Owens is a strong TABOR supporter. He certainly would not advocate any change to TABOR language. Referendum C uses existing language to take care of infrastructure problems,? Hopkins said.

    Katy Atkinson, spokeswoman for the Referendum C campaign, said she expects Bruce to challenge the measure if it passes.

    ?His modus operandi is anytime anything happens to TABOR, he challenges it.

    The bottom line is that it has not been successfully challenged. I think it?s a sign of desperation if they have already started making plans what to do after this passes,? she said.

    Cortez Journal

  20. I don’t know, but if Owens didn’t travel so much maybe we would have enough money.

    From a Canadian Newspaper

    Monday, August 15th, 2005
    Doer meets with U.S. ambassador, two premiers, Colorado governor
    By: FPNS 

    CHURCHILL ? Manitoba Premier Gary Doer hosted a meeting over the weekend in a northern port community that included U.S. ambassador David Wilkins, as well an American governor and two other Canadian premiers.

    The group, which all stayed at Churchill?s Aurora Inn, also included executives with Omnitrax-Inc, the Colorado company that owns the Port of Churchill and its railway.

    It is believed the common cause that drew the high-powered party of politicians and industrialists north for the visit is the possibility that Churchill could someday become an open-sea port on the Arctic ? a possibility given accelerated melting of the polar ice cap.

    The premiers attending the gathering were Quebec?s Jean Charest and New Brunswick?s Bernard Lord. Colorado Governor Bill Owens, a Republican like Wilkins, also attended.

    Gavin Lawrie, who owns the Aurora Inn, said the group split up Sunday morning, with some going kayaking and others taking a boat tour on Hudson Bay to catch a glimpse of Churchill?s famous white beluga whales.

    The party also had a glimpse of the North?s other white mascot, the majestic polar bears, Lawrie said.

    Two senior executives from Omnitrax were part of the weekend event, Lawrie said. The party boarded a flight south Sunday afternoon.

    Doer?s staff did not release an itinerary to indicate when the group was to return to Winnipeg and a call Sunday for an interview with the premier to comment on the visit went unanswered.

  21. Hick is given low odds because they are taking into account that he will most likely not run for Governor at all.  Thus he has lower odds than declared or likely candidates.

  22. So glad to be called a moron…

    Join the ranks of everyone else who blindly accuses me of being something I’m not.

    To my knowledge, the vigil on Wednesday is the first event I have attended that was in any way affiliated with MoveOn.org, and I have never been a part of their mailing lists or forums.

    I’ll make everyone a deal: I’ll stop making lengthy responses if other people stop making deceitful misstatements that I feel obligated to correct.

  23. Hugo – I’m a bit busy this weekend already getting the State in fiscal stability by promoting Ref. C&D, so I guess I’m not going to be in Crawford.

    If you want to double-check, I’ll be manning the Democratic Party booth at the Gilpin County Fair.

  24. Phoenix,

    In all fairness to Republicans if they really followed the 9th commandment and tried your little deal of “I’ll stop making lengthy responses if other people stop making deceitful misstatements”  I don’t think we would ever hear from them again.

    If the Republicans will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them.

  28. Hey, the pro-C folks are filming a commercial at 9:00 am tomorrow at the boat house at Denver City Park.

    Bring the horse! Let’s have some fun.

  30. That’ll be great: hundreds and hundreds of “Yes on C&D” supporters completely overwhelming a lonely pair of “No on C&D” people.

    That’s assuming they haven’t reserved the space for a commercial shoot, and blocked all the No More Services people away from the cameras.

  31. (laughing)

    I find it not too surprising, that when I make my comments, the Republicans all go crazy!  (laughing) … it is a riot!!!  The Republicans are finding themselves in the minority, so they can degrade liberals, attacking them and their positions, they can lie cheat and otherwise break the law, suggest taking away our liberty for the personal gain, kill people, accuse people, stuff the ballot boxes, select Presidents into office through an infringement of the US Constitution with a corrupted US Supreme Court, it goes on and on and on …

    And, of course, the minute someone tells the “truth” and a Mother (Ms Sheehan) starts a Peace movement, she is contemptable and a terrible disguisting mom for complaining about losing her son after only 2 weeks in Iraq, AND, then the Republicans can CUT and PASTE, articles … and alike on this website …

    BUT, if I do it … OH MY GAWD, I am this most horrendous individual … all because the Democrats have RIGHTLY discribed the GOP as Baby KILLERS …

    (Laughing)

    Rush Limbaugh makes lying an ART … and our current Administration makes an ART out of releasing the name of CIA agents for personal gain … committing treason …

    AND, to the GOP, it is all in a days work …

    (laughing)

    The destruction of America is OKAY if a Republican does it … AMAZING …

    (Not laughing anymore …)

    (very very sad truth, how far the Republicans will go to protect their theorcracy ideas …

    GOOD LUCK !

