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May 18, 2009 03:11 PM UTC

Monday Open Thread

  • 39 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

“Stupidity is better kept a secret than displayed.”

–Heraclitus of Ephesus

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39 thoughts on “Monday Open Thread”

  1. Is it just me that notices the “Always Here For You” quote on their ad here?  And that if they go on strike, that’s obviously no longer true?  

    Maybe they hired the Beauprez advisers.  

    1. Is it not an irony that Krogers or Safeway will lockout their own employees for not striking therefore making them not there for you?

      Encourage Gov. Ritter to sign the lockout unemployment bill HB 1170.

        1. People who can’t afford to eat out nearly as often spend more at the market to cook at home.  The workers just don’t want to get screwed.  I’m with them whether they strike OR get locked out. And Ritter needs to sign the bill.

            1. I followed the first sentence, then the logic derailed.

              Workers have a choice to cross the line and continue to meet the contract they made with their employer.

              What is going on at UFCW?

              Steve Balboni 11-5-08

              I am a believer in the labor movement, … Given that I cannot in good conscience remain silent about this report from Face the State,

                 Ernest Duran, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, paid himself and two of his children combined salaries of over $430,000 in 2007.

                 Duran collected a salary of $162,368 for 2007, according to records with the U.S. Department of Labor. Two of Duran’s children also work for the UFCW Local 7. His daughter Crisanta Duran, an associate counsel, pulled in $133,410 in 2007. His son, Ernie Duran, III, earned $134,378 in 2007 as an executive staffer. According to Salary.com, a Denver-area grocery cashier can earn about $24,377 annually, an assistant manager at the same store earns approximately $48,950, and a store manager earns about $66,800 a year.

                 The Durans’ salaries are funded by dues from the union’s 20,000 members.

              It’s hard to find the words to adequately describe just how outrageous this conduct is. The right-wing meme about “fat cat union bosses” is largely a myth and Colorado is blessed with many local labor leaders who are truly fighting for working families. They work long hard hours for salaries substantially lower than they could command in a different career and they do so because they truly believe in what they are doing.

              Ernie Duran’s conduct besmirches the good names of everyone in the labor community here in Colorado and nationally. This is outrageous and offensive. It demonstrates a striking lack of judgment and is corrupt in the extreme. I only hope that the members of UFCW Local 7 can quickly rid themselves of Duran.

              As wards of the state payroll, unions might now be considered an arm of the state. Just who will run the bill to take their reserves, require open and transparent hiring, etc…?  

              2. Why aren’t you comparing the salary of the union chief to the salary of the Kroger chief, instead of his lowest-paid member? Do you think $130k is too much for a lawyer? By what comparison? More important: isn’t this a matter for union members to decide/protest/get righteous about instead of you? (Pardon me if that was you collecting the carts in the parking lot!)

                Self revelation: you look down on grocery store workers and think they ought to work for low, low wages so it costs you less to grow obese. Well, here’s a Stop Press News Bulletin: They do work for low wages and they want higher wages. That’s the issue here. Period. Full Stop.

                How much higher? Why not $100k to start? I can live a lot longer without a lawyer than without food, and someone to staff the stores that sell it. To say nothing of bozos who take the federal dole as head of a poorly run bank and then presume to pass negative judgment on a business that is succeeding on the basis of a continuing line of credit.

                1. Your emotionally charged response to the Balboni’s original post on UFCW corruption seems fueled by the madness of one to close to the situation.

                  I treat the workers of King Soopers and Safeway with the dignity and respect I afford all my fellow citizen’s, as well as those guests of our great country.

                  UFCW is a closed shop union, workers are forced to join the UFCW as a condition of employment. Most egregious, they are forced to pay union dues in lieu of strong arm tactics by shop stewards.

                  Like state employees, shouldn’t all Coloradans have the right to join or not join the Union?

                  1. Haven’t you gotten sick of that lie yet Libertad? The NLRA prohibits the situation you’ve described.

                    In case you hadn’t noticed, Colorado doesn’t believe in right to freeload since they voted down A-47 last year. So if you don’t want to pay agency fees to the union, then don’t work a job that has a union.

                    This is so beyond common sense. Maybe you ought to find a new lie to repeat ad nauseum.

                    1. You, union bosses and those conspiring “business” payoff specialists plugged $20-35 million into the economy to con Colorado into voting 47 down.

                      That’s life and the American way. Why do you have such a hard time accepting these facts?

                  2. (always a condition in considering comments from some sources), union membership outta be like taxes, dontcha think? Didn’t vote for the filchin’ wetback-lovin’ bastards in gummit, shouldn’t have to pay for them commie programs like fire and schools and roads and such. Now, where’s my horse? Time to ride off into the sunset. What the hell, Tigger, how’d yer hooves get so shiny?

                    1. The average UFCW member earns between $25,000 and $30,000. This means that a significant portion of UFCW members have earnings below the U.S federal poverty level. To make matters worse, concessionary bargaining tactics have actually reduced the compensation received by rank and file members. In spite of this, hundreds of UFCW officers and staff members are making six figure salaries … It’s safe to assume that for many UFCW officials, disbursements are representative of little more than another layer of greed.

                    2. From: Centers for Disease Control

                      Subject: Pesilential infestation in Rocky Mountains including metropolitan areas in Front Range, Mountain Communities, and Western Slope of Colorado

                      ATLANTA, GA, May 19, 2009: The Centers for Disease Control on Monday May 18, 2009, issued a public health alert for citizens of Colorado. The notice was a Phase 5 Alert (out of 6 phases maximum).

                      According to the CDC, a new pest, factis rockymountainous pestilentis, has infected electronic equipment throughout the specified area.

