U.S. Senate
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(D) J. Hickenlooper*
(R) Somebody
80%
20%
Governor
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(D) Joe Neguse
(D) Phil Weiser
(D) Jena Griswold
60%
60%
40%↓
Att. General
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(D) M. Dougherty
(D) Alexis King
(D) Brian Mason
40%
40%
30%
Sec. of State
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(D) George Stern
(D) A. Gonzalez
(R) Sheri Davis
40%
40%
30%
State Treasurer
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(D) Brianna Titone
(R) Kevin Grantham
(D) Jerry DiTullio
60%
30%
20%
CO-01 (Denver)
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(D) Diana DeGette*
(R) Somebody
90%
2%
CO-02 (Boulder-ish)
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(D) Joe Neguse*
(R) Somebody
90%
2%
CO-03 (West & Southern CO)
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(R) Jeff Hurd*
(D) Somebody
80%
40%
CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado)
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(R) Lauren Boebert*
(D) Somebody
90%
10%
CO-05 (Colorado Springs)
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(R) Jeff Crank*
(D) Somebody
80%
20%
CO-06 (Aurora)
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(D) Jason Crow*
(R) Somebody
90%
10%
CO-07 (Jefferson County)
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(D) B. Pettersen*
(R) Somebody
90%
10%
CO-08 (Northern Colo.)
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(R) Gabe Evans*
(D) Yadira Caraveo
(D) Joe Salazar
50%
40%
40%
State Senate Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
80%
20%
State House Majority
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DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
95%
5%
February 20, 2017 11:38 AM UTC
7 Comments
So, for starters, we can dispense with the notion that U.S. Term Limits exists to propose any kind of workable limit on the terms of members of Congress. Such a major change to the legislative branch would require a constitutional amendment, either through ratification by two-thirds of the states or by a “convention of states”–the latter being the official position of U.S. Term Limits, though it has never actually been used in American history. USTL claims further that their convention would be restricted to their pet cause, but there’s no legal way they could actually guarantee that.
Convenient that a statewide elected official with ambitions for higher office, but who has little name recognition, would be the one agitating to clear the field of longtime incumbents.
Did he not think through how self-serving his involvement would look? Or is he right in thinking his base focus on a generic 'government bad' message?
Walker Stapleton carries enough baggage for three candidates on his (presumed) run for Governor.
There is
*his DUI / hit and run charge in 2010,
*his spotty attendance on the job,
*his gold buggery (meanwhile accepting thousands from gold and mineral interests),
*his funding from scandal-ridden Cerberus Capital, Bain Capital, and the like
*his great grandfather Ben Stapleton's Klan affiliation while he was a five-term Denver Mayor,
*his affiliation with the Bush Crime Family with all of its banking scandals
So it isn't too surprising that Walker chooses to promote a politically popular idea such as term limits for Congressmembers. However, the USTL may itself be another path to scandal; a cursory look at Open Secrets shows that "Term Limits America", this "largest grassroots organization in the US", seems to collect money, but don't distribute it. In 2016, with $234K cash on hand and $65K contributions, USTL spent (drumroll) $5000.
Perhaps Walker needs to find another pony to ride.
So his number one priority as a (probable) candidate for Governor of Colorado, which already has term limits on state offices, is to advocate for term limits for congressional offices. Priorities.
It's never gonna happen. Why on earth would Congresscritters vote themselves out of their jobs? And I'm not sure they've been such a swell idea here. Lack of institutional memory combined with a lack of responsibility to constituents has helped to create some pretty tangled problems here.
I agree that it ain't gonna happen. File it under the category of "swell ideas that poll well and are safe to promote because one would never be accountable to make them work". Trump knows this with his term limits plan. No way in hell would a Mitch McConnell or an Orrin Hatch vote to lessen his influence. More's the pity.
But for Walker Stapleton, with a definite lack of charisma, family and personal history of corruption and criminal behavior, little name recognition, and only the R by his name as an electoral asset, as Pols says, this is a comfy pony to ride around the park, possibly positioning him for a governor’s or Comgressional run.
Anyone want to guess how many people will show up at 11 on a Thursday in March for a Term Limits demonstration?
Anyone want to speculate why a State Treasurer (or a candidate for Governor) would support a legal limit on federal legislators? Of all the possible issues to grab, THIS is the best use of his time and effort?
I'll bite….if it was our side mobilizing for a progressive cause using social media, we'd have a couple of hundred there on a weekday at 11 am. Since it's their side using a phone list, and probably sending paid actors, maybe 50 people will show.
USTL says that “Term Limits is known as the largest grassroots movement in American history, and US Term Limits (USTL) was, and still is, the leader of that movement”. So I guess we'll prepare to be astounded by their bigliness on 3/9/17.