  33. And a business has never succeeded by making wise investments.  Our country just didn’t just magically get this way.  Previous generations made wise investments via those evil taxes to enable our country to become what it is today.  If you want to live in some third world country with no taxes you are more than welcome but I would like to keep our country just the way it is and yes that means paying taxes, I am so sorry.

    the whinniest generation is out in full force today.

  35. TAX THOSE WEALTHLY FOLKS UNTIL THE SUN DOESN’T SHINE … OTHERWISE, THEY WILL BUY SUV’s …

    (laughing)

    I find it not too surprising, that when I make my comments, the Republicans all go crazy! (laughing) … it is a riot!!! The Republicans are finding themselves in the minority, so they can degrade liberals, attacking them and their positions, they can lie cheat and otherwise break the law, suggest taking away our liberty for the personal gain, kill people, accuse people, stuff the ballot boxes, select Presidents into office through an infringement of the US Constitution with a corrupted US Supreme Court, it goes on and on and on …

    And, of course, the minute someone tells the “truth” and a Mother (Ms Sheehan) starts a Peace movement, she is contemptable and a terrible disguisting mom for complaining about losing her son after only 2 weeks in Iraq, AND, then the Republicans can CUT and PASTE, articles … and alike on this website …

    BUT, if I do it … OH MY GAWD, I am this most horrendous individual … all because the Democrats have RIGHTLY discribed the GOP as Baby KILLERS …

    (Laughing)

    Rush Limbaugh makes lying an ART … and our current Administration makes an ART out of releasing the name of CIA agents for personal gain … committing treason …

    AND, to the GOP, it is all in a days work …

    (laughing)

    The destruction of America is OKAY if a Republican does it … AMAZING …

    (Not laughing anymore …)

    (very very sad truth, how far the Republicans will go to protect their theorcracy ideas …

    GOOD LUCK !

  36. TO ALL THE RADICAL REPUBLICAN MORMONS:  A LETTER ABOUT MY LIBERTY AND FREEDOM …

    I sent this letter to my very good friend earlier today …

    dear Nancy,

    Well, I was a bit tea’d today … but, I drank an iced tea instead !!!  🙂

    Not too worry … I took my energy out in running today.  I ran twice a far as I
    normally do … I ran for 9 miles.  It felt very good.  My legs are a bit sore,
    but I feel terrific otherwise.  It is amazing on how I can bounce back, extend my
    running distance with a bit of tea.  🙂 

    I am going to continue this work out schedule … every other day.  I figure I should
    be an athlete in 6 months.  I am in POLITICAL training.  🙂

    I am not frightened by these so called Republicans … most of them are radical
    Mormons.  I think Bush is likely to be a Mormon.  In any regard, the day the country
    attempts to take away my rights of liberty will be a day they will see an entire
    nation in civil war.  America was built upon FREEDOM, and they sure as hell will
    not take that right from me.

    No worries …

    Peter

  37. Peter – tell me that wasn’t really you…

    What was that?  A “radical Mormon” is either a Mormon heavy-drinker or one of the “marry the 13 year old wimmenfolk” crowd that lives down in Colorado City or Short Creek; neither really describe any Mormon I know of in politics (Orin Hatch is a pretty orthodox Mormon, and Mark Udall is a really decent guy…).  Mormons are like everyone else – some good, some bad – and I’ll take this opportunity to defend them just as I’d defend anyone else.

    That was in poor taste.

  38. Newsflash Peter-
    I’d bet half of the people annoyed with your postings aren’t even republicans.  And I can pretty much gurantee you most of us aren’t mormon. 

    I’m a D and I can tell you that I’m annoyed as hell with your errant postings about things.  If you think you’re so damn important, go start your own blog, news flash – half of us don’t give a care what you think. 

    Better yet, if you’re so damn smart, run for office!  Peter, you have zero credibility with anybody on this site. 

    You don’t speak for us, you don’t represent us and hell, I’d wish you’d stop claiming you were one of us, because you make us all look bad.

    Feel free to waste your time assuming everyone is out to get you as part of some big damn conspiracy.

    Look in the mirror Peter, the jackass will be looking back at you.