                      The main symptom of this public health menace, according to CDC Director General Dr. Rational Dicoursus, is severe bites on the buttocks of victims.

                      “In most cases,” Dr. Discoursus said, “victims do not recognize the factis bug, even when repeatedly bitten in or on the affected area of the body over a prolonged period of time, sometimes lasting for years.” Symptoms include extreme agitation, repeated frothing from the mouth, and prolonged irrational moaning. Inability to control excretory and urinary functions is common.

                      Patients who are alerted to their condition are urged to return to their locked wards as soon as possible. Treatments include massive doses of thorazine and prolonged bed rest. Reading stories from Children’s Book of Discredited Fairy Tales may also serve to calm the victims, although this is unlikely to ease longer-term symptoms.

                                 — 30 —

                  3. JO asked a serious question.

                    You obviously have a problem with how much money some union leaders make compared to average workers.

                    How do you feel about the salaries that industry leaders make compared to average workers?

                    Simple question.  Answer or obfuscate.

  3. Had this occurred at an educational institution or community center led by a formal group of community organizers there would be outrage. It would be cast as a hate crime and a rally point for justice at the injustice.

    Vandals Damage Grand Junction Church

    Trinity Baptist Church Suffers Extensive Damage

    May 18, 2009

    GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Authorities said vandals did extensive damage to a Grand Junction church early Monday.

    Police were called to the Trinity Baptist Church, 2748 B 1/2 Road, on Monday morning.

    Police said vandals discharged fire extinguishers, destroyed televisions and computers, and dumped food from the church’s food bank.

    Nearly every room of the church sustained damage, according to a report in the Grand Junction Sentinel.

    Oh wait – it is a place of education and a location led by a formal group of community organizers … too bad its Trinity Baptist.

    2. They’ll find out that it was 3 or 4 local teens who got hold of a bottle of Jack Daniels. That’s the way it usually turns out. Just google “church vandalism” and you’ll see.

      So what’s your point? Are you saying this was a case of religious or political repression? Are you saying that because this didn’t make it to page 1 of the NYT that all liberals condone this behavior?

      Or are you just calling everyone who disagrees with you a godless commie (aka boulder liberal).

    3. Now what should I be outraged about?

      It should be punished and the law is equipped to deal with this.

      Now why do you think there is a lack of outrage?

      Why do you think this is a political issue?

      This is Coloradopols, not Colorado Police Blotter.

  4. Ninth Judicial District Attorney Martin Beeson announced his candidacy for Congress in Colorado’s 3rd district, challenging Congressman John Salazar in the 2012 elections.

    Beeson is currently District Attorney in the 9th Judicial District, the western slope region of Garfield, Pitkin and Rio Blanco counties.

    From the Aspen Daily News: http://www.aspendailynews.com/…

    Beeson took quick aim at those in Washington who abuse power and the public trust. “My vision for America requires leaders who can be trusted with public power and the public purse,” he said, reserving his most pointed criticism for recent tax increases, massive unfunded spending, and corrupted politicians.  He said Colorado families should “tell Congress, ‘You are not free to bail out your campaign contributors … to spend us into decades of unsustainable debt … to decide economic winners and losers … to take over our banks and businesses … to use our tax dollars to pay for your re-election campaigns.”  “But,” he added, “if you don’t like any of this, Mr. Congressman, you are free to leave, and the sooner the better!”

    Beeson questioned incumbent Democrat John Salazar’s fitness to represent the people of the 3rd district saying Salazar was elected as a farmer and a service veteran but recently resigned from the Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committees for “a fat-cat seat” on the House Appropriations Committee.  There, Salazar then voted for “trillions of dollars of new debt and taxes in his first 60 days without even reading the legislation,” Beeson said…..

    Beeson (who?) is a Bible-thumping Conservative and will get the support of a lot voters with an “R” behind their name, considering the make-up of CD3. However, he’ll have little appeal for the middle-of-the-road and unaffiliated voters.

  5. from Fox News Ohio

    BEDFORD, Ohio –  An Ohio man who argued with his grown son over a messy bedroom says he overreacted when he called 911.

    Andrew Mizsak called authorities Thursday after his 28-year-old son threw a plate of food across the kitchen table and made a fist at him.

    His son, also named Andrew, lives with his parents and has a room in the basement.

    The father declined to press charges and told police he doesn’t want to ruin his son’s political career. The younger Mizsak works as a political consultant and is a school board member in Bedford, a Cleveland suburb.

    The son says he and his father love each very much and that he’s lucky to be living in the house rent free. He also promises to keep his room clean.

        1. Its about jobs and payroll Ralphie. I know it sounds so …. Republican … but its not. The value chain of our economy begins and ends with you (and me).

          I know its tough for you to grasp the basics … like what David and his Windward group do for America or maybe what some of your relatives do to keep American families on payroll.

          The American model goes something like this…

          investor->capital->risk/loan->employees->product->customer->return to investor … repeat cycle minus 1) minimal taxes paid by all to government and 2) minimal interest paid to non principles.

          You try to maximize taxes, thus deflating others in the value within the chain. People in the chain try to produce maximum value for their function (including paying minimal taxes).

  8. I know it’s mighty tiresome, all those jokes about Loveland. Still, news from China is that Love Land theme park has been nixed, axed, closed down, even though the, ah, sculptures were already installed. http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl…

    So, freedom lovers, low tax fanatics, a man, a plan, action!

    I refer, of course, to the new theme park imported from China (hell, everything else is!), LoveLand by name, Loveland by location, an easy drive from the Great Metropolis of the High Plains, just $60 gets you, ahhh, inside.

    All proceeds fund a a new living museum for the newest, or do I mean latest, example of Endangered Species, by which I refer, of course, to Republicans.

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