  39. Phoenix –

    Unfortunately, I have not had the similar experience that you have had.  Most of the Mormons I have met are a far cry from the purpose of protecting Liberty — choice.  They seem to want to control society.  You will not change my mind on this one … sorry Phoenix. 

    I have personally witnessed Mormons trying to force their agenda down the throats of others … I respect their right of choice, but when it is a infringement on my rights, then they no longer respect my rights, they cross the line. 

    I will stand for Liberty and Freedom.  That is a much better place to be than to be consumed by their theocracy idealisms. 

    Call me Jewish … I will protect the Jewish faith any day of the week Phoenix.

    I lost Jewish family members in Germany during WWII, so I don’t like those who attempt to take away my liberty or Freedom Phoenix. 

    GOD BLESS AMERICA …

    And, for those who respect my rights, no matter their faith, then I welcome them and love all of them.

  40. assumptions –

    Your opinion does not respect mine.  And, I will not take the similar course, acting in your display of ignorance of the law or my right of Liberty and Freedom.

    I know you are a Republican.  I shows too well.

  41. Phoenix –

    Why is it so hard for our world to respect the rights of others?  Jesus died on the cross, simply becasue of his opinion.  My goodness, socrates also died for his opinions. 

    Unless, I have the similar right … like “Mormons,” “Catholics,” or anyone else, that is an infringement on Liberty, Democracy and Freedom.  I think it is fine that a Mormon has an opinion.  I welcome the debate. 

    It crosses the line when people go to war, killing innocent people for their own justifications.  Tolerance is very key to a peaceful world.  Just because we think we are right, doesn’t then make it right to attack someone else, killing them for the differences of opinion.  As long as they treat me fairly, then they are following what Jesus asked for 2000 years ago.

    I suppose, you can place me into the group of Jewish-Christians … who seek PEACE.  I don’t have hatred for anyone … I love everyone.

    When will the world learn this lesson … or, maybe you all should put me on a cross and kill me too? 

    ENOUGH of the killing of children for what ever the purpose … stop bombing, stop manufacturing weapons to kill people …

    Time for Peace …  listen to Cindy Sheehan … she is right.

  42. Peter-
    Still wrong, not a republican.  MY IGNORANCE of the law and right of freedom?  I’d bet my education (Double bachelors in Poli Sci and Communications; a poli knowledge certificate and a masters in public policy – almost) against yours any day of the week and twice on sunday. 

    I never disputed your right to post here, you are in fact entitled to that right.  However, that doesn’t make you a credible source of information and it sure as hell doesn’t make you a spokesperson for what we as a party are trying to accomplish. 

    Do I speak for the whole party?  No, of course not.  I’ve never been elected to do so, so I won’t pretend to know the wishes of every CO D.

    But I can tell you as one d to another, you’re embarassing; not just to yourself, but to all of us.  You’re making us look bad. 

    Call me a mormon or a catholic, call me whatever you want, but I swear on whatever is holy that I haven’t graced the presence of ANY church since I was about 13 (and it wasn’t a catholic church if you were about to infer a joke)  but I’m an American; born, raised and entitled to all the same rights you are. 

    I respect your right to post, but on behalf of 99% of the people on this site (from what I’ve witnessed, they haven’t elected me here either); start your own blog, if all of us really want to read your opinion, we’ll check it out.

  43. And many innocents were killed by Allied forces fighting the Nazi’s.  Fortunately they didn’t listen to people like you or there would be no Jews left.  Or European Democracies.  Many fewer Catholics. 

    You’re a hypocrite Peter.  And to compare yourself to Jesus says a alot.  Goodbye Peter.  Tell Hunter Thompson we said hello.

  44. Hey Peter:

    I’m a lifelong Democrat, and the reason why I loath you so deeply is because your postings are sofa-king-we-todd-did they make me wanna PUKE!

    You smell like the soiled linen closet in a nursing home.

  47. Does anybody else think that constantly responing to Peter and then trying to get him to tone it down is only further adding to the attention he craves?  If his arguments have no basis and are rediculous (which, for my own two cents, is often the case) then there seems to be no need to refute them.  If there’s no audience, there’s now hack act.

  49. WOW … when I read your comments, it sounds just like Rush Limbaugh dribble!!!  WOW … my goodness, ditto heads and more ditto-heads … Yeah, I expect a few of those dittos to be coming in here … the news is out !!!  THEY HAVE COMPETITION FROM THE LIBERALS !!!  🙂

    To bad that in 2006 and in 2008, with the way the polls are headed, the GOP will all be a memory of radical oxyconten!  🙂

    GOOD LUCK

    I carry the US Constitution with me every where I go … and I am smart enough to stay away from people who are liars !!!  🙂 

    Isn’t it something how our President has to go and pay champion bicyclists to ride around the ranch, to counter demostrations against killing innocent kids around the world???

    WOW … such good PR skills … MS. Poli Sci/Communications !!!

    OH, frankly all that education that you spoke about doesn’t impress me!  It doesn’t take an education to break the Ten Commandments MS. EDUCATED (Poli Sci and Communications).

    AND, I will put up the King James Version of the Bible against your EDUCATION any day of the WEEK !!!

    WAKE-UP, YOU”RE LOSING THE DEBATE !!! 🙂

  50. OH, and just to make you smile a bit … for those ditto heads … KARL ROVE has sexual problems !!! He can’t quite figure out how to leave those CIA agents alone !!!  🙂

  51. I will gladly give KARL a cigar … hold on KARL.  Good job speaking for all those children around the world KARL (I mean Turd-blossom).  🙂

  53. Persident Bush continues to suggest that if we don’t fight the terrorists in Iraq (a war he started) that we will have to fight them here in the US.  Well, mr. president, the hypocracy of your argument is found in the fact that the Russians, Chinese, Europeans, Australians, and all the othe countries around the globe are fighting against your pathetic foriegn policies … you refuse to protect our borders, and then you forget that the entire world can just simply walk into the US because of your ridiculous ingorant lying excuses for more war.  When will you be satisfied my Bush, after you have conquered the world?

  55. This just in from Larimer County – Bob Beauprez has won a straw poll for the Governor’s race with 78% of the vote. Not scientific, but Larimer is one of the biggest GOP counties in the state and sets a lot of the trends for statewide support. Just thought you all would want to know.

  57. All that story says is that MH didn’t want to face the fact that he really has very little grassroots support, so now he’s trying to create a controversy. I’m reminded of Bob Ewegen’s column a while back – “…if Beauprez can be fairly described as the 800-pound gorilla of Colorado Republican politics, Holtzman barely weighs in at the gerbil division.”

  58. You obviously didn’t go to the MH bbq today, no john elway wasn’t there, but more than 300 people were.  Almost 150 showed up in Colorado Springs yesterday, according to the Gazette.  MH isn’t a career politican, of course he didn’t have the grassroots support of BB right out of the gate, but it’s growing and I think it will continue to do so.

  60. That’s true. Although Beauprez and Hickenlooper strongly disagree on social issues, they have both made the transition from successful businessmen to successful political powerbrokers.

  61. BB has been a politician for years, he made the transition a long time ago. 

    I’m not going to say anything bad about BB, I think he’s a great guy, I just don’t think that he should be coronated as governor of Coloraodo. 

    I think MH can bring about change and grow the economy here in CO.  I think that MH will change the “Good ol Boy” policy that exists under the leadership of Bill Owens and Bruce Benson.  I think that we need NEW ideas, NEW leadership and I think that MH is the person to do that.

  63. I completely understand where you’re coming from, Me, but with just a glance at Bob Beauprez’s background, you’ll see he offers the sort of vision and leadership Colorado truly needs over the next few years. I am sure Holtzman is a really nice guy, and if he were running for an office he were better equipped for, I would support him. But the Republican nominee needs to be someone who can unite the party and defeat an opponent like Ken Salazar. The governor needs to be someone with relevant experience and a proven track record. Beauprez has that.

  65. Larimer County should be embarresed. We had no more than 100 people there – MH got over 300 at his open house. We could have had some of those folks with us, giving money to our party. Instead, we let Dan pass information to a primary opponent.

    And after the open house, I heard MH got a bunch of folks to the Arapahoe fundraiser – giving money to the party there.

    Thanks, Dan. You really helped us.

  66. Larimer County is a bellwether for the state huh? Yeah right!

    Of course they did manage to vote Ken Salazar in? He beat Pete in Larimer by 4 points. And Bush did beat Kerry in the same county by the same margin.

    So they may have a clue in the General but Bobbie B needs to win the primary first and if memory serves Larimer was only one of 7 counties Bob Schaffer carried? And Schaffer?s old Senate seat is now held by a DEM.

    Besides, I counted only 6 people at the ?straw poll? who were not wearing Bobbie B stickers, yet MH got 16 votes? Seems to me that there are a bunch of folks claiming to be with Bobbie B until the secret ballot gets cast.

    I?m sure Bobbie B and his folks are proud of the ?win? at the straw poll, but if they want a mandate within the 4th CD they?ll need to pick a different county.

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